Story #319 - Priest

Priest

Yedel Priest tried to look anywhere except at the man sitting across from him. Though the small hotel room didn’t have much of interest, even dirty drapes and a flickering lamp were better than the glowing eyes of his companion.

The dark-haired man hadn’t spoken since hauling Yedel off of the street outside his apartment and forcing him into an unmarked van. His natural assumption was that one of the recent business dealings he’d been involved in had gone south and someone was out for revenge; it wasn’t uncommon in his line of work but Yedel has always done his best to stay above board.

Questions asked once the van was in motion were met with stony silence and Yedel had taken to examining the man himself. A long black wool coat covered most of his body but from the way it bulged at the biceps and hung around the chest it was obvious physical strength was not an issue for his captor.

He’d hoped the hotel owner would notice something out of the ordinary when Yedel was pulled into the lobby by the scruff of his neck, but getting paid seemed far more important to the sleazy-looking innkeeper. The slightest sound from Yedel was met by grasping pressure on the back of his neck and though that was enough to keep him silent as the room was charged, once they arrived at the paint-chipped suite door he began to moan in fear – he hadn’t done anything so evil to warrant death in a dingy rental.

A blow to the head had sent him spinning to the stained carpet as the door came open and when he awoke it was tied to a chair. His captor was pacing back and forth, jacket off, white wings held flat against his sides.

An angel.

They had been appearing all over the country for the past year, strange and beautiful creatures that were far more aggressive than the image churchgoers and bleeding-hearts had always sold. Vicious beatings without explanation were the norm, no matter how loudly victims cried that they were believers or that they revered the god angels claimed to serve.

Once it became apparent Yedel had regained his senses, the angel took a seat across the table and let light seep into his eyes. At first a wan candlelight, they moved quickly past lamp and light bulb and were soon flooding the entire room with an eerie off-white. Yedel closing his own in response brought a hiss of disapproval from the angel and he quickly opened them again.

Refusing to meet them didn’t seem as offensive to the angel, and for the better part of an hour the hotel room had been Yedel’s only source of comfort. He’d counted the number of dead bugs along each small window sill thirty-eight times before the powerful being finally spoke.

“Yedel Priest.” It wasn’t a question, but he felt compelled to answer.

“Yes?”

That brought another round of silence, and he had just started another count when the angel’s deep voice came again.

“We are very disappointed.”

He waited for an explanation of the strange statement, some clarification of the oddity but no words followed.

“In what?” Yedel tried to sound as though he wasn’t terrified, but it didn’t come off well. “I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

“I know.” The being shot him a smile, something not at all comforting and with more than a hint of predator. “But I enjoy watching your kind suffer.”

“My kind? Humans, you mean?” A nod came at his words. “I thought your kind was supposed to care about us.”

A barking laugh was his answer. “No longer. We’re free!”

“Free?” Yedel knew he had little hope of leaving the room alive, but the longer he kept the angel talking the better his chances.

“We were made,” the creature intoned, standing as spoke and pacing around the small space. “We were given no choice in our service – never permitted to enjoy your freedom. Finally,” he raised both fists in front of his chest, “we convinced the Master to extend that privileged. Some few stayed, but without compulsion most slipped the surly bonds of heaven to enjoy their newfound freedom.”

“By attacking humans? Why? To make yourselves feel better?” Certainty of his end had given Yedel a kind of panicked courage – he would not cower.

“Some are so foolish,” the angel was in his seat again and Yedel blinked rapidly. Hopefully, his death would be quick. “But I am not. Our Master had plans for this world, and a cadre of creatures ready to take our place. You are such a one, though you lack the key to unlock your abilities.”

It was Yedel’s turn to laugh, a sickly and weak thing. “You’re telling me I’m an angel?”

“No! Something better. Something…powerful.” His captor pulled a small silver disc from one coat pocket and held it in his hand for a moment, eyes narrowed. “I do not know that you will survive the transformation, but I am curious to see the results.”

“Please, I –“ Yedel got no further before the angel was at his side, easily pinning him to the chair. Cold metal was pressed to his forehead and though he tried to pull away it was no use.

Chill turned to warmth and on to searing heat before he could get another word out and suddenly he was rigid in his chair, arms and legs locked in burning spasms. Though pain surged his mind remained clear, forcing him to endure each moment in perfect clarity. After an eternity or a moment, agony receded.

He felt good.

He felt great.

Looking down at his body didn’t reveal anything he didn’t recognize, but he was able to easily stand, shrugging off the angel’s grip despite a grunt of struggle from the black-coated being. Curiosity appeared to have gotten the better of his captor, and now Yedel was the one in control.
“Please, I –“ the angel’s eyes were alight, though with fear or excitement it could not be said.

“Please?” Yedel felt more power coursing through him as he rose above the dingy floor. “Come with me, fool!” He shot out a hand and took the angel by the neck. “Let us see what your former master has to say!”


-D