Seraph

by James Hicks

  “Would you guys like something to eat?” Camilla asked. “I’m starving . . . Mom? Dad?”

  “You can’t avoid this conversation, Cammy. We’re going to have it.”

  “Dad, please . . .”

  “No, Camilla, your father is right. What is going on between you two?”

  Camilla found a restaurant where they could eat and parked. They conversed further inside the diner.

  “So, Cammy?”

  “It’s nothing. We don’t have to be with each other all the time. . . . It’s not like we’re married or anything.”

  “Whoa . . . who said anything about marriage, baby girl?”

  “Camilla, we know that you love the young man. . . .”

  Camilla only looked at her mom.

  “So why are you avoiding him now? He is such a sweet young man, and he is madly in love with you too.”

  “Yeah, honey, we can all see it.”

  “Who’s we?”

  Her father laughed.

  “For starters anyone who’s ever seen you two together.”

  Both her parents laughed at that comment.

  “So tell us now, Camilla . . . what happened?”

  Camilla let out a huge sigh.

  “. . . Have you guys heard of the new superhero guy?”

  “Yes, I have. Didn’t he save the Freedom Tower about four to five months ago?”

  “Yeah . . . that guy. . . . Well, that’s John.”

  “For true?”

  “Yes, Mom, for true.”

  “How did that happen?”

  “Well, he has an angel living inside of him.”

  “What? When did this happen?”

  “On his thirtieth birthday . . . sometime that night. He walked home one way and the next day he was . . . just . . . different.”

  “Oh . . . yes, he is different. I knew that body didn’t come from going to the gym. He is very handsome now, right?”

  Camilla could only blush and used her hands to cover her smile.

  “Okay, that’s enough drooling over the guy like he’s a piece of meat.”

  “A piece of choice meat.”

  “Abri!” Robert laughed.

  “Mom!” Camilla shared in her father’s laughter.

  “What, I must say? It is true.” She joined them.

  “You are something else.”

  “Oh, honey, you know you are the only man I have eyes for.”

  “Of course I know, Apple.”

  Apple was an affectionate name that he gave her for being the “apple of his eye.” She kissed him.

  “Oh lord.” Camilla rolled her eyes.

  “Camilla, your father and I have been married for thirty-two years, and we are still happily married in a world that tells you to quit when things get too hard. You should be proud of us.”

  “I am . . . I just wanted that too.”

  “Why do you say that like it won’t happen? John wants to marry you.”

  “Yeah, back to him. What does his transformation have to do with anything? Has he changed?” Robert added.

  “Other than physically, no. And I know it’s going to make me sound shallow, but I was never attracted to John before he changed.”

  “Well, how could you? Those thick glasses and he was so tiny, he was. Not very handsome at all.”

  “Mom!”

  “What, I must say? It is true.”

  “Yeah, but he was still so nice to me. That counts.”

  “Yes it does, sweetie. Has he changed?” her father asked.

  “I guess . . . after he changed he was just . . . better but he was still the same guy. I just fell so deeply in love with him and . . . anyway we had sex and a lot of it. Then he went somewhere and got into a fight with a demon and got really hurt. And when he came back he told me he didn’t want to be with me anymore.”

  “That doesn’t sound right. I know John, I know how he feels about you, and I doubt he would say that to you. Are you sure that’s how he meant it?”

  “I am . . . and he didn’t say that exactly, he just said we couldn’t sleep together anymore. And I didn’t want to stop, I still don’t want to stop, but I was just so hurt. He was my first and I’m rambling.” Camilla sighed deeply. “. . . Now I’m just so embarrassed for not talking to him about this sooner and . . .”

  Just then her phone rang. It was John. She sent him to voice mail.

  “Was that him?”

  “Yeah . . .”

  “You need to talk to him, Cammy . . .”

  “What do I say, Daddy?”

  “You tell him how much you love him . . . duh.”

  “Oh my lord, sweetheart. You are so smart and yet you are so silly,” her mother added.

  The phone rang again. John. She looked at it as it rang this time.

  “Answer it, darling,” Abri said.

  She did, stepping away from the table and outside of the diner for privacy.

  “John . . .”

  “Cammy . . . I was beginning to lose hope. . . . we need to talk.”

  “I know. . . . Where are you?”

  “By the church.”

  “Want to meet me in Central Park?”

  “Yeah,” he said surprised.

  “Meet me by the castle.”

  “Sure. Okay.”

  She hung up and ran back inside, grabbing her belongings and telling her parents she was on her way to see him. They were both thrilled that she was going to repair what had been broken and wished her well.

  She drove slightly faster than she should have, swerving through traffic like a New York City taxi driver. She thought about all she would say. She was going to declare her love again, forgive him, ask to be forgiven, and it was all going to be so magical. He was going to embrace her tightly, kiss her, and the sun would shine, wild unicorns would race, and a rainbow would make the reunion complete.

  Camilla parked and was so excited to see him that she speed-walked. But when she got to the castle, she didn’t see him. She searched and looked, but he wasn’t there. Maybe he wasn’t coming, or maybe she had scared him away. Maybe he had lost interest; after all, she hadn’t talked to him in three months. Why was she always so nervous when it came to him?

  Camilla prided herself on being level-headed, but something about John made her irrational. What was it? Love. She overlooked a lake that was at the bottom of the pavilion, connected to the castle by a beautiful walkway with marble guardrails. She was all alone until a man approached her from behind.

  “Hey . . .”

  Came the only voice that could calm her and make her heart beat at the same time. Camilla turned around with the brightest smile on her face. He was a sight for sore eyes, and she couldn’t help but think that he had become more handsome since the last time she had seen him. Camilla greeted John with the biggest hug she’d ever given him and searched for the perfect words.

  “You smell like heaven.”

  “What?” He laughed and cocked his head to the side.

  “I’m so sorry that was really cheesy. I was trying to say something cute and that came out.”

  “It was cute, albeit very cheesy.”

  She laughed a little.

  “I do miss that laugh, though . . .”

  She smiled.

  “And that smile . . .”

  “I’ve missed you so much and I’m so sorry for reacting the way I did.”

  “No, I said it wrong. I could have handled it better than just springing that on you like that. It was very stupid of me.”

  “Well, it’s over now and I just want us to start over.”

  “Me too. . . . I want us to be together again, and though it can’t be like it was, I want you to know that I love you and want to be with you forever.”

  “I know.”

  “Oh do you, ‘Han Solo’?” John said.

  That elicited a great laugh from them both.

  “You know, I know. You know I love you more than life itself. . . . I’m just glad that we’re not fighting a
nymore. I couldn’t take it. I was just so nervous to talk to you after a while . . . I was afraid.”

  “Afraid?”

  “Yeah, that you’d be so mad that you wouldn’t want me anymore or that you would think I may have overreacted. Which I did, I was just so emotional . . .”

  “Cammy, you don’t have to explain anymore. I have moved on from that and I only want to focus on a future that includes us together forever.”

  She kissed him passionately. A kiss that said, “I miss you, I love you, I want you.”

  “There’s one more thing I want to talk to you about.”

  John stared deep into her eyes, reached into his pocket, and was about to bring something out, but suddenly there was a series of large explosions that seemed to come from the middle of Manhattan. Everyone in the park could hear it.

  “My god, what was that?” Camilla said.

  “I . . . I don’t know.”

  There was a TV being played in the main lobby of the castle.

  “TV in the castle, c’mon,” John said.

  When they made it to the lobby, the news was already on, and people were crowding around the big-screen television. There were already several helicopters on the scene and what they captured frightened everyone but John. There was a brave reporter who was first on the scene.

  “My name is Gary Russo and I’m reporting live at the scene. At the heart of Times Square are what looks like three . . . giants and there is a woman who is next to them. . . . It looks as if she is leading them. I know it sounds unbelievable, but what you’re seeing on your TV screens is indeed real . . . Oh my god. They’re destroying everything in sight. As you can see, there are indeed dead bodies strewn throughout the streets, many of the bodies are police officers. They put up a good fight for a while, but these gigantic monsters are simply too much for them to handle. OH MY GOD, DID YOU SEE THAT? Jesus Christ. Excuse my language, America, but there was a very brave, but also very stupid, truck driver who tried to run over one of the giants, but it just stood there and took the head-on collision. The trailer flipped up and folded on itself. My god, I’m sure that guy is dead. . . . Oh man, now one of the ’copters seems to be getting too close and now the female giant. . . . What is she doing? WHOA! She just took a car and threw it like a missile into the aircraft . . . the carnage . . . Oh no . . . Sean, let’s get out of here; the other one is looking at us. RUN, SEAN! . . . RUN! AAAAHH!”

  Everyone in the lobby could see that the cameraman was running backward and still shooting the enormous giant chasing them down, and then static appeared on the screen. The news network returned the viewing audience to the news studios where an anchorwoman continued the broadcast.

  “. . . I’m just speechless . . . poor Gary and Sean, our cameraman, . . . they’ve been working here for over fifteen years and were always the first on scene for many of New York’s biggest tragedies such as 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy. They were truly the bravest of us all and will be missed, but now the question is, who are these creatures? Who is the mysterious woman? What do they want? Who will save us?”

  The crowd in the lobby had grown during the broadcast. They were all terrified. Some were openly crying, others were praying, and some just stood there as though they were frozen in time. John led Camilla through the crowded lobby and back to the pavilion where they were before the attacks started. Tears welled in her eyes because she knew what was coming.

  “Cammy, please don’t cry. You’re making this harder for me.”

  “Don’t cry? What do you mean don’t cry? Monsters are tearing up Times Square and you’re going to face them, aren’t you? . . . I’m not going to ask you why it has to be you because I know it has to be . . . just . . . just promise to come back to me.”

  “Can you get home from here?”

  “Yeah, I think so.”

  “Run home and hide. You don’t stop and talk, you run . . .”

  “And hide. I got it.”

  “Step back.”

  “No! You promise me, John.”

  “. . . I promise I’ll come back . . .”

  They were afraid. Neither of them had ever seen anything on earth like this before. Their hearts raced and they kissed each other zealously.

  “Protect the sheep; kill the wolves.”

  That was the last thing she said to him as she stepped away from him.

  When John thought about his suit it powered on. Hues of blue and white engulfed him and John transformed into Seraph. Some people had rushed outside the lobby and stood with Camilla. Everyone marveled at catching a glimpse of New York’s guardian angel. At first the people only stared at him, but then someone said, “Go get ’em,” and then others began to join in with more encouraging words, and soon there was a chorus of cheers and applause. They weren’t sure if he could win and didn’t really know what to expect, but the mere fact that he was there to fight was good enough for them. Then he bent his knees and shot off into the sky.

  The crowd dispersed and went back into the lobby. Camilla just stood there. A tear streamed down her face. She was so worried about him. How would he fair? Could they kill him? Could John die? But then the Lord spoke to her. Can you add one extra hour to his life by worrying about him? So she prayed.

  “Jesus, please protect him. Give him the strength he needs to destroy these creatures. Send your angels to watch him and cover him with your precious blood. I have faith that you will see him through this and bring him to victory. In your mighty name I pray. Amen.”

  She felt much better but wondered if praying for him was enough. She knew it wasn’t; after all, faith without action is useless. Even though John did tell her to run home and hide, she just had to do something. She was crazy about him; and they were both insane.

  Seraph had flown over Times Square and could see the devastation from above. He saw Lilith and the three Nephilim wreaking havoc on the city. Seraph picked out a target to attack first. No talk, just action. He shot down like a bullet and geared for an attack. Emim was in his sights and totally unaware he was about to be hit by a supernatural missile. Emim held a car high above his head and was about to throw it into a building, but was hit with the force of a comet and tackled to the street. He left a trail of concrete more than twenty feet before he finally stopped. Emim looked around totally dazed, searching for the source of the attack. He got up slowly and dusted himself off. Lilith and her children looked at each other and wondered who would dare impede their destruction.

  “I was beginning to think you wouldn’t show.”

  “You didn’t really, did you?” Seraph said.

  “No. Not really.”

  “Go back to the hell hole you came from and take these . . . things with you!”

  “Things? You don’t recognize them, do you?”

  “Should I?”

  “You most certainly should. . . . You may not see it in my sons, but what about my daughter? She doesn’t look familiar?”

  Seraph looked closely and examined Rapha’s face and then he saw the resemblance.

  “Andrea? How . . . ?”

  “Oh, don’t be ridiculous. She does resemble the woman, doesn’t she? I will tell you how though. . . . That simple little minx fell in love with a demon . . . A DEMON. She was so lonely and disgusting that she gave herself to him night and day, day and night for almost a month. Like a whore. Do you know what happens when angels and humans . . . do it?” She burst out into heavy laughter.

  “Lilith . . . What have you done?” asked Seraph, sadness in his voice.

  “I’ve watched you humans poison this world for more than 10,000 years. You fight each other over meaningless religions and traditions, land that you have no right to live on, and over different shades of skin color. Humans are a blight on this world. There was once a time when the Nephilim ruled this once glorious planet. It is time that they rule it once again.”

  Lilith opened a portal, preparing for her departure.

  “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of
the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bear children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.”

  Lilith calmly backed into the portal, gracefully with a hint of sensuality that she was never without. And then it was just the four of them. Anakim stood across from Seraph, but sent his siblings in opposite directions. Emim and Rapha both hid in the tall buildings to confuse Seraph, a tactic that was totally lost on him. He was expecting to be surrounded. Something that he could deal with, all of them being in clear view, but now that Rapha and Emim were hiding, it was going to be a difficult experience.

  Anakim stared down Seraph.

  “C’MON!” Seraph yelled.

  Anakim smiled from across the street and continued to stare Seraph down. Emim had snuck around Seraph and jumped high into the air behind him. He had his hammer in hand, preparing to crush Seraph, but Seraph turned around quickly and punched Emim in the face as he landed. He was not going to be taken by surprise. Emim was crushed and left a hole in the street. Seraph turned around to see Anakim running toward him, and he ran to meet him. However, before he could meet Anakim, Rapha speared him to a car on his right side. It was a blindside attack that split the car in half.

  She pounded her fists into his face, then lifted him high above her head and threw him like a rag doll into a broken-down bus. Emim was waiting for him and peeled him from the bus, punching him in the gut and slamming him to the concrete ground. Emim took his great hammer and brought it down with such force that the ground split underneath them. He sought to do it again, but Seraph kicked Emim in the gut and jumped up. He tried to fly to create some space between them, but he was caught by Anakim, who proceeded to put him into a full nelson. Rapha approached and beat him in his midsection. Anakim lifted the hero up and viciously slammed him into the pavement. Emim rushed forward and punted Seraph more than 100 yards into a construction building.

  When he landed, he tried to regain his equilibrium. That was some beating. Seraph stumbled his way to his feet and thanked God every moment that he had that armor. The blows did hurt and he felt every one of them, but he knew that without the armor he would have been obliterated. What were they? Could they die? He was getting ahead of himself; did they even bleed? How was he going to beat them? He obviously couldn’t take them all on at the same time. Being outnumbered three to one, with no backup, and facing enemies that were just as strong or maybe stronger than he was, was going to be difficult. He had to separate them. Yes, divide and conquer, but how?