by Jen Gentry
“See, my brother, it is as I told you. A great evil follows the boy. You must stay away from him until we can rid him of this evil.”
Bathomet and Azelius both let out a sigh of relief that the boy and the angels were gone at last. The senator was still so weak he could only nod his head in agreement.
Azelius knew he needed to act. He would need reinforcements, and a plan to strike at Bradley. He just needed to regain his strength first. He would fortify the grounds with sacrifices if he had to.
Whatever it took to keep the angels away, he would do it.
Chapter Eleven
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
Colossians 1:13
English Standard Version
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life
John 8:12
English Standard Version
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 3:11
King James Version
The guru was not enough to help Azelius keep his stronghold. The Demon Prince needed more power. The problem was the saints of Hook Pond were all praying. The prayer coverage was so strong the angels were taking over the area.
“That woman who prays, she is at the root of this problem. I must find some way to attack her and cease her prayers for my stronghold.” Azelius spoke aloud to his personal guards.
The senator’s entire household prepared to move to the townhouse in DC for the winter. After the botched holidays, the senator decided he no longer wanted to stay in Hook Pond.
Azelius and Bathomet greatly influenced his decision. It would be good to get away from here. Azelius thought the change in location would allow him to gain back some of his hold on the senator. He still had his eyes on the boy, but he would wait for a moment of weakness in Bradley’s resolve. Azelius was smart enough to wait for the precise moment in which to attack the senator’s son.
While he had already dispatched Hate and Rebellion to watch for an opportune moment, Azelius brought in another, craftier demon to help with his plans for the boy. His name was Temptation.
***
Senator Steel had some last minute engagements in town before he left for DC One included a lunch with the mayor of the township.
At the luncheon, the senator chanced to meet an elderly man, Miles Perry, of the estate Perry House. The senator knew of him but they had never met.
Azelius, who until this very moment had been bored with this particular affair, had a sudden interest at the mention of Perry House. He looked around for Liam. He had to be nearby, as Mr. Perry was his charge. Liam was nowhere nearby, but there were other angels in the vicinity. Azelius knew he had to act quickly to seize on this opportune moment.
“Mr. Perry, I’ve driven by your estate many times and often admired the architecture. I wonder if perhaps you might give me a tour? I’m leaving tomorrow for DC, but I’m very interested in selling my beachfront house and building another in the same manner as yours.” The senator repeated each word verbatim as Azelius whispered them in his ears.
“Well, of course, you must come today before you leave. I would love to show you my home.” Mr. Perry responded as the kind man he was.
“Great, can I give you a ride home?”
“Sure. I can send someone for my car later.
Shall we go now, then?”
“Absolutely.” The senator guided Mr. Perry
out to his limo.
Azelius hid himself in the trunk of the limo as it pulled onto the estate driveway. Fear shook him, but he was determined to have a look at the woman who sees and perhaps take a swipe at her. He commended himself for the quick thinking that got him access to the grounds. With the senator personally invited to the place, it gave him minimal passage.
As the senator went on the tour with Mr. Perry, Azelius became a creeping mist. He slithered along the ground in search of the woman, the one who wreaked havoc with her prayers.
It was not long before he found the cottage and slipped under the door.
At that moment, Liam and Staniel arrived back from town after picking Emily up from school. Full of stealth, Azelius crept up behind the deaf woman as she stood at the kitchen sink. Just before he could solidify and strike at her, she whirled, her arms raised in praise and supplication to Him in whom she put her trust.
A bright light burst forth from her, and a thunderous voice echoed around the entire estate.
“Be thou gone, foul spirit! I am the One, even I! I am He who holds the power over heaven and earth. This is My child in whom I live. Be gone.” Azelius evaporated off the property, but he found himself on his knees. He knew he had narrowly missed being cast into the abyss by the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. To still be on this earth and in one piece amazed him.
At that precise moment, the senator remembered a pressing engagement and made his apologies to Mr. Perry.
Azelius, Bathomet, the senator and his entire staff left Hook Pond early the next morning. They could not get away fast enough.
Their departure encouraged the angels at Perry House, but Liam warned them not to let their guard down. He did not want another demon to gain access to the grounds. They must be extra vigilant about the care of their charges after this unprecedented incursion.
Gemma reflected on the past events, unaffected by coming face to face with evil. It had been some time she’d last seen a demon, but plenty of them lived at the orphanage where she grew up.
She rarely left the grounds of Perry House except to attend church, and as such, had little occasion to see them anymore. She worried about Emily and prayed daily for her protection. Gemma knew firsthand how evil worked, and she knew how to fight it … on her knees in prayer.
Emily was growing up fast. Gemma knew the Lord had great plans for the girl, but as the Lord in His wisdom kept that exact plan to Himself, all she could do was pray and have faith. The Lord’s grace was always sufficient and worry counterproductive. Gemma placed her faith in the Lord. Emily would be safe in His hands, she trusted in that knowledge.
Chapter Twelve
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom
he may devour
1 Peter 5:8
King James Version
Time moves swiftly as children grow and come of age. Seasons pass in the blink of an eye. Emily and Marta started high school. They’d reached an age where they found boys quite interesting. Marta had a crush on Thomas one week, Devon the next.
Soon the girls would celebrate being sweet sixteen, enjoying all the magical wonders of that age. Marta no longer wanted to write for fashion magazines. Her goal was to become an investigative reporter. She wanted, indeed thirsted for the truth. She’d received the baptism of the Holy Spirit soon after her last birthday and felt a calling to be one who uncovers the truth about people who do terrible things to others.
She wanted to share those things with the world and although she still harbored some resentment towards Bradley, he didn’t live in her little world.
Emily wanted to go to a Bible College and craved more knowledge about Christianity and the history of the Bible itself. She wanted to know everything about the word of God and to learn all the different translations. Unlike Marta, she had no particular interest in boys. She just preferred to admire them from afar.
***
Bradley continued to excel at the military academy, and at seventeen, achieved the rank of drillmaster. He rarely saw his father anymore, but did enjoy a chat with him every Sunday, although their conversations were brief. The senator always promised to visit, but never followed through.
As a growing Christian, he prayed for his father, prayed he would come to know J
esus as his Savior.
Aunt Amelia was his real parent now. She provided everything he needed in the way of love and financial support. Bradley guessed that his aunt must have far more money than his father. That had to be it. She’d bought him out, offered him something he valued more than his son.
Not that he blamed his aunt, in fact, he was very grateful to her, but he knew his father. He was all about money and power, and that meant keeping up appearances. Bradley concluded he didn’t fit anywhere in his father’s priorities, and as long as he stayed out of trouble and continued to make him look good by excelling in his academics, all would remain as it was.
During his years at the academy, Bradley made friends with several kids from all over the country, male and female. Up to that point, he hadn’t entered into any serious romantic relationships. There was one girl he was very fond of, Lynn Chamberlain, a stunning beauty with long blonde hair and an athletic body. Her family lived in Philadelphia.
Bradley thought she was a little sweet on him as well. He asked her to the Spring Ball, but she turned him down, saying she already had a date.
“No problem,” he told her. Although he was a little disappointed, it really wasn’t that big a deal.
Hate and Rebellion spent the last few years hanging around the academy. They never got close to Bradley, but neither were they ever far away. Always watching and waiting. Their time had come.
The girl, Lynn, provided an opportunity for Temptation to step in. The pair wasted no time in notifying Azelius to send the demon whose opportunity to strike at the senator’s son had come at last.
***
Lynn Chamberlain was a spoiled brat who knew how to play hard to get. She also knew all about Bradley Steel. He was just the kind of rich boy with a powerful family she was looking for. Her father had no sons and forced her into attending the military academy to keep his good name present amongst those he considered important.
The academy was full of wealthy kids whose parents wanted to display them as a part of a strong, patriotic family. Most of the families had some sort of political connection. Those who graduated from the academy usually went on to serve as officers in the armed services.
Lynn did not intend to serve anywhere. She was going to marry a rich boy if it was the last thing she did. Her father hoped she would go far with a career in the army, a thought that made her shudder. Lynn decided to get pregnant before she would let that happen and Bradley was her target. Not only was he rich he was super-hot. Years of running drills had him in prime physical condition.
He was her ticket out of this awful nightmare her father had forced on her. First, she would get pregnant. Then they would have to marry. Her father would insist. Both of them would be disgraced and expelled from school, but who cared about that?
Bradley’s family had plenty of money to go around. The demon, Temptation, arrived to help her along in her scheming.
It started with a simple text from Lynn to
Bradley:
“Hey, Bradley, I just canceled my date for the Spring Ball. I really, really wanted to go with you anyway, you know? You just waited so long to ask me. I was afraid you didn’t like me.”
He returned the text. “What? Me, not like you. How could you think that?”
“Well, whenever we are around each other you treat me like I am your sister or something, you know?”
“Oh no. I think I like you a lot. So does this mean you want to go the dance with me or what?”
“Well, duh? Didn’t I say I really wanted to go with you and not somebody else? Meet me at the Campus Union building in ten minutes. Do not make me wait.”
Bradley did a little victory dance before he ran all the way across the campus to meet Lynn. She kept him waiting for her for thirty minutes.
Temptation along with Hate and Rebellion salivated as they watched Bradley from the shadows while he waited for Lynn. The trap was set. She didn’t disappoint. Her look was perfect, innocent and sweet as she poured on the charm. She timed her entrance perfectly by making him wait for her and he was putty in her hands as she swayed over to him. He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she netted her catch: hook, line and sinker.
Bradley and Lynn were inseparable for the next two weeks before the Spring Ball. Lynn was very careful in her seduction of him. Something told her that he was the kind of guy who would need to be in love with a girl before he started sleeping with her.
One afternoon, Bradley asked her whom she’d turned down so that she could go with him to the dance.
“Uh, well, it was Jimmy Thornton.” The truth was that Jimmy had asked her, but she laughed in his face and walked away. “He is such a dolt, I don’t know who would want to go anywhere with him.”
Bradley gave her a funny look. “Jimmy’s a nice enough guy. We’re friends.”
Lynn quickly realized she’d slipped up. “Oh, he’s nice enough, I guess. It’s just that I kinda had my heart set on someone else.” She simpered twirling her fingers in her hair.
Her answer seemed to appease him and they both let the matter drop. Later that evening, Bradley prayed about his blossoming relationship with Lynn. He decided he needed to slow things down with her.
The look in her eyes when she ran down his friend, Jimmy, made him uncomfortable. It was too late to break his date to the dance, but afterward, he would tell her he really just wanted to be friends and nothing more. He did like her, but he had a feeling that she was just not right for him.
The dance was agonizing for Bradley. It should have been a fun time for the both of them. Lynn looked beautiful in her strapless, white gossamer gown, and he in full military formal attire. They made a striking couple. Lynn clung to Bradley like she owned him, and he felt smothered by her, further strengthening his resolve to break things off. After the dance, Bradley walked Lynn back to her dormitory.
So, umm do you want to come up? My roommate is spending the night with her boyfriend. I can sneak you in,” Lynn said as Bradley worked up the courage to break up.
“Uh, no I really don’t think that would be a good idea. We could get expelled for that, you know?”
Lynn put on her best pouty face. “Oh, Bradley, don’t you know that I am just dying to be with you? Don’t you want to be with me, too? We could be very careful. The other girls sneak boys in all the time.” Lynn threw herself on him and tried to kiss him.
Bradley shoved her away. He now knew without a doubt this girl was not for him.
“Listen, Lynn, there’s something I need to tell you. I like you, really I do. It’s just that I don’t think you and I are right for each other. I want to be your friend, just not your boyfriend. Do you understand?”
The shocked look on her face turned to rage and she launched herself at Bradley, clawing at his face and neck until he shoved her away from him. She fell back against the steps of the dormitory and ripped her delicate gossamer gown.
“Rape! Somebody help me. He’s trying to rape me!” Under her breath she whispered to a stunned Bradley, “You better run, because when I am done with you no one will have you. Think you can do this to me, break up with me? Watch this.” Lynn continued screaming and screaming as Bradley ran all the way back to his dormitory.
It wasn’t long before campus security showed up at his door. The Security Officers took one look at the scratches on Bradley’s face and took him into custody.
The demons Temptation, Hate, and Rebellion laughed together as they attached themselves to Lynn.
The angels assigned to Bradley rushed back to Hook Pond. Liam got Staniel to wake up Gemma and have her start praying for the boy. Liam prepared to return to New Mexico with Bradley’s angels.
They took Bradley to the main offices of the school and several school officials questioned him. The scratches on his face, Lynn’s torn dress, and the bruises she incurred when he had shoved her away all pointed to him as the aggressor.
He proclaimed his innocence, but they placed him under a type of dorm arrest, with security guards
stationed at his door. He pulled out his cell phone and called his aunt.
The senator awoke to a call from the superintendent of the military academy, who was most adamant. “Come and get your son, now.”
Chapter Thirteen
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD
Isaiah 54:17
King James Version
The senator arrived on the scene before Amelia did. Bradley’s father wasted no time in attacking his son.
“Boy, you’ve really done it now. I wonder how much money this is going to cost me to cover all this up and keep it quiet.”
“Father, I’m innocent. I didn’t do this. I didn’t attack that girl. She attacked me. Don’t you believe me?”
“Well, it wouldn’t be the first time this sort of thing happened. It’s not the first mess you’ve made that I’ve had to clean up.”
“Look, I know this looks bad, and I know I’ve screwed up in the past, but I’m not lying. I didn’t hurt that girl. She was mad at me because I broke up with her. She attacked me. Then she lied and said I tried to rape her.”
“It’s of no consequence. I’ll pay the family to shut the girl up and you’ll come home with me. I can’t believe you’ve been expelled from another school.”
It had been years since the senator suffered from those awful migraines. He rubbed his temples and felt the stirrings of one beginning now. It seemed the headaches only came on when he was with his son.
Azelius had given the senator a quick reminder of what a pain the boy had become before he flitted to another room.
Lynn sat with her head on her father’s shoulder, crying. “Oh, Daddy, please take me home. I never want to see this place again. It is just too scary for me here. Please say you will. I’ll just die if I have to stay here where that awful boy did such terrible things to me.”