A PALE HORSE

Peter’s mind was in a state of turmoil. What Michael was talking about was something otherworldly, right out of one of the many new online role play games. Peter looked up to find Michael watching him expectantly.

“You’re telling me that those things are real? Are they still around? The dinosaurs are extinct, so…” Peter stopped speaking as Michael again held up a hand for silence.

“Yes, they were real and some lived a long time, some not as long as others, but most have been recorded through history as regional folklore, myths, or scary tales. Most people believe them to be legends or old wives’ tales.” Michael finished. “The hybridization continues today, in a far more terrible way. We’ll get to that. Do you have any questions? I know this is a lot to lay on you…”, Michael plopped down on the bed, as if weary from the telling.

Peter considered, and then said, “This is really mind blowing, but what does this have to do with someone like me?” Peter asked. His mouth was dry and his head was humming. “I need a drink, Michael. Do you-“.

Michael cut him off, raising a hand and smiling, “I don’t typically eat or drink, Peter, but thanks all the same. Go get your drink and come back… we have more to discuss.” Peter rose from the armchair and walked to the kitchen, lost in thought. He grabbed a rocks glass from the open-faced cabinet and some ice from the dispenser. He poured himself a straight Crown and returned to the bedroom, where the angel was waiting to dive back in. Peter resumed his seat and waved to Michael as he sipped to continue. “When the angels that were sent to the earth to protect humans corrupted the bloodline and created Nephilim, they cursed their own fate. The Master punished them to live deep in the Earth, what humans have called Tartarus or Hades. They haven’t seen light for millennia, and won’t until, or if, the Master decides to forgive them their transgressions. They have to want to be forgiven in order to even have redemption be a consideration. So far, none of them ever has.” Michael gave Peter a piercing look, “That’s where you come in…” Michael paused. Peter was overwhelmed and Michael could see it. It was a condition common with humans, and he was used to them needing the extra time to process massive amounts of serious information, so he waited. Peter was confused again, which was becoming a standard thing around Michael. He understood the backstory and thought it amazing and frightening. While he was raised in a church, what Michael told him didn’t quite match his Bible stories. He sipped and let the warm whisky trickle down the back of his throat as he contemplated again. How many bible stories started with the mighty T-rex mistakenly eating an absolution offering? Or all of those that accused Jesus of being a vampire after showing up three days after being killed? He started to think of some pretty far out thoughts. Vampires fighting for the Amorites alongside of giants. Fascinated by the scenario, Peter was unaware that Michael watched him as he processed this new information. Michael seemed fascinated by Peter and waited patiently for Peter’s creative process to catch up with logic.

Peter stopped and looked at Michael, “What exactly do I need to do? More to the point, what can I do? I’m no one- unless you need some very realistic looking armor or-”

Michael cut him off, “You’re not no one, Peter. I thought I made that very clear to you ten years ago when we met. You have a very important role to play, and, no, I can’t tell you what that will look like just yet, but, to answer your question, this is what we need: the Master has set in motion plans that can only be fulfilled with the help of four of the fallen angels. The Heavy Hitters, I’ll call them. You’ll learn more about them as we go, but for any of them to be of service, we need them to be reconciled to the Master.”, said Michael.

“So, you need the four angels to make up and play nice?” asked Peter.

“Yes, in layman’s terms.”, said Michael.

Peter thought and then asked what he thought was the obvious question, “How?”.

“From the jump, we need the hybrid Nephilim kept secret.” stated Michael, “If these hybrids were made known to the world, panic would ensue and the world would be thrown into turmoil.” Michael looked at Peter longing for him to understand the unsaid.

“I get it,” Peter said, “you want for the people to remain ignorant of the fact that there are werewolves, vampires, giants, and other monsters loose in the world.” Peter suggested. He stopped and nearly had a panic attack thinking about what might lurk outside his windows. Peter stood and semi-casually walked to his window, pretending to be glancing at the street below. He turned and smiled at Michael, turned back, closed his bedroom window, locking it for good measure. “I feel woefully unprepared,” Peter told Michael.

“Then you are fit to be of use.” Michael looked at Peter and told him with a grin, “How familiar are you with faith heroes, man? Abraham, Noah, David, Moses, Jonah? Any of them?”

Peter thought and said, “I think I know something about all of them, why?”

Michael smiled and asked him, “What did all of those guys have in common?” “Beards?” Peter replied, semi-sarcastically. “I really don’t know, Michael. They were great men- brave and strong and wise.”

“Actually, you are wrong. On two counts.”, Michael crossed back to the window, and searched the night for… something. “It’s amazing how arrogant and self-effacing you all can be, all at once! None of them, not one of the men that I named, was great. Abraham? He was a liar and he wasn’t very smart. Noah? He was a smart man and an upstanding citizen, but he was sort of a chauvinist. David? Please! Womanizer, adulterer, murderer. Moses? Not smart, not ambitious, and he had questionable hygiene. And I know you know about Jonah. By the way, David had a scar that prevented him from ever growing facial hair… just thought you might find that interesting. No, all of those guys had one thing in common and that was a love for the Master, a willingness to do what was asked, and a healthy dose of fear thrown in for good measure. That’s all that you need, too. Be ready and willing to follow, and know why you need to do the right thing when it needs doing. As for help? You don’t need to sweat that at all, brother! We have someone in mind that can help you. As a matter of fact, he is your assignment.”, Michael told him.

“Wait, What?”, Peter shook his head as if to remove any unwanted thoughts.

“By helping Sam, you help humanity, just like you did your cousin’s friend.” Michael told him solemnly.

“Who is Sam?” asked Peter. “Samael- the fallen angel that we need you to assist, once a strong and loyal soldier of the Master, and he was like a brother to me. He, like you, is capable of so much… if he can be redeemed and restored to his previous position.” Michael told him, “In other words, we need him.” Michael stated emphatically. “We need him to want to help our cause, otherwise he’s…”Michael’s face clouded over and it was as close to what Peter imagined an angel would look like weeping as he would ever see “he’s... lost. Forever” Michael regained his composure, but his solemn expression didn’t change. “We’ll all be.” Peter understood. Michael and the other angels required the help of this Sam in order to proceed in an unhindered way. Peter wasn’t sure he could help but was willing to try, if for no other reason than it would be a kick-ass thing to do. He realized that he had cursed in his thoughts and wondered if Michael knew, or was offended. In answer, Michael raised and eyebrow at him, giving him a cowing stare. Peter felt mortified, until Michael burst into laughter and a took Peter in a great bear hug. “Oh, brother! You’re hilarious! We have SO many more important things to worry about, wouldn’t you agree?”. Michael released Peter and the young man turned, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. He let the enormity of the requests being made of him wash over him and pull him under emotionally. The mission that he was to perform had ETERNAL importance, and Michael believed in him. He didn’t want to let anyone down, but this wasn’t like forgetting to pick someone up or not getting someone a proper birthday gift. This was a fate-of-the-world-hangs-in-the-balance type request, and, at the moment, it was a bit too much for him.

“God! I want to help,” whispered Peter, almost like a prayer. He turned to Michael, “But I’m not sure HOW to help. If the best of God’s angels couldn’t do it, what chance do I have?” he said.

“No, Peter, it’s not like that at all! This must be done by humans! I know you don’t understand right now, and I just have to ask you to trust me and trust the Master. And,” said Michael, “I will tell you where to go and who you need to contact. There are others that will help you along the way, some willingly and others, unknowingly, but you will find that you have friends in the most unexpected areas. The important thing is, brother, you will, at no time, be on your own in this. I’m here with you, until the end.” Michael made it seem like a great adventure and that Peter should not be afraid in the least. That there would be friends all over the place to help him. Peter, although excited about the prospect of helping his inner nerd become the savior of the world, was not naive enough to think that it would be easy.

Peter smiled and said, “When do I start?”