Page 99 of Babalon

If only the fucker would respond.

What do you do if the one that is supposed to guide you, protect you, and lead you down the right path, is nowhere to be found?

I feel like I did when I was just a boy, stuck in my room with my mother’s dying body. She may have not passed away in front of me but she was dying years before she took her last breath,and I witnessed it all. My first run in with death. It will change your soul; this I promise you.

Hearing William enter the room, I can sense him coming to a slow as he approaches the altar. Seeing me here kneeling before Jesus. Opening my eyes, I can see the vibrancy of blood dripping from the Son’s tender skin where the nails and the crown have penetrated.

He is magnificent, albeit weak.

“What is it, William?” I snap, getting annoyed with his supervision.

“I wasn’t expecting you today, then to walk in and seeing you kneeling at the altar caught me off guard. Are you alright, Lucien?”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“I said I’m fine!” I yell, body tensing under the frustration that radiates through me.

“Alright, alright. I’m here if you need support.”

Before I can snap at him again, I hear the soft sound of his shoes moving across the carpet as he walks away, followed by the audible click of his office door.

Do you know what would make you feel better?One of the voices asks.

“Be quiet, I don’t want to hear from you today.”

Too bad, we are here anyway.Said another.

“No one asked you either.”

You should spill more blood, that wasn’t enough the other day. You need more, you know that.

“I said, SHUT UP!”

They are right but I don’t want their opinions. I have enough opinions coming from all directions.

“Lucien?”

“Jesus fucking Christ, can’t I get a moment of peace!”

Shoving up from the floor, I turn and glare at whoever is calling for me. At the door stood One and Two—unsure which one of them spoke since both the goons were usually mute.

“Nate is calling for you,” Two answers.

“I’m not a dog; he doesn’t call for me.”

“We’re sorry, he insists though,” chimes One.

Tilting my head left then right, each one resulting in a crack of my neck and spine, I walk over to the men. Stopping before them, I let my eyes rake over them both, from head to toe and back up.

“You disgust me.”

“Sorry, Sir,” One replies.

The lowest lifeforms on this God forsaken planet—those who hate for no reason, I’ll give them one and it will have nothing to do with my skin color. A smirk pulls at the corners of my mouth as I direct for Two to walk ahead of me, hands tucked into the front of my jumper. They exchange glances with each other then conceded, heading out of the prayer room to lead me to Nathan.

The irony makes me laugh.

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