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As Paul and Sol walked through the church, Sol asked, "Do you mind if I pray for John Paul for just a moment?" He made sure to ask this in front of others.

"You are a true believer and good friend, Sol. I've always felt you belonged with us, and not the Enforcers. I will pray with you," Paul said.

"We all play our part in God's plan," Sol said. He walked to the front of the Church and kneeled before the alter. He chose his thoughts wisely, so as not to upset the delicate political game Paul was playing.

In his mind he said, "God, I know I'm not your favorite child, but please grant me this request. I would like for you to heal John Paul so that I may speak to him again. So that John Paul and I can converse about the Old World and the New. So that John Paul and I can talk about the future." He repeated this several times.

After a few minutes, he stood up and said, "Thank you Paul."

Paul stood and said, "It is not a problem. You are a good friend to my sire. I look forward to seeing you again and hope that I'll have better news then."

"Better news about what?" thundered John Paul's voice from behind them. "Sol, you have returned. I'm so happy to see you. Come, come," he said, walking over to the pair.

Paul stood between them and said, "Sire, Sol is very busy. I don't believe he has the time right now to talk."

"Nonsense! Sol has plenty of time, I'm sure of it, don't you Sol?"

Looking at Paul, he played along to avoid suspicion. "I do have some pressing arrangements that I need to attend to."

"I won't hear of it," John Paul said, walking around Paul and taking Sol by the shoulder. "You and I have had so little time to talk, you’re the undead, time is of little importance."

The two made small talk as they left Paul standing alone with a worried look on his face. After they closed the door to the tower, Paul told two guards that Sol was to be brought to him when he left John Paul's company.

In the tower stairwell, John Paul said, "We can talk openly now, the little imp and his Pharisee followers can't hear us here."

"You sound disappointed by Paul," Sol said sarcastically.

"I am. What lies has he told you?"

"He says that you're insane."

"I fear that he is more concerned with protecting his role in this coven than with doing God's work."

"JP, you have to admit that the things you are saying, or at least the things you've said to me, are, well, a bit outlandish."

"Are they?"

"Yes," said Sol. "You tell me that I'm to pave the way for the chosen one, but who is the chosen one?"

"I don't know. But I feel him. I just know he is among us and his time is near."



[Copyright Reuben Gregg Brewer, 2005, 2006. All rights reserved.]