Revelations (The Revelations Series Book 1)

by Pamela Daniell

  Erin barely dodged the demon as he came after her. She kicked his weight-bearing leg out from under him and he crashed to the ground. But, he was quickly back on his feet, snarling as he came after her again. This time she wasn’t so lucky. The demon grabbed her and threw her into the wall knocking the wind out of her.

  He wrapped his cold hard fingers around her neck, lifted her up off the floor and threw her into the china cabinet in the corner of the kitchen.

  Please, don’t let him kill me before I can warn Jenna, she prayed, although she knew there was no use.

  A searing hot pain erupted in her side as the demon picked her up once again, this time driving the knife deep into her chest, not once, but twice, each time making sure to give it a twist for maximum damage. After the demon yanked the knife out, he merely let go of her and let her body fall to the floor.

  She reached down and felt the wound. Warm blood seeped through her fingers as she tried to apply pressure to stop the bleeding.

  “Nothing can stop me now,” the demon declared as he knelt down beside her. A smile crept across his face as he once again drove the knife deep into Erin’s chest, this time piercing her heart.

  Erin prayed Jenna was strong enough to resist the devil’s temptations. She struggled to breath, to hold onto life and not let this demon win. She could feel her body going cold as she gasped for air. Her last thought was of Jenna as her world went dark

  JENNA sat under the big oak tree in the woods behind her house reading her latest mystery novel. This was her favorite place to come and relax when she needed to get away and be by herself for a little while. It was so peaceful here. She loved to watch the crystal clear water trickle over the rocks in the stream. She still had a couple of days off before she had to start her training again and she was determined to finish this book before then.

  She turned the page to start chapter five when she heard the crunching of leaves not far off in the distance. She closed the book and scanned the area around her. The whole time they had lived here, she had never once seen anyone or any sign that people came to this part of the forest. Must be my imagination, she thought as she stood up and brushed the dirt off the back of her pants. She had been out here all morning and figured that by now her mom would be starting to worry about her, so she decided she better head home.

  Jenna took a few steps towards the path when an uneasiness took over her body telling her she wasn’t alone. She scanned the area again for signs of someone else being in the forest with her. Her pulse quickened as she heard the snapping of another twig not far off in the distance. Her senses kicked in telling her to run and hide, but she knew if she did she would alert whoever it was that she knew they were there. So, she pressed her back up against the oak tree and tried to hide from sight. After a few minutes, she heard no other sounds so she slowly peeked out from around the tree. Seeing no one, she crept toward the trail that would take her back to the house.

  She had almost made it back when from the corner of her eye she saw a dark figure leap out from behind a tree. He wrapped his strong arms around her and held her tight.

  “Let me go,” she screamed as she struggled to free herself. The person just laughed as he tightened his grip.

  Calm down, Jenna, you won’t be able to get free if you’re freaking out. Jenna listened to her inner thoughts and stopped struggling. She planted her feet firmly on the ground and threw her head back. It connected with something solid and her assailant cried out. His grip loosened enough for her to free herself.

  She ran a few feet, stopped and turned around. She raised her hand to summon the wind but instead energy emerged from it sending the assailant flying through the air. Jenna smiled as he slammed into a tree and slid to the ground.

  “I give up,” he announced as he stood up with his hands raised. “You win.”

  “Alex?” Jenna asked.

  “Yeah, it’s me.” Alex stood up. “I was testing you. I knew you could protect yourself from me. But, I needed to see what you could do if someone else attacked you.”

  “That wasn’t funny!” Jenna snapped. “You scared me. I could have really hurt you.”

  Alex walked toward Jenna. “Sorry, but do you realize what you just did?”

  “What do you mean? I used the wind to blow you backwards. We already know I can do that.”

  “No, Jenna, you didn’t. It wasn’t the wind. You used a new ability. You have telekinesis like me.”

  Confused, Jenna shook her head. “What? I do not…” She looked at the undisturbed ground around them. “Do I?” Jenna couldn’t believe it. He was right. If she had summoned the wind, the dirt and leaves on the ground would be scattered. The wind had never picked up, which meant she hadn’t used that element. “Wow,” she exclaimed. “You mean I have more abilities then we thought?”

  “You must. How else could you have thrown me like that?”

  Jenna smiled. How cool was that? She could move things with her mind. “I have to tell mom. She’ll be so happy that I have another ability to defend myself with.” Jenna turned and took off toward the house.

  “Wait up,” Alex yelled as he ran to catch up with her.

  “I can’t wait to tell mom about my new ability,” Jenna yelled over her shoulder as she ran toward the house. As she came out of the clearing into their backyard, she suddenly came to a halt.

  Alex skidded to a stop barely missing her. “What’s wrong? Why did you stop like that?” he asked as he came up beside her.

  Jenna didn’t say a word. She just stared at the house, as panic ripped through her.

  Alex waved his hand in front of Jenna’s face. “Hello, I asked you a question?” Alex followed her gaze towards the house and instantly knew why she had stopped. There was scattered glass all over the lawn from the broken kitchen window. He stepped in front of Jenna.

  “Stay here, I’ll check it out,” he told her.

  Jenna franticly held onto a sliver of hope that her mom was okay as Alex crept up to the back porch and peeked through the window. The horrified look on his face told her what she feared the most.

  “Mom!” she screamed. She raced toward the house praying her mom was still alive.

  Alex stepped in her way before she could reach the porch. “Wait, Jenna, I don’t think you should go in there. Whoever hurt your mom may still be here.”

  “Get out of my way, Alex!” Jenna demanded as she tried to push past him. There was no way she was going to let him keep her from her mom.

  “Jenna, please…”

  Jenna glared at Alex. How dare he try to keep her from her mother. She took a step backwards and flicked her wrist sending him sailing across the yard. With Alex out of the way, she quickly made her way up the back steps and flung open the door. She now knew why Alex had tried to stop her. There, on the floor, was her mother’s lifeless body covered in blood.

  “Mom!” she screamed as she ran to her and collapsed to the floor beside her. She pulled her body up on her lap. “Please, Mom, still be alive,” she pleaded as tears welled up in her eyes. “Please don’t leave me.” She placed her trembling finger carefully on her mom’s throat to check for a pulse. Feeling nothing she pulled her mom closer and let the tears flow.

  “I’m so sorry, Mom. I should have been here,” she whispered as she cradled her and rocked back and forth. A sensation of intense sickness and desolation swept over her. She closed her eyes, her heart aching with pain.

  Alex came up beside her and knelt down. “Jenna, we have to call someone. The sooner the police know the sooner they can find who did this.”

  Jenna stopped rocking and glared at Alex. “We know who did this! And why!” she snapped.

  “We can’t be sure which side is responsible. Both demons and God would do anything to get to you. Even kill your mom if she refused to tell them where you were.”

  Jenna hung her head low and closed her eyes. “Do whatever you want. Just leave me alone,” she whispered as she clung to her mom’s body.

  Alex s
tood up and walked over to the phone, picked it up and began to dial. A few seconds later Jenna could hear him talking to someone but she knew they wouldn’t be of any help. Whoever had done this to her mother wasn’t human.

  She kissed her mom’s forehead and gently laid her back on the floor. “I won’t let them get away with this. I promise they’ll pay for what they did to you,” she whispered, then stood up and headed for the door.

  “Jenna, where are you going?” Alex called after her as he hung up the phone.

  “To find whoever did this,” Jenna declared. She walked out the back door slamming it behind her.

  “Jenna, stop,” Alex called as he rushed after her.

  “They’re not going to get away with this.” Jenna scanned the area for any signs for which way the intruder had gone.

  Alex stopped her as she was about to go around to the front of the house. “Jenna, please, you have to stop and think about what you’re doing. You’re not strong enough to face them yet.”

  Jenna didn’t respond. She raised her hand and the dust and debris from the ground began to rise and surround Alex. She didn’t care if she wasn’t strong enough. She wasn’t even sure if she wanted to live without her mom. She released the earth from her command and collapsed to the ground, her body trembling as she looked at her blood covered hands and began to sob.

  Alex helped her to her feet as the sounds of police sirens grew closer. She reluctantly let Alex guide her to the chair on the porch. What was she was supposed to do? Her whole world had just been taken from her and now she was alone. The only two things she knew for certain was… the only person who had loved her was gone, and she was the reason why.

  JENNA sat motionless in the chair on the front porch, her head lowered and her body slumped. She could hear the police cars racing down the road to her house, she could see them stop and the officers jump out of their cars, but to her, it was all a blur.

  She could hear Alex talking to the police, but it was like a distant dream. Dead… murdered. She heard those words over and over again and each time they were spoken they were like daggers straight to her heart. Desperately trying to erase any signs of her mother’s blood, she rubbed her hands on her pants until they were raw. She couldn’t believe this was happening. How was she supposed to survive without her mom?

  “Jenna,” Alex said as he knelt down beside her on the porch. “These men need to ask you some questions. Do you think you can answer them?”

  Jenna raised her head, wiped her tears and looked at Alex. “I’ll try,” she replied, although all she really wanted was to be left alone.

  “Ms. Jensen, I’m Detective Emmit. I’m sorry for your loss,” the detective told her as he knelt down beside her. “But, I need to get some information from you so we can catch your mother’s murderer.”

  Jenna shook her head; there it was again, the word murder. If only they knew who really killed her mom. But, only Alex and she knew that; and if they even attempted to tell the truth, they would surely be locked up in a loony bin; or worse, accused of killing her mother themselves.

  The detective turned toward Alex. “I’m sorry, but it’s procedure to question a witness alone. You’ll need to excuse us until we are done.”

  Alex turned toward Jenna as if to see if she was all right with being left alone.

  “It’s okay, Alex, I’ll be fine,” Jenna told him as she sat up straight in the chair.

  “Are you sure?” Alex asked glancing at the detective, then back to her.

  “Yes.” Jenna took a deep breath knowing this wasn’t going to be easy as she watched Alex turn to leave.

  The detective stood up. “Please stay out of the house until forensics is finished,” he told Alex, and then turned toward Jenna as soon as Alex was off the porch and out of earshot.

  “Jenna,” the detective started. “Alex tells us you were both in the woods when your mother was attacked. Is this true?”

  “Yes.”

  “What were you doing?”

  “I was reading.” Jenna watched as the detective wrote something in his black book.

  “What happened when you got back to the house?”

  Jenna lowered her head, tears swelling up in her eyes. “When Alex and I came out of the woods we noticed the back window was broken. I stayed in the yard while Alex looked in the window.”

  “And what did Alex see?” the detective asked as he continued writing.

  Jenna wiped away a tear with her trembling hand. “My… mom,” she mumbled turning her face away from him.

  “I’m sorry, I know this is hard for you,” Detective Emmit told her, his eyes filled with empathy. “But, we need to know exactly what happened when you entered the house so we know what you touched or moved, and if anything is missing. It will help up figure out what fingerprints are the suspects.”

  Just thinking about it tore at her heart. She held back a fresh batch of tears and took a deep breath. “To be honest, it’s pretty much all a blur.” Jenna looked at her still stained bloody hands. “The only thing I remember is holding my mom’s body and checking for a pulse. The next thing I knew, you were coming down the road.”

  “Do you remember seeing anyone around the house lately that didn’t belong?”

  “No, not that I remember.” Jenna wrapped her arms around herself. “I’m sorry, that’s all I can really tell you.”

  The detective closed his book and put it back in his jacket pocket as a tan suburban came speeding down the driveway. The driver slammed on the brakes inches away from a police cruiser. “Thanks for your help, Jenna,” the detective said as he followed the suburban with his eyes. “If you remember anything else, please give me a call.”

  The detective handed her a card and stepped off the porch as her mom’s boss, Stan, climbed out of the suburban.

  Jenna pulled her legs up onto the chair, wrapped her arms around them then rested her head on her knees as Alex came back onto the porch.

  “Jenna, Alex, I just heard what happened. I’m so sorry,” Stan called as he ran toward the porch.

  “Hold up,” Detective Emmit said to Stan as he blocked his path to the porch. “Can I help you?”

  “Erin used to work for me,” Stan replied. “I just heard what happened and I came as fast as I could to check on the kids.”

  “Do you have any idea who would have wanted to hurt Ms. Jensen?”

  “No, I can’t imagine who could have done this. Everyone loved her.” Stan ran his hand through his dirty blond hair. “When I heard it over the scanner I assumed it was a robbery gone wrong.”

  “From what Alex has told us, it doesn’t look like anything is missing. So, we have to assume whoever did this, did it with the full intent on hurting Ms. Jensen and nothing else.”

  “I’m sorry, I wish I could help,” Stan said shaking his head in disbelief. “But, like I said I can’t think of anyone who would want to hurt her.” Stan gestured toward the porch. “Can I go check on the kids now?” he asked.

  “I have a few more questions for them, but you can be present for them so go ahead.” The Detective followed Stan onto the porch.

  Stan took the steps two at a time and knelt down beside Jenna. “I’m so sorry to hear about your mom,” he told her. “If there is anything I can do please let me know.” He turned toward Alex and stood up. “I have plenty of room at my house; you both can stay with me as long as necessary.”

  “That’s actually the last question I have for you two. Do you have any other family we can contact?” Detective Emmit asked.

  Alex glanced at Jenna who still had her head on her knees. “No,” he said. “We never knew our father and our mom was an only child. Both her parents passed away before we were born.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Unfortunately I’m going to have to call Child Protective Services to place you with a foster family until a more permanent home can be found for you both.” The detective pulled out his cell phone.

  “Hold on,” Stan interjected. “There’s no n
eed for you to call them. I’d be more than happy to look after the two of them. I have plenty of room at my house. You can call your Captain and tell him Stan Bernard is willing to take the kids. He knows me personally and can vouch for me.”

  The Detective turned toward Jenna and Alex. “Is this okay with you?” he asked.

  Alex nodded, and then glanced at Jenna who didn’t even seem to know anyone had asked her a question. “We know Stan well enough to be okay with that.”

  “Give me a minute to get it cleared.” The Detective started to dial his phone as he walked away.

  “I want to stay here,” Jenna whispered as she finally lifted her head.

  Stan looked at Jenna. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I think you’d be better off at my house.”

  “No,” Jenna insisted. “I’m not going anywhere. And, nobody can make me.”

  “Well, it’s all set. Jenna and Alex can stay in your custody,” Detective Emmit said coming back onto the porch. “Just make sure to get in touch with me if you need anything or if either of the kids remembers something.”

  “Sure will,” Stan said holding out his hand.

  Detective Emmit shook Stan’s hand. “Forensics is finished, so you can go back inside to get your belongings,” he said to Jenna and Alex.

  “Thank you,” Alex said as Jenna stood up and went into the house without even acknowledging Detective Emmit had said anything to her.

  “Again, I’m sorry for your loss.” Detective Emmit walked off the porch and headed toward his car.

  Alex and Stan followed Jenna into the house. They found her lying on the couch holding one of her mom’s sweaters.

  “You know, I should really insist you come to my house,” Stan said. “But, if this is where Jenna wants to stay for the time being I’ll allow it. But, just for a few nights.”

  “Thanks. We appreciate it. And, don’t worry.” Alex grabbed a blanket off the chair and covered Jenna with it. “We won’t be a burden for long. I have a friend a few towns over we may be able to move in with.”

  “Hold on right there,” Stan exclaimed, a warning cloud settling on his features. “I was serious when I said I’d look after you both. And, that’s exactly what I plan to do. So, I don’t want to hear any more of this leaving talk. Think of yourselves as my kids now.”