Book 6: Showdown (The Kid Emperor of Occultoria)

Chapter 5 - Punishment for a Heretic

  On the Holy See of Divine Island, Seat of the Matriarch of the Holy Universal Church of the Supernatural World....

Her Holiness Matriarch Catherine III was standing in front of a podium of the balcony of Saint Jebenoah's Basilica. It was the sabbath, Sunday, and she was about to give her first official weekly address to the thousands of faithful who had gathered down below in Saint Jebenoah's Square.
For her first speech and gospel, she knew exactly what she would talk about.
As chatting crowd quieted down, their religious leader began to speak.
"Dear brothers and sisters," the Matriarch began. "I am so happy to be your Matriarch. As our Lady and Savior Jolie once said to Saint Jebenoah, 'You are Jebenoah and on this rock, I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail over it.'"
She looked at the adoring crowd. "I feel so privileged to be able to succeed our dearly departed Matriarch Eleanor XX."
She made the sign of the Ergon. "May the Mother Goddess and the Father God rest her immortal soul."
The crowd made the sign of the Ergon along with her.
The Matriarch continued, "This week's gospel reading is simple. I will be reading a simple verse from the Gospel According to Saint Lucia."
She glanced down at her copy of the Occult Bible. "'Unity is strength. Division is weakness. Let he who divide the Holy Universal Church be punished.' Saint Lucia Chapter 1, Verse 10. Amen."
The crowd said, "Amen."
Catherine III scanned the crowd. "As you all know by now, the heretic John Huffin has been captured. I intend to punish him to the fullest extent of divine law. My decision is supported by our most holy scripture." She pointed at her copy of the Occult Bible. "The invitations to John Huffin's execution, which will happen shortly, have already been sent out."
She wagged a finger admonishingly at the crowd. "Let this be a lesson to you all. Do not question the authority of the Matriarch, for she speaks with the authority of the Holy Universal Church. When she speaks from the Divine Throne, she is guided by the Holy Spirits and therefore, is infallible."
From down below, a very enthusiastic voice shouted, "Long live the Matriarch!"
Before long, everybody was chanting it.
The Matriarch smiled.
It was working.
She was rallying the members of the faithful in an attempt to unite the Church and discourage schisms.
Hopefully, the entire Reformist movement would be stamped out soon with the execution of its leader.
She ended the general audience with the faithful by offering her blessings as Matriarch.
Tracing the sign of the Ergon in the air, she said, "I bless you all in the eternal names of the Mother Goddess and the Father God. Amen."
The crowd got down on their knees.
"Amen," they said in unison.

***

The heretic John Huffin looked sad and forlorn as he was brought into the Divine Cathedral chained up in a wooden box. His eyes were wary but still passionate. His face was smudged with dirt. His hair was dirty and unkempt.
Jeers and boos from the faithful Universalists greeted him as he entered.
On her Divine Throne, Matriarch Catherine III looked on in glee and satisfaction as the heretic was finally brought before her.
When the wheeled box stopped, Her Holiness leaned forward. "John Huffin, you are accused of dividing our Holy Universal Church. We gave you a chance for a fair trial, but your followers denied you that chance when they rescued you. In the infinite mercy of the Eternal Mother Goddess and Father God, you are now given a chance to recant your heretical beliefs and teachings."
John Huffin surprised everyone by spitting onto the ground.
The spectators gasped.
John Huffin said defiantly, "I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me my Gods. Amen."
Without mercy, the Matriarch commanded, "Send in the Lord High Executioner."
From the other side of the cathedral, a giant wooden door opened with a loud thud.
A very tall man wearing a green hood stepped through, holding a large axe.
A hush fell over the spectators as the executioner approached.
John Huffin knew his life was about to end, but he still bravely looked his executioner squarely in the eyes.
The Lord High Executioner raised the axe, as though about to hack Huffin apart with it.
He held the axe just above Huffin's head.
Then, he murmured an incantation and a blue light emanated from the axe and penetrated through Huffin's head.
The heretic's entire body twitched and then it was motionless.
Soon, it was over.
John Huffin's transparent spirit left his body with a loud wail.
The silence among the audience continued.
For many of them, it was their first religious execution and they didn't know how to react.
Cardinal Uppal leaned in and whispered, "Ma'am, this will not go over well. John Huffin still has supporters all over the Supernatural World."
"Then massacre them all!" replied the Matriarch. "I will not allow our one true faith to be perverted by heretics!"
"This religious civil war will not go well, Your Holiness. Already, members of the Reformist movement are selecting a new leader."
The Matriarch scowled. "Kill them all. When I was a young priestess just starting out in Monstria, I swore a sacred oath to the Gods and to the Church. I will never, under any circumstances, allow anyone to pervert its true teachings."
Then, her expression softened. "I have an idea. Like the Spanish and Italian Inquisitions in the Natural World, I will set one up here and appoint a cardinal to lead it. That way, we can root out all heresy."
A look of horror came to Cardinal Uppal's face.
He knew the chaos of an inquisition would ruin his beloved Holy Universal Church.