by Kelly Hagen
Daren pulling apart her shirt played on repeat. Like a movie stuck on a scene that had been watched way too many times she became stuck in that one moment, in that one spot. How could he? Why did he? Where is he? All were questions left without any answers.
The demons around her laughed. Delighted in her pain. They fed off it. Grew strength off her fear and sorrow. Melti was among them. “What now, dear girl?” he asked. Though Celeste hadn’t heard Melti’s question, she answered all the same.
“I know I should’ve asked you sooner,” Celeste said. All the evilness around her held their putrid misty breathe and set on edge as they listened. Waiting for her surrender.
It didn’t come.
“Help me, Lord.”
“NO!!!” Melti screamed.
Celeste flinched at the growl of displeasure that filled her ears, and pulled her knees close, hugging them as tightly as she could.
A warmth. The same warmth she’d felt before enveloped her. Bits at a time the darkness was driven away until no space was not engulfed by glorious light. Shrieks, curses, and screams could be heard, but she was unable to see from where they came. The three glowing beings standing around her blocked everything else. A wall stood between her and whatever was on the other side. For that, she was thankful.
“Celeste, we must go.”
She looked up. Eyes as deep and dark as the abyss somehow extended comfort as they bore into her. “Nolan?”
“Yes. You are safe now. But we must get you out of here.”
Shock held relief at bay, but her body responded anyway.
“Where am I?”
“You are in the basement of Daren’s house. He is upstairs, asleep. Follow me.”
One step at a time they climbed the long wooden staircase. It wobbled beneath her weight, just as her knees did. At last, the door that had hidden her crushed body away from the world opened. Freedom was only a few steps away.
Or was it?
The possibility of this night holding her trapped inside herself forever was real. It would never be forgotten.
Nolan opened the front door. Celeste stepped out. An angel on either side and one behind. But she could go no farther. Her eyes widened. Hideous creatures of all sizes and shapes hissed and lunged in her direction.
“They won’t get to you as long as we’re here. Keep focused on the Creator and pray. Everything will be fine.”
Celeste gulped.
“Pray, Celeste.” Nolan encouraged. But could she pray to a Creator that turned His back to her attack?
Doubt felt a tug, though small, it was enough. He slithered towards Celeste, only to be pushed back by the electric pulses from Reneese’s sword. “You are to come no further.”
Celeste tried to hear what Nolan whispered to the angel behind them, but her mind just wasn’t able to comprehend what was going on before her. These things, these horrid beings. These demons. They did exist. The fight was real. Good and evil were before her. No longer could either side be ignored. No longer could she put these creatures in a fairy-tale, make-believe world. No longer.
Her mom had been right. Her young self was not ready for this.
Necklim stood guard over Katelyn and Trevor a couple of hours before receiving word of Celeste’s call for help. Nalof informed him of the masses of demons that surround Mack and Daren’s home.
Finding out Nolan had already had a confrontation with Melti was a bit of a surprise. It seemed not only the small demons and spirits were on edge, but all of them were. Melti had held his cool much better nineteen years ago. The lead demon having a slip up hadn’t crossed Necklim’s mind. Melti’s hunger for vengeance might be his final downfall.
Nalof left to return to Nolan and Reneese, leaving Necklim and Malkia to guide Katelyn and Trevor to their daughter.
“We need to get Katelyn and Trevor to Daren’s as soon as possible. Celeste is outside and waiting.”
Necklim’s sudden brightness filled the room. “Katelyn, we must go. Celeste needs you.”
There were no questions asked, only hurried obedience. She grabbed Trevor's arm, “We have to go.” They raced out the door. Katelyn slipped behind the wheel of the car and followed the glowing light that was her Warrior.
Necklim didn’t know if Celeste would be able to see everything her mom was taking in when they pulled up. Though she probably would feel it. He’d been told she had a sense for that kind of thing now. He could believe that.
More than just the disappearance of the sun blotted out the moon’s soft glow. Eyes – yellow, green, and red in color – followed not only Necklim’s every move but the car behind him as well. Knowing who sat within the moving structure, no doubt had them all a little high strung, uneasy.
Most were there that night, long ago. Seeing Latar, their leader, destroyed, wouldn’t have been easily swept from their memories. Neither, though, would the victory of the prize in front of them.
Necklim’s wings flapped gently as he lowered at the end of Daren’s drive. Katelyn rolled to a stop next to him. “This is as far as I can go,” he said. “Pull up to the front of the house. Celeste is there with Nolan.”
If Katelyn could see what surrounded them, she didn’t say. Not that she would. She didn’t cower easily. Necklim knew that. She’d come far in her journey. In her life. In her belief. She knew to whom she belonged, and she wasn’t afraid of what her Lord had already beaten.
As he watched the scene unfold before him, he was taken back in time. A car. A girl. A two-story house. The sky full of demons, even more so full of heavenly Warriors yet to be seen. All so familiar. All so surreal.
Katelyn let the car roll to a stop. The door swung open, and she jumped out and hurried in her daughter's direction. Necklim kept alert and his hand on the handle of his sword. Things were going too smoothly. What are you up to, Melti?
He didn’t like the calmness. He nodded to his fellow Warriors. “Ever ready,” he warned.
Chapter 20
There amid three Warriors stood her daughter, shoulders slightly hunched over. Her shirt, torn, hung in a disheveled fashion. Beautiful black hair that had been neatly held high off her neck a few hours ago rested loosely next to her ear. Green eyes, so full of life and innocence, now darted back and forth with an undesirable knowledge.
Katelyn grabbed Celeste and pulled her in close. “It’s okay. I’m here. I’ve got you. I love you.”
Never in Katelyn’s life had she remembered a time when her heart had been full of so much hurt, pain. Uncontrollable sobs had her body trembling. For a moment, she let herself grieve what was taken away from her daughter. For a moment, she let her love flow through streams over her cheeks and onto her daughter’s head.
And then Katelyn straightened herself and looked at Celeste. “Are you okay?”A dumb question but she had to ask. “We need to get you to the hospital.”
Katelyn turned to Trevor, his tilted head and narrow-eyes confirmed he again wasn’t able to see what she could. Maybe that was for the best? “Trevor, we need to get her to the hospital.”
“I’m not going anywhere just yet, Mom. I know you can see what’s out there, just like I can. You need to fight. You need to pray.”
Katelyn looked at her daughter. “And you need to be seen by a doctor.”
“I will, Mom. After you take care of business.” Her daughter's smile eased a little bit of the brokenness.
She watched as Nolan folded Celeste under his protective wing. “Reneese and I will watch over her, and I’ll send Nalof with you. Go”
“I’ll stay with her as well,” Trevor said, knowing Katelyn struggled with doing what needed to be done. “No, Dad. I’m fine. These tough guys will keep me safe. Go with, Mom.”
Katelyn nodded her agreement. If Celeste wanted, needed some time, they'd give it. Knowing Warriors were with her made that decision a little easier. “Come on, Trevor.”
A silent prayer for her daughter's heart floated up towards heaven as she turned and walked a few steps away.
To bad for them, that didn’t bother her anymore.
Arms stretched towards heaven, her silent praise and prayers turned into whispers that ended in a bold authority. Messing with her was one thing. Messing with her child was another.
The face. It was a funny, yet complicated thing. It had a way of masking the real emotions housed inside a person — a way of distorting the truth. Humans always tended to take things at face value. Never having the desire to dig deeper into the actual, real soul of a person. For it was there where the pain, emptiness, joy, love was found. It was there the person existed.
Nolan looked past the mask Celeste’s face held. Past the brave girl, she was trying to be, deep into her soul. Pain was alive and well, swelling, gaining more momentum like a raging sea fighting against the forceful winds. His heart, though heavenly, ached at what he saw inside.
“Celeste?”
The girl didn’t move. Didn’t take her eyes from the woman standing a little way in front of them. “I’ll never be like her.”
Nolan’s stare froze Deception in his tracks. He would not allow them to get anywhere near his charge again. “That’s good.”
He looked out at Katelyn. A fire had been ignited and was burning brightly, mesmerizing like the flicker of flames.
“What do you mean, good?” His statement had puzzled his charge.
“You were not meant to be like her. You my dear, Celeste are not your mom. She is not you.”
“She’s so confident.”
“She wasn’t always so sure of herself, Celeste. You shouldn’t judge when you don’t know the whole story.”
“Not sure I want to.”
“You’re living out your own.”
“Yeah.”
A towering dark figure landed with such heaviness the ground in front of them shook. Nolan positioned the girl behind him. His wings spread out, separating the creature from his target. “Melti.”
“Nolan. Must you prolong the inevitable? Hand her over, and we’ll be on our way.”
“Never going to happen.”
Celeste's hope was draining, like a plug that had held it in place had been pulled, freeing it to twist and twirl into oblivion.
Nolan didn’t bother with hushed tones anymore. The time for that had passed. He spoke, concern in his voice. Urgency pushing the words from his mouth through the air in front of him and into the ears of his charge.
Melti pulled his sword from its sheath, with slow movements. The look of pure hell on his contoured face. “Ready to play, Heavenly Warrior?”
Nolan stepped forward. Reneese took his place guarding Celeste.
“No, Melti. But I am ready to fight.”
Celeste gently pushed Reneese’s wings off to the side. If a fight was going to happen because of her, she wanted to witness it at least.
Melti stepped forward, Nolan's tan skin moved with the tense muscles underneath it. His shoulders rotated in tiny circular motions several times before the sword in his hand pointed towards the sky above. “For the Worthy!” he shouted, then lunged towards the creature in front of him. Swords struck each either mid-air. Clashing like metal workers hammering their vision into submission, fitting each imperfect piece against the next until it comes out as one of perfection.
Perfection. That’s what Nolan was to her. Powerful. Beautiful. Wise. Loving. All the things she felt she wasn’t worthy of. How could such a perfect being go into battle for one so imperfect? All the times she pushed away his words of encouragement. All the times she closed off her heart to receive his guidance. Why had the Lord wanted to fight for her at all?
Immersed in her thoughts, the fight blurred in the close distance. It had to be love. What else could it be? One so willing to fight for one so undeserving. Her memory took her back to what she had last read in the Bible. A man. Beaten, bruised, laughed at, mocked, had been placed on a wooden cross, left there to die. He was innocent but found guilty. He had the power to remove Himself from that burden, from the curse – though He did no such thing. For there, He died. Why? What held Him there? She could find no other answer, but the one she started with.
Love.
Swords swayed hitting the armor of the one on its opposite end. Celeste watched in disbelief as Melti overtook Nolan. Pushing his towering body over with his own. Nolan lay on the ground, Melti’s sword to his throat. His words were taunting the Warrior beneath him.
Celeste’s breath couldn’t find its way out of her lungs, like it was stuck in a maze, lost, not knowing which way to turn.
“Help him!” She screamed, but Reneese didn’t move. “I’m sorry I can’t leave you. My orders are to stay with you.”
“Orders?” Did she hear his words correctly? She couldn’t have.
Her hands shook. Her mind raced. I have to help him somehow. I have to do something! Against her better judgment, she placed one foot in front of the other, only to be stopped after three steps. “What are you doing? Let me go! If you won’t help him, then I will!”
Melti’s voice, sinister, followed her declaration. “Isn’t that sweet. She thinks she can save you, Nolan.” Melti’s horrid laugh was like a smack in the face.
“Pray, Celeste.” She could hardly hear Nolan, through the noise, through her fears.
“I don’t know if I can.”
“You can. You must.”
Nolan's words had become more faint with each one spoken.
She looked up at Reneese, his once gray eyes now a golden glow. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help his fellow Warrior. It was that he couldn’t. She could see that now. Orders had to be obeyed. It’s what kept things in order.
“Will my prayers really help him?”
“They will.”
Chapter 21
Late. It was too late. Celeste's eyes widened, her heart hammered, a cry filled the air but did nothing to stop the glowing red sword held by the leathery, clawed hand from plunging through the chest of the Warrior beneath it. Her Warrior.
The world around her grew silent as each angel and demon looked upon the injured Angel, sword still sticking up, held in place by the muscles it had sliced through.
Celeste ran to Nolan. Not caring about the evil that still stood over him. The wetness from the dew on the grass soaked through her jeans as she fell at Nolan’s side. Muddy stains would now forever be woven into the faded blue fabric. Such is how she felt — a soiled soul. One stained with the awful truth of a world she didn’t know existed. A world with such evil, yet a world with much love. How could that be?
“Nolan.” She ran her hand across his forehead and down his cheek.
His eyes fluttered, “Pray, Celeste.”
A battle waged within. Would the Lord hear her prayers? “Will they be heard, Nolan?”
“You know what you have to do.”
And she did. But she struggled all the same. Pride was a powerful tool of the enemy. She placed her hand on the armor that covered almost all of Nolan's chest. Almost. “I don’t know if I can forgive Daren. The Lord isn’t fond of unforgiveness.”
How Nolan could smile at a time like this was beyond her reasoning. “No,” he said. “I imagine you can’t.” Nolan sucked in a breath before he continued. The prayers of others were felt, but it was a slow process. So much evil, so many small battles being fought, so much coverage needed over and around this one place had his healing process on slow. Celeste's prayers would help. He had to keep talking.
“But the Lord can. He will help you.”
“Oh yes, I’m sure the Lord will help a guilt-ridden girl like her. One full of shame and well, you heard it your self, unforgiveness.” Melti laughed. “I’ll leave you two to say your goodbyes, but I’ll be back for you. You will be mine before the night is through.” A hiss like a snake coiled around her, tightening until breath could not escape. She watched him move away. No doubt going after her mother. She looked back to Nolan. His eyes were closed.
�
��How does the Lord know anything about forgiveness?” she muttered. The question absentmindedly flowed through her lips before she even thought about it. The answer was already known. “He forgives us.”
Nolan nodded his head in agreement. “Yes. He does.”
Celeste bowed her head, pushing back all the thoughts and feelings that vied for her attention. Only one thing mattered right now — her soul – and where it stood with its Creator.
“Father, forgive me,” Celeste whispered. Tears streamed down her face as she continued to pray. Until finally, tense muscles started to relax. She didn’t realize how much she’d missed talking with the Lord. Her Lord. Her Creator. The One that gave her strength. The One that filled her with unspeakable peace. It felt good. The shame, hurt, pain, the guilt were all being washed away.
Praise flowed. Demons cried out at the unseen weapon hitting them with such powerful blows. Nolan had wrapped his hand around hers, grip renewed. He was growing stronger. She felt it. His dark eyes now glowed with the same golden hue as Reneese’s.
He was back. Her Warrior was back.
“How do you feel, Celeste?”
“Better. Like a freshly washed garment. Dirt and grime no longer a part of it.”
“Forgiven?”
Celeste nodded her head. “Forgiven.”
Melti landed in front of Katelyn. The blonde-haired, white-winged Warrior behind her might be enough to scare off a lesser demon. Not him. He was not Ackmen. He would not run and hide.
No, instead he would conquer this woman. Winning one Burnsten would accomplish much, but it simply wasn’t enough for Melti. He wanted Katelyn as well. He wanted to end the prayers, the praise that was continually offered towards Heaven, and focus it on him. He’d allow the trouble she’d caused to be erased from his memory, once she and her beloved daughter bowed down to him.
A tingle coursed through his muscles, they bulged under his skin. His senses had awakened more than they ever had. Tonight would be a good night. Tonight the enemy would fall. Tonight would be his.