by Elise Marion
“What about the ring-bearer?” Drew asked. “There’s been an awful lot to talk about her, and how she was chosen from among us to save the world. Why isn’t she out there recruiting or whatever? She too special to get her hands dirty?”
Micah’s chair scraped the hardwood floor as he came to his feet. Before anyone could stop him, he stomped across the room and reached for Drew. Unaffected by the spiritual barrier, he grasped the kid by his shirt collar and lifted him from his chair.
“You wanna know where your sister is? Mrs. Rodriguez, show him.”
Turning him toward the Oracle with a rough jerk, Micah clamped down on the boy’s shoulder with an iron grip, holding him in place.
“I’d be happy to,” Carmen replied just before the pupils and irises of her eyes went white.
Pressing the fingers of both hands together, she sparked a round orb of light in her palms, then pulled her hands apart, causing it to grow. A space cleared in the center of the circle, revealing a scene that seemed out of a movie. Yet, there was no actor—only Addison walking through a dark tunnel.
Carmen’s vision projected at them felt all-too real. Jack could smell sulfur, feel the oppressive, suffocating heat, and sense Addison’s fatigue and fear.
“What is that place?” Drew asked as they watched Addison walk into a chamber full of beings that a civilian might have mistaken as zombies.
Jack knew what they were on sight, and realizing she walked among them caused him to feel sick.
“That would be Hell,” Micah replied, his voice rough and thick—likely from the same emotion Jack was experiencing as they witnessed Addison’s torment.
No sound could be heard, but he saw her tremble as the horde converged on her, saw her mouth part in a soundless scream.
“Lilith took her there after kidnapping three of our friends,” Micah continued. “And you can bet your ass Eligos had something to do with it.”
Brow furrowed, Drew shook his head. “There’s no way. Eligos told me that he would take care of his children. He would never allow something like this to happen to one of us.”
Jack shook his head. “Come on, man … use your head. Where do you think all those dark thoughts you have originated?”
Drew shrugged. “I’m a demon. It’s in my nature”
“Half-demon,” Micah insisted. “And you being his son doesn’t protect you. If anything, it makes you more of a target.”
“There was a man you knew … a basketball coach,” Carmen said suddenly, coming out of her trance.
The image of Addison faded away, and the Oracle’s glowing eyes returned to their normal hazel color.
Drew stiffened, his pallid skin growing an even starker shade of white, causing his freckles to stand out against it. “Coach Tomlin … how do you know about him?”
“Oracles, kid,” Micah murmured. “They see things.”
“He gained your trust, and your mother’s,” Carmen continued, her brow creasing as she stared into Drew’s eyes. “She thought he was safe, hoped he would be good for you … the father figure you never had. But he hurt you, didn’t he?”
Drew lowered his head and trembled, his hands clenching into fists in his lap. “Shut up!”
“The abuse went on for years, didn’t it? He made you think it was your fault … that it was your little secret and no one would believe you if they knew, because you were just a bad seed.”
He tried to stand, but Carmen’s barrier threw him back in the chair. Instead of calming, he only grew wilder, grunting and fighting his bonds, causing the chair to tip and rock back and forth, slamming against the floor.
“I said shut up, you stupid bitch!”
“It was a minion of your father sent by him to torment you,” she continued, unperturbed by his outburst. “That sort of abuse is a powerful weapon. By making you feel degraded and powerless, he gained the upper hand. He fueled your hateful and violent thoughts while making you vulnerable to manipulation.”
Drew’s eyes began to water, his face and neck reddening as he gritted his teeth. Turning his head, he swiped his face against his shoulder, drying the tears on his own sleeve.
“Why?” he whispered, his voice low and tortured. “Why would he do that?”
Pity lanced through Jack for the kid, regardless of what he’d done. Despite having his fair share of problems, he knew none of it compared to what the children of Eligos had endured.
“Because he is inherently evil,” Jack stated. “He doesn’t care about anyone or anything beyond furthering his own agenda. If that means using his children as stepping stones, then he’ll do it without batting an eyelash.”
“Inherently evil,” Drew muttered, shaking his head. “I’m his son … what does that say about me?”
“That you’ve had to overcome more than most to survive,” Micah supplied. “But that’s what makes the Nephilim so special. There’s no doubt you have what it takes to beat him … if you all band together.”
“We need you, young man,” Reniel chimed in, having now finished his lunch. “You are not alone. All across the world, your siblings have suffered just like you. They are trapped by hate, anger, despair, and misery. Joining together to defeat Eligos will liberate you all. It will give you purpose and fill the voids you’ve been trying to satisfy with things like violence, drugs, and vandalism.”
Drew’s ears reddened in embarrassment. “How did you know?”
“It’s a classic Naphil coping mechanism,” Reniel replied. “If you want to move past your pain, you’re going about it all wrong. Let us help you find the right a way to confront your past and overcome it. Let us teach you how to move forward and heal.”
Becoming silent for a long moment, Drew studied each member of their group with a suspicious gaze. Jack saw the mistrust in his eyes, and couldn’t blame the kid. He’d never had cause to trust anyone—not even his own parents. Abuse and neglect had made a mess of him, but Jack held out hope that Drew and his Naphil siblings weren’t beyond redemption.
Lowering his head, Drew dragged in a deep breath, then let it out on a long sigh. “What do I need to do?”
Jack sighed, relief causing the tension in his muscles to abate. He didn’t know what they would have done if the boy had refused to cooperate.
“First, you apologize to my daughter for pointing a gun at her head,” Jackson, Sr. said, stabbing him with a pointed stare. “Then you leave with my son and his partner in the morning.”
“Just like Eligos sent you and your little friend to recruit the Nephilim, our side has started doin’ the same,” Micah said. “You’ll be helpin’ me and Jack get your brothers and sisters on our side.”
Drew nodded, though he still appeared uncertain. Confidence, Jack supposed, would come in time.
“Until then, you’ll sleep in Jack’s old room, which Carmen has guarded with the same barriers keeping you in that chair,” Sarah said, arms crossed over her chest. “Sorry, but after last night, I don’t trust you here around my daughter.”
Remaining silent, Drew agreed with another silent nod. To Jack, he seemed appropriately ashamed of his actions. Hopefully, the kid wouldn’t give him or Micah cause to kick his ass. Neither of them possessed the patience for bullshit these days, nor did they have the time to waste on someone who remained indecisive about which side he stood on.
As Carmen escorted Drew to his prison cell for the night, Jack stood and stretched, fatigue sapping his strength. While he wanted nothing more than to crash for the next twelve hours, he knew sleep would never come. Not while Addison remained trapped in Hell. The glimpse of her Carmen had let them see hadn’t helped.
He made his way toward Reniel, only to find Jackson, Sr. standing in his path. He studied Jack’s face as if searching for something.
“How you holding up, son?”
Jack shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”
His father nodded. “I know it can’t be easy for you, with her trapped down there. I’ve been to Hell, and it’s no picnic. But Addison is
strong. If anyone can endure it, and come out of it still intact, its’s her.”
His dad was right, of course, but that didn’t stop him from worrying.
“I know,” Jack replied. “Hopefully, she gets out of there sooner rather than later.”
Before he could move past him toward Reniel again, his father halted him with a strong hand against his chest.
“You and Micah are fighting,” he stated.
Jack frowned. “Dad—”
“I don’t need an explanation,” Jackson, Sr. cut in. “Whatever is going on, it’s between you and your partner. But I will say this, and it’ll be all you hear from me on the subject … Guardian partnership is an important bond. There is a reason we fight in pairs. Whatever it is, fix it. This mission is too important, and if you’re focused on your anger at each other, you’re not focused on your job.”
Knowing that he was right, Jack didn’t argue. “Yes, sir.”
“See me before you leave in the morning,” he added. “I have something to give you.”
“Okay.”
Nodding, Jackson, Sr. released him, trudging upstairs, where Drew was no doubt offering Cassandra his apology.
Finally making his way to Reniel, he cornered the angel before he could escape to the kitchen for more pizza. Rolling his eyes, Reniel shook his head before Jack could even speak.
“No, Jack,” he declared before a question had even been asked.
Grunting in frustration, Jack ran a hand over his hair. “Come on, Ren. This is bullshit, and you know it. We can’t just leave her alone down there.”
Clenching his jaw, Reniel glared down at him from a towering height of six feet, five inches. “I said no, and I meant it. I’m not taking you, or Micah, down into Hell. There are already three Guardians and an Oracle down there. I won’t risk more of you.”
“What the hell do you expect us to do?” Micah questioned, appearing at Jack’s side.
“I expect you to do your jobs,” the angel snapped. “Which, right now, includes taking Drew under your wing, and helping with the recruitment of the Nephilim.”
“You made us her protectors,” Jack argued. “And now, when she needs us, you want us to forget that?”
“There is nothing more you can do for her right now. Besides, don’t think I am unaware of why she found herself alone when Lilith took her. Some protectors you turned out to be, becoming involved and placing her between you two like a piece of meat between two dogs.”
“It ain’t like that!” Micah protested.
“I don’t care how it is,” Reniel countered. “You’re not going down there, end of story. I suggest you rest up, because you are leaving New York tomorrow.”
“Wait,” Jack said. “One last request, and if you say no, I’ll leave you alone. I get that we can’t go down there, but what about a projection? She needs to know we are pulling for her. Being down there is going to wear on her, and she needs something to keep her going. Please.”
“You mean an Oracle-projected vision?” Micah asked, rubbing his chin. “Not a bad idea.”
Reniel scowled, seeming to think about the suggestion before replying. “I suppose it couldn’t hurt. But only one of you … both of you will just overwhelm her, and that’s the last thing she needs right now.”
Jack shot Micah a glance, expecting his partner to fight him for the chance to see and speak to Addison.
He replied without sparing Jack a glance. “Send him. He’s good at calmin’ her … it’ll focus her. Seein’ me will just confuse her.”
Without waiting for a response, Micah stomped for the front door, probably thinking to get some fresh air. Confined spaces always made him restless.
“Tell her I’m going to be madder than a kicked badger if she don’t get her ass back here,” he threw over his shoulder before disappearing through the front door.
Expression grim, Reniel took Jack’s shoulder in his hand. “All right, then. Let’s get this over with.”
Jack nodded. “I’ll go get Carmen.”
He found the Oracle coming out of his old bedroom, leaving Drew inside.
“Hey, Carmen,” he said. “I need your help.”
“Projecting you to Addison,” she replied with a nod. “I know. I’ve been waiting for you to ask me all day.”
Thank goodness for spiritual foresight. It certainly came in handy when time stood against them.
Following him back downstairs, Carmen joined him and Reniel in the kitchen, where she lowered herself into one of the dining room chairs. Sitting across from her, Jack took her hands, which she extended toward him from across the table.
Resting his palms against hers, Jack closed his eyes and waited for Carmen’s power to invade his mind.
Chapter Four: Reflections
The dark tunnel opened into another chamber, this one flooded with light. Unlike the dark, shadowy, cave-like enclosure she’d been trapped in before, this room had a clinical feel, with white walls, floor, and ceiling. While she saw no candles or fixtures, an eye-stinging light flooded the space, illuminating what waited inside for her.
Despite her bravado earlier, sheer terror gripped her at what she saw. While darkness and shadows made many things seem scarier than they actually were, she found that light, ironically, made these creatures far more sinister than any shadow ever could.
Standing in a cluster at the center of the room were several beings with human forms. No clothing covered their bodies, which were sexless—tall, willowy frames with spindly limbs. A grayish pallor tinted their skin, which took on a rough texture not unlike peeling paint. They stood facing inward, allowing her to view only their backs and hairless heads.
Pausing within a few yards of them, Addison experienced an anxiety she could not understand. Why she should fear these silent beings, she could not say, yet she experienced the urge to run from this room without looking back. But, the tunnel had closed off behind her, sealing the room so that there was no exit.
Swallowing past the lump swelling in her throat, she forced herself to face whatever Lilith had in store for her.
For a long time, the creatures simply stood in their formation, swaying like tree branches blown in a soft breeze. Brow furrowed, she stepped closer, searching for whatever they might be focused on in their midst. Fear told her that it couldn’t be anything good, while logic reminded her she would be stuck in this room until something was set in motion to bring about the second test.
When she came within arm’s length of them, one of the beings suddenly moved, whipping around to face her with startling swiftness. She bit back a scream as it advanced her on, revealing a face with no eyebrows, nose or mouth—only two overlarge, black eyes without irises. A tremor shook her as it grasped her shoulders and lowered its head until its face crowded her vision. A voice whispered in her ear, and she knew it belonged to this thing … even though there was no mouth.
Look into my eyes.
Addison became trapped in the creature’s stare, unable to blink or look away as if some invisible force held her eyelids open. The darkness melted away and within the depths of the black orbits, a familiar scene confronted her.
A young, red-haired girl sat cross-legged on the dusty ground in front of the trailer where she lived with her mom. Smiling, she played with a puppy, a tiny little bundle of fur that rolled around in her arms, yipping and snorting. She giggled when he licked her face, nuzzling him with her freckled nose. Behind the girl, her mother sat on the porch of the trailer, hair in curlers, crumpled magazine between her slender fingers, with a cigarette between her lips. Engrossed in her reading, she didn’t notice when the puppy took a nip at the girl’s fingers with his tiny teeth—as puppies often do. The playful bite stung, causing the little girl to cry out, shoving the little fur ball away. With a low whimper and wag of its tail, the puppy attempted to crawl back into his playmate’s lap. With a vicious snarl, the girl reached for the puppy, wrapping a chubby hand around its throat.
Gasping, Addison tried to look
away, but was forced to endure watching the puppy being choked to death while the little girl’s face twisted into a mask of sadistic glee.
“No,” she whispered. “No, that’s now how it happened! I would never do that!”
She remembered the moment as if it had happened yesterday, just as she did all the other times rage had almost gotten the better of her. Visions of hurting her puppy had filled her mind at the tender age of five, prompting her to run crying to her mother, begging Elizabeth to take the poor dog away.
Yet, watching her young self live out the dark fantasy, guilt and shame washed through her as if she’d actually gone through with it. When the little girl was finished, she stood, leaving the puppy lying in the dirt. Breath sawing in out of her lungs, she gazed up and locked eyes with Addison. Her dark pupils began to spread, edging out until they ate up both the irises and whites of her eyes, turning the orbs completely black.
Blinking, the creature extinguished the vision, then released her from its hold. She sank to her knees, tears crowding her vision at what she’d been forced to witness. Before she could find the strength to stand, the remaining creatures all turned at once, focusing their dark, dead eyes on her. Addison’s chin trembled as she realized their intent, and she scrambled away from them, scooting backward across the cold, white floor.
Their voices rang out in a cacophony of whispers, some loud and some soft; some grating, others smooth.
Look … see yourself.
Look at what you’ve done.
Gaze into my eyes!
Addison shook her head, yet still could not close her eyes or look away as the mass converged on her at once, each one revealing a different scene from her past. She saw herself in a high school fight, pummeling a girl who had called her mother a whore. She sat astride the other girl, striking her with alternating fists in rapid succession. Blood and gore stained her knuckles, while she grinned with savage satisfaction. Bone shattered and teeth broke, skittering across the pavement while their classmates looked on, their watching eyes taking on the red glow of demons, their cheers sounding akin to howling monkeys. Their faces twisted into grotesque masks, fists raised as they urged her to kill the little bitch.