Celestial Beginnings (Nephilim Series)

by Damiels, Rebekah

  Letting out her last breath, she relaxed into the ground. Malachi was going to be okay. He had his friends, they would take care of him; they loved him.

  With that last thought, she looked over to see a lone figure walking amongst the fighting. He was like nothing she had ever seen before, so beautiful. Once he was by her side, he held out his hand for her to take and she easily accepted the offer.

  He guided her onto her feet and directed her away from the battle before she realized that she hadn’t felt this good in a long time. There was no more pain, no more heartache. The burdens she had been carrying were all lifted away.

  The man smiled down at her as he led her farther away. Taking her gaze away from him, she looked forward and saw two figures standing in the distance. It didn’t take her long to realize that it was her mom and dad. There was no hesitation as she let go of the man’s hand and began to run, run right into the arms of her waiting parents.

  ******

  “No!” Malachi yelled as he saw the knife go through Trinity. He couldn’t get lose to get to her! Continuing to pull at his restraints, he no longer felt the pain anymore. When he watched her fall, he knew the knife had hit its mark and passed through her heart. He could still heal her if only he could just…get...free!

  When the night exploded around him, he thought he might just have a chance. Gideon almost flew at Seth, and with one swing of his weapon had him decapitated. He noticed people he had worked with in the past, were fighting the others. It was then he spotted Tori and Terah running through the scuffle, towards him. Splitting apart, Tori ran to Gemariah while Terah reached him and started to undo his bindings.

  “You guys okay?” Terah asked.

  “Hurry up!” Malachi pulled on his restraints, but never took his eyes off Trinity’s body.

  The second his hands were free, he reached around and pulled the wires off his legs, not caring about the small amounts of flesh that came off with them. Finally being able to move, he stood and ran over to Trinity.

  When he finally reached her, he pushed Gideon, who was kneeling beside her, out of the way. Placing his hands on her, he concentrated on finding her spirit to lock onto.

  There was nothing there. She was gone.

  “I’m sorry Mal. I tried to reach him in time.” Gideon was kneeling next to him. “I even tried to use my healing power to sustain her till you got here, but she was dead before I could.”

  “No.” Malachi shook his head and refused to accept it. He reached out and tried to find even the tiniest spark left. There was nothing to grab onto; she was truly gone.

  Rage like never before coursed through his body. This was not going to happen again! Looking up, he locked eyes with Azazel, who was grinning widely at him. This fucker was not going to be around to torment anyone else after tonight.

  Malachi stood and made his way over to his sword, that hadn’t been touched since it was dropped earlier. Picking it up, he remembered his little firecracker wielding the weapon. At the time, he had been so afraid, but never more proud to see the fight in her. Now she was gone. Gone!

  Turning, he strode toward Azazel and watched as the man easily unsheathed his sword and waited. If he could kill him, he would, but he would have to settle for banishment instead.

  “You think you’re ready to play with the big boys?”

  Malachi ignored his remark and swung. The blow was easily blocked, but that didn’t stop him. He continued to swing and thrust his sword, not letting up for a moment.

  The fight went on, each person alternating being on the offensive. Malachi had no idea what was happening with everyone else around him; he didn’t care. To lose his focus one moment would cause him to lose everything.

  Azazel lunged toward him and Malachi spun away. At the same time, he brought his blade down and grazed the side of Azazel’s face. The sizzling sound meant that he had obviously broken skin.

  Jumping back, Azazel reached his hand up to feel the wound. There was no blood, just an open cut that was not healing right away.

  “I think I’m actually going to kill you this time.” Azazel nodded. “It’s been fun all these years playing cat and mouse, but all good things must come to an end.”

  Malachi could listen to the words all day and not be fazed, but the look of Azazel’s true form coming through was enough to make Malachi take a step back. He physically grew as his skin became more pewter and sunken in. The eyes were now black as night, and the razor sharp teeth showed as he hissed. Malachi could tell that Azazel’s time on Earth had severe negative effects on him. Angels were always so majestic, but Azazel mostly resembled his demon counterparts now.

  Basically, Azazel was pissed, and this was Malachi’s clear warning.

  The fighting resumed and he found himself on the defensive more than not. This was quickly turning south. One more swing, and Azazel’s sword slashed across his chest and threw him back.

  Getting the wind knocked out of him, he was now lying on the ground. He was wrong, he couldn’t do it. He wasn’t strong enough.

  As he struggled to rise, he glanced around at his surroundings. The fighting had stopped and people were rounding up the dead. Gideon and Gemariah were yelling at him, but wouldn’t interfere. This was his fight, but the problem was, he hurt too much and didn’t know how much longer he could go on.

  Looking in the opposite direction, he saw Terah cradling Trinity’s lifeless body in her arms. The tears running down her face made him remember that it wasn’t only him affected by the loss. Trinity had so many people that cared about her, but how many other people’s lives have been crushed because of Azazel?

  This is why! This is why he had to succeed. He had failed to protect Trinity, but at least he could avenge her and everyone else.

  Finding his sword, he got to his feet with a recharged confidence. The fighting increased in strength and speed, but Malachi was still holding strong. As he was fighting, he was watching; watching and waiting for an opening, no matter how small.

  There it was! Azazel raised his sword for a downward arc and his chest was left wide open. Taking what probably would be the only chance he would have; he leaned into the blow and rammed his sword through the area where Azazel’s heart should have been.

  Azazel gasped when the blade hit its mark and he knew he had been beat. He stumbled back, but Malachi followed him, never taking his hand off the sword. The movement made Azazel fall to the ground, and Malachi pushed the sword into the earth to secure the weapon.

  Not missing a beat, Malachi started to recite the words that have been ingrained in him since he was a boy. “Lord, please accept my gift to you.”

  “No!” Azazel yelled and struggled to free himself.

  “Your messenger has abused his power and is here to wait for his judgment.”

  “This didn’t work the last time, and it won’t this time.”

  “Do with him what you wish.”

  Nothing happened. He went through the words again in his head to make sure he got it right; he did, but still nothing happened.

  Azazel started to laugh. “And you thought you were special enough to have Him listen to you? That’s priceless!”

  Just then, the ground started to shake, and Malachi doubled his grip on the sword so it wouldn’t pull free. He watched in amazement as Azazel started to sink into the earth. It was then he released his hold and jumped back, not wanting to go with him.

  “Wait! Not yet!” Azazel was clawing at the grass to try and keep himself above ground, but the effort was worthless.

  When he was down far enough, the ground covered back over the top of him, successfully silencing his screams. Everything looked as if nothing had happened. The only thing out of place was the sword that was left standing and stuck in the ground.

  Malachi fell to his knees and hung his head. Sending up a silent prayer of thanks, he finally felt free. The feeling was instantly clouded when all his grief slammed back into him. He choked out a sob, thinking of living the rest of life without
Trinity. He rose to head in her direction.

  All the extra people, which had been at the clearing to help, started hollering and running up to him. This was a monumental night, and they were all proud to be a part of it. It didn’t take them long to realize that he wasn’t in the mood. After a few congratulatory slaps on the back, they all started to disperse.

  The rest of his team, his friends, were all huddled around Trinity by the time he got there, including Gideon. They all knew that this was not a time for celebration. Their emotions matched his own.

  Going to his knees once again, he pulled her onto his lap and just held her. She was starting to get cold from the night’s air, and knowing that she wouldn’t be warming up anytime soon, he held on even tighter. She should never have been here. Her only crime was being his. The thought made Malachi break down, and he did something he hadn’t done since he was a boy, he cried.

  The others were silent, letting him have his moment. A warm hand was placed on his shoulder, and he immediately started to feel calmer.

  “Gemariah, don’t! I told you I don’t like you doing that.” Malachi snapped at his friend.

  “That’s not me.” The answer was almost a whisper.

  Looking up, he noticed that everyone was staring at something behind him and they looked almost in awe. Noting that everyone was in front of him, but the hand was still on his shoulder, he jerked and pulled away. He turned and at the same time, shielded Trinity’s body from whomever was there.

  Standing there was the most ethereal person he had ever seen. He was what you would get when you mixed peace, wisdom, and love together in human form; it was angelic. That thought is what helped him figure it out.

  “Who are you?”

  Ignoring his question, the angel tilted his head to the side and spoke. “Tell me son, why do you weep when she will eventually come back to you?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You have a strong soul, and likewise have a strong soul mate. That is the only way she could have been reborn so much in such a short amount of time. I have no doubt that it will happen again.”

  Malachi shook his head. “It wouldn’t be her, though.”

  “No, she would be better. The woman would not have gone through the anguish that Azazel put this one through.” The angel motioned in the direction of Trinity. “She would not be so scarred.”

  Not taking his eyes off her, he smoothed back the hair from her face. “She was perfect to me.”

  The angel had a whisper of a smile on his face. “She is a determined woman, isn’t she?”

  Malachi felt his heart constrict all over again, but it was Gideon that caught onto the spoken words. “What do you mean ‘is’?”

  Eyeing them all, the angel stood a little taller, as if proud. “I am the angel that comes to collect the souls when they pass, and guide them to where they need to go.” He then zeroed in on Malachi. “I was the one that took Trinity’s soul.”

  Malachi couldn’t prevent the wave of anger that surged through him. This was the one responsible for taking her away. All of his muscles tensed before he felt a sudden calming effect.

  “Don’t.” Malachi spoke through clenched teeth.

  “Then calm yourself and let me finish.” He felt the power behind the words, and Malachi knew to listen.

  “As you already know, she was bound to you by the essence you saved her with; which could only be done to a soul mate by the way. Anyway, the bonding wasn’t completed. If it was, this wouldn’t have happened.” He opened his arms to indicate Trinity.

  “I didn’t know anything about bonding. We were never told.” Malachi was confused and a little defensive.

  The angel nodded. “We try not to announce it. Any nephilim can be bound to their soul mate, even the ones that choose to fight for Satan. As you all know, nephilims have a hard time staying on the path of good, some more than others.” He looked directly at Gideon when he said the last part, before addressing everyone again. “Think of having double the amount of nephilims out there fighting on the side of evil.”

  “Double the amount of…are you saying we can turn our soul mates into nephilims?” Gemariah asked.

  The angel kneeled next to Malachi, but still spoke with everyone. “Yes, if there is a precise verbal agreement after knowing all the facts, but there’s a catch.” He paused to make sure he had everyone’s attention. “The two of you would be connected in every way. There would be a constant beacon to thoughts, memories, and feelings. You would also share death. They can’t be killed unless their mate dies too; they die when you die.”

  Malachi pulled Trinity higher up onto his lap after she had slipped down a little. He found himself still trying to keep her warm. “This would have been nice to know before…” He couldn’t finish, but everyone understood.

  The angel put his hand on Malachi’s arm in a comforting manner, and Malachi took note that all the emotions he was feeling were his own. “When you gave Trinity your essence, you breathed your life into her, but you were missing the other element that would have bound the two of you together permanently.” Malachi glanced at him and he continued. “Blood. If you two had exchanged blood, the bonding would have been complete.”

  Malachi was becoming angrier with each revelation. “You’re not helping.” He just wanted to be left alone to grieve in peace.

  “Don’t you get it? Even though it wasn’t complete, you two are still connected. If you can somehow get your blood to course through her veins, and vice versa, it just might complete itself.”

  Hope spread through Malachi, but he quickly stomped it down, still being skeptical. “She can’t give her verbal agreement. How can I know that she would even want that life?”

  The angel actually laughed and looked skyward. “She’s already given her agreement. When I went to lead her to heaven, she pulled away and claimed that she wasn’t going to leave you.” Malachi, at that moment, felt every ounce of love that he had for her and almost didn’t hear what was said next. “She’s standing here, after hearing everything, and is now waiting on your decision.”

  The angel was eyeing Malachi expectantly, but Malachi could only focus on one thing. “She’s here?”

  “Yes.”

  Malachi didn’t know where she was, so he chose to look down at her body. “Are you sure?” His voice was so small, dreading the answer he might get. “I have failed to protect you numerous times. Are you sure that I am the one you want?”

  The angel looked to a spot at Malachi’s side and chuckled. “She said to get the show on the road.”

  Malachi laughed as well and laid Trinity on the grass. The mood around the circle had changed drastically. He could feel the hope and excitement, mixed with a little disbelief, pouring off everyone.

  “Here.” Tori handed over the small blade she always carried strapped to her leg. “You might need this.”

  Malachi took the blade and made a cut across the palm of Trinity’s hand. He then did the same thing to his and pressed their wounds together by holding her hand.

  Almost instantly, he had a vision of himself being pushed in a tree swing. He was laughing and yelling at the person pushing him to go higher. When the swing stopped, a very pretty woman circled in front of him and smiled. She opened her arms, and Malachi didn’t hesitate to run into them. Pulling back, he looked into a set of beautiful violet eyes that he had only seen on one other person. Trinity! This must be her mother. That’s when he understood what was happening. He was seeing one of her memories as if it were him. It was working!

  Malachi sucked in a gulp of air when he returned to reality. “Wow. It’s really working.” He was amazed, but when he looked down at Trinity he noticed there was no change. Something was wrong. Her blood easily entered his system, but she couldn’t circulate his. “She’s not taking it, what can I do?” Panic had now replaced his excitement.

  Through everything, the angel had stayed calm. “I might be mistaken, but somebody here might have the ability to move objects
with a single thought.”

  No one spoke up, he was wrong. There was nothing he could do. It wasn’t going to work! Gideon groaned and broke through Malachi’s negative thoughts.

  “Give me that.” Gideon knelt down across from him and grabbed the small dagger that Malachi still held. Picking up her other arm, he slashed the knife down her wrist, successfully opening a vein. He then grabbed Malachi’s injured hand and placed it over Trinity’s new wound. “Right to the source.”

  Malachi watched as Gideon closed his eyes to concentrate. How come he didn’t know Gideon could do this? He could only think of one answer. Gideon always steered clear of anything that had to do with his father, and telekinesis was primarily a demon power. Maybe he had been trying to push it back like every other trait.

  Underneath his hand, he felt a movement and knew that Gideon was doing it. The blood started to flow through her body.

  After a few minutes of waiting, there was still no change. He figured that they were too late. That was until he noticed the tiny movement of her fingers. Immediately, he placed his hand on her chest and focused. She was there! It was faint, but there was a spirit there to lock onto.

  “She’s there! It worked!” Malachi practically collapsed on top of her in relief and buried his head in the crook of her neck. “Thank you God. Thank you God.” He repeated over and over.

  When he noticed that Gideon had pulled away and was starting to stand, Malachi snatched his wrist to stop him. “Thank you!” Looking directly at Gideon, he didn’t want there to be any misunderstanding of how grateful he was.

  Gideon’s mouth lifted into a hint of a smile before he nodded and stood to walk away.

  “I think you are forgetting something, my son.”

  Malachi sat up and looked over. “What? We did everything you said. She’s back, it worked.”

  “Yes, it did. When she is more capable, she’ll learn to heal herself and others, like you, but not until she’s stronger. There is still damage to her physical form that will prevent her from a fast recovery.”