Beyond (35 page)

Gloria let out a worried sigh.
“
Meanwhile , these poor humans. They are so helpless. It is our war , not theirs. We need to intervene.
”

“
Apocalypse. Is this the end of the human race?
”
Jonah wonder ed .

“
It could well be if we can ’
t stop this war ,” Katherine replied.

“
I can ’
t believe it will come to this .
”
Margaret ’
s voice was low and unbelieving.

“
Have you prepared the venators?
”
Phill i p asked.

“
I have, but I ’
m afraid we could be out numbered .
We have the watchers —a ll of our watchers if needed.
”

“
Perhaps we need to speak to the Royal Council ,”
Emmanuel suggested.

“
They won ’
t intervene.
”
Katherine turn ed to Phillip .
“
We are going to need your team as well.
”

Phillip
nod ded .
“
They have been prepared for a very long time.
Meanwhile , I ’
ll send Caleb and Vivian to assist you.
”

“
Don ’
t forget we have Claudia too ,”
Jeremiah said.

“
We had Claudia ,”
Kathe rine mutter ed , unable to look him in the eye.

“
What?
”
Jeremiah stood up.
“
What do you mean…had?
”

“
She ’
s been , what you could say…absent.
”

“
Absent? What has Austin been doing?
”

“
Don ’
t blame this on Austin. He can ’
t control her memories and her actions ,” Katherine snapped.

“
I suggest you bring her in soon and keep her on track ,” Jeremiah huffed.

“
You knew this would be a possibility. She does not have an ordinary soul. I was against this from the start. Selective memory can be temporary. We should have let her be and guide d her into becoming a venator instead of forc ing it upon her.
”

“
She would ’
ve never have agree d to it, ”
Jeremiah rebutted.

“
And how do you know? We should ’ve tried. I should ’
ve strongly stated my case and fought for what I thought was right !”
Katherine fired back.
“
We need to make changes. Everything changes with time —cultures, technologies and the human race —but we ’
ve been a t a stand still. They are half-human after all. They have human wants, needs and desire. We can ’
t force them not to feel , or we might as we ll treat them like robots. Even we are weak as angels …
how can we expect them to turn off their emotions ?
With the right guidelines and restrictions, we can have both…human and angel life.
”

There was silence in the room, filled with mixed emotions as their eyes opened to Katherine ’
s words.

“
Perhaps you ’
re right, ”
Jonah agreed.
“
I agree we need to make changes, but never will I agree to allow them to exercise their human needs and wants.
”

“
I agree, ”
some shouted.

Katherine exhaled a disappointed sigh and shook he r head.
“
Old farts, ”
she mouthed , thinking of Davin. This was something he would say.
How he ma de her laugh, then s he laughed inwardly.

“
What are you planning to do if Claudia ’
s memories come back?
”
Phillip asked, breaking Katherine ’
s thought s .

“
I guess we ’
ll have to wait and see. Lucy brought her up like her own .
I trust Claudia will know the difference between right and wrong no matter how angry she may be.
Meanwhile , we need to control the dark shadows from becoming demons. I ’
m going to send the venators in search for demon activities around the world. We ’
ll have to get rid of them quickly before they spread like disease. Hopefully we ’
re not too late. Everyone be prepare d for war. I ’
ll contact you all if I need further assistance.
”

“
God speed, ”
everyone sa id as the meeting was dismissed.

Chapter
2
2

Victor
pace d back and forth inside the abandon ed building, frantically trying to figure out an excuse for why he was unsuccessful at capturing an angel with the h oly soul—Benjamin. Feeling petrified, his hands shudder ed , his muscles ached like n ever before , and his eyes twitch ed from nervousness. He looked at his wristwatch , making sure he had the correct date and time ; Sunday, May 16
th , 2:00
P.M.
When a sudden soft whisper of wind swept through , he knew Master was t here.

Master walked out from the shadows
.
Victor ’
s heart pounde d out of his chest so hard his lungs felt like balloons ready to pop.
“
Master, ”
Victor called, lower ing his head in submission.

“
Awww, Victor, no need to fear. Let your heart rest before you have a heart attack.
”
Master walked away , swiping the dust of the desk with the tips of his finger and examin ing it clos ely.
“
Hmmm….I wonder if these are ashes from an Earth angel or just plain dust. I hope you have good news.
”

“
Ummm…you see…
.
”

“
‘
You see ’
doesn ’
t sound like good new s, and I don ’
t like bad news.
”
Master dart ed his evil eyes towards Victor’s .

Trying not to make it obvious, Victor turned his head, thinking about escaping ; but how? Just as these thoughts desperately ran through his mind, the girl he met last time appeared. Exhaling a deep breath, he thank ed God he may live to see another day.

Master
’s angered face li t up with a grin.
“
To w hat do I owe the pleasure of seeing you here, my dear? I hope it ’
s better news than what he has to say. Have you brought me the apple?
”

“
Must we do this?
”
she asked.

Master
look ed lovingly in her eyes . He r an his hand tenderly down her hair.
“
You ’
re not backing out on me , are you?
”

The girl cringe
d inwardly from the touch of his boney fingers that she no longer recognized.
“
I…I just don ’
t know anymore .”

“
Hmmm…
”
Master disappointedly walked away and turned his attention to Victor.
“
Victor.
”

Startled by hearing his name,
Victor froze a few feet from the door. He had man aged to creep away during their conversation.

“
Don ’
t worry. I haven ’
t forgotten you were there. So…where is the angel with the special soul ?
I know my daughter had given you your assignment some time ago.
”

“
He…there was this angel…we were outnumbere d , ”
Victor rambled.
“
The blood seekers have him.
”

“
What ?
!
”
Master bellowed angrily , so loud that the windows shattered.

“
Michael…he was…was there, ”
he stuttered as beads of sweat mark ed his forehead.

“
Michael!
”
He hollered like he had been defeated. His eyes turned the color of on y x and concentrated on Victor again. Master extended his arm and will ed Victor across the room . H
e g ripped Victor ’
s neck. His feet dangled from the ground.
“
You pathetic Earth angel.
”

“
Father!
”
t he girl yelled .
“
Let him go. It ’
s not hi s fault. He can ’
t help that his powers are not like yours.
They’re really not yours anyway.
”

Master release
d his hold. Victor dropped to the floor and crawled a w ay as far and fast as he could , cough ing relentlessly.

“
What have you done with my daughter?
”

“
What have you done with my father?

“
Your father is still here. I ’
m just using his body like we agreed.
”

“
What are you talking about?
”
Blinking in surprise, she back ed away , astounded by the words that c a me out of his mouth. This wasn ’
t her father. Whatever was inside him was taking over and she noted the dark circle s under his eyes ; plus, she had never seen them change color like that before.

“
Oh dear…looks like your father didn ’
t impart that information to you.
”

“
What? Who are you?
”

“
I ’
m still your father. I ’
m still the one who took care of you.
”

“
Everything you ’
ve told me is a lie.
”

“
How dare you speak to your father that way, ”
Master ’
s tone was low and cold.

“
You are wrong about the venators and you are wrong about Katherine.
”

Master took several steps toward her, but when she backed away, he stopped.
“
Have they brainwashed you , my child?
”

“
No…I ’
ve seen their love firsthand. They are not the evil beings you say they are. I ’
ve never been with angels like them before. Their bond and how they care for one another is so…rare.
They’
re part of a team, fighting for the same purpose …
the purpose you are out to destroy.
”

“
Ahhh…, ”
Master sighed softly.
“
Indeed , they have brainwashed you. You only see what they want you to see. Don ’
t forget, they are the one s that took your mother away from you .”

“
They may have erased her memories, but you are the one who took me away from her.
”

“
For a very good cause.
”

“
I ’
m just your means to an end.
”

“
No, that ’
s not true. You are everything to me.
”

The girl
close d the gap between them.
“
Please. Let him go. Release yourself from him. Can ’
t you see, he is taking over your body , w hoever it is.
I can ’
t tell if it ’
s him or you.
”

“
No, I can ’
t .
”
He shamefully turned away.
“
We are stronger and more powerf ul from our union .
”