Epilog

Michael nodded. “I always knew you had courage, Nick. Even scared, you will do your duty.”

Nick moistened his lips. “Is it .. the big showdown?”

“Armageddon?” Michael queried, frowning, and Nick nodded quickly. “No, but it could feel like it.”

He turned away and paced to the edge of the clearing then returned.

“Our place .. is not in the world, not until the .. big showdown. We knew that a long time ago. A long time in your estimation, that is. For us .. time is a different beast. The world has changed and the people who must fight our battles .. are people, not angels. And there is a battle coming. Our time for preparation is short.”

Anger flashed across his eyes like lightning and Nick sensed a measure of the power within.

“An old agreement has been breached,” Michael continued. “An evil the world has never seen before has been released into it. The battle to come will be one of Heaven against Hell because we cannot allow this abrogation to pass without consequence. But the battle to come in the world must be fought by Flamefalls.”

“Merlin.”

“Yes. You are her rightful partner. You will fight at her side.”

“Okay,” Nick agreed. “Does she know?”

Michael hesitated again. “Not yet, but she will learn of it very soon. Nick, it will come as a shock to her.”

Nick half laughed. “C’mon, Merlin? She’s always ready to fight.”

“Not this time. Trust me. It will be a shock. She may .. withdraw, from you, from her friends, just for a short while until she understands. She will probably be angry. I tell you this to prepare you because you must stay with her. She will fight, yes, but, initially, she will be vulnerable.”

“I’ll protect her. She’s my wife.”

Michael paused. “Yes, she is. And I have agreed with her choice not to share the power with you .. until now.”

Nick tensed. “I’m .. not sure I want it.”

“I know. It comes with a terrible responsibility. Under any other circumstance, this would not be necessary. Listen to me, Nick. It isn’t so bad as you imagine. I will gift you the power but it will remain dormant.”

“Then what use is having it?” Nick demanded.

Michael held up a hand and Nick instantly fell silent. His gut was clenched tight with foreboding.

“Listen to me. You and she must face this thing together, as one. I would not send you to your death and, without the power of the Flamefall, you would not survive this encounter,” Michael told him. “However, I do realize that .. you are not prepared for it. So I will give it to you, temporarily. Imagine it as .. a weapon with one bullet in the chamber. Dormant until the moment you call on it.”

Michael watched him. “Okay. I understand,” Nick said.

“Good. You must realize that it comes with the same responsibility as any other Flamefall endures. Abuse the power, there will be repercussions and I cannot sway that rule. It is why it will be dormant and why you will not remember this conversation, nor the transfer, when you wake.”

Nick’s eyes narrowed in thought. “Then .. how will I know I have this power to call on?”

“When the moment comes .. you will know. Then how you use it will be your choice.” Michael sighed. “Nick, I warn you again – there can be no guarantees. Do you accept?”

Nick drew in a breath. “Bring it on.”

“By the hand of God,” Michael whispered, placing his palm on Nick’s forehead, “I make you one of God’s Warriors.”

Continue to Part III – Blood Debt Introduction Return to Home

Poltergeist: The Legacy

Wheel Of Fire

Part II – Blood Price

© Jay Brown, 2002