Koji ignored the jest. “Thank you for opening a way, Abner.”
The silver-haired angel inclined his head. “It’s the least I can do.”
“Or perhaps the most,” said Harken in a teasing tone.
Abner clasped his hands behind his back and nodded distractedly. “It is an odd courtesy, for I cannot do any more or less than I am bidden.”
“Where are we?” Prissie asked curiously, trying to peek through the arch.
“I am here,” Abner replied seriously. “You have been caught up, though not so high as others have been.”
“So I’m not here?”
“Not in body,” the Caretaker clarified.
“Only in spirit,” Harken added. “Most people would call this a vision.”
“And this is the garden behind the blue door,” Koji said, letting go of her hand once she was safely through. “It was Baird’s idea to invite you.”
“What for?” she asked in surprise.
“There she is!” exclaimed the red-haired Worshiper as he hurried over, all smiles. “And clothed in white!”
Prissie’s flannel pajamas had been changed for raiment similar to that worn by the members of Jedrick’s Flight. Where the angels’ clothes were of a rich, creamy hue, her simple dress was dazzlingly white, and she touched the strange fabric with an awed expression. Although there was no hint of any embellishment, she was sure it was the most beautiful thing she’d ever worn. Prissie exchanged a glance with Koji, whose eyes shone with approval.
Kester, who had followed his mentor at an easier pace, quietly pointed out, “We cannot begin if you keep Prissie on the threshold for an eternity.”
“Yes, Myron,” said Abner as he stepped past them. “Don’t monopolize the girl.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa! None of that! Let’s stick with Baird!”
“Myron!” called Jedrick from a short distance away. “Do you require assistance?”
From the lightness in the Protector’s tone, Prissie was quite sure he was trying not to laugh. Could angels joke around? It seemed a little irreverent, but a sidelong look in Baird’s direction showed that the Worshiper’s eyes were dancing with mirth. “Prissie, thank you for joining us!”
“I’m pleased to be here,” she replied with automatic politeness. After a moment’s hesitation, she whispered, “But I’m not really sure why I’m here.”
“A return of hospitality!” Baird said heartily. “We wanted to include you in our evening song.”
“S-sing?” she squeaked.
“Together.”
“Is that really okay?” Prissie asked, glancing at Kester.
“Most assuredly,” the apprentice Worshiper said, gesturing for them to join the rest of the Flight.
Koji and Harken strolled confidently across the soft grass, but Prissie’s steps lagged. Fleetingly hoping for escape, she looked over her shoulder, but the archway was gone. Only light-drenched woodland lay behind her. “How does he do that?” she whispered.
“He is a Caretaker,” Kester replied, as if that answered everything.
Tamaes stepped forward. “Do not be afraid, little one.”
“I’m not scared,” she muttered. “I’m embarrassed.”
Holding her gaze, Tamaes said, “No one who has gathered here will criticize your song.”
“I’m not a good singer. Can’t I just listen?” she begged.
Disappointment flickered across his features, but the Guardian nodded before saying, “I wish to introduce you to Milo.”
“But I already know Milo.”
Tamaes crouched down, and he chose his words with great care. “Prissie, what happened when you found out he was an angel?”
With a cringe of conscience, she replied, “I suppose I wasn’t very nice?”
Gazing toward the other end of the glade, Tamaes said, “Milo was my first friend within this Flight, and though you were my charge, we watched over you together. When he became a Graft, you were the first person he sought out.” With gentle words that touched her heart, the Guardian said, “I want to protect the friendship you have forged.”
“I’m not sure what you’re worried about. Milo and I get along okay. We made up.”
Tamaes quietly asked, “And if he changed again? Would you be upset?”
Prissie caught on and her eyes widened. “Does he have blue hair or something?”
“Would it matter if he did?”
“It would be silly to dislike someone just because of their hair,” she replied huffily.
Marcus chose that moment to saunter over, golden eyes bright with interest and a smirk on his face. “Glad to hear it!” He joined Tamaes in ushering Prissie amidst the slender trees.
Padgett nodded to her from his seat beside his mentor on the lush grass carpeting the glade. The pair looked like two sides of the same coin, with their long hair pooling on the ground. Abner’s was a silver so luminous, it was almost lavender, and his apprentice’s was black with blue highlights. Their flock of little manna-makers swirled through the air around them, looking like tiny stars, so bright was their happiness.
Marcus casually remarked, “It ripped Milo up when you were snubbing him last summer. He was a basket case for weeks.”
“But that was ages ago!” With a small frown, she asked, “Do I need to apologize to him, too?”
“Nah,” the young Protector said. “Tamaes already told you, kiddo. He doesn’t want anything coming between you two again.”
Prissie wanted to stay friends with Milo, so there wasn’t a problem. Except they seemed to think there was one. And that worried her. “Is that important for some reason?”
“Yep. Because Milo is your mailman.”
She gave him a strange look. “You’re not making sense.”
“I know.” Patting her head, he said, “I’ll remind you later. Deal?”
She swatted at his hand. “If you say so.”
“Prissie,” Taweel greeted. Omri perched in his usual spot on his shoulder, one small hand grasping the tiny chain ran between the Guardian’s earring and ear cuff. The yahavim’s wings buzzed in a friendly way, but he stuck with his favorite companion.
Just then, Baird’s voice reached her ears. “You’re totally gonna be fine, Goldilocks. It’s not everyone who gets to make a third impression!”
“I’m not worried,” Milo grumbled. “You’re the ones making a big deal out of nothing.”
Tamaes strode forward to join the angelic huddle, and Marcus gave her an unceremonious shove in the right direction. She shot him a dirty look only to discover that Koji was still close beside her. He seemed as amused by the apprentice Protector’s rough manners as he was by her reaction. “What?” she whispered self-consciously. The young Observer merely took her hand and drew her the rest of the way forward.
“Prissie, this is Milo,” Tamaes said gravely.
“Obviously,” she murmured. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she’d known that Milo probably looked different when he wasn’t masquerading as the local mailman. The Flight’s fussing made it all too obvious that she’d hurt the Messenger by turning her back on him before. But there was no way she’d repeat that mistake. Not now.
Milo was still Milo, and he still ran his fingers through his hair when he was trying to think what to do. Only now, that hair was a mess of ash blond curls that fell well past his shoulders. He looked rather grand in his shining raiment. If he’d been wearing a blue cloak, he would have looked just like the prince in her favorite childhood storybook. With a confident nod, Prissie extended her hand and played along. “How do you do. I’m Priscilla Pomeroy.”
The Messenger stepped forward, taking her hand in both of his. “Miss Priscilla,” he greeted seriously.
Baird craned his neck to locate Jedrick. “Shall we begin, Captain? Everyone’s gathered and the greetings have been covered!”
“Isn’t there one missing?” Prissie asked, peering around the forest clearing.
“No,” Koji replied patiently. “We are twelve.”
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br /> “Didn’t you notice we’re Sent two-by-two?” asked Baird. “Mentors and apprentices come in matched sets.”
“Or mismatched,” teased Harken.
“I know that much,” Prissie said.
“Actually,” interrupted Jedrick. “Twelve names have come under my hand.”
“No, no, no, my friend,” Shimron said. “If we are twelve, then eleven names should be inscribed.”
Jedrick smiled at the white-haired angel. “I do not know the plans or purposes of God, but for the moment, I have twelve in my keeping.”
Abner stepped forward, curtly inquiring, “Why have you never mentioned this before?”
“Can I see?” eagerly asked Koji.
All of the angels drew closer as Jedrick drew his sword and presented its hilt for inspection. Koji pulled Prissie closer and showed her the blue stone embedded in the weapon’s pommel. Letters in a language she didn’t recognize were deeply inscribed in the jewel, and as he traced his finger over each line, he read off their names. “Abner and Padgett, Myron and Kester, Harken and Milo, Taweel and Tamaes, Shimron and I, Marcus and … Ephron!” he exclaimed. “Ephron’s name is still here!”
“We are thirteen,” Jedrick agreed.
“This is unheard of,” Shimron said, clearly baffled.
“But I’m glad to hear it!” exclaimed Baird. “Doesn’t this mean there’s hope!”
“Just so,” the elderly Observer agreed.
Koji turned to Prissie with eyes alight. “See? No one is missing!”
“Oh,” she mumbled with a twinge of disappointment.
Padgett unobtrusively slipped to Prissie’s side and laid a hand on her shoulder. His dark eyes searched her face carefully as the apprentice Caretaker inquired, “Who did you expect to be here?”
Some eyebrows shot up, some drew together, but every eye turned to Prissie, who was fiddling with the end of one braid. Flipping it over her shoulder, she lifted her chin and replied, “Adin, of course.”
And with that, everything fell apart. Light bent, and the forest tilted. A roaring filled her ears, and the dream began to swirl. Suddenly, Prissie felt as if she was falling, and with a violent start, she woke in her bedroom. The beautiful clarity of her vision was replaced by an aching head, a parched throat, and blankets that felt uncomfortably hot and heavy.
A large hand closed around hers, and she stared up into her Guardian’s wide eyes. “Adin,” Tamaes whispered urgently. “Where did you hear that name?”
Her bedroom door clicked, and Koji slipped inside, looking human once more and dressed in his pajamas. He padded over to the other side of the bed and gazed at her with a tense expression that frightened her. “I met him ages ago,” she replied. “He introduced himself.”
“Where did you meet him?” Tamaes asked. “When?”
She thought back and replied, “In town. This past summer. It was before Koji moved in.”
“I would have seen him,” her Guardian argued. “I would have known.”
She shook her head. “We’ve talked a bunch of times.”
Tamaes rocked back on his heels. “How is that possible?”
Koji sat on the edge of Prissie’s mattress and took her other hand in both of his. “How many times, Prissie? Can you remember where and when?”
“Th-the gazebo in town. At the mall. And outside the caves.”
“During the field trip?” the boy prodded.
“Yes,” Prissie replied. “He stopped by the bakery during Halloween. Oh, and he was here.”
“Here?” Tamaes croaked.
“Y-yes,” she admitted in a small voice, truly frightened now. “We talked on the folly bridge.”
As her Guardian’s hand tightened around hers, Koji quietly pointed out, “Halloween was after you promised not to go anywhere without me.”
“I kept my promise,” she hastily replied. “Adin came to the back door and invited me out, but I told him I really shouldn’t …”
Her sentence was cut off when Tamaes cradled her close, as if belatedly trying to snatch her out of danger. Gazing toward the ceiling, he lifted his voice in a broken song of thanks for God’s abundant mercies. Koji softly hummed along, adding a descant to his teammate’s solemn offering.
When they finished, Prissie stared dazedly into his scarred face and whispered, “Why are you so upset?”
“I know Adin, little one,” Tamaes replied gravely, showing no sign of letting her go. “He is not one of the Faithful.”
“Does that mean …?”
“Adin is one of the Fallen, Prissie,” Koji clarified. “He is a demon.”
The story continues in Book 3: The Broken Window….
THRESHOLD SERIES
GLOSSARY
Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
– Psalm 103:20 NIV
ORDER OF ANGELS
Orders of Angels. They’re variously called the hosts of heaven (Neh. 9:6), powers and principalities (Rom. 8:38), thrones and dominions (Col. 1:16), angels and authorities (1 Pet. 3:22), and ministering spirits (Heb. 1:14). Throughout the Threshold Series and its various companion stories, I’ve divided these servants of God into distinct orders. While their characteristics are inspired by the Scriptures, bear in mind that these varieties are the author’s invention. Each of their proper names is spun from a Hebrew word related to the order’s unique role … and parallels those of the two kinds of angels specified in the Bible — cherubim (Ex. 25:22) and seraphim (Is. 6:2).
Protectors. In the Bible, cherubim are protectors of God’s name and image. They’re usually described as beings who devote themselves to blessing, praising, and adoring Him. In my stories, Protectors fight the Fallen. Taller than humanly possible, these muscular warriors are well-equipped for battle.
Guardians. The hadarim watch over the lives of individuals. The Guardians’ name is taken from haderes, which means “hedge of protection.” In the Threshold Series, members of this order are famously bashful and show incredible fierceness when defending their charges.
Messengers. Malakim comes from malak, which means “messenger.” They’re responsible for communication within the ranks of heaven, and they’re known for being outgoing and talkative. Language poses no barrier for Messengers. Members of this order are skilled at drawing others into dreams and visions.
Worshipers. The zamarim derive their name from zamar, “sing with instruments.” Although all angels express themselves through song, Worshipers truly live to praise God with everything they have. One thing that sets apart this order of musically inclined angels is their wings, which are designed more for beauty than for flight.
Observers. The archivists of heaven are adahim. They get their name from adah, “to witness, to testify.” Observers watch the intricate plans and purposes of God unfold throughout history. Writers, thinkers, artists, poets — the adahim ponder all they’ve seen and heard and record their thoughts in books.
Caretakers. Earth-movers and storm-bringers, the samayim were granted cataclysmic power in order to care for the created universe. There’s very little a Caretaker cannot do, but at the same time, they’re limited in what they’re allowed to do. In the Threshold Series, the samayim show an affinity for nature, minister to the injured, change the physical appearances of people, and tend flocks of yahavim. Their name means “heavens.”
Manna-makers. Despite their diminutive size and playful nature, all the hosts of heaven depend heavily upon the yahavim. This lowest order of angels is responsible for producing manna, the food of angels. Their name comes from yahav, which means “provide.” They’re drawn to those in need.
ANGELIC TERMS
Angelic Jargon. Several terms come up over the course of the Threshold Series, and while the angels take them for granted, maybe you’d like a little more explanation.
The First. In this storyline, not all angels were created at the same time. Some have been around for millennia,
but others are newly formed. When an angel is described as one of the First, it means that he was alive before Time began. First Ones remember the rift that divided the Fallen from the Faithful, and they witnessed creation of the heavens and earth as described in Genesis 1.
Faithful. An angel who lives to serve God.
Fallen. An angel who has set himself against God. Fallen angels are demons.
Mentor. When an older, wiser angel is given a newbie to train, he becomes their mentor. A small, silvery cuff on the shell of the left ear indicates their rank. Mentors may train several apprentices over their lifetime, but only one at a time.
Apprentice. When angels are Sent out of heaven to serve, they always go in pairs. Sometimes, these two-angel teams involve partners on equal footing, but more often, a newer angel is apprenticed to a mentor. Some apprentices end up partnering with several different mentors before their training is considered complete.
Legion. For the purposes of this storyline, one Legion is a company of 12,000 angels.
Flight. The Faithful are organized into twelve-angel teams that are headed up by a captain. That means a Legion is comprised of 1,000 Flights.
Hedge. A group of Guardians serving together in one area is called a Hedge. The hadarim form a perimeter around individual homes, but also in crowded places — schools, apartment buildings, businesses, shopping centers, concerts, sporting events, etc. Because guardian angels come and go whenever their charges do, Hedges are in a constant state of flux.
Graft. When an angel takes on human guise and becomes a part of society, he’s said to be grafted in.
Raiment. The Faithful wear raiment, clothing said to have a light and life of its own. The woven fabric is beige, faintly luminous, and resistant to spot and wrinkle. Design varies slightly depending on the needs of the wearer, and the patterns stitched on the collar and cuffs indicate flight, rank, and order.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. In the first chapter of The Hidden Deep, Prissie admits to herself that overlooking Koji’s bizarreness is easy because she knows he’s an angel. But what if he’d been a regular boy? Do you avoid people who are different? Do you consider yourself one of the different ones?
The Hidden Deep Page 19
