Broken (Endurance)

by Thomas, April

  "Aw, man," Samuel said, smiling.

  "My friend and her friend showed up and we had to think fast," Max ended.

  "So you married her?" Samuel asked, confused.

  "We did things we shouldn't have, but I don't regret it," Max confessed.

  "So you had to marry her?"

  "No, I wanted to marry her. For me it was the best mistake I ever made."

  "Yeah, but you didn't have to marry her. She could have moved in with you and you guys could have lived together; no harm. Marriage is like crazy for someone your age. Especially being a guy who can get any chick."

  "It's not like that for us. Mei is like my soul mate. If I could have married her at birth, I would have. I can't explain it, but she is a part of me. I really wouldn't know how else to explain it. I know... we are young and, if it wasn't for us having a child... I would have waited. I have no problem being with her and her alone. But I don't regret my son and I don't regret our marriage," Max said, not wanting to get to deep into the topic.

  "I understand," Samuel lied. He really didn't, but wanted to block his conscious from interfering with his plans. After seeing how they interacted with each other today, he quickly realized that Mei and Max could not be separated. Thinking back to what his father had said, he began to hatch a new plan. If he couldn't have Mei, he would make Max not want her. Max would be repulsed by her if she were pregnant with his kid. Mei would have no choice but to be with Samuel.

  He watched Max as he caressed his wife's flat stomach and whispering to her as she slept. Samuel wanted that experience. He wanted everything Max had and he would get it by any means possible. Samuel gazed out beyond the sunset and remembered another secluded location; an old sandbar that was quickly becoming a one man island. This would be a perfect spot. Max would never find Mei there.

  I'm Late!

  Makayla reclined across from Tamarius on their private jet, flipping through her calendar to double check the dates for her upcoming photo shoots. She realized her period was two weeks late. It alarmed her, but thinking back to the negative test results she relaxed. She also felt she couldn't get pregnant easily and was planning a doctor's visit when they returned home.

  "Something wrong?" Tamarius asked, noticing her peculiar facial expressions.

  "Huh? No, nothing I just noticed my period is late. Not to worry," she trailed off, looking into her calendar.

  "Really?" Tamarius grabbed a magazine next to him and opened it up to read. He wasn’t really focused on what he was looking at.

  Makayla sensed his energy change as she put her calendar down and looked at him. Raising an eyebrow, she questioned him. "Are you okay?"

  "Yeah, why?" Tamarius tried to look interested in a magazine article.

  "Oh, yeah, so... how do you get rid of stretch marks?" Makayla asked sarcastically. She turned her head to read the upside down magazine that Tamarius held.

  "What?" Tamarius now focused on the magazine and realized he was holding it upside down. "I like to read this way. It strengthens my eyes."

  Makayla laughed softly as she unbuckled her seatbelt and stood up to pull the magazine out of his hands. "What's going on? For the pass few weeks you won't let me work out or do anything really." Makayla looked down at him as she stood between his legs. "I'm not pregnant."

  Tamarius reclined his chair then pulled Makayla to sit on his lap. "I know." He hugged her.

  "I wish I was."

  Tamarius kissed her cheek and squeezed her tight. "We will have many children."

  "Watching Uriel last night was hard for me."

  "Don't worry about it. Let’s just enjoy our marriage. We will be chasing kids soon enough."

  "I don't know." She got up.

  "Where are you going?" He held onto her.

  Makayla smiled. "Back to my seat."

  "No, stay here."

  "Are you ready to deal with those demons," Makayla asked, getting comfortable on Tamarius's chest.

  "I don't want to talk about demons." Tamarius smiled.

  "I can help."

  "No."

  "You’re not going to be all macho by yourself."

  "Yes."

  "T, I can help. Don't pull a superman."

  "Superman... whatever. I can handle it. I've been through worse, and besides, you should help Tia. I'm sure she would be glad for your help," Tamarius said, trying to place her interest elsewhere.

  "Is this because of last time?" Makayla asked.

  "What do you mean?"

  "When Soul Reaper had me by the neck."

  Tamarius sighed as he rubbed Makayla's arm. "No," he answered.

  "Then why?" Makayla asked.

  "Kay, I know you can handle yourself, but this demon is after you. He has no intention of giving up. So just for this once, please just sit it out," Tamarius pleaded.

  "Be a bench warmer?" Makayla teased.

  Tamarius smiled as dirty thoughts came to his mind. "You don't have to warm benches. I got something better." He grinned.

  Makayla laughed as she slapped his chest. "You're too much."

  Tamarius looked down at her as he wrapped his arms around her. He didn't want her involved, but couldn't tell her why. He also didn't want to get in a fight with her over it. "Yeah, I need to prepare myself before..."

  "I don't like you doing it alone," Makayla mumbled as she drifted off to sleep.

  Tamarius just closed his eyes as he leaned his head on hers. He had to find a way to keep her away from cleansing the old orphanage. He would have to do it behind her back or keep her distracted with something else. He figured Tia would need help planning out the new orphanage. Tamarius prayed that his wife would be kept busy elsewhere.

  It was after eleven when they made it to their hotel room in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Tamarius and Makayla stumbled into the presidential suite. The bellhop brought in their luggage and set everything in the foyer. Tamarius quickly handed him a generous tip before he left. He walked into the bedroom and stripped off his clothes and kicked off his shoes.

  Makayla came out of the bathroom after brushing her teeth. She stripped down to her underclothes and slipped under the covers. Tamarius smiled as she didn't hesitate to fall asleep. He brushed his teeth finding a new burst of energy. He walked out into the living room to communicate with his spirit guide. He called for Mathius who appeared instantly on the couch.

  "Yes?" he answered.

  "Mathius." Tamarius smiled.

  "How is married life?" Mathius smiled as Tamarius sat down on the couch next to him.

  "I love being married to Makayla. She is a breath of fresh air."

  "You’re worried about her?"

  "Yeah, I don't want her involved in cleaning up that orphanage."

  "Tamarius, all I can tell you is you have a major battle ahead. You’re very powerful, but you’re not going to be able to do handle it alone. A lot is about to happen beside what's going on with Makayla. All of God's warriors are now coming together to fight along side each other. This is why you and Makayla have come together. You must protect your wife as you should. Right now she cannot fight, but remember she is not weak and feeble. That’s one of the qualities that drew you in." Mathius smiled.

  "Yeah, it is. I just don't want her in danger."

  "You’re embracing your new role very well and I'm proud of you. Don't worry, son. God does not give you more that you can handle," Mathius said, looking at Tamarius.

  "Thank you, Mathius."

  "I gotta go see about some other people. Call me." Mathius vanished.

  Tamarius laughed to himself and thought, we never really die. He walked back into the bedroom.

  After taking off his shirt and pants he slipped into bed with his wife and pulled her close as he drifted off to sleep. It felt like he’d just fallen asleep when he was awakened by Makayla talking to someone in the living room. Tamarius turned in his bed and slowly sat up.

  Makayla was backing into the room pulling in a room service cart with her back to him. As she was
busy setting up the table, Makayla noticed Tamarius staring at her and smiling. "Good morning," Makayla said, smiling back at him and admiring his handsome smile.

  "When did you get up?" Tamarius asked, getting out of bed to brush his teeth.

  "I got up about an hour ago," Makayla answered, uncovering the plates of food. "I need to go see Tia. She needs help with the new orphanage. Do you want to come?"

  Tamarius instantly saw this as an opportunity to start working on the cleansing the old

  orphanage. "No, I have a meeting," he said, trying to avoid lying to his wife.

  "I thought you were finished with all your meetings?" Makayla questioned as he walked back into the room.

  "It just came up."

  "Well, it might take me all day, but I will be back tonight. Let’s go hit one of the new restaurants tonight," Makayla requested, walking towards him.

  Tamarius leaned down and kissed her. "It's a date."

  "Let’s eat."

  It was after nine in the morning when Makayla and Tamarius went their separate ways. He was happy that God had heard his prayer and Makayla would be kept busy all day. He made his way to the orphanage hoping to cleanse it quickly. Before entering the building he said a powerful prayer, placing the armor of God on him to protect him in battle. He took a deep breath before unlocking the door and entering the old building.

  It was dark and smelled foul. Tamarius quickly felt uneasy when he locked the door behind him. He could feel something staring at him. Tamarius turned to see what was causing him to feel on edge. He froze at the sight of a little boy staring him down. "Hey, little man, what are you doing here?" Tamarius asked, looking around as he walked towards him and knelt down to the boy’s level. The little boy stood motionless as he stared at Tamarius.

  "Where is Makayla?" he questioned robotically.

  Tamarius jumped up and remembered what Tia had said about finding a mysterious little boy at the mall. "Who are you?" Tamarius asked.

  "I want Makayla!"

  Tamarius centered his focus on the little boy who stared at him with disdain. He wasn't going to let anything or anyone harm his wife. "Who sent you?"

  "I want Makayla!"

  Tamarius bent down to meet the little boy face to face. "Not even over my dead body."

  "Take me to Makayla, now!"

  "Show your true face, Demon."

  "Take me to Makayla, now!" the boy yelled as his voice transformed into a dark demonic scream and he disappeared.

  Tamarius stood up as he mentally summoned his sword, which instantly appeared in his open and waiting right hand. He spun the handle of his sword in his hand as he walked around the orphanage. Tamarius could hear all sorts of demonic voices. He felt things flying past him while blurs of entities appeared and disappeared before him. Suddenly Tamarius was blindsided and knocked across the room. He slammed into a wall. He was grabbed by the neck and held up against a wall. Tamarius chuckled as he recognized the demon that was attacking him.

  "Missing a horn?" Tamarius laughed, mocking the demon he’d attacked and had hacked off his horn.

  The demon threw him across the room. Tamarius stood up coughing and rubbing his neck. He was amused and ready to get to the bottom of why this demon was after Makayla. Tamarius stood up and walked over to the eight foot demon. "What is it about you and Makayla?" Tamarius held his sword out in front of him.

  The demon laughed "You don't know." He started.

  "Know what?"

  "Who the hell are you to ask me questions?" the demon growled.

  "I really don't think I need to explain myself."

  "I don't have to tell you anything."

  "In the name of Jesus you will tell me why you are coming after Makayla."

  The demon had no choice, but to answer Tamarius. He hissed as he glared at him, his black leathery lips glistening in the dimly lit room. "Why did you have to bring him into it?" he snarled.

  "In the name of Jesus..." Tamarius was cut off as the demon began to speak.

  "Neil Boswell made a deal with me, allowing me entrance into his temple and into his body so that I could impregnate Makayla and bring into the world my very own demonic son."

  "How would that work? He would only be half. He could go either way. Why would you choose her?" Tamarius inquired.

  "After the child was born, I would kill her, leaving my son to be raised by Neil. Without his mother around he would be molded to evil."

  "And how is that working out for you?"

  The demon growled at Tamarius. "Neil failed me. He was not strong enough to hold Makayla, and you..."

  "Don't even try it," Tamarius said, cutting him off.

  The demon knew he couldn't fool Tamarius. He was too close to God. "This isn't over. I had her once and I will have her again."

  "Is that what this is really about? You just want to have her?" Tamarius asked.

  "I must have her again. The taste of her has become my addiction," he said, grinning and showing Tamarius his teeth.

  "Well, that’s just not going to happen," Tamarius said.

  The demon approached Tamarius, and sniffed him, then turn his head, trying to blow the scent out of his nose. He walked around Tamarius, glowering at him. "You... You are the one covering her now."

  "You will never touch her again. She is not one of your kind," Tamarius growled as the demon continued to walk around him.

  "You know how much fun it is to defile one of God's beloved." The demon snarled and faced Tamarius. "Oh, I know she's a special one... a daughter."

  Tamarius laughed. "I don't even know why I’m worrying. You can't touch her."

  "If I can't have her, no man will," the demon yelled before vanishing.

  Tamarius looked around the orphanage. It was pointless to even think he could perform a spiritual cleansing on it. The entire structure needed to be torn down and demolished. He looked at his watch and saw it was almost time to meet Makayla for dinner. He glanced at his sword and it disappeared into thin air. As he walked out of the building, he made sure to lock the door behind him.

  He thought about what that demon had said and felt a sudden need to see his wife. He needed to make sure she was safe, just for his peace of mind. Tamarius rushed up to their hotel suite. Makayla was not there. He took a shower and put on a clean suit then walked out into the living room and waited for Makayla to walk through the door. He called her cell phone numerous times, but could not get through. Finally Makayla walked in.

  Tamarius was so relieved to see her.

  Makayla smiled. "Honey, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost." She walked up to him. "Sorry I’m late. My taxi got into it with another passenger. I got into another taxi and it had an accident. I finally managed to get one to bring me here in one piece," Makayla explained as she kicked off her shoes on the way to the bedroom. "Just give me a minute to change and I’ll be ready."

  Tamarius couldn't talk. He’d never felt this strong for any woman. He followed her into the bedroom and walked up behind her as she undressed. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck. "Let's just order room service. We can check out the restaurant later."

  Makayla turned around in his arms and looked up in to his grey eyes. "Are you sure?"

  "I had a rough day... I need my wife." He held her closer.

  "What happened?" Makayla asked.

  "It was just stressful."

  "Hey, we are married now. Let's be straight forward with each other," Makayla said, leaning on his chest. "Please, Tamarius, you seem really disturbed about something."

  Tamarius took a deep breath as he gently held his wife's head. "I just can't let anything bad happen to you." Tamarius looked into her brown eyes. "I went to the old orphanage today and ran into that kid, the one Tia was talking about. He's a demon. He kept asking for you."

  "Why?" Makayla asked, stepping back from him.

  "To make it brief, did you know your ex-husband had made a deal with a demon to impregnate you?"

  Makayla loo
ked at Tamarius. She made her way to the bed and sat down, not knowing how to respond. She was already aware of her ex-husband’s deals with the devil to keep her. "I know."