Straight from Heaven (Fallen Kingdoms I.)

Chapter 3 - The price of peace

Traumatized by the memories Archbishop Samuel kept waiting for his business partner. The story of the Brown family was tragical. When Fred told him how Priest Alexander died, Samuel understood why people left the town and why no other priest wanted to take his place. That night Fred finished the tale with the following details.

- After Eunice was burned, and Adam left the town with Helen, Priest Alexander started to have visions. His preaches became more like history lessons about Heaven and Hell, and a few weeks later he claimed to be a saint who saw an angel sent by God. Another three years passed like this when, on a Sunday night, a gorgeous woman appeared in town. She had white, flawless skin, long, light brown hair and clear blue eyes. She immediately turned the head of all young fellas, but the only one who seemed to call her attention was Priest Alexander. She attended all masses and followed him like a lovesick puppy. On the day when Eunice was supposed to turn eleven years old, the town held a huge summer party. The new lady also attended, that night changed our world. At the hour when Eunice was born, the lady dragged Priest Alexander, to where you saw the black circle today. He was barely conscious and she tied him to a stake. Some of Alexander's loyal followers tried to approach her but the atmosphere around that angelic woman turned into a heavy, darkness. Alexander came to his senses and tried to escape, she put her finger to his mouth and he shouted.

" I'm a saint! You can't touch me or you'll bring God's wrath to yourself!" She laughed wholeheartedly and grabbed the priest's cheek.

* You claim to be a saint? Why is that so?

" Because for years an angel keeps visiting me! Priest answered proudly and the lady smirked.

* So, let me understand this. When my sister told you she saw me, she was a witch, when you see me, you immediately become a saint? All of our jaws dropped. When I looked better at her she was the spit image of Abigail. I called her name and she glanced at me.

" She died protecting her sister." She looked at Alexander and turned to the crowd while he shouted for us to help him. The young lady lifted her fist to the air and shouted.

" I'm the righteous hand of God!" she glanced at the priest and said with a smile.

" And I'm the devil, that you forgot." Suddenly her fingers lightened like matches and she looked at the church. Alexander's most devoted followers fell on their knees and pleaded her to release him. Alexander cried but we just watched the show with Doris. The lady smiled at us and looked into the priest's eyes.

" The day you killed my innocent, pure sister I swore that I'll come for you one day, and Hell is coming with me." With those words she blew at her fingers and Priest Alexander started to burn slowly. People claimed to hear his painful screaming from the neighborhood towns. Together with Alexander, the church burned as well, and whatever people tried to do, the flames kept eating him alive. The moment his whole body was covered in flames and his voice died, we saw a light going up to the sky. That was when the lady's eyes turned into vibrant red, just like the flames, her dress burned with flames revealing her missing wings. Everyone ran away but we couldn't move with Doris. She flew after the light and the last thing we saw that night was a falling, burning star. - next day Archbishop Samuel tried to talk with the few remaining locals about the incident. But they all answered the same as Fred and Doris. If he wanted to end the mysterious murders he needs to make a deal with the devil. He was about to give up when a young man poked his shoulder while he was getting on his carriage.

- Your Excellency, I might be able to help with your problem. If you'll hear me out. - Samuel shrugged and followed the young man. They walked around the town and he introduced himself.

- My name is Michael and I believe that your intentions and mine are the same.

- What do you know about the murders son? - Samuel checked out Michael from head to toe. He seemed to be an aristocrat from a wealthy family. His eyes were dark brown as well as his hair. He was tall, handsome and his manners were flawless.

- I know that they started several years ago, but thet became so much in the last year. They follow the same pattern but always a little different. The victims are always priests who are well know and followed by many people. They are always loved by their community but I also know, your Excellency, that after their death, dark secrets are slowly floating to the surface. Gambling, abuses, stealing and so on. All the victims are sinners, so we could rightfully thank that it is their punishment by God. But as we also know, God doesn't take lives, he is more creative than that. - Archbishop Samuel smiled at the young man's words.

-You talk like you know him yourself son. - he flashed a charming smile and said looking deeply into the Archbishop's eyes.

- I'm a true believer, your Excellency. - the Archbishop sighed.

- So good to hear this at this village. I was about to give up, but maybe if we find someone as devoted as you, my young friend, we might be able to restore their fate. - Michael laughed at Samuel's words and shook his head.

- Your perception of the situation is wrong your Excellency, they have fate. But their fate is in something bigger than God.

- Who could be bigger than God son? - the Archbishop frowned while Michael took a few steps towards him. Michael's eyes turned red like flames and his hair became black like coal. He smiled at Samuel whose breath stopped for a moment.

- The Devil himself. - Samuel gasped and grabbed his cross. He started to pray but Michael loosely walked to him. He grabbed the Archbishop's cross and shattered into tiny pieces. Samuel grabbed a tiny bottle attached to his belt and poured it's containment at Michael. He brushed the holy water out of his hair and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

- Have you finished? - Samuel just stared at Michael and didn't understand, how the Devil stood in front of him and remained harmless after everything he tried. He nodded to answer Michael's question, thinking that this might be a bad prank pulled by a few angry novices and this man is just a charlatan.

- You said our intentions are the same. I suppose you have an offer. - Archbishop Samuel decided to play along and Michael laughed. He pat Samuel's shoulder and said.

- Now, I like this attitude better. - Michael dropped the formalities and said.

- You want the murders to end and the secrets to keep being hidden. I know who is behind the murders and I want to keep her soul. But since, she is doing a good service to Father, he might be able to forgive her. The situation is pretty twisted and complicated I don't want to get into the details. My offer is, you should buy her soul from me, and I'll keep her in Hell.

- You keep calling the murderer "her". Who is she? - Michael grinned.

- You are so wise, yet so slow putting two and two together. She is the one that people call as Pandora's Apple. Sweet, charming, powerful. I only suppose that someone so insanely precise and wicked can only be a woman.

- How could I buy her soul if you don't even know who she is? - Michael laughed.

- Because I didn't search for Pandora's Apple for now. But, if I start to look for him or her, then there will be no time killing priests, since he or she will be too occupied with escaping from me. So, It's a deal then? - Michael asked and Samuel sighed.

- Name your price.

- Hundred gold coins and two silver ones.

- Is that all? - Archbishop Samuel asked and Michael leaned closer.

- Maybe I should just leave Pandora's Apple roaming, it seems like the old fashioned ways of Poverty pledge and others are not so strictly understood as before. - Archbishop Samuel felt humiliated. He wanted to end the massacres so badly and get his promotion so badly that he was unaware of what he was doing.

- I didn't mean that way.

- Of course, see you in three days where all started. - Michael bid farewell and walked away leaving Samuel filled with doubts.

Three days later he was ready to give up when a figure in cape approached him.

-I thought you won't come. - he said and threw the money to the man in cape.

-Hundred golds and two silver coin. Keep your end of the deal. - the figure started to shake and chuckle, but the voice started deep as a man's and ended up being high and beautiful like a lady's. She approached Archbishop Samuel. He fell on his knees and looked into the sky blue eyes, Fred told him about.

- Abigail Brown... - he mumbled and she kneeled in front of him.

- No, no. They call me Valerie or Val for my friends if I had any. But the name people most commonly used to call me is Pandora's Apple. - Archbishop Samuel felt a bone shaking, blood freezing fear he never felt before. Valerie leaned closer to him and smiled.

- Subordinates of God are always so bloody predictable...

- I... I made a deal with Michael...I'm sorry...- he muttered and she hugged him. Valerie pat Samuel's head to comfort him and whispered.

- They also call me Michael from time to time Father. But your betrayal is not the worse... - She dipped her dagger deeply into Samuel's chest and said.

- Were you really that naive, that you thought I won't come for you. You only accepted this mission to get a promotion and easily hide the priests crimes, such as your own sins. I know each skeleton in your cupboard Samuel or should I call you Fabian ?

- Valerie turned into her old self and Fabian had a chance to look into the eyes of the girl he kidnapped and raped.

- You... Why you wanted the money then? - he asked and she giggled innocently.

- The gold is just because I deserve it.

- And the silvers? - he asked and she pulled the dagger out and put it to his neck. Valerie smiled and said.

- That is the p*****t for your soul to enter Hell. Sweet dreams Fabian ! - Abigail sliced his throat and placed the coins on his eyes before she disappeared in the night.