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It was the warmth of the midsummer sun
that finally roused Shmueli from the deepest sleep he had experienced for
days.  As he opened his eyes it took him a good few minutes before he remembered
where he was and even longer to recall what he was doing there.  The comforting
voice of his Guardian Angel was gone and he wondered whether it had all been a
dream.  It seemed so absurd to think that a heavenly being had been talking to
him for all this time.  Could it have been a hallucination?

But, if it was, what was he doing here?

This was not his home, this belonged to
someone called Jake Tranton.  He was hiding here so that he could kill the Bent
Ferret.

The Bent Ferret?  Professor Benjamin Tiferet
of the Hebrew University?  Now why should he call him by that ridiculous name? 
Again, the Guardian Angel.

And killing?

Killing?

Thou Shalt Not Kill.

That was the sixth commandment.  So why
was he wanting to kill this professor?

He saw again Rabbi Tashlich and his wife
as they lay there dead, bloody, massacred, as if some malevolent spirit had
been playing with their bodies.  And his parents.  His mother.  Decapitated,
every inch of her flesh ripped from her body and his father, bleeding to death
from his terrible wounds.  He wanted the vision to end.

It was Tiferet’s doing.  All of it.

But how?

How could Tiferet have caused any of it? 
Tiferet was an
apicorus
, a non-believer, that was true, but how could he
have the power to make people do that to each other?

It did not make sense, any of it. 
Something else had to be responsible, but what?  And then the answer came.  Why
had he never seen it before?  It was so obvious, blindingly so.  His Guardian
Angel.  It was a sham, an evil spirit, and he had become its tool.

Shmueli knew he had to escape from here. 
It was a miracle he had not been spotted already.  It would only be a matter of
time.

Everyone he had ever loved, dead.

He wanted to cry.

No, he had to be strong.  Now was not the
time to become victim of his emotions.

Even as he tried to control himself an
image appeared.  No more the horrors of the recent days.  This was a beautiful
girl.  The girl he had loved.  Cherry Linford.

Oh, Cherry.

Cherry whom he had loved and whom he had
driven away.  Oh what a fool he had been.  Maybe she could help.  Cherry was
always so sensible.  It was she who had managed to provide him with the
self-confidence he lacked.  It was she who had made him feel whole, alive, and
then he had cast her aside like some piece of waste matter.  How could he have
been so stupid?  But he knew the answer to that.  It was for the sake of
religion, a religion that he had believed in with all his heart, and a religion
that he could now see had failed him in his time of need.  Religion had not
saved Rabbi Tashlich.  No, not at all.  The thing that had controlled him.  Its
very existence proved that the Rabbi could not be right.

Oh, why did he leave Cherry?  Why oh why?

Where was she?

And it was as if a black cloud had
descended that cut through the summer glow and weighed down upon his mind.

For an instant he was seeing Cherry’s
studio but it was not as he remembered it, filled with her bright paintings,
the paintings she had rejected in her bid for fame.  No, now the place was
dark, brooding; full of evil images.  Images of death and violence.

There’s a place that is evil,

A place to die,

There’s a place that is evil,

It has no sky.

A place of darkness,

Where night reigns supreme,

Where even your nightmares,

Seem like the sweetest dream.

As he returned to face reality Shmueli
became certain that he had received a glimpse of Cherry as she now was.  Her
very soul in mortal peril and there was nothing he could do about it.

He had to get away.  He had to help her. 
Cherry needed him.

How?

He dared not descend the stairs.  He was
certain to be spotted.  The window then.  But it was the first floor.  He had
to be crazy.  Well, it was the only way.  Maybe, it would be possible.  He
would take a look.

So Shmueli opened the frame and leaned
out.  He looked down.  Yes, there was a drain pipe close enough.  He could
manage it if he was careful.

‘Shmueli, listen to me.’

‘No!’

His so called Guardian Angel.  So it was
not a dream but if not, what was it?  This was the thing that wanted Tiferet
dead.  This was the thing that had used him to destroy Rabbi Tashlich and his
parents.  Shmueli understood.  A shield had been erected around the house.  By
leaning out of the window he had passed through the shield and had allowed the
spirit to return.  Idiot that he was.  Well, this time he would fight.  Now he
knew what was his true enemy.

‘Shmueli.’

‘Go away.  Leave me alone.  Shema Yisroel
Adonoy Eloheinu Adonoy Echod.’

‘Shmueli.  You cannot fight me.  You
are mine.’

‘No!’

‘You are mine.  Listen to me.  I am
your Guardian Angel.’

‘No.  You’re evil.  Leave me.  I beg of
you.’

But it was no good.  Already Shmueli could
feel its mental tentacles grasping his mind, coaxing him, manipulating his
thoughts, bending him to its will.  He did not know how to fight.  He did not
want to fight.  It was his Guardian Angel, his protector from the evil that the
Bent Ferret was unleashing.  He would do as it wanted.

‘What must you do?’

‘Kill Tiferet.’

‘Good.  The guards cannot stay in this
place forever.  Soon one of them will leave and when he does he will be mine. 
You will take a weapon from him.  You will use it to kill the Ferret.  Do you
understand?’

Shmueli nodded.

‘So wait and I will send the guard to
you.  Now rest.’

And Shmueli felt his eyes closing.

…………………………………………

Ben Tiferet looked angrily at his former
student.  Fiona was lost and so, presumably, was the Odem that she carried. 
Short of sending someone else across the dimensions there was nothing he could
do to influence events.  The En Sof had proved itself to be an unbeatable
opponent.  All there was left for him to do was to hope that Jacob Tranton was
still alive and that he was able to fulfil his destiny.

Lapski was sitting in the armchair, saying
nothing.  Ben would have dearly loved to kill the man for unleashing this chain
of events.

‘Damn it, Alex.’

‘Oh, Professor, stop pacing.  You’ve tried
and failed.  Face it.  Now, we wait and see.’

‘And let the world be destroyed?  You’re
so callous.  I will stop you somehow, I promise.’

Lapski laughed.

‘Will you?  I wonder how you plan to do
that.  I still have five crystals.  The En Sof needs me.  You, I suspect, it
wants dead.’

‘Then, we’re lucky I’ve prevented it from
coming in.’

‘Assuming it does not use another to do
its bidding.  You forget, it can completely control a person’s mind.  Anyone
could be its tool.

‘You know, this is all rather enjoyable. 
I think I’ll just sit back and see what happens.’

‘You’re a
mumzer
, aren’t you?’

‘Maybe I am.  Relax.  The game is almost
over.’

But Ben knew that relaxing was the last thing
that he could do.  He had to assume that Fiona was dead and that Mitch had the
Odem.  There had to be some way that he could reach Jake and he would have to
do it without Alex’s help.  Now, more than ever, he would have to use all his
extensive knowledge of the seven earths to find an answer.

Which was when he realised the one thing
he had been missing.  It was so obvious, too obvious.  Maybe it would not work
but it was all that there was left to do.

Ben Tiferet decided to pray.

He would throw himself upon the mercy of
the Almighty.  

For an instant they stared at each other. 
Man and monster and then the thing that had been Mitch again reached into the
open chest of the demon and resumed its gory work.  That was when Jake
realised; this hybrid was oblivious to everything when involved in
destruction.  It was his only chance to escape.

He ran past the body, holding his nose at
the awful stench of sulphur, but what of the crystal?  He did not even know
where to begin to look and he also knew that the En Sof would not give him the
time.  Once it had feasted it would be his turn and he did not want to be
around when that happened.

Jake ran.  It was all he could do.

He did not stop and, sprinting for all he
was worth, he crossed the barrier...and...

There was silence.  Even Mitch’s screams
were no more and Jake knew what was happening.  This time he was truly entering
into Sheol and now he would face the fears that made him what he was today. 
The thought terrified him.

…………………………………….

It was over and Abaddon’s crystal was his.

As Mitch looked at the carnage that he had
wrought he felt power.  Raw power.  Despite the fact that he had returned to
his normal form he remembered everything.  He revelled in the memory of how the
demon guardian had fallen to his superior strength, how he had torn it to
shreds as if it was no more than a rag doll.  He had fed on its flesh, drinking
its ichor, and had gained in strength as he had done so.

For the first time he had a full understanding
of who he really was.  He had entered into a symbiotic relationship with an
intelligence that surpassed anything that existed.  When the En Sof had joined
with him to fight the demon it had allowed him to retain a sense of self and he
had learnt so much from the closeness of his mind with the supreme intellect of
the being.

There was nothing that would be denied to
him.  He could have whatever he wanted in the new order.  Nothing could oppose
him.  No human, certainly, and even the demons of hell could not stand in his
way when he called upon the En Sof to help.

Now he had two of the crystals.  Two more
were with that wanker, Jake Tranton, and five with the bastard, Lapski.  Oh,
how he would savour his destruction.

Lapski had really thought that he could
use the En Sof for his own purposes.  Fool he was.  The En Sof could be
no-one’s slave.  It is the spirit of an entire universe.  It would supplant the
universe of man and he, John Mitchell, would become the ruler of the new
civilisation.

Lapski had miscalculated entirely.  It was
his own actions that had granted to the En Sof the power it needed and that
power was now at his disposal.  Nothing alive would be able to stand in their
way.

Nothing!

Only God Himself could frustrate his
ambition.

He called upon his ally.  It was so easy. 
All he had to do was to think and the En Sof would respond.

‘Yes, Mitch.  What worries you?’

‘What about God?’

‘God.  Why trouble yourself about
something of so little consequence?’

 ‘But you are as much a product of His
creation as are the rest of us.  Surely God is not going to allow you to upset
the divine plan?’

‘What divine plan?’

‘The planned destiny of creation.’

‘Religious rubbish.  Do you think your
little universe is the end of creation?  When God had set your world in motion
he largely left it to its own devices and went on to other things.  If your
universe ends and mine replaces it it will make no real difference in the
scheme of things.

‘You worry unnecessarily.’

‘But, how can you be certain?’

‘Do not anger me.’

And Mitch trembled at the thought of what
his master could do if its will was opposed.

And then its voice softened,
‘Ah Mitch,
do you not think that this god would have acted already if it had been so
minded.  I have been free for three hundred of your years, since I was released
by the kabbalist, Cordozo.  This god could have returned me to my prison then
if it had so wanted.

‘So, Mitch.  Soon it will be our time. 
I must have the Light.  You must journey across Sheol and gain the next
crystal.  Then you will have three and your enemy, Tranton, only two.’

‘But Sheol.  Isn’t that another name for
Hell?  The place of the damned.  I can’t go through there.’

‘Fool.  A mere mortal man will have to
endure their basic fears and emotions in Sheol.  That is what Tranton will have
to do.  We do not.  Sheol is a prison of the mind and I can protect your mind. 
Together we will cross Sheol and find the Achlamah awaiting us, not even hidden
or guarded.  It will be ours for the taking.

‘No, it is the next world where you will
worry.  The Adamah.  There resides part of the Godhead.  It is a world where
angels dwell as do certain men who once came from your world.  It need not
concern you but I will be unable to accompany you through Adamah.  Until you
have the Light, I cannot risk a confrontation with Metatron.’

‘Metatron?’

‘Metatron is the most powerful of all
the host of Heaven.  He sits on a throne on the right side of God and travels
regularly in his chariot across both the Adamah and the final Earth, the
Eretz.  You, a mere mortal, will not disturb him but my presence will.

‘In Adamah live the descendants of Cain
and they guard the next stone.  They will only give up the stone to one who has
been chosen.  You will need Jake Tranton.’

‘But...’

‘No!  Do not fear.  The only force of
power that you may meet is Metatron.  Provided you do not call attention to
yourself the Angel will not trouble you.  The men are mortal, as are you.  They
differ only in that their life spans are greater.

‘Now, we shall go.  The Achlamah
awaits.’

But in that instant came a shrill owl-like
screech as if a million banshees were screaming through the night.  The En Sof
had no need to tell Mitch what was happening for he knew for himself.

‘Lilith.’

And they came.  Screaming, creening,
whooping, wailing.  The demon horde.  Bat like, great leathery wings flapping;
talons raised as they cavorted and danced towards him.

Behind was their infernal mother, the
Queen of Hell.  Radiant as ever in her beauty.  Smiling with wicked eyes, her
pale skin glowing with a ghostly pallor and she was not alone.

A man accompanied her.  One of the
two-headed beings that inhabited the world of Tevel and, as they approached,
Mitch knew that he recognised this character.  One of the heads still had the
scarred bullet hole in his temple where Mitch had shot him.

‘Relax.  I will deal with this.’

The vampires filled the cavern.

‘Here it must end.’

And, despite the fact that Lilith clearly
was not speaking in any recognisable language, Mitch found that with the help
of the En Sof that resided in his mind he could understand every word.

‘Why do you stand in my way?’ his mouth
asked, controlled by his partner within, ‘What love do you have for a god that
cast you out from the Garden of Eden to roam the Arka?’

‘I have no love for God, but here I rule
unchallenged by the Almighty.’

‘And, when this universe is replaced by
another order of creation, my universe, there will be a place for those that
assist me.’

‘You must think me very foolish.  I know
what you are.  I know what will happen if you succeed.  The Creator is
merciful, you are not.  The Creator knows how to love, you do not.

‘Your universe will make even the heavens
seem like the Arka.  I want no part of it.

‘Now it shall end.  My children will
destroy you.’

Mitch laughed, ‘How naive.  You can do
nothing to harm me.  Do your worst, Screech-Owl.’

Without any obvious signal and as one mind
the horde launched themselves at their enemy, their claws raised defiantly,
their fangs’ sharp and terrible, ready to drink the blood and soul of the En
Sof’s human host but Mitch just stood there laughing, gloating, knowing that
his partner would protect him.

He felt the power building within, the
tide of energy that would make him invincible and then, like a battery charged
to the limit, he was ready.  Like a marine in the heat of battle he screamed a
blood-curdling cry and rushed headlong to meet the red-eyed creatures.  Nothing
would stand in his way. 

……………………………………

As Faivish watched the ensuing carnage he
could not help feeling sick.  In his tame existence he had so little experience
of violence of any description.  His life had been spent either studying
Torah
and
Talmud
or farming as had been that of his fellows.  It had been
a simple rustic life but he had no complaints.

Then everything had changed and the cause
of that change was over there fighting like a man possessed against Lilith’s
vampire offspring.  It was ironic.  The children of Lilith had long been the
very source of terror for his people but now he had to see them in a new light. 
They had saved him from the endless prison into which he had been cast by the
En Sof and had brought him here to witness the humiliation of that self-same
creature and its human host.  That man; that man who had killed Daivish.  That
man was far worse a monster than even the En Sof.  To say that Faivish hated
him was an understatement.  All he felt was absolute loathing for him.

He knew that it was sinful to hate but he
was no longer the man he was and that man, that creature, was responsible.

And, despite that, despite everything, he
still found it almost impossible to watch the battle.  Just one man against a
multitude.  But this was no ordinary man.  This person, Mitch, was possessed by
the En Sof and it was clear that he had no fear of the vampires and demons that
challenged him.

Even as they darted at him Mitch batted
them away like flies.  Faivish saw heads flying clear of their bodies.  Dark
viscous liquid spraying everywhere.  Limbs torn off in a frenzy of killing. 
Creatures screaming in agony...

and, within it all, Mitch.

He stood there quite unconcerned,
smiling.  There was not even a scratch on him.  That was when Faivish knew that
all was lost.  Mitch was invincible.

Faivish looked at the evil beauty who
stood beside him.

‘Go,’ she whispered, ‘I can do no more
than to delay the En Sof here.  You must cross to the other side of Sheol and
warn your friend, the High Priest.  I will send you.

‘Now go.  Hurry.’

Faivish felt himself caught in a maelstrom
and then he was no more where he had been.  Now the atmosphere was cold, chill
like the grave, and he was surrounded by a myriad of shifting images that
swirled and flowed together in a frenetic and uncoordinated dance.  They were
everywhere and he could see nothing else and he knew what they were.

The souls of the damned.

Somewhere amongst these tormented spirits
was Jacob Tranton.  He would have to locate him whilst Jake was still
experiencing his own torment and he would guide him from this place.  Lilith
had shown him how.

But he would have to act fast.  Lilith’s
children would not delay the En Sof for long and Mitch would soon be here
untroubled by the mental demons of this place.  If so Mitch would locate the
next crystal before Jake and that would be a disaster.

 So where should he start?