“I was so selfish. I never allowed myself to understand what he really did and why he did it.” Mick looks at his mother. “Pop loved you so much—he was willing to live out the rest of his days in misery rather than see you suffer another minute. But he never killed himself. He stayed the course, toughing it out. He did it—for me.”

Mick turns to face Dominique, inching closer, caressing her cheek in one hand, gripping the dagger in the other. “I understand now. What my father did—killing his soul mate—putting her out of her misery. He chose the more difficult road—he made the ultimate sacrifice.”

Maria smiles. “It is time for you to make the same sacrifice, Michael.”

Dominique releases her grip as Mick presses the point of the blade to his chest. He gazes at the heavens, his emotions, so long bottled up, pouring out from his heart. “Pop, I love you! Do you hear me, Pop! I love you—I forgive you!”

His dark eyes bore into Dominique’s, two ebony beacons searching her soul. His chest stops sobbing, his throat tightening as the blood vessels in his neck constrict with rage. “I am Hunahpu—” he bellows, his eyes widening, “and I know who you are!”

In one swift motion, Mick turns and plunges the knife into Dominique’s throat, the blow knocking her off her feet and onto her back. Mick pushes deeper, a black silicon-like substance oozing from her neck as he twists the blade sideways, intent on decapitating his foe.

The creature writhes in agony, grunting, growling, its skin shriveling, darkening to a burnt vermilion, the disguise shedding before Mick’s eyes.

With a warrior’s yell, Michael Gabriel severs the demon’s head from its body.

The being masquerading as his mother hisses at him, the golden slits within her crimson eyes blazing hatred, her fanged mouth dripping black venom.

In one motion Mick wheels around and slams the obsidian blade into the Under Lord’s heart.

The flesh sears from Maria’s face, revealing scorched satanic features for a split second before its matter decomposes into ash.

Dominique screams as the body of the alien serpent vaporizes in front of her eyes. She clutches her heart and faints before Chaney can reach her.

Aboard the John C. Stennis

CNO Jeffrey Gordon trains his binoculars on the floating alien pod as the Tomahawk explodes along its metallic hull. “That last missile detonated! The shield’s down—continue firing!”

A volley of TLAM cruise missiles are launched. As the admiral watches, the projectiles slam into the iridium vessel, blasting it into oblivion.

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

The Great Mayan Ball Court is gone. Michael Gabriel is standing alone within an emerald vortex of energy, the tunnel-like cylinder revolving a billion revolutions a minute.