4.4 Crusaders Book II - Stakes Declared

1.                    A defunct airplane port, Alberta Canada

The six hangers were not fully renovated albeit some light planes are parked there. The long haired man carrying a long duffel bag on his back was driven by a pastor who once met him. The pastor was approached by the waylaid man two mornings ago at his church. The waylaid man stood there and dropped the duffel bags.

"I want to go to Rome."

"My dream was to send you to Rome." That drove both men to this defunct airport. They stopped the car at the Hanger No.3 and got off. They were met by a bearded man with casual wear and collected his fees. He also promised to attend the next service on Sunday. They took off in a private jet with the check in flight for stops along the route.

The battle was at Montreal airport. It was a need to get a walk and he took one into a dark corner of the hanger. They were there; three of them stood there with their fangs extended over their lips.

"Clawler, you can run but you can't hide." The demon in the middle walked up and continue. "You killed two of my good men; father and son a few centuries ago. I am here to even the score."

"They are the cousins; long in the line of blood." The two standing behind came forth. They pulled out the long handed mallet and held it in the hands. "They also came prepared."

The two cousins went separate ways to flank Clawler. Meanwhile Clawler removed his jacket and then his shirt with the shoes; and growled out like a predator. His features starts to change from the physical form of man to that of a wolf like but less pronounced on the nose. His shoulders grew out and wide while his lower limbs grew more sinewy with a bigger muscles. On his upper limbs, claws starts to appear and they lengthen at over half a meter long. All over his body furs starts to appear and soon he was covered it like a furry animal.

"A splendid show of ...ferocity, perhaps but child play to mine." The leader of the trio spoke up. He removed his jacket to show the twin holster with the monster handgun. "Nine silver bullets each. I also got one more special; a tomahawk coated with silver lining. Made it to kill creature like you."

The leader grabbed the tomahawk from the back of his waist and threw it out. It barely missed Clawler who sidestepped the swing. The tomahawk was retrieved by the long chain it was attached to. The demon got back his tomahawk and attached it to his waist belt.

The cousins did not hesitate as they came charging swinging their mallet. Clawler retreated and ran to the rear while being chased by them. He saw the lower flap of the smaller aircraft parked nearby. He slided underneath it and then stopped; he jumped up the wing and waited his turn. The cousins came close and smashed their mallets on the wing. That was when Clawler slashed out with his claws at the cousin with a forward jump. He got the right one with a slashed across the face and his other claw embedded into the left shoulder. Clawler swung his lower body forward using the demon he was slashing as leverage. The forward swing was to have his right feet claws kicked into the other demon in the face. With both demons falling down, Clawler followed on by pulling his upper claws out and thrust them into the demon's face. Then he rolled over and leap up onto the other demon. He landed with his legs on the chest; the claws burying into the ribs, while his upper claws went for the kill on the neck. Clawler growl looking up from his crouched position with the claws dripping blood.

"Darned! I knew their lineage were flawed in battle tactics, but they populate fast." The surviving leader of the trio laughed. "Now if you would stay still, I can laid you to rest with these silver bullets."

 The demon fired the handgun in a wide arc hoping to Clawler but he had leap up high to avoid the bullets. He used his height to propel over onto the handgun demon. He crashed into the demon and caused both of them to fall backwards. The demon had lost hold of his handguns but he reached now for the tomahawk. He swung the tomahawk at Clawler who caught the handle and pulled it towards himself.

"Clawler, we have a standoff now." The demon held on taut to the chain attached to the tomahawk which was on Clawler' hand now. Clawler pulled hard on the tomahawk causing the chain to pulled the demon forth. Clawler did not wait for the chain to pulled his prey but he twisted his body forth toward the demon; and lashed out in a side kick into approaching demon. The kick made contact and send the demon to fall backwards. Clawler now has the tomahawk; threw it at the fallen demon catching it on the chest. The demon fell back on the flooring and never got up.

Clawler transformed back to his human guise and walked back to the plane.

2.                    The river banks of the Rhine River.

On the house boat floating on the river, a lavish dinner was served for two person. The host; a man of taste and substance held onto the glass of red wine. He ad it added with extra ingredients to make it very reddish, but a delight to the taste bud. If there was a Bloody Mary in the cocktail menu, then this ranked as Blood of Mary in the wine list.

The awaited guest arrived, and dressed in a dark shade of red low cut gown, escorted by two burly looking demons in the guise of man. She stepped into the boat house and smiled.

"You looked radiant, Lilith." The host greet her as he pours her a glass of the wine he was sampling. She took his offer and had her first sip of it.

"Royal blood? I am impressed." Lilith gracefully sweep herself across the narrow confines of the houseboat. "Surely, you taste in ........wine would had make you more delicate in the selection of the dining surrounding."

"Lilith, if you are complaining about my simple houseboat, let me assure you it has sentimental values." Lucifer the host offer a chair for his guest at the dining table. "Its..."

"Pray do tell. It must be your first romantic tryst and you lost the cherry tag on your name." Lilith interjected. "I lost mine on the wild plains in Georgia. Or was it Ukraine. I can't recall actually. Who does when they are fragging like bitches?"

"I was going to said it belong to my purchase when I decided to use investments to reflect my lifestyle." Lucifer laughed. "I was an investment banker then in the 1920's. Who else can engineer the collapse of a market so wide?"

"Gloating won't get you into my panty, darling." Lilith replied. "I ain't having any one anyway."

They both laughed.

"Lilith, the Crusaders are back in the services." Lucifer sounded stern when he mentioned the word.

"The Crusaders have been around for some time. They win some and we lose more, but never the major partners are affected. Why are you overly concerned? The ones that mattered were the ones who defeated Baal then. But they are long gone. Missing in limbo."

"No, Lilith. They are back. All four of them; their descendants are renewing their oath to fight evil." Lucifer raised his cup. "Gerald Black, Micheal of Moor, Baron Helmut and the Squire. May you guide your disciples well."

"It can't be. They were missing for years. Surely your intel are wrong." Lilith stood up. "You were there too. They are too..........relentless in their pursuit. But why now?"

"I planned it. I got the other Princes to revolt on me. I want them to push the world to the brink of doom. Then I would be its savior. I would be the King of the World. You may reign at my side." Lucifer took another sip.

"The Crusaders would stop you. Like how they did on Baal." Lilith cautioned him.

"True, but they would defeat the other Princes leaving me only the surviving last Prince of Darkness. And soon to be King of Darkness." Lucifer laughed out loud. "Would you rule with me, my Queen?"

Lilith smiled at him.