I could hear Lilith’s exasperated sigh at Elisabeth’s comment about the Nephilim from where I was sitting in the back. But true to her classy nature, Elisabeth ignored her and paused silently looking around the room over Lilith’s head. No one raised their hand even to guess. I supposed they didn’t want to come across as a know-it-all idiot like Lilith had. They sat quietly and waited. After a moment, she paused back in front of Lilith’s desk and looked down at her.
Elisabeth spoke with a little more volume as she seemed to say to Lilith alone, “The liger is a perfect example of a hybrid creature living today in captivity with features superior to those of its parents. The liger is a cross between a Panthera leo and a Panthera tigris. In other words, his father is a lion, and his mother is a tiger. As those of you who studied biology will recognize, the parents are of the same genus. However, they are of different species. The liger is the largest of all felines and it is still commonly believed that they lack the growth inhibiting gene. In essence, they could continue to grow until they die and will exceed the size and weight of both of their parents combined. There are only about twelve in existence today. Right now, there is a nine-hundred-pound liger named Hercules who lives in South Carolina. He is over twelve feet long at present and growing. You can look him up on the Internet if you need to see it to believe it.”
Elisabeth smiled as the class broke once more into excited chatter. She laughed openly as she heard someone say they thought ligers were just made up by Napoleon Dynamite.
“So as you see, if you believe in angels and you believe in the Bible, than it isn’t a stretch to take the Bible at its word and accept the fact some rebellious angels did in fact breed with human women. Their children had genetic anomalies as wells as spiritual anomalies. They were physically giants and spiritually destined to be demons. As men, they were feared for their strength, brutality, and intelligence. And as demons, they were feared for the same reasons. But if you are a believer in God and trust he is on your side, you need not fear even them.
“All right, we’re running a little behind now, so go ahead and get into groups and start working on your list of legends and myths. I’ll still give you fifteen minutes.” Elisabeth clapped her hands together and made a “go for it” gesture.
The class stirred and gathered themselves into little groups. No one approached me. I was sort of back by myself. I looked around and spotted Elisabeth walking up the right-side stairs to where I was hiding out. I smiled at her, and she answered my smile with a big bright one of her own. She came and sat down next to me still smiling, her eyes alight.
“So how’d it go?” she asked me, growing serious.
“It was very interesting. You are really amazing to watch! And even better to listen to! I can’t believe you have all that information in your head,” I said, unable to keep the amazement out of my voice.
“Thank you, Mel. But I meant, how did it go at court?” she asked me, leaning forward and whispering quietly.
“Oh! Great! Terra was so helpful, and the judge was just what she said he was. He was only interested in the truth and the deeper reason behind filing for the NCO. He granted it, thank God. A permanent one! And, since having an NCO issued means he is in violation of his parole, the judge issued a warrant for his arrest!” I said, relieved.
“Praise God!” Liz said, closing her eyes and taking in a big breath. I saw tension in her shoulders ease out.
“Tell Bradley I said thank you for hooking me up with his sister. Really. I could not have gotten this NCO today if it wasn’t for them. And thank you too, Liz.” I reached over and patted her hand.
“I will,” Liz said, smiling. “Now, did you get anything out of the lecture today?” Elisabeth asked me.
“I think I did, yes. Did you want me to consider Jared is probably one of those Nephilim you were talking about?” I asked her.
“Yes,” she said thoughtfully.
“I wondered why you accepted my explanation about his effect on me so easily. It didn’t seem to faze you. In fact, nothing I told you seemed to faze you. Why is that?” I asked her curiously.
“I suppose it’s because I’ve been studying those mystical and historical events my entire career, Melanie. I’ve read about them, gone to archeological sites, studied the different religions and cultures who had encounters similar to yours, and I’ve seen some things myself,” she said even quieter.
“You have? Like what? When?” I asked, getting a little too loud. Liz looked around to see if anyone was watching us. A few curious people had glanced over, but no one bothered to waste their attention on us.
“Some other time,” Elisabeth said with an apologetic look on her face.
“Okay. Hey, if Jared really is one of those Nephilim, then that must mean there’re more. Do you think we are coming into the beginning of the end days, Liz?” I asked. Between what Gabriel had explained to me earlier and this lecture, I think I was finally realizing what I was involved in.
“Yes, I believe we are. Like I mentioned in my lecture, Jesus said, ‘as in the days of Noah, so would it be in the end.’ He wasn’t just talking about the open acceptance and social pressure to partake in sin and the fact we could all speak one language. But there are still a number of significant things that have to occur before we are actually in the end times,” Liz said with a pensive look on her face.
“We don’t all speak one language,” I said, confused.
“We can with computers,” Liz said with a shrug.
“Oh, yeah. That’s right,” I said, considering that for a moment.
We sat in silence for a few minutes listening to the chatter and scribbling of the students below. Lilith was arguing with a few of her classmates and appeared to be enjoying how mad she was making them. The sliding smile playing along her mouth and the single eyebrow raised made her face into a haughty expression. I pulled my eyes off of the obnoxious Lilith and turned back to Elisabeth.
“Liz? Did you know Lilith would make a stink about hybrids? Or does that argument come up a lot when you teach this part of the class?” I asked, considering the amount of information she had ready in way of examples.
Liz smiled at me, her eyes twinkling. “That point of view is highly predictable, yes. Especially when I have students like Lilith attending my lectures. I usually have one or two each semester. But I like it. Keeps me sharp,” Liz winked at me and tapped the side of her temple.
“I can’t imagine you being anything but sharp,” I grinned back.
Liz checked her watch and scanned the room’s activity.
“Well, Liz, I think I should go. I need to be getting home and get some old clothes on if I’m going to help David clean up the restaurant tonight. Is there anything else you’re going to be discussing in this class today you wanted me to know?” I asked. “Cause if there is, I can stay,” I offered sincerely.
“No, you were here for everything I thought was relevant.” Liz smiled at me.
“It was enthralling, Liz. I don’t think I knew any of that. I need to start reading my Bible, and maybe we can start talking about some of the historical background and stuff. If you want to help me, that is?”
“Sure! I’m glad you’re interested. There is a lot of depth and layers to it. Much more than the words on the page. It comes alive when you’re hungry for the truth. And it’s fascinating to see what the Holy Spirit will reveal to you hidden right before your eyes.” Elisabeth smiled with a light of excitement in her eyes.
I squeezed Liz’s hand in farewell and smiled back at her. I wanted to tell her about Gabriel coming to meet me this morning, but this wasn’t the place. But how could I tell her why he was there unless I talked about the book? I guess I could tell her about the necklace and what he said about it. Well, if she noticed it first. I bent down to pick up my purse.
“Hey, Melanie?” Liz asked.
“Yes?”
“Where’d you get that?” she said and reached out to delicately touch the necklace now dangling from around
my neck. I straightened up and touched it myself. Elisabeth was looking at me curiously. I smiled at how she always seemed to be right beside me in my thoughts.
“Well, um—I sort of met the angel Gabriel this morning. He gave this to me,” I whispered.
“Gabriel? Oh, that’s awesome. I can’t wait to hear!” Elisabeth said, lighting up.
“Later. Definitely later. I have to go,” I gave her a sorry face.
“I know. Will you be okay going home on your own with your father running around out there somewhere?” Liz asked me, concern reigniting in her eyes.
“I think so. I’ll keep my eyes open and be cautious. Promise,” I said, crossing my heart with my index finger.
“Keep your phone close and the pepper spray in your hand whenever you aren’t in your car or surrounded by people,” she said.
“What pepper spray?” I asked, confused.
“This pepper spray,” Elisabeth said, handing me the little dangling bottle from out of her blazer pocket she normally had on her key chain. “You need this more than I do. I have another one in my desk here in the classroom.”
“Thanks.” I took it and held it ready in my hand. “See you later.”
“Bye.” Elisabeth stood up and started walking back down to the bottom of the class room toward her white board.
I smiled to myself as I saw Lilith call Elisabeth over to her group, which were arguing heatedly now. She could handle Lilith. I had no doubt. I turned and left, pepper spray held tight in my hand, smile still on my face.
A Beginning
Chapter Twenty-Four
Ifelt almost light with surging excitement as I made my way to my car. I hadn’t expected to get anything out of her class today. It had seemed like an odd and inconvenient request when Liz mysteriously asked me to come and sit in on her lecture this afternoon. But I had learned a lot, and it seemed to answer questions I hadn’t known how to put into words or even ask.
The amazing thing was it was so spot on. Gabriel had mentioned little parts of it, introducing me to the bare facts. After leaving the class, I felt like those bare facts had grown into a deeper understanding. There was so much more to it. I could feel it. The surge of excitement for adventure and discovery washed over me again, and I couldn’t help but smile to myself at the prospect of digging in deeper.
What was more, the timing of Elisabeth’s syllabus was right in line with what I needed to know at this juncture in my spiritual walk. It was clearer to me now. I was part of a plan, written out by God. I didn’t need to know all the details about my role or destiny yet. All I needed to know is that my participation was one of necessity. I would have to keep my faith in God and trust him to protect me and reveal more to me as I grew closer to him.
A war had been raging since before the beginning of mankind. A war for God’s throne and for domination over mankind. Satan had been trying every angle, every trick, and every deception he could come up with to destroy God’s relationship with man—to defile it with sin and to lead us all astray. He had even infiltrated man’s bloodlines hoping to destroy and corrupt their purity so Christ would be unable to be born from a pure human line and live as one of us as had been prophesied through the spirit of God. But Satan had failed. God had wiped out most of his seed, and Christ had come, born of a virgin.
Today, I had heard an explanation of Jared’s mysterious abilities and the likelihood of his true existence. He was a Nephilim. And if there was one, there would be more. Rather than that thought scaring me, it did the opposite. Just knowing the events of the last several days and the lesson I learned in Elisabeth’s class today had all been divinely prearranged and synced up made me feel almost giddy. It was as if God had been thinking of me and had planned it all out so I would know the truth right when I needed it.
I know I don’t have all the answers yet. I know I’m simply at the beginning of my search for knowledge and understanding. But I am aware of one thing: I have more comprehension and understanding of myself and of this supernatural world we live in today than I had yesterday or the day before. And that little bit of knowledge is liberating. They say the truth will set you free. Well, for me, it wasn’t just freedom—it was empowerment.
In order to fight your enemy, you have to understand them. Or at least, understand what drives them and where their hate comes from. The trick will be not to allow myself to fall back into the imprisonment of hatred and fear again along with them. It would be so easy. Like falling into water and letting yourself sink to the bottom. You always think you can start to kick and swim back up to the surface after you’ve explored the deepest darkest depths of the pool, but when it comes to hate, the deeper you go, the harder to it is to fight your way out and the thicker the water becomes until it is like mud and swallows you up whole.
I had been bobbing along near the surface since I was a child. Never fully giving into the entire pull of the hate, but letting it soak me and wash over me from time to time, staying close to the surface but never fully knowing how to climb my way out the rest of the way and let the sun dry me off. It hadn’t been my own strength that had broken me free. It had been God and his mercy that had changed that part of me.
Never again would I let my past define me. I wouldn’t give into fear nor would I let my insecurities dominate me and make decisions for me. I would no longer believe the lies of Satan, the ultimate master deceiver. He could keep his lies to himself. I wasn’t having any of it anymore.
It is going to be a battle. No, scratch that. It is already a multifaceted war. A war to live my life for righteousness and not for evil. A war to keep fighting against the temptations of what appears to be the easier paths of sin. To recognize the lies behind what seems to feel so warm and inviting and looks so beautifully appealing.
I know I may be only human, but my God is mightier than I could ever be alone. God and his angels are battling this war alongside me. For that, I am not alone. I am never alone.
I pulled my thoughts back to my surroundings, realizing I had stopped walking to lean against the light pole, lost in my thoughts. I knew I was being watched over by the angels I couldn’t see. Gabriel had said they would be close by, unseen by my earthly eyes. But just because they were near didn’t mean I should take it for granted and ignore common sense and the good advice from my friend.
I looked around to see how physically alone I was in the parking lot. A few people were walking through the compact rows of cars or talking to their friend. I spotted a couple making out against a van quite vigorously, and I turned away.
I saw my car over in the next row and made my way to the driver’s side door, unlocking it as I looked around once more. I climbed into my car, plopped down on the chilly seat and locked the doors automatically. The feeling of being light and excited was being tainted by caution now. It was probably for the best that I keep myself alert and not let the feelings of utopia make me reckless.
My cell phone rang from my pocket, and I scrambled to pull it out before it went to voice mail. I quickly glanced at caller ID before I hit the Answer button.
“David. Hi,” I said happily. I was surprised to realize I was still happy he was calling me even after thinking he had heard my testimony in the courtroom today.
“How are you doing, Mel?” David said. There was something in his voice. Concern, I think.
“I’m good, David. Thanks. Great actually. Hmm, I was about to go home to change into some old clothes for our cleanup project tonight.”
“You’re sure you’re all right?” David insisted.
“Yeah, sure.” I said dismissively. Maybe he had heard me talking to the judge. “So, meet you at the café at four?” I said to thoroughly avoid any chance of the conversation shifting to why I had been at the court house.
“Um, about that. I talked to Frank later this afternoon shortly after I ran into you at the courthouse. He called me half drunk,” David said sounding disappointed.
“Oh? He’s out of jail? Is he all right?” I asked.
“He’s playing it tough. You know how he is,” David said with a sigh.
“Yeah, I know. Tough as nails Frank won’t let anything shake him,” I said with an unseen smile.
“I told him we were going to head over and pick up the place for him tonight, but he told me not to. He said he can’t have it cleaned up until he gets an insurance adjuster out there to take pictures of the damages and does a walk through with him,” David said, sounding disappointed.
“Oh. I hadn’t even thought of that. It makes sense I suppose,” I said.
“Frank seems to be under the impression the customers or cops might have helped themselves to his walk-in and took some of his best steaks and wine. Don’t ask me why. He wants his insurance agent there to take inventory of whatever he says was stolen, so it’s written into the claim along with all the other damages. Don’t know how they’re going to file this one,” David said sounding genuinely worried for Frank.
“Beats me,” I said, shrugging though he couldn’t see me.
I took a moment to glance in my side mirrors and then in my rearview mirror. No reason to neglect spot checking my surroundings while on the phone. I shouldn’t let myself get too distracted. I remembered Elisabeth telling me about a graduate student of hers who got raped last year right around finals. I glanced around again and buckled in my seat belt.
Keeps me from going through my windshield and keeps me from being dragged out of my car. I started my car to let it warm up.
“I wanted to ask since we don’t have to get together to clean up the restaurant tonight, would you mind getting together just to hang out instead?” David said, his voice sounding smooth and low like warm honey.
“Like…a date?” I asked out loud, suddenly a little nervous.
“It doesn’t have to be a date yet if you don’t like the label. How about just two friends spending time together? Will that take that nervous wobble out of your voice?” David offered with a soft chuckle.
Broken Seed Page 32