Beyond the Veil by Tim Marquitz Read Free Book Online

welled in my throat, and I stood and turned my back on the
Almighty, stepping away from the table to keep from losing control. Even I knew
better than that.
    “Damn you,” Longinus told him. “I’ll fight
your war, but only after I have my
daughter.” I heard the bench slam against the stone floor as Longinus stood.
“Tell me where this creature is that took my child, and I will lend you my
sword when I have dealt with him.” His disgust was plain, each word ragged for
the guillotine of his tongue.
    “The only bargain on the table is that you
do as I ask; both now and after you have accomplished your mission here, or you
garner no assistance from me. Are we clear, Maximus?”
    So much for respect.
    The low rumble of Longinus’ anger was
palpable. It was a long moment before he spit out a reply. “I agree to your brigand’s
terms, Elohim .”
    “My Son will explain what I need,” God said
at my back, not bothering to respond to Longinus’ tone. “I have your word,
Maximus.” There was the scrape of soft footsteps, and then He was gone, the squeak
of hinges signaling His departure. I turned back around to see Longinus’
shoulders hunched, his hands clenched into fists so tight his knuckles stood
out against his tanned skin. Jesus stood before him in silence, waiting to see
what the ex-Anti-Christ would do.
    “He has my word,” he barked at Jesus. “Now
tell me what you must.”
    Christ nodded, but there was no hiding the
flicker of his smile. “The rebellion you stumbled into has plagued us since our
victory.”
    “Not much of a victory if you’re still
fighting the peasants,” I said, earning dirty looks from both sides of the
table. Hands raised, I shut up.
    “Regardless, we have little time to hunt
the source of dissent as we prepare for our next operation. The first of your
efforts is to find who leads the uprising and bring it to an end.”
    Longinus waved an impatient hand in
agreement. “Then let us be on our way.”
    Christ nodded and slipped around the table,
directing us back the way we’d come. Longinus stormed after him and I followed
a few steps behind him. Used to dealing with demons, every agreement punctuated
with blood, ball sweat, and tears, there was no reason for me to still be
upset, but I was. God had bullied and intimidated Longinus into servitude at
the cost of Karra’s life. It was a disgusting example of the apple not falling
far from the tree.
    Before we’d reached the portal wall, which
would lead us back outside, there was a sudden commotion, and two people
appeared through it ahead of us. My heart went still in my chest as I felt the
essences roll over me, recognition of spirit and face coming to me all at once.
    It was Xyx… and Lucifer.
    The world froze for a moment. Xyx stopped
dead alongside Lucifer, whose eyes swung to take in Longinus. I saw the flicker
of hatred flare up in their depths. He’d cast aside his earthly appearance of a
graying, older man, trading it in for a more traditional one. His skin was a
deep shade of crimson, traces of blue and black shining through as he moved. His
hair was shaved into a Mohawk, which was braided down his back, the tail of it
set with barbed spikes. Short nubs of horns stood out on his forehead, the tips
curved downward toward his crystalline eyes. They danced with his inner fire.
    Not quite as big as Longinus, but certainly
as intimidating, he met the ex-Anti-Christ’s gaze with a sneer, brilliantly
white teeth showing. “Maximus.” He’d used Longinus’ real name, but unlike God,
it wasn’t deference he was showing. He was challenging Longinus accomplishments,
diminishing them by not recognizing the moment he came into his power, just as
Jesus had done.
    To my surprise, Longinus just nodded and
stepped through the wall without saying a word. He clearly wanted nothing to do
with Lucifer after his clash with God. Unfortunately, that left me the sole
target of Daddy’s attention. His gaze devoured me, but he held his