I was doing this to them.

My words… they were powerful… worthy…

I smiled and suddenly felt filled with a powerful force, one that seemed to eliminate any residual nerves. I became filled with the conviction of our cause, my heart racing as I felt reborn.

I was doing this to them… me! They were bowing down to me!

A wash of the breeze over my skin felt like a cleansing of a river. Like I was being baptized.

Reborn.

I was being reborn, and my people were witnessing this act. This God appointed act.

Rider, the man who was lost, hurt and spurned by the woman he loved, burned by the brothers he held dear drifted away on the breeze and Cain, the man I had been groomed to be since birth, stepped forth.

Blinking, and feeling rejuvenated, I preached, “Tonight, I ascend as your prophet, as God’s vessel to his devout followers. And he has spoken to me, guided me, and revealed the action we must take.”

A hush fell upon the commune, and I waited for the perfect moment to continue. A soft wind blew, shaking the trees, and I smiled. This somehow felt… right. Fated. Prophesized.

“Our Lord has called for us to unite, to join together against evil, against those who try to destroy our faith, against those who would distort the infallible and perfect word of our creator.”

My people leaned forward, hanging on my every word. When I looked to my right, Judah and the elders were doing the same. I had them in the palm of my hand.

“The devil walks among us, and I know this to be true. I have lived with his denizens, walked alongside them, and witnessed their sinful ways. It cannot be tolerated and it must be stopped. We, the chosen people of New Zion, have been given a crusade to exact revenge on those who wronged us, those who murdered our holy brothers. Mark this night as history among our people. For tonight I call Bellum Sanctum… a Holy War against Hades and all those who defend him, all those who spread their immorality and wickedness like a plague.”

This time my people could not contain themselves and rose to their feet, praising the Lord, signaling their agreement.

I watched the scene and a fire ran through my veins. A bolt of adrenalin surged through my body, and I felt my soul merge with the divine. Every cell in my body vibrated with raw power, my mind expanded with a newfound knowledge delivered spiritually from the Almighty himself. I felt omnipotent and omniscient, a veritable god among men.

I had… Lord! I had become the Messiah!

As I looked upon my people, my eyes flared with excitement. They praised me, yelling and rapturous in their devotion. My people were united. We could not be stopped. My people were fueled with the Lord’s wrathful revenge, an army of pure-souled soldiers, thirsty for my command.

Holding up my hands, I gestured for the congregation to calm. A silence fell upon the throng as my heart thundered in my chest. “We will dedicate all our time to the new crusade. Men will become skilled soldiers, fierce warriors against sin. Women will do their duty as sisters, as celestial daughters, and share in God’s love the best way they know how. They will relieve the burden the men will face, care for them, nurture their whims. We shall prevail as one people. We will be stealth in our approach; we will strike unannounced when the Lord reveals it is time. We shall become a plague on evil, a plague of pure light that destroys the darkness of sin and wrongdoing throughout God’s precious humanity. Just as the Lord cast plagues on the Egyptians, freeing his people, we too will be victorious in this fight!” I raised my voice and the congregation shook and dropped to the floor in praise.

Spreading my arms wide, I bellowed, “I AM Prophet Cain! I AM the way. I AM the light. I AM your new shepherd. My brothers, my sisters, join me in God’s quest to finally rid this world of its malevolent demons, of Hades’s plan to plunge this world into a living breathing hell. Rise with me. Fight with me. For I AM the door to Heaven… I AM the key to our salvation!”

The people lost control, overcome with emotion. The Holy Spirit took over their hearts and raised them to a celestial high. I watched and rejoiced that they had believed every word I had said.

All I could do was stare and stare at the rapturous crowd.

Had the Lord spoken through me? Was I his intermediary? Was I the word… Was I truly was a prophet of God?

Could it be true?

A hand rested on my shoulder and squeezed. I turned to find Judah at my side. He opened his mouth, tears running down his cheeks. He then shook his head as he choked on his words, too emotional to speak. I pressed my forehead to his and my palms on his cheeks. My twin clearly believed I was the new Prophet and we savored this moment. I knew this day would change everything. We had both waited for this day our entire lives, but the reality of being here was almost too much to take.

“Brother…” Judah rasped and gripped me tightly. “You are going to save us all.” His eyes met mine and he kissed my cheek. “You are going to save us all…”

Holding my brother, I looked up to the sky, closed my eyes and prayed, Lord, please give me the strength to see this through. I shall do whatever you command of me. I submit myself to you…

Chapter Eleven

Lilah

Cowboy and Hush rolled up on their bikes. The lights from their machines cast a glow over the yard. After parking near the garage, they dismounted and joined the barbeque. They smiled as they made their way into the crowd, hugging the women and shaking hands with the men. They too had been on a “run,” doing business for the club in the outside world. A different run from Ky, but according to Ky, it was “club business,” hence, I would never know what they had done.

A part of me did not want to know. I had begun to trust these two men, and of course Ky. That was my miracle, and I did not care for the reality of their work to spoil it.

The sound of high-pitched laughter rang out in the night, and my attention went straight to two scantily dressed blondes: Tiff and Jules. As they left the yard for the bar, Jules looked to me again and threw me a mocking wave.

“Why is she doing that to you?” Maddie asked, suddenly joining me at my side.

Shaking my head in confusion, I replied, “I do not know. I do not even know her.”

“She used to be with Ky, did she not?” Maddie said and my stomach turned at the thought of how he used to grope the two women, touch them in inappropriate places. A horrible twist in my stomach made me feel sick, and I realized that I could not stand the thought of Ky with anyone else.