Chronicles of the

Children of Destiny

The Ketravim Lucy

“Lucy Bridges”

by

Daniel Thomas Andrew Daly

© 2009

www.noahidebooks.com

Chapter One

(2010 AD)

‘Come on babe. You know you want to.’

‘Fuck you.’

‘That’s the problem – you won’t.’ Tommy Anderson turned away from his girlfriend who he had been consistently chatting up for weeks trying to persuade her to part with her virginity, but she wasn’t caving. But fuckit – he would try again anyway.

‘Your only doing what your mother want’s you to do.’ Tommy felt this tactic might work. Lucy Bridges looked at him, as if considering that statement seriously.

‘You know, Tom. I don’t think my mum really gives the slightest fuck wether I am a virgin or not. I think she just wants my money.’

‘Your money. Why the heck would she want that? And what money? You’re still in school.’

‘Not anymore. I turned 18 last week and dropped out.’

‘Shit. Why didn’t you tell me babe.’

‘None of your business.’

‘Oh, thanks. I thought you were my girlfriend.’

‘In your dreams,’ she said pushing him away. ‘Anyway, I applied for social security and am now looking for work. I have asked them about London and wether living there will affect my allowance, but they say I probably have better prospects there if I can get a place to stay.’

‘You’re leaving me? And I was just getting to know you,’ he said sarcastically.

‘You’ll survive,’ she said smiling at him.

‘Shit, seriously Lucy. If you were planning on ditching town and heading for London you should have told me. I mean, I could come too. Hang out with you.’

‘No, I don’t think so Tommy. I don’t think so. You’re doing really well in school and you can make something of it here. I don’t want to tear you away from that.’

‘Thanks heaps,’ he replied, again sarcastically but with a hint of sadness.

‘But I will give you something to remember me by.’

Tommy’s eyes lit up. ‘Oh yeah’, he thought to himself. He was going to strike it lucky after all.

* * * * *

Tracking down from North-East Wales, just near the English border, Lucy was hitch-hiking to Crossden were the Samaritan hostel she had been told about was located. It was really cheap accommodation and apparently very friendly and considering the current state of the economy, which was still in technical recession, despite a great improvement over the last few months, she felt she probably wouldn’t find any work too quickly, so needed an affordable place to stay.

Having a drink from a café in Beltingham, she struck up a conversation with an elderly gentleman who promised her he would give her a lift south to Crossden if she wanted it. At first she was reluctant, as the old geezer could be a paedophile pervert or worse, but she decided she’d had enough of walking and to give it a go. Fortunately he was just a lonely old man who liked the company he got from giving strangers a lift. They chatted the whole way and, coming to the hostel, he bid her luck with life and said he would have a quiet word in prayer for her, to which she thanked him.

Lucy Bridges was not really a religious person. In fact, she had been to church only a handful of times in her life, and her mother patently hated the place. But her dad, before he died, had taken her a couple of times in her early years, and said God loved her. So she sort of believed in a higher power but had never really given it much more thought than that.

She looked at the black sign with pale green lettering. ‘The Samaritans’. This seemed to obviously be the place, so she climbed the steps opened the door and went inside.

Coming inside she looked around the place. In front of her was a receptionist desk, currently vacant, and stairs behind that leading upstairs. To the right was a waiting area with a closed off section with a door. On her left was what looked like a common area with some tables and chairs further back were, presumably, people ate. And the kitchen seemed to be out the back. She decided not to sticky beak, and so sat down in the common area, taking one of the magazines. Noticing the television she turned it on and began watching a re-run of Eastenders. Someone would show up eventually, she thought to herself.

About 10 minutes later, and sipping on a cola, a voice hailed her. ‘Yes, hello luv. Can I help you?’

Lucy turned to see an elderly lady who seemed to be the receptionist.

‘Uh, yeh. My names Lucy. I was kind of looking for a place to stay and was wondering if you have accommodation. I have been told this place has cheap accommodation, affordable for people on social security.’

The lady waved her over to the desk, and Lucy came to join her.

‘You should have no problems in affording our rates, Lucy. We particularly cater for people who are having a hard time of it for various reasons. Currently we have Rufus McFadden staying with us. He is an elderly gentleman who has been with us over 2 years now. He is a darling, and you will find him quite charming. But watch out if you smoke, as he will borrow whatever he can from you.’

‘That’s ok, I don’t smoke.’

‘Good to hear. My name is Annabelle by the way. Now, we have a sliding scale on costs for staying, depending on circumstances. As you seem to be a standard social security recipient, the cost will be £105 per fortnight. This pays for both your accommodation, basic breakfast and a reasonable meal each day at dinner time. If you are on the jobseeker pension rate you should have £200 exactly left over each fortnight. Is that the case with you? If you are on only the regular allowance we can make a further discount.’

‘No, I am looking for work. Yes that is my allowance. Shit, uh sorry, I mean whoa. That should leave me plenty of cash.’

‘Be wise with it Lucy.’

‘Uh, yeah right. How can you guys afford all of this?’

‘Oh, we are not for profit and have managed to gain a government grant to assist us as well. We are here to help people find their way back into life. That is part of the Samaritan creed.’

‘Cool.’

After filling in a registration card and giving Annabelle her bank details for automatic processing, Annabelle showed Lucy up to her room, no 25.

‘Whatever else happens while you are here in Crossden, I do hope you enjoy your time with us,’ were Annabelle’s last words, leaving Lucy sitting on her bed looking at the picture on the wall.

‘Well, this is home I guess. I suppose I should get used to it.

She pulled out her handheld Nintendo and started playing, looking around the room occasionally, and humming a pretty melody

Chapter Two

(2010 AD)

Lucy was in the social security office of Crossden, informing them of her move from her prior home now to Crossden citing family difficulties as the main reason. Her allowance wasn’t affected, fortunately, and the worker dealing with her, who had a nametag of ‘Rachel’ was very helpful.

‘So you are staying at the Samaritans. Do you have enough for your first fortnight’s payment? We can help you out if there are problems.’

‘No, I am ok now,’ responded Lucy. ‘It is mainly that I will be living in Crossden for about a year to save up to get myself to London and find a place there. I want to be an actress.’

‘Highly admirable of you, Lucy. Ok,’ she said, making some final taps into her keyboard. ‘That clears up everything. Remember to come in each fortnight to hand in your jobseeker forms. We need proof you are looking for work for the extra entitlements.’

‘Will do. Is that all?’

‘Yes, that is it. And good luck with your search for work.’

‘Thanks,’ said Lucy, and made her way out of the building.

Looking across the street she spied a café. She still had quite a bit in her bank account so decided for some lunch.

Sitting there, munching on chips and cola, with a burger she hadn’t yet touched, Lucy gave thought to her situation. She had left her mother in a dramatic fashion, storming out the house, but she already had a backpack with her stuff out in the driveway. She had planned it. That morning she had sent her mother a letter and decided that should explain everything. She was over 18 now and could do what she liked with her life. It was up to her.

She had never been to Crossden before, but it seemed like any other town in North Wales, her homeland. She actually came from a border town with England, which had some of the town over the border these days. But they had lived in the welsh half and she identified primarily as a Welsh girl, though the family was English in descent.

Naturally, after the big initial adventure in leaving home she found herself lonely and suspected that may become a reality for some time. Perhaps she should try and make some friends. She had even thought about trying to get into the high-school here, now that she was away from her mother, but thought better of it. It would probably stuff up her allowance.

Crossden was a reasonable sized town, population of 18,000, almost a city in that sense. It would have most of the things she needed to take care of herself, and the Samaritans Hostel was so cheap she felt she may stay even longer than the year she now had planned on staying. Perhaps it could be home for a few years. Who knows?

Finishing up her meal, she trod down the road to the Samaritans, which was near the social security office as well as the café.

Coming inside she noted nobody around so headed upstairs. Sitting on her bed she looked around the room. Pretty much bare, apart from her few meagre possessions. On the small bookcase was a solitary book. She decided to pick it up. Looking at the cover it read ‘The Holy Torah’. She wondered to herself what ‘The Holy Torah’ actually was, but glancing through it quickly it seemed to be a bible of sorts. She recognized some of the titles, ‘Genesis and Exodus, but wondered where Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were, as the book only had 5 sections to it. Perhaps someone had left it here, she thought to herself.

Opening up at Genesis she began reading, and the afternoon gradually disappeared as she worked through the book of Genesis.

* * * * *

‘So what did you do Rufus?’

‘Very little Lucy. Very little. I have been on social security disability payments for years. Terrible schizophrenia. I am medicated, mind you. But work is impractical. When my parents passed on I received a small inheritance, but I blew it on cigarettes and grog within a year. So now I live here, living out my days. There are some good ones and some bad ones, but overall life is ok.’

‘That’s good,’ replied Lucy, taking an interest in the life of her fellow hostel patron, the elderly Rufus McFadden.

The two of them were seated at the dinner table at about 5 to 6, dinner being at 6 pm. Annabelle prepared their meals and it was usually edible enough if not being fantastic. But at the price Lucy couldn’t really complain.

‘Do you have a cigarette Lucy? I’ll buy some more in two days when my payment comes through, and I can give you some back then. Ok.’

Lucy smiled, prepared for this. ‘Look, I don’t smoke. But I bought you a pack because Annabelle told me you smoked like a chimney.’

Reaching into her handbag she retrieved a packet of cigarettes and a lighter.

‘Oh, you are a wonderful human being,’ said Rufus, taking the cigarettes and immediately lighting up.

Puffing on them he spoke up. ‘I know they say you shouldn’t smoke, but really I recommend it to soothe the nerves and to pass the time. Really, I couldn’t live without them.’

‘No thanks, Rufus. My dad died of Lung cancer because he smoked. I mean, don’t worry about it, but they are not for me.’

‘Oh, sorry to hear that. Your father I mean. How old were you when you lost him.’

‘Ten. It has been 8 years now, but I still miss him and think of him at night. Sometimes I feel like he is right by me, you know, like an angel. But maybe that is my overactive imagination.’

‘No, he is an angel in heaven watching over you. We all are when we die, Lucy. We all become angels.’

‘I guess,’ replied the teen.

‘Has Annabelle told you about the Samaritans yet?’

‘What do you mean? It is just a hostel isn’t it?’

‘By no means. They are a religious organization. Actually, they are the Samaritans like the Good Samaritan in Christ’s parable. The same people. Apparently their own messiah has now arrived and they are trying to save the world. I wish them luck.’

‘Their own Messiah? Who is he then?’

‘The Taheb, they call him. Adam something or other. He lives in Israel. He is the head of the Samaritans and runs things for them internationally.’

‘And why is he their Messiah?’

‘You would have to ask them that, Lucy.’

‘Maybe I will.’

Just then, coming into the room, Annabelle wheeled up a trolley and placed on the table in front of them a basket of buttered bread rolls and then their plates of hot dinner, tonight Bangers and Mash with peas.

‘As you know you can have a free can of soda from the fridge, but only one mind you. It costs after that.’

‘Sure thing, Annabelle,’ said Lucy, starting on her dinner.

‘I will be staying here tonight with you two, ok, instead of going home. There is usually a place here to stay for me and I don’t really think I will find another man again at my age, so the hostel may as well be my home as well. I have talked to the board and they don’t mind.’

‘So we will see you more often?’ asked Lucy.

‘Most likely. Anyway, tuck in while it’s hot.

The three of them started on their meal, chatting occasionally, while the radio hummed its merry tunes and life passed on by in the real world.

Chapter Three

(2010-2015 AD)

‘Simon Kennedy, huh. So how long do you plan on staying here at the Samaritans,’ asked Lucy, to the Samaritans first new guest in over 4 months. ‘Oh, just a week. Just sightseeing through Wales before I return to Ireland. It reminds me of home in many ways does Wales. I am glad to have made the trip.’

Lucy chatted with Simon for the next few hours that day and, later on, when he had been flirting with her mildly, she asked him if he wanted to see her room. She liked him – he was cute – and she was becoming more interested in the sexual thing now that she had finally lost her virginity to Tommy.

Sitting on the end of her bed they soon started pashing and when she got up and locked the door both of them knew what was coming next.

* * * * *

In the morning she lay next to him while he was snoring softly. He was 21, Catholic and devout. But not to devout, so he maintained, to not enjoy the feminine pleasures in life if and when available. Such a catholic, she thought to herself.

When he rose around 7 he kissed her and they made love again, but at breakfast he declared to her that he would now be leaving town. ‘Its nothing personal, lass, but I am anxious to get home. I work with my dad and he rang me last night saying he needs me back now, so I have got to go, ok. But give me your number and I will ring you some time. We can catch up.’

Lucy did give Simon her cell phone number, but over the next two months he never called once, so she gave up on him. Most of the time she was concentrating on her bank account, and being careful with the money she spent, occasionally sharing a cigarette with Rufus, having taken it up just a little bit, but not seriously. Life continued on and she suspected, given how she had found prices for shared accommodation in London quite expensive, that she perhaps would need to save for more than just a year, perhaps 2 or 3 to give her the necessary start. But in time she would achieve her goal.

After 6 months it was just herself and Rufus at the Hostel when one afternoon a couple of backpackers booked themselves in. She chatted and flirted with the guy that night, but nothing came of it. And then, the following day, a new guy. Single, mid 30s and very cute. A guy named ‘Callodyn Bradlock’, who introduced himself at dinner. And he was so cute and she so randy that she tried it on again. And this time she was oh so very lucky.

* * * * *

In the morning, after Callodyn had told her he couldn’t see her again sexually, Lucy felt passion and motivation in her spirit. Suddenly it was as if she had a focus, a purpose, a point to life and that living it to the best of her ability was all that it was meant to be about. And with that motivation she entered the certificate in Office Skills course at the Crossden Tertiary Institute to further her life. ‘Time to get serious’ was all that Lucy could think as she flew through the course, graduating top of her class.

And then, applying for the job at the social security office, she had a dream interview with Rachel, who had married Callodyn Bradlock recently, and began working for Social Security. She found out from Rachel that Callodyn had gone missing and she did not know were he was. Callodyn had been at the Samaritans up until his wedding with Rachel, after which they had stayed at Rachel’s flat. Lucy had chatted with him occasionally, slowly getting to know him in their time at the Samaritans, but he had been quite quiet, usually sticking to his own routine. After their initial encounter she had not really gotten much more out of him in any friendship, but she found herself strongly emphasizing with Rachel anyway as she did know Callodyn personally.

And then one day Callodyn was back, hugging Rachel in their office, and Lucy smiled seeing the two of them together, silently wishing it was her and not Rachel who was in his arms. But, really, that was the fascination of simply being with someone.

Rachel gradually opened up to Lucy about her life with Callodyn, and she said mysteriously that he really was a devil, which Lucy laughed at.

After four years of working in Crossden, Lucy had saved enough and felt she was ready for a challenge. Work opportunities were now really good and if she moved to London she was sure she could get work very quickly, especially with her good references and skills and experience. Putting in a transfer with Social Security she was granted a place in a central London office after 6 months and, farewelling Rachel and sending a letter to her mum, she set sail for the big city.

Chapter Four

(2015 AD)

‘And this, Lucy, is my adopted son, Alexander Darvanius II. He is a very intelligent and cunning 15 year old, so be very cautious with him.’ Lucy, who had just gained work as Alexander Darvanius own private secretary, which was a great promotion given the status of the great ecumenical leader, looked at the fine young man before her, dressed in black, with incredibly alluring and deep eyes.

‘A pleasure to meet you, master Alexander,’ said Lucy, holding out her hand to young Alexander.

‘The pleasure is all mine,’ replied Alexander, taking her hand and shaking it promptly.

She felt a shiver run down her spine just then, but it passed momentarily.

‘Well, Alexander. Off too your studies. And don’t let me catch you playing on those console games again. You know how I think they are a waste of time.’

‘Very well father,’ replied Alexander Junior. He waved a little wave to Lucy, and departed.

‘He is very, uh, intense,’ stated Lucy to Alexander Darvanius senior.

‘Yes, he often has that affect on people. Just something about him, I suppose.

‘Yes, definitely.’

* * * * *

Callodyn Bradlock, the angel Samael from the realm of Infinity, sat contemplating the recent past. He had been faithful to his wife Rachel for many years now, taking inspiration from a father figure in a sense, one from whom he had taken his ‘Bradlock’ surname. He had met John Bradlock in Hull, were the man lived with his solitary child Callodyn, from whom Samael had taken his own name. John Bradlock reflected to Callodyn, after having met him in a pub in Hull and striking up a conversation, about the perils of infidelity. You see John was quite a carnal man and, although he would deny it before the courts, he’d shared with Callodyn that he was likely the father of up to a dozen children outside of marriage. In fact he related how, in a recent trip to Nebraska in the USA he had gotten a certain lady pregnant who, so she informed him, went on to have the child which had a particular haunting birthmark, and who she had given up to the local catholic priesthood to raise. He kept in touch with the woman now, and slowly a romance had rekindled between them and, apparently, he was set to visit her in Nebraska some time. But, never the less, so John informed him, you played with fire when you messed around, especially with married women, who John had committed adultery with too many times.

He thought back on his encounter with Lucy Bridges and how he’d casually had sex with her, without really thinking upon any consequence. Fortunately, by the grace of God, the only thing he had to deal with afterwards was a load of guilt. But guilt had its purpose to Samael as well.

And while he had been faithful to Rachel for a number of years now, he was now in the position were he was about to commit adultery. He had met Keri-Anne Noble. And having met her he knew, with his spiritual insight after a while, she was angelic. But strangely she didn’t seem to be an angel of Infinity – it was as if she was from a different realm, a different realm entirely. But that idea had been formulating in Samael for some time. With the ancient rabbinic legends of angels he knew not and of angelic stories that seemed true, but not recalled from his memory, Samael had concluded that in the beginning God had created more than just one particular realm of angels. And Keri was quite possibly an angel from one of these realms.

Samael lived in New Zealand now, were the family had been living for the past few years. The spirit had lead them to New Zealand, apparently, to keep them out of the reach of the Darvanius family who would influence their destiny in a way undesired of by God. Every night the Holy Spirit sent him dreams speaking of his destiny. He saw dreams in which he was the member of a large holy army – but almost as if he was an angel in disguise, set amongst this holy army for one ancient, dread, particular purpose. A purpose hidden from the ages.

But now the family was being pursued by a certain ‘Brax’ who associated with the Darvanius family, one of their henchmen. Callodyn saw Brax down at the local pub often and Brax always stared at him. When Callodyn had gotten the courage to ask why he was always watching him, Brax had told him quite frankly that the Darvanius family wanted to ensure the safety of the Bradlock family, as they were family in a sense, which confused Callodyn a lot. So Callodyn was wary of Brax, as the man was built like a sledgehammer, but tried not to worry his family with the situation.

They, as a family, had been considering moving to Canberra in Australia recently, as that seemed to be were the Holy Spirit was guiding them, but not right away. Callodyn was infatuated with Keri and wanted to know her more first. And know her in the most intimate of ways is what he truly desired, despite thinking, with all his experience, that he should really know better.

* * * * *

‘Go on. I DARE you.’

‘No, Alex. Not on your life.’

‘Hey, what is life without a bit of adventure?’

And so, Lucy, despite thinking she should really know better, got up on the photocopier, pulled down her knickers, and photocopied her ass with all her femininity showing, so as to impress the young Alexander Darvanius II.

Alexander looked at the copy. ‘Mmm. Very nice.’

‘You are disgusting,’ responded Lucy.

‘No. Only male. You know, with this,’ he said, taunting her. ‘With this, I think I am entitled to something special. That is, if you don’t want me to show this to every Tom, Dick and Harry.’

Lucy just shook her head. ‘You are anything if not predictable master Darvanius. What do you want then?’ He looked at her and went and closed the copier room and locked it. He was only 15 but he knew what he wanted. She got the idea straight away and got down on her knees. She had done this before, of course, so was not in uncharted territory. And while Alexander was young, he was incredibly cute.

Later on, when they had put their clothes back on, Lucy was smoking her cigarette. ‘You really are a devil, Alexander Darvanius, aren’t you?’

‘Tell me about it,’ he responded.

Chapter Five

Lucy looked, a little scared, at the rather large Tiger as it pranced around its enclosure. Today she and Alexander were at the Zoo, of all places, examining the fierce creatures which seemed to fascinate Alex so much.

‘Careful, it will bite,’ chided Alexander sarcastically.

‘Very funny Alex,’ said Lucy, pulling away from the caged enclosure. ‘And it probably would.’

‘Only if it was hungry. You know, Tiger’s are very fierce in their mating rituals. The males often bite the necks of the females to tame them when they are mating.’

‘Oh, how wonderful,’ replied Lucy.

‘Perhaps I should try some of their moves on you.’

‘Just who the hell do you think you are, Alexander Darvanius. God or something.’

‘Close. But, you know.’

‘I sure as hell do,’ she responded.

Alexander looked over at a nearby zoo café and asked Lucy if she would like an ice-cream, which Lucy assented to. As they sat eating their cones, Brax over near the entrance of the café watching carefully people who entered and left, Alexander spoke up.

‘You know, miss Bridges. I have amazing power at my disposal. Really, quite amazing power.’

‘And what do you intend to do with that power?’ asked Lucy, licking on her cone.

‘Why, rule the world, of course. What else.’

Lucy looked at him with a mocking look of amusement on her face, thrust her hands forward to grab both his arms, and asked, ‘And just how are you going to do that, dear Alexander.’

Alex pulled back, looked over at Brax and returned his gaze to her. ‘Easily, in the end. People are simple, Lucy. Ultimately, people are very simple.’

She continued licking her cone, looking at him. ‘And what is that supposed to mean?’

‘People like to feel safe. That is why they place so much faith in their politicians. As if those cronies can solve all of their problems.’

‘True,’ she responded.

‘Ultimately, in my plans, I will rule all politicians. Supreme above them all.’

Lucy nodded. She had heard this from Alexander before.

‘What, are you the head of the Illuminati or something?’

Alexander grinned, responding, ‘Something like that. The Rothchild’s have left the club recently, but we should manage without them. All things will go as planned.’

‘You hope.’

‘Hope has nothing to do with it Miss Bridges. Power is what rules the world. Money and power. It always has been and it always will be. Take my word at that.’

‘Well Jesus did not have money or power, and look how popular he became.’

Alexander stared at her, not really liking the mentioning of that name, despite his adopted fathers passion for the Christ.

‘Jesus did things his way. And, yes, he did have success. But do people really give a damn these days what the church says? Nay, I think not. He is a figurehead, nothing more. No real power or influence on peoples everyday decisions. They worry about their job, their children, their mortgage. Getting food on the table. And for this they look to the government and not a fading ecclesia. No, Jesus has had his day, Lucy. People are looking for more now, believe me on that.’

‘If you say so,’ she responded, continuing to eat her ice cream cone. ‘But if you really do want to rule the world, do listen to some of your father’s advice. Being in the hearts of men, as some would put it, does go a long way to achieving success.’

Alexander looked at her, the statement sounding strangely familiar. ‘I will think that over, dear Miss Bridges. I will think that over.’

They continued their cones and finally finished their tour of the zoo. Yet, driving home, when Alexander was normally full of conversation, he was strangely quiet. Lucy sat in the limo, staring at him as Brax drove them home, but did not want to bother him. He seemed deep in thought, as if something she had said had spoken to him. Or perhaps he was just being Alexander Darvanius II – deep and mysterious as ever.

* * * * *

Brax had been nowhere in sight for the last few weeks, which had caused Callodyn to breathe a little easier and now, holed up in a hotel room with his mistress Keri, Callodyn was thinking over the illicit affair he had gotten himself into. He had been attracted instantly, and the angelic aura which surrounded her only beckoned him on to discover, if he could, the divine origin of this beauty. But he had not been as careful as he probably should have been and they’d now been intimate half a dozen times.

This convicted him somewhat, sharing his fears with Keri.

‘You’re not the first, you know. I mean, before I married Rachel there was another girl, a young lady, back in Crossden. I guess I was first intimate with her before anyone else in some ways.’

‘You mean you lost your virginity to her?’

Callodyn reflected on his ancient days in Infinity and his Celestyel lovers, but managed to nod anyway. ‘I guess so, Keri. I guess so.’

‘What was her name?’

Callodyn thought on that, now remembering the girl’s name. ‘It was Lucy. Lucy Bridges. She’d only been intimate with her first boyfriend before me, so she said, and was new to sexual intimacy.’

‘And how was she?’

‘Well, you know. Passionate, I guess. As befitted her age.’

‘Well how old was she exactly?’

‘Uh, only 18 I think.’

‘You cradle snatcher,’ chided Keri gently.

‘I know. Please don’t convict me. It worried me then as well.’

‘So where do you think this Lucy is now?’

Callodyn looked at Keri, straight at her, and his mind reached a conclusion on what he now needed to do.

‘God only knows where she is, Keri. God only knows.’

* * * * *

Lucy examined the next text. Again it was a standard church document, this time from the Lutheran church, a lengthy letter from a Lutheran Priest addressed to Alexander Darvanius I on the issue of ecumenism in Christianity, Alexander’s greatest devotion. Alexander had asked Lucy to study up on a number of documents which he had handed to her to gain a greater understanding into the work of the Darvanius centre and the Centre for Monotheistic Ecumenism. As she read through the document she suddenly felt a chill roll down her spine. She shook it off, but thought nothing more of it. It was only, when she reached up to readdress her reading lamp, as she was in the basement of the Darvanius centre, that she noticed on of Alexander’s children staring at her – the one which caused her more trepidation than any other, including Alexander Darvanius II.

‘What do you want Lucifer? Have you been watching me?’

‘Oh, just examining father’s latest prize.’

‘Prize? I am far from a prize, Lucifer. I am a thinking feeling person. Or do you treat everyone as if they are your servants?’

Lucifer came around to stand next to her at the study table. ‘Oh, you are a servant well enough. We pay you, you serve. As simple as that.’

‘I could quit, you know.’

‘You won’t. They never do. They need the money, don’t they.’

She was about to insult him for his pride when Alexander Darvanius II spoke up.

‘I think that is enough, Lucifer. Your not impressing Lucy, you know. Besides, I don’t think she is your type. Not submissive enough for you.’

‘Hey, I was only teasing, Alex. You know me.’ He turned to Lucy. ‘Don’t sweat it, chick. No hard feelings, huh.’

Lucy nodded, but she indeed had hard feelings.

Lucifer turned to leave, but spoke to Alex before leaving. ‘Remember, father wants us all at dinner tonight. And, hey. Bring Lucy. She can entertain us.’ He left then, much to Lucy’s relief. When Alex came and sat down next to her, she said, ‘He is so creepy. I mean, forgive me. I know he is your brother. But he unnerves me.’

‘Lucifer has that affect on everyone, Lucy. I think it’s his name after all.’

Lucy laughed. She really could not think of any more appropriate name for that particular Darvanius child.

‘So how is the research going.’

‘Oh, ok. I am learning slowly. I do sort of have an understanding on how long and hard your father has worked at his task, though. I lifelong devotion, by the looks of it. And it seems his father began the work.’

‘Oh, it goes further back than that. The Darvanius family has long had it as a goal to unite Christendom. And we will, in time. We will. But more than that. We will claim humanity.’

Lucy nodded. She had heard that before.

‘And will you be their grand leader, Alexander? Will you be the saviour everyone is apparently looking for?’

‘Who else, Lucy? Who else?’

‘Who else indeed,’ she said quietly to herself.

Chapter Six

6

Lucy gets a call from her mother in England.

*

Callodyn in his 7^th encounter with Keri. He tells her this is the end of the relationship as he loves Rachel and has become convicted over his actions. He decides to seek out Lucy Bridges and tell her that what happened between them should never have happened. That holiness is very important to God.

*

Lucy and Alexander on top of the Darvanius building, overlooking New York. Lucy says, ‘So you rule the world do you Alexander.’ ‘Inevitably’, he replies. They have sex

7

Lucy is at work and Callodyn shows up, explaining his convictions. Lucy listens carefully and is somewhat convicted over what Callodyn says. As he leaves he notices Brax come into the office and smile at him.

*

Lucy, convicted by Callodyn’s words, says to Alexander she can’t sleep with him anymore. ‘As you wish’, says Alex. Later on Lucy is sacked.

*

Lucy decided to return home to Mum to gain her perspective.

8

Lucy and her mother in England. She rekindles her dream to be an actress.

*

Lucy and Tommy her first boyfriend. They rekindle their romance.

*

Lucy’s reflections

THE END