“But, Dad,” Catherine whined, “I don’t like him!”
“I don’t care,” Henry snapped. “You can do this one thing for me after all I’ve done for you.”
Catherine kept questioning. “Then what? How will you get Nic to do what you want?”
Liam snorted. “Oh, we’re very good at getting people to do what we want.”
Rob knew that was true. He had seen them bully, harass, and murder people to get what they wanted. Their techniques in persuasion still forced him to do what Henry and Liam commanded.
“Now, go,” Henry ordered.
Catherine stormed to the stairs. Rob followed her, but he couldn’t help overhearing Henry’s words.
“Liam, since you’ve been so full of energy, you can get on down to the church and tell them we need more supplies. We won’t be able to keep up with our demands if we don’t get a few more humans,” His tone was harsh. “Meet with our contact and tell him to find more people for us. If they hesitate, remind them of what we will do to them if they fail.”
Rob almost turned around and protested. But he knew he couldn’t argue with Henry, as much as he hated what was going to happen next. There was too much at stake. There was no way to escape the horrors that bound him.
Chapter Fifteen
The Lair
I gather up the last of the tents and throw them in the backseat of the pickup. Aunt Kate is dragging a cooler through the dirt to the truck, so I stop what I’m doing and give her a hand.
“Thanks.” Aunt Kate smiles, but her eyes don’t twinkle like they normally do.
“Yep.” I grab a handle, and together we carry it to the bed of the truck and throw it in. I shove it to the back before turning to our campsite.
“What the…?” Aunt Kate exclaims. “Nic, what happened?”
I stop, completely confused.
“Blood!” she says louder. “There’s blood on the cooler. Are you bleeding?”
Will I always be held hostage by blood?
The cut I got in the cabin has reopened. Blood streaks my finger and across my palm.
“It’s nothing. Really. I was going to tell you, but I forgot. Honestly! It’s nothing.”
The look on her face tells me I haven’t convinced her of anything. “Let me see it.”
“Aunt Kate, it’s fine. We’ve got to get out of here like Ryan said.”
“Now, Nic. I’m not taking any chances!”
I can’t tell you anything. You never hear what I’m saying.
She examines it and leads me over to the first aid kit we always have with us. She doesn’t let go of my finger as we step over a shovel and a folded up chair. She gets the kit and takes out the antiseptic. Once my finger is cleaned and bandaged, she regards me for a minute.
“If it keeps bleeding, you tell me,” she orders.
“It’s fine, Aunt Kate.”
“You tell me!” For once, she doesn’t try to mask her feelings, and I’m surprised to see the deep worry in her eyes. I know what she’s thinking.
You lost your parents in a car accident. Your sister was murdered. You don’t want to lose me, too. I get it.
Between Ryan and me always getting into trouble, she must be a wreck despite her calm exterior. I say the only thing I can to help her.
“I promise I’ll tell you if it bleeds more.” I raise my other hand up in a vow.
She studies me for a minute as if to test my sincerity and sighs with a nod. We get back to work. By the time the Carrolls drive up with their truck and trailer, we’re ready to go. But are we ready to face what’s ahead?
We walk over to their truck as Joe rolls down his window. His face is serious. Megan is in the back seat, mouthing the word Shadows. I know exactly what she’s talking about, but I shoot her a glare and refuse to look at her again.
If I ever tell anyone about what I see, the chance of ignoring the demons or never seeing them again is gone.
“Kate, you can drive stick shift, right?” Joe asks.
“I have, in high school,” she admits. “What bothers me more is the size of the thing.”
Joe nods as if he understands, although his Dodge Ram makes Ryan’s Tundra look like a toy. “Just take it slow. You’ll be fine. These trucks aren’t like the old days when you had to force every gear into place.”
“Who should go first?” Tammy asks from the passenger seat. Her voice is weak and shaky.
“Kate is going first,” Joe answers without consulting anyone. “I can keep an eye on you better that way, and you can set the speed.”
Aunt Kate nods. No one says anything for a bit. As much as we want to leave, we are all too afraid of what may be down the road.
“What do you think it is?” Megan asks.
You sound scared. So am I.
That’s another thing I can’t tell her.
“I don’t know,” Joe finally speaks. “Could be an animal. Listen, Kate and Nic, if there’s any trouble, you get down and stay down until you hear from me. I can’t help if you’re blocking the way.”
His right hand eases to the center of the truck to the long barrel of a rifle. I swallow. I’ve seen two guns up close, and that was more than enough for me.
Odd that right now the gun doesn’t bother me at all. At least it’s protection, and it’s on my side this time.
But will it work against whatever is out there?
Aunt Kate pats the truck in agreement and steps away from their truck.
“Wait!” Tammy cries. Her voice is stronger. “We need to pray.”
Aunt Kate hesitates. I watch, curious about her reaction. She’s not nuts about religion. We rarely went to church in Chicago, but she’s not opposed to it, either.
Does she really believe prayer will help?
But a better question is what I believe. Mom believed in God. I saw it in the way she lived. I can even remember the time I said the little prayer that was supposed to save me from my sins.
But what does that mean?
God’s good and loving, according to what my Sunday School teacher said. Yet He took Mom away right in front of me. Everyone says He has something great in store, and all things work together for good.
But I don’t see any great things in store for me. And what does “all things work together for good” mean? While I say I’m a Christian because of that one little prayer, I have no idea how it affects my life, other than having to go to church.
Aunt Kate turns to Tammy with a slight smile. “Yes, prayer is a good idea.”
Tammy closes her eyes. “Lord, we pray for protection. Be with Ryan as he faces this horrible situation. We ask You protect him from whatever could harm him. Give him strength while he faces the tragedy and deals with it. Be with those who are involved with this. Bring them Your healing.”
Everyone closes their eyes when Tammy starts. I copy them but stop. Now would be the time to attack if someone is watching us.
I slowly do a three-sixty turn and study the woods around us. Tammy continues her prayer, and the tips of the trees bend and sway.
But there’s no wind.
There’s a stir of anger in the air, like that day at school. Something doesn’t like this prayer. The trees bend more as Joe continues the prayer.
The meadow grows dim like the sun is being blocked, and the trees continue to stir until the woods surrounding the open space looks like a boiling pot.
Is hate a thing I can touch?
It’s almost dripping off the trees like a vile sap. A movement in the sky catches my eyes. A cloud is coming in fast, much quicker than any I’ve ever seen before. My heart feels like it has stopped beating. I find it hard to breathe as I make out what is coming toward us.
It’s a large cloud of demons. They’re packed in so close I don’t know how they can fly without their wings colliding. When they get closer, loud beats from their wings fill the air. Their faces and arms are scarred, making their foul faces more evil.
There have to be over fifty demons alone coming at
us! Why can’t anyone else see them? How many are in the trees?
They perch in the trees that ring the meadow, and behind them, more are jumping off to land on other trees, growing more agitated by the moment.
We’re in their lair!
A large demon balancing on a tree limb close to us sees me. He’s not surprised when I study him. He shakes his wings at me and draws a long sword. His blade is chipped and tarnished, but the edge is sharp. It would do the job.
Tammy and Joe finally finish the prayers, and the instant they stop praying, the trees stand still. No one sees what I just saw. I dare not say anything and speed back to our truck.
“Lock the doors,” Joe calls when we reach Ryan’s truck.
Aunt Kate turns back to them. “We will. Thanks.”
My hands are shaking so much that I can barely open the door and slide in. The darkness inside me throbs as fear washes over me. I struggle to breathe while trying to hold it down where it can’t escape.
Kate climbs into the driver’s seat and adjusts it for a minute. She studies the gear stick and takes a deep breath.
“Ready?” she asks.
No. I’m not ready.
I don’t want to know what’s ahead, but I can’t stay here. This place with so many demons will pull me into their evil schemes if I stay a second longer.
I nod anyway.
She puts the truck into first, and we lurch to a slow crawl.
The meadow fades behind us, but it doesn’t bring any relief because I fear what’s ahead is far worse.
Chapter Sixteen
A Mere Boy
Eliezer watched from behind a tree while Nic climbed into Ryan’s truck. The angel gripped the hilt of his sword but kept it in its sheath. Beside him, Chasdiel stood, tense but hidden as ordered. He glanced at Eli when Kate pushed the truck into first gear.
“We cannot attack,” he reminded Eli with a stern look.
“If they start it, I’m defending him,” Eli snapped, his control slipping. “My charge to protect him is stronger than the orders we received.”
“And how long would you survive against that?” Chasdiel retorted. He motioned to the cloud of evil circling in the air and turning the sky black.
“As long as I could,” Eli said. “I won’t let them harm him.”
“You may not have that choice.” Chasdiel lowered his voice. “I have lost humans who I protected when they turned against the Creator. It doesn’t benefit you to be too attached. If they attack and you rush to his rescue, you will be lost from the larger war when you are vanquished into eternity forever. Don’t let your attachment to this mere boy ruin your judgment of the greater good.”
Eli shifted at the thought of feeling a demon’s sword pierce through him and being part of the war no longer. As much as he longed to forever worship the Creator at His throne, he was not ready to cease fighting.
“Mere boy?” Eli echoed a bit too loudly and faced the shorter angel. “How can you say that? This mere boy may be one of the greatest weapons against the enemy we’ve ever seen. And even if he’s not, he is still our Creator’s beloved, one the Savior died for. I will protect him because of the love our Creator has for him.”
Chasdiel held up his hand. “I know what you are saying. I’m suggesting sometimes caution is the best option. We may not understand our orders, but there is a reason for them. Remain hidden, soldier. That is our order.”
“Sometimes the middle ground is a better place,” a voice said behind them.
Eli whipped around with his sword half drawn. A tall dark-haired angel stood behind them with his hands up and a slight grin on his face. Eli slid the sword back down and half turned so he could keep the truck and the newcomer in sight.
“Malkiel!” Chasdiel greeted him with a smile. “We’ve been waiting for you! It’s been...” His voice trailed off as he glanced at Eli.
Frustrating? Irritating? Eli wondered what Chasdiel was going to say. Any of those would fit the ending of the sentence quite well.
“I’m sorry for being late,” Malkiel apologized. “I was stuck in a situation I had to take care of.” Malkiel grinned at Eli as they clasped forearms. “Well met, Eliezer. I have heard mighty reports of your battle skills.”
“Thank you, Malkiel.” Eli grinned. “I have heard the same of you. I look forward to fighting together.”
“Now, back to our Nic.” Malkiel turned to study the horde of demons collecting in the sky. “He sure finds a way to get into trouble, doesn’t he?”
“Do you think he has any idea of how close he is to death?” Chasdiel asked.
“Probably not,” Malkiel responded. “I feel his fear from here, but if he really knew what he was facing, he would be overcome. And to be fair, not all of this is his fault.”
Eli relaxed. While he could understand Chasdiel’s hesitation to forming attachments with humans, a common debate among angels, he was glad to hear the affection in Malkiel’s voice for Nic.
“If we read the signs right, it won’t be much longer until all that has been hidden is revealed,” Malkiel continued. “I see no reason for you and Eli to hide any longer. Guard the truck, but do nothing unless they attack first. I shall remain hidden for a bit longer. The sight of me may spark an attack.”
Eli felt a surge of happiness when Malkiel used his shortened name. Chasdiel was still polite but cold.
“Why is that, Mal?” Eli returned the gesture of friendship.
“Blaise, second in command under Goddard, is not too fond of me.” Mal grinned with a spark of mischief in his dark brown eyes.
Chasdiel chuckled, his normally stern features lighting up with true humor. “Mal fought him about fifteen hundred years ago and left him with a scar across his face. Blaise is forever marked as a warrior with no hope of overtaking his master.”
Eli whistled softly in appreciation of the situation.
“If he sees me, the battle will be on.” Mal sobered. “We don’t have the backing of the Forgiven or the numbers to fight back. A situation we need to remedy quickly.”
Eli nodded in agreement. Even the fervent prayer the humans said in the meadow did little to strengthen him. In the days he had been in Grangeville, he was shocked at the lack of prayer warriors or people seeking after God. Their meager support wouldn’t help against the weakest of demons.
“Go and guard the truck.” Mal motioned to the meadow, his dark eyes filled with concern. “I will be watching. Get them home safely.”
“For the King.” Eli snapped into action.
Chasdiel and Mal returned the battle cry. “And for the Forgiven.”
Chapter Seventeen
Roars
We drive in silence. Aunt Kate is concentrating, even though we can’t be going more than five miles per hour. We make it over the huge bumps in the road as we leave the meadow. I lean forward to study the tops of the trees again, but they aren’t moving.
Are they watching us? Waiting to rip us apart?
“Nic, put your seatbelt on,” Aunt Kate says.
I look over at her, but she keeps staring at the dirt road. She’s gripping the steering wheel with both hands, her knuckles white.
“You aren’t even going ten miles per hour,” I argue.
“Put it on.”
“But if we have to duck down so Joe can shoot, the seatbelt will slow me down,” I protest.
“Put it on now, Nic.”
I know that tone. She’s not going to take much more. I sigh loudly and snap the seatbelt into the buckle. We make it a bit farther when she shifts into the next gear.
“I feel like I’m driving the Titanic,” she complains. “Why do guys have to have big trucks?”
I grin. “You know they say it makes a man feel bigger and tougher.”
“I should feel bigger and tougher driving the stupid thing then.” She smiles at me. “Hear me roar!” She lets out a weak growl. “No one better get in my way.”
We both laugh, trying to lighten the mood. But then I remember wh
at we’re facing. She must too because we both stop laughing at the same time and sit in silence.
Who would hear us out here?
I can’t ignore how dark it is. I keep waiting for Aunt Kate to mention it, but she never does. Even though shortly after we leave the meadow, she slides off her sunglasses and hands them to me.
“Could you put them up?”
But she never wonders why it’s dark on a sunny day.
We make it to the road that leads to Grangeville without any incidents. Aunt Kate slows to a stop and flexes her fingers. She wipes them on her jeans as she peers down the road.
“I thought we might catch up to Ryan,” she says.
I muster up a weak grin. “Well, with the speed you’ve been going, he’ll probably beat us home, even if he has to walk the whole way.”
“You want a crack at this beast?” She glares at me.
“Sure!” I say, although I don’t. “Then we’ll get somewhere.”
She snorts and takes a deep breath. Her feet push in the clutch, and she clicks on the turn signal.
“You’ve really got to stop that.” I groan. “The only people around are behind us, and they know exactly where we’re going.”
I wish I hadn’t said that.
“Unfortunately, there must be someone else here, or Ryan wouldn’t be at work,” she snaps back.
The truck pulls onto the wider dirt road, and I want to argue with her. I have no proof other than what I see with my eyes, but I know whatever is out there is not human. I check the trees but don’t see any movement. Only a dark cloud of evil above us in the sky.
We stop talking. Aunt Kate inches the truck into second gear, and I fight the urge to push the gas pedal all the way to the floor.
I want out of here.
We strain to see around each corner, but there’s just another stretch of empty road. The tall pine trees line the road, hemming us in and blocking our sight.
I glance behind at Joe and Tammy’s truck. Megan’s head is a silhouette, but I can imagine her glaring at my head, trying to whisper Shadows to me. I turn back and try to make out what’s on the road.
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