Two large cargo vans sat idling on the edge of Salem’s city limits in an abandoned gas station parking lot. Both were painted black without any markings that would indicate who the owners were.
The back doors were open exposing the occupants. Two separate groups of one group male dressed in black and red combat armor and full faced helmets which kept their identities secret. The other group all female dressed in a similar fashion except that their armor was black and blue. A sizeable imposing man dressed in all black armor addressed the two groups. Standing next to him was an equally impressive blonde woman dressed like the other women.
“This is a capture or kill mission. Our objective is the capture or kill both Morrigan and her vile son Caleb. He is an aberration of nature, and it is God’s will that he is to be captured so that the Inquisition can exorcise him to save his soul. If that is not possible, then he is to be exterminated with extreme prejudice. Am I clear?” The Brotherhood Inquisitor finished.
All but one responded in the affirmative. That one woman in black and blue armor concluded at that moment. They had just ordered her to capture or kill her boyfriend or ex-boyfriend. Kiera was sure of one thing, tonight she would do everything in her power to save Caleb. Thank God for the full-face helmets. At least they can’t see my tears. Kiera thought as the doors slammed shut before they all checked over their weapons for the hundredth time.
It was near midnight when the vans left the gas station and made their way through the outskirts of Salem towards the town center.
Halloween or Samhain as the Witches called it was a celebration of the final harvest before winter. This night, however, was anything but a holiday. A dead calm hung over Salem. Long gone were the children running around dressed in their colorful costumes knocking on the door and saying, ‘Trick or Treat.’ The only signs of life were the two black cargo vans driving slowly through the city and the lights that blazed brightly from the old Catholic Church.
Inside the church secured to the rock floor by silver steel manacles, an eighteen-year-old young man strained against his bindings and cried out in rage and pain.
The runes and sigils flared to life around the Circle of Power that held Caleb in response to the ones that his adopted mom…no, his sister, Celeste had carved into his back and arms.
“It has begun,” His mother, The Morrigan commented as those assembled watched in fascination as Caleb’s muscles tightened and flexed in response to the runes.
“Mother, when will we know if everything worked?” Celeste asked in a whisper.
Morrigan held up a hand, “It should not be much longer, daughter.”
Morrigan was right about one thing it wasn’t much longer for the next thing everyone felt was the explosion from the breaching charge that blew the large double doors open.
As the Witches inside recovered and moved into action armed figures in black and red flowed in from the opening followed closely by armed individuals in black and blue armor.
A large black armored man tailed by another slightly less imposing person followed the two groups and surveyed the scene before him. Pointing to Caleb, he commanded his troops, “Secure the boy and capture Morrigan.”
“What about the rest of the Witches?” The figure next to him asked.
“They’re Witches, kill them all and burn this building to the ground,” He answered.
One of the black and blue warriors gasped drawing a look from her fellows.
“Look, Celeste someone for your brother to play with. You’re too late Father Jameson,” Morrigan said.
The chamber erupted in suppressed gunfire from The Brotherhood troops and was countered by the Craft wielding witches who pulled out wands or some other type foci to direct their attacks.
The two sides exchanged blows with spells being stopped by The Brotherhood’s armor and bullets being deflected by the shields raised by the witches. Before too long The Brotherhood warriors dropped their guns and pulled long silver gleaming swords and charged into the waiting witches.
Just as the two sides joined in hand to hand combat a blinding pillar of light flared up from the Circle of Power that contained Caleb. An unearthly scream broke free from him as his back arched and he pulled against his chains.
Then there was an audible pop in the atmosphere followed by the smell of sulfur as the light faded revealing Caleb standing covered in blood, sweat, and grime. He was breathing heavily with a look of pure rage. The manacles were still attached to his wrists, but the chains had broken.
Morrigan took in the scene, and a wicked smile spread on her features. “Now the fun begins. Kill them all my son!”
Caleb glanced back at his mother then back to the melee that was being played out in front of him. “Gladly,” he replied as he rubbed his hands together and moved towards the nearest Brotherhood soldier, one of the black and red warriors that he remembered they were called Furies.
The Brotherhood soldier pulled his sword free from one of the witches and turned to see Caleb walking towards him. The Fury moved to intercept and attacked.
Caleb grabbed the Fury’s sword arm stopping his overhead strike, then wrapped his arm around the other’s in an armbar before striking with his right hand into the Fury’s armored chest.
Caleb’s strike punctured the armor and ribcage beneath before he pulled his arm back now covered in blood holding the soldier's heart. Dropping both the Fury and the heart, Caleb moved to the next combatant.
Everyone froze after witnessing Caleb’s attack before they backed away from him in fear. The sadistic smile that he wore promised of death and destruction to all.
Inquisitor Jameson pushed his way through to stand in front of Caleb. “I will end you, abomination of Satan!” He cried out as he charged Caleb.
Caleb laughed maniacally before white-hot fire shot from his extended arm to engulf the Inquisitor. Death was near instantaneous burning Jameson to ash before he had made it five steps. “You are a lie, perverting my grandfather’s will!” He turned to see who would challenge him next, “Who’s next?”
The witches backed away from the monster who had just burned a man to ash in a matter of seconds. The Brotherhood, however, didn’t back away, the Furies cried out in rage and charged en mass.
Kiera stood and watched as the man she had fallen in love with took up a ready fight position to meet the Furies head-on. She also noticed that the witches were preparing to something to stop Caleb if they could.
Caleb moved with a speed and grace that anyone who knew him knew he didn’t have. The Furies couldn’t get a clean strike on him as he flowed between their attacks and parries as he punched and kick like a Kung Fu master. Every blow shattered their armor along with bones. It wasn’t long before the last of the squad was on the ground either unconscious or dead.
When the last Fury fell from Caleb’s strike, the witches attacked with water and lightning. Kiera realized it was the same thing the Witch Bitches had done to her.
The sphere of water encased Caleb about the same time the lightning hit electrifying him. He grimaced slightly before slamming his foot on the ground causing a shockwave that knocked everyone off their feet and breaking the spells.
Morrigan laughed and clapped joyfully, “Excellent, now finish them off.”
Kiera looked to see that Morrigan was standing along the far wall near a door with Caleb’s adopted mom, Celeste and an enormous man with blue tattoos covering his body.
Caleb raised his hands and began to fire plasma balls at the witches and the remaining Brotherhood soldiers. Everyone dove for cover or in the case of the witches raised protective shields. Anything the plasma balls hit burned with a white-hot intensity.
At that moment seeing Caleb attack and kill indiscriminately, Kiera decided to try and stop him. She snapped the latches to her helmet and pulled it off as she called out. “Caleb, this isn’t who you are!”
She started to move towards him when a hand grabbed her arm. “What do you think you are doing?” Veronica asked.
“Stopping him before he kills us all,” Kiera replied as she pulled free of Veronica’s grasp and ran to Caleb.
“What does she think she’s doing?” Commander Reed asked Veronica.
“She’s doing what she thinks will save us,” Veronica answered.
“Valkyries to me!” Reed commanded.
Seeing Kiera run toward Caleb, Morrigan cried out, “Caleb watch out! Kill the Valkyrie!”
Caleb turned at his mother’s direction and paused, then he shook his head. The woman running toward was the enemy, his mother told him so but there was something familiar about her was it the red hair. “Kiera?” He asked the girl.
Kiera slowed her approach as she got closer to Caleb, “Yes, Caleb it’s me.”
Recognition cleared his eyes for but a moment, “You’re Brotherhood, you led them to me.”
His words hit her with force worse than if he had hit her with his plasma balls. Tears began to stain her cheeks, “I did, and then I realized you had stolen my heart. I love you, Caleb. You are the first person who has only wanted to be with me for me not for what I can do.” Kiera stood there exposed and stripped bare before him, “I’m sorry so sorry.”
Caleb examined her while she spilled her heart out to him. His muscles relaxed slightly, and his anger fled. “Kiera, help the darkness has almost consumed me. This is what she has wanted from me.”
Kiera moved swiftly upon hearing his plea and seeing his own tear tracks on his face. When she reached him, she threw her arms around him as her lips collided with his.
The power and fire Caleb had been holding died the moment Kiera touched him. He wrapped his arms around her and held on as if his life depended on it.
Seeing Caleb with Kiera, defeated Morrigan turned to Celeste, “This is over for now. We need to leave, Connor lead us out of here.”
The witches were next and slowly retreated from both The Brotherhood and Morrigan.
Veronica turned to Commander Reed, “Orders?”
“We’re not strong enough to take him with Kiera let alone without her. This is a clusterfuck. Let’s get out of here,” Commander Reed answered.
The Valkyries helped carry the Furies who were still alive and followed their commander back through the blown-out doors.
Veronica stood there watching Caleb and Kiera as they caressed each other and spoke softly, she could see the smiles both wore.
Caleb noticed the lone Valkyrie and said something to Kiera who turned and saw her best friend. She said something to Caleb, and he nodded.
Letting go of him, she walked over to Veronica. “I’m staying with him. The Brotherhood proved that they only wanted me for what I could do for them not for who I am.”
Veronica nodded, “I don’t know how long it will be before we are ordered to come after you. If I were you, I wouldn’t be around here in forty-eight hours. That’s the best I can do for you. I hope he’s worth it.”
“Thanks, and he is. For what it’s worth I’m sorry,” Kiera replied.
“So am I, Kiera. So am I,” Veronica offered before turning and following the other Valkyries out of the building.
Kiera walked back to Caleb’s side and took his hand in hers. “Where do we go now? Neither of us has a home anymore.”
“Perhaps, I can help out with that,” Robert answered as he walked out the shadows to join his best friend.
Relief washed over Caleb, “Robert, thank God I didn’t hurt you. I’m sorry about everything.” Caleb offered as he hugged his best friend.
“I understand now why you never said anything,” Robert replied.
The two friends broke apart, and Caleb quickly took Kiera’s hand in his, and when he looked at her, she smiled at him. He turned his attention from Kiera to Robert, “You were saying you could help us?”
“My parents bought me a new car for Samhain. Here take the keys it’s registered and full of gas.” Robert tossed the keys to Caleb, “Just tell me where you leave it. I get that you won’t be able to keep it long, but it should help you two get as far from here as possible.”
“Oh, I think I have something that might help us too!” Kiera exclaimed as she dug in one of her pockets before pulling out a folded business card.
“What have you got there?” Caleb asked before she handed him the card.
Robert raised his hands, “Nope, I don’t want to know. The less I know, the less they can get from me.”
Caleb extended his hand to Robert, who took it and pulled Caleb into a hug. “You are the brother that I always wanted. Thank you for everything, and again I’m sorry for not telling you.”
Robert hugged Caleb tight, “I love you. Take care of yourself. Don’t let them win.”
Kiera hugged Robert next. “Thank you,” She said before kissing his cheek.
“Ok, I need to get going and so do you two. My car is the black Land Rover SUV parked over by The Commons. Be safe,” Robert finished before turning and leaving Kiera and Caleb.
“What now?” Kiera asked.
“I think we need to stop by my place, so I can change and get some clothes and other things, then we swing by your apartment,” Caleb answered taking her hand.
“Ok, that sounds like a plan, then we should head to the address on the card,” Kiera offered.
Caleb looked at the card as they exited the battle-ravaged church and read:
Micah Callahan
Fenris Security
Kenmore Square
Boston, MA