Enid walked to the front desk looking like she’d been through an explosion. She smiled at the woman at the desk and addressed her in Italian.
“Excuse me, I lost my room key. I was wondering if you could replace it for me?”
The woman looked her up and down. Enid looked right back at her.
“Are you sure you’re in the right hotel, ma’am?”
Enid looked down at her dirty hoodie filthy hands. She could see her tangled mass of red hair in the mirror. And she sighed.
“Yes, yes, I’m sure. It’s the Picasso suite. And before you call security or the police, let me get my passport out.”
Enid reached into her Atlantean bag and focused on her passport which she found in her hand and offered it to the woman. The woman looked at the picture then at Enid and then at the booking and handed it back.
“Thank you, was it stolen?”
“No, I had a mishap, and it was shattered.”
“Should I call for an ambulance?”
“No, I’m fine, my phone and room key, not so much.”
The woman nodded and turned back and after a few minutes she turned back and offered another one of the plastic key cards to Enid. Enid took the offered key card and slid it into her pocket.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, ma’am. If you need anything, let us know, or if you need to arrange to meet with the police.”
“No, I’ve already spoken to them. Thank you for your concern.”
Enid walked to the elevator and tapped the button to go up. She glanced at a couple of young men who came and stood beside her, they were looking her up and down. She grew slightly annoyed and tapped the button a few more times. The elevator arrived and she got in, the men joined her she pressed the button for her floor, it was the top floor, the young men hit another button. If she had to guess she’d say brothers. Probably nineteen or twenty. Not terrible looking. They were trying not to stare at her. If she were a normal sixteen-year-old which is what she appeared to be by age and size she’d probably be embarrassed by how she looked, but her being as old as she was just didn’t give a goat’s piss. She watched them get off with a few glances back to her she rolled her eyes after the doors closed and walked out when the doors opened again on the floor she was staying.
Enid took a deep breath and slid her card into the card reader. She opened the door. Inside she found Eyre looking disheveled and dressed in uncharacteristic yoga pants and t-shirt. Maria for her part was dressed as usual looking like a Victorian lady in mourning. Lots of black lace and taffeta. Eyre looked up from her tablet at Enid. She sounded angry when she spoke:
“Where have you been mother?”
Enid quirked an eyebrow.
“That’s my business.”
“We were worried sick about you.”
“Hello. I’m the parent here, my business is my own. You’ve gone a century without seeing me, and suddenly I leave for a night, and you freak out?”
“I’m pretty sure if we had cell phones you wouldn’t have ignored my calls or texts.”
“If I did, it would be my business, Eyre, I’m the thing that goes bump in the night, not the other way around.”
“You can’t do this anymore mom, you have people depending on you: me, Maria, the Pope. The Vatican has called me six times!”
“I had to sort some things out, privately. Let’s leave it at that.”
“Fine, whatever, what are you going to do about the Vatican calling?”
“I will have a shower; I will put on my Sarah face, and we will see what it is all about.”
“You are going to have a shower first? It’s the Pope.”
“Yes, and I’ve lived through like two hundred and fifty of them, an extra thirty minutes will not hurt anyone, and you’re eight hundred years old, you’d think you’d have learned some patience.”
Enid didn’t quite slam the bathroom door as she went inside, but she was tempted.
This is why kids are the death of mortals.
Enid walked out of the bathroom. She was wearing her Sarah face. The long platinum blonde hair was tied back with a black scrunchy. She chose a black pencil skirt and a conservative white blouse. Eyre looked more put together and was wearing a similar outfit.
“Eyre, may I borrow your phone?”
“Where’s yours?”
“Long story. Please may I borrow your phone?”
Eyre pulled her phone out of her purse and passed it to Enid. Enid pulled the card she had received while at the Vatican. She dialed the number and waited for an answer. It was a female voice greeting her.
“My name is Sarah O’connor, I’m guessing you’re waiting for my call?”
“Yes, yes. Could you come to the Vatican please?”
“Sure, could you send a car?”
“You are staying at the same hotel?”
“Yes.”
“One will be there shortly.”
“Thank you.”
Enid hung up the phone and handed it back to Eyre. Eyre looked at Enid.
“Now where is your phone?”
“It got smashed.”
“How?”
“Like I said it’s a long story, let’s just leave it at that.”
“Why are you being so cryptic?”
“Because I’m not in the mood to discuss it with you.”
“You trust me with everything mom.”
“No, I really don’t. Quit pestering me before I stake you for a few decades.”
Eyre frowned and pursed her lips, she put her phone back in her purse.
“You can’t do that mom; I have an amulet.”
Enid’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
“Thanks again dad.”
Eyre frowned at her.
“We should go get ready for the car.”
Enid made a motion for her to go first. Eyre walked out of the door. Enid could tell by her facial expression and posture she was pouting. She felt slightly bad but wasn’t sure how to explain she was now literally a lesser clone of God. Maria followed Eyre and stroked her crucifix. The car arrived and the three piled in. Eyre looked at her mother’s now very blue eyes, her own green ones clouded with a tinge of anger.
“Do you have anything to say to Maria?”
Enid rubbed her face then looked to Maria who wasn’t looking in her eyes. She spoke in Atlantean.
“I’m sorry Maria, you are not Mariana anymore and to blame you for her choices was wrong of me.”
Maria’s fingers continued to stroke her crucifix she looked up at Enid slowly meeting her gaze. Responding in the same language.
“You have my permission to be angry with what I did back then. I can see you loved Lucius very much and that my choices even if I do not remember them hurt you very badly.”
“Maria, I shouldn’t have said those things. I know better, I am better. My anger got the best of me, and my response last night tells me I need to talk to someone about what has me so angry or I will never be able to do what I need to do. We are sisters and I should always be on your side. I promise I will do better; I will be better.”
Maria gave a small smile and nodded.
“You are very angry I can feel it. I am here for you sister.”
Maria put her own scar over Enid’s scar and squeezed her hand. Enid pulled her close for a tight hug. Maria wrapped her arms around Enid’s back and squeezed her tightly. They were both crying. Eyre was fanning herself giving a small smile.
“I have no idea what you two were saying but whatever it was must have worked.”
Maria nodded to Eyre as she sat back, and her hand went to her crucifix her pale fingers sliding along it again. Enid reached into her pack and pulled out another phone and slid her sim card in. Eyre blinked at her in disbelief. Enid looked up at her.
“What? I told you my other one got smashed. You didn’t believe me?”
Eyre opened her mouth to say something, pursed her lips.
“Why didn’t you do that earlier instead of worrying me sick, dear?”
“I was talking our friend; You know the one who tends the garden? It would have been rude to start messing with a phone wouldn’t it have?”
Eyre blinked at her for a few minutes then her eyes went wide, and she nodded. Maria looked between the pair her eyes showing no understanding. Eyre straightened up her earlier anger having evaporated with a more thorough explanation.
“What do you think the calls were about today dear?”
“I think they want me to pull a sword from a stone, mom.”
“That is what our friend from the garden wanted to talk to me about.”
“Oh, I understand now. Why did you say something earlier?”
“Because I thought it was best to get moving rather than standing around talking.”
“So, it had nothing to do the other thing that happened last night?”
Enid blushed; She couldn’t help it with the sun streaming down on her. Eyre’s eyes went wide.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“You did not!”
“If I had anything to do with it, it was an accident because my father was irresponsible with his distribution of responsibilities and didn’t give me any instructions.”
Eyre’s lips turned into a frown.
“We’re going to talk later, young lady.”
Enid narrowed her eyes at her daughter. She was taking this mother thing way too far. Enid was done trying to explain herself to her daughter and promptly looked out of the window. Maria looked between the two her fingers still stroking her crucifix she shifted in her seat. The rest of the ride passed in silence. They all got out and were led inside and after waiting several minutes they were led up to the papal offices. The pope seemed fairly distracted and did not notice the obvious tension between the three women. He looked to Maria first.
“Child, you must be overwhelmed.”
Maria’s fingers were still on her silver crucifx she nodded.
“It is no small thing to receive a message from the angelic host if the bible tells us anything. If you need to talk about it, we are here for you.”
Maria nodded. The pope stood up his hands folded behind his back he began to pace.
“I am quite sure many popes before me prayed for a sign from the father. But this message it is, it is, not what we expected.”
Enid nodded.
“Holy father, if I may.”
He motioned for Enid to continue.
“Please, feel free, Sarah.”
“This is our fault holy father. I have been told that this is the Lord’s way of, well blessing my mission. He… he is… he is trying to help me by scaring the one who I hunt and that hunts me into making a mistake. The angel yesterday was Michael. Using… Holy Father, could we have this conversation alone?”
He glanced at the cardinals in the office and nodded. They looked back at Enid, then to pope before leaving. Enid closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She walked into the shadow of a bookcase and her body shifted into her true form and she walked back to the Pope. His eyes followed her and widened.
“He was using my face. I am the one you call Saint Sarah. I lied in the interviews; I have always been…. I am the one who has been fighting the enemy all these millennia. I am the one who argued with Jesus after the last supper. Maria and I were with him when he walked with the apostles.”
She motioned to Maria. Then she motioned to Eyre.
“This is my daughter. Eyre. Between us we’ve been alive for almost five thousand years. It is not our way to show ourselves to mortals, but mistakes were made.”
She glanced at up at Eyre who blushed.
“My daughter had the misguided idea that we should get ahead of the narrative, and we made up Sarah. My name is Enid. Maria and I grew up in Rome, before Christianity was a thing. The thing is, God wants me to end his enemy for good because he cannot. He’s been…guiding me for my entire existence to that end. The disturbance in St. Peters was to force my hand. I apologize for our…deception. I had a long conversation with an Angel last night he told me the sword was placed in the chapel so I would draw it from the stone. I am the… I am the Empress of, Empress of our people and the responsibility for this mess rest solely on me. You have my apology as meager as it is. This is the worst of my most recent mistakes. I apologize for abusing the faithful’s belief.”
Enid had stood up straighter. She realized it was the first time she had said she was the Empress and meant it. The pope stared at her for a few long seconds before he responded. She could tell he was digesting everything she said. He met her gaze with no anger.
“You are forgiven, Enid. I can tell your apology is genuine, but you were sent by the Lord no matter what face you wear. I, am, you are the answer to a prayer. Saint Sarah was my patron saint when I was confirmed. And here you are standing before me. With your daughter, the one from the statue at the cathedral you built. Surely you see, you aren’t abusing the faithful’s belief, you are confirmation of it.”
“I’m no Saint father, I’m just a mother who wanted to make sure her daughter wasn’t surrounded by the dead when they died from the plague. A mother who wanted to protect her children. I was sent to Narfordshire to kill a rabid… member of our people, then my father demanded I stay and keep things from falling apart.”
“Are the stories told about you true?”
“For the most part.”
“Then you slew a hell hound. Rode into the night and delivered twins, healing the mother of her wounds, you saved a Bishop’s life on your wedding day, slew six assassins while on deaths door, you built a cathedral that still stands today, you prayed for a spring to save the village and one appeared and rose from the dead as the son did. You are responsible for two of the gospels we now have in our bible. You are a saint in every form, save that you are here on earth with us, because he wills it. You are more than forgiven child; You are exalted in his light. I can see it in you. I can see it in the three of you. Enid you are his wrath, Maria you are his faith, Eyre you are his heart. I am humbled to be in your presence.”
Enid blinked at him. He had tears on his cheeks as he took her hands.
“Father, I was born a human just like you. I am just as flawed and as anyone. How can we stop this runaway train?”
“Oh, child we cannot. It is much larger than any of us. The world has heard the Lord’s message. The churches are overflowing. People want to know more. God has spoken child. He has named you his daughter directly. People are going to look to you now more than ever. You can guide us to a new era, avoid his wrath.”
Enid sighed, she shook her head, tears falling down her cheeks.
“Oh, holy father, I cannot. That isn’t within my power. I am not who this world needs.”
There was a flash and a being of light appeared. It took the form of the angel from so many pictures that had been made. Maria fell to her knees her eyes going wide with recognition. Enid quirked an eyebrow because this one was appearing as a female and not using her face. The light she gave off frightened her deeply in a way she had never felt. Like all of her flaws were laid bare before it. The angel spoke to her directly.
“Hear me well, for I shall not speak these words twice. Avatar of Life, inheritor of Second Son’s legacy, bringer of law, you have all the tools you require to bring the Lord’s wrath on the first betrayer. You have seen the truth and spoken it to the Avatar of Death. You will draw the blade from the stone, and you will accept your true place as his first true daughter.”
Enid blinked then realized what she was being told and the anger rose up in her. Before she knew it, she spoke.
“I’m not his slave! You tell God to stick that fucking sword up his ass!”
The angel’s eyes flared, and her wings spread blinding everyone in the room.
“You dare!”
The angel’s sword swung towards Enid who even as a mortal had drawn Bloodseeker from her pack and parried the blow deftly.
“I dare! You angelic bitch, no man or god tells me what to do!”
The pair exchanged several blows. Their swords causing the room to shake with every blow. The doors had been flung open. The Swiss Guard and the Cardinals were just standing mouths agape and eyes wide. Enid could hear Maria begging them to stay their blades. Enid wasn’t sure if she was talking to the angel or Enid. The angel and vampire exchanged blows several more times before Enid managed to disarm her using the angel’s strength against her. A foot sweep and Bloodseeker’s tip was at the angel’s throat. Enid could feel its hunger. It wanted a piece of the angel. Enid felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Mom, please, she came to us to help us, and…you need to talk to someone after this.”
Enid looked down at what she had done the Angel was still glowing with the light of Heaven but it looked smaller, defenseless. Enid dropped Bloodseeker and stepped back. Her eyes were wide, everyone was staring at her. She looked down at the Angel who stood up, she bowed to Enid.
“Sister. My niece is right, you must seek to cleanse yourself of this anger before you face the betrayer. You have the knowledge, and you have the skill, but you do not have peace in your heart. Remember what he told you in the garden after the supper. Remember what Junpei taught you. Remember who he was before he became the betrayer. Remember. Then when you are truly ready you can draw the sword from the Cathedral.”
Enid nodded to her and looked down at her hands, then back to the angel.
“I…I am so sorry.”
The angel smiled her hand reaching out to take Enid’s cheek. Enid closed her eyes as she felt at true peace for the first time in her entire life. Warmth flooded through her. When she opened them, the angel was standing eye to eye with her, her hand still on her cheek. Enid could see tears on the angel’s face.
“Oh sister, it is I who is sorry. I have watched you suffer, weeping with every blow, every loss, and today I was the reason you suffered again. Know that it was only to show you the truth.”
She kissed Enid’s forehead and put a hand on Eyre’s shoulder and smiled at her.
“And you niece. You have so much goodness in you. You bring out the best in people. You are his gift to this world. Without your heart, your mother will not succeed. Know that she will ask much of you, and you will suffer but, in the end, if you stand by her you will triumph.”
She looked down and held her hand out to Maria who took it. The angel helped her up. Her hand touching Maria’s cheek.
“And you, child, you have been given a second chance, but you must accept your past, and you must accept that you are capable of everything my sister is going to ask of you. When you need it most, in your darkest hour, he will give you the push you need. Without your skills my sister will not succeed.”
The angel looked to the assembled men most of which were on their knees her eyes finally landed on the Pope. She offered her hand to him and helped him up.
“His people will look to you for guidance. He believes in you.”
She then looked over the entire room.
“What happened here, this day, must not be spoken of beyond to say Gabriel came to you and confirmed that the sword would be pulled from the floor by his daughter when she is ready. When the betrayer has fallen you may speak of it freely. His daughter was tempted but did not succumb.”
Her eyes turned to a dark-haired Swiss Guard, and she spoke one word.
“Don’t”
She touched Enid’s cheek once more before vanishing in a flash of light. The room was once again lit by sunlight alone. The dark-haired Swiss Guard rushed into try and grab the sword, but Eyre grabbed him and slowed him down.
“Did you not just hear the Archangel tell you, ‘Don’t’? Trust me, only she can touch it. She was trying to save your life.”
The Pope made a motion for him to stop. Enid picked it up and put it in its sheath then in the pack. The pope looked at the assembled Cardinals and Swiss Guard.
“You heard the messenger, if anyone speaks about this, I will excommunicate you. Not even in confession.”
The men nodded the room was very quiet now. All eyes looking to the three vampires.
“Close the doors. I think I’m safe with his daughter, don’t you?”
The doors closed and the four were left alone again. Enid walked to the windows and looked up at the sun. She touched her cheek where…Gabriel had touched her. She still felt the love and the warmth. It had felt right. Her words… was she just using angelic mojo on her, or did she truly consider Enid her sister. The pope approached from behind and looked out at the square below. People were gathered and staring up.
“I am, was a counselor before, I joined the priesthood, if you need to talk… I am here child.”
Enid glanced back at him and gave him a small smile.
“Holy father, I appreciate you offering but I need someone who can keep me honest. I know someone.”
He nodded.
“The Vatican and the Church is at your disposal.”
He looked at Maria and Eyre.
“All of your disposal. Anything you need that we can furnish we will.”
Enid nodded.
“I…will send some things to you. I have a feeling we are going to see an increase in actual demons. The betrayer seems to use them to enforce his will. I have my sword but…my daughter and sister and my Seers are powerless against them. Would you be willing to bless some…weapons?”
He quirked his head to the side.
“Trust me Holy father, if you faith is true and you bless a pile of bullets or a grenade it is going to hurt them a lot.”
“It sounds like you’ve done this before.”
“It was arrows last time, admittedly.”
“Which pope was that?”
“Pope Alexander the seventh.”
“Truly, you met him?”
“Yes, he hired me to deal with…a situation. I used to work as a sword for hire when I wasn’t enforcing laws. He needed a demon gone; I needed the money.”
“Even with your sword, you needed Arrows?”
Enid shrugged.
“He was faster than I was, I shot him in the knees with blessed arrows, he didn’t get far after that then I killed him.”
The pope frowned slightly.
“He was a demon, demon. Escaped Hell demon. I would do it again, I mean I killed a hundred in a single night when I was sixty.”
“Surely they have a chance at redemption.”
Enid shook her head.
“No, no they don’t. They have no notion of good in them, the fallen Angels they can always get forgiven I guess but the actual demons, no, they’re just Hell manifested. They have no independent will.”
The pope nodded and folded his hands behind his back.
“I will ensure the diocese in Edmonton has authorization to bless such things on my behalf.”
Enid smilled.
“Thank you, Holy father.”
The Pope nodded.
“I wonder what the proper title for the daughter of God is.”
Enid smirked.
“Enid, Holy Father.”
He chuckled.
“You have a sense of humor I will give you that. Please let us know when you’re going to return and draw the sword from the stone. I want to make sure we are prepared with security.”
“Of course, Holy Father. We have taken up a lot of your time today. I expect you have an extremely full schedule.”
“I do, child. I do.”
“Then we will let you get to it. I’ll be back when I’m ready. Please keep our names out of this Holy Father. Our enemy thinks Maria is dead and is not aware of how much we know. The more time we have to prepare the better.”
“Do you know what he looks like? Where he is?”
Enid nodded.
“My husband. Or well he is in the body that used to be my husband.”
“Then perhaps, if I may be so bold, we should let it slip that the Angels have revealed the real face of evil to us, it is not precisely untrue.”
“Oh no father, we want him to feel safe. We need him in that body until we come up with a plan to deal with him.”
“Do you know how you’re going to do that?”
“Somehow we need to break the fundamental laws of physics. Should be easy, hmm?”
He nodded with a slight frown.
“I do not understand.”
“Human science tells us that energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be stored and transferred. The betrayer, as Gabriel called him, is energy, we need to find a way to destroy it.”
Eyre blinked at her mother.
“God tried trapping him twice, my father tried, my sister and I tried. He just escapes. We are fighting a losing battle; No matter what we do he has an end game. As of now we have none. If we can figure out how to destroy energy, then we have an end game too. That means the battle can be won. For now, though Holy Father, let Sarah be his avenging angel, please. Leave Enid out of it, he knows my face.”
The Pope nodded again. Enid tugged Maria and Eyre out of the office. Maria hadn’t spoken a word she was just clutching her silver crucifix like her life depended on it. When they reached the sidewalks outside the Vatican Eyre spoke.
“What now mom?”
“We go home, as in Edmonton, and you call Dr. Anderson and get an appointment for your daughter who apparently after two thousand years still has daddy issues.”
“Are you sure? The pope said he would help, I mean, he’s got to have something going for him, right?”
“No, Dr. Anderson, she has the sight. She’ll keep me honest, and I need…I need to stop lying to myself.”
Eyre wrapped her arms around Enid and hugged her mother tightly.