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NOTE: These stories are
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The Cost of Redemption
A Kendrick story
By
Jennifer Brozek
Start from the beginning of the Kendrick series

"Is she gonna be OK?" Lamiel asked.

Lumbering-Bear and Walks-the-Ocean looked at each other. It was the older man who spoke. "We don't know. All we know is that being on Makah land saved her."

The young gothic looking girl and leader of the Bacchanalia Coven furrowed her delicately arched eyebrows as she stared at the slack and pale face of Juliet, lying in the guest bed in Lumbering-Bear's home. "She saved me from that bitch. She made sure to get me here." There was a pause and then a question. "What is it about Makah land that makes it safe from the power of the Children of Anu?"

Again the men looked at each other. It was the younger one who answered her question this time as the older one turned away. "There are old spirits and even older laws that even spirits made flesh must follow." Lumbering-Bear said. "Makah land cannot be touched by the likes of the Children."

"Because it's Makah land and not the city?" Lamiel squeezed Juliet's hand, willing her to be well again.

"Perhaps."

The answer was noncommittal and Lamiel knew she would not get a real answer right now. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. I guess it's not important. What is important, is that Vicki can't touch any of the remaining club owners as long as they're on Makah land." She gazed at them with eyes wise beyond her years.

Walks-the-Ocean heard the unspoken question. "The allies of the Bacchanalia Coven are allies of the Makah Tribe. Bring them here in good will and safety. How many will be coming?"

Fear and sadness flashed across her face before she mastered her features again. "Ten of the sixteen club owners are dead. One has fled from Kendrick. One has sacrificed his own place of power. Four or five. Maybe a couple of friends with them."

The old man nodded. "Bring them all. Instruct them in the laws of this land. Then, they may do good works and worship as they wish. I will have a place put aside near the area of the Bacchanalia Coven. Our traveling homes will become their temporary homes."

Lamiel nodded and looked back at Juliet's face. She leaned close to the unconscious girl. "Fight, Juliet. Find your way home. We need you." She smoothed out the other's dark hair and then stood, looking at the two council elders. "I'll make the calls. This land will be respected." She paused, her voice soft. "Thank you."

The men nodded back and watched Lamiel leave. Then, they turned back to Juliet. Walks-the-Ocean said, "I will begin here. Make things ready for our guests."

Lumbering-Bear nodded. Then a smile slipped out, "Redemption comes in unexpected ways. I think it has brought itself to your doorstep. Do not turn it away."

The old man nodded but said nothing. Lumbering-Bear left the room. As the door closed, he heard Walks-the-Ocean chanting. There was a strength in his friend and mentor's voice that he had not heard in a long time. He offered up a soft prayer, "Please, by all the spirits in the earth and sky, let that girl survive. More depends on it than just her life."

***

"Sometimes, we meet in dreams," Susan said, her eyes far away. "Sometimes, we can talk if I hold his hand but he straddles two worlds; ours and his. It's the only way the gargoyles can exist in this world. Through their kinstones. He became the Kendrick kinstone to save the rest. He sacrificed himself for all of them."

Aaron listened with quiet respect as Susan talked. 'She's not talking to me. She's talking to herself. She's coming to grips with her loss.' He looked at the large gargoyle statue before them and wondered what it was like to be the anchor for his people in this world. Alexander, in stone form, was hunkered down, his wings folded with one hand held out. Susan held this stone hand. 'Would I have the strength to do the same?'

"They regard him as a religious figure now and I am his priestess."

He pulled himself from his thoughts and looked her. "Priestess? I don't understand."

"He's gone beyond this world. He's their version of a saint. As his bonded human, I'm accorded the respect of a high priestess. I can sometimes hear his words. They come to him, through me, for advice. But they no longer look at me as a leader." Her words were soft and sad.

"Who?"

"The gargoyles." She turned from Alexander and looked at him as one would look at a child to see if they were faking their ignorance. When she saw that he was confused, she sighed. "Alexander was their leader. I was his human. I... influenced him and his decisions. I helped him make decisions. He can lead no more. My words no longer matter except as a conduit to their new saint."

He nodded as if he understood. He believed he did. Somewhat. "Who's their new leader?"

"That is the question now. They came to me to ask him to choose between a pair of twin gargoyles. The next oldest."

"There are twin gargoyles? That's possible?"

She smiled. "Yes. Rare. Very rare. When it does happen, it is usually a time of great joy. But now..." Her smile faded, "... it's trouble."

"Why?" He tilted his head.

"Because only one may lead but there are twins." She shrugged. "That seems to be the issue right now. There are so few gargoyles and they are so disorganized. Many of the youngest died. It's hard on them. Gargoyles are very family oriented."

Aaron nodded. "What advice have you offered?"

She looked surprised. "Me? None. They aren't actually speaking to me per say. They're trying to talk to Alexander."

 "But they will talk to you?"

She nodded. "I'm bound to Alexander and am the only way they can talk to him. I'm a special case. In their eyes, I'm not really human."

"Perhaps they need some of your insight, too. You lead the gargoyles with Alexander for how long?"

"Almost twenty years." Her face screwed up in a suppressed sob. Then she forced the emotion back down. She had cried so much in these past couple of days.

"So, you know them." Aaron said. "You know their pain and problems. They will listen to you. Try talking to them as you and not just as a conduit. Let them know that you're still here for them. That you haven't gone as well."

Her melancholy faded from her face. It was replaced with something more thoughtful. "That would be a big change. I'll have to ask him." She looked back into the stone face of her companion. "Maybe..."

"If you don't mind, I'll pray for guidance for you and Alexander as well."

That soft smile returned. "I don't mind at all. In fact, would you pray with me now? Bless Alexander and me?"

Aaron nodded. "Of course. Gargoyles have long been considered creatures of God and protectors of the church. I would be honored." Aaron slipped to his knees as Susan did.

***

"I won't lie to you, Doctor Mercer," Mason said, "this will be dangerous. My daughter is smart and perceptive. You cannot let her know that you are no longer spirit-ridden."

The doctor nodded without comment. His cheeks remained flushed while the rest of his face remained that ashen grey color. He kept his eyes on his hands.

Mason put a hand on the doctor's arm, causing the man to look up. "James, you don't need to do this if you don't want to. I am not ordering it. If you'd rather, I can send you on a very long vacation elsewhere. Far away from here."

James shook his head. "No. I'll do it. I want to. I need to." He paused. "I won't say I'm not afraid. I'm terrified. I remember what she can do. I remember how strong and brutal she is. If she discovers me, I'm dead."

The mayor nodded. "Yes." He did not sugarcoat or elaborate on his agreement.

"You're not making me feel any better." James tried for a smile.

Mason shrugged a little. "Sorry. I've been dealing with this for a very long time now."

James nodded. "How can we be sure she'll be fooled?"

Mason shrugged again. "We can't. I suggest you meet with her once and watch how she reacts to you. You're a master at psychology and body language. If you think you've fooled her, continue on and feed us the information. If not. If you sense at all that she's on to you, get out and run far, run fast. Get out of Kendrick. Call me and I'll wire you money."

"Thanks for not lying to me." James put out his hand.

"You're welcome." Mason shook James' hand. "Good luck."

"I'll call you when I know something."

***

"I've found the perfect sacrifice," Sam said as he stood in front of Vicki who lounged on her throne in the warehouse.

"Really?" She sounded bored but he had her attention. "Do tell."

"A cop and his family. Got a wife and a pair of boys."

"What makes them so special?"

"I've seen him sniffing around the Camden district. He's gotten a bit too close to the Children before. It'll be easy to get him here."

She yawned, "Doesn't sound special to me."

"He's part of that special department of the police that knows about the supernatural. He's aware that Kendrick's more than just a normal city. He's worked for us through Doctor Mercer, dealing with the gargoyles and such."

Vicki sat up. "Now, that is interesting." She stood up and stretched. "Full gathering tonight. I'll expect a good set of sacrifices. I've finished dealing with the clubs ? for now."  She paused as her phone rang.

Sam stepped back to give her a bit of privacy as she answered her phone.

"Doctor Mercer, I was just thinking of you." She paused and listened. "Yes, yes. That's all good." She paused again, listening. "As a matter of fact, I do. Come by the warehouse tonight at eight. We have something special planned." She grinned at his response. "You'll see. I'll see you then. Bye!"

She hung up the phone. "Tonight, we'll see just how committed Doctor Mercer is to our cause."

Sam's malicious smile matched the one on the face of the woman he worshipped. "And if he's not?"

Vicki rolled her eyes. "Don't be dumb, Sam."

"Sorry." He did not shrink away from her. He stood tall but eyed her warily.

She came over to him and patted him on the arm. "So, what's this cop's name?"

"Mueller. Sergeant John Mueller."

***

"What do you think of this 'righteous hand' thing that Karen spoke of?" Aaron asked.

David shrugged. "I've no idea. Prophecies make me uncomfortable."

Aaron walked around his office in the monastery, gathering books together. "Why?"

"Because you never know where they're coming from."

"The Grey Lady, according to Karen." He handed a pile of four books to David.

David accepted them and gave their spines a cursory glance before adding them to the other books that Aaron had already given him. "Yes. But where did she get it? I understand she's supernatural and all but what is beyond her? That's what I want to know. How do we know that this prophecy isn't leading us down the wrong path?"

Aaron looked at David with a knowing gleam in his eye, "Are you asking me 'how do we know that the prophecy is from God and not the devil?'"

David looked very uncomfortable. "Yes."

"We don't." Aaron held up a hand to forestall David's retort. "However, we can make an educated guess. I mean, look who the prophecy was from, the Grey Lady, and who it was to, Karen, and what it said. What do we know of these people? I know they have worked with me on the side of the Light before. I know the prophecy was probably meant for someone close to Karen. And I know, it basically says that we need to work fast and with compassion." He paused, "So, what do I think? I think that we need to figure out a way to sever the connection between Anu and Vicki without killing her." He paused again, "What do you think?"

He sighed. "I think you're taking a whole lot on faith here."

"It's what I do and it's what I thought you did, too." Aaron paused from his book searching to look at David.

"I try." David said, "But I'm only human."

"That's OK." Aaron tilted his head. "If you don't have faith in the prophecy, can you have faith in me to do what I believe is right?"

Aaron's former rival nodded. "I think I can do that." He did not smile but he looked less worried now. "What do you want me to do?"

"Go by Mason's office tonight. He'll be there waiting for a call from Doctor Mercer. While he waits there'll be those books for you two to go through." Aaron gestured to the pile of books on the table next to David. "One of them might give us an insight on how to deal with Anu without killing the girl. This spirit is so much stronger than the one we fought before."

David nodded. "Research. This, I can do. What will you be doing?"

"Praying."

"Say one for me?"

"I'll be saying one for all of us." Aaron's easy smile faded. "The end of things is coming. I can feel it. Unfortunately, this means bloodshed. It's not something I relish."

***

Doctor Mercer arrived at the warehouse at eight o'clock on the dot. He was admitted into the dimly lit confines of the main home, and worship center, for the Children of Anu. He had been here before but he was seeing the place, and the people within, with new eyes. What he saw terrified him. He hoped he could keep his fear out of his face and voice.

"Right on time, Doctor. We have something very special planned tonight." Vicki said. She paused and looked at him. "Are you all right?"

"I am." He nodded. "What's planned for tonight?"

She smiled. "You'll see." She clapped her hands together twice. "It's time to start. Lock it down."

Doctor Mercer watched as the doors around the warehouse were closed with loud bangs and locked tight. With each clanging bang of the metal doors, he felt his stomach tighten in fear. When Vicki touched him to get his attention, he started.

"Jumpy, aren't we, Doctor." Vicki said with a purr in her voice. "Are you afraid?"

He shook his head as she led him to the throne in front of the mass of people, "Nervous about what you have planned. I don't normally come to your... worship sessions."

"I know. I thought it was time for that to change." She raised her voice. "Bring the sacrifices forward."

From the back of the crowd came three of the Children. Each of them had an animal with them ? a goat, a Labrador retriever and a lamb. Each animal came docilely on a leash. Their handlers stopped with them at the front of the crowd.

"Choose one." Vicki said.

Doctor Mercer looked at her with a quizzical look. "Choose one? For what?"

"For sacrifice. To me." She grinned at his expression of confused fear. "Chose which one you're going to sacrifice to me."

"Me?" Sam stepped up next to him and offered him a baseball bat. The light oak wood was stained a dark brown. Doctor Mercer took a step back from Sam and shook his head. "I can't."

Vicki stepped down to the three animals and allowed the dog to snuffle her hand before she leaned down to pet the lamb. "Really? I don't think this one will fight back." She laughed, "Though, you may have to chase it down after the first whack."

Doctor Mercer shook his head again, "I can't."

"But, Doctor Mercer, there has to be a sacrifice." The look on Vicki's face was angelic with a demon peeking out through her eyes. "If you won't sacrifice these animals to me, what will we sacrifice?"

It was already too late when Doctor Mercer turned to run. Sam swung the bat hard at the doctor's knee, hitting him with a solid crack of the bat, crippling him. Then the rest of the Children were on him, holding him down. He was dragged away from the throne to the bloodstained concrete before it.

Vicki took a seat on her throne as Doctor Mercer was held before her. "Did you think I wouldn't know?" She asked, her voice soft but rising in anger. "Me? The one who chose you as the host? The one who put the spirit in you? The one who made you the man you are?" Her voice dropped. "Were. The man you were."

"Vicki. Please. I can explain."

"No. I don't want to hear it. None of it! You're no good to me now." She paused, thoughtful. "Except as my first human sacrifice."

"Hail Anu. Marduk. Enlil. Bel. Victoria." Sam stepped forward.

"Anu. Marduk. Enlil. Bel. Victoria," the Children of Anu answered Sam with their own reverent chant. "Anu. Marduk. Enlil. Bel. Victoria."

Doctor Mercer began to struggle, "No. No! You can't do this!"

"Make sure to leave his face intact." Vicki said. She sat back in her throne and watched her Children, eating up their worship.

Sam raised both hands in the air, his palms facing the throne. "Great god Anu! Father of Heaven, creator of the stars, lord of the constellations, king of gods, spirits and demons, your Children have not forgotten you. The Children will never forget you. Your humble servant, Samuel Ridgefield, has gathered your believers here on this night to beg of you a sign, a sigil, a vision. This is the year of your return, Great god Anu! Instruct us in your wisdom. Judge us worthy with this task. Tell us what we must do! We are your Children and your servants. Guide us in this holy year."

***

Mason closed his book, sighed and looked at the clock. It was 11:30pm. "He should've called by now."

David put a bookmark in the 1859 book on Christian magic he was reading and closed his book. He chose his words carefully. "I know he should've. However, he could be into something really good right now, getting us the information he needs."

"Or, he could be in trouble." The older man looked troubled.

"All right, he could be.  If he's in trouble, what can we do about it?"

Mason gave David a sharp look and realized that the younger man was not antagonizing him but asking a legitimate question.  "I don't know. I don't think there's anything we can do." He paused. "He wouldn't be there if it weren't for me."

David shook his head. "He knew the risks. He didn't have to go. We-"

"The hell he didn't! Didn't you see the look on his face?" Mason stood up. "The realization of what'd had been done because of him? When I first introduced him to the Special Unit, he was fascinated, if a bit wary, of supernatural beings and creatures. He wanted to help. He wanted to know more. But, once spirit-ridden, he turned a protective police force into an assassination squad."

Mason then sat back down with a thump. "And I let him."

David did not say anything for a long time. Finally, he said, "He did make a choice. No matter what you or I say, he chose to step in. We all find redemption in our own way. If he's in trouble, I pray to God that he finds his before it's too late."

Mason looked at David, "I hope to God that he's all right. Otherwise, I'm going to have to add another name to my list of sacrifices."

"From your lips to God's ears, Mr. Mayor."

***

Elsewhere?

Vicki moved through the throng of her now sated Children to the center of the storm. There, on the ground, in a bloody, very dead, mess was Doctor James Mercer. Beyond the killing blow to the back of his head and a few minor bruises, his face was intact. "Very good, my Children. Very good. There's enough to identify him."

She turned to Sam. "Dump him some place public. Be artistic about it if you want. But, leave all his stuff on him ? wallet, watch, glasses, rings. All of it. I want whoever freed him from his spirit to know exactly what they're messing with and the cost of defying me."

"It will be done." Sam said.  He gestured to a couple of his more trusted people to gather up the broken body. "Anything else?"

"Yes." Vicki smiled and asked, "How soon can you get me that cop and his family?"

"Tomorrow if you want."

"I want." Vicki turned from him, still speaking but raised her voice so all could hear. "It's time that the city of Kendrick was ours for good."

Story by Jennifer Brozek, Copyright 2008
Image by Rory Clark, Stopped Motion Photography, Copyright 2008