0133

"I want to know what is going on in the city," Sol told Paul.

"Well, I've already told you a little. But, from what I understand, that issue with Sabastian and the human girl erupted into a feud amongst the strongest clans. Hearing of his protege's failure at keeping the Tribunal together, Thomas reemerged and destroyed the Smithsons. They had been the largest and strongest dissenters for years.

"No one seems to know exactly what happened to Sabastian or the girl, and, until you showed up here tonight, you. We feared you had been killed in the battle."

"As you see, I was not destroyed. In fact, I played no part in the actual battle," Sol replied.

"Yes, and I thank God for your safety."

"Thank you. But how were you involved, your clan is peaceful?" Sol asked.

"Yes, that's why it was such a shock to be attacked. Our code dictates that we only fight to defend others. At one point that meant defending humans from our own kind, but we've not done that for hundreds of years. Now we simply take the lives of those who deserve or desire death. And even then, we only feed enough to live and no more."

"Yes," said Sol, "but you are not truly a clan. You are more a collection of other clans. Perhaps that interconnection is what worried him."

"Perhaps. Whatever the reason, he sent Enforcers to destroy us. We were, as you might suspect, being cut down in our paths. Some fought, others just tried to shield the hurt from the attack. Most just stood their ground and died.

"Michael fought. He fought harder than any of us."

"You fought?" Sol asked, interrupting.

"Yes."

"You should be proud."

"I'm not proud, but neither am I ashamed."

"I'm sorry I interrupted, please continue."

"Well, the fighting moved to the altar. Michael jumped onto the top of it just as the moon came from behind a cloud. It was so large and bright that a beam of light came through the stained glass window above the church's entrance, casting a red light across the alter. He was struck down and fell, leaving blood over the altar.

"From what we can tell, the blood seeped through the cracks in the floor and into John Paul's coffin. I don't know how or why, but it woke him. And just in time, too.

"The altar shifted and he came out of the crypt like Lazarus from the tomb. We all fell prostrate, praising God for John Paul's return.

"The Enforcers were shocked for a bit, but then resumed their attack. When John Paul retaliated, they didn't stand a chance. He killed about half of the Enforcers before the rest fled."

"Only a fool would take on an ancient as powerful and old as John Paul," Sol replied.


[Copyright Reuben Gregg Brewer, 2005. All rights reserved.]
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