by J. Ashburn
Nehemiah refused to answer. He drew back his mace but Caleb caught him in the gut with a sharp kick. The angel doubled over and Caleb grabbed him by the shoulders, hurling him down the hall.
“Stop, Nehemiah,” Caleb called. “I need you…we need you. There is a possessed human in this dwelling. Only you can save her soul.”
The angel summoned his wings and levitated into the air. He soared down the hall and kicked with both feet, bashing Caleb against the frame of the living room doorway. The wall cracked behind Caleb and the wind was taken out of him.
Nehemiah wound up and swung his mace but Micah pulled Caleb out of the way just in time. The mace swiped the threshold, smashing the support beam. The angel floated into the living room and targeted Caleb once again. He soared toward him as Micah tried to block him. A quick sweep of his wing sent Micah to the floor.
“Brother!” Caleb cried. “I can feel the conflict inside of you. I know you do not want to do this. Talk to me… make peace with me.”
Caleb watched the mace spin and come right toward him. He pulled back but it wasn’t quite enough. The mace grazed him across the chin and sent him crashing down on the coffee table. The pain burned through his entire face and his flesh smoldered. He looked up to see Nehemiah standing above him. The angel lifted the mace above his head with both hands.
“NO!” Micah screamed and threw himself over Caleb’s body. “I won’t let you hurt him. No! No! Please… don’t kill him. I love him!”
“Micah no…” Caleb cried, tears coming again. “Get out of his way… let him… do it…”
Nehemiah froze, and stared down at both of them. Caleb saw the confused look in his eyes and sensed the doubt in his heart. The angel lowered his mace. “You love each other?” He shook his head and stepped back. He looked at his majestic weapon and wept. Tears dampened his face. “I cannot. I—”
Caleb nodded to him. “It is okay, my brother.”
“No.” Nehemiah shook his head again and fled the room, his wings lifting him into the air.
“Do not go!” Caleb called. He and Micah got up and ran to the destroyed front door but it was too late. Nehemiah had disappeared into the night. “Nehemiah,” Caleb called one last time. “Please return to us. We need your help.”
Caleb turned to Micah and placed his hand on his shoulder. “We need to find him.”
Mocking laughter exploded from the other side of Nicki’s bedroom door. “Poor Caleb,” Sebastian called. “Hunted by a warrior angel. Even our Father wants to destroy you.”
“Shut up!” Micah yelled.
“What were we just saying?” Caleb said. “Let us just ignore him.”
Micah chuckled nervously. “Right.”
They stepped outside where Micah grabbed his cell from his pocket and dialed.
###
Ever since immersing himself in the paranormal, Tom Arson hadn’t slept through the night. He caught a few winks here and there, maybe even a solid few hours but never the entire night. Something inside of his soul woke him nightly, keeping him on edge.
The first light of the morning sun glowed just outside of Tom’s window. Of course he’d been up for a couple of hours waiting for it. He had a sense of something else nearby. He checked his instruments and his magnetic feedback gages, also known as EMF readers, and noted something in the air. He stood by the window and saw the barest blip on his machines but knew something was out there.
He packed up his tools and headed out of the room. Outside the air was still slightly cool as the sun had yet to warm the day. Tom left his car behind and decided to take this journey on foot. He enjoyed the exercise, it kept him ready for just about anything and found it helped him connect to the natural world.
His tools weren’t the only things he relied on for investigations. He had a smidgeon of psychic ability. Not enough to make him famous or anything but just enough to tell him when he was onto something or when something paranormal was afoot. Tom had come to think of it as intuition, something his wife told him all women had naturally and that they didn’t need any tools to register the unbelievable. Over the years Tom had come to agree wholeheartedly with her assessment.
Tom strolled through the old part of the city for a good half of the morning until he reached the edge of some woods. He paused and stared. The branches of the trees seemed to entangle each other like old friends, forming a bond against the outside world, obscuring the true nature of what might be going on deep inside of them. He reached into his bag and pulled out a pair of dowsing rods. As much as he respected the technology all of the young, hip ghost hunters used today, something he felt he needed to take the old fashioned route. Something subtlety was much more effective.
He stepped into the woods and let the rods pulled him along. They were definitely picking up some kind of energy. The rods practically yanked him through the woods, between the trees and across a brook. Tom let the rods lead him quickly to a tree. Vibration shot through his hands and the rods flung from his grip, jabbing into the ground.
At first he didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary but as he looked closer at where the rods had pierced the ground, he saw what looked like some sort of silvery residue. It glinted in the dappling sunlight streaming through the trees. He reached into his bag and pulled out his EMF reader. The needle flicked wildly in all directions. It was as if the instrument had gone haywire. Next, Tom pulled a pair of goggles from his bag and gazed through the infrared lenses. The residue glowed.
Tom pulled the goggles off and reached his hand down. He hesitated, hovering just above the silver droplets that shimmered on blades of grass. He sucked in some air and finally ran a couple of fingers through the grass.
A vision flashed in his mind. He saw a battle. A fight filled with rage and confusion, fear and desperation. It was two celestial beings locked in mortal combat with one another. The surprising thing was he could sense purity in both of them, goodness. What would drive them to attack each other? He snapped back to the present and rubbed the silvery residue between his fingers.
“The blood of an angel,” he whispered.
###
Nick had cried all night and still sobbed when the morning sun came up. Micah held him in his arms. His friend was nearly inconsolable. Rick had gone to stay with Nicki while Micah and Caleb watched over the distraught Nick.
Micah felt only a fraction of the betrayal that Nick must have been feeling right now. He cradled Nick, his arms tight around his poor friend’s trembling body. Across the room Caleb sat solemnly in a chair, his face grim.
“Micah… oh God…” Nick whimpered. “I’m so sorry.”
“Shhh, it’s okay, buddy. It’s really okay.”
“I thought he loved me…”
“I know.” Micah stroked his hair then kissed his head.
“How could he have done…I was such an idiot. He lied to me.”
“He lied to all of us. It’s not your fault. None of us saw what he was, Nick.”
“I should have. I was the closest to him. How could I have not seen what he…?”
“Stop it. Stop blaming yourself. He suckered us all.”
Nick pulled his face away from Micah’s chest and looked over to Caleb. “I’m so sorry, Caleb. He came so close to hurting you. I don’t know what I would have done.”
Caleb mustered a smile for him. “You have committed no crime, Nick. There is nothing to forgive. He did not succeed in his plans. It is good that it is out in the open now.”
Nick sniffled and nodded his head. “Yes.”
Micah curled one of his arms around Nick’s shoulders. “You really need to get some sleep,” he said. “Let me put you to bed.”
Nick nodded. “Okay.”
Micah glanced over at Caleb before walking Nick to his bedroom. He returned to Caleb and sighed.
“Will he be all right?” asked Caleb.
“He’ll be okay. He just needs some time. And you?”
“I am going to find Nehemiah.”
“I figured you’d say that.”
“I must. It is the only way to end Nicki’s suffering and we must send Sebastian back or so many more will suffer. We cannot let him come to full power.”
“You don’t know what Nehemiah will do.”
“I felt his soul.” Caleb got out of the chair. “He did not want to hurt me or you. He was conflicted… more than any angel ever has been. I can reach him.”
Micah sighed again and put his arms around Caleb, kissing him on the cheek. “I’m scared.”
“A part of me is too.”
“Be very careful. I’m still not sure he won’t try to kill you.”
“I no longer think that he will,” Caleb said. “He had his chance. More than once. This is my time to finally connect with him.”
“Okay, I just can’t help but worry. I should go with you.”
“No. It is not a good idea. Both of us together would overwhelm him. I need to see him alone.”
“Fine. But I’m not happy about this.”
Caleb smiled. “I know.” He kissed Micah and stroked his hair. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Caleb made his way out of Micah’s home and headed off to hopefully find Nehemiah.”
10.
Nicki found herself sitting in a dark room. There was no sound. Nor was there any kind of smell. She was afraid to move. She couldn’t remember how she’d gotten here or why she was even here.
A few more moments passed by and she sensed someone or something moving in the room with her. Nicki was paralyzed. She tried to scream but couldn’t. Pale, dull light cut through the darkness. All she could do was tighten her grip around the chair she sat in.
As the light grew slightly brighter, she saw the figure of a man walking toward her. When he came into the light, she noticed his head was shaved, his body was taut and muscular and he wore dark clothes. A smile drew on his face and his eyes flashed red.
It was Sebastian.
He moved closer to her, his gaze piercing her and stopped. Sebastian crouched down in front of her and blew her a kiss.
“Hiya doll. Comfy?”
“Where am I? What’s going on, you’re, you’re that demon?”
“Sebastian.” He bowed his head to her. “In the spirit.”
“Where the hell am I?”
“Well, you’re not in Hell. Yet. Right now, we’re sharing the world inside of you. Inside your mind and spirit. I’ve been doing some redecorating. Do you like it?”
“Let me go!” Nicki screamed. “I’m possessed…I’m possessed by a fucking demon. Jesus Christ.”
“Sorry. I’m afraid he can’t help you right now. Soon, it’ll just be me here, your fleshly shell will be all mine. So, why don’t we get to know each other a little?” He held his hand out to her. “Would you like to dance?”
“Fuck off!”
“Don’t be too quick to dismiss me, Nicki. I’m a really good dancer.” He stood up and left his hand outstretched to her.
She felt her hands move and her legs twitch. She blinked and stood up as if pulled to her feet by unseen hands.
Sebastian glided over to her and curled his arms around her. They skimmed around the room together. Nicki squirmed against him, only feeling the undying cold that permeated him.
“Let go,” she whispered to him. “Get out of me.”
He chuckled. “You should embrace me. We’re going to be together for a long time. Probably forever.”
“Nothing is forever. Eventually I’ll die and you’ll go straight back to Hell.”
“I’ll take anything I can get. Seventy, eighty years out of Hell is like a lifetime to me. I’ll take it.”
“I’ll fight you. Fight you every chance I get. You’re not staying here. Don’t get comfortable.”
Sebastian laughed out loud. “You can try to fight me but eventually you’ll grow weak, you’ll grow tried. Your will will fade. Your spirit will break. You’ll have moments of being lucid but eventually you will be stuck in the dream world that I create for you. Looking out at the world from a prison of your mind. There won’t be anything you can do about it. Every day that I am inside of you your soul withers and your strength fades. Trust me. I know. You are one of the more feisty ones but sooner or later you will fall. Just you wait, my lovely Nicki.”
“Just you wait,” Nicki spat. “I won’t be making this easy for you.”
###
“Get out, get out of me!” Nicki yelled, railing against her restraints. She looked around her bedroom and saw the door swing open. Rick rushed to her bedside.
“Nicki, Nicki!” Rick grabbed hold of her. “Are you back? Are you all right?”
“Rick! He’s still in there. Tell Micah I’m fighting… tell him I’m sorry for anything I might of done to him and Caleb. I—I—”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Micah knows. He and Caleb are working.—
“Working on what, Ricky boy!” Nicki gnashed her teeth at him and managed to catch his arm with her black tongue, licking him sharply.
Rick pulled back suddenly, his face aghast. “Nicki? No…. Nicki?”
“Nicki had to step away. But I’m here, would you like to play with me, Rick? Would you like to fuck me? Haven’t you always thought about that? Especially when you touch yourself, like in the shower or the gym or…”
“Shut up! Shut up!”
“C’mon Ricky. How long have you been holding that torch for her? I’ll let you climb on and take whirl? I don’t mind. I’ve slept with all of your kind before.”
“Screw you!”
Rick left the room, closing the bedroom door behind him. He wiped the sweat from his brow and tried to calm down. He listened at the door once more before returning to the living room.
###
Caleb spread his black wings wide and skimmed through the clouds. He scoured the horizon over Blackstone but didn’t pick up any signs of Nehemiah. He shot up even higher, wondering if the angel might also be in the sky.
His search took him back to the river where he had pondered so many times before. There was something magical and peaceful about this place. The water seemed to glimmer in the morning sun.
He settled down on the riverbank and took a deep breath. Caleb withdrew his wings and approached the water. He caught his reflection staring up at him before it disappeared with a ripple.
Nehemiah rose from beneath the river, shimmering water rolled down his naked body. His glorious white wings ruffled, sprinkling the water from their feathers. He looked up, opened his eyes and his gaze met Caleb’s.
For a moment they both hesitated until Nehemiah’s brow furrowed. “Infernal!” Nehemiah cried and shot out of the river directly at Caleb.
“Wait!” Caleb put up both hands. “No… I need your help!”
Nehemiah crashed into Caleb and both of them went down. They rolled across the riverbank and Nehemiah came up on top, straddling Caleb. The angel drew his hand into a fist but couldn’t swing the blow.
“Brother,” Caleb whispered to him. “I know you cannot do this. I feel it in your heart. You know I am not the same. You know I have changed. Please, listen to me.”
Nehemiah shook his head. His hands trembled. His wings drooped. “I am so confused.”
“There is no confusion. I know you feel the truth.”
“I-I-“Nehemiah nodded. “I feel the love in your heart. It is true. You love the humans… you love the one who protected you.”
“I do. Very much.”
“All I have ever seen in our fallen brothers is the darkness, the ugliness. It has been pushed upon us since the end of the war.”
“Thousands of years of hatred.” Caleb shook his head. “No more. It needs to end, my brother, my friend. I am not Infernal. I am Caleb.”
“I remember you, Caleb. I remember you before the war, before Lucifer’s rebellion, you were quiet and humble. Hardly a warrior.”
“I was deceived as many of my fallen brothers and sisters were but no more. That is why
I am here and love is why I have stayed.”
“Forgive me.” Nehemiah climbed to his feet and put his hand out to Caleb. The fallen angel took it and slowly stood up. He stared at Nehemiah who finally greeted him with a smile. They embraced, holding each other for the longest time.
“It feels good to reunite with you,” Caleb said. “I have missed all of you.”
“I am sorry for hardening my heart against you and your pleas. No Infernal has ever had love in their heart, nor had any reason to stay on earth other than for nefarious reasons. “
“I was not sent here for anything nefarious. I came on my own, in defiance of Lucifer, I escaped, to atone, to make amends, and I want nothing more then to return the love I have found here.”
“What do you need?”
“I need your help for Micah’s friend Nicki.”
Nehemiah’s smile grew even brighter. “You even love his friends?”
“Of course. Their love of me is unconditional as it is for Micah. They are true souls and Nicki is in grave danger. Sebastian has possessed her and only you can drive him out.”
“Sebastian… the Arch Demon?”
“Yes. He was sent to bring me back to the pit but my friends, my human friends, defeated him and tried to send him back. He somehow managed to slip into Nicki’s unconscious body. A war wages inside of her as he tries to destroy her soul and stay inside of her. Please help me.”
“Sebastian, nothing but a cold, hungry soul. He is the worst of Lucifer’s generals and he destroyed so many of our brothers and sisters in Heaven. There are none more foul than he. It would be an honor to send him back to where he belongs.”
Caleb smiled brightly too and embraced Nehemiah again. “Thank you, thank you for this. We are in desperate need.”
“Of course. Show me to Sebastian.”
Caleb nodded and spread his wings once more. He lifted into the air and soared high into the clouds. Nehemiah followed him, a new lightness in his flight.
###
“Are you going to be all right?” Micah stood at the Nick’s bedroom door. “I don’t want to leave you alone but I have to go to work. I’m on the middle shift. So I’ll be home around 8 or so.”