Of Life and Death
The Dullahan stayed a few feet in back of Josiah, cracking the bones in his whip if Josiah slowed down. Josiah glanced side-to-side, looking for a way to get off the path. A dark purple, black and white veil shimmered in the distance. He ran toward it, then stopped short.
The curtain danced in the mesmerizing lights and hummed like a power station. Josiah stepped backward.
“You are expected,” the Dullahan snarled from behind.
Josiah peeked over his shoulder. The horseman held the whip high over its headless neck, the smile on the disembodied head now widened to reach the decaying ears. The sight paralyzed him.
The crack of the spinal cord whip brought Josiah’s frozen muscles to life. He snapped his head left to right, looking for an escape. Algae covered water, teeming with alligators and jet-black snakes gave him no way out. He dove through the electric curtain and rolled to a stop at a pair of ebony leather talons. He raised his head.
A malicious smile revealed razor-sharp teeth. Red eyes glinted with victory. “We meet again.”
Josiah jumped up. A loud crack followed by searing pain drove him back to the ground.
“That is where you stay when you are addressing him,” the horseman’s disembodied mouth gurgled.
Malicious giggles and shrieks filled the air. A multitude of voices repeated, “Yes, that is where you stay, old man.”
Josiah raised his head just enough to be able to see his surroundings. Human bones and bodies surrounded him. The remains were in various stages of decomposition. All the heads and skulls had one thing in common: the mouths were frozen in a silent scream. He looked at the ground and realized he was kneeling in someone’s stomach. Red liquid encased his knees. He pushed backward. The fluid squirted upward. Josiah yanked his shirt up to his nose.
Iconoclast snorted. “You’ll get used to the smell in no time. Definitely before you die.”
“You have no control over me, Iconoclast.” Josiah’s voice shook.
Atramentous stepped forward and pushed him to the ground with a clawed foot. “You don’t sound so certain, old man.”
God help me. My arrogance has been my sin. If you are going to take me, O God, please don’t leave me here in this minor hell. “In Jesus’ name,” he said aloud.
Iconoclast flew upward, shot a finger out and red light drove into Josiah’s back, atop the fresh wound from the Dullahan’s whip. “That name has no place here. You are not protected.”
“I am protected anywhere,” Josiah whispered before he fell prostrate on the earth.
“Bring him!”
Atramentous jerked Josiah to his feet, encircled him like a black rope made of mist, and dragged him to the far side of the compound.
Josiah struggled against the vaporous cords. They held fast. Atramentous dragged him like a ragdoll toward beige plants laced in black. Dark, spiked thorns protruded from sunflower-like centers.
“My own design—a copy really. I just made a few modifications,” Iconoclast said, pride lacing his tone. “They shoot a most amazing poison. Such a slow and painful toxin. It will take hours for it to do the work. But, be assured, it will. You will suffer for that time. Before the poison takes you, I will suck out your brain.”
“I’ll never be yours, Iconoclast. I belong to Jesus Christ.”
Atramentous shivered, and the misty ropes loosened long enough for Josiah to wiggle free. He ran for the curtain.
The sound of squeaking leather and the whoosh of a strong wind passed over Josiah’s head. Iconoclast landed between Josiah and the curtain. “Must I do everything myself?” He lifted Josiah into his right arm.
Josiah heard Pet purring a melancholy tune. He struggled and slipped a bit from Iconoclast’s grasp. He bit down on the leathery arm.
Iconoclast shouted, his left hand opened, dropping Pet to the ground. He slammed a knife-sharp claw into Josiah’s cheek and yanked Josiah’s teeth from his forearm. “Now you will die.” He pushed Josiah toward the plant, a razor sharp fingernail pierced Josiah’s back, drawing blood.
Josiah jumped forward and teetered just a few feet away from the plants. “Jesus, I know I’ve sinned in arrogance. Please help me.”
The purple light from the curtain dimmed. For a brief moment, bright light flooded the sanctuary. Josiah heard a familiar bark. Carnelian breeched the curtain, growled, and raced to Iconoclast. She sank her teeth into the stiff leather heel.
“DIE!” Iconoclast shook his heel. The small canine soared across the compound and fell lifeless a few feet from decaying remains.
“Carnelian!”
Iconoclast whirled and watched as the small troop of warriors—Kat, Ken, Wendy, Bart, Patrick, and Grandma Bricken—stepped into the sanctuary.
“So be it, you all die today. Take them!” Iconoclast commanded.
Atramentous, Venenose, Gambogian, Energumen, Venenose, and Bruit encircled the small group.
“We finally feast!” Atramentous grabbed Grandma Bricken.
The other demons leaned in, mouths open to feed.
The Dullahan flew though the curtain, the horse reared. His whip lashed the stagnant air. It stopped in mid-strike. “My countryman. You are not dead.” He dismounted his horse and walked to Ken.
Ken’s eyes grew as large as saucers, and he started backing up.
“Stay put,” Patrick whispered. “He thinks you’re O’Brine.”
“Why would he think that?” Ken whispered to the side.
“Remember the old photo? You look just like him,” Kat answered.
“What do I do?”
“Be nice to him,” Bart offered.
“You are of no help.”
“Talk to him. Tell him to stop chasing our countrymen, in the name of Jesus.” Grandma yelled from within the circle.
Bart pushed Ken forward. “Here’s your buddy.”
Ken looked at Dullahan. “You have been killing so many.”
“It was the pact. You do not remember? I made the pact for you—my countryman.”
“To be honest, I am not that O’Brine. I am his great-grandson.”
“Then, I must ride.”
“Why? Hasn’t your promise been kept? Haven’t you brought sacrifices to this being long enough?” He pointed at Iconoclast.
“I gave my word. If I ride, the O’Brines live.”
“I am the last O’Brine male. If I die, there will be no children, no O’Brine family left on this earth.”
Dullahan turned on Iconoclast. “You told me the O’Brines would be safe as long as I ride.”
“No. I said I would keep the sanctuary safe as long as the O’Brines live. This is the last of them. The pact ends when he dies—which will be today. Then, this land will belong to me until the end of time.”
“We had an agreement. You broke it! By the terms of the contract, I am free.” Dullahan mounted his horse.
“You have nowhere to go. You belong to Hell!”
“I am doomed. Until you find me and take me personally to Hell, I ride!” Dullahan turned his horse and rode into the swamp.
“Seems you’ve lost your herdsman,” Grandma said to Iconoclast.
“No matter. You are here.” He pointed at Ken. “And that one is still mine.”
Kat threw her arms around Ken. “He is not. I know you have to take Ken to own this place! I’m keeping the last male descendant of O’Brine.”
Patrick stepped in front of Kat. “You took my pa; because of you my ma died. You’ll have to get through me!”
Atramentous released Grandma and joined Iconoclast. “You will all die. Your God is not here to save you!”
The small troop encircled Ken. “You cannot have him,” Grandma said.
The fight for Ken made Iconoclast forget about Josiah. He snuck away from the poisonous plants and scooped Pet from the ground. “You can do nothing without this evil being!” He shouted. “The demon, Pet, I command you to go to the abyss, in the name of Jesus Christ!” Josiah threw Pet toward the ground.
It opened, and the small purple and black being plummeted through the crack.
Iconoclast grew taller as rage filled his being. “I will kill you now!” He swooped toward Josiah. Kat ran ahead of him and threw herself between them. “Be gone in the name of JESUS!” she screamed.
Iconoclast laughed and flung her to the side. She fell unconscious. “Take my hand,” Grandma Bricken commanded of Bart and Ken. “We must pray.”
The small troop bowed their heads. “Lord, we are in the lion’s den and have no way out. Please give us strength. If we are to die here, take us home. No matter our fate, please reclaim this land from the evil one. Above all give us the courage to do Your will and face this evil. In Jesus’ name.”
Grandma turned and clip-clopped on her cane to Kat. Gambogian flew in front of her. “Out of my way, demon!” Gambogian flew to the side.
Alese Bricken lowered herself to the ground. She took in the pale skin and lifeless body. “Wake up, Kat,” she murmured. “We must fight this evil. I can’t do it without you. Please wake up, dear child.”
Grandma leaned in. Kat’s chest did not rise and fall in breathing. “No. He can’t have won.”
Josiah looked around. Most of the demons had vanished with Grandma’s prayer. All that remained were Iconoclast and his army, minus Pet. The path to Grandma was clear. Josiah hurried to her side and took her in his arms. “I am so sorry, Alese. It shouldn’t have ended this way.”
Ken and Wendy raced over. Kat had landed a foot from Carnelian. “This can’t be happening!” Ken turned to Iconoclast and charged.
Iconoclast flipped him like a baby doll. “Your hatred is like a potion to me.” He smiled, picked up Ken, and threw him at the others. “Where is your God now?”
The heaviness and stench of failure settled over the small troop of warriors like a toxic fog. “We have failed,” Wendy said. She looked at her best friend’s body. “Oh, Kat. You were so stupid. Why did I listen to you?”
Patrick took hold of Josiah’s arms and shook him. “What are you doing? Don’t you see? This is why I ended up in the asylum for so many years. You told me God was my protection. I believed you. Now, you must believe Him!”
Josiah looked into Patrick’s shining, determined eyes. The clarity stirred a strength deep in Josiah’s soul. “You are right, Patrick. God has never failed me. If he chose to take Katrina, then she is in Heaven and far from this horror. We must stop Iconoclast!”
Gram wiped a tear from her cheek. “Help me up, Bartholomew!”
Bart gripped her arm and pulled her to her feet.
Grandma looked Iconoclast in the eye. “I will not let hate taint the love I have for this girl. You will not take those wonderful memories from me, evil spawn! You are only a fallen angel, nothing more. You cannot beat JESUS CHRIST!”
Ken’s eyes, still laced with anger, changed to sadness and filled with hope. A softness tugged at his heart. He looked down on Kat. “You will always be the love of my life. Thank you for showing me what true love is. I’ll never forget it, or you.” Tears dropped onto the clay-colored earth surrounding her and Carnelian.
The small group looked down at the lifeless forms of Carnelian and Kat. “They look like they are sleeping,” Wendy whispered.
“They are. We’ll see them again in Heaven.” Gram looked into Iconoclast’s flashing eyes. “I do not grieve like those that have no hope. Be gone from this place in the name of JESUS!”
Iconoclast smiled. “You cannot make me leave!” His commanders flanked him on either side. ”We have won! She has been taken, and that makes five! I can continue my fight for this place and this world on behalf of my great one. Until you die, Kenneth O’Brine Melbourne. Then, it is mine. The group of evil bore down on the small warriors of Christ.
A black streak shot past the demons and into the middle of the group. “Where did you come from?” Wendy asked.
BC looked at Wendy, wide, knowing eyes, then laid down between Kat and Carnelian, legs tucked under him reminiscent of a regal Sphinx. He closed his eyes and stretched his body until his front legs touched Carnelian and his back legs touched Kat.
Ken crouched down and stroked the silky, black fur. “I know, buddy. I’m going to miss them, too.”
The group huddled closer to Kat and Carnelian. Gram grabbed Josiah’s hand on one side and Wendy’s on the other. “You’re will be done, Mighty Son of God. Your will be done!” Josiah breathed.
“Amen,” the group answered. Tears flowed to the ground. The dry weeds in the red clay took on the color of fresh morning grass.
A light flashed. Bart’s right eye popped open. “Look!”
The ground around Kat and Carnelian shimmered and danced in brilliant white light. The tears danced like small crystals above the brilliant glow. BC sat up, bumped Carnelian with his head, turned, and bumped Kat’s. Ken scooped the cat into his arms, holding him tight. For once, BC didn’t resist. He cuddled deeper and purred into Ken’s neck.
Sparks flew upward and showered back down to the dirt surrounding the small group. A voice said, “Where two or more of you are gathered in my Name, I will be there also. Dry your tears. I have heard your prayers.”
Ken shielded his eyes at a dazzling blaze of light. Electric hands reached out and touched Kat. Sparks flew from her to Carnelian.
“You cannot be here!” Iconoclast raged.
A bronze angel landed next to the brilliance. “I am to tell you, ‘It is you who CANNOT be here any longer! Followers of Christ the Lord claimed it to honor God! Leave and do not return!’”
The small troop watched in amazement as Iconoclast and his commanders faded to opague mists and vanished. The purple and black curtain, the bones, bodies, and stench disappeared and gave way to a grass-covered hill. Croaking frogs and chirping crickets serenaded the approaching twilight.
“What time is it?”
Ken whirled around. “Kat!”
“What? Why did you let me sleep here?” Kat tried to lift herself from the ground and fell back again. “What’s wrong with me?”
“Welcome back, KittyKat!” Wendy threw her arms around Kat, tears of joy streaming down her face.
Kat patted Wendy’s shoulder and pushed her away. “You’re smothering me, Winsome.”
BC leapt from Ken’s arms. “BC!” Kat held out her arms. BC trotted to Carnelian’s lifeless form.
“Where is that evil Iconoclast? I’ll beat him myself for killing my dog!” Kat pushed herself to a standing position, then grabbed her head. “I remember he threw me here… and then I saw this beautiful white light and…now I’m here.”
Kat looked sadly at Carnelian. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you, sweet pup.”
BC gave Carnelian’s nose a light lick. He bumped her again. The eyes fluttered and opened. Carnelian lay still.
“Oh, my, I think she’s alive!” Gram leaned down.
Ken pushed his way into the group to the dog he had secretly come to love and depend on. “Carnelian?”
At his voice, Carnelian jumped up, wobbled, and tried to take a step toward him. “Stay!” Ken picked her up and cradled her in his arms. She buried her long nose in his shirt.
“You sure you don’t like that dog, FBI?” Wendy said.
“She’s growing on me.” Ken hugged the dog tighter and put his other arm around Kat. “I know I’m going to keep you as long as God allows on this earth. In eternity, too!” He smiled down into Kat’s emerald eyes. “How about we go get married? And then go home.”
Kat nodded.
“What are we waiting for? Another visit from the other side?” Patrick asked. “Or, something like a gator takes a liking to us.”
The small troop made their way back to Bordman’s Crossing.
The sound of footsteps on the path ahead of them brought them to a halt.
Carnelian growled and lowered her head.
“Now what?” Kat asked.
Ken scanned the overgrowth on either side of the trail. He grabbed a fallen limb and raised it over his head. “Don’t know, but I’m not going down without a fight—another one, that is.”
Tammy McCarty rounded the bend, stopped in front of Ken and held up her hands. “Thank goodness, y’all are okay!” She pointed at the gnarled wood in Ken’s hand. “Can you put that down?”
Ken lowered the improvised weapon. “Why are you here?”
Phoebe trotted up behind Tammy, her shotgun cradled under one arm. “Where’s the Dullahan?” She pulled the shotgun up and cocked it. “I’m tired of that thing terrorizing my kin.”
Bart put a finger on the barrel and pushed so it pointed at the ground. “He’s gone. Don’t think you’ll see him again. Morris is safe.” Bart explained what had happened and the disappearance of the Dullahan.
Phoebe nodded and looked at Josiah Williams. “Well, then, guess my family is getting baptized.”
Josiah Williams grinned. “I guess you are.”
Josiah turned to Alese. “May I say something?”
“I’m still pretty upset, but you may.”
“I believe we’ve seen the last of Iconoclast in our lives. I’m at peace for the first time in years.”
“That’s all fine and good, Josiah Williams. What are you going to do now?”
“That’s what I want to talk to you about. I never thought I’d find love again, Alese, but I did. I don’t suppose you’d marry this crazy old man?”
“You planning on sticking around? Not running off on some wild goose chase again?”
“I am. And Ravens Cove seems to be where I’d love to stay, if you’ll have me.
“Then, yes, I’ll marry you, Josiah Williams.”
Josiah faced forward and smiled. “It’s a beautiful evening, isn’t Alese Bricken?”
Alese patted his arm. “Yes, Mr. Williams, it is.”