The Dominion of Xir, The Time of Xir

Sheriff Clay headed for the church where Xir had said he would be. Having just cleaned up the mess at the library he would need to report to Xir and he had to make it good as to not raise suspicions about the truth.

Everything was going to plan, though. That much was clear. Soon not only would he be able to collect his reward, but he had so much more planned -- and it was a plan that was certainly not part of the plan he'd been told about so many years by so many people. He now understood what they had meant and that it had let him here, to this moment. He also understood what they had meant by rewards, even if he didn't know what everyone's reward had been. When he had officially entered the service of Xir upon his arrival he had been told he would be granted a reward for his service.

"What reward?" he had asked Xir.

"Whatever your hearts desire" the beast had growled.

Clay had thought for a long moment and the answer he had come up with surprised him.

"I want Emily had" he said. "I want her brought back to this world so she can live the life I took from her".

"Everything happens for a reason" Xir had snarled. "sacrifices must be made"

Clay had looked at the beast hard, gritting his teeth. Since that day he'd thought hard about what he had said and it had motivated him to pursue his plan. Had Emily's death been part of Xir's plan? That seemed to be what the monster was saying and, if so, Xir had a hand in killing the woman he loved.

"You said whatever my hearts desire" Clay had responded. "That is my heart's desire"

"I cannot bring death to life" Xir has said rubbing claw in the ground. "Not even Xir had that power... not in the way you want, anyway. But, man of law, you must be honest with yourself. That is not what you truly. In your heart you seek something else. You seek...revenge."

It was true, but the beast was only half right. He did and had sought that, but it was not what he wanted most. Emily was. After all these years, he'd accepted this.

Clay thought a moment. He figured if he couldn't have Emily back and the world was coming to an end, he might as well get the revenge he also desired.

So he told the beast this is what he desired.

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"Than when the time is right it shall be so" the beast replied.

He arrived at the church and went to the door but it flew open before he even touched it.

"Come in" said the voice of the beast.

Clay stepped inside to see Xir sitting at the alter of the church, light and energy surrounding him, recovering from his weakness. It was as if he was licking his wounds with magic.

Beside him stood one priest. It was the priest. The one that had showed up before the others appeared. The one who had come just before Xir's arrival. The one he'd been told by Archie had a bigger part to play.

The priest was chanting in tongues, his eyes rolled back into his head. Clay assumed this chant must be what was allowing this magic to occur, but in truth he had no fucking idea. Archie needed to know about this as soon as he left he knew.

"Come forward!" Xir demanded, his powerful voice vibrating Clay's insides. Clay did as he was told and stepped forward.

"What do you have to tell me?" Xir demanded.

"One of my deputies was found murdered library... Phil... the retarded one" Clay said.

"No great loss then" Xir replied. "The girl and the boy?"

Clay nodded. "I suspect so, Great Xir".

"Library, curious though..." Xir began before shooting out a crawl pointed finger. "You, Sheriff, find out why they were in the library!"

"Yes... Yes, Great Xir. But I think they were just hiding out there..."

"No! More to it than that, trust Xir".

Clay nodded and Xir lowered its claw.

"Your reward is on its way. Soon you will have it and your job will be done".

Sheriff Clay bowed.

"Thank you, great Xir".

Sheriff Clay turned but then had something he wanted to ask. He thought better of it but turned and asked anyway.

"Great Xir, why would he be coming here? Surely that can't be a coincidence ..."

Xir stood and growled in a fiery voice:

"THERE ARE NO COENCIDENCES. EVERYONE IS CONNECTED. EVERYONE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY HERE. LIKE A PUZZLE, EVERY PIECE MUST FIT TOGETHER FOR MY WILL TO BE COMPLETE. THEY ARE PAWNS BUT THEY WILL ALSO ALL BE REWARDED WITH THEIR HEART'S DESIRE FOR THEIR PART"

Clay nodded.

"Now go" Xir ordered, flicking him away with a motion of his claw.

Clay left out the door of the church and the door closed behind him.