The Necromancer - Part 4

         Kara felt like pulling her hair out again for somewhere around the thousandth time since the meeting had begun. She could hear the reed-thin man drone on in his nasalish voice, but could no longer really comprehend what he was saying. Mind numb and weary, all she desired at that moment was to find the Succubus, cuddle up in her arms, and sleep. The man's words did not matter anyway; it was just the same things that he had said countless times before repeated over again. That was all the men here seemed to do; drone on and on repeating themselves.
         "Lady Kara. You said your people follow the Holy Book of Heaven, right?" With a start, Kara realized that she was being addressed. So seldom had the men deigned to speak to her, that at several points she had actually debated simply falling asleep. She doubted very seriously the pompous bastards would have even noticed. All she had time to do was nod before Father Kurn; the reed-thin man who had been droning on before; began to speak again. It was a habit of his she had noticed, and one that truly annoyed her. "Is that the Divine or Pious version? It is very important that you get this right, child. So be sure to think before you speak."
         "Uhm... the Divine, I think. I mean... I know. It's the Divine." Not that Kara could see why it really mattered. As far as she had ever been able to tell, the two only differed a little in the interpretation of a few passages anyway. She knew it mattered a great deal to this group, though. Their holy rhetoric was everything to them, and the slightest differences in faith would be of great significance. She was doing her best to convince them that a merger would be beneficial to both people, but so far the meeting had not gone as well as she would have liked.
         "See? Now how can we trust them to be a holy people if this woman barely knows which book they use?" Father Matthew stood up as he spoke, attempting to dominate the conversation again as he had since the beginning. Kara could not help but sigh audibly as she heard his voice. He was definitely her most vehement competition, refusing to see any opinion that was not his own. "I find it great suspect that these Shelter 29 people would send two women and only one man to speak to us. Is it their intention to insult us by sending a woman to discuss the matters of men?"
         Not for the first time, Kara wished she had not left her bow outside the room. Her hand itched to put an arrow into Father Matthew's righteous mouth. The man was at least forty years of age, with a full head of prematurely silver hair. His face was hard and stern, with the weathered and wrinkled look of someone who never changed his expression. He was tall and stoutly built, with not a soft spot anywhere on him. Not even his heart.
         "I say they are messengers of the devil, sent to lead us astray! Have you seen the other female? No woman's body should look so. It is unholy, I say." Kara's mouth twitched into a smile at Father Matthew's words, silently wondering if he truly knew how close to the truth he was about the Succubus. She was curious what he would say if he could see her in her true form. "The way she moves and the clothes she wears; I say it is all to lead us into temptation! She is here to twist the minds of pure men. Even I have found myself shamefully thinking of carnal sins when I look at her!"
         "Father Matthew, please! We all know your devotion to our souls, but that's no reason to insult our guest." The man who spoke was a great deal younger than Father Matthew, and held a great deal more composure. Kara thought he was perhaps around her own age, with the same pale skin and plain clothing of everyone else here. He had an easy way about him, though, and a wonderful laugh that had made her like him from the start. He was also the sole person in the room she could call an ally. "You would have us believe they are demons spawned from hell to steal our children away in the night. Yes, their clothing and ways are different from ours, but is that not expected? They haven't been blessed with the chance to live as we have, after all. The fact that they have survived at all proves their favor in the eyes of Heaven. Besides, no demon could ever be as lovely or gracious as Lady Kara."
         The young man's words made her blush, but Kara was still deeply thankful for them. She had been fighting for the last two hours trying to get the elders and priests of the cathedral just to agree to consider a merger. She had not made much headway, constantly being side-tracked with issues of ideology and theology. It was easy for the men here to stall and take their time coming to a decision; it was not their people fighting every minute for survival against the demons. It was hers.
         "I believe you let your trusting nature get the better of you, brother Samuel." Father Sermon had set quietly for most of the meeting, only interjecting here or there. Usually it was in a futile attempt to keep some sort of order to the proceeding. Kara did not exactly like the man, but she certainly did not envy his position. "No one here thinks they are 'demons', but it cannot be denied that we must think of the welfare of our flock first. How will this merger affect their spiritual well-being?"
         "Listen to me, please. My people are a deeply spiritual conclave, and this merger can only benefit us both!" Kara stood up as she spoke, putting as much entreaty into her voice and expression as she could. "We need your help, and if you are truly as holy as you say then you will not turn us down."
         "The Lady Kara forgets her place, and should speak only when she is spoken too." Father Matthew had also stood up, his pale gray eyes trying to stare holes into her. Kara knew not where his well-spring of hatred for her sprang from, but it seemed endless.
         "And Father Matthew forgets himself, and does not realize he is not my real father."
         "You would speak to me with such disrespect, you whore of Babylon? Your kind have no fathers!" Small bits of spit flew from Father Matthew's mouth as he raged, his hands balled into fists at his side. With each word, he leaned further over the table towards her in open hostility. No longer able to hold her temper in check, Kara leaned over as well in challenge. "Leave our hallowed cathedral, and take your seducing slut and that crawling blackness in the guise of a man with you!"
         "I am not a little girl for you to bully! I will show you the same respect you show me!"
         "Father Matthew! You disgrace the priesthood with your actions."
         "Listen not to her words, brothers! She is a Jesabel deceiver!"
         All three of them erupted at the same time; Kara, Father Matthew, and Brother Samuel. Their words ran over each other, each trying to out-volume the other. Their tirade went on only for a moment, but it was enough to make the rest of the men seated move their chairs a bit away. Finally Father Sermon cut in, banging a metal cup on the table as he spoke.
         "There will be quiet! Enough of this!" Father Sermon's cheeks giggled as he spoke, his entire head shaking violently with the motion of his body. "Lady Kara, you gave a poor example of your people today. To react so unbecomingly of a woman is a horrible way to try and convince us to merge with your conclave. Do not look so smug, Father Matthew. Your actions were no better. You are going to get married tonight, and here you are arguing with a woman instead of preparing for the holy event. You disgrace yourself in the eyes of Heaven! Only Brother Samuel acted with grace, and I greatly doubt his motives in doing it. This meeting has ended. There will be no more talk about a merger until after the wedding!"
         Kara suddenly felt very cold as she watched the men shuffle out of the room. All she could think of was how she had messed up; how she had thrown away her people's only chance just to spite some old man. She barely even heard Brother Samuel's parting words, just nodding to him blankly in response. She was well aware, though, of Father Matthew's triumphant grin as he walked by. She had to fight down the urge to get up and strangle the man. Instead, all she did was stay sitting there as all the others left. When the last one had departed, all she could do was lay her head down on the table and fight back the tears and frustration.
         "Are you a pious woman, daughter of eve?" So startled by the unexpected voice, Kara nearly fell from her chair as she jumped. Turning quickly to see who had spoken from behind her, she nearly fell again as she looked at him. "Are you sincere in your wish to serve the will of Heaven, and to be granted protection by its warriors?"
         Kara quickly moved from her chair into a kneeling position, bowing her head low to the angel that had spoken. He was gorgeous; utterly brilliant in hues of white, gold, and silver. His wings; the color of snow; rested folded upon his back. Long, golden hair framed a face carved by an artist, while delicate hands lay comfortably on the hilt of his jeweled sword. Floating an inch above the floor, his feet never once touched the ground. Kara could not help her eyes watering, even though she was not sure if it was from the brightness of his image or from the joy of seeing it.
         "I... I am, your Lordship." The words seemed to trip up on one another, so eager was she to say them. Kara could think of a million things she wished to say; to ask a messenger of Heaven, but could not decide which to speak first. "I really am. Ask any... anything of me, and I will give it."
         "We ask only for devotion. Devotion from you and yours." The angel's voice was beautiful, like the clear ringing of a church bell. Every word seemed to echo and hang in the air for a moment before fading away. "From your children, and your children's children. We have looked into your soul, daughter of Eve. We know you are willing to give this. Do so, and we will go to your people and accept their devotion. Rejoice, for you have succeeded in your mission."
         "But... the meeting... the priests... and... and... the fighting. I... I don't understand. I thought they would say no."
         "Faith requires no understanding. You do have faith, daughter of Eve?" Kara quickly nodded, even though her head was still spinning in an attempt to catch up to what was happening. After the meeting, she had been sure the priests would do everything they could to destroy any chance of a merger, especially Father Matthew. Now, though, she was being told by an angel that the merger was all but definite as long as she proved her devotion. It made her dizzy with emotions. "The priests will be told of the decision, and will agree with it. Go now and enjoy the holy union tonight, and come to us at the first signs of dawn. We will await you in the main chamber."
         The angel left as quickly as he had come, leaving Kara feeling drained and lost. Nothing seemed to make any sense. All that she knew was that she had succeeded, but she was not exactly sure how. She felt the tears coming on long before they ever started to fall, but never tried to stop them. They were tears of frustration, relief, and insecurity. After awhile, she got up, composed herself, and left the room as well. Whatever the reasons, she had secured the merger. Her people would be safe, and that was all that mattered.

                                       *********

                "Two hundred. With those we have here and those there, we can quickly pull into the lead." The angel reclined easily against the brick wall of the cathedral's bell tower. No part of him actually ever touched the wall; to be soiled by the base things of this plane was unthinkable; but it served much the same purpose. To relax. "Over five hundred of them breeding. Our yield each year should greatly please Gabriel."
         "I am sure it would, Daviel, but how would you have us guard both flocks?" Chayyiel stopped the polishing of his sword long enough to stare at the angel leaning against the wall. It only took a moment for Daviel to get the hint and stand up straight. In the presence of Chayyiel, there was no such thing as being lax. "Gabriel will not give us any more soldiers, and we barely have enough to dissuade the demons from attacking us here. We cannot split our forces, and there is no way to fit them all into this cathedral. Besides, I have grown tired of this place and these humans."
         The word 'human' came out of Chayyiel's mouth with just a bit less hate than the word 'demon'. With a flourish, the angel sheathed his sword and stood up. Towering well above six feet, Chayyiel was easily one of the largest angels. His wings and armor held countless scars from previous battles, while the whip and sword hanging at his waist declared him as a warrior seraphim. His features held the same artistic touch as those of his brethren, but while they could be called beautiful he could only be called imposing.
         "No, there will be no merger. It is time to harvest."
         "Are you sure that's wise? What about Gabriel?" Daviel looked down at the floor as he noticed Chayyiel staring at him again. Few had ever been able to stare Chayyiel in the eye for long. "I am sorry. I did not mean to question you. You are of a higher choir than I, and I will listen to your orders."
         "You had best, Daviel. I take no pleasure in reprimanding another angel." Fingering the whip at his side as he spoke, few who had felt the sting of Chayyiel's 'reprimands' would believe his words. Before the Apocalypse, he had been the chief angel of punishment. His purpose in existence had been the torture of those found deserving of it. It did not fit well with him that now all he was, was the glorified shepherd of a few hundred humans. "With the souls we will harvest from those here, we can put Gabriel nicely in the lead with his little war. We can then move to this 'Shelter 29' and set up there. Gabriel will get an influx of souls and continue to have a field to harvest from, while we get a change of scenery. All involved are well served."
         "I understand. It will be done. When would you have us begin?"
         "Wait until after the human has come to us and pledged her devotion. That way we can harvest her soul as well. No point in taking a chance that a demon might get to her first." Chayyiel continued to caress the leather of his whip. The rough edges of broken glass and bits of metal embedded in it pricked at his skin, making him smile. "And don't do it yourself, Daviel. Let the humans do what they do best. Round up the most devoted, and get them to sacrifice the others before sacrificing themselves. That way we don't have to touch the filthy things."
         "As you command, Chayyiel."
         As Daviel spun around and walked away, his lips turned up in a smile. Despite his opposition, he too was eager for a change. He would have preferred a post back at the front lines of the war, but simply getting to leave the cathedral would be enough. Then there was also the added bonus of the harvesting. He had always had a fascination with the human's ability to destroy one another, and now he would have ample opportunity to see it first hand. It was with these thoughts in mind that he made his way to the bell tower stairs.
         "Oh, and Daviel?" Daviel froze at the top of the stairs, his blood going cold. Something in Chayyiel's tone of voice warned him of what was coming. All he could do was close his eyes, and brace for the impact. "Don't ever question me again."
         The whip split the air with a horrible screeching sound. As the tip left Chayyiel's hand, it burst into flames. Flames that seared the perfect white feathers on Daviel's back once it made impact. The length of the whip wrapped across his back and side, bits of glass and metal tearing at his flesh. It seemed to stay there for an eternity; the flames constantly eating at his body; before finally being pulled away. The smell of burnt feathers remained in the air. Daviel managed to stay afloat through it all, but just barely.
         "A reminder of who is in command. Now go, and be thankful I am feeling merciful today."