Then why don't you
end it?
I'm a coward, my friend. I can't kill myself.
So you're going to let William and I do it for you. Celeste's contempt
dripped in her voice.
Tomas shrugged. Of course. You both have always been the
strongest of the Enforcers. You have lasted longer than any of the others. That
is why I started killing. I was going to settle in Detroit and just mind my own
business. Then the dreams got worse. There was nothing I could do that would
stop them. Finally I decided it was time. You were already here, so I knew it
wouldn't be hard to get you to come after me.
I'll find you, Tomas, and when I do, there will be no hope of
salvation. There have been too many dead women, too many lives snuffed out
because you're a coward.
True, but I knew that when I joined Lucifer's army instead of
fighting for the other side. It was easier to get swept up in the emotions than
to think for myself. Tomas shifted restlessly. It will be morning soon and your
hunt will continue. I look forward to our final meeting. He bowed his head
and disappeared.
Celeste shuddered. Adam pulled her closer to him. Neither of them
was awakened by the shining figure that soothed them. Standing in the shadows
of the bedroom, Mika'il's silvery gray eyes were filled with compassion and a
thinly disguised look of longing.
* * * *
"He's using us," Celeste informed William as they met in
Adam's breakfast nook
William nodded. "It makes sense. Tomas never was the most
courageous of angels. He would never have the strength to kill himself. This
way, he dies—or so he thinks—and we're left with the guilt of having dealt with
him."
"The ultimate act of selfishness, I guess." Adam sat
down next to Celeste. "How do you know what he wants?"
"We connected while I was sleeping." At Adam's eager
look, she shook her head. "It was a place out of time. I couldn't get a
hint of where he might be. I think our best bet is to go back to Joe Louis
today and scout out the entrances. He probably uses the same one every time. It
should make it a little easier for us to get a track on him."
William nodded. "You two go and do that. I'll do some more
searching around the house we found. I know that someone saw Tomas. I just have
to find that person and get them to talk to me."
"What did Father Michael have to say?" Adam asked.
William studied Adam for a minute. "He said that the time has
finally arrived. Tomas must be stopped tonight or there will be
consequences."
Adam saw Celeste shudder. Jakar had just walked in and his face
went white. "Consequences?"
"You don't want to know, Adam. Trust me. When a situation
gets out of hand, there are results that are harmful to all of us." Celeste
caught Jakar's eyes. There was fear brimming in the demon's face.
"So Father Michael is more than just a priest, huh? Does he
have a direct line to God or something?" Adam joked.
Three sets of eyes impaled him. William was the one who answered.
"You could say that he is the mouthpiece of God here on earth. Here in
Detroit anyway."
"Like an oracle?"
"Father Michael would be extremely annoyed if he knew you
were comparing him to an oracle. He is closer to Him than anyone else because
his soul is pure. God gives the priest information that is helpful to us."
"So we can trust what he's telling us to be true." Adam
saw the others nod. "So, in fact, we've just been issued a deadline of
tonight. After that, all bets are off and it's every angel and demon for
themselves, right?"
"Yes, and you don't want to be here if that happens."
Celeste was finishing her breakfast. "I have to stop by the office to
check on my other cases. Adam, I'll meet you at the arena this afternoon.
William, we'll catch up with you right around game time. If I can pinpoint the
entrance Tomas uses, we'll lie in wait there for him."
"What should I
do?" Jakar asked.
Celeste looked at William then back to Jakar. "We have a box
of evidence that needs to be planted. When we're done with Tomas, he isn't
really
end it?
I'm a coward, my friend. I can't kill myself.
So you're going to let William and I do it for you. Celeste's contempt
dripped in her voice.
Tomas shrugged. Of course. You both have always been the
strongest of the Enforcers. You have lasted longer than any of the others. That
is why I started killing. I was going to settle in Detroit and just mind my own
business. Then the dreams got worse. There was nothing I could do that would
stop them. Finally I decided it was time. You were already here, so I knew it
wouldn't be hard to get you to come after me.
I'll find you, Tomas, and when I do, there will be no hope of
salvation. There have been too many dead women, too many lives snuffed out
because you're a coward.
True, but I knew that when I joined Lucifer's army instead of
fighting for the other side. It was easier to get swept up in the emotions than
to think for myself. Tomas shifted restlessly. It will be morning soon and your
hunt will continue. I look forward to our final meeting. He bowed his head
and disappeared.
Celeste shuddered. Adam pulled her closer to him. Neither of them
was awakened by the shining figure that soothed them. Standing in the shadows
of the bedroom, Mika'il's silvery gray eyes were filled with compassion and a
thinly disguised look of longing.
* * * *
"He's using us," Celeste informed William as they met in
Adam's breakfast nook
William nodded. "It makes sense. Tomas never was the most
courageous of angels. He would never have the strength to kill himself. This
way, he dies—or so he thinks—and we're left with the guilt of having dealt with
him."
"The ultimate act of selfishness, I guess." Adam sat
down next to Celeste. "How do you know what he wants?"
"We connected while I was sleeping." At Adam's eager
look, she shook her head. "It was a place out of time. I couldn't get a
hint of where he might be. I think our best bet is to go back to Joe Louis
today and scout out the entrances. He probably uses the same one every time. It
should make it a little easier for us to get a track on him."
William nodded. "You two go and do that. I'll do some more
searching around the house we found. I know that someone saw Tomas. I just have
to find that person and get them to talk to me."
"What did Father Michael have to say?" Adam asked.
William studied Adam for a minute. "He said that the time has
finally arrived. Tomas must be stopped tonight or there will be
consequences."
Adam saw Celeste shudder. Jakar had just walked in and his face
went white. "Consequences?"
"You don't want to know, Adam. Trust me. When a situation
gets out of hand, there are results that are harmful to all of us." Celeste
caught Jakar's eyes. There was fear brimming in the demon's face.
"So Father Michael is more than just a priest, huh? Does he
have a direct line to God or something?" Adam joked.
Three sets of eyes impaled him. William was the one who answered.
"You could say that he is the mouthpiece of God here on earth. Here in
Detroit anyway."
"Like an oracle?"
"Father Michael would be extremely annoyed if he knew you
were comparing him to an oracle. He is closer to Him than anyone else because
his soul is pure. God gives the priest information that is helpful to us."
"So we can trust what he's telling us to be true." Adam
saw the others nod. "So, in fact, we've just been issued a deadline of
tonight. After that, all bets are off and it's every angel and demon for
themselves, right?"
"Yes, and you don't want to be here if that happens."
Celeste was finishing her breakfast. "I have to stop by the office to
check on my other cases. Adam, I'll meet you at the arena this afternoon.
William, we'll catch up with you right around game time. If I can pinpoint the
entrance Tomas uses, we'll lie in wait there for him."
"What should I
do?" Jakar asked.
Celeste looked at William then back to Jakar. "We have a box
of evidence that needs to be planted. When we're done with Tomas, he isn't
really
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