Population Distribution

"I am the Messiah, a saint walking upon the earth." Salomon spread his arms and stood before the Black priest, imitating Raphael’s famous painting, The Transfiguration. Only, there were no clouds beneath his feet, nor were Moses and Elijah at his side. But that did not matter. He had already unsealed three Holy Marks, and one of the silver clasps on the Holy Shroud had come undone. His status was steadily rising. He believed that this clergyman, who had some skill and had managed to find Ghost Rider, should be able to see something in him.

"Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Father, if you wish to demonstrate your devotion, now is the time to bow." He said, "They say the entire magical world knows I was born seventeen years ago. I am Harry Potter in the flesh. If you could find Johnny Blaze, that means you have some connection to magic, so you should have heard about this."

"Sixteen years. Christmas has not arrived yet." Father Morlu lifted his head and glared at Salomon. "Sixteen years ago, in New York, someone ascended to Heaven. By the time we arrived, the woman was gone, and so was the child. All we found in the parking lot were gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Someone had welcomed that child’s birth with the rites due a king, a priest, and a savior. We spoke with that priest. If you are that child, then you are the one we have been searching for all this time. It seems you were adopted by the wizard who stole the Holy Shroud, which is why you still have not fully mastered the power that should be yours. Look at yourself. Can you turn water into wine now? Can you cure leprosy? Can you calm storms? Can you walk upon water?"

"With enough effort, probably. What my father, who abandoned me and took my birth mother’s life, left me taught me a great deal. I think I will certainly be able to do those things someday—at the very least, I can turn water into wine right now." Salomon shrugged, and the sacred aura swiftly vanished. He would not keep too many Holy Marks open for too long. Ever since his skin had burned off when he was eight, he had formed that habit. Going bald again would not be good.

Yet Father Morlu scoffed at his answer. "Not with magic, but with your own power! Look at you—you reek from head to toe of that damned stench of magic! Now, have your people release me and come with me. I will help you and set you upon the path you are meant to walk. And what the hell is this, a printout?"

Salomon gestured for the Artificial Human to release the Black priest. Morlu stood up and rubbed his shoulder. "This woman is damn strong." Half suspicious, he took the paper Salomon handed him. "What is this? A high school report card?"

"My theology grades. Although I studied the 1611 King James Version of the Bible, I think this is enough to make the point. Forgive me, I did not mean to show off my grades in front of Sunday school students. I only just went on break before handling this matter." The Arcanist waved the photograph in his hand. "Now, I need to find this boy. Or rather, I need to find someone who needs this boy."

"Sorry, sorry, can I say something?" Johnny Blaze walked over, rubbing his eyes. Earlier, when Salomon had released the Holy Marks, Johnny had seen a brilliant white light on him. The Spirit of Vengeance within him had completely quieted, and the hatred that had clung to his soul suddenly vanished. But it was only temporary. Once the light disappeared, that sensation slowly returned.

"What exactly are you trying to do?" he asked. "And what do I have to do to get rid of that insane soul?"

"I can help you." Father Morlu motioned for Salomon to remain silent for the moment. "I can help you cast the devil out of your body, but first you must help me find that boy. Where is the photo… give me the photo… This boy is the child of the devil you made a deal with. You and that devil have a connection. Follow your instincts, and you will find him. We must find the boy and save him, because the devil’s flesh has already decayed. He needs a new body to carry his evil soul."

"That happens to be my goal as well. This will not be the first incarnation of Mephisto I have encountered, nor the only one who has left offspring in the human world. There is another Son of Mephisto in New York. He is now Kamar-Taj’s economic and legal adviser, managing part of its assets." Salomon stepped closer as well. "Kamar-Taj may not necessarily harm this Tiefling, but Mephisto is our primary target. I know he has many aliases, but this is how his true name is pronounced in human speech."

"There are other sons of devils in this world?"

"Mhm. There are many things in this world that people hiding in the mountains and studying the Bible do not know." Salomon lightly mocked the Black priest. "This will not be as easy as you think. If Mephisto’s incarnation has transferred his soul into his offspring’s body, then he is a Trinity—a Trinity needs no further explanation, does it? Unless you sold your Bible for wine, or betrayed the Catholic Church and converted to the French Cathars or the Polish Brethren—both Protestant sects—you must have studied it."

"And you still have not answered my question." Salomon pointed at Johnny Blaze again. "Is anyone helping you hide your tracks?"

"Finding him was easy enough. He has been wandering around this area the whole time," the Black priest said. "Magic not working so well now, huh? Our organization has formidable technological and financial resources. Hacking a few cameras and facial recognition systems is no problem. Ever since he appeared on television, our organization has been tracking him. We are the true Roman Church, commanding inquisitions across the world. We answer only to the true Pope, not that old man elected after taking bribes. Does your wizard organization have that kind of power?"

Salomon rolled his eyes, too lazy to respond to the priest’s boasting.

"Oh, no, right?" Father Morlu danced in tiny steps around the Arcanist. "You should come to our organization and learn. That is your destiny. Once this is over, you will study under me."

"In your dreams, you bunch of child-fucking scum." Salomon shoved the irritating man aside and spoke to the Artificial Human. "Dinah, S.H.I.E.L.D. will be here soon. Contact Agent Romanoff and see if she can delay the strike team."

"Yes, Master."

"No, I can’t, Salomon." Natasha’s helplessness was obvious even through the receiver. "The strike team left long ago. The World Security Council wants an Ability Enhancer—do not ask why they call it such a stupid name; that is simply what they call them. Bruce Banner is with Stark, the Captain is protected by Nick Fury, and Thor is an alien, so the World Security Council wants a superpowered individual they can control. Johnny Blaze is such a fitting candidate. He has attachments, he has abilities—he is practically the perfect target. Especially since Fury himself is leading this operation. I cannot make the Airbus slow down."

"But the targets I assigned to S.H.I.E.L.D. were those Devil Worshipping Cults and various arms dealers, not Ghost Rider. Why not have the World Security Council go after Abomination? He should still be in S.H.I.E.L.D.’s cold storage." Salomon idly ground a plastic wrapper beneath his shoe. Father Morlu stood some distance away, watching him with a mocking expression and taking occasional swigs of alcohol.

"You and Dinah said you wanted to speak with me, but this is the result?"

"Your Artificial Human only repeats the same few lines over and over. Talking to her cannot solve anything. Besides, Abomination is extremely uncontrollable. The World Security Council does not trust Abomination."

The Arcanist pursed his lips. He did not know why Kamar-Taj’s stewards had yet to appear. Perhaps they had already found Mephisto’s incarnation? Salomon could not be certain. He could only confirm it in the next call. "Ghost Rider is no different," he said. "If he insists on having Ghost Rider, then all I can do is wish him luck—trying to control something that cannot possibly be controlled. Typical S.H.I.E.L.D."

"There is another option: reveal your identity. Nick Fury expected you would say that."

"Then he has two choices as well: die by the sword or die by the gun."

"Ha, he expected you would say that too. He wants you to rest assured that he has never revealed your identity."

"It had better be so." Salomon looked toward the priest. Father Morlu waved a hand, indicating that he had overheard something. The Arcanist returned the gesture with a middle finger. "Then tell him that I need Ghost Rider right now. Before my business is finished, anyone who comes looking for trouble will not end well."

"Well? What did S.H.I.E.L.D. say?" Seeing Salomon hang up, Father Morlu jumped down from the crate. "Are they unreliable?"

"What about you?"

"I told you, I represent the Church’s position on this matter. What do you want? Armed support? Technical support?"

"I only need to find Mephisto’s incarnation. Kamar-Taj will deal with him."

"We want to take the boy to a monastery, where we will purify him. Then no matter what the devil wants to do, he will be unable to do it. We both need the Rider, do we not? Why can we not help one another with this?"

"Deal. I want the adult; you want the child."

"Deal. Also, none of the support I just mentioned is available."

"Fuck you!"

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