Heckel Casey

'You'll see. In fact, for that matter, when I meet with the men, I want you by my side to watch. Make sure all is ready.'

He stood there with a querying face. She put up her hand and a small tinge of blue light emerged. Immediately he bowed and backed away.

For the next hour, the instructions that Barker had left with her raced across her mind. A soft knock at the door signaled that her audience waited.

'Miss Madeline, the men are ready,' a voice said.

A rush of adrenaline bolted throughout her body; she could feel her face flush and the hairs on her arm stand up. Energy was building in her veins, igniting every pore in her body. She jumped off the sofa and went to the door. She inhaled deeply and reveled in the power. My mojo is brewing!

As she passed the driver's seat to go down the steps of the motor home, a picture of Quincy sitting at the wheel flashed across her eyes. She touched the wheel tenderly.

Stop it! a voice in her head commanded.

Barker?

She turned quickly and immediately descended the steps out of the motor home.

A deafening roar greeted her as she walked to the edge of the crowd. Men raised an assortment of weapons in the air and shouted her name. What a frickin' rush! She took several minutes to soak it in as well as let the men marvel at her badass appearance.

Madeline walked to the steps of a small platform raised off the ground a few feet. Two men held out their hands to assist her climb. When she reached the top, Madeline struck a commanding pose. The crowd roared even louder. She put up her hand to silence them.

'Good morning,' she shouted. Her voice sounded amplified even without a microphone. It surprised her at first and then she thought of Barker. Obviously, his doing.

'You men are the future of our world.' A roar ensued with more fists in the air and weapons waving. 'Tomorrow, we will take the world and it will be ours.'

More shouts and cheers.

Madeline went on for about fifteen minutes more, giving them a speech that rivaled any would-be dictator. Hitler and Hussein came to mind as well as a host of other selfish assholes. All she needed was a funny hat like some of them wore. Gaddafi, in particular.

It was time.

Slowly, she elevated off the platform. Her body went up into the air a good ten feet and hovered. The sea of people in front of her went completely silent. Awesome.

'Do not be afraid for I am your goddess who will lead you to victory. Along with your fists and your will, the power I bestow on you will render our enemy defeated.'

A roar erupted from below her as she glanced across the field. The cheers from five thousand men were more addictive than any drug. Madeline felt her insides seethe with power.

'With a wave of my hand and powerful words, I will make you stronger, bigger and meaner than the most vicious predators on the planet. You will be gods among men.'

More cheers. She was sure they all thought she was speaking metaphorically. Slowly, she lifted her hands and raised them high above her head. Little by little, the palms turned bright red and small spikes of lightning flew outwards. The adrenaline-soaked, testosterone-filled mass in front of her stared in awe. Grinning, she closed her eyes and as the force in her hands built to a crescendo, she uttered the words that Barker taught her. They sounded like gibberish to the men below. Either the recitation was some ancient language or it was a language unknown to mankind or maybe it was all for show and simply just nonsensical rants. Madeline spoke them as if they were her mother tongue. With each phrase, she waved her hands from one side of the crowd to the other.

At first, Madeline heard soft groans, then gradually louder snarls. Slowly, she opened her eyes. What she saw almost made her stumble backward. All five thousand men had been transformed into grotesque demons. Each man had grown to a height of nearly seven feet. Their muscles had clearly been strengthened and enlarged as though they had been injected with an enhanced steroid cocktail. Their facial features were turned into a distorted, monstrous appearance that rivaled any Hollywood Rick Baker creation.

Initially, Madeline just stared in part shock and part awe until a thunderous roar erupted. It was menacing and intimidating; it sent icy waves throughout her body. 'Now you are invincible!' she exclaimed, lowering her hands. 'You are my warriors!'

This time the roar from below her caused her to throw her hands up in the air and discharge two massive blue energy balls high up in the sky, initiating her own fireworks.

More roaring!

Without hurrying and definitely milking the moment, Madeline lowered herself back down onto the platform. The general that had bothered her earlier with his questions was now a formidable demon himself.

His grunts, along with generous spittle, confirmed his enthusiasm. With some difficulty because of the large fangs, he said groveling, 'I apologize for questioning you, my goddess. You have blessed us with your power. The men will fight to the death.'

'Good. I would expect nothing less.'

'When does the battle begin?' he asked.

'Tomorrow at dawn.'

Chapter 35

Sela tossed and turned. She was sure the baby wasn't too happy as she shifted position for the umpteenth time. Sela looked over at Heckel lying next to her and was astonished to hear him snoring gently. It's the eve before an epic battle to save mankind and he's dead to the world. Oops, bad choice of words.

'Heckel, you awake?'

Nothing.

'Heckel?' she asked a little louder, touching him softly on the shoulder.

Still nothing. This man could sleep through the end of the world. Damn, stop with the doomsday references. Sheesh, she said admonishing herself.

'Heckel, you aw-'

'I am now,' he said, stirring ever so slowly. 'Are you all right?'

'Yes. I just need to talk to you.'

He rolled over, facing her. Sela placed a kiss tenderly on his mouth. His scent washed over her and it lifted her spirits.

'That was pleasant. You can wake me anytime to do that,' he said with a smile.

No words came to Sela. She inched her body closer to him and put her arm around his chest.

'Can't sleep?' he asked, followed by a huge yawn.

'No. I keep thinking-'

'Stop thinking, relax, and you'll fall back asleep.'

'Not that simple. Aren't you the least bit troubled by what's going to happen tomorrow?'

Silence.

Sela waited for a response.

After another large stretch and yawn, he hugged her and assured her that all was well.

'Heckel Casey, I simply don't believe that you aren't the least bit…um…scared. Talk to me. This could be our last night together.'

'Bullpucky! Not gonna happen.'

She looked at him with a penetrating stare that begged him to open up.

'Sela, that's just not an option. This is not going to be our last night together. I refuse to let that thought even enter my head.'

'You mean to say you have no doubts or fears.'