Grail of power, p.3
Grail of Power, page 3
Brother Mateo kept preaching, his words weaving a spell over the crowd. His eyes scanned the room as he spoke, stopping briefly on me before moving on. “The power of the Grail is not to be underestimated, my friends,” he proclaimed, his voice resonant with conviction. “Through a single sip of its divine elixir, we can reshape our destinies, reunite with lost loved ones, and transcend the limitations of our mortal coils.”
Mateo descended three steps at the front of the chancel. He glanced at me, our eyes locking a brief moment, before he turned his attention to an old woman hobbling down the center aisle on a cane. Mateo placed one hand on her shoulder, the other holding the chalice. He instructed her to close her eyes and imagine herself renewed. She did, face screwing up in concentration. After a murmured blessing, he pressed the Grail to her lips. She took a small sip.
Nothing happened for several long moments. Then the woman straightened, surprise lighting her features. Tossing her cane aside, she took a few tentative steps. The crowd erupted into applause and whistles.
Unimpressive. Faith healing tricks, using the power of suggestion. Temporary cures, at best, exploiting desperate people. Some of them were surely short-term psychosomatic cures for psychosomatic conditions. Others were likely staged by bad actors.
Still, I scanned the exultant crowd. Tommy had to be here. Somewhere.
Two more “healings” followed, lame men discarding crutches, a blind woman claiming restored sight. The spectacle left a foul taste in my mouth, but no sign of Tommy. As the cheers died down, Mateo’s gaze fixed unerringly on me, as if sensing my skepticism. An icy chill crept down my spine.
“Come, come, don’t be shy, Mr. Wadsworth,” he cajoled. “Let the Grail show you its power.”
I cocked my head. This guy was good. Someone must’ve told him my name. But who?
Around me, people shuffled away, leaving Emilie, Sloane, and me exposed. Mateo extended a hand, beckoning. The chalice was as steady as a sniper rifle in his opposite hand.
I held my ground, staring back defiantly. Mateo wanted a showdown? Fine by me.
“Sorry, not thirsty,” I quipped. A few nervous titters from the crowd.
Mateo’s smile never wavered. “Come now, don’t you have a heart’s desire?” His voice dripped false sympathy. “Perhaps the return of loved ones lost? You could see them again. They died in that fire, but their souls remain with the source. The grail can return them to you.”
I stiffened. He couldn’t know about my parents. I never spoke of them, not even to Emilie.
“Just a sip,” he whispered, as if to a frightened child. “One taste, and your family will be whole again.”
Around us, the congregation murmured excitedly. Emilie squeezed my hand, eyes wide.
I set my jaw. “No thanks. I’ll pass.”
Mateo’s façade cracked, frustration leaking through. It wasn’t often someone turned down an offer like that. Most of these people didn’t drink out of faith. They did it out of desperation. What harm could come from it?
He recovered quickly. “As you wish. But know this—the Grail’s offer stands. When you’re ready, it will be here.”
He turned away dismissively. The crowd’s attention shifted as Mateo moved on to his next mark.
I sagged with relief. Mateo knew too much, and I aimed to find out how. But first, to find Tommy.
My gaze swept over the sea of enraptured faces. No one seemed concerned that a revered religious artifact was being used to grant wishes like a genie’s lamp. Either these people were too far gone, caught up in the charisma of their leader, or this was the real Grail. So far, though, I’d seen nothing to prove it.
A hand closed around my wrist.
“Are you okay?” Emilie whispered.
“Yeah. Just rattled. How could Mateo have known all that about my parents?”
Emilie shook her head. “I don’t know. But we need to find Tommy and get out of here. This place gives me the creeps.”
I wanted to leave then and there. Wait outside until people started filtering out, when I could get a good look at them one at a time. I’d find Tommy, talk to him a bit, and bring him home. I knew it would be easier said than done. Tommy had bought into Mateo’s schtick. Convincing him to leave would be harder than separating a toddler from his security blanket.
I nodded, ready to make our exit, when Mateo’s voice boomed out again.
“Brothers and sisters, the time has come to prove the power of the Grail once more.”
A hush fell over the crowd. Mateo’s gaze swept over them before settling on a man near the front.
“You,” he said, beckoning. “Come forward.”
The man rose hesitantly and shuffled into the aisle. Middle-aged, hair thinning, clothes neatly pressed but worn. The set of his shoulders spoke of a weight on his back.
“What troubles you, my friend?” Mateo asked gently.
The man swallowed. “It’s my wife. She... she passed last year. Cancer.”
Sympathetic murmurs rippled through the crowd. The man blinked rapidly.
“It’s just me and the kids now. I know it’s foolish to ask, but I’d give anything to have her back.” His voice cracked on the last word.
Mateo clasped his shoulder. “There is nothing foolish in asking for your heart’s deepest desire. If you want her returned, she will be.”
He lifted the grail to the man’s lips. The liquid inside shimmered, reflected in the man’s eyes, before he took a small sip. A peaceful expression settled on his face.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then a knock sounded from the back of the church, followed by a woman’s frantic voice calling the man’s name. The man’s eyes shot wide in recognition. “That’s her! That’s my Marie!”
Mateo nodded to his security guards, who unlocked the doors.
A woman burst through, eyes wild, searching the crowd. “John!” she cried.
“Marie!” The man rushed down the aisle and swept her into his arms.
Murmurs of awe rippled through the crowd. Mateo watched benevolently from his pulpit.
I leaned over to Emilie and Sloane. “This has to be a trick. Actors. That woman was never dead.”
“If that’s the case,” Sloane said. “I can prove it. If we can get their last names. But I suspect these people aren’t at all who they claim they are.”
But doubt nagged at me. What if the Grail’s power was genuine?
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. An exercise to calm my mind. But when I opened them, Mateo was staring at me again.
“Mr. Wadsworth,” he said, gesturing to me. “You seem troubled. Do you doubt the power of the Grail?”
I held my gaze on him. “Frankly, yes. You could easily stage all of this with paid actors.”
The crowd reacted with indignant murmurs and boos, but I stood firm.
Mateo raised his hands for quiet. “Patience, my friends. This young man has not yet tasted the Grail’s gift. Do not forget, you all had doubts at first. We must not judge.”
He turned back to me. “I understand your skepticism, Elijah. But the Grail reveals itself differently to each person. If you wish proof, take but a sip. You will see.”
I shook my head. “A magic cup won’t bring back my parents. I’m here for another purpose.”
“The disciple you seek is here,” Mateo said calmly. “You may speak to him at the conclusion of the service.”
My eyes narrowed. How did he know I was there for Tommy? This guy was some kind of mentalist. I’d seen things like this from magicians on America’s Got Talent. There had to be a trick. Someone with facial recognition software and an Internet connection hiding in the balcony, or connected to a closed circuit security camera. Perhaps these cultists were following Rose Turner to our facility, and they knew to expect us in advance. Whatever the case, I wasn’t a believer. But I couldn’t dismiss the possibility that the cup Mateo had was the real thing. The only way I’d know for sure was if I showed it to Percival. He was the only one who’d ever touched the true Holy Grail and might recognize it.
I crossed my arms and leaned back in the pew, glancing around for any clues that might explain Mateo’s tricks. The crowd was enraptured, hanging on his every word. But Sloane’s eyes were darting around just like mine, no doubt looking for hidden cameras or microphones.
After the sermon concluded, Mateo began walking amongst the parishioners, touching their heads and murmuring blessings over them. As he drew nearer, I tensed. His gaze felt penetrating, as if he could see right through me.
“Your doubts run deep,” he said softly. “But it is only because you have been hurt before. Betrayed by those you trusted. The Grail can heal these wounds, if you let it.”
I set my jaw, refusing to be manipulated. “I don’t need healing. Just answers.”
Mateo sighed. “As you wish. The boy waits for you outside.” He gestured toward a side door.
I stood swiftly, motioning for Sloane and Emilie to follow. As we headed for the exit, I felt Mateo’s eyes boring into my back. There was more to this charismatic preacher than met the eye. But I couldn’t worry about his tricks now. My mission was Tommy Turner. Everything else would have to wait.
I pushed open the side door, blinking in the sudden sunlight. There, sitting on the steps, was a lanky teenager matching Tommy’s description. He jumped up when he saw us.
“Tommy Turner?” I asked.
The boy nodded warily.
“Your family sent me.We’re here to take you home.”
Tommy’s face hardened. “My home is here. Brother Mateo is my family.”
Emilie stepped forward, radiating calm. “We know you’ve been through a lot lately. But your parents miss you. They just want you safe.”
“Safe?” Tommy scoffed. “They’re the ones who lied to me my whole life. I finally know who I really am now.”
I studied the boy curiously. “And who is that?”
Tommy lifted his chin. “I’m one of the Grail’s chosen. Brother Mateo says my destiny is greater than any of us can imagine.”
Sloane crossed her arms. “Kid, that’s a nice story he sold you. But this place is bad news.”
Tommy bristled. “You know nothing about it. The Grail gives us purpose—a chance to change the world. You should try it.” He nodded toward the door. “Go on, take a sip. You’ll see. I didn’t believe it at first, either. I wouldn’t take a drink in the service. But when Brother Mateo offered it to me later, in private…”
I met Tommy’s earnest gaze steadily. “The only thing I need to see is you safely home. Your mother is worried sick.”
For a moment, Tommy wavered. Then his expression hardened again. “I can’t. This is where I belong.”
Sloane held up her phone. Rose must have sent her the picture of the drawing on Tommy’s wall at home. It was, indeed, Metatron’s Cube. “What is this?” she asked.
Tommy shook his head. “Just a doodle. Something I saw in my head and drew. It’s nothing.”
“Saw in your head when, exactly?” Sloane asked.
“The first time I drank from the Grail!” Tommy raised his voice. “What does it matter? I shouldn’t have drawn it out. If Brother Mateo knew I shared one of the Grail’s secrets…”
“Good religion doesn’t demand you keep secrets,” Emilie said, her voice calmer than mine would have been in the moment. It was best to keep my mouth shut. “If this Grail really is so good, why not share it?”
“Because not everyone is chosen!” Tommy insisted. “And the Grail doesn’t hold the same secret for everyone. It showed me that for a reason. Brother Mateo says the purpose behind it will become manifest in time.”
I tilted my head. “I thought you said the symbol was nothing. Just a doodle.”
An awkward silence sat between us for a moment. Sloane interrupted it. “Why not come with us? You could talk to your mother, let her know you’re alright. She’s worried about you, Tommy.”
Tommy’s gaze softened for a split second before it turned stoic again. “Brother Mateo says that we must make hard choices. If we are going to truly honor the Grail and follow its plan for us, it means cutting old ties. We must be willing to leave our worldly securities behind.”
I couldn’t help myself any more. “We’re not talking about worldly security! We’re talking about your mother!”
Tommy narrowed his eyes. “This isn’t about me, is it? You lost your mother when you were a kid. I heard what Brother Mateo told you. You can’t stand the idea that I’d be willing to leave mine behind when all you want is to get yours back.”
I clenched my fists. Better channel my anger into that than let it dictate my next words. “Don’t you see a contradiction here? Why would the Grail promise I could get my family back, but insist that you leave yours behind?”
“The Grail has different plans for all of us. It knows the deepest desires of our hearts and makes them real. Some of those desires come true the moment you taste of the Grail’s elixir. Some take time to manifest. Eventually, they’re realized through obedience to the Grail.”
“To the Grail?” Sloane asked. “Or Brother Mateo?”
Tommy shrugged. “What’s the difference? Brother Mateo speaks only what the Grail reveals.”
“Says him.” I grunted.
Tommy’s eyes flickered with a mix of defiance and uncertainty. He glanced back at the closed door leading to the cult meeting, doubt clouding his young features. Sloane stepped closer, the curiosity in her expression mingling with a hint of suspicion.
“Tommy, how can you be sure that Brother Mateo has your best interests at heart?” Sloane’s voice was gentle but probing.
Tommy hesitated. “He’s shown me wonders I never thought possible. My life has meaning here, a purpose beyond anything I could’ve imagined.”
Emilie placed a reassuring hand on Tommy’s shoulder. “We’re not here to make you do anything you don’t want to do. Your destiny is your own, not dictated by anyone else. But how can you trust that what Brother Mateo is telling you is all coming from the Grail? Was it Brother Mateo or the vision you had from the Grail that told you to leave your family?”
I studied Tommy intently, sensing the conflict raging within him. “You have the right to question, to seek your own truth, Tommy. This Grail might be real. But that doesn’t mean you can trust Brother Mateo. Evil men often manipulate the good to deceive the innocent.”
Tommy’s eyes darted between us, uncertainty churning in his gaze. He seemed torn, as if battling invisible forces within himself.
Sloane’s voice was soft yet firm. She handed him one of our DDA business cards. “You don’t have to decide right now, Tommy. Just know that we’re here to help you, no matter what you choose. Your family loves you and wants you back. But ultimately, it’s your path to walk.”
Emilie’s soothing aura enveloped the tense atmosphere like a warm embrace. “If you ever need us, call us, and we’ll be here for you, Tommy. You hold the power over your own destiny.”
I stepped forward, offering Tommy a compassionate smile. “Take your time to think things through. Just remember, you’re never in too deep. It’s never too late to leave this behind. No one will blame you for what happened. Your mother loves you. All she wants is to see you safe and home again.”
Tommy’s shoulders relaxed slightly, a glimmer of resolve shining in his eyes. He nodded slowly, a silent acknowledgment of his internal turmoil. He slipped the card Sloane gave him into his front pocket. “I appreciate your concern. Please, though. Just tell my mother I love her. And I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt her. But this is something I have to do.”
Tommy turned away, his gaze lingering on each one of us before he walked towards the door of the church.
As the door clicked shut behind Tommy, Sloane let out a frustrated sigh. “Kid’s got guts, I’ll give him that.”
Emilie’s eyes held a mixture of concern and understanding. “He’s lost in something bigger than himself, something that promises him everything he’s ever wanted. It’s hard to break free from those chains, especially when you’re so young.”
I clenched my jaw, feeling the ache of helplessness gnawing at me. “We can’t force him to see the truth. He has to realize it on his own before it’s too late.”
“We can’t just go home and hope he calls us,” Emilie said. “I feel for the kid, but this is bigger than him. We need to figure out what’s really going on here. If that Grail is real or not. Because if it is…”
I nodded. “I agree. Tommy is just one boy, out of what might be hundreds of people in there with similar stories. And if everything Percival said about the Grail holds true, in the hands of a charlatan like Mateo, there’s no telling how much damage he might do before all is said and done.”
Sloane sighed. “I still think Tommy is more than just one of hundreds of potential cases here. He saw Metatron’s Cube. That’s not the sort of thing someone just doodles.”
“You’re right,” I admitted. “The only way I learned it was by consulting my father’s memory of having been taught it by an archangel. I don’t doubt that all of this is connected. The question is how.”
Emilie’s eyes sparked with determination. “We need to investigate further. There’s something sinister underlying all of this. We must uncover the truth behind Brother Mateo’s hold over these people before it’s too late.”
I nodded in agreement. “He’s ruining innocent lives. He’s dealing with powers greater than he understands. There’s no telling how dangerous all of this might be. There’s more at stake here than we realize.”
5. The Torus
The streetlights flickered as we walked, shadows dancing across the cracked sidewalk. Emilie shivered. I pulled her in close to me as we walked.
“That cup,” she said. “Do you think it could actually be the Holy Grail?”
Sloane scowled, breath fogging the air. “I don’t care if it’s the real deal or not. That Mateo is dangerous.”
