CHAPTER ELEVEN

When Alex had finished telling them about the impending apocalypse, nearly everyone sat in a stunned silence.  Arnie and Aideen, however, asked in unison, "Again?"

"We just stopped one," Arnie complained.

"Yeah, well, apparently we've got another one on our hands," Alex replied.

"No big," Aideen said. "We stopped it before. We'll stop it again."

"Don't get too overconfident. We don't know what we're up against," Cassandra warned.

"It's a tomb containing a bunch of demons. It needs a key. We find the key. We destroy the key. The tomb doesn't get opened. No apocalypse. Piece of cake."

"It's never that simple," Spencer said.

"I didn't say it would be simple, but that is what it ultimately comes down to."

"She's right," Alex said. "It's not nearly as easy as it sounds, but ultimately, if we find the key, we can stop this from happening."

"Sounds good to me!" Melissa said enthusiastically. "When do we start looking?"

"Well, we start by researching this tomb. I want to know everything there is to know about it, including when it was built, by whom, and if it's ever been opened in the past. Arnie, I expect web research on this. Spencer and Cierra will handle the book research. Aideen, see if you can get any information out of your father."

"That would require talking to him," Arnie pointed out.

"I will," Aideen replied. "He's my dad. He gets overprotective. I can deal. This is more important than giving him the silent treatment."

"Good," Alex said. "We need all the help we can get. I'm going to work on setting up a plan of action for all of us, but for now, just do what I said. If anyone hears anything about it, please find out what you can without being obvious about it."

"In other words, snoop?" Melissa asked.

"Yes. Keep your eyes and ears open. Something this big is never kept under wraps, which means the bad guys probably know it's coming. If you hear anything, tell me immediately."

"Sounds good," Dylan said. "I'll ask around the Unit, too. I can see if anyone has any information that might be useful."

"Thanks, Dylan," Alex said. "I appreciate it."

"No problem, man. I hope I can find out something helpful."

Aideen slipped away from the others, pulled out her cell phone, and called her father.

"Hello?" Benny answered on the second ring.

"Dad... I'm sorry I was being such a brat," Aideen began. "I needed to feed."

"Hey, Deenie. Don't worry about it. I understand why you were upset. Is everything okay?" Benny asked.

"Actually, I need some information... Arnie got pulled to a murder, and apparently, the victim was killed because a warlock wanted the key to the tomb."

"Damnit... Where did this happen?" Benny asked.

"We're not sure. All Arnie knows is he was cold, in some kind of freezer."

"Well, Margo has been a great help as far as the history of the tomb is concerned. It contains-"

"The apocalypse in a box. I know."

"That's one way of putting it. Anyway, according to what she's read-"

"Wait, I thought this friend of yours was a male?"

"That was her husband, Gregory."

Aideen paused as she caught his wording. "Was?"

"By the time I arrived, Gregory was dead."

"What? Oh my God, Dad! Are you okay? Is his wife? Who killed him?"

"We don't have many answers, Deenie. Whoever it was left no evidence at the scene."

"I'm guessing it was a warlock?"

"It's possible, but it seems unlikely. Warlocks prefer to use magick rather than get their hands dirty, especially when taking on a slayer who stands a decent chance of escaping or killing them in a fair fight. Greg was stabbed to death. If it was a warlock, chances are that he or she was also a corrupt slayer. We were too late. It was his time... I couldn't resurrect him."

"His wife must have been devastated," Aideen said sadly. She could hear the grief in her father's tone. 

"She was, but she's trying to cope by throwing herself into working on the case."

"Are you okay, Dad?" Aideen asked gently.

"I'm alright. It's a terrible loss, though. Gregory was a good man, and a very good slayer. Johnny and Danny were devastated when I called them. We're all going to miss him."

"I'm really sorry, Dad."

"It's okay. This often happens in our line of work. I'll be fine." That was the slayer party line, but Aideen knew he was hurting.

"Seeing it a lot doesn't make it any easier to lose your friends," she replied gently.

"That's true... But I'll be alright. I have to be."

"I love you, Dad."

"I love you, too, Deenie," he replied.

"Be careful, okay?"

"I always am."

"I just don't like knowing that at least two people have already died because of this."

"I know, sweetie, but don't worry too much about me, okay? I'll be fine."

"Okay," she agreed, having no other choice. "Did you find anything else out?"

"The tomb is not in California. In fact, it's in Salem, but the key's location is unknown. It was built in 1311, before Salem was even founded, to house demons. Apparently, several of the townsfolk claimed demons were possessing their loved ones. The idea was to rid the possessed people of their demons and lock the demons in this tomb. The problem was that the medieval methods of getting rid of demons all involved torture and the so-called possessed people often died before the 'exorcism' could be completed. That's how it got the name, the tomb where angels go to die. Not only did innocent people die there at the hands of people who were trying to 'cure' them, but their bodies were buried there, to seal the evil inside. The people of the time did not know it then, but they created demons of another sort by torturing individuals who often already suffered from some type of mental illness. As they remained in the tomb, their souls grew angrier, and Alestair, who as you know is the ultimate Darkness, gained knowledge of their misery. He got inside of the tomb and, seeing an opportunity to build a powerful army, Alestair turned the souls into true demons, but before they could be released, Vishnu, the ultimate Light, ordered that the tomb be sealed."

"In other words, Alestair created an army and Vishnu locked them in a tomb?"

"It was the only way to keep the Earth safe."

"Wonderful," Aideen sighed. "Thanks, Dad. Is there anything else?"

"All I know is that the key is the only way to open the tomb, and we absolutely cannot allow that to happen."

"Okay... I should let you go."

"Right. I'll talk to you later, baby."

"Later, Dad." Aideen hung up the phone and went back to tell the others what she had learned.

"Wow... So this is serious," Arnie said. "We're not just facing one homicidal warlock, but possibly a whole group of them."

"Well, we knew it was big," Alex replied. "Now we know it's even bigger. And we also know that the demons were once mortal."

"Not to mention, we know that the tomb is here in Salem. Aren't we lucky?" Dylan asked with a laugh.

"We'll be lucky when we find the key," Jesse replied. "Until then, we're basically just screwed."

~*~

That night, Jade escorted Beth home, then went for a walk to try to process everything they'd just learned about the tomb. She was shivering, but she wasn't physically cold. Something in the energy around her was off. She knew what it was when a tall, thin, bald man wearing a black trench coat and dark sunglasses appeared before her.

"Hello, Jade Collins," he said in a pleasant tone. Jade suspected this was not a friendly visit.

"Balthos," Jade replied steadily. "How did you find me?" She eyed the surrounding area. They weren't far from a main road. She might have time to run if she was lucky, but she'd never get away from him on foot.

"You are well aware that I have my ways."

"I didn't expect you to be able to track me all the way to Massachusetts."

"You stand out, Jade Collins. Your eyes and your power levels betray you, and even in Salem, you can't have expected to go unnoticed. You are no ordinary little witch."

"Who gave the order?" Jade asked.

"Jonah and Samuel were in agreement. The punishment for killing two higher ups will stand."

"It was self defense."

"Plead your case in Hell, Jade Collins, for I am not your judge." He pulled out his weapon of choice for the night, a large gun that was made in 1336. "It pains me to do this, my dear Jade. You are a skilled Witch, and could have done many things with your life. You know I have nothing but respect and fondness for you."

"Then don't do it, Balthos. You have no issue with me."

"I have my orders, and you know I cannot defy them. I am sorry, Jade. Truly." He fired his gun.

Suddenly, Jade was knocked to the ground. She struggled to catch her breath as Balthos turned to face the person who had knocked her out of the way of his bullet.

"Mortal, this does not concern you," he said.

"Ah, but it does, because she's a friend of mine," Dylan replied.

"Dylan, get out of here!" Jade said. "I'm not worth this. You can't take him down."

"He doesn't look so tough," Dylan replied. "I could kill him."

"He's an immortal assassin. You can't kill him."

"Oh. Well, then, I guess I'm in trouble." Dylan shrugged. "I'm still not leaving."

"Just go," Jade begged him. "This battle doesn't need to include you. You'll release him, right, Balthos?" Jade asked.

"Of course, Jade Collins," Balthos replied. "If he does not attempt to interfere again, and if it is your dying wish that he be allowed to live, then I will happily allow him to escape."

"I won't let you die, Jade," Dylan said firmly.

"You don't know what you're getting involved in, Dylan. Just go. I can handle this," Jade insisted.

"Go on, mortal," Balthos said.

"Would you stop calling me that? I am not a mortal. It's offensive," Dylan protested.

"You are not a mortal? Then what are you?" Balthos asked curiously.

"He's mortal," Jade said quickly. "Just let him go."

"No, let the boy speak for himself, Jade Collins. What are you, boy?"

Suddenly, Dylan was having second thoughts about admitting where his soul came from. "What are you?" He asked.

"I am Balthos, the Executioner."

"The Executioner? That's quite a title you've got there! How many kills did you have to rack up before you were granted a job title like that? And, by the way, what exactly do you kill?"

"I am a demon, damned to walk the Earth as long as there is life on it. I rid the world of those that are deemed a threat to the Darkness, those who betray their kin, and the occasional fool who cannot keep his mouth shut."

Dylan gulped at that last part. "Oh... Well, that's cool and all, but we're just gonna go," he said awkwardly as he tried to take Jade's arm.

"Balthos, he didn't know. Please just let him go," Jade said. "Your business is with me."

"He got in my way. He made me miss my target. I do not appreciate such actions," Balthos replied. "It is a waste of bullets."

"I know, but he's just an overzealous guy who wants to be a superhero, okay? He didn't know who he was taking on."

"I do not like him," Balthos decided.

"You have a job to do, Balthos," Jade reminded him.

"Yes, but no one said I could not kill someone for getting in the way of that job."

"Please, Balthos... It is my dying wish. Don't hurt Dylan."

Balthos bowed to Jade and said, "As you wish, Jade Collins." He looked to Dylan. "Run, foolish boy, and live your life."

Dylan looked at Jade. "I can't leave you here to die," he said again.

"This is my battle, Dylan," Jade replied. "I'll be okay." She knew that chances were good that she would be dead before Dylan got back to his house, but she didn't tell him that.

Dylan hugged Jade. She let him, only because she didn't want to waste her energy arguing with him. "Stall," Dylan whispered in her ear. "I know who can help."

Before Jade could discourage him, Dylan ran off. Jade looked at Balthos. "And now, you must meet your end," he said sadly.

"Maybe," Jade replied. "Or maybe I'll be the first to escape you."

He smiled at that. "Of most, I would say impossible, but of you, Jade Collins, perhaps." He aimed his gun at her heart.

Jade took a deep breath. Balthos was immune to most spells, but Jade had gotten to know him well over the years, and she knew his few vulnerable points. She looked at his third eye and focused.

Balthos let out a howl of pain as Jade shot energy through him. He fell to his hands and knees, gasping for breath.

"Sorry, Balthos," Jade said honestly. She didn't take joy in harming him. "You can't have expected me to go down without a fight."

"I would be most disappointed if you did," Balthos replied, slowly recovering from the pain. Before he could stand up, Jade shot similar energy through his heart. He clutched his chest in pain. If he'd been mortal, his heart would have stopped, but since he was not, all Jade could do was keep torturing him until he surrendered. In his twelve hundred or so years on Earth, Balthos had not surrendered once. Jade knew that the odds were not in her favor, but she had to try.

"Balthos!" A voice suddenly called. Aideen ran toward Jade and Balthos. She glared at Balthos angrily. "Why are you after Jade?" She demanded.

Balthos stood, still gasping, and looked into Aideen's eyes. "I have orders," he replied.

"Not anymore," Aideen said firmly. "I command you to stop pursuing Jade as a target."

Balthos smiled in obvious relief. "As you wish, my favorite Reaper."

"Don't get cute with me. You and I have a history, Balthos. You alert my incarnations when someone's trying to have me assassinated and I make sure that your needs are met. You know damned well that I could destroy you."

"That would be a kindness. I would not have to walk this hell anymore."

Aideen sighed at his obvious pain. "Look, leave Jade alone. She's one of us."

"She is part of your society?" Balthos asked in surprise.

"Yes," Aideen replied firmly.

"I see. That explains the power which she commands."

"Go back to where you came from and tell them that she is under the official protection of the witches of Salem and they cannot touch her."

"As you wish, Aideen Phillips." Balthos turned and began to walk away.

"Are you okay?" Aideen asked Jade.

"I'm fine..." Jade replied. "Thank you."

"Good. Arnie and I need to finish what we were working on. See you around." Aideen walked away, taking Arnie, who had been standing in the shadows with Dylan, with her.

"I told you I knew someone who could help," Dylan said, walking over to Jade.

"Thank you, Dylan. Really," Jade replied.

"Is there any particular reason why someone sent a scary demonic assassin to kill you?"

"Yeah... I killed my parents, who were respected members of one of New York's chapters of devil worshippers."

"Oh, is that all?" Dylan asked with a grin. "Well, I relate to the whole having bad parents thing, so I'm not going to judge you."

"Yeah, you mentioned that..." Jade sighed. "I should get back to Beth's house."

"Isn't it your house now, too?"

"Technically, until I'm emancipated, it's where I live, but I don't really think of it as my house."

"Yeah, I can understand that. I'll walk you back, okay?"

She almost declined his offer, but for whatever reason Dylan seemed to ease Jade's nerves. She needed that right now. "Sure, Dylan. Thanks," she replied.

"No problem," he said.

They walked together in silence, and Jade realized that she was beginning to feel comfortable around some of the members of the Silver Society. Dylan had a talent for making her laugh, something almost no one else could manage. She appreciated it, and she trusted him.

Don't get attached, she scolded herself. That never ends well.

~*~

"Earth to Spencer?" Arnie called the following morning. He'd actually gone to school that day, although he'd cut into Spencer's classes instead of going to his own. It was still an improvement. "Are you okay, man? You seem distracted."

"I'm fine," Spencer replied automatically.

"You were staring across the hallway into the other classroom. What's so fascinating?" Arnie looked where Spencer had been gazing and paused. "Oh my Gods, does Spencer actually have a crush?" He asked as he spotted Jade sitting in her history class. As promised, the Ashfords had enrolled her in Bishop High School.

"No, of course not," Spencer replied, annoyed at the suggestion.

"Then why do you keep staring at her?" Arnie teased him. "Come on, Spence. You're obviously into the girl, and I can guarantee that she likes you, too."   

"She does not," Spencer protested. He was not the sort to date. Spencer kept to himself unless Arnie and Aideen dragged him out. He was extremely introverted and noticed books, not girls.

"You know, for an all-seeing oracle, you're pretty clueless sometimes," Arnie said with a laugh.

"What do you mean?" Spencer asked.

"I've seen the way she looks at you, Spencer. Trust me, she's interested."

"I doubt very much that Jade is looking for a boyfriend right now."

"I never said she was looking for a boyfriend, but I think she may have found one anyway. I mean, she's not as obvious as you are about it, but she's into you."

"You're just saying that."

"I wouldn't lie to you, Spence." Arnie smiled. "You know, I've never seen you get so worked up over a girl before, Spencer. Who knew? You're human!"

Spencer sighed. It was pointless to lie to someone as empathic as Arnie. "I really like her, Arnie," he admitted. "There's just something about her... I feel like I've known her forever."

Arnie laughed. "That's because she's your fiancée."

"What?" Spencer asked in confusion.

"Your souls are betrothed."

"Why would you know that when I don't even know that?"

"You weren't ready to recognize her."

"But my soul is engaged to one of Alex's soul's daughters," Spencer said.

"Exactly."

"Are you saying...?"

"Man, Spencer, you're supposed to be the smart one in this friendship. Yes I'm saying that Jade's soul is Alex's soul's daughter."

"She doesn't know that."

"No, but I'd bet you anything that Alex does."

"Well, Alex pretty much knows everything..."

"That's true. I'm sure Jade will realize it soon enough. She seems pretty in touch with her magick. Now, she just needs to get in touch with her soul."

"She's very different than her soul, Arnie... She's darker, and not so trusting and gentle," Spencer said.

"It's pretty clear Jade's had a hard incarnation so far," Arnie replied. "I'm sure she's the same person deep down."

"Boys, would you kindly wait to have your conversation until you are not in my class?" The teacher, a short, elderly, balding man named Mr. Reynolds, asked in an annoyed tone. Mr. Reynolds was hard of hearing, so it wasn't surprising that it had taken him so long to notice Arnie and Spencer's conversation. He went back to the math equation on the blackboard.

We'll just have to use telepathy, Arnie sent to Spencer. Spencer cracked a smile at that. So, when are you going to be a man and ask her out?

I can't, Spencer insisted. She's been through hell, Arnie. I can't just ask her out. She barely knows me.

You guys are meant to be together, Arnie reminded him.

She's not ready, Spencer replied firmly.

You don't know that. I think Jade is a lot stronger than she looks.

When the time is right, we'll both know. Until then, I'm not asking her out.

Chicken, Arnie teased him.

Spencer considered pushing the Melissa issue with Arnie to get him to stop harassing him, but he understood why Arnie refused to ask her out officially. His past had proven to him time and time again that his girlfriends always died, usually painfully. Arnie's refusal to ask Melissa to be his girlfriend was simply his way of trying to protect her.

What's my excuse? Spencer wondered to himself. Again, he gazed across the hallway toward Jade. He noticed that she was looking at him this time, too. She offered him a quick nod of acknowledgement before looking away.