Here we are, born to be kings.
We're the princes of the universe.
Here we belong, fighting to survive
In a world with the darkest powers.
And here we are; we're the princes of the universe.
Here we belong, fighting for survival.
We've come to be the rulers of your world.
I am immortal. I have inside me blood of kings.
I have no rival. No man can be my equal.
Take me to the future of your world.
Queen from the Highlander 1
Those that believe shall cast out demons.
Mark 16:17 2
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In the Shadows of Heaven (an Unholy Alliance)4
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Chapter Three 6
He awoke not like you and I wake. No, this last year has honed him, ripped layers of civilized generations from him. He awoke aware of his surroundings and fully mindful of what had happened to him. Slowly he took in the room. He hadn’t been moved. In fact, the only difference was he had an animal skin thrown over him and there was a rolled up skin tucked under his head. Sneaking a look for Sadie, he found she was gone from where she had passed out. Reaching for his guns, he found they were also gone along with all his other weapons.
Damn! Well, it is what it is, he thought, and sat up quietly. 7
There in front of him, not four feet away in front of the fire, was old Samuel.
He was hunched over in his chair working away diligently on something lying on a table in front of him with his back to Victor. But the strangest part was Sadie lying beside him, wagging her tail as Samuel spoke softly to her while working! It was then he realized he felt revitalized. No aches or pains. Amazing, he thought. He was sitting examining himself when he looked up to find Sadie and Samuel looking at him. Sadie, wagging her tail, walked over and promptly gave him a big kiss. 8
“Ok, ok, girl.” he said laughing, which only served to animate her actions more as she danced around him barking. Samuel sat quietly watching until Victor looked up at him. “Welcome back, young Master. I trust you are rested.” and with that he turned back to what he had been doing. 9
“Samuel, what did you do to me, and is that my sword? What are you doing?”
Victor questioned, rising to his feet. He was keenly aware of the candles
flickering about the room, throwing eerie shadows against the walls as the flames fought back the darkness trying to creep through the windows from outside. 10
“I gave you something to help you sleep and replenish your strength. And yes, young Master, it is your sword. As for what I am doing, I am taking precautions.” Samuel answered him all the while bent over Victor's sword working away. Victor, now beside the old man, raised his eyebrows in amusing shock as there before him were all his weapons laid out on the table. He noticed on each weapon’s handle was carved a curious golden symbol with black writing in and about it that he now realized, looking down, Samuel was engraving onto the katana’s tsuka (handle). 11
“What is this symbol, Samuel, and what does the writing say?” he asked. 12
“It is Amulet. It will protect us from possession and evil spells." The old
man was pointing at old script, "Out here, in four spots around the circle, are the names of the four rivers that flow from paradise. Within the two circles are the names Adam, Eve, Lilith, Khasdiel, Senoi, Sansenoi and Samangeloph, along with the words, He hath given his angels charge concerning thee, that they may keep thee in all thy ways. 13
Victor, turning the colt over in his hand, discovered it had been carved into both sides. Then Samuel went on, "It is the same mark I have engraved on you."
Victor's hand instinctively went to his chest. Looking down, he removed his hand to reveal the very same mark tattooed on his upper left chest muscle. 14
“She also wears the mark.” Samuel said pointing to Sadie, as he brushed and pulled her hair aside to reveal the diagram on her rear hind quarter. He also engraved it on both sides of the collar she wore. 15
“Who are you, Samuel?” Victor asked, peering intently at the old man. 16
“But I’ve told you, young Sir. I am here to serve and aid you. I am nothing more.” Samuel answered. 17
Victor knew he would get no more then that out of him right now and didn’t have the time to pursue it. 18
"Yeah, well it sounds to me like a waste of time. The angels are going to look over us? Yeah, they've done a bang up job so far.” Victor said, turning away to look out of the window. 19
“Ah, young Sir, you need not be so negative. I’m sure you’ve heard that God works in mysterious ways. It will all be revealed in time.” Samuel answered, finishing up the sword. 20
Standing, he gripped the deadly weapon in both hands and swung it with some effort, “A mighty fine weapon, young Sir. Yes, a mighty fine weapon indeed.” 21
Victor did not even turn, but continued to stare out of the window contemplating the past and trying to guess the future, and wondering if he had one. Finally, with a sigh, he turned back. 22
“Well, I guess we better get started.” he said. 23
“Yes, mayhap we better, but first we must eat, Sire. It is a long terrible
journey fraught with unimaginable danger. We will need our strength, so sit and I will make ready our meal and put together a few bites for the trail.” answered Samuel. 24
Victor, picking up his sword, exited the tiny cottage. He strolled down to the stream that was quickly expanding into a river as it flowed onward and began to go through his katas. When he finished he washed up in the stream then donned his angelic mail shirt Nikki had given him. 25
After they had eaten, they packed up all they could carry without slowing them down in an old green duffle bag. Samuel bid farewell to his humble abode, doubting in his heart he would ever see it again. Thus the three companions started off following the quickly expanding stream. There was no procession.
No one came out to see them off. It was as if they were exiting a ghost town.
Victor sensed, however, every eye upon them. They were just glad to see him leaving, still fearing the inevitable repercussions of the dead Dybbuks. 26
The way they followed slopped ever downward amongst a variety of landscapes.
The further down they went, the darker the water became, until it resembled a black shinny oil slick in contrast to the colorful floral that ranged all about them. The green grass spread out before them like a calm sea on their side littered with flowers of all sorts, their colors merging and causing a kaleidoscope of lights that dazzled the eyes if looked upon too long. 27
The other side was barren and desolate. Smoke spilled out of holes in the
ground some five feet across. Leafless trees stood bent and broken, completing the backdrop of a flame red sky line that has burnt the land since time immoral, leaving scars along the troubled countryside. Amidst all the death and decay ran a single road leading off in the direction of a billowing smoke cloud twined with licking flames shooting up to touch the sky. Victor stood at the edge of the flowing river glaring across at the completely barren land and had no doubt what lay at the foot of the distant smoke and flames. 28
“Samuel, what is the name of this watercourse?” he asked. 29
"It is the rivulet you seek, Master Victor. It is the River Styx, and I fear we
must be weary now for there are guardians here. Though you cannot see them, they are here.” Samuel said. 30
“Who or what are they that guard the crossing, Samuel?” Victor asked, glancing about uneasily. 31
“I do not know. I made it a habit of not coming too close or seeking out that which wasn’t seeking me." he answered. 32
“Sound advice.’ Victor said, chuckling. "Well, I guess we’ll find out together then, huh?” 33
The old man just nodded his head, but the look of fear was unmistakable in his eyes. Then Samuel turned to Victor, “How, oh great Chief, do we get across? The river itself seems to speed up in an effort to wash us away.” 34
“I’m working on it, Sam.” The old man grinned at the new name Victor had addressed him with for, in all the centuries he had existed, no one had ever called him thus. 35
While the two stood contemplating their next move and how to cross, Sadie abruptly rose from where she had been laying. She walked several feet down from them and then she turned and let out a howl. 36
“What is it, lady?” Victor asked. As if in answer, the dog turned facing the
torrent river, stepped towards it, and placed her two front paws in the water.
Victor watched in amazement as the river began to shift and surge with little whirlpools springing up in hundreds of spots. Still mesmerized, Victor watched as the tiny whirlpools began to move and merge together until they were one giant eye violently spinning, pulling anything down within its boundaries. Then the sides of the whirlpool collapsed in on itself, stretching and spreading the water, clearing a path along the bottom to the other side, washing away any barriers that had gone unseen under the raging river. 37
Victor looked at Samuel shrugging his shoulders. “She’s just full of surprises, but this? Who knew she had a little Mosses in her?” he said. He threw himself between the two walls of water and started across, followed by Samuel with Sadie bringing up the rear. Halfway across the mile wide river Victor stopped abruptly. Something caught his eye. A shimmering form up ahead of them within one side of the river wall drew his attention until, like a ghost, out stepped a creature seen only in nightmares. 38
At first, Victor thought it to be human, but upon closer inspection, he could see the scaly skin that over rode its body. It bore a long tail with a seeming mind of its own. The tip of its tail held Victor’s attention, a mouth with dagger like teeth. The tail ended in a mouth with teeth! And not just teeth, but daggers, Victor thought! Its face was covered in sores and blisters that only the cool of the water soothed. Its mouth was several inches wide showing another set of teeth resembling a great white shark's eating utensils. Its hands were jagged bone white hooks. 39
“What the fuck is that?” Victor practically yelled, drawing his sword. 40
“It is a MBULU, a water Deity. It will grasp you with its hooks, drag you down into the depths, drown you, and then stash you away to return later when your flesh is bloated and rotted to feed easily on you.” Samuel answered. 41
“My, aren’t you just a wealth of information, Sam.” said Victor. 42
The old man shrugged, “You asked, I answered.” 43
Victor turned back to the creature barring their way and said, “Stand aside! We wish to pass.” As he addressed the water demon, he raised his sword in guard position, noticing that the golden images Samuel had carved into its handle had turned a blood red pulsating with power. The creature didn’t answer. It just stood glaring at them, the gills protruding from its cheeks opening and closing were the only sounds it made. 44
“Jesus, I feel like I’m in a bad remake of Creature from the Black Lagoon.”
Victor said, advancing on the beast. The creature crouched and was snarling now with the sucking sounds from its gills growing louder. Victor pulled his dagger to parry the tail with teeth as it snaked out from behind the water demon and struck at him. The creature's hooks seemed to be everywhere, and where they weren’t, its tail was. Victor, however, matched every move countering the beast's attacks with his sword and knife until they were a blur. Sparks flew from their weapons in thunderous clashes. 45
Who knows, maybe only the Gods would have known how the battle would have turned out, but in one amazing act, Sadie burst from the wall of water coming out behind the creature and, seizing its tail just above the mouth with her teeth, bit down deep severing the gaping maul from its body. The creature staggered, almost falling to its knees, letting out a horrific bellow of pain that was cut short as Victor, leveling his sword and then swung, sending the water demon’s head one way as the body fell another. With the point to ground, Victor leaned on his sword wearily looking at Sadie. 46
“Anymore surprises, girl? And uh you're going to have to show me that one.” he said, bending down to hug her and pat her rear. Sadie just danced about playfully. Victor admired that about her. How she could revert back so easily to play. He knew to others she was just a dog, but to him she was becoming much, much more. Even Samuel, who had carried the cross of Jesus Christ and has seen much, was astounded by the Siberian husky who seemed much more than just a dog. 47
Victor sighed and put his hands on his hips. He looked over his little caravan and, shaking his head with a smile, he motioned for them to get moving. The rest of the way was uneventful until they reached the shore line on the other side. 48
Just as Victor was about to step out of the channel and up onto the shore front, a challenge rang out. “Stand fast, human. None may pass that has life left in them.” the voice hissed. Victor stopped and scanned the surrounding area for the author. He could feel Samuel slide up behind him. 49
"I don’t like this, young Master. I know not what this new menace is." he
whispered. Victor could see no one. They had all heard the voice, but where was the speaker? He turned back and waved for Sadie and Sam to stay put and then, after taking a deep breath, he stepped up onto shore. Almost immediately he noticed the silence. It was a dead land he stood upon, refit of all life.
There was staleness to the air. It hung thick and heavy causing a sweat to break out on him. Still he saw no one. 50
“Come out. Are you so afraid to show yourself to me? Come out! I challenge you for the right to pass.” Victor said, into the emptiness. At first there was no movement. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Then the air became thick with evil, he could feel it, almost taste it. Victor set himself preparing for God knows what. 51
“I am here, meat!” a whisper of sound was all it was, but it seemed to boom in Victor’s ears. He whirled about still not seeing anything. 52
“Ha, ha, ha, ha, don't you see me, meat? I’m right here!” and he felt a
stinging slap across his face that sent him air borne three feet at least to
come crashing down hard on his shoulder. But Victor was too well trained now and, using the impetus of the strike, he continued to roll until he righted himself on one knee, drawing his sword and leveling it in front of him to guard or strike from this position. A trickle of blood began to run from his lower lip. The laughter was all around him now, pulsating, pounding away inside his head like the waves crashing on the ocean shore, relentless and uncaring. He tightened his grip on the sword and closed his eyes. 53
Then there came sound, faint, barley a wisp of wind, but it was sound where there was nothing and it was behind him! Leaning forward, Victor slammed his left hand down to support himself while lashing out behind him with a straight back kick, almost instantly feeling the impact of connecting with a something. 54
There was a sharp grunt and then a wheezing of breath as he felt the demon's body lift off the ground from the impact of the kick, turning in time as it landed materializing sprawled on the burnt broken ground. 55
“God protect us! It is a Hiranyakashipu.” exclaimed Samuel. 56
"A what?" Victor said, watching the creature regain its footing. “Never mind.” he said, swinging his sword in large figure eights circling the beast. 57
It had a huge horned bull's head with the demonic appearance of a Dybbuk with large animal ears and three inch claws that adorned its feet, making for very formidable weapons. Its tail whipped about, darting from one shoulder to the other, trying to distract him. In its clawed hand it wielded a curved red eyed demon handled scimitar. Its tail suddenly whipped out like a spear at Victor’s head followed by a great sweep of the demon handled sword. 58
Only his cat like reflexes saved him as he twisted away leaving bare inches between himself and the bladed weapon. Still he was caught off balance and the demon, sensing this, attacked with renewed vigor hacking away like a wrecking ball. The sharp clang of metal on metal rang in Victor’s ears as the sparks from the clashing blades danced in his eyes. The Shipu’s attack was relentless and continued to back Victor up. All he could manage at the moment was to parry each slash and cut, all the while struggling to avoid the tail that continuously darted from behind the beast trying to relocate Victor’s eyes. 59
Sadie growing agitated growled distracting the demon, giving Victor his one chance, he seized it casting his weapons aside he closed with the beast. It was hand to hand combat now. They fought in silence. The only sounds were grunts of exertion as each sorted its own objective, the Shipu to rip Victor’s throat open with its fangs and Victor struggling mightily to keep them from him while trying to choke the life out of the beast. With a great effort, the demon broke free of Victor’s grip and, like a giant python, wrapped his arms about the man's waist in a bear hug causing the air to expel from Victor. With each passing second the life was being squeezed out of him. His head was reeling and he was slipping into oblivion. 60
“Now you die, human.” hissed the beast, and then he reared back baring his fangs preparing to bite deep and tear the man‘s throat out. Victor, moved as if in a dream and grasped one of the horns on the creature’s head and, in one last great effort, forced the demon’s head back. Wild eyed and in frenzy now, the creature’s eyes opened wide in stunned surprise as it felt something cold shoved up under its chin. 61
“Say goodnight, Gracie” Victor whispered, as he pulled the trigger of the colt python, blowing the back of the Shipu’s head and brain matter in a rainbow arc to land thirteen feet away. The Shipu’s grip relaxed and its body sagged forward to slide down. Victor grasped the demon by its underarms and tossed it to the side as garbage, and then sagged to his knees utterly exhausted. Samuel rushed up out of the channel as soon as Victor fell to his knees and Sadie followed close behind. As soon as her back paws hit the shore, the water closed in behind her.
“Master! Here, lie down. Let me tend to you.” Samuel said to Victor, as he started to dress his wounds. 62
“No!" Victor said, shrugging him off. “There is no time. The sky grows a
darker red in the distance and the storms are louder! No! We move on. I don‘t know what‘s happening over there, but I‘m guessing we're heading that way.”
And indeed the sky had taken on a deeper darker red and the lighting flashed across the sky in such a fury, as if trying to set the world on fire. Victor turned to his little rag tag group. 63
“Well, gang, we're off to see the Wizard.” Victor said, rising to his feet.
Glancing back at the Shipu and back the way they had come, he wondered if he would pass this way again. And then, with a sigh of resignation, he turned and started off down the path of finality. 64
To be continued... 65
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