by James Somers
Suddenly, his eyes opened. I was so shocked that I did the same. Indeed, my grandfather was searching the room frantically, beginning to call my name. We all rushed toward his bed. I went to his side as the healers parted in order to let me through.
They had stopped their chant by now, but their expressions remained grim. I knew what they had seen of Donatus’s condition. He was steadily slipping away. How he was conscious now made no sense.
“Cole?” he called weakly.
“I’m here, grandfather,” I said.
I took hold of his hand. His searching eyes didn’t seem to find anything to fasten to.
“I’m here.”
“I can’t see,” he said. “Where am I? What’s happened?”
I swallowed against the lump gathering in my throat. “You were brought from the king’s throne room,” I managed.
“Black?” he asked.
“The king said Black invaded the palace and that you fought with one another,” I explained.
“I heard the chant of healers,” he said. “I followed their song back to consciousness. I must be in pretty bad shape.”
I didn’t know what to say. Often people tell the dying how they will surely make a full recovery. I couldn’t lie to my grandfather. Besides, he already seemed to know the situation.
“What happened to Black?” Donatus asked. “Is the king safe?”
“I’m safe because of your heroics,” the king said stepping closer to the bed behind me. “Black left us.”
“What did he say?” Donatus asked.
The Shade King seemed reluctant to say.
“I must know, Your Majesty,” he pleaded.
He looked to us and then at Donatus. “Black promised that he would have war one way or another. He mentioned using Gladstone and Britain against me.”
Donatus swallowed hard. “Gladstone is his ally—that makes sense,” he said. “He used him against us. Brody must be told that this is why we were thrust out of England.”
“We’ll tell father,” Sadie said.
“Dear Sadie.” Donatus said. “Laish, are you here?”
“I am, brother,” he said, moving closer to the bed.
“We cannot let this happen, Laish,” he said. “Black will surely send the British army to Ireland against us. There must be peace among us. A terrible battle is coming.”
“We will do whatever we can,” Laish said.
“Brian?” Donatus said, to the Leprechaun King. “You must have peace between you and Brody. He did the best he could to make a new home for our people after what happened in England. Surely you must see that Black has orchestrated all of these events hoping to turn you against us. He wants war. Brody and Sadie possess the only weapons known to be able to defeat one of the Fallen. Promise me that you will make peace your first priority?”
“I see the truth of things now,” Brian Shade said. “I will do as you ask, Donatus. But surely my healers can do more for you now?”
“It’s too late for that,” Donatus reported. “My injuries are much too severe. But I must have a moment alone with my grandson.”
I waited anxiously as the others bid him farewell, each in their own way. Laish held on to his brother’s hand the longest. “Promise me that you will follow where I go?” Donatus asked.
Laish smiled, nodding. “Do not worry, my brother,” he said. “We share not only the same father, but the same faith, as well.”
When the others had gone out, leaving us alone, I stood very close to the head of his bed. “I’m here, grandfather,” I said. “The others have gone.”
“You’re still so young, my boy,” he said. “I had so much to teach you. I regret that your youth has been spoiled by so much adversity.”
“Please don’t feel that way, grandfather,” I said. “This is the way the world is, and I don’t mind. I’ve learned so much. I want to make you proud.”
“You’ve made me so already,” Donatus said. “Your father and mother were also very proud of your accomplishments.” He paused a moment, reflective. “I trust that I’ll soon see them both.”
I couldn’t answer. I had not been able to say goodbye to my parents. And now I had that opportunity with my grandfather, and the words still would not come—only tears.
Donatus padded by hand, taking it in his own. “Don’t cry for me, son,” he said. “I’ve lived an unusually long life, even for a Descendant. It’s time that I went on to my eternal home. But there is one thing more that I can leave you. A memory that was given unto me by my father, Samiel.”
“The angel?” I asked.
“He was consigned to Tartarus long ago, but he left me with his memory of how Black came to be what he is now, and his role in the rebellion that turned so many Heavenly beings from their first estate.”
“Will this memory help me to defeat him?” I asked.
Donatus considered my question for a moment. “It’s hard to say,” he answered. “Knowledge can be a powerful weapon. I suppose it depends upon who wields it. Still, I feel you’ll need every defense possible in the days ahead. Now, close your eyes and join me in mind.”
I did as he instructed, closing my eyes. With my hand in his, I allowed his thoughts to permeate my mind. Soon, a world came into view that I had never seen before—a vision of a place that only scripture could describe.
Intimidation
Liam took another blow to the face. The punch, coming from one of his appointed sparring partners, was pulled somewhat, but it still stung and bloodied the boy’s lip. Liam licked the wound with the tip of his tongue, savoring the pain. He drew from it, launching his next attack. His feint worked, drawing a response that opened his opponent up to a shot to the ribs.
The prince took the opportunity and then followed to the next open place at the face as the older boy’s hands came down. Several blows later, Liam’s opponent lay on the ground bleeding profusely from a jagged laceration at his right brow. The entire right side of the boy’s face was now mottled and swelling, and blood was running from both sides of his nose.
“Yes!” Liam shouted. “Who else wants a go?”
His remaining sparring partners had already taken a beating from the prince this morning. Some of the others training on the grounds close by glanced over at the noise and then looked away quickly. Except for one individual—a boy who had been watching quietly from the sidelines.
Liam looked at him, expecting the boy to turn away like everyone always did. The boy continued to stare at him, even cracking a wry smile which infuriated the prince.
“What are you looking at?” he asked.
The boy remained seated upon a wooden bench. He chuckled a little at the question. “A child who could use a good spanking,” he replied.
Liam started. No one had ever spoken that way to him, let alone someone close to his age. “I suppose you think you’re the one to do it then?”
“You should stick to your bunch of hirelings, prince. They’ll be sure to go easy on you. Obviously, you couldn’t handle a real fight.”
The prince fumed, his facing going as red as the hair on his head. “What’s your name?” he asked through clenched teeth. “I’ve never seen you before.”
“I’ve been around for a few months now,” he said. “My name is Adolf.”
Liam motioned to the circle outlined on the short grass in white chalk. “Step inside then, if you’re not a coward.”
From the group of Leprechaun soldiers serving as bodyguards stepped the guard captain, Jon. “Your Highness,” he said. “Perhaps you should return to the palace now as your father commanded. The peace talks will have begun by now. He will already be angry that you have not arrived.”
Liam ignored his protector, never taking his eyes from Adolf.”
Adolf hopped off of the bench immediately, dropping his sweaty towel onto the grass. He wore loose fitting trousers and no shirt as he strode into the circle confidently. His wiry frame flexed all at once like a single muscle unit. “Maybe you should have
your people go get you some pads, or a helmet to protect that pretty face of yours. Your father will be angry when you show up black and blue.”
“I’m a tenth degree black belt in five different martial arts forms including Kalandra,” Liam boasted.
Adolf grinned, raising his bare fists in a loosely defensive position. “It’s a good thing,” he said. “You’re going to need all of that for the beating I’m about to give you.”
Reluctantly, the guard captain stepped away, lest he receive a tongue lashing from the young prince. Quietly he dreaded what was about to happen here. Liam might not have known his opponent, but Jon had seen this young man sparring in the quads before today.
Liam stepped back to the opposite side of the circle, making a big show of stretching and running through several complex maneuvers, lightning quick jabs, evasions and kicks. All in all, he cut a nice figure for a young man. Clearly he was skilled. Those who had stopped sparring in their own quads, in order to come and see this royal spectacle, appeared to be quite impressed. But Adolf never flinched.
He remained as he was, standing there, waiting for the prince to make the first move. Liam grinned and fell into an aggressive posture, maneuvering around, remaining fleet-footed, ducking and weaving as though punches were already flying.
“Are you going to beat at the air all day?” Adolf asked.
Liam moved in, swinging. Adolf took a step forward, and the prince retreated, dodging away. Adolf still had his fists up, but he hadn’t thrown anything at the prince yet.
Judging the distance between them, Liam set himself up for a tornado kick. Taking a step forward, he pinioned off the ball of one foot, twisting in the air, bringing down the other foot with added centrifugal force. All eyes watched, ready to be thoroughly impressed with His Majesty when the blow landed hard on Adolf’s cheek. But the moment never came.
Adolf took one big step forward, meeting Liam while he was still halfway through his maneuver. As the striking leg came around, it was met by Adolf’s left forearm blocking at the inside of the prince’s knee, nullifying it. His right elbow swung inside, striking Liam’s ribs hard, knocking the wind out of him instantly. Despite his pint up inertia, the prince bounced off of Adolf who stood as immovable as a brick wall in his path.
Liam fell hard onto his back, despite the soft ground, unable to even gasp for breath. Adolf had clearly won the bout already, but he didn’t stop his attack. Instead, he stepped over Liam’s chest, sitting on top of him, beginning to pummel him across the face with heavy knuckled blows that drew blood from his mouth and nose almost instantly.
The prince attempted to cry out for help, but he couldn’t catch his breath to scream, and Adolf’s added weight on his chest wasn’t helping the matter. For a moment, even the prince’s bodyguards were too stunned to do anything about the beating he was taking. Adolf was relentless, merciless. Liam’s face began to puff up and turn a ghastly shade of purple.
Adolf’s fists were crimson by the time he stood up, leaving the prince coughing up phlegm and blood, a knot of pain, rolling to his side, holding ribs that would later be found broken in several places. The guards, deciding that they had better do something about this, stepped forward to help the prince.
Jon, the guard captain, left the prince to his fellows while he walked over to Adolf. “You’ll have to come with us,” he demanded.
“He asked for what he got,” Adolf said.
“Be that as it may, Liam is still the king’s son,” Jon declared. “You’ll have to answer for this before the king.”
Without another word, Adolf launched into the air. His ability to fly startled the guard captain. All he could do was watch as the boy flew straight on towards the other side of the city resting on the opposite wall of the cavern. There he was seen to land among pedestrians. Soon, he was lost in the throng.
Adolf watched the sky, looking to see if any of the Leprechaun soldiers had been able to follow him. Clearly they couldn’t fly like a sprite, but he was unsure if they might teleport after him. So far, no one appeared to be in pursuit.
“They can’t see you,” a familiar voice said from behind.
Adolf turned to find Lucifer standing next to him.
“Who?” Adolf said flatly.
“Pardon?”
“Who can’t see me?” Adolf repeated.
Lucifer spread his arms magnanimously. “No one, not the soldiers, the pedestrians. I’ve rendered you invisible like me.”
Adolf glared at the angel for a moment.
“Aren’t you going to say—?”
“Thank you,” Adolf said, finishing Lucifer’s thought. “Now, leave me alone.”
He started to walk away, passing unnoticed through the crowd. As pedestrians parted for him—completely unaware they were doing so—he found Lucifer already ahead of him, waiting. “Must we do this all day?” Lucifer asked. “Why did you leave Austria?”
Adolf walked past him again, but turned at the last. “Did you find my mother?” Adolf yelled. “Did you see what your servant and those jackals did to her?”
“Had I known what was happening, I would have eliminated Alois myself,” Lucifer said.
“Then where were you?” Adolf demanded. “We trusted you! Now, she’s dead.”
Lucifer was suddenly closer to him, without even seeming to move. “But you did kill Alois, didn’t you? You took vengeance upon him and the others for what they did to her?” He was eager to know, practically salivating.
“Yes, I killed him,” Adolf spat. “I killed them all.”
“Made you feel better, did it? Having all of that anger unleashed? Just like that boy you pummeled back there. You enjoyed the power you had over him.”
“He deserved what he got,” Adolf said. “They all deserved it, but that doesn’t bring my mother back.”
“You’re right, Adolf, and nothing ever will,” Lucifer replied. “They took her from you. Still, I haven’t heard the reason why.”
Adolf paused. He had assumed that Lucifer was already aware of what had happened in the village. He was an angel after all. It seemed logical that he should know.
“Things began to happen in Braunau,” Adolf explained. “Alois’s oldest daughter drowned herself in the pond. They blamed me for it, but I had done nothing to cause it. Alois Jr. confronted me with a weapon, but I did not kill him. It wasn’t my fault.”
“What did happen?”
“Their dog attacked him,” Adolf reported. “He fell from the window and died.”
“I see,” Lucifer said, adding no explanation for any of the strange events surrounding their deaths.
“It was the Jews,” Adolf added. “They turned everyone in the town against me, calling me shedim.”
“Demon,” Lucifer translated aloud. “Interesting. Why do you suppose they called you that?”
“I did nothing to them,” Adolf said defensively. “They had no reason.”
“Perhaps these Jews sensed your power,” he suggested. “They are crafty, you see? You must beware of them. Everywhere you find them they will seek to harm you. They will destroy you if they can, just like they did your mother.”
Adolf’s anger at the memory burned hot. “Let them try,” he said. “I’ll do the same to them when they do.”
“You would have quite a fight on your hands,” Lucifer reasoned. “Usually, the best defense is a good offense. Get your enemy before he gets you…before they even know you’re coming.”
Adolf stared at the angel for a moment. Finally he asked, “What now? I’ve nowhere to go.”
Lucifer looked around at the city above and below. “You seem to be doing fine here.”
“But the guards,” Adolf said, “they’ll be looking for me.”
Lucifer laughed. “I wouldn’t worry about that, Adolf. Even if they did, you are more powerful than you realize. Already, you’ve shown yourself quite capable of surviving. Besides, this city has a great deal to offer. Make it your own, for now.”
“And you?”
Adolf asked. “Where will you be?”
Lucifer fixed him with a steely gaze. “Nearby,” he said, his form beginning to fade. “Never more than a call away.”
The angel disappeared completely. Suddenly the noise of the city, which had taken on a muffled tone, became clear and present again. Pedestrians walking around him, glanced his way. They could see him now.
Adolf considered what he had been told. Always, there was an undeniable wisdom about Lucifer’s counsel. He found it difficult to deny the logic of his argument. And, if he had been instructed to remain here in the kingdom of the Leprechauns, then it was nothing different than what he had already intended himself.
Rockunder was glorious, after all, even if its royal heir was a fool. Still, the city was ponderously large. He would never be located by the king, or his son, unless he wanted to be.
Memories
As one world faded—the present world—another came into view. This place was not like others at all. Its beauty was incomparable to anything contained in Creation. Illumination was the building block of every building fashioned. Every creature was radiant. And, yet, far surpassing them all was the presence of the Almighty. In glory unmatched. In power inconceivable. In authority supreme. In love everlasting.
I realized that I was now experiencing the world through the eyes of another. His thoughts suddenly intrusive. The thoughts of an angel called Samiel—
I have never forgotten the very first moment of my life. We were all suddenly there in the presence of the Almighty, basking in his radiant glory, aware of each other, aware that this was our beginning. There was no pain, no suffering of any kind. He had spoken and we came into being with a perfect knowledge of who had made us so.
Joy was my first concept. We all felt this joy in His presence. We were created to know Him and to glorify His majesty. There was no sense of servitude, only the pleasure of serving. Really, we were eager to do anything we could to please Him. After all, this was our first purpose. Indeed, it was the purpose of all Creation.