Simra refrained from arguing with Jeff about their grandmother being brought to the place. “It's the curse that connects her to me and Tristan. Jeff, it might’ve been good for Grandmother to come, but it’s too dangerous. Regardless of how much she wants to help, please don’t do it again.”
Jeff picked up the ax to tear at the walls again. “Sorry, Sim. It won’t happen again. For now, we’ll at least help you find the body. You can destroy it. There’s another ax beside Mandy. I have a feeling there’s a way to the attic behind these walls. I believe it’s in this room. The disgusting odor is more powerful in here.”
Simra grabbed the detective’s arm and pointed to the trap door across the room. “You’re right! The smell's stronger in here. I think I know how to get into the attic. Tristan locked me in here the first time, and I escaped through that trap door. I hardly saw the way through the small passageway to get to the other room. It was so dark. There might be an entrance above it.”
Jeff and Mandy’s phones buzzed at the same time. They dropped their axes to answer them. Simra turned to Zach with her erratic heart pumping. Why would anyone call them both at such an odd hour during the morning?
Who would be calling them at this time and at the exact moment? Shivers of dread raced down her spine at the thought of the angry demon. Tristan would be coming to stop them any minute now.
Zach framed Simra’s face, and his eyes filled with concern. “We must hurry.”
The phone slipped from Mandy’s hand, and she turned her worried gaze toward Simra. “Grandma escaped. How’s that possible? The place is secure. They said she was very sneaky about it, and they have no idea where she went. Sim, I have to search for her. She could be in danger.”
Sickness churned the pit of Simra’s stomach at the idea of her grandmother wandering the streets alone. Her vigorous heart pumped with fierceness. She ached to leave the house now and help Mandy search for Lucinda.
Zach framed Simra’s face. “This is what Azazel wants. To distract you. Focus. There’s not much time. We must destroy him now!”
Simra's blood ran cold through her veins, and her feet froze to the floor. She had no choice. “Find her, Mandy! I’ve got to stay here and end this. I’ll help you find her when I’m done.”
Jeff hung up his phone and hurried into his shirt. “The drug dealer escaped again. His prison guard fainted mysteriously, and Quint got out of the prison cell. The police have no idea how it happened. They’re still trying to discover how he did it. I’m joining them to search for him. He’s shot a couple of cops already. What else happened?”
Mandy told him about Lucinda escaping, and the detective paled. Jeff grabbed Mandy’s hand and rushed toward the exit of the room. “Be careful, Sim. We’ll come back to help you and Zach when we’re done. This is serious and must be dealt with now.”
Simra felt the blood rush from her face when she realized how more danger closed in on them. “Please be cautious. Both of you.”
She scanned the place for a can of gasoline and matches. Relief flooded her senses when she saw all of them together in the corner of the room with an extra ax. She grabbed the matches and gas can and opened the trap door. Simra held her breath as long as possible to avoid the rotten stench.
“Zach, do you think Tristan’s close and that he caused Grandmother and Quint to escape?”
Zach followed behind Simra before she dared crawling into the tiny mildewed trap door. “Very likely. I think he’s close. Hurry before he arrives.”
Her stomach leaped to her throat when the door downstairs slammed shut, and footsteps brushed into the house. Jeff and Mandy were already gone. Only one creature would arrive to pay the house a visit. Tristan.
Chapter 34
"And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." -Revelation 12:11
Zach gave Simra a gentle shove toward the tiny entrance of the trap door. “Go! Start without me. I’ll keep Azazel away.”
Simra nodded, held her breath, and began crawling through the small passageway. Her frantic hands searched for an opening above her head to get to the attic but found nothing. Simra’s hips nudged a thin board by accident. It opened a small door to a hole in the wall with an ascending ladder.
She climbed to the top where tiny lights of dawn broke through the attic vent onto Tristan’s body. He rested still in a coffin. An evil symbol encircled it. His rotten stench drew several choked coughs from her.
The disgusting odor burned her throat. They searched for his body too long now. Simra took hesitant steps toward the body with the ingredients in her arms. She soaked the corpse with gasoline until she heard footsteps behind her.
Jerking around, she expected to find Tristan standing over her. A smile quivered across her lips when she saw Zach carrying Lucinda instead. She dropped the can of gasoline. “Grandmother! How’d she get here? Did someone bring her?”
Zach placed Lucinda onto her feet, and she took small hurried steps toward Simra. “I don’t know. It’s a mystery with her condition. She couldn’t have walked. Maybe Lucinda spoke to a driver on the road.”
He paused and added, “It’s possible she could’ve told him which street to take her. She’s been here several times. The curse connects her to Tristan and you, and she’s aware of many things. She wants to be certain you’ll be all right. She wants to protect you.”
Lucinda reached to pat Zach on the arm with a wide smile. Why would her grandmother still seem so fond of him? Especially now that he wanted her soul. Perhaps Lucinda didn’t know everything.
Simra wouldn’t allow him to take anyone but Tristan. Maybe Zach changed his mind about taking Lucinda. They were too worried about destroying the dangerous demon of late. Ending Tristan was all that mattered right now. Simra would talk him out taking her grandmother once Tristan got destroyed.
Then, what of Zach? Tears misted her eyes at the nagging thought of never seeing the angel again. Zach came here with one mission from God. There might be nothing left for him to do after this. She would never see him again.
Simra took one last lingering gaze at Zach before completing the ritual. “In the name of Jesus, I cover you, Azazel, with the blood of the Lamb and bind you in His name. I forgive this demon for what he’s done to me and my loved ones. Lord, cast this demon into the burning pit where he belongs!”
Simra jolted back when her grandmother whimpered from fright. Dropping the matches, she rushed to Lucinda. Lucinda’s lips quivered while mumbling vague words. Only her grandmother would know if trouble approached. Tristan must be coming.
Simra reached for the matches and almost dropped them again. The floor shuddered with violence from an earthquake. Simra squeezed the box and rushed back toward the corpse.
Lucinda almost fell before Zach caught her. Simra stumbled to the floor. Her ankle fell through the thin ceiling. She stifled a sharp cry of pain. Simra must have broken or sprained the thing.
Tristan’s bitter voice thundered across the room. “Drop Lucinda, brother. This fight’s between me and you!”
Simra struggled to free her throbbing ankle from the hole in the floor. The demon’s eyes glowed with his fists clenched. Zach set Lucinda down next to her granddaughter. The creaking wood floors still shook with brutality.
Lucinda took an unlit match from the box and threw it into the coffin. The curse must have caused her to forget how to light a match. She seemed to still know the purpose; however.
Before Zach could turn around, Tristan placed his hand on the angel’s head. He began mumbling in rage at Zach. Simra pulled her ankle to free it from the tiny hole in the floor. It did her no good to try.
The angel jolted away and pulled down his brother’s arms. Zach restrained Tristan to pray over his brother. The demon’s seething anger made him stronger and more powerful. It was worse than any other time they battled each other. Tristan jerked around with clenched teeth to get the best of the angel again.
Simra moan
ed in agonizing pain and relief at once when she finally pulled her ankle free. She cried out when someone’s rough hands pulled her to stand. Quint placed a gun to her with the floors quaking. Jeff and Mandy needed to be there at once. Both of the people they wanted were at the house.
Quint pressed the gun into Simra’s waist, and she steadied herself against the wall. “Come wit’ me, woman. You ain’t got no business here. Step away from his body and come wit’ me.”
Simra noticed Lucinda struggling to stand. The woman grasped a board attached to the wall to steady herself. Her grandmother slapped the pistol from the drug dealer’s hand. Lucinda struck Quint across the face.
The gun slammed onto the floor, and a bullet pierced Simra in the stomach by accident. Simra fell onto the floor when the bullet burned through her flesh, and she cried in pain. More than anything, Simra's body became weaker as though she was about to faint again. Then, she realized how long it had been since she'd eaten. Lucinda kicked the drug dealer, and tears fell from the woman's tired eyes.
Zach held Tristan down with determination heavy in his eyes. “Simra, burn the body! Burn it now before it’s too late!”
Simra’s vision started to blur. She cried out when the drug dealer knocked Lucinda onto the floor. Lucinda was motionless with her eyes closing. No, she wouldn’t let her grandmother die here in such a horrible way! Quint would pay for the rest of his life.
Simra grabbed a match and lit it in a rush. The match was tossed into the coffin. Zach’s eyes turned solid white as he lifted his arms to the heavens. The angel cried a sacred prayer in an unknown dialect. He must have been finishing the process.
Tristan screamed when he burned up in hot flames and turned to dust. The floors stopped shaking. Silence filled the entire house. Rays of light beamed through the attic vent.
The demon was gone from their lives forever. Simra reached for her grandmother, but the drug dealer stopped her. She reached toward the thug to grab him but was unable.
Sirens whirred in the distance. With her blurred vision, she watched Quint escape. Agony filled her, and she lay helpless across the floor. Lucinda also lay very still.
“No…Grandmother…wake up,” Simra whimpered.
Zach rushed to Simra and knelt beside her. He framed her face. “Hang on! Help’s on the way. Your grandmother will be fine. Don’t worry.”
Simra reached for his hand and squeezed to ease the excruciating pain. Her senses faded one at a time. “This is my entire fault. I….must…know she’ll be all right.”
Zach squeezed her hand tighter. “She’ll be fine. She’ll be fine. Know that.”
No, she wasn’t. Her grandmother was dead. Somehow, there had to be a way to revive her. It had to be a way! She refused allowing Lucinda to die.
Simra couldn’t die either. The drug dealer must pay. Mandy couldn’t handle the business by herself. Her cousin needed her more than anything. Mandy depended on her at the Alzheimer’s facility.
“Simra, please release your guilt. You can’t turn back time. No one can. Know that your Grandmother’s about to be at peace. She’s going where she wants, but it’s not your time. All this happened because of my brother and not you. You have a wonderful future with Mandy and Jeff. Hang on and don’t give up.”
“Don’t take…her. It’s still…my fault. I’ll never see…you again, will I?”
Darkness began to close in on her. Then, all she could see were large wings flapping above her. Rays of light grew brighter around her. The brightness didn’t hurt her eyes. She almost became lost in its splendor.
Zach tugged her hand. “I…don't know. I have to take her. Stay with me. Simra. Simra!”
Zach’s voice faded in the distance. There stood a beautiful man with light glowing from him. The man came toward her and carried her in his loving arms.
He must have been one of God’s angels. Simra’s body got left behind with Zach, but she couldn’t die now. She needed to stay alive and needed Lucinda revived!
Chapter 35
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." -Revelation 21:4
Simra opened her eyes to see the same snowy mountains where Zach brought her. A petite older woman walked closer toward her through the snow and came from the mountains. It was her grandmother!
Running toward Lucinda, Simra embraced her as the snow drizzled upon them. “Grandmother, you’re all right! You look so healthy and well. Is this real?”
Smiling, Lucinda drew away and brushed a soft kiss across her cheek. “Yes, Honey, I’m all right. I’m better than ever, and this is very real. Much time’s passed since Azazel got destroyed. I’m glad it's over. But I’m sad you’re plagued with such guilt. Stop reliving the past, Honey, or it’ll destroy you.”
Although tears wanted to fall from Simra’s eyes, she couldn’t cry. This was the afterlife. The sight of her healthy and content grandmother caused Simra to beam. The curse was gone, and Tristan got destroyed.
Then, a deep longing and sadness tore at her soul. Mandy was left behind and alone with the family business. Simra didn’t know if she would ever see Zach again. The drug dealer still roamed the streets. That thug assisted in killing her grandmother!
She took Lucinda’s hands in her own. “I’m to blame. You tried warning me about Tristan when you were alive and well. I didn’t listen until it grew too late. He cursed and killed us, and he hurt Mandy and Jeff. None of this would’ve happened had I never dated him. Grandmother, I’m so sorry about everything. It’s all my fault.”
Lucinda framed her granddaughter’s face. “We were only human. We couldn’t see such things on earth. The curse began long before your time. Azazel cursed me when I was only a young lady about your age. That’s when all of it began. Azazel chose me to be his bride first. Because I simply refused, he took vengeance on me and our entire family. He would've forced you into marriage even if you'd listened to me.”
She paused and added, “I know you ask why God allowed this to happen. Honey, the reason’s that much good comes at the end. The demons and their master don’t know it, but God uses their curses to our advantage in the end. It also leads to glorifying Him, but it depends on what path we take. It isn’t your fault. Azazel did me a favor. I’m so happy to be home with Christ, Melton, and your parents.”
Simra squeezed her grandmother’s hands. “But you and I should still be with Mandy and Jeff. If Tristan didn’t curse you, you’d be able to enjoy more time with us.”
“Honey, I had you and Mandy to love in the other world, but I’m happier here. Let me be happy, and be happy for me. I enjoyed watching you two grow into beautiful young women. Be happy for all the times we spent together.”
“You’re the spitting image of me, Sugarplum. I love you so much. Don’t feel guilty. Continue becoming closer to Christ. Return to the life God gave you, marry Zach, and have his children. Assist Mandy in helping many more people with Alzheimer’s. You have an entire life ahead of you with brilliant gifts in your future. I’ll be one of those snow angels watching over you every day until we meet again.”
Simra’s soul bubbled over from contentment and warmth. “Grandmother, I’d love to do all those things, but I’m already in heaven. Aren’t I?”
Lucinda turned to the glowing man standing at a distance. “Gabriel?”
The black man stepped closer in a white suit with his voice gentle and deep. “You’re here only for a moment. God wants you to overcome your guilt and see that your grandmother’s well. It isn’t quite time for your arrival. You kept reliving your troublesome moments with Azazel while unconscious. Your lost soul wandered while your body refused to accept life.”
He paused and added, “It’s time to move on now. Priceless treasures await you from the Father. He gives you Zachriel as just one of many. God’s very pleased with you. He’s always loved you.”
She exchanged glances with her grandmot
her. “Thank you, Gabriel. I’ll do everything He asks. I love you, Grandmother. I’ll feel guilty no more. Give the family and God my love.”
Lucinda hugged her granddaughter one last time. “Oh Granddaughter, I’m so pleased to hear this. Of course. I love you too.”
The angel gestured toward Simra. “Additionally, remember to never judge someone by exterior appearances. Man sees what’s on the outside of another, but God sees the heart. Know that God and His angels never deceive.” Giving her no chance to respond, the angel placed a gentle hand on Simra’s head.
It transported her back to the world of the living. She didn’t know what to think of Gabriel’s statement. Yes, it was true, but to whom did he refer?
Simra’s repeating memory got turned to dust. Her senses returned, and her eyes fluttered open to see…Tristan! The demon wore a white coat and scrubs. Simra struggled to get out of bed.
“No, you were killed! Stay away from me. Zach, where are you?”
Tristan pulled her down onto the hospital bed with gentle hands, and his gaze softened. “Simra, you’re awake! It's me. Zach. I returned here as a human in my brother’s form. There's no proof of his death since he disappeared and got burned. The Lord revived me in his form. I couldn’t return in my original body because everyone knows I’m dead.”
Her heart skipped several beats. “Why should I believe you? This could be another one of your tricks!”
“I promise it isn’t a trick. God sent Gabriel, His messenger, to tell me that I’d be sent to you as a blessing. Lucinda’s happy and well with the rest of your family. This is what she wanted. Simra, you saw Azazel burn to a crisp. He got destroyed before you died. God knows how much we love each other. He chose to send me back as a human instead of an angel. I’m sorry I couldn’t come in my original form. I’m not your doctor, but I stopped by to see you on the job.”
Simra’s mind swirled with questions. Was this about what Gabriel described? Surely not. “How’d this happen? We burned Tristan’s body. It’s nothing but ashes.”
Immortal Memory (Book One) Page 20