Nightbringer by James Byron Huggins Read Free Book Online

thrust his spear into the side of Jesus, and water and blood were released."
    No one in the room had moved in a while.
    "Caiaphas' ruse was revealed," Melanchthon added quietly, seemingly oblivious to the stillness. "For his guards had said that they only wanted to prove Jesus was dead. But the centurion had already proven that Jesus was dead, so there was no reason to break His legs unless what they truly wanted to do was desecrate the body of one who might well have been the genuine Messiah."
    Melanchthon passed the chair of Father Stephen and approached Gina. His ominous tone continued, and Gina felt tiny hairs rise on the back of her neck.
    "So ... the centurion who killed Christ protected Christ, in the end. And it was rumored among those of the early Church that Cassius was then chosen by God to wander the earth until Jesus returned, protecting all the children of God."
    Gina released a long withheld breath. "I don't understand. What's the legend? I mean ; what does any of that have to do with this abbey?"
    Melanchthon paused, hands heavy at his sides. "The legend, madam, is that hidden somewhere within these walls is the spear of Gaius Cassius Longinus—the very spear that pierced the side of the Son of God. And it is said that one day Cassius will return to claim his spear and fight within these walls the greatest battle he has fought in two thousand years. His greatest battle against his greatest foe—a battle that will decide the destiny of the Earth."
    "But what ..." Josh asked tentatively, "...what if Cassius doesn't win?"
    Melanchthon's face bent.
    "Then, boy, God's warrior will die. And the earth shall suffer a dark night of horror so great that no flesh will survive, but for the return of the Son of Man, who is the Son of God."
    * * *

 
    Chapter Ficve
     
    There had been no aperitifs, but a rich red wine was offered after dinner and Gina was enjoying a glass. After enduring grim Melanchthon’s ominous dissertation on demons, monsters, the crucifixion, an immortal centurion, and the wrath of God, she decided that she could use a little alcohol.
    She gazed at Rachel and Josh, who stood before a huge tapestry hung from a wall on the far side of the chamber. The obviously hand-sewn carpet was the image of some gigantic beast battling against a dozen Roman soldiers.
    Its head was sloped like a gorilla ’s. Its eyes were bloodied and reflected a malignant, alien intelligence. Fangs like a lion’s hung distended and bloody and it possessed an overwhelmingly massive musculature and aura of power that eclipsed man.
    Broken spears from the soldiers projected from its hulking arms and shoulders. Bearing the marks of uncountable sword wounds, it was covered in blood and more than blood. For there seemed a bestial and yet far more than bestial exultation in its eyes.
    Yes – Gina was certain – there was an almost human exultation, as if it was enjoying the battle.
    As if it knew that it would not be destroyed.
    As she continued to study the tapestry, she saw the monk, Brother Melanchthon, walk up to stand beside Josh and Rachel. He, too, stared up at the tapestry. Compelled by some reflexive parental instinct, Gina walked toward her children. She assured herself it was not fear and ignored the fact that she walked faster than usual.
    Rachel raised her face to the monk.
    “What’s that?”
    “ One of the Nephilim,” Melanchthon answered quickly with a single, defiant jut of his chin.
    “ The Nefleem?”
    Melanchthon smiled. “Close. It is pronounced Neh…faa… LIM.”
    “ Neh-faa-LIM,” Rachel repeated slowly. “Got it. So what was it? A gorilla?”
    “ Oh, no. It was a beast conceived by strange unions between the daughters of men and the sons of God.”
    “ Like a demon?”
    “ Its father was a demon but its mother was human. They are mentioned in the sixth chapter of Genesis and other passages of the Old Testament. They were, in fact, the primary reason God destroyed the earth by flood.”
    The big