Chapter 38

“That includes you two, guys. I nearly left you out. And you, Marcy. I don’t want to hear it. You’re an angel, yes, but God wants you to grant my wishes, right? So, my wish is that you become a Priestess and Elder as well as an angel, so how about that, my love? Join the others who are kneeling before me,” I insisted, putting tears in Marcy’s eyes for her part while Shelby hugged her tightly.

“God’s perfectly fine with it ... in fact, more than fine with it. I’m just ... wow ... taken back by your sheer kindness and trust in me. I’ll never forget it. Not now, not ever. You’ve always been so good to me!” Marcy told me with many loving kisses before she knelt as well.

“Marcy, you’re next, in fact,” I stated for the record.

“As Prophet and Lawgiver of the King of Heaven, I ordain and authorize you, Marcy Schumacher, to be an Elder of the Church of Haven, commissioned to propagate and uphold the civilization that is returning through our faith and our community. I further ordain and authorize you to hold the rank of Priestess in said Church, to perform the rites and ordinances thereof, to the benefit of all and sundry within our new society,” I ordained the only angel in our tribe, and she was definitely part of the Schumacher clan now, as one of my many wives.

“Rise, my love,” I told Marcy, whose wings definitely flapped with her excitement as we kissed again.

“That was truly beautiful!” Shelby exclaimed as she kissed her mother and me fully on the mouth ... and with tongue.

“I agree,” Satan spoke up, much to my shock.

“Um ... Satan, I thought that we had a deal here. What gives?” I asked the Devil.

“Yeah, well, I was bored again and I saw an opening to ... work out a little plan of battle together. A strategy of sorts. Look, I won’t be doing this forever ... I hated running Hell toward the end of it. But I ... I still ... am, well, rather restless. Retirement’s easier and more relaxing on paper than in reality. I need to find things to do. Chill, guys. I’m not gonna rain on your parade. Trust me, you’d know if it I did, because when I rain on someone’s parade, it’s the acid kind of rain. Or fire or brimstone. Same idea, though.

“Look, here’s the deal. I won’t hang out forever in any one place, but I have started to clean up some messes that Jehovah created, you know. So, if you see me somewhere, kicking ass and taking names, you’ll know why. I’m been rounding up a force of those demons who are still loyal to me, rallying them in a muster of sorts for a purpose. Kill, kill, kill. We can’t ... and won’t ... torment the wicked, but we can and will take their lives.

“So, here’s my proposal. I have already set up camp in Atlanta for now. You know, Atlanta, Georgia. My demonic host are taking a wrecking ball to the criminal scum syndicates running large sections of that city. We’ve made it burn, baby, burn, with our righteous justice! You didn’t really think that I’m a bad guy at heart, did you? Not deep down, anyway. I punished evildoers, though in my unholy zeal, I often overdid it, I confess.

“So, in any case, I would appreciate it if you kept your ... operations limited to the West Coast, at least while I’m cleaning up the East Coast. That way, there’s a wide berth between us, you see. You know that’s us when you see men in red business suits or crimson fatigues or dress uniforms, basically, scarlet clothing of any sort, all in a large, heavily armed group. That’s our calling card, if you will.

“I fully intend to spread out from Atlanta and cover a lot of Georgia, at the very least, before I bug out of the former USA altogether. Maybe even expand into Florida, somewhat, though I’m not sure yet. Depends on my mood, you see. We can communicate on CB, by text, by phone, whatever, as necessary, or just by me popping up now and then to brief you guys.

“I don’t plan to stay in Georgia for too long and keep my foot on everyone’s necks. I’ll continue to quash the crooks, thugs, punks, etc., create law and order, maintain this working provisional government in the city first, and then go from there. Atlanta can and will be another light shining in the darkness, you see, and despite my former title, I am Lucifer, the Lightbearer, the Morning Star, am I not? I was once a candidate for King of Heaven. Now, at least, I can reign in parts of the Earth, having tired of Hell.

“Oh, and before I leave, I fully intend to endorse you as the de facto Messiah of this new age, which is your destiny, I believe. You’re basically the Messiah now, like it or not. It’s really fitting that you’re Jewish at least, even if not descended from David himself. The Messiah should at least be of the line of Judah, if not quite practicing Judaism as such. Just my take, anyway. So, how about it? Deal?” Satan spat on his hand and offered me a handshake.

“Deal,” I spat on mine and shook his.

“Praise be,” the Devil laughed as he vanished yet again.

“So, we have two pacts with Lucifer, and he already broke the first one, I might add,” Marcy recalled, “however, Heaven approves of this. At least it keeps the Devil out of trouble and prevents him from stirring up the wrong kind of shit. As long as he stays out of Heaven and doesn’t try to bring back Hell, Satan can almost do as he pleases these days. Almost.”

“Yeah, good luck telling a fallen angel what to do, anyway,” I scoffed as I now lay hands upon Raymond and Daryl.

“As Prophet and Lawgiver of the King of Heaven, I ordain and authorize you, Raymond and Daryl Schumacher, to be Elders of the Church of Haven, commissioned to propagate and uphold the civilization that is returning through our faith and our community. I further ordain and authorize you to hold the rank of Priest in said Church, to perform the rites and ordinances thereof, to the benefit of all and sundry within our new society,” I commissioned Nydia’s father and first husband.

“Rise, fellas,” I told Raymond and Daryl, both of whom rose eagerly to kiss me on the lips with a good amount of tongue.

“Next up, Kayla, Krista, Nicole, Lena, Samantha, Mallory, Janine, Tricia, and Justine. Stay on your knees as I ordain each of you,” I now instructed the sorority sisters who had been raped by Hershel and who did the same to me, “oh, and you, too, Greg ... and you, Bill, as you are Nicole’s hubby, aren’t you?”

“As Prophet and Lawgiver of the King of Heaven, I ordain and authorize you, Kayla, Krista, Nicole, Lena, Samantha, Mallory, Janine, Tricia, Justine, Bill and Greg Schumacher, to be Elders of the Church of Haven, commissioned to propagate and uphold the civilization that is returning through our faith and our community. I further ordain and authorize you to hold the rank of Priestess and Priest in said Church, to perform the rites and ordinances thereof, to the benefit of all and sundry within our new society,” I now ordained each of that gang, much to their relief, as they worried that I would consider them unworthy of the blessing.

“Rise, friends,” I told them, gladly accepting kisses from the ladies and the two men alike.

“Well, that’s what I call forgiveness!” Marcy told me while kissing my back all the way down my spine.

“They must still serve me, but this is another way of doing so, I believe. Speaking of forgiveness. Hershel, it’s your turn,” I instructed my undead elder brother, now very much under my thumb and satisfied with his new lot.

“As Prophet and Lawgiver of the King of Heaven, I ordain and authorize you, Hershel Duane Schumacher, to be an Elder of the Church of Haven, commissioned to propagate and uphold the civilization that is returning through our faith and our community. I further ordain and authorize you to hold the rank of Priest in said Church, to perform the rites and ordinances thereof, to the benefit of all and sundry within our new society,” I used Hershel’s full name as I ordained him, making it clear that I was very much in charge of him.

“Rise now, my brother, and don’t think that this gets you out of your servitude to Elaine and the rest of them. You’re not free of that, just because you also serve me. You’ll serve us all. Are we clear?” I insisted, even as I kissed him on the mouth with a bit more than brotherly love.

“Yes, Master,” Hershel averted his eyes before I pulled his face upward.

“Now, no need for that. Aside from your extended indenture, you’re in all other ways equal to the rest of our clergy and still outrank any of the laity. Is that clear, too? After all, someday, perhaps, your service to them will end, though their service to me ... and yours, will not. Capice?” I demanded from my elder brother.

“Capice, Master,” Hershel said as he awkwardly felt for his private parts to make sure that they were indeed restored to him ... and they were to his relief.

“Oh, and you’re now indentured to Bruce as well, so get used to bending over, not that you haven’t already,” I chuckled as I moved on to the next lucky contestants.

“Alright, now, who’s next? Gina, Carla, that’s you. I will ordain the two of you as a pair,” I focused on those two now.