Saints or Martyrs?

Shiva grabbed Kali's arm “Wait, let the others and the imps go.”

“I thought the point here was to cause as much death as possible? To slaughter those inside.” She asked. “They are inside, Shiva. When will we have another such opportunity?”

“Something is not right. They are inside, but they are not alone.” Shiva closed his eyes. “Can't you feel it? The presence of demons?

This is a cleverly baited trap. We rush in there now and we face not only two saints with the power to send us to oblivion, but demons. Any demon this close to them must be loyal to that angelic bastard.”

Kali gave an exasperated sigh. “Of course there are demons with them. Have you forgotten Lucifer set watchdogs on them including your former partner in hell raising Apophos. You are simply sensing him and maybe another demon or two that share his task.” Kali pulled away from his grip and ran across the street to join the others, drunk on the idea of killing the twins and dealing a severe blow to Lucifer's 'army'.

Shiva took a half a step forward then cursed. “Stupid, headstrong bitch!”

*****

When the door opened Murphy didn't hesitate. He had shot two demons before Connor had even picked up his guns. Connor glanced behind the bar to see that the devil was now nowhere to be seen. “Well fuck!” Connor lifted his gun to see that there was now a big mass of demons fighting and trashing the place. If it wasn't for the fact that it was Doc's place and he and Murphy were smack dab in the middle of the thing, Connor would have been amused at witnessing the world's biggest demonic barfight.

Connor was about to jump right in when he realized that unlike Murphy, he had no idea who was a 'friend' and who was a foe. Which meant that he had to somehow find Murphy in the middle of the melee. He was about to take a step forward when a hand grabbed his shoulder.

“This bitch has been in the middle of all the plotting between Shiva and Lilith.” Lucifer said. Grabbing Connor's wrist, Lucifer placed his hand over Connor's on his gun and pulled the trigger twice.

“Wha tha fuck?” Connor exclaimed pulling back to see the woman writhing on the floor in agony trying to grasp her shattered knees.

“That will keep her from going anywhere until we are ready to deal with her. Why don't you keep an eye on her.” Lucifer said before he simply vanished.

“Fuck!” Connor yelled before looking down to see the woman curled up in a featal position trying to stem the bleeding from her ruined knees. Or maybe trying to hold back the pain. Connor realized that she must really be hurting. Hknelt down and started to reach out to her when Murphy's voice stopped him.

“Don touch tha bitch, let her suffer.” Murphy had a man by the foot dragging him over to where the woman lay. Propping him up against the bar Murphy glared at the two of them.

“Murph, whas wrong wit ye?” Connor demanded grabbing his brother and shaking him. “Ye know better than ta treat a woman like this, she's hurt.”

Murphy pulled his arm from Connor's grasp. “Ye think that is a woman? She's as much a woman as Lilith.” Murphy turned toward the man and Lifted his foot pressing it down on a bullet wound in the man's thigh. “And this piece o shite? He helped hold me down when Lilith decided to get her kicks skinnin me. Whatever happens ta these two, they had it comin.”

*****

Shiva was still standing undecided when a voice spoke behind him. “I'm surprised that you consider Kali cannon fodder.” Lucifer said calmly “Or is she just that headstrong and idiotic?”

“Lucifer,” Shiva said turning to face the fallen angel, “I'm surprised that you would show your face to me.”

“I just want to be sure that you understand just where this is headed. Call it my one and only attempt to offer you mercy. You don't have to do this.” Lucifer looked at the demon. “You can be redeemed you know, you can gain paradise too.”

“Paradise? Being a lackey to your father?” Shiva snorted. “I'll pass.”

“Then all that awaits you is oblivion, that's your choice.” Lucifer sighed. “The question is how many will you drag down with you? Pan is destroyed, there is nothing beyond for him. There will be nothing beyond for you, or those who follow you.”

“And what awaits those who follow you? An eternity bowing and scraping and thanking your father for the scraps he throws their way?” Shiva growled. “If that is what we can look forward to, we are better off to be destroyed.”

“No you are better off destroyed.” Lucifer countered. “It's your nature, after all you are known as The Destroyer.” Lucifer shook his head sadly. “I offered you a chance, You chose not to take it. The battle lines are drawn.”

*****

Murphy stood guard over the two demons. The others loyal to who were capable of it had fled taking their dead with them. Although the others had wanted to take Kali and the imp with them, Murphy had soon discouraged them by creating more dead for them to drag away.

“Murphy ye say this motherfucker had a hand in wha happened to ye?” Connor asked kicking the imp.

“Aye, he did.” Murphy answered. “Tha son o a sheepfucker was having tha time o his life too.”

“Gimme yer knife,” Connor said holding out his hand. Murphy looked at Connor for a moment before bending down and pulling a 10 in Rambo knife from his boot.

“What are ye planning ta do Conn?” Murphy asked as Connor yanked the imp up off of the floor.

“The bible says an eye for an eye doesn't it?” Connor answered. “I figure we should get biblical and see if tha bastard tells us where Lilith is.” Connor grabbed the imp's right sleeve and used the knife to split the seam to the shoulder. “Since he helped peel a bit of skin from you, tis only a fair reparation tha he give ye his own skin ta make up fer what ye lost.”

Kali looked over at the two brothers. The imp didn't know anything that could help them, He had no idea where Lilith was, but Kali did. She knew the rules they operated by No women or children and no innocent blood spilled.

“He doesn't know anything.” Kali said. “He's just an Imp.”

Murphy went over and knelt facing her. He placed his palm on her wounded knee. “Is that so? Well I guess tha means he's o no use ta us.” Murphy gave her knee a slight squeeze before getting to his feet. “Connor ferget tha knife, Bring him o'er here.”

Kali watched as Connor dragged the imp over and placed him on his knees. Murphy took up a position behind the imp, his gun held in his right hand placed against the back of the imps skull mirroing Connor's gun in he left had also pressed against the imp's skull. In perfect unison the two began to pray

“And shepherds we shall be,

For Thee, my Lord, for Thee.

Power hath descended forth from Thy hand,

That our feet may swiftly carry out Thy command.

So we shall flow a river forth to Thee

And teeming with souls shall it ever be.

In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti.

 

Two gunshots sounded simultaneously before Kali found herself splattered with brains and other gore. A second later she screamed as she realized that these saints were more powerful than any of them had believed. All the gore covering her had been blessed and it burned like angelfire.