The Day of Legion (26 page)

“Oooh, you figured it out,” she teased, her ugly tones echoing through the hallowed room. Her voice was so loud, David knew she must be on her knees at the entrance, projecting her voice.

He concentrated to try and block her out momentarily. At the same time, he reminded himself to respect her power. She had been doing this for hundreds of years.

She stopped shouting when he blocked her, and he formulated his plan. He lay on a table in the corner of the huge room. He remembered it was a table that a very strong light-bearer was born on as far back as their records went.

His energy slipped out of his body. He had traveled astrally many times before and could do it easily. He looked down and saw his body, prone and vulnerable.

His spirit was still connected to his physical being by an etheric silver cord. It would help guide him home when he needed to return. It was his lifeline; if it broke or was damaged, he would never be able to return to his body.

He thought briefly about some of the places he’d visited, things he’d seen. He remembered a young boy’s exorcism, where he and a priest left their bodies and fought the demon as it exited the boy. That was a battle they had barely won. It was also very confidential. The Catholic Church had banned the practice of astral travel, or even the studying of the principles.

David thought of Clara and was instantly transported to where she was. He appeared behind her, as she balanced herself on her hands and knees at the entrance. Her stringy hair hung limply as she called to him, taunting him in her foul blasphemous language. She arched her back, trying to catch a glimpse of him.

She had no idea what was happening as David kicked her hard. His foot slammed into her backside, causing her to tumble down the stairs. She shrieked and landed on the floor, and instantly rose into a fighting stance.

She was confused. She had no idea what had hit her. She searched the room frantically for David, or any other light-bearer who might attack her, but nothing came.

She saw David lying on the table, and realized what he’d done. She charged his body, not to attack it, but to wait for his spirit to return. She knew she had no strength or power in that room; if he got to his body, she would be powerless against him.

David appeared by the table. Clara screamed and scratched at him. She knew as well as he that when they were both in the same dimension, strikes were as effective and deadly as if they were on the physical plane; his kick reminded her.

As soon as he appeared, Clara grabbed at the silver cord behind him and bit into it. He screamed in agony, but managed to spin around and punch her in the face. She fell backwards, but came at him again.

Even in her spirit form, the hatred in her eyes was evident. She feinted with her left hand and then kicked him, connecting with his knee. He grimaced and fell by the table, landing on his back.

Clara jumped him and grabbed his hair on both sides of his head. She slammed his head into the floor as hard as she could, but she could feel the strength seeping from her.

She scratched at his face and tried to poke him in the eyes, but he pushed his hips up hard. Clara lost her balance and landed beside him. David rolled on top of her and held her down.

She screamed and swore at him, obviously much weaker now.

“Fuck you,” she whimpered. “You’re as dead as me when the darkness comes.”

“The same darkness that left you here for eternity?” he asked. “The darkness that used you to get what it wanted and now couldn’t give a damn about you? Wake up Clara! You’re here, and will be forever. Even when the darkness comes and Legion rules, do you really think you’ll be given anything? If you think so, you are as stupid as you are evil!”

Clara knew he had brought her down there for something, but couldn’t figure it out. She knew she had to play this right; if he was offering her something, she might just get out of this hell.

“What do you want from me?” she hissed at him.

David disappeared off her and slipped back into his body. He was sore and his back hurt like hell. He knew that was because she had bitten his ethereal cord. He rolled off the table to his feet, and watched as she stood and looked at him.

“There is something here that I need to use to stop Legion, but I can’t figure it out. My mind is blank, but I know it’s here. If you help me, I will release you from this place.”

Clara tried to pretend that she didn’t care about his offer, but he saw a slight shift in her posture and gaze.

“You have no power to get me out of this shithole.”

David smiled. “No, but I know people who can; Elizabeth for instance.”

“Elizabeth’s dead!” Clara shouted. “Legion slaughtered her.”

“Is she?” David asked calmly. “Or can the light play deceptive games like the darkness?”

Clara studied him, looking for any sign of weakness, but couldn’t read him.

“Go on,” she said.

“We both know that if Legion wins, you’ll still be here. They won’t even bother with you. You will be trapped here in a small pocket of light, while the rest of the world is in darkness.”

Clara visibly grimaced.

“If the light wins, you’ll be laid to rest...”

“The light won’t win,” she interrupted.

“Are you willing to bet your soul on that?”

Clara just stared.

“If the light wins without your help, you’ll be laid to rest in a manner that will keep you trapped in the light. You will never infest the world again. If you help me, you will be set free from here. The darkness will never take you back for helping me, and the light will never want you, but at least you’ll be out of here to wander where you choose.”

“What’s the catch?” she asked suspiciously.

“There’s no catch. Help me and I’ll help you.”

She thought about it. From the moment she had been left there, she had wondered if she would ever leave. She knew the darkness had abandoned her, and there would be no place for her in the new kingdom. She also found the idea of being a free agent somewhat appealing.

She knew her only chance of survival in either the dark world or the light was to get out of there. She looked around the room.

“What you want is not here. Show me the rest of the place.”

David smiled and led her to the next room. As soon as Clara entered, her eyes opened wide and she smiled.

“It’s there,” she whispered, pointing to the table and chairs that David had seen a hundred times before.

“What?” he asked. “The battle will be fought with a table and chairs?” he asked sarcastically.

“Don’t mock me, asshole!” she retorted. “It has been under your nose the whole time, but I guess you were never trusted enough to be told.”

“What is it, you old hag? I’m tired of you already!”

Clara stood with her back to the table and facing David.

“Don’t you think it’s strange, that there are thirteen chairs and thirteen books, yet there have never been more than twelve light-bearers gathered here at any one time?”

David didn’t understand.

Clara rolled her eyes.

“The thirteenth chair belongs to the darkness. It was taken from a demon by the light-bearers thousands of years ago and placed at your table, in the hope that the darkness would one day join the light in leading mankind in peace and love. The light seems to think it is possible for man to live free of evil. The twelve books in front of the other chairs are filled with ancient text, but the book in front of the thirteenth chair is nothing but blank pages, waiting for history to be written. Obviously it never has.

“Darkness has always refused to bow to the light’s command, and the chair has always remained empty. Now, the darkness will place its new-found member in that chair and corrupt it. When it does, that book will begin the new chapters of mankind’s history.”

Clara raised her arms and shrieked a squeal that sent a shiver down David’s spine. Twelve chairs and twelve books flew up and back, slamming into the walls.

The chairs crashed to the floor haphazardly, but the books all landed on chairs, regardless of where the chair fell and how it landed.

David knew that each of the books had been in front of each of the chairs since the light-bearers had begun, and every light-bearer who had sat in that chair had added to it. The messages in those books were so powerful, he knew he would have to destroy them all if the darkness won.

He looked at Clara. She had an arrogant smirk on her face.

“How do I stop them?” he asked.

Clara laughed loudly. “You want me to do everything? I have told you what you were looking for, now it’s your turn, light-bearer.”

David understood she didn’t actually know what to do. The arrogance had leached from her voice and posture, but he was one step closer to understanding the plans of the darkness.

“Set me free,” Clara said, interrupting his thoughts. He saw her weakness, but she quickly regained her arrogance when she saw him looking at her with compassion.

“We will set you free when this is over, Clara,” he replied. “We have an agreement and I will stick to it. You will walk free from the sanctuary; you have my word.”

Clara sank back into the shadows in the corner of the room where she could watch David die in comfort when Legion appeared. She could sense it getting closer. That familiar feeling of dread that accompanied Legion draped itself over her shoulders and even now, she was comforted by it.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

He had been driving for hours; only adrenalin kept him going. He had never been here before. He could feel the heavy, thick evilness drawing him from miles away, but this was the strongest he had ever felt it. He had been on the verge of nausea ever since he first felt the change.

So far, he had driven for two days and nights. He got the call when he was sitting in front of the slot machines in a sleazy, illegal casino where he spent most of his time. He was either there or in a gang-run strip club or illegal race track or adult theater, all places no one would think to look for him.

He had spent his life hiding from the darkness, within its own grasp. His life had consisted of one sleazy hole after another, but no one ever suspected. He was a master at slipping into shadows and never being caught. He saw beatings, drug deals, cheating, but never got heroic about it.

He knew more about what was happening than anyone. For as long as he could remember, he had been bursting at the seams to tell someone, anyone. There was no one to tell. In the world he inhabited, the only people he met were those on the edge of the darkness.

He had been forbidden to have dealings with women, make any friendships, and was denied all contact with loved ones. This had taken its toll on him. Many times he had fought the urge to embrace the darkness.

Often he had nearly fallen into the arms of a prostitute he found attractive, or accepted whiskey offered to him by another in one of the countless sleazy bars.

Now his strength and patience was rewarded. It was all coming together and he was the key. He had sought support from his guiding spirit many times, and was always led to do whatever was right.

He stopped his car on the side of the road amid a great forest and got out. Pulling on a large bush revealed a driveway he knew he had to follow. He eventually came to a large clearing. He saw the cabin and the outbuildings, and knew he was in the right place. The ancient stones scattered around where the monastery once stood comforted him. He knew this was where he had always longed to be.

It had the feel of home, but he kept pushing away the urge to turn from the light and run to the darkness. He ignored it and called out.

“Hello?”

There was no reply.

“Hello, anybody there?”

He heard a noise to his left and spun around. A man carrying a shotgun walked toward him. He was trying to look aggressive, but he looked into his soul; this man was calm, gifted and kind–and confused. He was expecting a messenger of the darkness, but couldn’t tell why there was the aura of darkness around this man, but not within him.

“Who are you?” David asked.

He showed David his palms to prove he carried no weapons and that he came in peace. He smiled and put his hands in the air. David didn’t relax.

“Hello David,” he said quietly.

“How do you know who I am?” David asked.

“It’s a long story, but I’m here to help.”

“Help with what?” David asked, betraying his lowering vigilance by slightly dipping the shotgun.

“To stop Legion,” he replied.

David was confused and desperate, but he wasn’t going to be tricked. He raised the gun again and studied the man. He was wearing a faded pair of jeans, black boots and a leather jacket. His hair was shoulder-length and untidy.

The man continued to smile.

“Please, lower the gun and listen. We don’t have much time. Elizabeth sent me. She has been my life-long guide and it’s important you trust me.”

David stared.

“David, look into me. See my connection with Elizabeth. Ignore the covering of darkness, that’s to keep me safe. Look past it. You will see.”