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Posted by Magdalena
on 5/13/2009, 2:28 am
67.184.84.43
“You are great, O Lord, and greatly to be praised, You have made us for yourself and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
(St. Augustine)
~~~~~~~~ 17 years ago ~~~~~~~~~
In a discrete church, Santa Elvira, Varadero, Cuba, a quiet ceremony is being held at the sacred baptismal font. A young woman dressed in a veil holds on tightly to an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes while an elderly man of the clothe whispers a prayer. The dimly lit room serves as a cloak of secrecy as the babe is gently stripped of the garments and dipped into the waters of salvation.
The shock of the cold liquid sends the child into a whining cry of discomfort. The priest hurries along as he administers Holy Oil to the squirming babe. The mother holds the child tightly as she frantically looks around the church for any sign of movement.
**Translated from Spanish**
“Hurry Father, please”
The hot tropical air brings sweat beads to the ancient holy man’s brow.
“Do you reject Satan?”
“I do.”
“And all his works?”
“I do.”
“And all his pomps?”
“I do.”
Suddenly the blistering wind kicks up and the wooden front doors swing open blowing out the melting votive candles that barely lit the church. The priest picks up the pace.
“I anoint you with the oil of salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord, that you may have everlasting life.”
“Amen!”
A deep layer of fog seeps into the isle towards the baptizing group. An ominous figure materializes from within the mist. It becomes a silhouette of a nude female as it approaches.
“Enough, Padre! The child does not belong to Him!” The voice is like a shrilling harpy clawing deep into the reverend’s soul but he continues none the less.
“Do you believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth?”
The mother trembles at the sight of the creature approaching her.
“I, I do.”
The creatures darkness transforms into the shape of the child’s mother standing naked.
“Esmeralda, why do you defy me? Your flesh and soul belongs to me. You will never escape.”
The creature hesitates as the priest points a crucifix at the demon and continues.
“Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, Who was born and Who suffered?”
“I do!”
The creature lets out a hideous scream that shatters the stained glass windows behind them. Yet it dares not take a step forward. The child screams as the mother drops to her knees. The priest staggers but continues on.
“Do you believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting?”
Before the mother can answer, the fog consumes her and enters into her throat choking her.
The demon laughs, “You will not deny me the child, you wretched whore!”
As the mother falls to the cold stone floor, she hands the child off to the priest who makes a break for it. The fog swirls around him and twirls the old man around.
“You are no match for my powers, fool!”
“Let him go, Lilith!” The voice is strong and familiar to the demon. It turns to face it’s aggressor with claws drawn it takes the form of a feline-humanoid.
“YOU AGAIN!!! How many times must I face you, Nathan?”
“As many times as it takes me to send you back to Hell, creature.”
The mysterious man hides within Lilith’s own mist waiting for her next move.
“ The child is mine! Do you hear me, Nathan? It’s mother has been under my control for sometime now and she bore it as an offering to me!!!!”
Silently two wooden stakes wisk through the fog piercing Liliith’s wrists and pins the creature against the altar. She let’s out another scream as Holy water splashes onto her deforming face. The creature tears through the stakes and disappears into the withdrawing mist that vanishes in seconds.
In the still silence of a destroyed church, a tall slender man in a long black trench coat and wide brim hat rushes to the old priest’s side. His body is turned to one side. Nathan slowly turns the padre’s body to reveal the unharmed child smiling at him. The stranger picks up the child as the elder priest begins to stir. His glassy eyes squint at the man and his wrinkled lips tremble.
“Do you… believe in the… Holy Ghost, …the Holy Catholic Church, “cough!”… the communion of Saints, for…forgiveness of sins, the resurrection…. of the body and life everlasting?”
Nathan stands up with the child, holds it over the font and sprinkles water over the babe’s head.
“I do.”
As he turns to face the priest, he notices he has passed onto the next life. Nathan checks the mother’s pulse and discovers he is left alone holding the child.
“What is you name little girl?”
The orphaned babe just smiles.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Present ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a hidden chamber deep in the recesses of Vatican City, a weary messenger stumbles to the floor. He gasps for a breath of air as a slender towering figure approaches him. The messenger feels the fingertips soothingly contact the back of his head.
“Take a deep breath my son, you are safe now. You must compose yourself and tell me all that you know.”
The voice was calming yet commanding. A voice of knowledge and authority that possesses a timbre of experience spanning many decades. His name is Cardinal Innocent, his face is deeply marked with pain, sorrow, elation and sanctity. He holds many offices in the papal court but in this instance his most secretive position is in demand. The Cardinal strolls over to the large mahogany doors and gently closes them. Once the room is secured the messenger props himself on a chair and lays a blood stained robe on the Cardinal’s desk. Then the messenger unravels his tale.
“ My team of Gardunas were dispatched to assist The Magdalena after her initial plea for help. It was unlike her to request aid for any mission she was on, so we knew she was in a deep dilemma.
As you know, Your Eminence, her mission was to investigate a modern day crucifixion in the Holy Land. When we arrived there was no sign of her. The locals told tales of a great struggle between a nun and shadow creatures that carried her away into the caves on the outskirts of the city. We were escorted into the caverns by a local who offered his assistance for a price. Deep within the mountainside we discovered The Magdalena’s scabbard. The belt strap was ripped and blood stained the surrounding walls. A struggle was eminent so we followed the trail.
The cave narrowed and the air became heavy as we went further in. Her hood, portions of her dress, and finally a broken sword made up the “breadcrumbs that were left behind”.”
The messenger paused as a tear rolled down his face. He gasped for air as he sorted through his memories of the event.
Cardinal Innocent poured the trembling man a glass of merlot.
“Take your time. I know this must be hard for you.”
To be continued.
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