An Unholy Redemption Chapter 11.1 continued

“John, you’re incorrigible. I’m going to make a pot of tea. You two can talk about me as much as you like, but when I return all conversations about me and Luther will stop, okay?”

“Yes, Mum,” John and Ruth said in unison.

“I give up,” Mary shook her head and left the room. Both Ruth and John let out a little laughter like two naughty schoolchildren.

“Come on then Ruth, what’s he like? Will he do for our sister?”

“Well, she’s right, he is certainly mysterious. We don’t know where he comes from, and when we talk to him to try and find out he says he doesn’t know where he comes from or where he’s going. I just think he just doesn’t want to tell.”

“I’m intrigued, go on, what does he look like?”

“Well, he definitely is tall, dark and handsome.”

“Careful, it looks like you have a soft spot for him as well.” John had noticed a slight reddening of Ruth’s cheeks.

“Stop it, you know I’ve been happily married to David for twenty years. He has dark brown eyes, a strong muscular face and a body to match. There’s a tattoo on his left arm of an angel which is really nice.”

“A tattoo of an angel you say?,”

“Yes, quite beautiful it is too, why do you ask?”

“It’s nothing. I just dreamt about something similar last night,”

“Tell me more, what did you dream?”

“I can’t remember much of it. All I remember is that in my dream I was in incredible pain and was praying to God to help me. Then all of a sudden, I heard a voice saying, ‘It’s time’. The clock on the wall had stopped and the pendulum was suspended in mid-swing. All of a sudden, a red mist started to cloud my eyes. I thought I was going to die then, but something strange happened. A hand covered my face. It felt like a natural energy, an energy that started to put my life force back into my body. No sooner had it started then a calmness surrounded me, a calmness not of this world was soon flowing into my heart. It was then the hand and redness started to fade, but as it was fading, I noticed the arm was adorned with a tattoo of an angel. I didn’t see it for long because the sound of the clock started again which awoke me from my slumber.”

“What medication are you on? I’ll have to try some of it if it makes you have dreams like that.” They both started to laugh as Mary came back into the room with the tea.

“What are you two giggling about? Some sordid joke about me and Luther most probably ...”

“No, don’t think too highly of yourself Mary, the world does not revolve around you. I was just asking John what medication he is on because I want to try some.”

“What’s so funny about that?” Mary asked puzzled.

“Never mind, let me help you.” Ruth stood up and cleared the table, so Mary could safely place the tray of tea down. “So Ruth, is he going to stay? Has he decided?” Mary asked as she poured out their tea. “Well, David was all set to throw him out this morning after last night’s fiasco. That was until David received a phone call from the brotherhood last night telling him he mustn’t let Luther out of his sight.”

“Sometimes I wonder if that husband of yours has a mind of his own? Why does he let the brotherhood tell him what to do?” Startled, Ruth looked at her sick brother. “I don’t know, John. Maybe it makes him feel important, proving himself to all those rich and powerful men is a boost to his confidence. I expect he’s still looking for the father figure he never had while growing up. Anyway, enough about David, I want to know how you’re feeling, John.”

“Like I’m on a rollercoaster. One day, I feel like there’s nothing wrong with me and I have no pain, the next I feel like I could die any second. It’s strange but my dreams and my little talks with God help me a lot.”

“It must be wonderful to have such dreams. Tell me, do you really think God is talking to you?”

“Well all I can say is that - thank you Mary,” John stopped in mid-sentence as Mary handed him his tea, “the voice I hear is a voice I know so well, it’s like it belonged to me even before I was born. It comforts me when I’m feeling at my worst, and the words are very profound.”

“I don’t suppose the voice could give us the winning lottery numbers could it?” Ruth retorted jokingly,

“Don’t mock me, Ruth! John snapped, “That voice is the main reason why I keep fighting this awful affliction.”

“I’m sorry John, I was just trying to make you laugh and cheer you up.”

“Would anyone like a biscuit?” Mary interjected to calm the heated situation. She could see her sister was still nervous about visiting her brother and now she must be feeling incredibly awkward. “It’s all right Ruth. Sorry I snapped. I’m just a little tired and my visions and thoughts are very dear to me.”

“I understand, sometimes my mouth opens before my brain gets into gear.”

“So is Luther staying for a while and we will be seeing a lot more of him?” Mary asked her sister. Both John and Ruth giggled at Mary’s question.

“Stop it,” Mary said. “Okay I admit it. Regardless of his behaviour last night, I am still fascinated by him and have an incredible urge to find out more about him. Dammit, I don’t know why.”

“I think you might get your chance Mary,” they both looked at John, “remember yesterday afternoon when I spoke to you on the phone, when I spoke about looking for the light.”

“Yes,” Mary said intrigued.

“Well, did you find it?”

“I thought I had, but it turned out to be just a glass held in someone’s hand moving and shining in the moonlight.”

“Who was holding the glass?”

“It was Luther ...” Mary finished her sentence in realisation of what John might have been trying to tell her.

“Are you saying the light is a person?” Mary asked.

“I don’t know. Did you have any other experiences last night?”

“Not that I can recall.”

“Well, I was told in my dream that you were to look for the light, and when you see it you and only you could interpret it…” John suddenly groaned in pain.

“John? Are you okay?!” Mary slipped out of her seat to attend to John as he held his chest and cried out in pain. “It’s just those dreadful pains in my chest again. I’m finding it hard to breathe. Don’t worry, it will soon pass.” John groaned again.

“Shall I call an ambulance?” Ruth asked, panic-stricken at the sight of her brother in pain.

“No, it’s okay, it will pass. Just pass me a glass of water please.” Ruth handed Mary a glass of water and watched her sister gently help their brother take a sip. “May I please Mary?” Mary looked around. “Can I help him with the water? I really want to help.”

“Of course. He only has sips. If he has too much it makes him choke. While you’re doing that, I’ll phone for the doctor.”

Ruth sat down beside her brother and took the glass from Mary’s hand and held the glass to his lips. “I won’t be long,” Mary rushed into the corridor to make a phone call. “I know I haven’t done much for you in the past John, but now I’m pleased to help you.”

“Thank you, Ruth,” John said quietly in between sips of his water. It was at this moment that they both felt a connection, as if Ruth were fulfilling a missing love between them.

 

 

 

The visions had now faded from Lucifer’s mind and his breathing had almost returned to normal. The blue light had now totally vanished and all he could hear was the tick of the clock on the wall. He sat quietly with his eyes closed, contemplating. He knew that he certainly didn’t want to do as he was told, and the thought of being near Mary made him sick to the stomach. The realisation of not having a choice made him very angry, but the desire for him to return to his true angelic form was causing conflict within him. Do I do God’s bidding and return to being an angel because of an order issued by the Most High? Or do I try and find a way myself? In frustration, he let out a roar like a lion. His eyes flashed open, revealing two bright red lights shining in the dark. It was torture for him to feel a little of his old angelic self confined in a corporeal prison. His mind flashed back to when he was allowed to fly around the earth as a reward for saving Angela.

“Yes, such freedom,” he said as the red disappeared. Maybe I will do as God commands just for now and when I am rewarded I will take my opportunity to escape and will take my revenge. He cautiously looked around the dark room to see if Michael or anyone was present and reading his thoughts. Feeling satisfied that no one was around, he drew back the curtains. Shielding his eyes he looked up to the blue sky. “You won’t be there for long, giver of light. You and I have unfinished business. I will take their light from them and they will die from coldness, hunger and loneliness in a world of darkness. The same darkness I have been suffering for an eternity. The Most High won’t be able to protect the people of the Earth in their hour of need. Soon all mankind will be cursing God’s name and all the time I will be the cause.” He stood smiling to himself and marvelled at the chaos and destruction he would unleash on the world. My patience is the game I have to play now and when the time is right, I will strike my final blow.

 

 

“How long will the doctor be Mary?” Ruth was looking up at Mary who had returned from making the telephone conversation in the hall. “He is just finishing with another patient and will get here as soon as he can, maybe in about half an hour. How is he?” Ruth looked at her brother John; he had fallen asleep with his head resting on her lap. “He seems to have quietened down after having some water. I think me stroking his hair has comforted him and made him fall asleep.”

“That’s good, he could do with some sleep. He wakes up some mornings exhausted because

the attacks are getting worse and more frequent during the night. Come on, put his head on the pillow, I’ll make us another cup of tea in the kitchen.” Ruth gently placed John’s head on his pillow, pulled the blanket up around his shoulders, kissed his head and walked into the kitchen with Mary. “I don’t know what I will do when he actually dies. It will be like losing another part of myself, does that make sense Ruth?”

“Of course it does Mary, you’ve been caring for him for such a long time, so you haven’t had

much time for yourself or anybody else.”

“I know, don’t get me wrong. I don’t regret anything and I wouldn’t change my circumstances for anything. If I was born again and the same thing happened, I wouldn’t hesitate in caring the same way.”

“You’re such a saint Mary. It must be difficult to have made all those sacrifices, especially all the men I’ve tried to set you up with.”

“There you go,” Mary handed Ruth her cup of tea and they both sat down at the kitchen table.

“It’s not caring for John that’s stopped me from dating, it’s just that I’ve never felt drawn to anyone except −”

“Except who? Go on,” Ruth asked eagerly.

“Well, Luther is a mysterious man and very secretive. It’s like he has something inside him, something locked deep down inside his soul that he hides from the world, and that intrigues the hell out of me. The only way I can describe it is that to me he seems like a lost little boy who has been chastised and spurned for who he is. Whatever happened to him, I feel it hurt him very much.”

“Maybe he will stick around and you can find out a bit more about him.”

“I would like that very much,” she said excitedly. “If I’m honest, I know I give out all the bravado of not caring, especially after last night, but I do want to see him again. I just doubt he would want to see me.”

“I hope he doesn’t Mary, it just doesn’t seem right.”

“Well I hope so, I really hope so.”