The Unexpected Exorcist: Episode 35

The Hope Springs Eternal Diamond

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<Episode 34 | Table of Contents | Episode 36>

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- Adam Lutzi Rockwell

Recap

Last week on, The Unexpected Exorcist: The DED held an all hands meeting. They had figured out exactly what Beelzebub was up to: attempting to release his Legion from cold storage and kill Agent Uziel Axe.

During the meeting, the demon Azrael, who had taken possession of Agent Brother Ricci, attacked the DED headquarters. He abducted Special Agent Uziel Axe right out from under their noses and sped off in the night.

Director Jinpa has promised to save him. But first he and Sister Catherine have some business to attend to at:

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - Front Entrance

Director Jinpa and Sister Catherine stood at the front doors of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Director Jinpa rested against his walking staff.

Sister Catherine had splatters of blood on both her frock, face and habit. She’d wiped most the blood off her face but still had a streak on her ear.

Some people lingered on the large set of concrete steps leading up to the enormous neoclassical building. The museum had closed fifteen minutes earlier.

“He said that he would meet us here? The front entrance?” asked Sister Catherine, agitated.

“Yes, calm yourself, Sister. He will be here.”

Sister Catherine looked down at her watch. Six-fifteen PM.

Dr. Kirk Lloyd made his way quickly to the front doors of the museum, flanked by two museum guards.

Dr. Lloyd was a pudgy man in his late fifties. He had been the director of the National Museum of Natural History for over a decade.

He pointed to the door and one of the guards swiped his keycard and the door clicked open. He held the door open for the two DHS agents.

Dr. Lloyd immediately started talking, “This is most irregular, most irregular, I must say! I have a donor dinner in under an hour and I positively must get ready.”

Director Jinpa held his hand up in an attempt to calm the fidgety museum director. “I am Director Kyabse Jinpa, and this is Special Agent Sister Catherine Queally. We are with the Department of Homeland Security.”

“Yes, yes, yes, I was told all this. I was told to facilitate… what is it that you need? I was told you would fill me in on the details. Can I see your credentials, please?” He was flustered.

They both handed over their leather credential/badge wallets. He took them quickly, examined them and handed them back. “Everything seems to be in order.”

Director Jinpa slowly walked into the Rotunda of the museum. The large taxidermied African bush elephant, Henry, took up most of the room. The smell of the elephant was strong and pungent. The Director looked up at the elephant and found it sad.

Director Jinpa turned to Director Lloyd with his hands clasped behind his back and said, “We need the Hope Diamond.”

Director Lloyd’s face turned beet red. “What do you mean, you need the Hope Diamond? How could that possibly be a matter of national security? Why would a Tibetan monk and Carmelite nun possibly need the Hope Diamond? I can’t possibly imagine how or why!”

Sister Catherine interjected, “Dr. Lloyd. Please. Time is running short and we need that diamond. Now.” She was thinking about Uziel.

Director Jinpa waited patiently.

“This feels… wrong. Who authorized this?” asked Dr. Lloyd.

“The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Did you not speak with him?” asked Director Jinpa.

“I did. He ordered me to give you access to anything that you might need, but he most certainly did not mention the Hope Diamond and I do not appreciate being given orders by the Department of Homeland Security!”

“That may be the case, but we need it nonetheless,” said Director Jinpa.

“If you could indulge me, why would you possibly need the Hope Diamond?” His face turned a brighter shade of red.

Sister Catherine impatiently looked at her watch and blew a bubble.

“It is classified. Please, Dr. Lloyd. We need that diamond. It is most urgent,” said Director Jinpa. If he told him the true purpose of the diamond, they would have locked him up in a lunatic asylum.

“Alright, alright, follow me,” said Dr. Lloyd. He immediately made his way to the staircase and began ascending.

Director Jinpa and Sister Catherine stood at the bottom of the stairs. “Dr. Lloyd,” said Director Jinpa. “We need the real Hope Diamond. Not the costume piece on display. It absolutely must be the real Hope Diamond.”

“What do you mean?”

“The public display is a replica. I need the real Hope.”

“But, but, that is in the storage vault in the basement!”

“Yes,” said Director Jinpa. “That is the one we must have.”

“How do you know all of this?”

“I am a managing director within a division of the Department of Homeland Security that has access to all top-secret information.”

“If I may be so bold as to inquire, sir, what division are you the director of?”

“That is classified.”

“Of course, everything is always classified! Nobody can ever tell old Dr. Lloyd anything!” exclaimed Dr. Lloyd, stomping back down the stairs. “Well, follow me then. Guards, come with us please.”

As they made their way to a bank of elevators, Dr. Lloyd whipped out his iPhone and dialed. He pushed the button to the elevator, and they waited.

The elevator dinged and everybody got on.

“Guard, to the sub-basement, please,” ordered Dr. Lloyd. He never knew the names of the museum guards and the guards knew it.

“Yes, sir,” she said, using her keycard and pushing the button for the sub-basement. Off-limits to the public.

Dr. Lloyd finally got through. “Hello, Secretary Drakos. Yes, this is Dr. Lloyd with the Smithsonian Museum of… yes, we just spoke earlier. I have Director Kyabse Jinpa with me,” he said looking at Director Jinpa. “And a Sister Catherine. They say they’re with the Department of Homeland Security? Yes, I just need to reverify that… yes… yes… of course, yes, sir. Anything? Yes, I will give them anything they need.” He looked at his phone and put it back in his pocket.

“Is everything in order?” asked Director Jinpa.

“He was busy, but verified that you are who you say you are.”

“I would hope so,” said Sister Catherine. Director Jinpa chuckled.

The doors opened to a dark basement. An enormous space filled with crates.

“Come on, follow me. Time’s wasting,” said Dr. Lloyd, sounding more miffed by the minute.

They walked quickly through the maze of the sub-basement. On the back wall was a large safe with a retinal scanner and code pad. The safe was inset into the wall and shined. They walked up to it.

Dr. Lloyd input the code and put his eye up to the scanner. With that, the big door began to open and lights flickered on inside.

The safe was large and empty except for a single concrete stand in the center. A black, closed leather box sat on the podium.

They all entered the safe. Director Jinpa took out his demon-glasses and put them on.

“You may open the box,” said Director Jinpa.

“Thank you so much,” said Dr. Lloyd sarcastically. He put white protective cotton gloves on and slowly opened the box like an auctioneer at Sotheby’s.

Sister Catherine blew another bubble and snapped it, ensuring he knew they were impatient.

Inside the case was the actual Hope Diamond. One of the world’s largest cut blue diamonds. It was well-known for its curse. It was said that any ruler who possessed it came to an ignominious death. The most likely reason for this story was that the stone actually held the trapped Indian demon Tarakasura. Director Jinpa hoped that Tarakasura would have a fellow resident soon.

The Hope Diamond was such an elaborate stone that even a class-one demon such as Tarakasura could not escape. Gold encasement was unnecessary. The complexity of the Void it created within was almost infinite to the demon.

The Hope Diamond’s setting was elaborate. Surrounding it and its chain were other smaller, clear diamonds.

“Here it is, the world’s most beautiful diamond. The Hope Diamond! The Royal Blue!” said Dr Lloyd with a flourish.

“Yup,” said Sister Catherine, unimpressed. “That’s what we need.” She grabbed it out of the box, held it up by its chain, and examined it.

Director Jinpa also stared at the stone. It glowed an incredibly powerful blue of the demon Tarakasura’s aura. The Indian demon of the damned.

“Yes, this is the stone we need,” said Director Jinpa. “Come, Sister Catherine, let us be on our way.”

“Okay, let’s book,” said Sister Catherine, putting the diamond and chain into the pocket of her habit.

Dr. Lloyd’s eyes went wide when he saw Sister Catherine handle the diamond so recklessly.

Director Jinpa and Sister Catherine quickly turned and exited the vault, making their way back to the elevator bank, double-time.

Dr. Lloyd yelled after them, “I need somebody to… sign for that!”

“I completely understand,” the Director yelled back. “Secretary Drakos will be happy to sign.”

“This is most irregular, Mr. Jinpa! Most irregular!” said Dr. Lloyd.

Director Jinpa turned around momentarily before they got on the elevator, “I most whole-heartedly agree, this is all quite irregular, Dr. Lloyd. Good night!”

They got on the elevator, and it closed.

Dr. Lloyd stood in the middle of the empty safe. Stunned.

The Armored Sprinter Van - Washington, DC

Beelzebub was a horrible driver. He swerved erratically in and out of traffic.

Uziel sat up in the back and yelled, “What the hell is going on? Where are you taking me!”

Beelzebub looked back at him, “Hello, Agent Axe.”

Uziel immediately knew it was Beelzebub. He could tell from the aura. “You! I kicked your demon ass out in Milwaukee!”

“Yes… it is me. And no, you did not kick my ass. You simply helped me to realize my plan in a more efficient way! Thank you so much Uziel Axe!” Beelzebub and Azrael both laughed heartily.

“Ha, ha, ha!” said Uziel sarcastically. “That’s so funny!”

Uziel searched for a way out but his head was still spinning.

Beelzebub stepped on the brake. Hard. He pushed a button and the door slid open.

The Sprinter sat on the side of the George Mason Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River.

Azrael stood at the side of the open door. Beelzebub got out of the passenger side.

Azrael attempted to grab Uziel, but Uziel kicked his hand away.

“Damn it, Azrael! Get that bastard!” commanded Beelzebub. “We have more important business to take care of. Our Legion is already converging!”

“I’m trying to get him, but he is kicking at me!” yelled Azrael.

Uziel scurried to the far back of the van and grabbed the handle and pulled it. Locked.

“Get in there and grab him!” ordered Beelzebub.

“Yes, my Master.”

Uziel reached for his gun, but it was missing. He checked his belt, but it was also missing.

“You did not think we would let you keep your weaponry, did you, you fool?” asked Beelzebub.

Azrael was in the back of the van closing on Uziel quickly.

“Stay away from me, you piece of shit!” yelled Uziel.

The lights of a Metropolitan Police Department cop pulled behind the van, illuminating the interior.

The officer got on his loudspeaker and shined Beelzebub with his spotlight. “Father! I need you to move along. You’re backing up traffic!”

Beelzebub just waved him away.

The cop shook his head and got out of his car. “Father, you having some kind of vehicle trouble?” the officer yelled to him over the traffic.

Beelzebub didn’t say a word, just motioned for the police officer to come to him.

The officer slowly made his way towards Beelzebub. When he was only six feet from the demon, Beelzebub did a quick draw and pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the officer right between the eyes. Beelzebub blew on the barrel.

“Gotcha!” Beelzebub said. Then he yelled to Azrael, “Hurry!”

“Yes, yes,” said Azrael.

Beelzebub stood over the cop’s dead body, leaned over and took his gun and handcuffs.

Uziel made a quick decision as Azrael closed in on him. The aura almost blinded him even with the demon-glasses still on his face.

As soon as Azrael was just two feet from him, Uziel braced his elbows on the back of the van and double-kicked Azrael out of the van.

Uziel moved quickly. He grabbed the case of holding stones and jumped out the side of the van. Beelzebub turned to see Uziel escaping. As soon as he saw him, he raised the pistol to shoot.

Uziel threw the case at Beelzebub. Beelzebub dropped his pistol trying to catch the case.

Uziel whipped his tie off, jumped behind Azrael and grabbed the back of his head. He quickly strung the tie around Azrael’s neck and lifted him up, off the ground, creating a human shield between him and Beelzebub.

Uziel’s Seal of Solomon ring pushed into the side of Azrael’s temple, causing his head to smoke. He screamed in pain.

Uziel moved back, away from Beelzebub who leveled his gun directly at Azrael.

“Why are you doing this?” asked Uziel, pulling harder on the tie.

Beelzebub laughed. “This ends here and now. Azrael, I will see you back in Hell. Uziel Axe, I shall see you there as well. God does not approve of atheists...”

Azrael struggled against Uziel. Azrael yelled, “NO!”

Beelzebub emptied the entire clip into Azrael chest. One of the bullets went through Brother Ricci’s arm and tore through Uziel’s shoulder. It only hit soft tissue but still bled.

Uziel immediately dropped the dead body of Brother Ricci. He saw the blue aura of Azrael become extremely bright, and then disappear up into the sky.

Azrael was gone.

When the gun was empty, Beelzebub immediately began reloading. He was quick. Better with guns than vans.

Uziel made the only decision he could. He ran for the side of the bridge.

As he heard the magazine lock into the Glock, Uziel dove off the side of the bridge into the freezing black water of the Potomac River below.

Beelzebub took three quick shots at Uziel, but it was too late. The concrete side of the bridge exploded from the bullets but missed Uziel.

Beelzebub walked over to the side of the bridge and scanned the black water below. Pieces of ice floated past. No Uziel in sight.

“God damn it!” he yelled down to the water. “I will see you in Hell if it’s the last thing I ever do!”

Beelzebub quickly got back into the driver’s side of the Sprinter and shut both doors. He quickly drove away, heading towards the Pentagon, located just on the other side of the bridge.

The river quietly slid under the bridge.

Uziel was in the water.

Somewhere.

<Episode 34 | Table of Contents | Episode 36>
Please hit the “Like Button” (heart) if you enjoyed today’s episode!! 😸