The Gift of Light: (Revised) (The Gifts Book 1)

by Jen Gentry

  A knock on the front door interrupted their conversation.

  “Give the information Marta sent you to the man at the door. The Lord has instructed him and he knows what to do with it. Then get to the senator’s townhouse in DC immediately. I will be waiting for you there. Emily, this is where all your prayers are going to be needed and used. You go into this battle with us, carrying Jesus within you, covered in the full armor of God. I and a host of other angels will accompany you as your personal guard.” With those last words, Liam disappeared.

  Emily went to answer the door, full of curiosity as to who the Lord had sent to her.

  In D.C. Marta’s father looked all over for her, first at the address she gave him for the senator’s campaign headquarters. When they said she wasn’t there and they hadn’t seen her, he turned away.

  “That stubborn girl.” James Sims lamented. “She thinks she can take on the world all by herself.”

  When he arrived at the townhouse, they informed him that the senator was not there and no one knew anything. Two large security guards told him that Marta left the premises in a cab the night before and they hadn’t seen her since.

  He tried one last time to reach her cell phone, but still no answer. He called to the hotel. No one there had seen Marta since she left early that morning. Frantic and left with no other options, he went to the police to file a missing persons report.

  Bradley, after several hours without the morphine, started to come around. There was a new nurse to take care of him. She attempted several times to give him more of the medicine. Bradley yelled at her to leave him alone and get his wife.

  The nurse finally gave up and called the doctor. Demons and angels squared off all around the townhouse. A host of twenty angels surrounded Bradley.

  In the basement, Marta lay on an old mattress, unconscious, as the horde of demons encircling her warded off the advancing angels.

  Emily boarded her flight in a fog, trying to piece things together. Everything was happening so fast. First, Liam telling her what to do and then, here’s Seth, arriving on her doorstep out of nowhere!

  He told her an amazing story of an angel who appeared before him and sent him to her.

  His instructions were to take the information that Emily gave him about the presidential candidate, Brad Steel, to the press. The angel gave him the names of two Christian reporters in Hook Pond who would help him get the journal and letters into the headlines and to the proper authorities. The journal and the letters would be online and viral before the sun set on this last day before the elections.

  Her head continued to swirl and then suddenly, the fog cleared and she knew with a certainty that needed no definition. This was it. The battle that she knew deep in her soul was her destiny drew near. Hours spent praying, studying, and learning of the Lord, building a relationship with Him, all centered on this very day. It all mattered very much now.

  Bradley and Marta were in danger as Liam told her. Instead of worry for her friends, Emily felt a strong confidence in the Lord as the Holy Spirit welled up inside her. Everything would be fine because the Lord Jesus Christ was with her and her friends.

  Emily hugged Seth and held him close as they parted ways that morning. They promised to talk after this whole business concluded and Marta and Bradley were safe.

  The doctor arrived to help calm his patient. Bradley was now fully alert. He told the doctor he would sue if he received one more dose of any kind of sedative.

  The doctor listened to Bradley’s story. He didn’t know where Bradley’s wife had gone, but he believed her to be in grave danger. The doctor left and promised that he would do his best to help find Marta. He also gave the nurse orders to hold all of his pain medications unless the patient asked for them.

  In turn, Bradley promised to be as still as possible and not aggravate his injuries. The doctor provided the requested phone. He wanted to call his aunt and his wife. Meanwhile, the doctor searched for hospital placement for him.

  Senator Steel and his staff were in the midst of preparing campaign headquarters for the incoming horde of supporters from his political party when a call came through from Bradley’s doctor.

  The doctor explained that his son was now fully awake, wanted to see his wife, and demanded immediate transfer to the nearest hospital. The senator excused himself to his staff and told them he needed to go home for the evening to check on his son. He assured everyone he would meet at campaign headquarters later.

  Marta’s father argued with police officers at the station in downtown D.C. Marta had not been missing for a full twenty-four hours yet and he couldn’t file a missing persons report until the next morning. There was no way to trace her phone without the cooperation of the police. One Sargent advised him to check all the hospitals, but he suspected that the young woman in question was out shopping and sightseeing and would probably turn up back at the hotel at some point.

  Frustrated, angry, and scared to death, Mr.

  Sims caught a cab back to the hotel where he pulled out a phone book and began calling all the hospitals in the area.

  Seth arrived at the local Hook Pond newspaper office, where a young woman at the front desk asked, “How can I help you, sir?”

  “I need to speak with John Peters or his partner Jamie Hudson. It is urgent, a matter of great importance.”

  These were the names given him by the angel of the Lord, who sent him here to help Emily. The young receptionist told him to have a seat.

  After a few minutes, the men met in the lobby, where Seth shared with them the journal and the letters. Both reporters knew this was going to be a big story. They quickly got to work on posting the full journal and all the letters online and sending copies to the syndicated press.

  The mainstream media wanted to interview and Marta, and of course, the American people clamored for any news of their newest American hero, Lt. Bradley Steel, son of the democratic presidential candidate.

  The major problem was no one could find Marta. She was the one entrusted with all of this information to start with.

  By mid-afternoon, the story of Senator Steel’s sordid past swept across the nation. Blogs on the story popped up all over the internet. It was not long before the senator’s staff read the circulating story.

  The public relations team immediately began firing back at the allegations from Amelia’s journal and Camille’s letters, calling them lies and propaganda spread by the senator’s opponent.

  At the townhouse, the battle between the angels and demons raged on.

  Marta remained unconscious in a drug induced state, hidden in the basement.

  Bradley had no idea his wife was under the same roof with him. His phone calls to Marta and his aunt went unanswered.

  Senator Steel arrived back at his home to find his furious son waiting for him. This was a problem. They had to shut Bradley up somehow and fast.

  “I want to see my wife now, Father,” Bradley demanded from the confines of his hospital bed. “I know she was here, and I’m certain you’ve done something to keep her from me.”

  Smooth and slick, the senator lied. “Bradley, son, the truth is your wife couldn’t stand to see you like this anymore. She left on her own and hasn’t returned. I have no idea where she is.”

  “I don’t believe that for a minute,” Bradley scoffed. “You’re lying just like you always lie about everything. I’m getting out of here, and I warn you, Marta had better be safe, or I’m coming for you and I’ll tell everyone every dirty, ugly thing I know about you.”

  The senator lost all composure as he sneered at his son. “What are you going to do, huh? You can’t even get out of that bed. I have to hire people to take care of you and clean you up when you soil yourself. You are as helpless as a baby, and you are not going anywhere.”

  Bradley howled with rage as his father took his phone, left him alone in the room, and locked the door behind him. The senator dismissed the nurse and told her to leave the premises immediately.

&n
bsp; Somewhere in the house, the senator’s cell phone buzzed like crazed wasp. In his anger, he ignored the incessant noise. His staff would have to manage without him for now as he dealt with his son and his son’s wife. Outside, the bodyguards followed the senator’s orders to keep everyone out.

  He was now alone with only Bradley and Marta in the house. What choice did he have? He had to eliminate them. It was self-defense really, a kind of self- preservation. The question was how to do it?

  He needed to speak with Bathomet and get advice on how to deal with what he now felt was a serious problem with his son and daughter-in-law. He sent his car and driver to pick up the guru.

  Azelius with his horde and the added demonic sentries of the Ba al’, surrounded the townhouse and secured the place for the arriving Ba al’ by ousting every angel by sheer brute force. The angels were overwhelmed and outnumbered, but one very smart and quick-thinking angel made it out of the basement with Marta’s cellphone.

  Bathomet arrived at the townhouse in the senator’s limo. With him came the entire Ba al’ and their personal entourage. This added greatly to the already swelling numbers of demons surrounding the townhouse and the senator.

  The senator fell on his knees before the guru. “My friend and brother, what do the great masters say? Have I not served them well? Have I not worshiped them with time, praise, and money? Please tell me what I must do. I will do anything the masters tell me to, anything to keep my son and daughter-in-law from ruining me.”

  “You must kill them,” the guru replied in a deadpan voice. His eyes, vacant and expressionless, stared straight ahead, not looking down at the pathetic man groveling before him.

  “How can I do that?” The senator whined. “He is my son and the girl carries my grandchild inside of her? How can I kill them?”

  Azelius rolled his eyes at the sound of his charge’s whimpers as he welcomed the Ba al’ to his stronghold. The townhouse was now fully secured and in complete control of the demons.

  “Not to worry, my Lords.” Azelius bowed low before the assembly “We are quite safe here, and I will take care of the senator’s son and his wife myself.”

  “See that you do and do it now.” A boom of evil voices echoed in unison as Azelius hurried off to do their bidding.

  The senator still lay at the guru’s feet. He was nothing more than a puppet anyway, Azelius thought. Without him to pull the strings, the man was useless.

  Mr. Sims, still looking everywhere for Marta, hung up the phone in anguish. He’d called every hospital at least three times, plus every friend of hers he could think of, all to no avail.

  His cell phone chimed with an incoming text message. It was from Marta. “Oh, praise God.” He groaned with relief as he retrieved the message. His relief turned to anger and then fear.

  “Daddy, I’m in big trouble. I’m locked in the basement of the townhouse and I need your help. Please call the police and come get me. I’m scared to death for Bradley and the baby. The senator’s crazy, Daddy, he’s going to kill us. Please be careful, and hurry!”

  Liam held Marta’s cell phone in his hand and reported to Michael as he hovered in the skies above D.C.

  “The message is sent. Mr. Sims and the police should arrive at the townhouse in time to offer meaningful assistance. Emily is on her way to the townhouse as we speak.”

  “Excellent, Liam. Tell our forces to gather now. We have the prayer coverage of saints all over the world, and it is time to strike while we are strong with prayers and numbers. We will storm the townhouse full force with Emily in the lead. Time grows short for Bradley and Marta.”

  Liam affirmed Michael’s orders with the thunderous battle cry, “Glory to God, and to the Lamb who alone is worthy. Maranatha!”

  Then he went out to gather the angelic forces, that were hidden all over the city, to meet Emily.

  Emily got out of the cab a block away from the townhouse. She would walk the rest of the way while she prayed over the confrontation she knew was to come.

  As she strode down the street, angels from everywhere gathered behind her, lifting her up in prayer.

  In clear ringing tones she spoke aloud in her heavenly language, encouraging the angels who joined her, enraptured.

  She came to a stop not far from the townhouse.

  “Father,” she called in clear, trilling notes, “in Jesus Holy Name, I put on the Helmet of Salvation. Protect me, Lord, keep my mind clear and focused on You. I put on the Breastplate of Righteousness to protect me from the slings and arrows of the devil in the battle to come. I take up the Sword of the Spirit and with the Word of Truth, I tear down the strongholds of the devil in the Name that is above all names! Maranatha, Jesus!”

  Liam appeared at her side in full angelic battle regalia. His eyes glowed as he gazed upon her.

  “Emily, stop. Look around you and see the host of heaven following you into battle. My child, you are not alone.” Liam spread his wings raised his flaming sword and then pointed behind her.

  Emily turned, amazed by the legions of angels of all sizes gathering behind her. The sky filled with their numbers, their battle garb and glorious swords raised, awaiting the call to battle. There had to be at least six thousand or more battle-ready warriors.

  While she was astonished by the sheer magnitude of what she saw, she wasn’t surprised. The Holy Spirit had been preparing her for this day as far back as she could remember.

  A giant horde of demons swirled in front of her, but she wasn’t afraid. These demons stood between her and her beloved Marta. With the righteous anger of the Holy Spirit surging through her soul, Emily hurried down the street, rebuking the demons and calling upon the Lord to protect her.

  All around her Emily saw and heard the battle, complete with thuds, cries and clangs of crashing swords striking against armor. Worst was the smell of sulfur permeating the air as demons disappeared into the netherworlds of the abyss in an acrid puff. She kept walking and praising the Lord through the midst of it all until she came to the front steps of the townhouse.

  Something in the atmosphere changed, grew fuller, somehow. The hairs on the back of Emily’s neck began to lift, rising of their own accord, alert. She smelled a fragrance so sweet that for a moment she hesitated, wrapped in an ancient memory.

  From amongst the demons, shrieks of fear rose in the air. “Jesus is coming, Jesus is coming.” The entire Ba al’ exited en masse as the demonic alarm sounded. The guru, Bathomet, slipped out the back door and walked away, not looking back.

  Azelius and his minions remained with the sniveling senator, who cowered in a corner, sensing his impending doom.

  The two guards abandoned their post and ran away in terror, allowing Emily to walk right into the house where the senator stood in a corner, dumbfounded. He was at a complete loss without his guru and masters to guide him.

  The Holy Spirit spoke to Emily and she instantly knew who she was looking for.

  “Azelius! I have come for you and I personally call you out in the Name that is above all names! Jesus!” Emily’s shout echoed around the silent house and every demon in the building departed.

  Azelius tried to run, but found himself bound by ten angelic warriors. He screamed, hissed, and fought as they brought him before Emily.

  “Little girl,” he growled. “You think you can defeat me? I shall not bow before you. You are nothing. I will curse you and your entire family for centuries to come. I will not relent until I kill off everyone you care about. How dare you interfere with me? How dare you even speak my name?”

  “I do it because I have that authority, Azelius and you know it as well as I do. Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, including yours, Azelius.”

  Emily stared Azelius down, peering straight into his solid black soul. He bared his fangs and tried to lunge at her as the angels held him tight.

  “I will not!” he screamed. Bound in chains, he still would not bend.

  A bright light burst forth from E
mily. The glorious brilliance filled the room and took on the shape of a large golden lion. Every knee hit the floor including the angels, the demons, Emily and the senator.

  Before them stood the Great Lion of the tribe of Judah.

  Azelius, still bound in chains, cried out in horror as he fell to the floor. He began to blubber.

  “No, Jesus. No, please spare me. It is not the appointed time. Please spare me”

  “CONFESS!” the lion roared.

  Azelius began to speak. “I confess to murdering the family of Brad Steel, his mother, his father, his brother and his wife, Camille, and her sister Amelia, as well as a score of others over the centuries. I also confess to the attempted murder of his son, his son’s wife, and their unborn child. I did this to promote myself and to gain power over the children of the most high God. I confess that Jesus

  Christ is God Almighty to the glory of the Lord most high.”

  The great lion roared in the demon’s face.

  “Thy name is murder! Be gone!”

  Azelius began to dissipate into a fine black mist. His cries for mercy echoed even after he faded away, forever to be lost in the abyss. The Lion-Jesus looked at Emily with great pride and love shining in His eyes as he spoke.

  “My dear, brave and faithful child, you now have The Gift of Light. This special gift allows you to see into the spiritual realm as you need to. It will enable you to help bring down strongholds of the dark ones. Use this gift wisely to help lead others to Me. Remember, I am with you always.” Then he, too, faded away.

  The senator witnessed the entire event in a state of shock and terror. He screamed and cried out much as Azelius did before he faded. Emily went to the Senator and looked him in the eye. “May God have mercy on your soul.” In the distance, they heard the sirens wailing.