Ancient Fire

by Judi Calhoun

I lay in my dark room, not moving from my bed, for four days. My goal was to eventually blend into the cotton fibers of the sheets, as a permanent memorial to my loser life.

  A stormy gust of wind tossed my sheer curtains in a ghostly dance. I should have closed the window, but I didn’t move. Let it rain; who really cares?

  Floating along the breeze was the unearthly sound of gentle music and voices singing an arrangement so remarkably soft, seemingly miles away…drawing slowly closer. Within that framework were whispers of spiritual things, followed by the low, muffled roar of a beast... a lion.

  A million tiny, dazzling crystals, twisting, and swirling at the foot of my bed, took on the shape of...Ariel. The flames of his sword cast swaying silhouettes across my floral wallpaper. Ariel, my cherubim mentor was a mammoth creature, half-lion, half-man. He wore medieval battle gear. Any normal person’s heart might faint with fear, startled at seeing his sharp teeth, and huge glassy eyes that could read one’s life story with a single glance.

  He looked exactly the same as he did the first night I’d seen him five years ago, the day he gave me the power to fight and defeat demons.

  Any other time I’d have run to him and thrown my arms around his massive yellow head. Not now. Now, I just lay in my bed like a frail weakling, instead of the powerful Slayer he had once trained.

  Ariel’s fierce eyes pierced right through me. His power exposed all my guilt and shame. I swallowed hard, trying to convince myself that I didn’t really care.

  “Slayer,” his voice said, heavy with concern. “Tell me, have you broken covenant?”

  Why was he asking me this, when he already knew everything that had happened? I stared at him, crossing my arms in front of my chest.

  “Perhaps you don’t want to see me,” he mused. “Perhaps, your mind’s contaminated by dark lies or you’ve forsaken your duty, abandoned your sword? Perhaps all of these things are true?”

  “It’s good to see you too, Ariel,” I said, acerbically. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “No? I doubt that’s true,” he said.

  I glanced away. I could feel his persuasive eyes burning into me. I felt small.

  “The enemy’s a master at planting destructive thoughts. That shouldn’t come as any surprise to you. You already know that your mind’s been poisoned.”

  “Sure, whatever’s left of my mind,” I muttered. I knew I’d grown mentally fragile from the moment I’d lost control of everything in my life, so, big deal. My gray matter had been taken captive. Good! I surrender, white flag and all. “You came all this way, because you’re concerned about my thoughts?”

  “I’m afraid they’re not entirely yours.” With a slow intake of air, he moved closer. “Tell me, what have you become, Slayer?”

  I glanced at the mirror that hung on my closet door, taking in my red nose, blood-shot eyes, and wild, troll doll hair. “Slime,” I said brusquely.

  “You may be correct.”

  He was way too quick to agree with me. If this was a pep talk, he was failing massively. No, he was hoping I would instantly recover. Yeah, like that’s going to happen. “If you’re here to zap me with some supernatural power, don’t even bother.”

  “I can do nothing for you.”

  Perfect! One of the most powerful creatures from the Supernatural world couldn’t help me! Well, that figured. Even he knew I was a lost cause.

  The fire on his sword fizzled out...a soft pop left us in darkness. I snapped on my bedside lamp. His laser-like eyes, momentarily startled, causing a shivering chill. I nervously glanced away. Sure, I knew Ariel; it had been a while since he’d come to visit. I’d forgotten just how powerful he was.

  My bed sank from the weight of his body as he dropped onto my mattress. When his hood fell back, waves rippled through his golden mane. A woodsy, floral, familiar scent filled my nostrils, and I remembered how I had adored him and longed for his presence. Now, Ariel was here and I didn’t even care.

  With one fluid movement, he stabbed his gothic sword into my floor and rested his clawed hands on the hilt. “We all make choices...life or death.” His deep voice filled my bedroom, bouncing off the walls of my mind. “Surrendering your power is exactly what the enemy wants. If you wish for a different life, you can have it. Over time, you will forget you once had power and become just like so many self-centered, materialistic people, ignorantly doubting the very existence of the Underworld, but Shonna, why would you want to do that, when you’ve been given such a great gift?” He leaned closer, frowning. “You don’t want to hear any of this, do you?”

  No Kidding. I crossed my arms in front again, hoping he’d get the message, hoping he’d leave, so I could return to my misery.

  “Listen with your heart. This storm inside of you is tormenting your soul. Let it go.” He paused. “Yesher is a wise Father who believes in you, Shonna, even if you fail. It’s this connection of trust that gives you the ability to defeat evil. That’s your destiny – not slime.”

  Every word hit me and filled me with shame. My eyes stung with tears, “It's hopeless!”

  “Is there anything completely without hope?”

  I sat up straight, gritting my teeth. “In case you hadn't noticed, my mother is marrying the Prince of Darkness, who is also my principal from hell! I'm sure Jake hates my guts, cause he’s avoiding me as if I’m human waste. I can’t blame him. On top of that, I’ve got this head cold that feels like the bubonic plague. I’m miserable and I just want to die. So go away and let me suffer in peace.” I slid back down on the pillow.

  “When did this become all about you?” He intoned. “You think your father called himself slime?”

  He’d hit me below the belt when he mentioned dad. I clenched my teeth. My eyes leveled on him, feeling smoldering embers ignite anger inside my lethargic state of mind.

  “Why?” I demanded. “Why didn’t you tell me a long time ago that dad was a Slayer?”

  “Discretion was necessary. You had to be trained early. Once Belial knew you had Triune power, and discovered your future, he’d try to kill you.”

  “He did try to kill me! What does that have to do with dad?”

  “If we told you that Belial had killed your father, what would you have done?”

  Immediately I thought, Revenge.

  “Precisely,” said Ariel. “It would’ve changed everything. He had to believe you were spiritually ignorant; otherwise, he would have disposed of you immediately. You surprised me. I never expected you to possess the same force as your father. You are just like him, you know. The Underworld feared his name. They fear yours too, at least until a few days ago.”

  I buried my face in my hands, remembering our empty house after dad’s death. Every night I waited for the front door to open, to hear his voice. Every ounce of me screamed to hear the truth. What really happened? I still haven’t got answers, yet now I wasn’t afraid to ask.

  “I believed you when you told me Belial killed my dad. You know I’m not that little girl anymore. I’ve learned a few things, fighting demons. I know that demons aren’t the only ones to do his dirty work.” I looked without fear into Ariel’s eyes. “So, who really murdered my father?”

  Ariel grimaced. He stood and moved to the window, saying nothing, just stared out into the dark night. I remembered his glorious history, when darkness first entered the world and Ariel was a tough cherubim guardian to the throne of Yesher. As a young lion, he fought for centuries to protect the Tree of Life, and for over a thousand years, after cutting the highest Covenant in blood, he bestowed Triune powers on all new Slayers, and readied them for battle. Yet, now his shoulders sagged, and he showed signs of aging. I was demanding answers, and I could tell he was weighing my question, as if the answer held a great deal of importance.

  “If I were at liberty to say... well then.” He turned to look at me. “You see I have my orders.”

  “And you’ll never disobey an order.”

  He pulled himself up, as if I’d gi
ven him the highest praise. “I must leave,” he said. Instantly, he was at my side. “I shall finish what I came to say. Yesher has a question.”

  Just like that, he had my full attention. Ariel had never given me a message or question directly from Yesher. So, in spite of how I was feeling, I was more than mildly curious.

  “Do you remember the reason you hate your enemy?”

  “Seriously, do I really need to answer that? Hello? He killed my father.”

  “Will someone else you love have to die?” he asked.

  Immediately I thought of mom. “He’d better not or I’ll...”

  “You’ll do what?” asked Ariel, “Lay there like slime?”

  His words slapped me in the face. Okay I get it! I’ve been selfish, and irresponsible. This was not about me. I get it now.

  “He will stop at nothing to kill you,” Ariel advised, “even if it means killing innocent lives.”

  How was it possible that I could have gotten so off track, that I could have forgotten what I had trained most of my life to do? What a fool I’d been, wallowing in self-pity while others were in peril for their lives. “Forgive me,” I whispered softly, knowing the minute I asked that it was a done deal. Still, it was necessary to ask.

  “Slayer Wells,” said Ariel. He had vanished, yet his voice hung close to my ears. “Wait. He is coming... stand up.”

  I climbed out of bed. There was silence… a long, expectant silence. A brilliant burst of tiny lights, like fireflies, were everywhere in my room. A whirlwind of swirling sparkles, different from anything I’d ever seen.

  The irresistible power of His intoxicating presence weighed heavily against my flesh. He was here in my bedroom…a paradise of peace that satisfied a soul with complete contentment. Nothing could parallel His manifestation. I would do it. Give up my life. Make me a Seraphim wreath circling forever His regal head. I had the overwhelming urge to fall on my knees, so I did.

  A floral fragrance penetrated His swirling glory. I breathed in His sweet rose perfume. My senses were infused. His fingers interlaced around my heart…love exploded... longing, such longing. Power pulled from flesh to fluttering pneumatic wings to endless euphoria... glowing in the presence of Him. I could not speak. It didn’t matter… there was nothing to say.

  “Don’t move,” His voice was gentle, yet persuasive.

  Something like a slight breeze brushed my lips. The air crackled and power filled me. I gasped. All stress fell away. My spirit cut loose and I was flying.

  Instantly I understood the wisdom of joy. Not idle toys for fools, as some believe. No, joy was perception, freedom, yet so much more than common words failed to adequately describe.

  “Shonna,” He whispered. “Give me your hand.”

  I raised my right hand and watched in surprise, as it turned on its own until my white palm faced up. I closed my eyes.

  I felt my sword fill my hand. My fingers closed around the hilt of my steel… wisdom flooded my soul and blood filled my mind. Images raced though me. A royal, blood covenant cut deep into the pages of humankind... changing the course of history. A blood lineage cascading through my veins, born of the King of all Kings, so pure, so rich, that it sealed my destiny forever.

  I could smell the heat of flames. I opened my eyes wide... really wide. FIRE! My shaft burned like Ariel’s. Impossible! I had Ancient fire!

  He spoke from inside of me. “I believe in you. I always will. Choose this hour to put on Me, your Armor. Choose Ruach Ha Emet (the spirit of truth) as your sword. Choose to fight the Underworld in this present darkness. Listen. I will speak.”

  An inconceivable force traveled up my arm, into my chest. I cried out as the fire on Ruach Ha Emet consumed me, cauterizing the dark places of my once-tortured soul, healing my pain, the loss of my Father. As a King loves his Princess and a father loves his daughter, so I was loved. I knew it without flowery words.

  Yesher, stay forever!

  Softly, he was gone, along with my horrid head cold and the depressing apathy. Now, I was forever changed and so was my Sword. It had a name, Ruach Ha Emet. I would call it, Emet, for short.

  I slashed figure eights as I tested the blade. The flames burned but never destroyed the steel. It sliced through the air in a magical pattern of light. Emet sang to me, whispers of courage, ownership, and endless victories. My weapon and I were fused forever as one unit…steel merging with spirit, and communicating with flesh.

  I could hardly believe that I had Ancient fire, the strength of heroes who had fought battles years before my time on this planet. One lethal cut from my sword would engulf a demon in a scorching, permanent death.

  It was a reward that only Ancient Slayers possessed. I’d done nothing good to deserve it, yet it was mine. Words of gratitude like thank you seemed inadequate and shallow, much too easy to convey what my soul was feeling. Yet, words were necessary. When spoken, they were the catalyst of all power.

  I knew that my words could ignite the fire, but how would the fire go out?

  Extinguish or go out? I tried them both.

  A sudden flicker, followed by a light pop, and the flames fizzled out…so cool.

  I humbly studied the steel, forged by the hand of Yesher. I held it like it was a priceless piece of fine art.

  Scrolling symbols and pinholes cut into the shaft to form Old English lettering. I carried my blade to my bedside lamp and read the script... Word Eternal. I flipped it over and read, Spirit of Consuming Fire.

  * * *

  Chapter 19