Chapter 39

“Argh!” Judas yelled and yanked his hand away. Holding it up to his chest, he looked down at it and saw a smoking imprint of the cross perfectly burned into his palm. He looked up at Father Jon, his eyes full of anger. “What the hell are you trying to do to me?”

“You were trying to deceive me. Do you think I’m stupid or something? You’re every bit as evil as that devil Lupercus.”

“No, I’m not.”

“There’s the proof right there,” he said, pointing to his hand.

“You don’t understand.” Judas hesitated, and then said, “My soul…half of it is white. Lupercus barely has a soul, and over time it has become as black as death.”

“Your soul is pure…I mean, half of it?”

“I’m not sure I’d call it pure, but yes, half of my soul is as…pure, or white…whatever you want to call it, as yours.”

Father Jon leaned closer to Judas and peered at him with a suspicious, angled look. “Is this another lie?”

Judas shook his head. “I’m half mortal.”