The First Hand of God, Part II
After several months of training, Mary Magdalene and her protector Ariel return to the lands of Israel. They seek out a cult group who worships demons and summons them from hell. This cult group is a nomadic tribe from the deserts which are located in the nation we call Iraq today. They travel on camels and attack small villages. They sacrifice villagers to these demons and call them forth to possess the living.
Mary and Ariel catches word the tribe was seen marching in the southern region of Israel. They find the tribe in a small village. The fires can be seen from miles away. Homes are burning. Sounds of villagers screaming rolls through the desert.
When Ariel and Mary arrive, It’s evening and the tribe’s ritual has started. The surviving villagers remain tied and herded up into a group. The cult leaders stand next to a huge fire chanting in tongues. They stand only in their undergarments holding clay jars. They raise the jars in the air and pour the contents over their bodies. The content is the blood of the slain villagers. The leaders now covered in blood, dance and continue to talk in tongues. The remaining villagers weep in fear.
Mary removes the hooded robe, revealing her armor. Her midnight black hair flutters in the breeze. She stands garb in a long white tunic underneath her glossy silver armor shines in the moonlight at the edge of the village. Her two swords sheathed at her hips. She hasn’t yet been noticed by the cult members in the village since they are intoxicated in their rituals.
She opens a sack and pulls out a silver helm. The face is open with a small metal strip that protects the nose. The top of the helm has five feet long purple and white ribbons attached. She has embraced her past. The purple ribbons represent her adulterous history. She raises her right arm into the air and screams “In God’s name, I will serve!” The cult members and villagers look to the edge of the village. There Mary and Ariel stand, Mary helmet rests under her left arm. The cultist grab their weapons and charge towards the intruders.
Mary puts on her helmet. The ribbons flapping in the wind. She draws her swords. Ariel draws a sword and shield. His wings extend out beyond his body. The cultist stops on their heels. He takes to flight. Mary charges along with great speed. (The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you great speed, and strength.)
The enemy pulls out their scimitars and spears. Mary yells out her battle cry as she clashes into the first group of cult members. Weapons clash and bodies fall from Mary’s swords. She kicks and slashes down her enemies. Her blades piercing the skin of these evildoers.
Ariel lands behind the enemy battle lines. His sword cut men in two. His shield pummels bodies across the village into the burning houses surrounding the battlefield that once was a village. Bodies flip into the air from Ariel’s immense angelic power.
The cult members have surrounded Mary but she’s not fearful. Her blades swing and stab simultaneously as if she has eyes on the back of her head. After several minutes, the fighting spirit of the cultists breaks and they run for their lives. Ariel and Mary chase down and kill the final cult members.
The battle is over. Mary and Ariel go to free the villagers. Their silver armor covered in blood. The villagers now free, They scatter to the wind taking what they can carry, and disappear into the night.
Mary and Ariel ponder why? Then from the shadows of the desert, twelve demons approach. Some resemble humans with white and blue skin like a human corpse, but alive, and yet smaller than the other demons. The three larger ones look half human and half dog with red and brown skin. All possess claws and hardened skin on their forearms. The larger demons have giant fangs for teeth and attack some of the escaping villagers who have taken the wrong turn. They eat and chew at their villagers’ limbs.
Mary and Ariel redraw their weapons and prepare to fight! The small demons move with great speed and agility, while the larger are fast, and strong, they’re not as agile. They toss away dead villager corpses with great ease.
Ariel runs side by side with Mary, a two man battle line. When they meet the creatures of the night. The smaller demons (Newborns) slash with their claws. Some leap into the air jumping behind the two combatants. Quickly, Mary and Ariel fight with their backs to each other. One by one the Newborns fall.
Then, A large demon (Aged) approaches Mary, she can feel the massive power in its footsteps. It smashes the smaller demons out of its way, then swipes at Mary. It’s claws scratch across her chest guard. The next swing tosses her to the side. She lands a good twenty feet from Ariel. He sees her body land on the ground and turns. The aged demon slashes, but Ariel dodge saving his head from being sliced off. He drives his shield into the demon slamming it backwards. When it attacks again, his sword pierces its heart.
Mary able to get back to her feet before many of the newborns leaps upon her. She kills them, and looks to Ariel. He’s fighting the remaining two Aged demons. Some of their blows have sliced the angel’s skin. Claw marks on his arms and thighs run red. He ducks and slashes. Then he dodges and slams with his shield.
Mary charges forward to protect her protector. One demon turns to face her. It slashes at her. She rolls past it to dodge it’s swing. She slashes the ankles. It roars in pain as it drops to its hands and knees. She thrusts her blades over and over into the back of the beast. It will not die. Faster and faster she stabs, slowly the beast grows weaker. When the beast finally dies, there is no strength left in her arms. Luckily, Ariel has severed the head of the final Aged demon.
She falls onto her back. Her blades at her side. She looks up at the stars in the sky, out of breath and exhausted. Ariel stands above her keeping an eye to their surroundings.
“How did I do for my first battle?” she asks still breathing hard.
“Most impressive. Yet I still don’t seem to figure out where those demons came from. Unless, those demons had already been here previously and follow the cultists as they try to summon more. I was hoping your first battle would be verses cultists only. I can’t believe you killed an aged demon your first battle.”
“Why is that?” she replies.
“Cause they extraordinary hard to kill even for an angel. I thought we might be in trouble there.” He reaches out his hand and pulls her off the ground. “Come, It’s time to head back to the village to rest.” They grab their hooded robes and port away.
