CounterPoint (7 page)

“Sir,” Ariel attempted to gather his thoughts. He had not heard the name Radweriel in a long time. That angel was God’s official scribe, writing everything down. “Demons outnumber us a thousand to one, and their ability to search far and wide greatly exceeds our own. I’m worried that they may already have a major advantage over us before we even begin. If that family decides to flee, if we push them too hard, we may never find them again.’

“That has also been discussed. As such, I will be authorising a full scale angelic attack on Hell itself. We will lay siege to Hell for as long as we can. That should keep its forces occupied and give you enough time to secure that family. We will also be removing religious and tactical artefacts from around the globe and securing them in our vaults. Relevant departments will liaise with yours in this task.”

“Sir, I have spoken to the family and they are very much against coming into our protection. I think they don’t trust us any more than a demon.”

“I don’t care if you have to torture every last one of them to get that yes. I don’t care if you personally have to drag them out of their hideaway yourself. We need them secure. The Department of Intelligence is at this very moment presenting a file to your deputy director. It contains information on the family that you will find interesting. This meeting is now over.” Michael turned back round to the window and gazed outwards once more. Feeling helpless to say anything more, Ariel quickly walked out.

***

Back in Special Operations, Amber was standing in the middle of the huge central operations room with a keen eye on everything going on around her.   

“I want numbers, people!” barked the department’s chief strategist, pointing her fingers towards the group of analysts hunched over a massive, moving rectangular map bolted onto the wall. It displayed the individual assignments of angels all over Earth. Amber, on the other hand, became much more interested in a red, leather bound folder she had just been presented with.

“Never mind that now!” interrupted Ariel as the doors to the conference room flung open. “Everyone take their seats, NOW!” Those around the room analysing maps and pointing towards statistic charts quickly sat around the table, opening their folders and staring intently towards the top. The doors of the conference room closed securely and the lights dimmed ever so slightly. A serious, no-nonsense mood set over the darkened, hushed room.

“Status,” he said.

“White House raid was a ploy. We’re now detecting demon activity all over the globe. Sir, almost every angel on the ground is under attack. It is war.”

“I share your feelings,” he said, looking at everyone around the conference table, “to charge into battle and help our fellow comrades, but we have been issued with new orders from Michael himself.” Ariel chose not to indulge the audible gasp and looks of confusion on his staffs’ faces. There was simply no time.

“Michael is now personally concerned with us finding a human group. The Bassett family. We have been authorised to use whatever force and resources necessary to complete the mission as quickly as possible.”

Ariel waved his hand towards a large luminous red and green map on the wall to his left illustrating Ireland and the United Kingdom. Small pinpoint dots highlighted various important religious locations and current troop movements. “At this present moment, it is believed that there could be a serious uprising and that Hell is preparing to unleash a wave of demons unseen before in history. What we are seeing now is only the beginning. Therefore, to allow us to fully concentrate on the assignment, the Ministry of Defence will take over guard duties at all our protectorate sites. Amber, please ensure we provide the Ministry with all appropriate files and information regarding these sites. They need to know everything, I don’t want them failing in any regard and it coming back to us.”

“Certainly, sir.  Can I ask though how do we obtain the Bassett family?”

“I visited them a number of hours ago under instruction from Raphael directly. They are not, however, overly receptive to the notion of joining us. We will have to forcibly remove them from the building. I plan to take a contingent of five elite angels with me on this mission. Make the necessary arrangements.” The chief strategist nodded and began calling up a register on a device which looked similar to a computer tablet. “Amber, you will also join me.”

“Of course, sir.”

“If the humans do not go quietly.” dared one.

“We are to apprehend them at any cost. That is final,” said Ariel rather more calmly that he intended.

“But, sir, that’s against everything….” gasped one foolish clerk. Divine Respect mandated that humans should not be harmed, tortured or made to do anything against their will.

“I don’t want to hear it!” snapped Ariel, gazing round the room. “We have our orders from Michael. If any of you have a damn problem with that, I suggest you go and voice it to him yourselves. Right now we have our orders and we’re against the clock on this one. Amber, I want a full assault team ready within the hour. You and I will lead them personally to safely secure the Bassett family. Once that has happened, we will bring them here and lock them in one of the secure areas. Let’s get this done. NOW!”

Seeing Ariel shout was not something his staff was accustomed to, and it caused Amber to give Ariel a slightly concerned look as she rose up to head back to her office. She still needed to review all these files.

Chapter 7

The club music pumped exuberantly, blasting thumping remixes of every latest tune by Dublin’s top DJs at Bradley’s House of Fun in the south of the city. Huge, dazzling LED disco lights lit up the club whilst fog and smoke concealed the floor.

David, Claire, Thomas and Bernadette were standing round one of the clubs many bars downing shots of everything strange and wonderful. Irish clubs always put a twist on even the most basic shots. It was only 11pm and the night was young. With Star ships starting to roar over the speakers, Thomas and Claire were hitting the dance floor whilst David and Bernadette, an old university friend, caught up. To David, Bernadette was one of the funniest people he had ever met. Always armed with a quirky sarcastic reply and ready to put her huge high-heel in whenever needed, she regularly assured the night would be unforgettable. With Bacardi Sunsets in hand, they headed to a quiet table on one of the balconies overlooking the street below. The club music was now reduced to a dull thud but still added to the nice calm ambience of the cocktail bar.

“So what do you think? I’m going crazy?” asked David, using his twirled straw to stir the drink around the long crystal like glass. He was glad the club had installed heaters on the balconies, Dublin wasn’t exactly known for its warm, balmy evenings.

“I hardly think you’re lying, you idiot. If you say it happened then it did. I’ve heard worse before,” joked Bernadette, her eyes following a young strapping man walking past their table in tight fitted grey pin-stripe trousers and white shirt.

“You’ve heard worse?” enquired David jokingly, surprised he could laugh about it. The situation was so fucked up he felt like he was floating with the clouds.

“Well you know,” she replied with a smirk on her face. “I could think of worse things happening to you. So some guy decided to shake you up in the toilets, you know what those bars are like. Was he good looking?” she cackled loudly.

“I wasn’t really eyeing him up to be honest,” laughed David. Bernadette could always bring light to any situation.

“And why not?  Haven’t I taught you anything these last few years?” she faked exasperation, shaking her head sadly. “Another cocktail please,” she quickly chirped up catching one of the bar men collecting empty glasses on the way past.

“Yes of course,” replied the barman, before pulling up a chair and sitting at their table. “But before that, I thought I’d join you and have a chat.”

David recognised the guy instantly. It was the same one from the toilet in London, the guy who started all this.  “You!” David said, his eyes wide with shock. He was instantly grateful he decided not to get trashed tonight.  “What the Hell are you doing here, why are you following me?” he shouted.

“David. Calm down. I’m only following you out of concern,” said the barman, cleaning his hands with his cloth and looking very relaxed. “Trust me. We have very advanced tracking techniques.”

“And who exactly are you then?” demanded Bernadette, raising her eyebrow.

“I represent the boss,” he calmly replied. The noise around them seemed to quieten dramatically. People were talking very low now but with the same expressions as before. It was as if someone had turned the volume down around them. “That’s better.”

David and Bernadette exchanged quick glances.

“So who exactly is the boss?” ventured David, trying to control what was now rising anger. He was infuriated that he was being targeted. Why was this happening to him? Did they not care they were turning his whole life upside down?

“David. You need to understand I am not your enemy. The identity of my boss is not your concern,” he replied, gazing around the city of Dublin to illustrate his point. “This world is on the verge of disaster. Human existence itself is under the threat of total annihilation. The creator is not available to stop this. Heaven wants your family. I don’t know why, but we must ensure this does not happen.”

“Why us?”

“If I knew that I would tell you,” he said.  “I don’t, but I will find out. I promise you that Mr Bassett.”

“You’re an angel as well then” asked David trying to put pieces of the puzzle together.

 “Yes I am,” was his answer. “I tend not to involve myself in the running of this planet, preferring to watch from afar. I know you were contacted earlier by an individual named Ariel. Whether he told you his name or not is irrelevant. It was him.  I must warn you now not to accept his proposed offer. You and your family are to stand alone in the coming months without the support of Heaven. You will find no support in Heaven, and your family may be the only thing stopping this world descending into war”

“How so?”

“Alas, I have yet to ascertain why. But I am working on it.”

“Assuming you are telling the truth,” said David, receiving a shocked glance from Bernadette, “what would you have us do? Ariel did not give me the impression of someone who would simply leave us alone. He will be back.”

“He will most certainly be back Mr Bassett. All angels are bound by angelic law which they must abide by and therefore not harm humans. But this is a unique and dangerous situation that could spiral out of control very quickly. I urge you to flee now.”

“We can’t just run away, abandon our lives, because of this. We have an elderly woman to think of also.”

“I imagine your grandmother is more than capable of this coming battle.”

“Even if that were so, Ariel doesn’t seem like the type of guy who will just take no for an answer.”

“Ariel is not your typical angel. I have some faith in him that is yet proven. The desire to capture your family is very great. Demons will also be aware of this and thus danger lurks from all sides. I cannot put my faith in angelic law for your safety. Please just heed my advice, flee if you have to. There is no shame in that. As soon as I find out what exactly is happening I shall return and inform you immediately. With that I must now go.”  The stranger stood up and straightened his shirt against his trousers once more.

“Wait. I need more than that!” said David, standing up and meeting the stranger at eye level.

“As I said, nothing is what it seems, David. Just remember that.”  And with that, he vanished right before their eyes.

“David!” said Bernadette, waving her hand in front of his face. The noise around the bar had returned to normal.

“Now there’s your proof,” claimed David, finally relieved someone else had seen what he had. He sat back down again and tried to compose his thoughts. Could he really convince his family to flee? Did this guy’s reference to Mary mean she already knew what was happening?

“What are you talking about?” she asked, looking perplexed.

“The guy, the bar man.”

“What barman?”

“The one sitting with us there now talking, he just disappeared,” explained David, as if Bernadette had quickly lost all her I.Q points.

“Are you feeling OK?” asked Bernadette, genuinely now concerned.

Realising something must have happened, David decided there was no point drawing any more attention to the matter. Clearly she couldn’t remember it even after speaking to him. Irked, he felt a shudder inside him.  “I’m fine, just checking how drunk you are,” laughed David, but he knew by her reaction she didn’t totally believe him. “Let’s head down and find the others, I fancy a good dance.”

***

A loud knock at the door startled Mary from her light sleep. Raising herself from her armchair and grabbing her ever-dependent walking stick, she hobbled towards the hall and the front door. Opening the door she was immediately greeted by a gust of wind and some spray from the raging storm outside. Father Mulholland stood in the doorway resembling someone who had been thrown overboard.

“Father, do come in,” she exclaimed, rushing him in to get the door closed and keep the storm out. How her grandkids had gone out in this tempest was beyond her. Young ones these days didn’t let anything stop them. When they got home, they were like drenched rats. Now all in bed, she was the only one awake. She loved having some peace at night time and they always knew the TV running after 1am was just her catching up on the soaps.

“Father, would you like a cup of tea?” she asked as he took off his coat and scarf.

“I would love one, Mary.”

“Great. So would I. Follow me to the kitchen. I’m not as good on my feet as I used to be and my hands are even worse,” she quipped.

Father Mulholland managed to find a smile as he followed the small elderly lady into the kitchen through the long corridor connecting all the bottom floor rooms. He had known the Bassett family a very long time and was even familiar with Mary’s mother. He always tried to call round whenever he could but Galway was such a travel these days and at 84 he wasn’t getting any younger. His sparkling silver hair proved that. The kitchen was a large square with an island in the middle which housed the kettle and toaster and all the basic things needed. He got to work making two large mugs of tea while Mary settled herself down at the kitchen table.