Thomas Sniegoski - Walking In the Midst of Fire

“Yet,” Remy stated. “C’mon, Mike, don’t bullshit a bullshitter.”

The Keeper looked annoyed at Remy’s comment. “Where is your proof?” he demanded. “You talk of the general’s plans, but with him murdered . . .”

There was a commotion in the distance, and Remy saw Gareth step forward, close to the magickal barrier.

“I am that proof,” the young man stated. “I killed my father for what he wanted to turn me, and my brothers and sisters, into.”

Remy began to move toward the children, but a wave of debilitating magickal energy coursed through his body, bending him over at the waist. He could feel Malatesta’s eyes on him again, warning him to stay in his place.

The Archangel strode toward the corral.

“It was you?” the angel warrior asked. “You were the one to slay the general?”

“Yes, I killed my father,” Gareth admitted.

Michael paced before the young man, cold, black eyes unwavering. “Look at you,” the angel pronounced. “How could something so . . . small, be a danger to beings such as us.” The Archangel looked to the gathering of angels.

“We are not a danger,” Gareth announced. “All we want is a chance to exist like everybody else.”

“But you are a danger, boy,” Michael stated. “You killed one of the most respected of the Lord God’s generals.”

“I did it in defense of my brothers and sisters,” Gareth said. “We want to live, but not as things . . . not as weapons.”

Michael stared at the boy, but Remy could see that the Archangel was seeing much more. He strode back to the gathering.

“I have seen enough,” the Archangel announced.

The old Keeper bowed, turning his attention to Francis.

“And have you, spokesman of Hell?” he asked.

Francis seemed taken aback by the title. “Yeah,” he said, glancing briefly at Remy. “I think I’ve got it.”

Remy then noticed the Pitiless pistol had appeared in his friend’s hand, and a sick feeling began to churn in the pit of his stomach.

“We have been presented with the facts,” the Keeper announced. “And in these facts we have found what is to be considered the truth.” He considered both sides, from left to right. “And this truth has halted the escalation of war.”

The Keeper priest folded his hands before him, turning his attention to the children.

“And now, the question remains: What is to be done with this truth?”

Thunder above the island boomed as if for dramatic effect. Remy looked first to Michael, who studied Gareth and the children huddled behind him with an unwavering eye, then to Francis, who held the golden pistol up to his ear, as if on the phone, receiving a call from a higher authority.

It was Gareth who decided the moment.

“I offer myself up for the crime I committed,” the boy announced in a voice heard above the hissing of the rain. “I was responsible for the act that led to this, so it is I who must pay the price.”

“Gareth, no,” Remy called out.

“Silence!” the Keeper commanded.

Remy felt the tendril of magick again grow tighter against the flesh of his throat.

“The guilty has offered himself up as sacrifice for his sin,” the Keeper proclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. “How say you all?”

“It’s good,” Francis said, lowering the gun from his ear.

Michael nodded as well. “I accept this.”

“Bring the guilty forward,” the Keeper announced, motioning for two other sorcerers to bring the boy from the corral.

One created an opening in the enclosure, while the other stood ready to act. But there was nothing to be done, as Gareth calmly left the others, putting their fears at ease with a reassuring glance.

Something’s not right, Remy thought. Where was the fighter? The one who was going to strike against those who had abandoned them at birth.

No, something didn’t feel right at all.

“Halt!” the old priest’s voice boomed, and the youth did as he was told.

“Restrain him,” the Keeper ordered, and tendrils of magickal energy similar to the ones that held Remy wrapped around Gareth, making him cry out.

“The guilty is now ready to receive punishment,” the Keeper proclaimed to all in attendance.

Remy could now hear the other children crying out, calling their brother’s name in pitiful sobs. And the storm continued to grow more intense over the island.

“Come forward.” The priest motioned at Francis and the Archangel Michael.

Francis moved as Michael did, but the former Guardian turned to look at Remy. Remy had seen that look before, and it chilled him to the bone, for it was a look that said it was nothing personal, just part of the cost of doing business.

It still felt wrong to Remy. He could feel something invisible, yet dangerous, gradually building up, just waiting to explode.

The women from Rapture began to cry out, but were held back by the Keeper sorcerers. The old priest looked in their direction, annoyance on his wizened face, before returning his full attention to the guilty before him.

“Do you have anything to say before judgment is passed?” he asked Gareth.

Gareth slowly raised his head, and Remy thought he saw a flash of something in his eyes. He tensed, ready for anything, but nothing happened.

“Only that I am not sorry, but accept this punishment to absolve my brothers and sisters of any wrongdoing.” He lowered his head and fell silent.

“Is there anything that either of you wish to say?” the priest asked.

“Nothing personal,” Francis said, cocking the weapon forged with the power of the Morningstar.

Michael clutched his flaming spear in both hands, its tip turning white-hot. “I speak for the Almighty when I say that you are nothing more than a mistake,” the Archangel said. “And you are to be erased.” And with those biting words, the angel raised his spear.

“So be it,” the Keeper said, stepping away from the youth. “Let the punishment fall.”

Remy held his breath as Francis extended his arm and took aim, and Michael drew back his spear and brought the fiery point down.

Both weapons delivered their payload at exactly the same moment, the report of a single gunshot emanating from within an explosion of blinding light.

Remy looked away instinctively, but then forced himself to look into the diminishing brilliance. Francis and Michael stood over the prostrate form of Gareth, his punishment delivered, his penance done.

The old man returned solemnly to inspect the body. A fine, gray smoke now drifted up from the young man’s clothing.

“I believe we are done here,” the Keeper announced, addressing both sides. There were children’s mournful cries in the background, accompanied by shrieking winds and rumbles of thunder that sounded like the approach of a mighty army on horseback.

And Remy still felt that something was horribly, horribly wrong.

Francis had turned from the body, the golden pistol sliding back inside the waist of his pants, when the Archangel spoke.

His voice was like the blast of a trumpet. “We are not yet done.”

The angel spread his wings and leapt into the air, landing before the corral and the young within. A sword of crackling fire appeared in his hand, and he directed its point at the frightened children.

“We are not done, until they are no more.”

Remy knew at once what the Archangel was up to.

“No,” he screamed, not as man, but as a Seraphim, his own voice projecting across the island. “The boy made a deal for the safety of his brothers and sisters.”

Michael turned his attentions back to Remy, now a fearful visage of God’s wrath.

“And that compact will now be broken,” Michael spoke with grim finality. “For there will always be a danger to Heaven . . . Hell . . . and the Earth itself if these creatures are to live.”