Titans of Justice Unlimited #96 - “The Heretic”
Written by: Scotty2Hotty
Editing & Maxi-micros by: Power Guy


Several years ago…

“Mom, these are all cataloged and ready to be shipped back to the museum.” Cassie Sandsmark called to her mother. Helena Sandsmark surveyed her daughter’s work.





“Good job. I’ll make an archaeologist out of you yet.” She smiled.

“Don’t count on it.” Cassie laughed.

Cassie had been travelling around the world with her mother ever since Superboy had disappeared. The duo had arrived in Spain to curate some religious artifacts that had been recently discovered when an ancient, abandoned cathedral had been demolished.

“Those are some pretty freaky looking items you have there.” Cassie said to her mother.

“These are rumored to have belonged to Brother Blood back in the 1500s.” Helena explained, showing her daughter a chalice covered in tiny skulls and jewels along with a golden scepter, covered in jeweled snakes.

“Looks like something he would have used.” Cassie replied.

“The Vatican has requested these. The legend is that they further corrupt and possess the already wicked of heart. I found a text that even says Brother Blood’s spirit lives on in these creepy things.”

“Hmmm, better put them down then, Mom, hahahahaha!” Cassie laughed.

Helena rolled her eyes at her daughter’s comments. “I guess you’re going out tonight…again.”

“I am.”

“I wish you’d give this up. If Superboy doesn’t want to be found, I’d say he’s hidden himself well. You’ve searched all over Europe. Why don’t you give him space? When he’s ready to return, he will.” Helena said, putting her arm around her daughter.

“I don’t know. I have a feeling…a bad feeling that something’s happened to him. I won’t be long.”

Helena kissed her daughter’s cheek and wished her luck. She was proud at her daughter’s determination, but feared her broken heart would never heal. Helena wrapped up a few relics and shut off her laptop.

“Professor Sandsmark!” came a voice. “I uploaded all the photos of the artifacts we aren’t keeping.”

“Good work Drew. You’re the best intern I’ve ever had!”

Drew Allison had been interning with the professor all summer. He was a student at a seminary school in London and he had enjoyed the internship searching for religious artifacts.

“Thanks Professor. You know, I’m really sad my time with you is ending. I’ve learned so much from you this summer. It gives me a better understanding of how these items can make people feel closer to God.”

“I can’t complain. You can count on a glowing recommendation from me. Look, we’ve got everything catalogued. Why don’t we have one last dinner before you return to London and I go home? On me, of course.”

“I’d love it!”

The two of them closed shop and made their way to an outdoor café and enjoyed dinner. Helena’s phone rang.

“Drew, excuse me. It’s the Vatican contact about the Brother Blood items. I’ll be back.” She said, excusing herself to take the call.

Drew watched the other customers at the café, enjoying the summer night and excited about returning to London for his final year in school. Before long, he would be doing what he felt he was called to do and spread the message of God.

“Drew? Drew Allison?” a voice said. Drew turned in his seat. “Claudio? What are you doing here?”

Claudio Argento had been enrolled with Drew, but had been suspended recently.

“I’ve been traveling, trying to find a way back into school.”

“We were all worried about you.”

“I know. I messed up. My grades dropped…..I thought I wanted to become a priest..but now…I don’t know. Plus I owe the school money and I can’t transfer. They won’t release my transcript.”

“I’m sorry. I wish I could help.’ Drew replied.

“Enough about me and my troubles. What have you been up to?”

Drew explained that he had been working for Professor Sandsmark and about some of the ancient relics they discovered. “We even found some items allegedly used by Brother Blood from the 1500s. Scary stuff. We’re shipping it off to the Vatican.”

“I’ll say. I remember that seminar we attended about the Church of Brother Blood.”

“Claudio, I hope your troubles ease up.”

“I’m sure they will. One way or another. Good to see you.” Claudio said farewell to his friend and disappeared into the night. His mind raced as he walked the streets. “I could break in….steal some of those relics. On the black market, I could make enough to pay off the school and get on with my life. I’m not cut out to become a priest anyway.” He went back and forth about what to do. Finally he made his way to the site where Drew had been working. He slipped through the darkness peeking into the mobile trailers until he found where the artifacts were wrapped for shipment. “I’ll take just a few…..”

He quickly jimmied the lock on the door and looked around. He saw some old crucifixes and tiled mosaics. He started filling his backpack when a big box caught his eye. He noticed it was addressed to the Vatican. “These must be the items from Blood’s church. I could get all kinds of money for those—sell them in Portugal near that section of town the underworld controls.” He thought. “No, better to leave those alone.”

He continued digging through the ancient artifacts, but his eye kept returning to the box that held the Blood items.

His curiosity got the better of him and he tore open the box. He removed the packing materials and his eyes widened at the chalice and scepter. He was hesitant to pick the scepter up, but he felt something…..something urging him on. His hand trembled as he reached for it, his fingers cold as the picked up the scepter. Suddenly he felt a dread energy pulsate through his body. His mind felt as if it were on fire. Screams of the damned echoed through his head and he felt heat rising through his body. He dropped the scepter and gasped. He slumped over, holding on to the table. He perked up as he heard a voice coming from outside.

“No worries, Dr. Sandsmark. Probably just another cat that got in. See you in the morning.” Came Drew Allison’s voice. Helena had been contacted that the security system detected an intruder in the trailer, but didn’t take it seriously. Several cats had gotten in over the summer often triggering the system. Drew entered the trailer and saw his former classmate.

“Claudio? What’s going on?” he noticed Claudio was pale….sweating.

“Drew….get away….run….”

“Claudio, sit down! What happened? You shouldn’t be in here!”

Claudio sat down, trembling. “Let me get you some water.” Drew said, turning to the water cooler.

Claudio picked the scepter up from the floor and turned towards Drew.

***

The next morning, Helena and Cassie made their way to the trailer to finalize some business before returning to the United States. Cassie stopped to chat with some of the crew as her mother entered the trailer. She took off with the speed of Hermes when she heard her mother scream.

“Mom! Mom, what is it?” Cassie cried, reaching her mother’s side.

“In…in there……” Helena sobbed gesturing towards a door.

Cassie prepared for the worst as she opened the door. She gasped, covered her face with her hands, and stepped back. Her mind could not process what her eyes were seeing. There was Drew, stripped naked and crucified. Both of his eyes were gone and blood covered his body.

***

“Who would do such a thing?” Helena sobbed. “Everyone loved Drew.”

The Police had arrived as did the paramedics. Drew’s body had been taken to the morgue.

“Professor Sandsmark, we have footage from the surveillance cameras…but whoever did this….I can’t explain it. It…it’s as if they magically removed themselves from the footage……” the shaken detective replied.

Cassie joined her mother. “Mom, the box you were shipping to the Vatican is gone.”

“Professor, what was in the box?” the detective asked.

“Relics…..relics from the Church of Brother Blood…”

“Something….or someone….I don’t know…must have known about the relics and wanted them. Drew had the misfortune of encountering them……Professor Sandsmark, this does not bode well. Take your daughter and go home….go before something else happens.”

“Mom, I can stay. I’ll find who did this to Drew. I’ll call Gar and the others. They’ll help me.”

“No. I want you with me. How will I tell Drew’s family…..and the school…..Oh why did this have to happen to him?” Helena sobbed.

Cassie held her mother while she cried.

***

Portugal(months later)…

“And in other news, the search continues for former porn star turned politician, Gabriella Fortenza.” The small black and white TV crackled.

“It must be a comfort to know that someone cares for you despite your sins.” The muffled voice said.

The woman known as Gabriella Fortenza was on her knees, her hands tied above her head, her mouth duct tape shut. She tried to scream as her eyes bulged.

“You see, I too sinned. I tried to steal to correct my mistakes. I saw the error of my ways. And you will too. Through pain and suffering, you shall be redeemed.“ The Heretic said, producing a scalpel from a black bag with an upside down crucifix emblazoned on it. Gabriella saw a silver table covered with medical instruments. She tried to scream. The Heretic arranged the instruments as he sang an Italian hymn. He walked over to her and stroked her cheek.





“ You defiled the Temple of God. You must pay for your sins.” He brought a scalpel down across her abdomen as he read aloud from the Bible. She squirmed as tears poured from her eyes.

He continued slashing and hacking away at her as the white pages of the Bible were covered in blood. He released her from her bonds and she tried to crawl away.

“Why do you flee? God has a plan for you! Are you so foul you choose not to hear it? Just as I thought.” He quietly said, dragging the panicked, whimpering woman back.

Hours later, Gabriella Fortenza’s body was found, crucified upside down near the city square. She had been disemboweled and her eyes removed.

***

The present…

Claudio Argento sat in the bar drinking sangria. He felt someone staring him down and turned.

“I knew I’d find you here.” Paranoia smiled. The bar was in a very rough section of the city and even the police kept their distance. “Don’t worry, I know all about you. I’m not here to give you any trouble.”





“Oh? And just what do you know about me?”

“See for yourself.” the daughter of Phobia said, handing him a packet of various photos of himself torturing his victims. “Nice work by the way. My associates and I have a proposition for you.”

“I work alone. And be thankful I don’t know your sins.”

“Ha, I assure you they are many…..just as yours are. We know how you stole the Brother Blood relics, my associates in the Brotherhood and I. And we’re quite interested in someone of your talents. We will provide you protection as well as keeping you well stocked with…..sinners.”

“What’s in it for me?”

“Brother Blood was recently killed during in yet another one of those earth shattering crisis messes. My group wishes to visit the site of his abandoned church and harness his power source for ourselves. With your particular connection to him, we believe you would be instrumental in accomplishing our goal. Surely you have seen the horrors those….costumed blasphemers have brought down upon us! Don’t you wish to see them pay for their sins?”

The man known as the Heretic thought for a moment. “Yes, yes…it’s my job….my task to see that they pay for their sins against Brother Blood—and God.”

“Splendid.” Paranoia’s twisted grin spread across her face as she joined her new teammate for more sangria.


THE END!