Soul Guardian - Chapter 51: A Familiar Face

Misti was looking forward to seeing the men from the school leave empty handed. The tall one’s abrupt way of speaking had thrown her off. But now she was back on her game.

Usually the bishop got his snack right about now. He could be a real demon when his blood sugar was low. Misti had told him she would bring the food after his meeting with the school board. She smiled. Those two had no idea what they were stepping into.

The gatekeeper guided them up the stairs into a book filled office with large windows that looked out over the garden below. Then she took her customary position in the corner to kick back and watch the fireworks.

Bishop Alfonso was a proud man that ninety-two years of life had smashed down into a hunched figure. He talked little and listened less.

The elderly Argentinian looked over his silver reading glasses at the two visitors and shut his book. He didn’t introduce himself or wait for them to be seated. “So, you want money.”

“If you’re offering, we certainly wouldn’t say no.” Bill laughed as he sat down in the chair across from the Bishop. He pulled out a Tupperware half full of cookies. “Would you like some? My wife baked them. I’m Bill Sharoth, by the way.”

Before Misti could say no the Bishop had already grabbed a half dozen and set them aside for later.

He looked at Bill and scowled. “I am Bishop Afonso, and I know who you are. We have met before. I am disappointed that you don’t recognize me.”

Bill’s smile faltered and Ryan got visibly more nervous. The Bishop’s temper was legendary and he wasn’t looking forward to what came next. Misti licked her lips with anticipation.

Instead of shouting, the old man smiled warmly. “Come on, have I gotten so old and ugly? Surely you remember your brother Gino.”

There was a thud as Bill dropped the box of cookies. He stared at the Bishop with his mouth open. “Gino?”

“Yes, yes I know. So many wrinkles! But time’s arrow…” The old man let out a sad smile.

“…neither slows or reverses.” Bill finished, returning the smile.

What followed was a rapid exchange in several different languages with both men laughing and making wild gestures with their hands. The two old friends finally sat in silence for a bit, which was rudely broken by Misti.

“What is going on?” She asked.

Gino’s face regained its usual sourness. “Do you know who this man is?” He asked.

“No.” Misti said, wondering if she should. The Bishop never smiled or let anyone use his first name. But he seemed to know this man and was fond of him. It made no sense. “Are you feeling alright?”

“I’m fine, no thanks to you.” Gino sat back in his chair and glared at her. “This man is like my brother… and you make him wait in the garden for an hour? You do not even tell me his name? What if he had left?”

Misti stuttered out an apology and excused herself. Ryan looked at Bill with a raised eyebrow.

“We served together down in Argentina with the Jesuits. Back when I was younger.” Bill explained.

“Hah!” Gino cackled. “You were a terror back then! You would argue for hours about the tiniest theological details.”

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“Well, we were with the Jesuits.” Bill reclaimed his Tupperware of cookies and offered one to Ryan, who accepted. “Would you give us some time alone? I haven’t seen Gino in a long time and we have a lot to talk about.”

“Of course.” The acting principal left the two men to catch up.

Bill closed the door and waved his hand in a series of complicated motions. Magic shimmered, warding the office from eavesdroppers and scrying. He slipped out of his human form and took a seat across from his wayward brother.

“So, Ganon-Sharoth. How the hell have you been?” Bael asked.

Ganon-Sharoth shrugged. He didn’t change forms or make any great displays of power. Probably because he couldn’t. A demon possessing a body was essentially powerless. “You know how it is. There are good days and bad. What’s this about a wife?” He devoured one of the peanut butter cookies. “She bakes wonderfully.”

“Yeah, I sort of fell into that. Technically we’re not married, but legally we are as far as the humans are concerned. It’s a long story. But she’s great.” Bael frowned. There was no sense dancing around the subject. “I thought you were dead.”

“I’m sorry about that. I needed to make a clean break, separate myself from my old life.” Ganon looked down, avoiding looking his brother in the face. “You must think I’m an idiot for leaving.”

“I don’t know what to think.” Bael admitted. “But I’m disappointed you didn’t ask me to join you. I’m your brother, Ganon. I might not have gone, but at least I would have known you were alive.”

“I know.” The old man sighed. “But I had to leave everything behind. I couldn’t let you be corrupted too.”

“We are the demons! We do the corrupting!” Bael’s temper flared. “What happens when the priest you have been possessing dies? I can’t imagine Lucy will be happy to find you were AWOL this whole time. It’s not like you can go with him to heaven.”

“But I won’t go to hell either.” Ganon replied. “I have forsaken it.”

“WHAT!” Bael shouted, getting his mana’s worth out of the warding spell. “Ganon, that’s insane.”

“Is it? I think it is insane to reside in hell for all eternity, damned for crimes we never committed.” Ganon stood up from his chair, showing a hint of the demon within.

“Better to blow away with the wind when we go, rather than suffering endlessly. At least then it will be quick. What is the point of letting hell grind us down to powder?”

“You’re a fucking idiot.” Bael said as he sat back down. He was still angry. But having a screaming match was pointless. “What is done is done. You have a niece, by the way. Maybe even two of them.”

“Oh.” Ganon sat down, taking the peace offering. “Thank you for telling me.”

“You’re welcome. I’ve taken in a human child named Six, she was being raised by a cult.” As he said the words a lightbulb went off in Bael’s mind. The cult’s mansion wasn’t all that far away.

“Actually, it’s quite interesting. Someone gave them a book designed to summon me. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

Ganon’s face went sour. “Yes, you caught me. That was one of mine.”

“I thought so.” Bael considered this new information. It made sense. In fact, it was the only possible answer that made sense.

A demon would have used magic to change the writing in the book. Any talented human mage could have done the same. But a demon trapped in a human’s body would have needed to do things the old fashioned way, by making a palimpsest. “So, were you trying to get my attention without alerting hell? Or were you just trying to wipe out Mike and his cult?”

“A bit of both.” Ganon admitted. “One of Mike’s former followers came to me saying she was being blackmailed. I saw a way to free her, get rid of a cult, and possibly see you one last time.”

“I can’t be mad at you for that. Though I couldn’t help but notice my description in the book read like a hit piece.” Bael made another connection. “You aren’t still bitter about Lilah, are you?”

“I have no idea what you mean.” The old man said, taking a bite or his cookie. “Though if you are asking if I hold a grudge against you for stealing my girlfriend and then dumping her later. Yes, I do.”

“Oh, is that why you met her in Harrows pretending to be me? I wondered which of us that was. It’s not like there were many left after the war.” Bael suddenly realized the perfect way to get back at his brother. “She got pregnant, by the way.”

Ganon almost choked on his cookie. “What?”

“Yes. She had a daughter. In fact, if you do what I want, I’ll bring her here so you can meet her.” Bael’s eyes sparkled. He loved his brother, but Ganon should have known better than to try and play games with him. “Or you can say no, and die without ever meeting your only daughter.”

“You’re a real son of a bitch.” Ganon said. “What do you want in return?”

Bael leaned back in his chair, a mannerism he was realizing they both shared. “First, I want you to help me fix the school. Not because of your trick with the book, but because it is the right thing to do.” He waited for confirmation.

“Fine, and the second part?” Ganon asked.

“I want you to come to my wedding.”