Rafe laughed and said, “That’s okay. Really.”
“There’s the smile that I enjoy,” he said. Rafe stopped smiling. Angel pressed his lips together before saying, “Let’s go join the others.”
“Sure,” he replied and continued walking with Angel to the portal room.
-o-
When Rafe and Angel walked in, everyone else had already arrived. Rafe looked to see how Ar’ch and Sofia were dressed. Besides the white clothes, Sofia had on a pair of bright red sandals. He hid a laugh when he looked at her sandals. He wasn’t surprised that she would have an issue with wearing all white. Sofia saw him notice her shoes and winked at him. The rest of the crew wore normal clothes since they were not going on this journey. Nolan, Valerie, and Liana were in the forefront while Mel hung back.
“You both look so handsome,” Valerie said.
He felt uncomfortable with her attention. Luckily, Angel walked to Valerie and hugged her. “Thank you, Mother,” Angel said and then turned to Liana and gave her a hug. “It is so nice to have you here, Mom.” Liana tensed up for a moment, and he said, “I hope I can call you that because I really enjoy saying it.”
She nodded. “I would like that very much.”
“Are you ready?” Valerie said to Rafe.
He licked his lips and swallowed. “Ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”
She caressed his cheek lightly and then pulled away, embarrassed. “You will be fine. Just be honest and respectful and you will do well.”
“Thank you, Mother,” he said, trying the word out on his tongue. It surprised him how much he enjoyed her touching his face. She was soft and tender. He felt a lightness in his heart when her face brightened into a smile.
“Alright,” Ar’ch said. “Enough of this mushiness. We gotta go.”
Sofia laughed. “Leave it to Ar’ch to break up a tender moment.” She playfully punched him in the arm and then gave him a kiss.
After everyone had said their goodbyes, Ar’ch, Sofia, Angel, and Rafe held one another’s hands while Ar’ch placed his hand on the portal and said, “Permission to convene with the esteemed Elders. I bring with me Angel, Sofia, and Rafe.”
The panel changed colors rapidly before turning a bright purple. Before he realized that he had blinked, he stood atop of a green mountain with clouds blocking his view below. A standalone, wooden door frame appeared in front of them. He walked around it but couldn’t figure out how it stood upright.
Sofia laughed and said, “Was that what I looked like when you first brought me here?”
Ar’ch smiled. “No, you were cuter in your confusion.”
“Ignore them,” Angel said to him. “The Elders are extremely cautious about who enters their realm, so there are certain security measures that we must pass through to reach them. This is the weapons checkpoint. We simply walk through the door. It will detect that we have no weapons and send us to the next checkpoint. I’ll go first and then you and Sofia can follow. Then, Ar’ch can come through afterward.”
Angel walked through the door. A red laser passed over him before turning green. Seeing that there was nothing to it, Rafe walked through the door without any issues. Sofia and Ar’ch then did the same. After Ar’ch passed through the door, a new portal panel appeared and hovered in front of them.
They grabbed a hold of one another’s hands again before Ar’ch pressed the panel. This time, Rafe noticed that they were standing on top of a cloud. Instinctively, he held on a little tighter to Sofia’s hand. She smiled at him to let him know that he had nothing to worry about. The puffy cloud felt solid beneath him, but he couldn’t help but remember his childhood cartoons of people falling through clouds.
Angel and Ar’ch began taking off their shoes and putting them in a white bin. He followed Sofia over to the bin, and then they took off their shoes and placed them alongside everyone else’s. They each walked through the white door frame at this level. When the floating panel appeared, they took hold of one another again before Ar’ch touched the panel and took them to their final destination.
“We’re here,” Angel said when the destination became visible.
Rafe looked around in wonder. He had no idea where the portals had taken him, but if heaven looked like this, then he was going to enjoy his time there when he passed on. He just hoped that wouldn’t be any time in the near future.
There were marble columns encircling them, but the incredible statue in the center of the columns drew his full attention. A male angel knelt on one knee, his grand wings hanging low behind his back as if he were in mourning. He gazed down at a female angel who lay listlessly in his arms, her wings hanging loosely to the ground. He held her so tenderly with one arm supporting her back and the other cupping her face. With her head tilted to the side, her eyes were cast down, looking at smaller statues that lay on the floor in front of them.
The angels were made of white marble, but the smaller statues were made of other minerals. There was a glass statue in the form of a gust of wind, a ruby statue in the form of a burning flame, a statue made of a deep hue of aquamarine in the form of a teardrop, an emerald statue in the form of a willow tree, and an amethyst statue in the form of a moon. On each end of the row of statues lay a diamond heart.
Sofia walked up beside him and said, “Do you know who they are?” When he shook his head, she said, “They are the Archangel Raphael and the angel Sophia. Sophia was the angel who helped God make humans. When Lucifer tried to kill her creations, she lost her life protecting them. Archangel Raphael came to her rescue, but he arrived too late. She was dying. Before she died, she asked the archangel to make sure that her humans were always protected. He asked the Goddess for Her help, and that is how we were created.”
Rafe felt an overwhelming pressure in his chest. He was named after this archangel, and Sofia had been named after the female angel. He saw the pain in the archangel’s face as he held the dying Sophia and couldn’t fathom what pain he must have felt. If he were ever to lose Sofia, he didn’t think he’d be able to handle it. Losing her the first time had caused him to have his death day early. Losing her a second time would surely destroy him.
He thought about the story Sofia had just shared with him. He could feel love surrounding the statue. God had Sophia create humans and He had poured his love into them. The Goddess created the Diasodz to protect humans. She created them out of love and out of a promise to one of her dying angels. How did he ever believe that the Goddess could be evil? He bowed his head in shame. He looked down and noticed the smaller statues.
“Those are the five elements surrounded by love,” Sofia said.
“Five?” he asked.
“Air, fire, water, earth, and spirit,” she said. She looked at Ar’ch and Angel and said, “Except for spirit, we are all finally here.”
Ar’ch came up to Sofia and held her in his arms, taking a deep breath. Rafe recalled what Cybil had told Ar’ch about how Angel, Ar’ch, and he represented the archangel. The doors behind them opened and Cybil appeared. Ar’ch turned toward her, but did not remove his arm from around Sofia’s shoulder.
“I wasn’t expecting you to be here,” he said.
“And that is why I am the oracle and you are not,” she said with a smile.
“Oh, she’s got jokes today,” he replied.
“I represent spirit. The time has come for all the elements to unite. Follow me, please,” she said and then turned and walked into the chamber.
Rafe froze when he saw Cybil. He recalled Khameel telling him that when the oracle convened with the Elders, they created a soul spirit, which could call forth a soul. He leaned over to Sofia when they started walking and whispered, “Was she here when you met with the Elders?”
She shook her head. “Nope.”
“Then why is she here now?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I guess we will find out soon enough. Do you remember what we told you?” He nodded. “Good. Just keep your eyes down and your thoughts honest. And relax.�
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Rafe looked at the small, old lady walking in front of them. She might look small and frail, but she had the ability to call his soul out of his body. Sofia could tell him until she was blue in the face to relax, but there was no way that he could. His life might be over in just a few moments. He felt the need to pray for forgiveness, but he did not know to whom he should pray or if anyone was even listening.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Sofia saw Rafe’s expression and knew he was on the verge of panic. She let go of Ar’ch’s hand and slowed her pace so that she could walk with him. Thankfully, Ar’ch seemed to understand because he did not question her or try to stay by her side. Angel moved up to keep pace with Ar’ch. Sofia slipped her arm through Rafe’s arm and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Everything will be fine,” she whispered.
They stood in front of five enormous thrones laid out in a semi-circle. Sofia noticed a smaller throne had been placed in front of the center throne and assumed Cybil would sit there. It looked out of place because it seemed so tiny next to the other thrones, which towered over everyone.
Rafe looked at the thrones with his mouth agape. “These put Damiana’s throne to shame,” he whispered.
She stifled a laugh. “She only wishes she could be this powerful,” she whispered back and smiled.
Cybil took her place in her mini-throne, and Ar’ch and Angel knelt so that they were leaning back on their feet. Sofia indicated to Rafe that they needed to do the same. Once they had all kneeled, Cybil bowed her head to meditate and the others followed suit.
Sofia made sure that Rafe kneeled between her and Angel so that he felt their presence. Ar’ch was on her other side, most likely so that she knew that he was there. Unlike the first time that she had been summoned, this time she felt at peace with being there. She trusted the Elders to make the right choice for the fate of the Diasodz, even if that meant that she could not be there to help them.
She heard Rafe breathing heavily and whispered, “Think of your forest, Rafe. Center yourself,” and then she slowed down her own breathing and cleared her mind of her thoughts.
She felt the overwhelming energy of the Elders entering the room and heard Rafe gasp. She opened her eyes slightly but remembered to keep them cast down. She could see the Elders’ beautiful robes even with her eyes lowered. Each one sat exactly where they had been when she first came to see them. A robe of regal purple sat in the middle, representing spirit, with two robes on each side to represent the other four elements. Sofia saw Rafe lean his hands against his thighs for support. She took a deep breath and embraced the beautiful, powerful energy that filled the room.
“Thank you for joining us on such short notice, young Diasodz,” the Air Elder’s smooth, feminine voice said. Sofia looked to her left and saw the brilliant gold robe sway ever so slightly.
“We are blessed to be in your presence,” they all said in unison as they had rehearsed.
“It is a relief to see that you are safe and well, youngling,” a strong, male voice Elder said. She looked at his bright red robe and associated it with the Fire Elder.
She smiled and said, “I am blessed and grateful that the Goddess helped Ar’ch, Angel, Nolan, and Rafe save me.”
“And you must be Rafe,” the Earth Elder, in his stunning emerald robe, said. “We welcome you into our presence.”
Sofia felt him stiffen. “Thank you, your greatness,” he replied.
She had never seen him insecure about anything, but she had no doubt that he felt more afraid in that moment than he had ever been in his life. She wished to comfort him, but she would not risk upsetting the Elders by reaching out to him.
“We have been asked to call upon you to determine where your loyalties lie and whether you will be an asset or a hindrance in the upcoming war,” the Fire Elder said.
“Much has changed since our last visit with the three of you,” the Water Elder’s harmonious voice said while her silky, cerulean robe rippled around her. “Your emotions are speaking volumes at this very moment.”
Sofia glanced sideways to Ar’ch and found him looking at her. She sighed and smiled. Love surrounded her, and she embraced every ounce of it. She then glanced at Rafe, who focused on the floor. He was pale and sweaty; she feared that he might pass out.
“You are all safe here today,” the Air Elder said. “Today is a day for understanding. There will be no judgment or retribution today.”
Rafe exhaled and sat a bit straighter. Sofia then exhaled, releasing her worry and tension. She had tried to focus on Rafe’s state so that she could ignore her own, but she also had reason to be worried about the outcome of their meeting.
“Rafe, we understand that you are the true son of Drake and Valerie, is that correct?” the Earth Elder asked.
He nodded and cleared his throat. “Yes, your greatness.”
“How does that make you feel?” the Water Elder asked.
“Relieved,” he said without hesitation.
“An interesting choice of word,” the Air Elder said. “Why so?”
He took a deep breath. “Damiana is evil and crazy, and I am relieved that she is not my mother.”
“She raised you, did she not? Did you not love her as a child should love his mother?”
“Yes, your greatness. I was raised by Damiana, and she was kind to me growing up. I loved her like any child would love his mother. Then, I found out that she lied to me my entire life and had a doctor manipulate my mind to repress the real me. She stole me because she thought I was the savior. When she learned that I was not the savior, she had no more use of me. I have watched her become more and more unstable. I knew that she would kill me if I served no purpose, so I convinced her that I could still help her win the war. She believed me and allowed me to go to Valerie’s home, thinking that I would destroy them for her.”
“Why didn’t you?” the Water Elder asked. “Certainly, you had no love for Valerie or any of the Diasodz.”
He hung his head low. “It is true. I hated them all. I was filled with anger and hurt that my own mother would abandon me. I didn’t destroy them because of Sofia. Damiana locked her own daughter in a cell, and I knew that if I didn’t get her out, she would suffer. I couldn’t live with myself if that happened.”
“Do you still hate your maternal family?”
He shook his head. “They are amazing people. I feel the love that they have for one another, and it makes me realize what I never had. Their acceptance of me is overwhelming. Sofia and Liana were right about them, and I could never bring harm to any of them.”
Sofia smiled and felt tears of joy come to her eyes. She remembered how much anger and hatred he had had against the Diasodz when he had first kidnapped her. She wanted to hug him right then, but she knew she would have to wait until they were finished.
“What about your father? How do you feel toward him?” the Water Elder asked.
Rafe took a deep breath. Sofia could see him shaking. She wondered if it was nervousness or fear. He took another deep breath and swallowed.
“I love him, your greatness,” he admitted. “I grew up idolizing a father I had never met. Maybe part of that was the doctor’s programming, but I truly looked forward to meeting my father. And once I met him, I loved him even more. He has been nothing but loving and kind to me. I know that is probably not what any of you want to hear, but it’s the truth.”
“We have no desire to hear falsehoods, Rafe. I can see that this is difficult for you, but we value your honesty,” the Earth Elder said. “Our concern is about where your loyalties lie.”
“I understand,” he said.
“Who is your enemy?” the Fire Elder asked.
“Damiana, sir. I know that you want me to denounce all the demons and deminions, but I have gotten to know them, and they are good people. They do not believe in the Goddess, but they are still good people. They were kind to me and treated me like family.”
“Do you believe in the Goddess, Rafe?” the Air El
der asked.
Sofia held her breath. She looked at him. She worried about how he would answer that question; she had always avoided asking him for fear of his answer.
He slowly nodded. “I can feel Her presence in here,” he said. A tear trickled down his cheek, and Sofia couldn’t stop from shedding a few tears of her own.
“If you had to choose one, which title would you say describes you best: Diasodz or Raizyn?” the Air Elder asked.
Rafe hesitated in answering but finally said, “Diasodz.”
Sofia heard a collective sigh and realized that they all had been holding their breaths as they anticipated his answer.
“You are burdened by your answer,” the Water Elder said.
He nodded. “I feel like I’m betraying my father. I’m afraid he will be disappointed in me. But I feel the Goddess in this room. I know she is real, and I cannot say I’m a Raizyn if I know that to be true. At the same time, I do not believe that I could kill Raizyns just because they do not believe in the Goddess.”
“Our God and Goddess give us all free will, Rafe. We are all free to choose our own path. Our Goddess would never ask us to kill another being in Her name.”
“Then, why is there so much killing?” he asked.
Sofia felt Ar’ch tense up next to her. She remembered how upset the Elders had become with her when she spoke out of line and worried that they would become upset with Rafe. To her surprise, they did not admonish him.
“All beings have free will, Rafe. The killings are not about loyalty to the Goddess. They are about the need to have power and to rule over others. The Goddess has never punished those who stray from Her. She prays for their return to Her. The punishments bestowed upon them come from Lucifer and his need to control his subjects. The Diasodz who kill in the Goddess’ name have lost their way and are solely acting on their own accord. When we learn of these instances, we punish our own kind because that is not the way of the Goddess,” the Air Elder explained.
“Unfortunately, we are at war, young Diasodz. Whose side will you defend?” the Earth Elder asked.
The One Awakened Page 17