Chapter 4 - The Ascended

Sirens blared a mile or two down the road. In minutes Brightwood Cemetery would be full of cops and emergency response teams. The gunfire went mostly unnoticed, but the explosion of white light garnered enough attention for someone to finally call the police.

Afzarizel approached Martin's remains, bent down, and picked up his skull. "Poor Martin, I knew thee well." He let the skull fall haphazardly from his hand. His attention turned to the corpse leaning against the tomb wall, "Ahhh. Douglas." he sneered.

"Douglas, Douglas, Douglas. What's the matter? Didn't see this coming?" He said to the lifeless corpse. "Oh my! What's this?" The amulet around Douglas's neck caught his eye. "A Node of Sethariel? Now, what are you doing with such a powerful and gaudy piece of jewelry? Which, for the record, doesn't match your outfit at all."

Afzarizel reached down and grabbed the amulet. A white flash of light pulsed from it and sent him sailing back twenty feet into a sarcophagus. Instantly he was back to his feet, his eyes dancing with rage and fire.

A heroic and diving being of pure white light stood before him. Afzarizel growled and hissed.

The being began to speak, ringing out like a million voices singing in harmony. "Afzarizel. Your plan will fail. Your master's plan will fail."

"Douglas, you look atrocious. Not a good look for you, I must say." He brushed the dust from his suit jacket. "So, what? You're ascended, now? You must've been a very good boy. You get to scamper around and be His errand boy?" Afzarizel motioned with a grand gesture to the sky, "What a wonderful benefits package!"

"Silence! You stand before a Martyr. You will show reverence." The being's voice boomed forcing Afzarizel to fall to one knee and bow his head.

Afzarizel roared, unable to move.

The lights from the emergency vehicles were close enough to color the headstones and monuments with alternating blues and reds.

The being's voice rang out again, "Your continued interference with His plan will not go unpunished. So is His will."

"As is His will." Afzarizel hissed with pure disdain.

At once the being was gone. Afzarizel rose to his feet, fixed his tie, and adjusted his and cuff-links. He began to walk away, but stopped, and turned his head back towards Douglas's corpse. A wicked smile curled across his face. He snapped his fingers. The corpse exploded, raining pieces all over the main yard. "That's a better look for you."

Lights from the police vehicles flooded the cemetery. Afzarizel was gone.