FIFTY-FOUR
THE RIDER SMILED, TOOK ANOTHER STEP TOWARD DANA, and repeated his question. “Are you coming with the other Warriors, daughter? Or will you stay here while they enter my rest?”
In the next moment three things happened in Dana’s brain simultaneously. First, an image of the professor flashed into her mind. Marcus, where are you? He was talking into a microphone in some kind of studio with a man sitting near him. Carson Tanner? But somehow she knew the professor wasn’t having a conversation. He was quoting Scripture. As the image intensified, a dark curtain surrounding him shattered into a million pieces, and the room the professor sat in filled with light.
Second, the words confusion and deception were plastered in brilliant white letters against a cloud of darkness. Third, she saw a picture of Jesus standing on a hill just like the one the three of them stood on now. More real, with more glory and power than the false Jesus in front of them could ever display. His words came in a whisper but also as loud as thunder. Stay strong, Dana. For all of you.
Peace and power flooded her. Whatever war the professor was waging in the physical realm had just saved them here.
“No!” She pointed her finger at the rider and took a step toward him.
“What is wrong with you?” Brandon grabbed her shoulders. “This is more than we could ever have hoped for.”
“No.” She bent over and pressed her temples as if to stop the migraine that had flared up seconds earlier. “He’s not who he preten—”
“Be quiet, Dana!” She yanked her head up as the rider drilled her with his gaze. His eyes flashed dark for a nanosecond, then returned to light brown, full of life and joy. “Do not quench the Holy Spirit. I am giving you a gift. Do not neglect it. Do not refuse what you desperately need.
“The pain in your head is from the enemy, trying to distract and deceive you.” The pretender motioned toward her head and the migraine vanished. “I long to bring you rest and healing, yet I will always give you a choice, even in this. You can turn from this now if you want and I will take Reece and Brandon without you. But I pray you do not. The Spirit desires to do a great work in all of you.”
“Let’s go, Dana.” Brandon took her hand. “It’s okay. Didn’t he just heal you?”
“Yes.” She rubbed her temple again. “But it’s not him—”
“What more do you need to see? Let your doubt go. We need this. You need this.”
She stepped back and pulled her hand from Brandon’s. “I want you to do something for me.”
“Sure.” He gazed into her eyes and she looked back through the twin windows into his soul. His heart for her had never been this deep. “Anything.”
“Be the Song.”
“I am the—”
“Sing like you’ve never sung before. To Jesus. Not to this . . . this . . .” She pointed to the rider. “Close your eyes and sing to the Alpha and Omega with everything you are.”
“Now? Right now? Even though my vocal cords aren’t all the way back?” He grinned.
“Since we’re in the spirit here, not in body, I think you’ll sound wonderful.” She returned his smile. “And even if you don’t, I think it’s about the heart behind the song, not how it sounds.”
“I’m sorry.” The rider shook his head. “There isn’t time for Brandon to sing, Dana. Later, yes, we’ll let the song of the Song echo through the heavens. But not now. If you want this gift, we must go.”
“There is always time to bring adoration to the King. Always time to praise the one who holds eternity in the palm of his hand.”
“So true, my friend.” The rider opened his arms and smiled. “I welcome your song, Brandon. Then we will go.”
“Sing, Brandon.” Dana fixed her gaze on the rider. Maybe Reece and Brandon and this Jesus were right and the enemy was trying to pull her away. But more of her knew it was a lie.
Stay strong, Dana. For all of you. The words echoed in her mind again.
Brandon’s song started soft and built, the melody strong and haunting.
Look.
The voice of the Spirit filled her heart and mind, and she intensified her focus on the rider. His arms were raised to the heavens and tears ran down his cheeks. His mouth moved silently along with Brandon’s words. Despair flooded her. Was the vision she’d just seen of Marcus a lie? Was the rider who he claimed to be? Wait. Darkness shimmered across his chest so fast, she couldn’t be sure if she’d seen it or imagined it.
The song ended and she grabbed Brandon by the collar. “Tell me you saw that!”
“Saw what? I was sing—”
“Reece?” She whirled toward the big man and clenched her fists. “Did you?”
“No.” Reece shook his head and looked at Dana. “Brandon is right. Let go of your doubts and fears. It is time to go with him.”
“Are you satisfied, Dana?” The rider smiled at her as his eyes danced like joy-filled lightning. There is so much I want to show you! Why did you doubt?”
Dana’s legs shook. From fear? From adrenaline? She couldn’t tell and didn’t care. She knew what she’d seen, and yes, she doubted it. But if she cried out and was wrong, there would be forgiveness from the Lord. If she was right . . . Jesus, if this isn’t you . . .
Speak truth, dear one. I am with you.
She strode forward two paces—now only five feet from him—and pointed at the heart of the Jesus in front of them. “In the name of the true Christ, King of all realms in heaven and on earth, the crucified, ascended, and glorified Jesus Messiah, I command you to reveal yourself.”
For a moment nothing happened. But an instant later the sky darkened and fat rain fell from the heavens and pelted them like liquid BBs. The drops fell on her arms and hands and face and head, but the sensation wasn’t like liquid, it was like drops of fire that seared her skin.
“Arrrgh!” Brandon tried to shield his head from the rain, but it only exposed more of his bare arms. Tiny red welts appeared on his skin and on hers as well. But the drops didn’t seem to be affecting Reece.
“Reece!”
The big man drew close to Brandon and her and covered them with his arms and body. “You have to fight this just like the three of you did during the testing Doug and I sent you on.”
“No caves around here to escape into this time.” Dana ground her teeth. “You couldn’t just tell us how to fight this, could you?”
“What did you use then?”
“The sword of the Spirit.” She closed her eyes against the pain and her body tightened.
“Yes.”
Dana’s brain spun as the rain fell harder. It pounded into the ground and splashed up onto her ankles and through her pants. The drops seemed to seep like acid through her skin into her bones. It was like white-hot needles were being stuck into her body in a thousand places.
“Reece!”
“Put on the armor.”
A moment later she had it. “Ephesians. Faith . . . ‘Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.’” Her words rang out and seemed to surround them. She stared at Brandon and shouted through the pain, “Faith. We must believe he is with us. ‘The LORD is a warrior, the LORD is his name!’”
His eyes widened and he nodded. She held his gaze and watched determination and belief grow inside and his pain grow into anger. He glanced at Reece, then stepped out from under the big man’s covering. The drops of rain pounding down on them didn’t lessen, but now they seemed to have no effect on Brandon.
She turned to her own arms in surprise. She’d been so focused on Brandon, Dana hadn’t noticed the rain was bouncing off her arms as if a thin invisible force field surrounded her body. She looked up at Reece.
“Well done, both of you.”
“Yes, well done.”
Dana spun at the sound of the dark voice. Where the rider had stood was a man with thick dark hair and a gruesome smile on his face. “Your precious faith might have protected your skin, but it won’t save
you from what is about to be unleashed.” He was taller, broader in his shoulders, his eyes somehow darker than the tar black they’d always been, but there was no doubt it was Zennon.
“I’m going to take my time killing you for revealing who I am, Dana.”
“Zennon.” Reece shook the rain from his face, his countenance one of granite.
“I really thought all of you had fallen for it.” The demon cocked his head and pulled his gold coin out of his pocket and flipped it in the air. The raindrops bounced off it like miniature pinballs. “I really did. Why? Because you’re stupid. Easily deceived.” He slapped the coin onto the back of his hand. “Wow, heads. You all die.” He looked up and zeroed his gaze in on Dana. “I’m curious, though. What tipped you off, dear?”
“I’m sorry, Dana.” Brandon’s words were full of shock.
“The Leader.” Reece shifted in the mud at their feet and leveled his gaze on Zennon. “How many times do we have to vanquish you before you will leave us alone forever?”
Zennon scratched at a small scab on his left wrist. He pulled it off and fresh blood formed on his skin. The demon touched his finger to the blood, then brought it to his mouth and licked it off. “I’m guessing yours will taste better, Dana.”
She shuddered. “Your strength, Jesus.”
As she spoke Jesus’ name, Zennon took a step back and pain streaked across his face for an instant. The demon turned to Reece. “What is it like to see again, blind man, knowing you can’t see any place but the spiritual realms? What is it like to realize the answer to the prophecy isn’t what you thought it would be? Does it claw at your mind in the still night hours? Does it make you wonder what else you’re wrong about?” The demon held a finger over the spot where he’d ripped the scab off and pressed down. “Do you miss taking your precious photographs, Reece? I took your eyes last time, but of course I wanted to take much more. Now I will.”
“Is there anything else you want to say before we destroy you?” Reece thundered one step forward.
“You and your petty desires. You believe yourself to be this mighty warrior, yet you’re consumed with the idea of getting your eyes back. You let it blind you. Your choice to marinate in your selfishness on that mountain almost cost Marcus his sanity, and yet you still pretend you are worthy of being at the head of this band of pretenders.”
Zennon turned his gaze on Brandon. “And you, Song. You think yourself worthy of that name? Hardly. Are you proud of your reaction at your record label? Toward Kevin? How would you like me to play a tape of that for all your adoring fans? And what about those fans? So you go out and shake a few hands after your concerts. Say a few insipid prayers. Do you really think that makes a difference in their lives? Come now. The prayers you offer all sound the same. Why not make a recording and have someone else play it over and over again? Face the truth. Your singing career has been about you. Always about you trying to fill the hole left vacant from your childhood.”
He turned to her. “My dear Dana. Filling your empty heart with the attention of your boss. Wondering what would happen if his wife were to leave him. I know you’ve had those thoughts. They’ve come and you’ve allowed them to linger in your mind. And you are alone, so alone in this life, and it will always be so.”
“Enough!” The cry roared out of Reece’s mouth with power. “Accuser of the brethren, you will stop. Be silent, in the name of Jesus.”
Again pain flitted across Zennon’s face.
“Jesus!”
Reece spoke the name again, and again Zennon stepped back, anger flashing. The demon breathed as if fire would erupt from his lungs but calmed a few moments later. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with, Reece. But I think it’s time you found out.”
Zennon’s face quivered. “I might be wrong about this, but I don’t think so. I get the feeling you think I’m the spirit of religion.” He paused and looked at each of them. “Ah yes, I see I am right.” Zennon laughed and clapped his hands softly. “Wrong. I am not the spirit of religion. But since he is the one you came to see, let us delay no further and commence with the introductions, shall we?”
Zennon motioned to his right and left as if he were conducting an orchestra. “Warriors, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine. And I predict he’ll want you to meet his army.”
An icy gust of wind tore into Dana’s clothes and as a second blast slammed into her back, a figure appeared next to Zennon. His height was eight feet plus. Black leather pants covered his legs, and his chest was bare and gleaming with dark sweat. Black hair was matted to his forehead and he held a curved white sword in his hand.
When he spoke, the sound rumbled out of his mouth like two trains smashing into each other head-on. “You will die.”
“Nice voice, don’t you think? I love it. Scares even people like you three.” Zennon laughed. “Now it’s time to pick the order. Hmm, let’s see.” He pointed at her. “Because of the stunt you pulled, Dana—making me show my true nature—you receive the honor of dying first.”
Dana sucked air into her lungs in huge gulps and stumbled backward in step with the others. “Jesus!”
Zennon shuddered and his body grew thinner, his skin turned pale, and he grabbed the arm of the demon next to him. But the massive demon at his side only laughed and pointed to something over their heads. She spun. Advancing toward them from the back of the hill were hundreds of demons.
She glanced down the sides of the hill to the valleys on the left and right. Hundreds more climbed toward them with methodical steps. In unison the horde of demons marched up the sides of the hill, their white, dead eyes fixed on the three of them. A low screech filled the air and grew louder every second.
“We underestimated you last time, Reece,” Zennon said, his voice laced with rage. “I hope it’s obvious that isn’t a mistake we’ve made a second time.”
“Believe!” Reece shouted and instantly swords appeared in their hands.
Dana turned back to Zennon and the huge demon next to him who snarled out, “No escape.”
The words ripped into her heart and a cloud of overwhelming fear filled her mind. The demon advanced on her, sword raised as iron hands gripped her arms from behind and knocked the sword from her hand. Dana yanked her head to the right. Reece shouted the name of Jesus over and over as he spun and ducked and slashed at the demons attacking him, his boots flinging mud and water into the air. The demons fell before Reece’s blade like the rain pounding down on them from the sky, but an instant later more took the place of those who had fallen.
To her right came Brandon’s voice, singing like lightning, and the sound of his sword was like a hammer ringing against an anvil, but there were too many of the demons. They came like thundering waves.
She turned to look at Brandon, but one of the demons behind her jerked her head back by her hair before she could spot him—her throat now exposed. The white blade of the demon flashed above her. It was over. She closed her eyes. I come, Lord Jesus, I come.
The crash of metal on metal ripped into the air followed by a ragged scream. Her eyes flew open. Brandon stood between her and the demon for a moment before he slumped to his knees. His body shuddered. He dropped his sword and clutched for his throat. The demon stood over Brandon grinning.
“Such a touching sacrifice, boy.” The demon’s eyes shifted to Dana. “But it won’t save her.”
Brandon made a half turn and fixed his gaze on her. Blood oozed from a deep gash across his throat. The light in his eyes was fading and he gasped for air.
“No!” She reached for him but was wrenched back and held again by the demons. She looked up and stared at Zennon and the other massive demon. “I bind all of you by the blood and power of Jesus Christ, Son of the most high God. He is our shield and I claim it now against you!”
The demons behind her let go and Zennon staggered backward a step, a guttural snarl coming from his throat. An instant later Reece leaped between her and Zennon, his sword flashing at them, then in back of her
at the horde coming from behind. They too had been buffeted back by her words, but how long would that last before they regrouped and attacked again? Any hope of victory seeped out of her and she shivered as fear coursed through her body.
But an instant later the sky flashed with a brilliance that would have blinded her on earth and all the demons surrounding them were flung to the ground. Then a voice rang out, crisp and clear as the dawn, “‘The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name.’”
Tristan, Jotham, and Orson stood before them, eyes on fire, blazing swords in their hands.
Tristan glanced at her. “Trust in him, Dana.”
“Will Brandon die?”
“Our lives are in God’s hands.”
Laughter from the massive demon echoed over the hill. “And your life is in my hand, Tristan Barrow. How long has it been? A millennium? Two? It is good to see you. It is a good day for you to die.”
“I think not.”
The giant demon laughed again. “You think the three of you can defeat my army?” He paced two steps to the right, then back to the left. “The three of you couldn’t defeat me alone. You know this to be true. Give up the humans and we will let you remain.”
Tristan, Jotham, and Orson together slowly raised their swords and stood back to back, Jotham facing to the right, Orson to the left, and Tristan straight ahead. Tristan’s face turned to granite. “‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.’”
He stepped toward the massive demon—at least a foot and a half taller—and its face contorted, but Dana couldn’t tell if it was from fear or rage. Jotham and Orson stayed anchored to the ground, their swords ready. The demons in front of each of them stared at Tristan and their leader.
“Leave!” Tristan thundered.
“I’ve waited long to destroy you.” The demon raised his sword, the end of its blade now only two feet from Tristan’s. “But I offer one more chance, for old times, when the ages were different and there was no animosity between you and me. Go from us now.”
“So you can destroy my friends?” Tristan grew more like stone if that were possible. “Leave.”
Memory's Door (A Well Spring Novel) Page 31