Premortal

Chapters 74 - 75

Chapter 74 – Scouts

Johan was one of those scouts in front of the line, his partner being Domenous. It was this pair that spotted Caleb from their elevated position, and when they did so, they did an about-face to follow him back towards Michael's forces. As they did their best to keep pace, they saw Caleb dive and swerve between structures. Then they saw Caleb's leg get swiped by an attacker, slowing him down just enough to have eight of his pursuers ready to pounce.

As the eight poised to attack, Johan was about to engage when Domenous stopped him, pointing to Michael's army which had just come into view. Johan, still ready to engage, saw Caleb pull away just a little. With some manoeuvring he pulled away just a little more. Johan relaxed slightly at this, noting that Caleb was now rapidly approaching those that would save him. Both Johan and Domenous moved lower, no longer concerned that they might be seen. If Caleb's attackers hadn't noticed the defensive line by now they certainly wouldn't notice two spirits traveling a distance above them.

Seeing Caleb approaching them, trailed by the enemy, Michael commanded his men to compress around the area where Caleb was likely to arrive, thus reducing the distance between each man to a metre. By the time Caleb arrived at the line of protection, the scouts were a mere twenty feet above him and they quickly descended to take a position at either side of him once Caleb had passed through the front line. This was done to reinforce his protection, just in case some of the pursuers dared to attempt breaking through. They need not have concerned themselves because even those that pursued Caleb to within just metres of the barricade, dared not cross it.

We have seen the intense standoff that ensued, and the ultimate withdrawal of Lucifer and his divisions. This preceded an immense cheer from Michael's forces, followed by great celebration, but it was nothing to compare with the emotions that were felt when Tara and Caleb were reunited just moments later.

Tara wept openly. Her tender spirit tears were a combination of both relief and joy. Caleb recovered rapidly from the stress of his pursuit and comforted the only one who appeared to be there at that moment. He was surrounded by cheering spirits but his ears were deaf to everything but the sound of her voice, and his eyes were blind to all but her sweet appearance. Her every movement froze, as if in slow motion, and he counted and caught her every tear, promising himself that he would never cause them to fall like that again.

Chapter 75 – Decline

As a consequence of Caleb's actions, Lucifer discovered that he had not only failed to attract any new support but that he had also lost a significant number of the seven and half billion spirits that he counted among his faithful.

Jezebel and Ham did not dare to say 'I told you so'. Their leader was already bordering on insane without pushing him even further over the edge.

After three days brooding in his abode, Lucifer emerged with new resolve and immediately called for his Generals, addressing them on an urgent matter of business.

'General Anas and General Silick, we need to move quickly.'

'Certainly Lucifer, what would you have us do?' replied Anas, relieved to find his leader in a buoyant state.

'We need another twelve divisions within a week'.

'Impossible, we cannot possibly do it!' Silick cried in the type of high pitched voice one might use if they were afraid of objecting to the command of one in authority, but felt forced to do so.

'Why?' yelled Lucifer.

Although he had appeared upbeat, he was certainly not in the frame of mind to be told no.

'We need two weeks of speed and agility training before the practice attacks can begin,' responded Anas very timidly.

'Cut back the speed and agility training to three days and then concentrate on the attacks. The attacks are clearly the most important part,' commanded their leader with something less than zero patience.

'The trouble we have Lucifer, is that it takes two weeks to prepare the division victim to be willing to endure the attacks. For us to prepare twelve victims in just a few days is impossible,' said Silick, knowing that the only thing worse than objecting at this moment would be not objecting and then failing to achieve the impossible task that Lucifer required of them.

Silick closed his eyes, waiting for an explosion that never came. When he dared to open them he found that, instead of fury, his leader had an eerie look upon his face. A look even more frightening than the explosion would have been. Desperately, he hoped that whatever his master was thinking about did not involve him.

Silick knew that there was only one thing that brought that much enjoyment to Lucifer's face, and he certainly didn't want to be the subject of it.

When Lucifer spoke he did so quietly.

'Don't worry about preparing victims, just do a week of speed and agility training with each new division and I'll have a victim ready. We will hold a court case, as we did with Turd, and following the guilty verdict, all twelve divisions will attack.'

'Who will you use for such a role Lucifer?' asked Anas, more than a little intrigued.

'I already have a deserving spirit in mind. One who has wronged us greatly and must be punished,' said Lucifer, a vicious look engrained upon his face.

'Do you think it would be possible to find two such victims, Lucifer? It would be ideal if our current divisions could give the new units a demonstration just prior to their attack,' said Silick, a thirsty look taking shape upon his face also.

'I'm absolutely certain that I could find a second offender,' said Lucifer, as calmly as a psychopath who has just committed murder.

Lucifer left his Generals content in the knowledge that they had both accepted his authority and had resolved to complete the task that he required.