Chapter IV

Time, and the normal law of physics and motion seemed to slow around them as chaos ensued.

AN OBSERVER FROM THE outside, like the other humans in the vault were, would have seen little more than brilliant sparks of light, and flashes of madness. But from the inside, things were much different. Angels and creatures from Hades carry a certain amount of life force-much more than humans and other earth-based creatures—that slightly warps the space around them. For this reason most Angels cannot be seen by the naked eye. Changes in weather, pressure, temperature, and sensitivity often give a careful observer a glimpse . . . but nothing more. As these creatures are much more evolved they can adjust their effect on the environment in which they reside much the same as a human might decide to flex a muscle in his arm.

But as two of these creatures approach each other their combined energies can be quite large, and the effect on their surroundings can be dramatic. During a stressful situation, such as a life or death struggle, the energies are sufficient to warp the surrounding space and in the process time slows relative to the human observer. What one man might see as a bright flash might in fact be a lengthy engagement to the creatures involved.

And this is what was happening as Abbot and Pasquale ran for the cover that they thought the staircase might provide. Ducking and dodging falling boulders Abbot led the way, half pushing, and half dragging the Papal Nuncio as they went. Behind their back splashes of bluish-white light exploded at different locations throughout the spacious vault. They were separated from the battle that was ensuing behind them.

Inside this time-shifted struggle Mavet threw what was left of his shattered sword at Deegan. Dropping down, the shape shifter spun around and swept the Angel with his leg. Mavet fell to his back but immediately sprung back up, laughing. “I had expected that sword to be a bit more sturdy!” he said, referring to Excalibur.

“It was a considerable letdown, but if you play with monkey toys, you get monkey results,” Deegan growled as he raised his body like a Greco-Roman wrestler, his arms in front of him waiting to attack.

“You were a monkey, once.”

“I evolved . . . what’s your excuse?” Deegan snapped back. “You getting soft? Have yourself a little human empathy issue that needs to be worked out?”

“You know a good therapist?” Mavet said as he circled, looking for an opening.

His left hand was open, palm facing forward, extended out in front of him. His right was sitting just off of his right cheek, like a seasoned boxer.

“I could recommend one,” Deegan said as he sprang forward, his arms reaching for the Angel’s hips. Mavet sprawled his legs backwards, and threw his fists down onto Deegan’s shoulders, pounding him down to the ground.

Mavet then attempted to throw his right knee into Deegan’s face. But before the knee could land, the shape shifter had already hooked Mavet’s free leg, dragging him down to the ground.

Twice they rolled over each other before Deegan settled on top of the Angel.

Though their legs were entangled, Deegan rested his weight over the Angel and reared back his left elbow as if to strike. Sensing the movement, and seeing the large elbow dropping towards his head, Mavet arched his hips violently, creating just enough momentum to slide to the side. The elbow smashed down onto the tile floor, cracking it like eggshell.

Mavet quickly backed away, creating enough distance between them to stand.

As Deegan lunged towards him, Mavet threw a powerful kick with his right leg that contacted the shape shifter in the side, just under his left arm. It dropped Deegan, but only momentarily. Like the tentacles of an octopus, Deegan’s arms swam in and out, trying desperately to hook Mavet’s legs.

Taking large, exaggerated high-steps, Mavet was able to free Deegan’s advance. But before he realized it he had smashed into a cabinet behind him, sending a mixture of broken glass and Spanish gold coins raining down on both of them. Deegan seized the opportunity to grab both of the Angel’s feet and pull him down to the ground.

Deegan then rose to a crouch and leapt forward smashing Mavet’s face between the shape shifter’s thick shoulder and the collapsing cabinet.

The shot was hard, and Mavet’s eyes rolled momentarily as he tried to gain his composure. As Deegan flailed at him with powerful fists, Mavet pressed against the back of the large display cabinet and got the leverage to kick the shape shifter in the chest, sending him backwards to the ground, sliding across the floor until he hit another display cabinet.

As Deegan crashed to a stop, more broken glass and bits of wood and metal fell down on him. When the debris had settled Deegan noticed a large crown laden with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and pearls-had fallen into his lap. He sprang to his feet, placing the crown on his head. “Hail to the king.”

“That crown makes you look fat,” Mavet said as he came forward throwing punch after punch. Deegan circled quickly, finding space in the isle. They both studied each other, looking for a way in.

Separated by only a few meters they gathered their breath. Deegan’s eyes searched the periphery for any make shift weapons. There were swords, shields, staffs, bows, knives, and even some old guns, but he realized that they were little more than flimsy children’s toys when wielded by Angels and the like.

“This place is full of junk,” Deegan said. “I’d grab something to hit you with but I don’t think it would do anything but splinter in my hands.”

Mavet shrugged, “Wouldn’t matter if you had Lucifer’s sword, right now, you couldn’t get close enough to me to use it.”

“You’re busted nose seems to disagree. Fighting humans must have given you a false sense of security,” Deegan said with an evil grin on his face. He snapped out a kick that barely missed Mavet’s front leg. “Come on Angel! Let’s mix it up.”

Mavet threw his hands forward, releasing handfuls of gold coins that he had grabbed when he had been smashed into the cabinet. The shape shifter threw up his hands, but it was too late. Mavet dropped low and shot forward, scooping up Deegan and lifting him off the ground like a lineman tackling a quarterback. He took two or three steps before slamming him down, through a thick oak table, and down to the hard floor below. Deegan let out an audible grunt as the air was knocked out of him.

Mavet didn’t wait to see if he had hurt the shape shifter. Methodically he used a combination of punches, elbows, and head-butts to soften Deegan.

Like a well-programmed machine, Deegan reached his arms up, hugging the Angel’s neck and shoulder, and then rolled him over to his back. Mavet struggled to get free, but Deegan gave him no space to maneuver. Every time Mavet twisted or turned, Deegan positioned his body over him, smothering him as he did so.

They continued to struggle, Deegan holding on to the top position, Mavet moving his hips and legs, fishing for any way out. Deegan raised his head up and whipped it back down, trying to head-butt Mavet in the face.

Mavet raised a forearm just in time to protect himself and then a strange bolt of light briefly illuminated the entire Research Vault chamber. Both Deegan and Mavet stopped fighting each other as they were blinded by the powerful flash.

Mavet turned away from the harsh white burst and found enough space to hook Deegan’s leg with his. He used the newfound leverage to lift Deegan’s body just enough to escape. Deegan tried to react, but it was too late. Mavet sprang back to his feet and created enough space between them to take stock of the situation.

“They’re here, you know?” Deegan said as he brushed himself off. “They’ll probably give me a bonus or something. Heck,” he said as he looked around at the mess they had created, “they might let me keep that crown.”

“They’re going to kill you, Mr. Prost. You know that, right?” Mavet said matter-of-factly. “They will kill two birds with one stone.”

All around them they saw the Angels gather, encircling their position. Mavet recognized most of them. Litock, Sariel, Uriel, Sarafet . . . all of them old brothers . . . from a past he no longer knew.

Deegan glanced at the Angels, knowing from their glares that they were not here for a talk. He then looked over at Mavet, “I don’t think that death is going to work for me, right now. I’m a busy guy. I’ve got appointments to keep. I’m basically a social butterfly. Non-existence isn’t in my to-do list.”

They traded skeptical glances, and prepared themselves.