Epilog
The room was richly appointed; lavished with ornate paneling, dark-stained wood accents, columns of heavy-laden bookshelves, a stamped-tin tile ceiling, and a huge black desk facing the door. Ornate brass candle stands, with huge squat candles and fat ropy wicks, sat in each corner - unlit.
Blume and Blumenthal discussed paperwork piled on Mr. Blumenthal's desk.
"Just settle it," Mr. Blumenthal said, dragging a long puff off a fine cigar. "There's no point in fighting for the place with a forgery, no matter how good the document looks. It's not worth the accusation itself getting out and upsetting other clients."
"You are aware that Mr. Hardman is one of them now," Mr. Blume replied, "does this give you pause, seeing that he remembers our little 'offer'?"
"Mr. Hardman is worth keeping tabs on;" Mr. Blumenthal pointed out, motioning with the cigar, "And what better way, than to let them have the place. The hallow itself is too good for them to pass up, not to mention its longstanding history among the Chosen. They will be very easy to watch, when we know where they call home."
"It is a shame we lost him," Mr. Blume lamented; "His father was truly amazing and we had such high hopes for the son."
"The line is not yet lost," Mr. Blumenthal replied, "We are still playing the long-game. What is another twenty years to us? A drop of water in an endless ocean. Mr. Hartman will be long gone, by the time his son stands before us to make his own choice."
---
Returning home for the evening, Emend was met at the door by his live-in girlfriend Trucy, who wrapped her arms around his neck and excitedly drew him into a big kiss.
She had something in her hand; and when she finally drew back to show him, Emend could see that it was a home pregnancy test.
It took a moment, for his eyes to focus on the red 'plus' sign in the reader – then another few seconds for it to click in his brain 'what it all meant'.
---
Heading back to Morrow Wind's hallow on the Blackfoot Confederacy Indian Reservation, Saskatchewan Canada, Robor and Beats presented Robor's retrieved sword and gave an accounting of their mission to clear High Oaks Castle.
Satisfied that they were well on the right track, Morrow Wind agreed to bring them before the Archangel Benjamin to lift the adversity of having had their bodies swapped.
Opening the heavens and ascending up with Robor and Beats, Morrow Wind brought the two disciples to an alien dimension of strange sterile beauty. This was Elysium – a flat plane of perfectly polished, crystal clear glass, infinitely deep and containing the entirety of the physical universe within.
Robor and Beats were struck with its eternal depths and had a difficult time not losing their finite minds to the astonishing awe of its overwhelming glory.
Tearing themselves away from the marvelous sight beneath their feet, and looking forward, they saw a Greek-style white and rose colored temple standing before them. It was a large open affair with wide steps leading up to the cella.
Following Morrow Wind up, they met the Archangel Benjamin waiting there for them.
If anything ever met the classical interpretation of 'angel' it would be the Archangel Benjamin. He stood an imposing seven feet tall, had a radiant white robe, glowing golden halo, white feathered angel wings, the whole bit.
He was surrounded in a nimbus of white fire that stretched out like six additional wings and bleached his skin in such a way as to give his features a mirror-silver like appearance.
Without a word, Morrow Wind indicated that Robor and Beats wait where they were, while he went and stood before the archangel, relating the disciple's plight and subsequent efforts to right it.
The Archangel Benjamin listened, then in an unusual mode of communication, repeated it all back to Morrow Wind verbatim, before nodding and invoking white fire to rise up around the two disciples. It did not burn of course, but caused their souls to transpose back to their original bodies.
When it was done, Morrow Wind nodded to the Archangel Benjamin, who nodded back.
Morrow Wind then returned to the disciples near the steps, but was bidden to pause by the Archangel.
"You have a soul stone?" Morrow Wind then asked Robor, who reached into his jacket pocket (Beats currently wearing it now) to produce the green glowing diamond he had fished out of Doll's skull.
"Oh, yes, that's it," Morrow Wind replied, taking the gem and letting it go into the air, where more of the Archangel's holy fire surrounded it.
In the purifying fires, the inky black motes within instantly vanished and a soul was then separated out of the gem.
It was a portion of the girl Kelsey's soul and in a moment, the girl herself appeared in a flash of white, to stand next to it.
"Where am I?" she asked, as she and the missing part of her soul rejoined each other.
"You are safe now," Morrow Wind said to the child, "I will take you to be with your grandma and grandpa."
"But they died and went to heaven," Kelsey replied, a little confused.
"It will be all right child," Morrow Wind reassured her, "they are very excited to see you again."
Kelsey seemed satisfied with that answer and stood patiently, beside Morrow Wind.
"Thank you for the puppy," she then said to Beats, apparently not realizing that Robor and he had changed bodies.
"All is right, we can go now," Morrow Wind announced and directed the disciples to the stairs.
As they went, soft unspoken words abruptly entered Beat's mind – a message from the Archangel Benjamin.
A that name that he would need to know at some later point.
"Kajet Kajet"
---
Back in the woods at the High Oaks property, UsdiYona and the spirit puppy were sitting with the ghost girl Kelsey when the girl abruptly alerted – "I have to go now" – and stood up.
UsdiYona then saw a portal of light open above Kelsey.
Having seen this before, with other lost human spirits, she knew that it was how they 'went home' (wherever home was).
"Goodby Kelsey," UsdiYona waved, as the girl ascended into the light, "It was nice to meet you and be friends!"
---
The following Monday, Sarapheen returned, appearing in the Washington National Cathedral to meet with the Saint.
She seemed a bit sheepish of speaking about her destruction and reformation, but expressed pride at the disciple's ability to handle themselves in her absence. Especially given that she had intended to tell them about the verge and flesh grove after they had dealt with Jack Eaton Jr.
Apparently, the verge opens for two weeks every year, beginning a week before Halloween and finally closing a week after. During that time, the disciples would have to post guards at the verge to ensure that 'things' did not walk out of it into the physical world and (more importantly) that people didn't inadvertently walk in.
She then went on to explain that the flesh grove was too powerful for her and her own group to deal directly with and how impressed she was that the Saint had been able to save his team from being trapped therein.
She did seem a little put off however, by the Saint's new ghost companion Miguel, expressing that she was not sure of the wisdom that went into deciding upon that particular arrangement, but decided to leave it in the Saint's hands as he saw fit, warning him that he would be responsible for any unforeseen 'complications' such an agreement might ultimately entail.
For his part, Miguel simply promised not to be any trouble – piously bowing his head in the presence of a glorified angel of Heaven.
---
Eight Months later, ownership of the High Oaks Castle and Properties was officially turned over to Emend, and the disciples had free and lawful access to their own hallow and new base of operations!
After refurnishing the place and spending another thirty thousand dollars to repair all the sklortch damage, the place was fit once again for occupancy.
While there was a certain satisfaction to be had, in foiling the demonic plans that Blume and Blumenthal had for the place, as well as liberating it from their possession, an impending sense of doom hung in the air – like the calm before the storm.
Emend and the disciples had made powerful enemies and then embarrassed them with their victories. These slights would not go unanswered – but how and when would the forces of evil retaliate?
No matter.
The disciples would be ready for them.
