Rise of the Beast (53 page)

Krissie walked into one of the village dormitories accompanied by Lielani. The first thing that struck her was just how austere it was. It reminded her of a marine barracks—all spit and polish, but incredibly uninviting. Each of the villagers, as they were called, had a cot and a footlocker that fit under the bed for their personal belongings. On the far wall was a huge poster of Lusan behind a podium in a large stadium. Krissie recognized it as the Stade Vélodrome, the site of the first great miracle. Below it were the words, “Ushering in a new age of peace.” Right now the dormitory was deserted.

“This is a woman’s dormitory,” explained Lielani. “There are four dormitories for the men and four for the women. Right now all of the villagers are working in the fields. They had breakfast and headed out at sunrise. In about two hours they will be heading to the chapel to begin their midday studies and prayers. They will be there for four hours. Then after lunch, they will be out in the fields again for about two hours. They conclude their day in service in the chapel.”

“Sounds like a rough schedule,” noted Krissie.

“But it builds character,” interjected Lielani. “Actually, tonight most of the villagers will be getting some free time here in the dormitory. It will give them time to write to loved ones at home. We don’t allow them to use phones or email. Isolation from the world is an important part of the experience here. Tonight we are going to have a union ceremony. Normally, only initiates and those
who have already experienced the union will be in attendance. I’ve arranged for you to be there to see the entire thing for yourself. It will give you a better appreciation of what this whole thing is about. Prepare to be amazed.”

“Sounds cool,” replied Krissie. “I was hoping I’d get to see one of those.”

“I guarantee you, it will be a life-changing experience,” promised Lielani.

They next visited the chapel. Again, it was sort of an underwhelming experience. It reminded Krissie of a small country church. There were rows of wooden pews set before a slightly elevated pulpit. Off to the sides of the main sanctuary were a series of smaller classrooms and prayer rooms. What captured Krissie’s interest the most was a large double door, apparently made of metal, behind the pulpit. It had the color and luster of gold and was engraved with symbols that Krissie couldn’t identify. Upon each door was a keyhole of a size far greater than those used today. Krissie wondered just how large the key that fit it might be.

“That door leads to the holy of holies,” said Lielani. “It is there that the ritual of union is conducted.”

“May I see what it looks like?” asked Krissie.

“You’ll see it this evening,” promised Lielani. “It is a very special place for us. We can’t just go barging in anytime. You’ll understand why tonight.”

Krissie only nodded. She would eagerly await tonight’s festivities.

The afternoon was spent talking with the villagers. They were indeed a strange lot. Some were very animated, excited to be a part of the program, while others seemed exceptionally restrained. Still others were more troubling. They were like the walking dead, hardly acknowledging Krissie’s presence. Krissie could easily see why these people and the scientists on the far side of the island had little in common.

Later that evening, Krissie again met with Les and Nabuko. She spoke of what she had seen in the village. The more she thought of it, the more troubling it all seemed.

“Perhaps you should back out on this ritual you speak of,” suggested Nabuko. “It does not sound good to me.”

“This is a fact-finding mission,” replied Krissie. “I was sent here by Andre Lusan himself. They wouldn’t hurt me. Mr. Lusan listens to what I have to say.
He respects my opinions. That’s why I’m here. If heads are going to roll, mine won’t be one of them.”

“I hope you’re right,” said Les.

Krissie looked out from the balcony. She saw a vehicle coming up the road from the village compound. She glanced at her watch. “That’s probably my ride,” she announced. “I’ll tell you all about this ritual when I get back. At least I’ll tell you what I can. I’m sure it’s not as sinister as it all sounds.”

“I hope you’re right,” said Nabuko.

Krissie smiled, but said nothing. She made her way down to the front entrance just in time to meet the security guard driving up in the golf cart.

“You’re right on schedule,” he said pleasantly. “Miss Lorenz will meet you at the chapel.”

“How long does this ceremony take?” asked Krissie, stepping into the vehicle.

“Not too long,” replied the security guard. “It depends on how many people are being inducted. Tonight it will be just one. It will probably be just an hour if you don’t stay for the reception afterward.”

“Oh I wouldn’t miss the reception,” replied Krissie.

“Then I’ll probably have you back here by 11,” said the guard, pulling out once more. “I’m sure you will find what you see tonight enlightening.”

It took just under three minutes to reach the chapel. Lielani was waiting for her under the light just in front of the entrance. She was dressed in a long white ceremonial gown of some sort with long-flowing sleeves. Down the front were some sort of golden letters that Krissie couldn’t make out.

“Oh wow, Lielani, you’re a real knock-out in that dress,” said Krissie. “Very nice.”

Lielani laughed softly. “Thank you, ma’am,” she said, bowing slightly. “No union ritual would be complete without all of the pomp and fancy regalia. It is something that the master, I mean, the founder, insists upon. It makes the whole ceremony more memorable for the inductee and those who celebrate with them. It’s like a graduation or a wedding. We all have to look the part.”

“Oh, I fully agree,” replied Krissie.

Lielani smiled broadly. “Well, let’s head on in, shall we?”

Within the chapel, Krissie encountered four female villagers dressed in the same manner as Lielani, and four male villagers dressed in long white robes that seemed to be fashion coordinated to those of their female counterparts. They milled around, talking among themselves. What surprised her was the presence of four uniformed security guards.

“We need to get you ready,” continued Lielani.

One of the villager women handed Krissie a white dress, and a pair of light tan slippers. She seemed a bit surprised as it was handed to her.

“Remember, we all play our part,” said Lielani. “The dressing room is over there. We’ll be getting started in just a few minutes.”

Krissie smiled nervously. Right now she wasn’t all that certain that coming here this evening was such a good idea. She headed into the dressing room. After a moment of hesitation she removed her sharp looking business attire and put on the white dress. It was rather becoming; there was no doubt of that, yet it didn’t quite look like the one worn by the other women. It was only about knee length for one thing, and it lacked the lettering down the front. For another, it lacked the long flowing sleeves the others possessed—in fact, it was sleeveless.

Krissie paused at the door before taking a deep breath and stepping from the dressing room. The group looked at her approvingly.

“Very nice,” said Lielani.

“Why is my dress different than yours?” asked Krissie.

“Because we have all undergone the union ceremony, but you haven’t,” she replied. “It is a symbol of passage.” Lelani paused. “Well, let us get started.”

Two of the guards brought forth a pair of heavy keys that were a good four inches long each. They had the color of brass. They approached the great door, one from the left and one from the right, and inserted the keys into the keyholes. A pair of sharp metallic clicks announced that the doors were now unlocked. The group approached it.

“Stay at my side,” said Lielani to Krissie. “I’ll show you what you’ll need to do.”

The massive doors, fully four inches thick, opened before them, and the group entered. Krissie discovered a wide set of steps that led downward through a stone block tunnel and then turned to the right. The way was lit by torches along the wall; the flames possessed a somewhat-strange, light-yellow color.

“Watch your step, Krissie,” said Lielani, as she guided her along. “Sometimes the steps are a bit slippery.”

Krissie looked back to see the doors close behind her. She was surprised to see two of the guards were following the procession several steps back.

Krissie was amazed to discover that the flames of the torches gave off no heat whatsoever. What sort of flame did that?

About 30 steps down, the stone block wall gave way to the rippling walls of a natural limestone cavern. Still they proceeded downward and then to the right with the curving tunnel. After over a minute, the steps led into a horizontal natural tunnel complete with shimmering white stalactites hanging from the high ceiling. It was pleasantly cool here.

“This is a natural cavern,” said Lielani. “It is one of several here on the island, but this one is the most impressive.”

Ahead the passage forked to the left and right. The passage to the left was dark and sloped rather sharply downward. A fairly weak, but nonetheless terrible odor emanated from it. It was like a combination of sulfur and tar, thoroughly disgusting. They bypassed it, following the illuminated corridor to the right.

After about another 30 seconds, they emerged from the tunnel into an indeed large cavern room, about 50 or 60 feet in diameter. The ceiling was at least 30 feet high, armored with five-foot-long stalactites. Like the tunnel they had just passed through, the floor of this cavern room had apparently been leveled and smoothed.

There were 13 torches mounted to the wall around the room, yet they were not the only source of illumination. The cavern walls themselves seemed to glow a dull green.

At the center of the room was a circular, white marble slab, about six inches high and 20 feet in diameter. Its surface was like glass. The whole way around its edges were golden symbols etched into the stone, probably some form of lettering.

“They are letters of the universal tongue of all angels,” said Lielani, pointing to the glistening symbols. Apparently she’d anticipated Krissie’s next question.

Krissie looked toward the center of the slab to see a heavy, black chair facing in their direction. She couldn’t tell if it was made of wood or painted metal.

One disturbing feature of this chair was a series of leather straps that were apparently designed to restrain the occupant’s ankles, wrists, and waist to the chair. It looked like something straight from death row.

“This is where it all happens,” announced Lielani. “This is where it began for all of us.” Lielani took Krissie’s hand. “Come.” She led Krissie onto the cool marble slab and toward the chair.

“What are you doing?” asked Krissie.

“I wanted this to be a surprise,” said Lielani. “Or shall I say, Master Lusan wanted it to be a surprise. Tonight you are going to experience the union for yourself.”

Krissie turned to see the two security guards step up onto the marble platform. A chill swept up her spine. “Look, I’m honored, but I’m not sure that I can accept this honor. I mean, I haven’t gone through the program. I’m not prepared. I’m not worthy.”

A swell of mirth swept through the entire group. It only added to Krissie’s fear.

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous,” said Lielani, “of course you are. If anyone is worthy, you are. You welcomed the master into your home. You served him faithfully all of these years. It was you and your husband who made it possible for him to reach out into the world and who defended him from his enemies.” Lielani motioned to the chair. “Please, have a seat.”

“No,” insisted Krissie, “I can’t.”

“You can and you will,” said Lielani, her tone of voice more forceful. “Do you really think that you have a choice? We could compel you to sit in that chair, but it would be far better if you did it of your own free will.”

Krissie looked about frantically. She realized that there was no way out.

“Sit down,” repeated Lielani. “Sit down and I’ll explain the whole thing as we prepare you.”

With no real choice, Krissie sat down on the cold, metal chair, gasping in fear. Lielani stepped back. Within seconds the guards had forced her back into the chair and tightened the leather strap about her waist.

“Where should I begin?” pondered Lielani. “Well, at the beginning of course. When you met Lusan and Duras in the park, they were in flight, refugees from a war—a War in Heaven. Lusan should, by all rights, have been the ruler of the angels. Yet he was cheated by both men and angels. He retreated to Earth, where he saved your miserable life. But you have paid him back many times over. Now you are to be rewarded.”

“I don’t understand,” wept Krissie, as her wrists were strapped to the arms of the chair. “Lusan was sent here by God.”

Lielani shook her head. “I’m afraid not, sweetheart. God allowed him to challenge the archangels, Gabriel and Michael, but he did not send him here. He is on a mission of his own.”

“Who is he?” asked Krissie.

“Oh come on, girl. I thought you’d have figured that out by now,” said Lielani, caressing Krissie’s cheek even as the security officers strapped her ankles in place. “He goes by many names—the Deceiver, the Prince of Darkness, Phosphorous, but the name by which he is best known is Satan.”

“Oh God!” gasped Krissie, pulling upon her now secured restraints with all too predictable results.

“Yes,” confirmed Lielani. “In a very short time he will be your god, your master, not the founder.” She paused for a minute, watched the tears coming to Krissie’s eyes. “Oh, don’t worry, Krissie. You’re not some sort of human sacrifice or something like that. You are far too vital to us for that. What you are going to be is a spy, an undercover agent, so to speak. You are going to spy on your husband, inform the master’s minions of his every move. You see, we think he is starting to have second thoughts about serving the master. If he becomes a liability, well, you will be the one who terminates him. Killed by the one he loves most in the whole world—now that’s irony.”

“I’d never hurt Leland,” cried Krissie.

“Yes you would, or at least your body would,” replied Lielani. “Let me tell you a story. For thousands of years, the master has controlled people by having his minions control them. Usually it was just by appealing to their greed, lust,
or avarice. But from time to time, stronger measures became necessary. You might call it demon possession. In that case, the demon’s spirit enters his human victim and uses his powerful will to override theirs. Still, there is a downside to such a possession. Most humans fight their demon masters. The demon spirit expends much of his energy just trying to control his host. At critical moments, the host might even find the strength to keep his master in check for a few fleeting seconds. Sometimes that can make the difference between a successful mission and failure.”