Saints and Sinners

November 1, 1995

In the dank, dark basement of a noodle shop, a hand held a phone receiver while another scribbled on pieces of paper. The air was still as musty as ever, and the dim light was only worth so much.

“Did you get it?” came a voice.

“Yeah, I got it. No sweat.”

“”No sweat? I’m not so sure about that.”

“Okay so we had some minor complications, but overall the damage was kept to a stark minimum given what was at stake.”

“Are you splitting hairs with me?”

“It’s nothing that we didn’t already account for.”

“So what’s the score?”

“We owe the Japanese a great deal of gratitude, but I was able to keep the specific mission target hidden from them.”

“And the assets?”

“I’m not sure. I’ll get back to you on that.”

“Your track record seems to be in danger.”

“They got lucky is all. I handled it.”

“If this keeps up-”

“It’ll be fine. Go play grab ass with the other ambassadors and attachés and we can smooth this all over later.”

“It’s not going to be easy. The Pope’s bishops have been breathing down my neck and the witches are similarly curious. Not to mention the Japanese officials.”

“Well, that’s why they pay you the big bucks. I gotta run.”

Susan hung up without waiting to hear a response. Her after action report and evaluations lay on the table in front of her. The mission was messy, but ultimately successful. The Japanese were happy to have the bodies of some long-since missing people turn up, but the news outlets were told not to let the story out to avoid mass hysteria. The whole thing was painted as a gang fight and downplayed so much, it seemed rather trivial.

She didn’t care. Far as she was concerned, they were doing their job for them. The higher ups all knew what to do, and everyone was rather pleased with themselves. Susan adjusted her glasses. The entire operation went by so fast. But they had avoided total catastrophe, and that was all that mattered in the end. That and getting the Necronomicon, which was safely on its way to its new, and hopefully final resting place.

Maybe in the future, some rogue agent might take it upon themselves to burn that vault and everything inside. Save the human race the trouble. But until then, she would wait and see. Susan stood up after finishing the paperwork and headed out the door. She got into her car and took off towards Numazu. The sun shined high above her and the temperature was very agreeable for the season. Only a few clouds hung low in the sky. Salarymen were out and about on their business with grim determination on their faces, ready to get through the rest of the week. Shops buzzed with customers and the smell of food was in the air. It was lunch time, and she was feeling it.

But Susan had an important stop first. She swung into a parking garage and locked her Lancer up. She took the connecting skybridge over and approached a desk clerk. They directed her to her destination, but she stopped by a vending machine first. She came around a corner and entered the waiting room. She sat down in a chair next to a girl who was sacked out, wrapped up in a black peacoat.

“Wakey wakey, Sable. I got you a coffee.” Susan said lightly.

“Wha…huh…?”

Sable opened her eyes drearily. She hadn’t slept well in the past day, and it was starting to catch up to her. She yawned and rubbed her eyes. Her hair was messy and she had bags under her eyelids. Susan handed her a warm can of coffee. Sable took it and popped it open before going in for a drink. It woke her up, but there was a lot of exhaustion to fight through.

“Have you been here the whole time?” Susan asked.

“Whenever I could. I made a case that I was his only family in the country, so they took pity on me.”

“I see.”

Before Susan could say anything more, a woman came over to Sable and spoke to her in Japanese. Sable replied with a smile and sat up. She started trying to pat her hair down and adjust her clothes. Susan smirked and leaned back in her chair. From around the corner, a man in a boring set of jeans and a black t-shirt walked up to them, carrying a jacket under his arm. His movements were stiff and gingerly, and there was pain written on his face in only the slightest bit.

“Well, look what the cat dragged in.” Cliff said to the two of them.

“You look…well, you look like shit, honestly.” Susan said as she stood up with Sable.

“Thanks,” he looked to Sable. “And you look how I feel.”

“I used a lot of my magic yesterday to try to speed up the healing process. Magic healers are very expensive, so I figured I’d save you a buck or two.” Sable said to Susan.

“Well, it seems like you’re going to live. Too bad. No heroic death in the service of the Lord for you.” Susan said to Cliff with a wry smile.

“Not yet, at least.” Cliff shot back.

“Please don’t say that.” Sable chided.

“Come on,” Susan told them as she headed out, “We’re going to get all this mess sorted out.”

The trio exited the hospital. Susan led them to her car and they got on the road.

“Where are we going?” Sable asked, ever curious.

“The embassy in Tokyo. There’s a few people who need to see the both of you.”

Sable’s eyes lit up, but Cliff looked a bit worried. This would certainly be an interesting time. As they headed east, Cliff laid back in the seat as much as he could.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Sable asked him.

“I’ll be alright. I’m sore as hell, but at least I’m still able to walk around.” Cliff answered.

“Well remember to take it easy for a few months. Doctor’s orders.”

“Is that what he told me?”

“Yes. And I told you that already.”

“Sure, sure.”

Susan looked at the two of them in the mirror. A week ago they were all leery-eyed at each other, for good reasons, but now they were almost worried for one another. They grow up so fast. She thought to herself. She pulled through the toll booth, paid her charge, and took off. The rest of the trip into Tokyo was uneventful. Susan wound the Lancer through the streets and lights until they came to the front of the American embassy. She parked and let the two out.

“I’ll meet you up there. I gotta park somewhere else so my boss doesn’t know I’m here already.” Susan told them.

Cliff looked to Sable. Sable, in return, merely shrugged noncommittally. They headed inside as Susan took off. Cliff told the front desk clerk who they were, and the clerk in turn told them exactly where to go. They were clearly expecting them. Cliff went ahead and let the Marines give him a once over to ensure he wasn’t bringing in any weapons. He did tell them that he wanted his pocket knife back when he left, though. Sable followed behind and was let through after the same treatment.

The two were directed to an upper floor conference room. Cliff took the lead, heading to the elevators and punching the button for the correct floor. As they got out, he walked the building’s floor. Strangely enough, he couldn’t find the room number they had been given. Sable ran her hand along the wall after getting a hunch. She felt something on one of the far walls, like it was responding to her touch. But it didn’t give just yet.

“There you both are.” Susan said suddenly.

Cliff and Sable whipped around and saw her. Susan walked forward and placed her hand on the wall. A door seemed to materialize at her touch. She opened it and motioned for them to enter. Inside were two individuals: a man and a woman. The man was dressed like a bishop, as if he had just walked out of the Vatican not two minutes ago. The woman was dressed in what appeared to be a traditional cape and garb of the witches of old. The two seemed to be completely at peace with each other’s presence. They both turned their attention to Cliff and Sable as they entered the room. Susan closed the door behind her and took a seat by the table while everyone else stood.

“Ah, the prodigal son returns.” the bishop said in an Italian accent.

Cliff smiled and felt his cheeks get a little red. “Was I really that bad?”

“No, but I felt you’d understand the gesture. We had time to look over the immediate report from your superior, but we will definitely be interested in the full story.”

“I’m not sure I have the time right now.”

“Of course not. That is why you may relay it to us when you arrive to meet with His Holiness.”

“His Holiness?”

“Yes, Mr. Parsons. You have proven yourself capable, willing, and above all else, pure of mind and soul. What you did for your partner shows exactly what kind of man you are. A true Man of God. With your skills, His Holiness would love to make you an official member of his special unit.”

“What’s that entail, exactly?”

“You’d be battling the most formidable enemies of the mortal world. The enemies of man and God alike. Heretical creatures that endanger the lives of God’s people everywhere. It is the most noble undertaking for one of your stature. Will you accept?”

“I’m a bit…well…”

“We understand your current condition, my son. Everything has been factored in. God does not call lightly, but neither does he call blindly. You will have ample time to recuperate.”

“I see…well, I guess I’ll have to go along with it, then.”

“We are glad to have you in our ranks. His Holiness will be grateful for your service.”

Cliff held his hand out and shook the bishop’s, sealing the deal. Sable looked at him almost awe-struck before she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked ahead and saw the witch looking at her with a smile.

“Sable Whitfield. You have done such a noble thing in your service. To be called upon for such an undertaking is truly extraordinary. As a witch mother in the Sisters of the Eclipse, I have watched over you from afar as you grew and walked your path. Like the bishop, I too was given a rundown of the events you found yourself in. Your selflessness to give healing unto others, and to stop magic from being used for the wrong reasons, shows us just who you are in the dark.”

“Well I…I did what I thought was right…”

“We know, Sable. That is why I am here before you now. Your heart is pure. We will help you hone your craft and your magic to make you better able to serve your own purpose.”

“My own purpose?”

“Yes, Sable. You have chosen your purpose in life, whether you know it yet or not. Yours is a grand challenge, but it is a path seldom walk. It is the path of the most honored among our coven. To do battle against the forces of dark, no matter the cost. You have stepped forward on the path, seeking out the black magic to destroy it and its perpetrators. It is not easy to do, but nothing is more rewarding. And you, Sable, will be made ready to follow in your ancestor’s footsteps.”

“You mean…?”

“Yes. Your mother took the same undertaking as you, as did her mother and those before her. Will you accept?”

“I will! Yes!”

“Very well. We are glad to have your commitment. We’ll be able to go through your official training back home.”

Sable looked into the eyes of the witch mother and nodded spiritedly. As the two of them accepted their respective offers and burdens, Susan clapped from behind them.

“I guess it really does all work out in the end. Well, I’ll warn you both now not to forget me, because the Company will most certainly not forget you. I’ll be around if something else comes up.”

Susan stood and headed for the door.

“Wait.” Sable said suddenly.

Susan stopped with her hand on the doorknob and looked at the girl.

“How will you even find us?” she asked.

Susan smiled knowingly. “Don’t worry. The Company has its methods. Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s still a matter of some loose ends to tie up.”

And with that, Susan walked out into the hall. She had a very proud-of-herself smirk plastered across her face. She knew this wouldn’t be the last time they’d see her. Not by a long shot.