by D. F. Jones
Baldric glanced at Michael, who smiled back at him. He turned back to The Creator and said, “After the Carson Jones attack, I made myself known to Sandy, and she tempted me. Oh, Lord, did she tempt me.” The Creator chuckled, and Michael laughed out loud.
Baldric looked between The Creator and Michael. “I fought it, I did. Then last night, at St. Timothy’s, you heard her prayer. You heard mine. I couldn’t deny my love for Sandy any longer. I knew it was against the rules, but honestly, I couldn’t stop myself, and I asked Sandy to be my other half for the rest of eternity. I love her.”
The Spirit of Man and The Prince materialized before Baldric and The Creator. The Spirit of Man said, “I paired them, Lord. Their love is not ordinary; it is extraordinary. I search for signs of love throughout the universe, and when I find true love I want to light the world with it. I’m at fault for breaking the rules. Baldric and Sandy’s love is the rarest of all loves I have ever witnessed. I believe Sandy to be Baldric’s true love and the other half of his soul.” She bowed before The Creator.
The Creator stood from the throne and then sat on the step next to Baldric. The look in His sapphire eyes made Baldric’s chest tighten. He couldn’t breathe. The Creator placed His hand on Baldric’s knee and looked into his eyes. “Son, I know you love Sandy. I have seen the love the two of you share. Be that as it may, we have a much bigger problem at the moment to discuss. Luc holds Sandy prisoner to trap you.”
Baldric paled. Arching his back, Baldric threw his head back and roared, “No! No, God!” He ripped his armor from his chest and screamed, “I’ve failed her. I failed!”
The Creator held onto Baldric’s shoulder. “Listen to me, son. You’re the only one who can save her. Your marking on Sandy is a direct link to help pinpoint her location.” Baldric tried to shake The Creator’s hand loose and couldn’t. “I can’t allow you to go off half-crazed. You have to control your emotions and work with your team to rescue Sandy. Luc holds other wards captive at Arrington Estates in the underground caverns. Are you listening to me?”
Baldric heard The Creator, but every fiber of his being wanted to dematerialize to Luc’s compound. Breathing hard, Baldric said, “I have to rescue my wife.”
The Creator’s hands bore down on Baldric’s shoulders. “Luc is using Sandy to trap you. It is you he wants, not Sandy. He uses many techniques to break his prisoners. She was taken this morning, not an hour after Michael summoned you. Don’t give Michael that look. You did the forbidden, but I’m not dwelling on your breach. I want Sandy back.”
Baldric gritted his teeth as he imagined choking the life out of Luc. “I vow to rescue Sandy and the others.”
The Creator looked at Michael and said, “Escort him to Everglade Farms. The guardians are making plans for a special operation to rescue Sandy and any other wards.”
Michael nodded and said, “As you wish, my Lord.”
“May love light the way.” The Creator vanished.
Baldric hit a dead run for the golden doors and pushed them open. Raizeal and Samian were waiting for him and cast a net over Baldric, knocking him to the ground. Baldric screamed, “Let me go, damn it. I have to save my wife. Let me go.” Baldric punched Raizeal in the mouth and did a roundhouse kick to Samian’s ribs before they secured him.
Michael, Raizeal, and Samian created a circle and ported Baldric to Everglade Farms through the Campbell Ridge Cave portal. Inside the barn, Baldric fought to get out of the net. He yelled, “I’m going to kill anyone who stands in my way and don’t think I’ll forget who’s doing this to me. Let me go.”
Erinelle knelt down beside Baldric and placed her hands on his shoulders. “Place him in the calming chair. His anger is dangerous to us all. Until he can converse with us calmly, we’ll proceed without him.” The pressure Erinelle placed on his neck made him sleep.
* * *
After working for ten years with a commercial outfit out of Nashville, George took his state contractor’s test and opened Champion Electric. The Middle Tennessee area grew so fast that he owned a fleet of trucks and had twenty-five employees on his payroll. He could’ve doubled the size of his business but made the decision to turn down work when he and Lizzie started having problems.
Then Lizzie moved to her mother’s in Florida because she said she needed some space or some shit. He called numerous times and pleaded for her to come home, but she only turned him away.
George opened a large manila envelope from Brock Rogers, attorney at law. He stared at the documents and couldn’t believe his eyes. Lizzie filed for divorce. He thought they’d grow old together. He thought they shared a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. George was wrong.
Lizzie wanted children and blamed him because they didn’t have any. Little Joe’s birth in December sent her over the edge. George went to the doctor and found out he wasn’t shooting blanks. He never told Lizzie, but she must’ve known. Real relationships don’t always end in a happily ever after.
After Lizzie had moved, George hired a part-time bookkeeper and receptionist. Debby was only nineteen, but she had excellent organizational skills and wasn’t hard on the eyes, either. He glanced out his door as she bent over the filing cabinet. Dang. He shook his head. The thought of being single again made him sick. He loved Lizzie. She just didn’t love him enough, and he was tired of calling her. If Lizzie wanted a divorce, then by God, he’d give her one.
George pushed away from the desk and had every intention of marching into the other room and asking Debby out on a date when the door slammed shut by itself. A boy appeared before his eyes, and George thought he was losing his mind. Lizzie had finally driven him insane.
“Get a grip, George. I’m Simon. I’m an angel, and the angel to your right is Celina. She’s your guardian. I mean, come on, George, the stories are real. Don’t you remember Hugh’s hospital room?” Simon looked at Celina.
She shrugged and said, “Memory cleanse.”
Simon sighed and said, “Angels are real. Look, I don’t have time to walk you through this gently. Sandy was kidnapped by one of Lucifer’s men this morning. You’re an electrician, and our team is in the process of screwing up Luc’s compound’s panel box. Your sister seems to think you’ll help us. I need an answer, George.” Simon looked like a ten-year-old kid as he jumped up and waved his hand in front of George’s face.
Celina placed her hand on George’s forearm. “It’s all right, George. Do not be afraid because I am with you.”
George blinked and rubbed his eyes. “What in tarnation? I’m not dreaming you.” He pinched Simon, who punched George in the gut. George let out an ooof and doubled over, gasping for air.
Celina narrowed her eyes at Simon. “You have the finesse of an alley cat.” She turned to George and placed her hands on his shoulders. “George, are you with us?”
George nodded and came to an upright position. “You little shit. Hit me like that again and I’ll knock your ass out.”
Simon laughed and said, “I like you, George. Will you help us? We need to go to the barn. Um, your mom and sister have inducted you into the Campbell Ridge wards. Let me see. Erinelle said I had to give you power. I got it. The power to appear and disappear.” Simon vanished, reappeared behind George, and tapped him on the shoulder.
George nearly jumped out of his skin. “Jesus, you want to give me a freaking heart attack? I’ll do anything for Sandy D. She’s like my little sister, too.”
Simon said, “Great. No time to waste.” Celina grabbed one of George’s hands, and Simon grabbed the other. Seconds later, they materialized inside the barn.
George looked around the barn, stupefied. He’d been in his office and, like magic, he was in his parents’ barn. Angels were everywhere. He glanced over and saw his mom, Ruby, and Reed.
Ruby ran over to her brother and grabbed his hand. “I knew you would come. Look, we’re going to give you a crash course on our powers. It’s okay, Georgie, breathe.” Ruby spoke so swiftly he wondered if he should take notes.
/> Lee draped an arm around his waist. “I tried to keep one of my kids out of the loop for purely selfish reasons. But you’re smart, and I know you won’t do anything stupid like be a hero. We work as a team, or we don’t work. Got it?”
George turned to Reed and said, “If y’all are a part of this incredible other world, why in the heck did you wait so long to include me? Sign me up. I’m all in. Oh, and by the way, my wife is divorcing me.”
All eyes turned to George. Lee said, “I’m sorry. I prayed Lizzie would have a change of heart. Don’t be hard on her. She left to give you a chance at having a family. I tried to talk her out of it. But you’re so crazy around Joe, and she didn’t want you to suffer.”
“If she truly loved me, she’d never have left in the first place. Look, I don’t want to talk about Lizzie. Take me to your leader. I’m ready to kick some demon ass.”
Chapter 10
Greatest Love of All
Driving along the winding country road, Jerry rolled his window halfway down to breathe in fresh air. Springtime was less than a month away, and the burst of warm air would have the buttercups and tulips on the verge of blooming before March. This time last year, he’d been engaged to Rachel Doune, Nelson’s daughter.
Ruby’s grandfather, Joseph Campbell, had died. His death brought Anna home to him. He remembered the moment he set eyes on Anna at Ruby’s house. Anna stood at the door with her suitcase, and they’d locked eyes. They spoke no words because none were needed. He knew he still loved her and couldn’t marry Rachel. Boy, what a whirlwind those few days had been.
He and Anna ran away to her condo in Florida and Rachel followed. Rachel had been possessed by demon angels and pulled a gun on Anna. Anna risked her life to save them all. Anna emitted an incredible glowing light around her physical form that he later learned was the light of love. Demon angels seek the light of love, and Baldric sliced the demons to ash, to the Eternal Darkness.
Baldric, the bad-ass warrior, married Sandy. He didn’t know if he should congratulate Baldric or tell him he was sorry. Sandy continually placed herself in danger for her news stories. Luc kidnapping Sandy seemed unreal. But the guardian training they’d received would prove very useful in their attempts to rescue Sandy.
Anna looked at Jerry and said, “Do you think about Rachel? Things happen for a reason. I believe it. Rachel and Jack are getting married, and we need Nelson. Everything that happened last year has led us to this moment in time to save Sandy.”
Jerry squeezed Anna’s hand. “Yeah, thinking about last year and thanking God daily for having you in my life. I believe things happen for a reason. I know we’re not supposed to question the Almighty. But why didn’t He warn us Sandy was the catalyst in the coming battle that the encrypted message revealed? Maybe I read it wrong.”
Anna slid next to him in the truck cab. “Sandy’s free will lead her to Luc’s book and exposed all those terrible facts about Cole. Good and evil sometimes go hand and hand. I don’t understand the whys. I gave up trying. I concentrate on making decisions which are proactive in the fight against the darkness and the coming battle.” She pointed and waved. “Look, Jerry. Nelson has some new colts in the front lot.”
Jerry turned onto the pebble stone driveway of Nelson Doune Farms, stopped at the gate, and rolled down the window.
Zeke opened the door to the gatehouse and grinned. “Hello, Missy. How’s this ole boy treating you?”
Anna waved and leaned over in the truck cab. “He’s the best. Life been treating you right?”
Zeke took the toothpick out of his mouth. “Ain’t got no complaints.”
Jerry interrupted Anna and Zeke’s chitchat. “Hey, man, hate to cut to the chase, but we’re in a bit of a bind. Is the big man home? We need to see him. It’s urgent.”
Zeke waved him through the gate. “I’ll telephone Hazel. She’ll be glad to see you. Oh, and Rachel is up there, too.” He sniggered.
Anna rolled her eyes and waved goodbye. “Zeke is a mess. Does it still bother you to be around Rachel?”
“Nah, I just wonder sometimes if she still hates me.” He pulled into the circular driveway and put the truck in park.
“We’re getting ready to find out. She’s coming out the front door.”
Rachel ran down the front steps of the plantation house and opened Anna’s door. “Look, Anna, look. Jack went all out and bought me a three-carat diamond.”
Anna held Rachel’s hand and inspected the rock. “It’s simply gorgeous, sweetie. Are you as happy as you look?”
Rachel pinned Jerry with a look and said, “Much more thrilled than I was with him. Jack loves me, and he’s wonderful.” Anna slipped out of the truck and tossed Jerry a glance. She shrugged her shoulders and followed Rachel inside the house.
Jerry didn’t think Rachel would ever cut him any slack. He turned off the truck, jumped out, and closed the door behind him. Jerry followed the two women inside Nelson’s home, and Hazel met him at the door.
Hazel leaned into Jerry’s shoulder and quietly said, “Zeke called. Mr. Doune is waiting for you in the study.”
Jerry picked the older lady up, hugged her, and set her back down. “Miss Hazel, I’ve missed you.”
Hazel blushed and said, “Aw, Mr. McDaniel, I’ve missed you, too.”
Walking into the study brought back memories. Not good ones, either. Unfortunately, this visit wasn’t social. The room was still full of Nelson’s taxidermy trophies. The mahogany secretary and leather chairs sat on deep crimson and gold handmade rugs. Nelson sat at the elaborately carved eighteenth-century American desk writing out checks.
Jerry walked over and extended his hand, and Nelson reached out and shook it. “You need to let me hook you up with one of my computers. It’ll save you time and automatically tracks expenses. Just sold a new line to the Bank of Eagleville. Hey, thanks for meeting me on short notice. I need your help.”
Nelson looked over his reading glasses. “You always do. Let’s have a drink next to the fire, and you can lay it on me. Did you see Rachel?”
Jerry followed him to the bar. “Yeah, she’s still pissed.”
Nelson chuckled and raised a brow. “That’s my girl. Whiskey?”
“Sure. Just one shot. I need to keep a clear head.” Jerry sat in the leather chair, holding the cocktail glass in his hand. He filled Nelson in on the information he had on Sandy’s abduction. He didn’t refer to Luc or the demon angels. “We’re fairly confident Cole has Sandy somewhere on his estate. Would you allow us access to your farm to scope out the place? And, um, think Zeke and the boys could mess with the electrical panel box? It’s our only way inside the main house. Ruby’s brother, George, is an electrical contractor.”
Nelson drank his shot and set it down on the side table. “Are you sure you didn’t work for the mob? And did you contact the police?”
Jerry crossed his boots at the ankles and leaned back in the chair. “I know you have dealings with the man. I’m pretty sure you’re aware he has important people in high places, including the police. We need to confirm he has Sandy. Then we’ll make a plan.”
Nelson placed his elbow on the arm of the chair. “Interesting. Jackie, his assistant, called, and he wanted a meeting. Then she called back an hour later. Cole’s in jail and Carson Jones has taken control of the business and the estate. I think something a lot bigger is going on than you want to tell me, am I right? But I guess I could get the boys to mess with the panel box. They typically play cards with Cole’s guards after hours.”
Jerry took a deep breath and let it out. “Great. Nelson, you asked for it.” Jerry gave Nelson the shortened version of the angelic war, the wards, and the coming battle. “That’s why Sandy was kidnapped. I’m fairly sure the angels in the room with us will wipe your memory of this event after we gain access to Luc’s estate.”
Luwenia appeared in her armor before Nelson. She knelt on one knee. “Sir, we need your assistance. I’ll make a vow neither you nor your family will suffer any consequ
ences for our actions.”
Nelson stared at Jerry’s breathtaking guardian angel. “You have my cooperation. You’re stunning. Jerry, you sure know how to pick ’em.”
“Luwenia was assigned to me, and she’s in love with Anna’s angel.” Luwenia cut her eyes at him, and his lips curved into a smile. “True.”
Nelson threw his head back and laughed. “How appropriate.”
Luwenia reached out and clasped Nelson on the forearm. “We must take our leave. Thank you for your help.”
“Um, okay. You’re welcome.” Nelson rose from the chair.
Jerry reached into his coat pocket, pulled out a card, and handed it to Nelson. “Here’s a few numbers to call me when the panel is compromised.”
Jerry walked with Nelson into the main foyer. He caught Anna’s eye, and with a nod of his head, he motioned for her to come to him.
Anna reached over and gave Rachel a hug. “I can’t wait to hear all about the wedding. Jerry, Rachel and Jack are eloping to Aruba.”
Jerry nodded to Rachel and said, “I wish you all the happiness in the world.”
Rachel rolled her eyes at Jerry. “Oh, you’re still so full of shit. Bye, Anna. We’ll do lunch when I get back. Maybe the four of us could go to dinner one night.” Rachel cast Jerry a weak grin as he left with Anna out the door.
They ran down the steps, and Jerry helped Anna into the truck. He went around to the driver’s side and got in. “I had to tell Nelson the truth. Luwenia, why did you clasp his arm?”
Luwenia didn’t materialize but replied, “I had to see if Nelson spoke the truth. He’s on the naughty list.”
* * *
Baldric woke a few minutes later in the calming chair. The chair emitted an electrical charge, zapping him anytime he fought to get out. The chair zapped him if he tried to scream. His mind raced as he thought what Luc could be doing to Sandy, and the chair zapped him. The electrical shocks continued until he was near tears when Ruby approached him.