The Damned and The Pure Series: Books 1-4 (The Damned and The Pure Series Box Set)

by J. D. Stonebridge

  Ariel thought for a second. “I was impressed when I learned how man measured the passing of time. For us, time is irrelevant.”

  That statement sparked a thought in Mikaela’s head. “We have to make the clock work. If it’s a sundial, then it relies on light.” All of them looked at the light spilling above. “David, what time is it?”

  He glanced at his watch. “Right now, it’s almost eight in the morning?” he asked in the end. He waited in silence until he realized the second hand was not moving at all. “Uh, my watch isn’t even ticking.”

  Mikaela looked at the light. “Everyone, give me some space.” As the three scattered, she held the device and inspected the assortment of symbols around the edge, starting with a circle and followed by a deformed circle that looked like the quarter moon. The circle looked as though it depicted the different phases of the moon until on the bottom opposite of the full circle was an empty space followed by a crescent moon.

  “So, it’s midnight, but the sun is up…” She turned the dial so that the shadow of the upright triangle touched the tip of the whole circle. The golden light appeared, much to their delight, but only in a quarter of the circle. Mikaela smiled and slowly turned the clock until the shadow hit the half circle. Another quarter of the circle glowed.

  Mikaela kept turning the clock until she’d gone full circle. The light around them glowed bright, and with that signal, Ariel raced back to the door. Mikaela could not help but giggle at the sight. Who knew angels like these sorts of games?

  “On the fifth day, Raphael went to see the world. He brought with him the whim of life. As he poured it to the land, beasts and whales and fowls came to be. They moved as he moved, and he moved as they did.”

  The three reached the small pond behind the door; a perfectly circular pond with water so clear, it seemed nonexistent. In the pond, however, were two creatures. David took a closer look. “They look like carps,” he said. “A blue and a red carp.” The carps swam in a circle around the pond, always at opposite sides, always in the same manner like they were pool toys.

  Mikaela repeated the statement. “They moved as he moved, and he moved as they did.” Mikaela followed the blue carp, walking around at its pace until she’d made a full circle. Half of the golden circle glowed, much to her delight. “David!” Mikaela called. “Follow the red one!” David followed suit and caught up with the red carp. He and Mikaela walked around the pond, matching the pace of the fish. David glanced at Mikaela, who smiled at him, and he turned away with a flush on his cheeks.

  The golden circle glowed bright and overlapped with the clock’s circle. “We got it!” David exclaimed. “Ariel! What’s the next one?”

  Ariel read the next statement from the door. “On the sixth day, our Father made a miracle and brought upon man and woman. Our Father placed His hands together and brought Seraphiel. It cradled God’s miracle in endless bounty. It loved them as they loved each other.”

  The three reached the strange mound which was near the lit torch where they had started. They had almost made the full circle. Mikaela inspected the rock which was a slab of marble about a foot high, and on the top were four depressions shaped like two sets of feet, facing each other. “I'm guessing two people should stand here. Hey, David, Jenny, come on and get up there.”

  “Um, okay?” David found himself facing his sister. The slab was just big enough for them to fit. Flowers suddenly sprouted around them. Poppies, roses, dandelions, and other small plants popped out of the ground where the siblings stood. A pang of disappointment washed over Mikaela, as only half the circle glowed.

  “You need to be one,” Ariel coached. “The ground has reacted, showing love for you. Both of you must follow the gesture, I believe.”

  David frowned at his sister. Jenny was surprised when David extended his arms towards her and awkwardly leaned forward as her brother welcomed her in an embrace. There was awkwardness between the siblings, but Jenny was more than pleased by the contact.

  “Not enough,” Ariel said, looking at the missing quarter of the circle. Her brows pulled together as the idea came to her. “Another form of affection, perhaps. A kiss?”

  The siblings suddenly snapped away from each other. “I’m so not kissing my sister!” David protested.

  “Yeah, that’s wrong,” Jenny added with a disgusted look on her face.

  “You’re so picky.”

  The next moments were a blur. One moment, Jenny was standing in front of him. And the next, she was yanked back onto the grass. Jenny had a hand clasped over her mouth as she watched the witch step up to the rock and pull David to her. The flowers bloomed all around as Mikaela touched her lips to David’s. Time seemed to stop for the young man.

  Instinctively, the situation made David want to step away. But Mikaela’s hand was firm as it held onto the front of his shirt. Her lips were supple, warm. As they parted, the taste of peach lingered on his tongue.

  David stumbled back and fell onto the grass like the flustered mess he was. For a fleeting moment, he saw the tender young witch, standing tall among beautiful flowers, bathed in a golden glow as the circle completed its form. But in a flash, he saw the same witch in the darkness, though she was much younger with bronze curls dancing with the night wind. Mikaela, was that—? He blinked twice, returning his vision to what was truly before him.

  Each of the overlapping six circles formed a flower pattern with the door at the center. Mikaela hopped off and helped David up, who was still as red as a beat. “I ... uh... you...” David mumbled. Mikaela pulled him back on his feet without a word. She gave him a wide smile and walked towards the door.

  “Are we done?” Mikaela asked Ariel, who looked at the bottom of the door. “No, there is one left, where I stand. However…”

  “However?” David groaned, shrugging off his dazed mood. “It’s one puzzle after another, like some strange security system meant to ward off those who don’t read a bible.” He then gave a sigh. “Or a seventh grade science book.”

  Ariel squinted. “After the sixth day, our Father surveyed all that He created, and it was as He was. It was good.”

  “That’s it?” David complained. He felt fatigue creep into his knees and joints. He couldn’t help but lean on the door and slouch. His heart was still pounding heavily against his ribs after the way he and Mikaela had solved the last riddle, and he felt out of breath. “Why is this thing so picky?” He groaned. He looked at each puzzle and sighed. “I think we did alright. I need to rest.”

  David’s knees gave way and he landed on the grass, taking a deep breath. A circle suddenly glowed under David’s feet and connected with all the other circles. At the center of each circle, lines of white light beamed and connected with every other center point. It formed a pattern that looked like every single geometric shape drawn on each other.

  The door opened. David jolted up and looked up at the ceiling that was etched with the Enochian language.

  “Whoa...” Mikaela exhaled as she stepped inside the room, passing David.

  “Will you look at that…” Jenny said.

  The door led them to another room that was as wide as the cave with four walls jotted with all kinds of lines and patterns in Enochian. Eight tall wooden bookshelves filled with all manners of scrolls stood against the back wall. To their left, large urns with long rolled papers were stuffed to the brim and a large table where many more of the scrolls were sprawled open. Lit by some unknown manner, the room had a warm, old feel to it.

  Ariel seemed hesitant to step further in, and she hovered in the doorway. “This… feeling, this presence,” she kept whispering to herself. “This is a place for him, the one our Father chose…”

  Chapter Thirteen: Frail Mortal Coil

  “Futile.” The sky boomed as Daniel’s blade bounced off Uriel’s face. The angel cringed at how his strikes didn’t even make the archangel blink. He remained with a stoic face, arms crossed over his chest. Daniel had chosen to face off with one of the most powerful forc
es in the world, Uriel, Angel of Repentance, Fire of God. The archangel’s dark pupils focused on Daniel, and his arms began to unfold.

  “Daniel, your wings shall burn,” Uriel boomed.

  Fear was an emotion rare to angels, but as he prepared to challenge the wrath of Heaven, Daniel buried the fear in his heart. He didn't have the luxury of being crippled by such emotion. Despite how his hand struggled to hold his own blade, he placed his faith in Caelum.

  Caelum saw a man I could not see, Daniel remembered. There was an odd surge of energy in the seconds before Uriel arrived, and he was certain that it was that power that had attracted the archangel. And he announced that his motive for descending was Enoch! The pieces of the puzzle fell into place, and Daniel's sword shone a light that reflected his courage.

  “Uriel!" He challenged the archangel. "I stand against you, for the sake of our Father! Will you strike me down claiming it is in His name?”

  The archangel responded by raising his large arm. Daniel could feel the energy gathering in his hand.

  Uriel replied in his booming voice, “On your knees, Daniel. Repent!”

  Uriel swung his arm down, and a colossal bolt of lightning sizzled towards Daniel. The explosion split the ground apart and crystallized sand filled the air. The land shook at the impact, knocking down the tents set up around the crater, creating a fissure across it. Uriel waved his hand aside and blew the dust away. He inspected his work, seeing no trace of the angel that had defied him nor the cursed human he protected.

  Mortality was an inconvenience Caelum wished he could scrub off himself. He ran after the stranger who had escaped the eyes of the angels. Caelum’s muscles burned in pain. He looked back and checked how much distance they’d covered. Caelum had heard and felt the explosion that shook the earth a few seconds ago, and he worried about Daniel’s safety. For now though, he was powerless against the archangel. All he could do was prevent the stranger who seemed to know more than he let on from escaping.

  Both of them ran, trying to reach a set of tents nearby, which seemed to house a guard barracks. As they reached the green tents, Caelum stumbled and rolled through the sand.

  “T-time, time out...” he said, blowing the sand off his mouth. He looked up to find the man, who Daniel claimed was The Scribe, staring down at him with quizzical eyes. The man looked to the tent behind them, then to the battle they could hear.

  "Come on, they'll be busy for a while anyway," he told Caelum, offering his hand to him.

  Inside the tent were a couple of foldable beds, a stack of rations, and a radio sitting on a small table. Caelum saw the bed, and as if by instinct, collapsed facedown on it. “I… hate… being… tired…” he exclaimed.

  The man sat on one of the beds near the crumpled man. “Caelum, is it?”

  Caelum jolted his arm up with a groan. “Yes.”

  The man studied him intently, his hands clasped together while his chin rested upon them. "The prophet who fancied an angel, sold his soul to see her again, and became a demon. But you are human now." He said the last sentence with a perplexed tone. "How did that happen?"

  Caelum lifted his face from the bed. The amount of knowledge this person had about his history was indeed alarming, but what interested him was that he didn't know the last part. “Like I said, long story. One that I'd like another in return for." He picked himself up from the bed. "But as I see it, you know far too much already, so why should I bother? Before I tell you anything else, you need to talk to me.”

  Caelum faced the stranger. “Enoch, the name rings a bell, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Would you mind enlightening me? And why you are here?"

  "I—" the man who was called Enoch suddenly fidgeted in his seat. His eyes darted outside, into the sky, and sorrow filled him. "He was meant to return now. He said He would return."

  Caelum’s lips twisted into a frown, but he quickly covered it with a smile. “Well, that Uriel guy’s here, and he’s not happy to see you. But I doubt he’s the happy type.” He stood up and neared the stranger who was fiddling with his thumbs.

  “But in all seriousness, will you do me a favor and get to the point?” he said, placing his arms on the man’s shoulders. “The most unforgiving Norse god slash hero turned angel with wings and no hair is after you, and I want to know why.”

  Enoch took Caelum’s hands off his shoulders and walked towards the tent entrance. “You were a demon who tried to sacrifice himself, and you know the angel who defied the law of Heaven.”

  Caelum scoffed. “Could you please not change the subject? As much as I love the spotlight, I'm trying to get to know you here.”

  The man muttered to himself again. "Heaven and Hell are broken. The sacrifices have already been made." His eyes lifted to the sky again, opening his palms. "What more—?" Then, he stopped. His lips moved in silent whispers, his eyes darting back and forth as if desperately searching for something.

  Caelum groaned in frustration. “Tell me this is the moment you’ve made a shocking discovery which you will be kind enough to share.”

  Enoch looked up to him with bewildered eyes. “I—” he began again, then shook his head. “I shouldn’t even be— This is wrong, this is all wrong!” he exclaimed, stepping out of the tent. “I should— Yes, perhaps.” He continued babbling, speaking to himself.

  Caelum parted his lips to make another snarky comment to the man, but before the words left him, Enoch disappeared, the flaps of the tent dancing with the wind.

  “Are you kidding me?” he exclaimed. Caelum burst from the tent only to find Enoch already a good distance away. He powered his legs across the dusty concrete road and tried to reach the man. “Enoch!” he kept shouting.

  Enoch reached the road where on the opposite side stood establishments that were less damaged by the creation of the bridge. The walls of the buildings were blackened by dust and heat, and glass littered the ground. Enoch turned a corner, shielding himself with the building out from Caelum’s view.

  Caelum reached the building only to find it an empty mess of plastic bottles and shards of glass. He rolled his eyes, throwing his hands in the air. “Oh, great. Another inconvenience of being mortal. I can’t even chase down a middle-aged man in a fisherman’s hat!”

  A scuttle from the other end of the building attracted Caelum’s attention, and he made a dash for it. He arrived back on the road, squinting his eyes against the raging sunlight. He scanned the area but saw no life around him. He heaved, his throat scratchy as he spoke out loud in the air.

  “I’m not here to judge or punish you for being the naughty boy you are, which I’m guessing is Uriel’s purpose here,” Caelum said loudly, hoping Enoch was within earshot. “Something is happening to the worlds, and you seem like the guy who knows about it, so why not share the burden? Let me help you.”

  Caelum wandered around for a bit, his eyes still sharp as ever, and spotted a bit of Enoch’s shoulder sticking out near a wall. If I only had my way with the shadows again. Caelum slowly walked towards him, trying his best to sneak without making a sound.

  “I don’t know…” Enoch muttered, just as Caelum reached him. “I don’t know if this was his plan or if their plan is actually working…” Enoch saw Caelum slide in front of him, his face a mix of a smile and a pang of pain.

  “Neither do we,” Caelum replied. “But I believe it’s safe to say that this isn’t what you had in mind, and I must say I am also not very fond of how the events are playing out. Though I highly doubt you are willing to lift a finger to help, may I suggest you give the manual to someone who is?”

  Enoch looked at Caelum, considering his words. His eyes slowly lowered, calculating his options. “I- I don’t—”

  Explosions from afar shook the ground, halting Enoch’s words. The sounds of glass crashing on the ground made a tinkering melody until the earth became steady enough for Enoch to speed away. Caelum loudly protested and chased after him, “Make up your damned mind!”

  Caelum watched the man clear
a good distance and pass through a wire fence that warned outsiders not to enter the vicinity. His legs were weary and his heart rammed against his chest but determination still boiled inside him. He may not be able to fight as well as he used to, but Caelum intended to accomplish at least this one thing. If only this person would just talk to me without attempting to escape after every other word!

  The man’s stride was constant, and he was now several meters ahead. Caelum pumped his legs. “Enoch!” he shouted, “I know you’re having your doubts, but will you stop—!”

  His left foot buckled and his knee gave way. Caelum saw the sandy ground quickly nearing his face. He twisted his body, causing him to land on the uneven floor shoulder-first. Something popped and pain burst from his shoulder.

  “Damn it!” Caelum cried. “Damn it! Damn it!”

  The cries of the mortal man halted Enoch. Caelum was struggling to remove himself from the ground, clutching his dislocated shoulder, his face covered in dirt and blood where the pebbles had scratched his skin.

  Caelum’s eyes grew wide with anger. “Oh, now you stop?” he snapped. “Why don’t you continue to flee with your tail between your legs like the coward you are!”

  He placed his weight on his right leg and propped himself up. “Isn’t it just grand being mortal! They’re always saying how amazing it is to be human! To love, to be loved, and cherish your limited years of life! Without worrying if all your efforts will even matter in the universe you live in. Without knowing if your petty existence will even matter after your bones have turned to ashes! Amazing that I used to envy them!” he shouted as he pushed his shoulder back into the socket. An agonized groan escaped his throat and his face was red with anger and pain. “Useless weak creatures!”

  Caelum glared at Enoch who was frozen in his tracks, clearly uncertain how to respond to his pathetic rants. Caelum looked down at himself, dirt-covered and bloody. Now, how many times has this happened to me? he asked himself. No matter his form, he always ended up covered in a mess. Mere weeks before, he’d yearned for excitement in the mundane workings of the world. And here he was at the dead-center of the grandest event the worlds would ever know, and he was powerless to even enjoy the adventure.