Here Comes The Son (Ghost Band / Papa Emeritus fic)

All Those Things That You Desire, You Will Find There in The Fire

It was a strange feeling being able to know a Belial worshipper just by looking at them. Lucifer had temporarily given him the power to see into their souls to seek them out. Of course, not just Belial, he could see who everyone worshipped and it was occasionally eye-opening. He could also see the depth of their commitment to their faith and that had been the most surprising thing, as Lucifer had told him at one point, not everyone was as pious as him, sometimes barely at all. He was relieved that it was only a temporary power.

It had been a difficult task to stand in the pulpit and watch as all Ministry clergy and staff were paraded by, even Doctor Larson had agreed to join the medical staff trooping past. Stopping occasionally as he advised the security team as yet another Belial worshipper passed through the chapel. It was hard sometimes to see people he knew quite well being pulled aside and led away, initially to the cells, but once they were filled, they were taken ironically to the now lockable arches in the crypt. Copia frowned slightly as Saltarian walked through, indignant at being forced to join the lower ranks, as he saw them; sadly he wasn't a Belial worshipper. There was also relief when some of his favourite Sisters of Sin were able to walk through without being led away. All in all, roughly thirty five people were arrested and would be given the opportunity to either to recant and worship Lucifer or to follow Belial to the Pits. Additionally, Copia had been granted a temporary power to alter the memories of those that would be allowed to recant so that they believed that they had always worshipped Lucifer and their recent memories of the initial banishment, the plot and the subsequent battle would be wiped as if they had never happened. It would be a complete reinvention for them with no unpleasant memories of the last few months. They would be the lucky ones.

Copia had expected that they would make up the majority of those arrested but, even though he was right, he was still surprised to find that four of the most recent round up plus the now former monk, Brother Hugo had chosen to follow Belial into eternal torment. Taken to a small meeting room, their hands bound behind them to ensure none of them could attack Copia, the five were forced to stand against a bare wall as three security guards and Copia entered, flanked by Mountain and Cumulus, neither bothering with their human glamour.

"You've been brought here to ensure you know exactly what you're choosing," Copia began.
"We stand by our faith in Belial!" One man, a cook, insisted.
"I'm aware of your faith, but it's misplaced. He is no longer with you and neither will He be."
"He was called back once before, He can be called again!" Hugo cried out, defiant.
"No, He can't." Copia shook his head. "The rituals used to summon Him and all copies have been destroyed. He cannot be brought back except through Satan's grace and forgiveness. There's no guarantee that even if He is released some day, and we're probably looking at centuries, that you will be released too, either by Satan or Belial."
"Why do you care?" Hugo asked.
"The better question, Hugo, is why don't you?" Copia asked, growing irritable by their defiance.
"Well, maybe your faith isn't as strong as ours, and you just don't understand?" He scoffed.

Copia shook his head at the ridiculous response. The strength of his faith was what had helped him to defeat Belial on two separate occasions while their faith had been kept a closely guarded secret. The two did not compare well.

"Perhaps I would understand more if you'd actually fought alongside Belial when He rose, instead of hiding in plain sight hoping He'd win! Maybe that's why I don't understand? You should be ashamed and remorseful, but here you are instead, embittered and spiteful! As if I have done this to you!" Copia snapped pointedly in reply. "I'm only here to tell you your fate and, even though you don't deserve it, to give you a last minute chance to change your mind, if you want to."
"No, we don't," the first man to speak, the cook, presumptively spoke for them all.

To all their surprise, one man stepped forward.

"I'd like to change my mind."
"Traitor!" Hugo shouted.
"Fools!" He yelled back.