Side Twenty-Four – Revelation-Cardinal Lorenzo Giudice

Side Twenty-Four – Revelation-Cardinal Lorenzo Giudice

“So, we have gathered, yet alas, some of our faithful are missing, I see.” As he glanced around the room, Revelation-Cardinal Lorenzo Giudice noticed that of the thirteen souls that should have been occupying the decorated podiums carved out of the stone of the surrounding catacombs, faced in marble and chased with gold, only eight, including himself, was present.

“Non importa. Such is to be expected. For we have waited long for this day.” His piercing hazel eyes surveyed his fellows. “Still, for those of us that have made the journey under the auspices of the one and only God, I offer you benvenuto. welcome.” Despite being Italian, and that being the main language of the Catholic Church, he spoke flawless English, for that was the word of True Revelation.

“It has indeed been too long.” The speaker was old, his hair a snowy white, yet his body was still muscled, lean and tanned. He was wearing vestments as would any other Cardinal, yet they were armoured with plates of a golden metal, and in his sash was belted a sword, old-looking, the hilt a cross, yet the blade was bright and free of rust, shining under the many candelabra that lit the hall. “I knew when I heard the voice of Metatron in my dreams, and Crucis Purgationis started waking from its slumber, that the time long prophesised in the true book of Revelations has come. Praise be to God, amen!”

Lorenzo echoed the amen, as did the others around the room. The wielder of the blade, the Crucis Purgationis, was Inquisitor-Cardinal Maximillian Meyer. I had thought him dead, having not heard of him for so long and his advanced age, but I am happy to be proved mistaken, for he is one of the more staunch of the True Believers.

“I too heard the voice.” A small dark-skinned man said, seemingly overwhelmed by his ceremonial finery. Beside him lay a whip, the material a strange dark fabric, and even here Lorenzo fancied he could smell the blood. Fighting an urge to cross himself, he listened to the words of his long-time colleague. “To think that it would be us, who would be witness to the End Times.” His English was spoken with a Spanish lilt, making it a little hard to understand, but all were brothers and sisters here under God, so even without words... All of us are thinking the same. Commandment-Cardinal Ortiz speaks for all of us.

“I tremble at the thought, yet we must do what needs to be done.” an old rasping voice said, and everyone turned to see a withered old crone, a large musical horn beside her. As she spoke she shook, and she surely was not long left for this world, unless... unless of course her Hallowed Ground can renew her. Verum Lore has much to say on the effects of the Hallowed Ground... why else would God choose now to start the march to Armageddon, with many of us so old?

“Indeed, your words spark both hope and joy in me. Amen.” After a brief round of prayer, Lorenzo asked his colleague, who despite the teachings of the mainstream church was of course female, a question that was on his mind. “So, saggia donna, my old friend. I am sure under the grace of God I need not ask, but the Choirs, they remain prepared?”

“Of course.” She rattled, making the sign of the cross. “I have been training them for nearly eighty years, my bones may be old, but my spirito, it does not falter. My future successor, who I have been pouring my wisdom, she oversees the grand work now. Our numbers are perhaps not what they were, but the quality, the fede in Dio, faith... it remains pure.” She coughed, her lungs hissing. “And as a great blessing, she dreamed of a Seraph, and has found her own blessing from God. Several others in the Choir have seen lesser Angels...”

“I see, that is grand news indeed.” A youthful voice said, and everyone turned to the newcomer. She was comely and fair, young too, probably no more than twenty, with long blonde hair down to her knees and stunningly bright green eyes like emeralds. Her vestments were adorned with rows of small crystal bells, and as she spoke they tinkled calmingly. On one finger was set an ornate golden ring, made up of a series of interlocking knots.

Konstantin nodded, opening his mouth for all to see the stump of his tongue. Still, his gaze was firm, pleasing to the eye, and full of faith. Hmm, the old Cursing-Cardinal was Arabic. There is a story here. But that is for later.

“So, we have all gathered then, those of us who are able. I believe that the Faith-Cardinal passed several years ago, and the Seminary was destroyed. A vile blow. Those unbelievers will pay a high toll now that the time for true Revelations has come. Amen. Does anyone know of the others? Can we still hold out hope?”

“My grandmother told me that the Charity-Cardinal was waylaid in the Far East. I believe she said it was Cultivators, if you can believe that nonsense.” Mary Stuart made a sign of the cross and spat in disgust.

“Such trash do exist, though like the cowards they were, most fled nigh on fifteen-hundred years ago.” Luca stroked his wheel. “Now all that are left are a few vermin who practice their ungodly arts in secret, hiding from their equally faithless government. If we have to start a purge before Armageddon, I suggest we start there. I know that the Charity-cardinal was old like the rest of us but tale follia, such a disappointment...”

“Do not be so harsh on our fellows.” Maximillian said suddenly. “In my youth I duelled a pair of these Chinese Cultivators when I did missionary work. They were quite annoying. One even got away. The other is currently where he belongs in Hell, though...”

“Enough. Peace.” Lorenzo sighed, unamused at the bickering. “We will make do with what we have. The Choir still stands, even if we have lost the Seminary, and several of the Orders. And with God on our side, what do we have to fear? The Pontiff, God rest his naïve soul, is too wedded to peace and reconciliation to understand the threat. I do not blame him, successive generations have softened their stance, leaving it to us in the shadows to make sure that the sacrifice of our Lord, separating this world from the sinful, protecting this Garden of Eden, is not in vain. As time passes and the chaos begins, more will flock to our banners and faith will be rekindled, as is stated in the True Revelations. But first, we must take stock. As is in the Choir, others will have heard the call of God. We must gather them, before they use their Hallowed Ground. I trust you have all refrained until now?”

As everyone nodded, Lorenzo was pleased. The temptation to deploy Hallowed Ground and reap the benefits was immense, but as men and women of faith, they resisted, as they would the whispers of the Devil himself.

“Excellent. We need to carefully choose where we call upon them. As Armageddon approaches, only under Hallowed Ground shall the faithful be saved. We must protect the worthy and the sacred.”

But to do so, one must dip their hands in the filth of the returning sinful lands. Yes, God’s mansions truly are now filled with abominations...

Clapping his hands together, the sound echoing around the catacombs under the Vatican, Lorenzo smiled. “Go with God, my friends, my brethren. Go with God, and save those of worthy faith. We must also recover the lost treasures our missing brethren were entrusted with, for should they fall into the wrong hands...”

With Armageddon fast approaching, every grace God left us must be used. We cannot, no WILL not fail him.