Free Damned If You Do by Marie Sexton Page B

inexplicable determination toward the front of the tent. There were rat snakes, Florida pine snakes, and corn snakes. Those were harmless enough, but mixed in among them, Abaddon spotted copperheads, cottonmouths, rattlers, and coral snakes, plus half a dozen other species that he couldn’t identify on sight.
    Seth descended the steps from the stage alone, undoing the top two buttons of his shirt as he did. He pulled the ever-present scarf from his neck and tucked it into his pocket, and the snakes surged forward.
    Some of the congregants had followed Abaddon’s example and climbed onto their chairs for a better view. Others pushed forward in their excitement. Seth sank to his knees, his arms stretching forward to the floor, as if to meet the wave of reptiles.
    â€œSeth!” Abaddon yelled, but Seth couldn’t hear him over the din of the crowd. A frantic glance around the tent at the other Rainbow Revival members alarmed him even more. None of them were moving to help. The choir was singing “I Stand Amazed”. Thaddeus and Bob stood on the stage behind Seth, their eyes practically glowing with excitement. And Zed…
    Zed stood to the side. He alone looked unhappy with the drama unfolding before them, but he didn’t move to stop it.
    The snakes went straight to Seth. They climbed his arms. They slithered into his lap. They writhed up his spine to wrap around his neck. The smaller ones circled around him, like a pack of wolves surrounding their prey.
    â€œSeth!” Abaddon jumped off his seat, pushing the spectators out of his way. He shoved forward, determined to reach Seth before the snakes started biting, but the mortals were enraptured by the sight, frozen in their awe. He pushed harder, not caring if he knocked them over in his haste. He finally reached the aisle, but two of the Rainbow Revivalists blocked him, grabbing his arms to hold him back.
    â€œHelp him!” Abaddon screamed toward Zed.
    Zed hung his head, looking almost ashamed.
    â€œGoddamn it, let me go!”
    But more of the Rainbow members had seen the struggle and moved forward to help subdue him. Seth was now lost beneath the snakes, only his hands and parts of his face visible. It was so unnatural, like something out of a bad horror movie, and Abaddon gritted his teeth. Power bubbled up from the well that resided where his soul used to be. It surged down his arms, tingled in his fingertips. He clenched his fists, debating the wisdom of using it against the mortals who held him.
    â€œBrother Abaddon,” Zed said, suddenly next to him. “I promise you, the boy will not be harmed.”
    â€œHow can you say that? How can you just stand here and watch?”
    â€œI appreciate your concern, but the phenomenon is almost over.”
    â€œThe phenomenon?” Abaddon’s anger flared again, this time directed at Zed, but when he looked toward Seth, he saw that Zed was right. As suddenly as they’d arrived, the snakes seemed to be losing interest in Seth. Those still on the ground headed for the door, as if they could read the glowing exit sign. The ones draped over Seth’s body dipped toward the floor, abandoning their perch, fleeing for the Alabama woods.
    The crazy thing was, of the Rainbow Revival members, only Seth and Zed looked relieved. The rest seemed strangely disappointed.
    â€œWhat the hell?” Abaddon asked of nobody in particular. “What the fuck just happened?”
    Thaddeus was already preaching again, shouting about how the righteous would be known by their ability to control serpents. Reverend Bob jangled his tambourine. The crowd raised their hands, crying out their praises. The collection plates appeared.
    â€œIt’s over,” Zed said quietly.
    Seth pushed to his feet, pulling his scarf from his pocket. His friend Jeremy laid his guitar aside and came forward to take Seth’s arm. He ducked his head close, conferring with Seth as the latter wrapped his scarf