The Wrath Walker (The Wrath Series Book 1) by Matthew Newson (fun to read .txt) 📗

the room as I tried to figure out a way to stop what was about to happen and save Elizabeth and myself.

“I guess I missed that one too, but I’m sure they are not greater than you of course since you are a Luciferian high priest.”

“You are correct in the knowledge that they are not greater than me, and that is a very profound observation. Tell me, how did you come by that notion?”

“Call it a hunch or lucky guess,” I said.

“I don’t believe in hunches, but the spirits must have shown you that, just like they showed me you were going to bring us Elizabeth tonight.”

I looked at him in disbelief as the desire grew within me to try and snap his neck. “The spirits showed you?”

“Yes, they did, in fact, on the same day you showed up at the church to talk to me about Ron’s murder.”

“Are you serious?”

“Indeed, I am, and that is why I indulged all your interruptions and pointed you toward the record department at the city’s Black Castle, because my lord appeared to me and told me to. He told me it was time to shed the Amaras like the dead skin they had come to be and move the city into its true destiny at which time I would be greatly rewarded. But you are already aware of most of that, so do you mind if we talk about something else tonight before we begin? Because no matter what, you’re not stopping what’s going to happen here.”

What did I have to lose by hearing him out? I hoped it would buy me enough time for Wrath to find us. Maybe I’d get lucky and he would bore me to death with his stories about how great he was.

“Something tells me you’re not wanting to counsel me on how to live my life for Jesus.”

“No, but I want to talk to you about having a life after all of this because it is entirely possible for you to not only live through this, but to thrive in the world that is coming.”

“Is that right? And I suppose you’re the one who’s going to make all my dreams come true.”

“Well, in a way, yes. You see, I am not lying to you when I say that I consider us to be friends, and that is why I would hate to have to kill you.”

“But you’ll kill Lizzie and countless others in your sadistic pursuit of your own goals,” I snapped back. “If you want to make my dreams come true, then stop all of this.”

A twinge of anger tugged on Phillip’s face as his eye twitched for a moment. “Yes, that’s correct, and make no mistake, she is dying tonight, and this city will belong permanently to Lucifer. The people will be fully given over to their baser fleshly instincts and stop trying to live a lie that people can be decent and moral when that is not what we were made to be. As Lucifer’s will flows from here and across the country and the world itself, the masses will finally be set free from the lie of God and religion. I think you of all people can see how much of a terrible lie religion is, and all Lucifer and I want to do is set the people free.”

As Phillip spewed his demonic logic at me, I knew why the city had been marked for destruction. It had been flooded with sin on the streets by the Amaras, and from the pulpit by Pastor Phillip.

“I have always been impressed by your observational talents that have made you into one of the greatest detectives this city has ever seen, and that is why you had to be taken down and disgraced to keep you from discovering what was really going on. You have no idea how close you came to exposing us one time, that even I feared it was all over, but I want to restore you to your proper place. I can give back to you everything you lost and more, and all you need to do is work for me.”

“You have really lost your mind because I’d never work for you. I’d never be a part of whatever all this is.”

“Hold on just a minute before you make any hasty decisions. You haven’t asked me why I’m doing all of this. So, go ahead and ask me, Brandon.”

“I just assumed you and your buddies were the lowest dregs of society, besides being totally and utterly insane. But something tells me you really believe everything you’re saying to me. So, go ahead and tell me why you are doing all of this.”

Phillip motioned to some other chairs for he and I to sit down in, and as he did, I took a quick glimpse at Lizzie. She was completely surrounded by Phillip’s warlocks, and she was madder than a bear when someone gets in between the beast and its cubs. I loved how she never showed fear in the worst situations, but then Phillip started talking again.

“I was raised in the church, and as far back as I can remember, my family and I were always there if the doors were open. My parents constantly told me that Jesus loved me, and died for my sins, and all the other things parents tell their children when they’re young to keep them from questioning their authority and to follow their orders in obedience. They wanted me to become a pastor, and always talked to me about how they knew God wanted me to be one because he had told them. Can you believe that they said that to me just about every day as I grew up?” Phillip said as he leaned in to make his point. “Well, if God told them that, he never bothered to tell me that, or tell me anything at all my entire life.”

“But you became a pastor, so when did you work at an air brake plant