Page 3 of Be My Salvation

Her breath hitches with my admission, as shock crosses her delicate face. I can read the uncertainty in her expression; my little girl has work to do to hide her thoughts from others. As the Unholy Ghost, she can’t ever risk showing her weakness. I will have to ensure that she’s incorruptible, or her emotions will be her downfall, one I can’t allow if I am to use her as my instrument of destruction. “I have always known you were theUnholy Ghost, Dinah. At first, I was concerned that you had lostyour mind, and were just a blood-thirsty psychopath. That your mother’s death triggered something in you, something filled with darkness, but then I realized how useful that could be.“ I take another step towards her. My hand rises of its own volition to touch her face, and she recoils, as if I were a poisonous entity coming to infect her. Disgust fills me with my own weakness, at this malignant need to cling to the past in any way. I am no longer Francis Camrose. That weak fucker died, at the hands of his so-called friends, and patriots. He died pitifully, screaming for mercy.

My hands fist at my sides, within the voluminous sleeves of the robes, their heavy weight reminding me of who I am now: a leader,the most powerful person on the planet, a living god.“This world needed a cleansing, and I was no longer willing to wait for it to happen. Over the years, I have been slowly weeding out the traitors within the Brotherhood, such as Noah Rothesay, who lusts for power. Those who betrayed me, and had me murdered. As theUnholy Ghost, you gave me an opportunity I could not pass up, with your need for vengeance and bloodshed. Your killings were a blessing on this cursed world, and a warning.”

Her eyes meet mine, and I impart the rest of my truths, knowing that she will either fall in line, or die here at my hands. She now knows too much, and I can’t risk her escaping with the knowledge of who the Holy Father truly is. A part of me hopes that she will willingly join my quest, but I’m not delusional enough to believe that will happen, without coercion on my part. “I allowed you to keep killing because it served my plans. You are a means to an end, daughter. An end to this world as we know it.” I have waited for years for this opportunity, for a tool that I could use to cleanse this malevolent world, and she was right under my nose the whole time.

“Were you always the Holy Father?” Her curiosity amuses me, and a chuckle escapes me. I see a little of the inquisitive child she used to be, before she witnessed what became of the women of the Brotherhood. She was never the same, after watching her mother be passed around, and gang-raped, by the most powerful men in the Order. With a small child’s mind finally grasping the realities of the world around her, and the monster I truly was, she realized that I was willingly allowing that to happen to Maria. My daughter lost any affection and respect she had for me that day, and it made me realize the world to which I was subjecting her. That one day, what was happening to Maria would be her fate, at the hands of her own husband. That was the beginning of the end, that led to my demise. “No, he really was your mother’s uncle. When I went to my death, at the hands of those who betrayed me, I had David murder him, and I took his place. A leader hidden behind a mask can be anyone, Dinah. You see, precious daughter, I really did die, and was reborn as this.”

“Rebirth is a beautiful thing, my daughter. It allows you to see and experience things you missed the first time. For instance, I realized that I hated all that I had become, and what the Brotherhood had turned me into.A monster, soulless, a deviant.I sacrificed years with your mother, a woman I had affection for, but not love. The choices I made, to hide who I truly was from the world, even before I died, haunted me. If they had known that my true love was a man, and not your mother, I would have been stripped of my titles and wealth, and both you and your brother would have been sent to the mines, as punishment for my sins. Your mother’s name protected me, as it did you. You are only alive today because of the great wealth and power her family had. It was instrumental that her uncle was the Holy Father. You are still alive because the Holy Father demanded it.”

I observe all the questions racing through her mind, displayed across her pale and delicate face, her features so much like hermother’s, that it momentarily causes my breath to slow, and the guilt I shed long ago to rise. The gears in her mind are working rapidly, despite the gas doing its job to incapacitate her. It’s wondrous how strong she is; very few are able to break free of its effects. It speaks to the strength she has within her, the one I will harness for my needs. I can see she’s wondering about David, my true love, confidant, and right-hand man. If she only understood how much he means to me, would she place a blade into his heart? Her eyes wander around the room with subtle, quick glances. She thinks she’s being discreet, searching for the gun on the floor, but I know if she were to get her hands on it, she wouldn’t hesitate to use it on me. “I see the question in your eyes. No, David did not actually send you here to murder me. You see, Dinah, he is mine, and has been mine since before my death. My lover, my soldier, he would do anything for me. This was a test of your loyalty toyourlovers. What lengths you would go to for them, and you passed splendidly, daughter.”

Pride soars through me, knowing that she is indeed strong, despite what the world has caused her to endure. Yet, I have plans to make her even more powerful. When I am done, she will bask in her father’s glory, and understand true greatness. “What do you want from me?” she inquires, her voice laced with frustration, and the effects of fighting against my sightless hold.

“We will get to that, but first, child, I want you to know that right now, David has Ezekiel and Abraham cornered, and at his mercy. Sammy is close to death in Noah’s clutches. If you do not agree to my terms, all of them will die. I will make sure of it, but not before forcing you to watch them all take their last breaths.” Does she understand that she has no power against me? She cannot win a war against a god. I see the moment clarity hits her, and her shoulders droop with the weight of acceptance. “What do you want me to do?”

“You willkillthe Holy Father, and take his place as supreme leader. You will be the new face of a revolution, controlling both the rebels, and the Brotherhood, but I will be the true power behind the throne.“ I’ve got you now, my lovely daughter. This world will come to its knees and beg me for salvation; I will be a true living god amongst mortal men. “I will be a puppet while you pull the strings.” Her anger is palpable, and I know she is winning against the fading effects of the gas. Soon, she will be able to attack me if she chooses. I’m counting on her love for those three fools to keep her in line. I could be fatally wrong in my assessment of her emotions for them, but it’s a chance I have to take. Nothing is ever won unless something is risked. Sacrifice leads to salvation, and I am here to lead the flock to a new world. My world, one of my making and control. I turn away from her, giving her my back, and showing I fear nothing.

My senses tell me that she’s picked up the gun and, at this very moment, has it pointed at me, yet I feel no fear. If I have to die again, at least this time, it will be at the hands of someone I once loved and betrayed, rather than those who turned Judas against me. She would be justified in killing me and wiping the board clean, but like any good chess player, I am betting my very life that she doesn’t make that move. “You will be what you were always meant to be, Dinah,my weapon. Pull the trigger, daughter, and let’s see if your men survive another minute on this earth, and if you can live without them.”

A smile lights my face as I stare into the glass and out into the world I hold in my tight grip. A blast sounds in the room, before a burning pain lances through my shoulder. I was wrong; my daughter chose death for the men she loves. It seems that her need for vengeance against me is more potent than her love for those three miscreants. With shock and disappointment, I stumble back towards her as I clutch my shoulder, and feel theblood rapidly coating the inside of my robes, while pain radiates from the area.

Caleb steps out from the shadows, ready and willing to do my bidding, and slams his fist into the back of her head. Her body begins to collapse forward with the impact, as her knees give out on her, and her eyes roll into the back of her head. “Kill all three of them. She will have to learn the consequences of her sins, and live without them.”

What a shame.I thought we could do this the easy way, but it seems my daughter will need to learn to obey her father, and God, after all. Nothing, not even my misguided sentiments for her, will stop me from getting what I want.

Chapter four

The Sinner

Dinah

Iwake with a sharp pain at the back of my skull, that makes it feel like it’s being split in half with an ax. “Ah, fuck!” I groan as I try to pry my heavy eyelids open. The minute I’m able to open them more than a crack, I regret it immediately. All of the blinding bright light in the room just causes me further pain, and I try to bring my hands up towards my eyes to ward it off, only to realize that something has me immobile. Panic races through me, my breathing ratcheting up and becoming labored, as I attempt to raise all of my limbs, only to feel the same confining sensation.No, no, no, this can’t be happening.I force my eyes to open and focus on my surroundings.

My head spins as I try to lift it off the hard surface on which I’m lying. I’m greeted by an ornate painted ceiling, with depictions of cherub angels with swords, fighting dark, menacing demons with horns and breathing fire.What the everloving fuck?The last moments before everything went dark return to me in a flash, racing through my mind without warning or hesitation.Shit, the Holy Father is my psychotic father playing at being God.I did not see that shit coming, and he’s known all along that I’m the Unholy Ghost. He wants me to help with whatever his unhinged plan to take over the world is. The question is, why does he even need me? He’s the most powerful man on the planet. He could order the death of millions with one word; who would oppose him?

Abe, Zeke, and Sammy!He’d threatened their lives if I didn’t agree to his nefarious plans, and I pulled the trigger anyway. At that moment, a part of me hesitated; I saw the man I used to love, my father, before I realized that he was a monster. I should have aimed at his head, but instead, I chose to injure him.Why did I waver at the last second?What the hell is wrong with me? Are Abe and Zeke already dead?Why would my father bother to keep me alive if they are? There is nothing that will force me to do his bidding if they’re gone. A noise to the side catches my attention in the furthest part of the room, and I watch as a sizable shadowed lump on the ground moves from the corner of my eye.What the fuck is that?Is it an animal that’s chained up in here with me? It looks the size of a damn bear, and is covered in so much blood and dirt. “UGH,” the mound growls, and hysterical fear courses through my bones. Holy shit, that thing is going to tear into me if it’s not chained down, and I won’t be able to defend myself.

“Fucking assholes!” I scream, as I flail desperately on the surface, and attempt to loosen the bonds that are holding me captive and defenseless. “D... in... ah,” the sound is growled, and it takes me a moment to realize that it’s a human voice uttering my name. The sound of a chain rattling, accompanied by another low growl, fills the air. “Ze... ke,” it calls out, and my heart skips a beat. “Abe?!” I shout, while I attempt to force my head at an angle to get a better look. The shape moves again, and a patch of skin not covered in blood shifts in my direction.

“Abe! Oh my God, is that you?!” I scream. He rouses more, but his limp head hangs low, his matted and dark hair preventing me from seeing his features. What the hell have they done to him? “Abe, look at me, please! Talk to me!”

The sound of a door opening, somewhere outside of my peripheral vision, catches my attention and has my next scream lodging in my throat. Footsteps greet me as they move closer towhere I am, and then I’m squinting up at the face of a liar and betrayer. His chestnut eyes gleam as they stare down at me, and a smirk lifts the corner of his full lips. “Sleeping beauty is finally awake, I see.” I bare and snap my teeth at him, like a feral wolf who would love nothing more than to rip out his throat.

“Release me, cunt! What have you done to Abe, and where is Zeke?” My voice croaks as I make my demands, and continue to strain against what I can see now are thick ropes, holding me prisoner. His cold fingers trail down my face and slide around my neck, forcing me to swallow past the lump of fear that threatens to choke me. “Such a pretty little demon. I wonder if I slit your skin open, would the devil inside of you escape?” His fingers tighten around my neck, as his face gets closer and closer, until I can see the bright specks of amber in his eyes. “I hate everything about you, Dinah Camrose. I waited years of my life to have him, andyoukept a huge part of his heart for yourself,“ he spits out, with disgust evident on his features. “I never worried about him loving your mother. She was never a threat, just a pretty object to use to gain power, but you and your brother, that was always a different story. You became chains around his heart, the heart that belongs to me.”

I can’t breathe, this fucker is going to strangle me to death here while I lie defenseless, and Abe is an unrecognizable mass of blood and flesh. He squeezes again, tightening until my vision begins to dim considerably, and my heart beats frantically in my chest. All of my limbs strain and tighten, as my body is deprived of the oxygen it needs to survive. He suddenly releases his grip and slaps my face hard; the impact is loud in the nearly silent room, and makes my ears ring. I force air inside of my lungs with a harsh gasp, as I try my best to keep my heart from being trapped in my throat with dread. “Unfortunately, for the moment, I can’t end your life. Despite you injuring your father, he still wants you alive, but if I have my way, little whore, it won’tbe for long.” Fuck, the bastard didn’t bleed out from my shot. I should have tried harder to kill my father. That’s not great news.

He walks away from me and heads toward where Abe is not moving. “This psychotic piece of shit, however, is another matter. I’ve been given free rein to play with your men, Dinah.” He leans down, and I watch with horror, out of the corner of my eye, as he grips Abe’s hair and forces his head upwards. “See, Dinah, I think this way I actually hurt you more.” Abe releases a small whimper before falling silent once again. I get my first glimpse of the damage done, and a sob escapes me. Abe’s been beaten so severely that there isn’t an inch of his face that’s not swollen, and black and blue. There’s dark blood encrusted on the outside of his nose, and the corner of his eye. His mouth is a mess of busted-up flesh. The rest of him that I can glimpse doesn’t look to have fared much better. He’s closer to death than alive. Pain lances through my chest, and steals what little breath I have. I did that; I caused them to hurt him by shooting my father, instead of going along with whatever he wanted, and I didn’t even manage to end his traitorous life. I could have played along and waited for a better moment to kill the bastard, but instead, I acted irrationally out of anger, tried to injure him, and looked at where it had gotten us, fucking prisoners of two psychopaths. “We’ve had some fun, haven’t we, Abraham?” David chuckles, and a small moan escapes Abe.

“Leave him alone. It’s me you want, you betrayer!” My vision blurs as my head spins, but I force myself to keep staring menacingly at David. I promise myself at this moment that this asshole will die with a blade lodged in his throat, while I watch the light fade from his miserable eyes. “What have you done to Zeke? Where is my cunt of a father?” I notice David’s reaction to my questioning about where my father is. It’s like a monster slips over his charming facade, and his face changes from handsome to terrifying. This is the real him, not the persona heuses within the Brotherhood. This is the madman who has gone along with my father’s plans, to resurrect him from the dead, and take over the Brotherhood. This man is not any more sane than my father is, and now we are at their mercy, because I choose to disregard all the warning bells that blared around us. Everything I did in an attempt to save Sammy has backfired, and he might already be dead.No, I refuse to believe that. My heart would know if he had taken his last breath on this earth.

“Zeke is alive at my discretion. As for your father...” He walks over to me and fists my hair tightly, ripping out strands. “He is currently dealing with matters within the Brotherhood. Oh, and Dinah, I understand from my sources Sammy’s not doing so well, and he might not make it to see the sunrise. What a pity you chose violence… it seems you will lose all that you love.”

“Please...” The word tastes vile in my mouth, but I have nothing left to fight with. I can’t lose all of them. I can’t go to my own death knowing I was the instrument of theirs. David releases my hair and meets my glare, as pitiful tears trail from the corner of my eyes and into my hairline. “You don’t fool me, Dinah. Your tears are not real. You’re empty inside, except for rage. If I released you, you wouldn’t hesitate to murder me. I don’t truly blame you. What this world did to its women was enough to drive anyone to madness, and while I can understand and sympathize with your wrath, I can’t allow you to harm the man I love.” He walks away from me without a backward glance, and I hear the door open and close. I’m left here with only the soft sound of Abe’s strained breathing, and my heart condemning me for causing all their deaths. What has my need for vengeance on the Brotherhood really accomplished? My brother and mother are gone, and I don’t know if my nephew is genuinely safe, or if David has him as a prisoner. Abe is lying broken on the ground, and out of my reach. I don’t know whereZeke is, or what condition he’s in. Sammy is still suffering in Noah’s clutches, and might be dead by morning.

I failed at everything I tried to accomplish. I murdered so many men and stained my soul black with their blood, and yet it was never enough to bring about real change. I freed no one from this oppressive and abusive world, and only led those I love into further harm. The Unholy Ghost became a pawn in evil men’s schemes. The only thing I know for sure is, if all of them die, and I am forced to remain breathing, I will never stop attempting to set this world on fire. I’ll make hell look like a playground filled with enjoyment when I’m done.

Dinah Camrose will die, but the Unholy Ghost will turn into something even more fearsome and nefarious. I will be a walking plague on this world, and I won’t stop until it’s all ashes.

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