I heard the gate clang, and Mara came into the ring.
“Take care of my father. I have to take care of something else,” I said. Then I kissed her. “Happy birthday.”
“It is, isn’t it?” she smiled.
I took off.
“Lock! Lock thank you!” I said when I spotted him. “Do you still have your green scarf?”
“Yes, I do.”
“May I borrow it?”
“Sure, but what for?”
“I’ll tell you when I get back.”
I grabbed the scarf and ran towards Green Camp.
CHAPTER 28
Chaos
I ran all the way to the Green Camp gates. Then slowed, so they’d see the scarf. I walked by the guards, and they stopped me.
“We never saw you before,” said one.
“I’m new.”
“What’s going on over there, boy?”
“Red killed Saxon.”
They looked at each other and began jumping up and down. They grabbed me and said, “We won! We won.”
“I knew he was a god,” one said.
The other said, “Let’s go collect.”
They turned and ran.
I jumped on a wagon inside the camp, and shouted. “Who wants to be free?”
“How can we be free?” a slave asked.
“I know how to summon your angels, and you can all fight to be free.”
“There are too many soldiers,” another slave said.
“We will all be killed,” said another.
I lied. “The rest of the camps are already fighting. We can win.”
“I want to be free,” an old slave said. “Summon my angel.”
One by one, the slaves lined up. I summoned all of their angels.
In the distance, I heard the crowd booing. Something was happening. I turned, but a slave stopped me.
“Wait,” he said. “Where are we meeting?”
“We will gather at Red Camp. Follow me.”
We ran to the gates of Red Camp. There were still no guards. I told Green Camp to wait for me. In our area, Doc was covering Journey with a blanket.
“Is she dead?” I cried.
“No, but I have to keep the body heat in while her body heals itself.”
“Is she going to live?”
“She has to beat death on her own. This will be her greatest fight.”
“Can’t God help her?”
“Sometimes our path ends. That’s the way it is and will always be.”
“Doesn’t God know we need her?”
“He knows, but when it’s your time, there is nothing you can do about it. No matter how badly you are needed.”
“I need your help, Doc,” I said. “I need you to summon the angels from the rest of slaves.”
“I don’t know how.”
“Here’s some olive oil. There’s not much left. You’ll have to get more. Dab it on their faces and say the words Uncle Steven told my father. Do you remember?”
“Yes, I remember. I don’t think I could ever forget.”
“The slaves from Green Camp are gathered by the gate. You need to finish Red Camp and go to Blue. I have to go.”
“Be careful, Noah. Take care of Mara.”
“I will.”
I ran towards the ring and met Lock.
“Where have you been?” he asked.
“I know how to summon angels. I’ve been pulling them out of the slaves.”
“Summon mine, Noah. I want to kill Priest.”
“First, I need to know what’s going on.”
“The king ordered Priest to summon your girlfriend’s angel.”
I looked into the ring and saw the soldiers were holding my father back. The soldier’s angels had harnessed Red Head.
I turned to Lock. “Go to Mara’s father. He will summon your angel.”
“I’ll be back.”
Lock ran toward camp. I ran to the ring.
Father yelled at King Seth. “I have won fifty fights. Set me free!”
“There was a miscount,” the king replied. “You won forty-nine.”
“I will not fight that girl,” Father insisted. “Shoot me now, because I will not harm her.”
The king laughed. “That’s what I wanted to hear.” He looked at his archers. “If he does not fight, kill him.”
“Priest!” my father cautioned. “If you summon her angel, it will be the last thing you do.”
Priest laughed. He threw oil on Mara and mouthed the secret words. An ungodly spirit erupted from Mara’s body. Her angel had one solid black eye and was over eighteen feet tall. Earrings dangled from its ears and steel bands covered its arms. It had a long white ponytail and wore a long robe.
“I am Chaos,” the spirit yelled.
The king stood. “If you slay Bardon and Red Head, I will share this world with you.”
Chaos stared at the king. “I share with no man! You are no god. You are not immortal. I will paint this ring with your blood!”
“Put the spirit back, Priest!” Seth begged.
“I’m not going back!” Chaos growled. He looked at Priest.
Priest tried to run, but Chaos lifted its foot and flattened Priest. Blood splattered everywhere.
“Kill that thing!” screamed the king. “Shoot it!”
The archers released their arrows. The other soldiers attacked with their angels. Chaos was a dervish, and the soldiers’ angels dropped like flies. Chaos tried to step on my father, but Red Head hit Chaos, giving Father time to run from the ring.
Father and I hugged. Doc arrived with the slaves and their angels. Doc’s angel was small and had six wings. His name was Exodus.
Doc saw Mara in the ring with Chaos. “What should we do, Bardon?”
“I think we should wait. Mara’s angel, is doing a pretty good job.”
“Kill the girl!” yelled Seth.
Chaos flew to the podium and dragged the king into the ring. “You call yourself a god? You are nothing.”
Chaos squeezed the king’s neck until Seth’s head popped from his body and rolled into the ring. Soldiers ran as Chaos ate what was left of King Seth.
Father said, “It’s our turn now.”
“But if we kill the spirit, Mara will die!” I cried.
“If we don’t kill that thing,” Father said, “it will be our next god.”
“What if I put the spirit back in her body, Doc?” I asked.
“How could she live with something like that in her body?”
“It’s been there before,” I said.
Doc didn’t know what to say to that. He looked at Father.
“I’m going in, Doc,” said Father. “If something happens to me, take care of my son and my village.”
Doc nodded.
Red Head picked up a spear from one of the guns and led the angels into the ring. He told them to find weapons then flew at Chaos. Chao swung, but missed. The other angels attacked, drawing blood. Chaos screamed. With one strong thrust, Red Head jammed his spear as deep as he could into the spirit’s hip. Chaos swung and connected. Red Head flew out of the ring and through the air. His head struck a large rock, and he didn’t move. The other angels doubled their attacks. Chaos fought them off and threw the spear to the ground.
Father and I ran for Red Head.
Doc yelled, “Come back, Noah!”
I ignored him. An angel fell in front of me, and I tried to help him up. The rest were still fighting with Chaos. Chaos saw Red Head struggling to stand. He got out of the ring and walked towards them. He raised his foot over my father and Red Head then smiled. My father picked up a sword, and I dropped to the ground on my hands and knees.
“No!” I cried, clenching my hands in the oily dirt.
My angel appeared. He had long yellow hair and was the same size as Red Head. His eyes were pale blue and as bright as the moon in the meadow.
“Golden Hair!” I screamed. “Save my father!”
My father rolled out of the way. My angel picked up Chaos by his clawed foot and flipped the spirit into the air. Chaos landed with a ground-shaking thud.
Golden Hair picked up a sword and held it to Chaos’s neck, prepared to slit its throat.
“No!” I cried. “What about Mara?”
Golden Hair looked at me. Chaos swung his arms and knocked Golden hair down. He jumped to his feet and dug his claws into Golden Hair as he was getting up. My angel staggered back. Chaos drew back to strike again, but he stumbled forward and landed on his face, a spear sticking out of the back of his head. There stood Red Head, smiling at me. I ran into the ring and picked up Mara.
My angel followed me.
“What can I do to save her?” I begged. “What do I have to do?”
“The only way is to replace her angel with another,” said my angel. His voice was low and smooth. My angel pointed at an angel holding an injured boy. “If he gave Mara his angel, she would live, but he will then certainly die.”
I carried Mara over to them and set her gently down.
It was Lock. There was an arrow in his chest, and his shirt was soaked with blood. His angel was a beautiful young girl with long pink hair. She held him close and rocked him. She whispered that everything would be all right.
She looked at me and said, “I’m sorry. He is mortally wounded.”
“It’s just his time,” I whispered. “Just like it was Uncle Steven’s time.”
I wiped the blood from Lock’s face. “Lock, Mara needs your angel.”
“Her name is Mae,” Lock said, spitting blood.
“Mara needs Mae,” I said.
“She is a pretty angel, isn’t she, Noah?”
“She sure is.”
“You need her to save your girlfriend?” Lock asked.
“She is not my girlfriend.”
“Only way I would give you my angel is if she was your girlfriend.”
I took a big gulp and said, “Then yes, she is my girlfriend.”
“I knew it.” Lock smiled.
He began to shake and cough, and so did Mara.
“I’m afraid to die, Noah,” he cried. His eyes took on a far-seeing focus. “Mother, is that you?” Lock’s face lit up and grew peaceful. His pain seemed to disappear. “Noah, I have to go. My mother is calling. She wants me to come home.”
“Lock, you can’t leave yet,” I said. “Mara needs your angel.”
“Mae,” Lock whispered. “Take care of Mara.”
“If that’s your wish, Sir Lock,” Mae replied.
“I’m coming, Mother,” Lock whispered.
Mae turned to me. “Do you know the words to bind me to Mara? We have to hurry. Lock is fading fast.”
“I’m afraid I don’t.”
“I know them,” Lock gasped. “Your Uncle Steven is with my mother. He just told me.”
Lock motioned for me to come closer and whispered in my ear.
I nodded and took a deep breath. “Angel, here on this earth, return to your mortal shell. Deep inside flesh and bone, I send you back to dwell. With the power of my living God, I send you to Mara.”
Mae floated into Mara, and Mara’s eyes fluttered open.
I pulled her into my arms and kissed her forehead. I wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled.
“You are my mate,” she smiled.
“Well, aren’t you a sorry bunch,” a voice called.
We turned and saw Journey limping towards us.
“Journey!” I cried. We ran outside the ring and hugged her.
“Not so hard. It hurts,” she said.
My angel was talking to Red Head. I walked over and asked what was going on.
“I was asking Golden Hair why he was here,” said Red Head.
“I have my reasons,” said Golden Hair.
“Good thing you both are here,” I said. “You are true warriors.”
“We are God’s elite,” said Red Head.
“Do you have names?”
“I am Michael, but I would rather be called Red. Golden Hair’s name is Lucifer.”
“You are the greatest fighters I have ever seen,” I said.
“Who do you think would win if old Red and I stepped into the ring?” asked Lucifer.
“We will never know because family does not fight each other. We fight for each other.”
I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Mara. “Speaking of family, when are you going to marry me so we can start our own?”
Everyone laughed.
CHAPTER 29
Back To Shannon And Boy
“That’s the end?” said Boy.
“That was a pretty good story. I wonder if there is another book, or if that is the end,” Shannon replied.
“I don’t know. Can I have my hundred bucks now?”
“Do you take plastic?”
“Does it look like it?”
“That’s too bad,” said Shannon, smiling.
The ground began to shake. Rocks fell and the ground cracked. Fire leaped up between the cracks at their feet.
“Let’s get out of here, Boy, before we are burned alive.”
Shannon grabbed the shell, and they ran back through tunnel to the gold statue of Cherub.
“Hey, wake up!” screamed Shannon.
“What do you two want now?” Cherub sighed, annoyed.
“A way out of here!”
“Why would I take you?”
Shannon pointed behind him and yelled, “Lava!”
“You got to do better than that.”
Boy pointed back and yelled, “Lots of lava!”
Cherub turned his head and said, “That’s a lot of lava.” Then he noticed a shiny gold wrapper in Shannon’s pocket. “What’s that?”
“It’s a candy bar. Are you going to help or not?”
“What’s a candy bar?”
“It’s a bar made of chocolate. You eat it. It’s sweet.”
“Can I have it?”
“You gonna help? You can have it, but only if you help.”
“Let me taste it first.”
Shannon handed it over.
Cherub unwrapped the bar and took a bite. “Pleased.” He picked them up and flew through the tunnel and up through the roof. He put them down. “Can I have another?”
“There’s only one left,” said Shannon. “What do you have to trade?”
Cherub looked at his flaming sword and said, “How about this?”
“It’s a deal.”
“Hey, we don’t need that sword,” Boy said.
Shannon shot her a wicked look.
Boy stuck out her tongue. “I mean who wouldn’t trade a flaming sword for a candy bar? We can’t eat the sword.”
“I guess you’re right, Boy,” said Shannon.
Cherub dropped his sword, grabbed the chocolate from Shannon’s hand, and flew away.
“Why didn’t you ask him to fly us home for the candy bar, Shannon?” asked Boy.
“Why didn’t you, Boy?”
“I didn’t think of it. He was your friend.”
“Blame it on me. I can take it. I have wide shoulders,” Shannon said.
“That’s good because when those jackals come back, there will be more of you to eat, and that will give me time to get away.”
&
nbsp; “But I got a flaming sword. Those jackals will be no match for me.”
“How does it work, Shannon?”
“I don’t know.”
Shannon waved it around. Nothing happened.
“Give it here,” said Boy.
Boy waved it and again, nothing happened.
“I think it’s broke. You traded our last candy bar for a broken sword. Now we have nothing to eat. You sure made a good deal,” teased Boy.
“Maybe you can eat the sword when I shove it down your throat.”
“Well, what are you going to eat? That stupid shell? Why do you still have it, anyways?”
“I think it’s lucky.”
“Lucky?” Boy exclaimed. “Since you found it, hell hounds have tried to eat us, a statue tried to kill us, and we were almost burned to death by lava. Real lucky.”
“Tried and almost are the key words,” Shannon said. “We’re still alive, aren’t we? I’ve heard enough of you, Boy. Let’s get home.”
As they walked, Shannon felt something wet splash on his back. He looked at Boy. She was mumbling under her breath.
“What did you just throw on me, Boy?” Shannon asked.
“Nothing. I didn’t throw anything.”
Shannon turned back, and they walked some more.
“Hey, Shannon? Did you know you have a girl angel?”
“What are you talking about?”
Boy pointed. Shannon looked up, and his angel, a pretty girl with sandy brown hair and brown eyes, was hovering overhead.
“Put it back, Boy,” Shannon demanded. “Put it back, now!”
“I don’t remember the words. Sorry,” Boy answered with a shrug of her shoulders.
A high-pitched howl tore through the air.
“Did you hear that, Boy?”
“Y-y-yes,” Boy stuttered.
“You better summon your angel, too.”
“I can’t. I have no more oil.”
“Where did you find some to throw on me?”
“From the wall in the tunnel. I didn’t think it would work.”
“Hey, angel,” Shannon yelled at his angel. “What’s your name?”
“It’s Angie,” she said.
“Can you whoop the jackals?”
Angie shook her head.
“If there were two of you, do you think you could whoop the Jackals?”
She shook her head no.
Angels of the Second Earth Age Page 14