Broken (Endurance)

by Thomas, April

  Tamarius settled back and thought about the question. "Yes, I just..."

  "Say no more. Be grateful, she is alive and well."

  "I am."

  Raphael and his assisting angel worked quickly on Tamarius.

  Maxwell now lay in a light sleep, his mind still active with troubling thoughts. Tomorrow night would be New Year's Eve. Maxwell thought, about his wife and, wondered what she could be doing. He worried about how Cressida was feeling, remembering their last conversation.

  Michael entered the room and headed directly towards them. "Maxwell and Tamarius, come with me," he instructed. "The battle has been delayed momentarily. Satan is pleading his case before God. Take this time to spend it with your family. We will let you know the outcome of the case soon."

  "Thank God!" Maxwell exclaimed. He ran to the nearest house phone and called the pilot to come and pick them up.

  "How long will it take?" Tamarius asked Michael.

  "I’m not certain," Michael replied.

  "Thank you all for everything you are doing for us."

  Michael just smiled as he turned and walked away.

  Maxwell came back, excited “The plane will be here later tonight. The crew will notify us when they get here.”

  “Great, I need to see my wife.” Tamarius walked to the stairs.

  “Where are you going to take a shower? They can’t see us like this.”

  “Right,” Maxwell whispered.

  It was midnight by the time the plane arrived, and both men were eager to get to the family vacation home at the college. It was a very long flight, which included a stop for gas along the way. Maxwell and Tamarius kept each other distracted by making jokes and reminiscing about their childhood.

  When the plane finally landed they couldn’t wait to get off. They stood by the door, impatiently waiting for the steps to be put into place. The moment they stepped on the tarmac, a car rolled up beside them and brought them to the vacation home. They tiptoed into the home.

  “Where do you think everyone is sleeping?” Maxwell asked.

  “In a room,” Tamarius whispered with a chuckle.

  “Maybe we should just sleep out in the living room since everyone is asleep,” Maxwell suggested.

  They looked at each other and laughed. “Naw.”

  “So then, how are we going to do this?” Maxwell asked.

  “Let’s find our wives first,” Tamarius replied.

  Maxwell nodded as he quietly poked his head in the first room and saw Mei and Uriel curled up on the bed, but no Max. He slowly closed the door, now worried about the whereabouts of his son.

  “Tamarius,” he called in a loud whisper.

  Tamarius was looking in on his wife as she slept in the same bed as Cressida. They looked so peaceful he didn’t want to disturb them He closed the door as he heard his brother approaching.

  “Max is not here,” Maxwell whispered.

  “What? Did you check outside?”

  “He is not here.”

  “Mei and the baby are?”

  “Yes.”

  “Maybe, he went somewhere. Maybe they had a fight,” Tamarius suggested. “They have a hut on the island. He might be over there.”

  “Did you find them?”

  “Yeah, but I won’t bother them.”

  “What should we do?”

  “Maxwell?” Cressida called. She came out of the room. “Is that you?” She walked cautiously towards Maxwell.

  Maxwell ran to his wife and swept her off her feet to hug her.

  Tamarius thought quickly and ran into the room where his wife slept. He locked the door behind him.

  Maxwell glanced at the bedroom door and laughed. “I think we just lost the bed.” He smiled as he kissed her.

  “I’m sorry.” Cressida smiled.

  “We can crash on the pull-out couch.”

  “Okay.” Cressida was happy to be in his arms again.

  Tamarius moved slowly over his sleeping wife. He knelt beside her and slowly slipped his hand under the sheets, placing it over her womb. As Makayla slept heavily, the baby moved in her womb. She didn’t feel a thing and Tamarius melted inside at the sensation of his son’s movements. He smiled as he rested his hand over Makayla’s warm belly, eager to hold his son for the first time.

  Tamarius was in a blissful state when the baby abruptly stopped moving and Makayla called his name. Tamarius jumped and quickly pulled his hand away.

  Makayla sat up in bed and looked at him with a puzzled gaze. “Babe, is that you?” she whispered.

  “Yes,” he said gently. The emotions in him were building up.

  “You’re back?” Makayla lunged forward and hugged him.

  “I missed you.” He hugged her and kissed her all over.

  “Am I dreaming? Are you really here?” Makayla asked in disbelief.

  “In the flesh, baby.” Tamarius smiled and stood up to pull his shirt off. He quickly crawled into bed with her.

  Makayla held onto him. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

  “I told you I would come back to you no matter what.”

  “When I saw all of those demons…”

  “Uh uh, let’s not go there. I just want to hold you.”

  “Why were you touching my stomach?” Makayla asked.

  “I just wanted to touch you.” He tried to avoid the truth.

  Makayla wasn’t satisfied with the answer, but reluctantly accepted it. She was just relieved he was back in one piece. “Is it over now?”

  “Go back to sleep, woman.”

  Makayla laughed. She knew he was getting upset when he called her ‘woman’. She moved closer to him as he wrapped his arms around her. They would finally both get a good night sleep.

  New Year

  The Martinez family enjoyed ringing in the New Year together. Max returned early that Friday, elated to see his father and uncle back and alive. They celebrated together, enjoying each moment together, but in the back of Maxwell and Tamarius’ mind, they secretly worried about returning to the battle. They knew in their hearts the time would be coming soon.

  After counting down to the New Year, the family spent the early morning relaxing on the beach and watching the sunrise. Max and Mei returned to their cabin, giving up their room for Maxwell and Cressida. Max held his son as they walked back to their hut. Mei walked behind him feeling exhausted.

  Max slowed his pace down to allow his wife to catch up. Mei smiled when she caught up with him.

  “Maybe I should be carrying you,” Max said, smiling at her.

  “I’m just so tired,” Mei complained.

  “When we get home, I’ll put you to bed.”

  “I need a shower.”

  “Almost there,” Max said as they stepped onto the path that led to their village.

  “It’s so quiet. I feel like we’re breaking in or something,” Mei said.

  “I have a surprise for you.”

  “A surprise?”

  When they reached the hut Max handed a sleeping Uriel to Mei. He unlocked the door. “Take my hand?” Max asked, putting out his hand for Mei.

  “Are you serious?” Mei laughed. She took his hand and closed her eyes.

  “Watch your step. You’re holding all my kids,” Max teased, causing Mei to giggled.

  When Mei reached the center of the hut, Max told her to open her eyes.

  “Max, this is amazing. I can’t believe all the work you’ve done. And we can now have a little privacy.”

  “Yeah,” Max said, taking Uriel out of her arms and carried him to his room.

  Mei walked around and admired Max’s handy work. She made her way to the bathroom and took a shower.

  Max tucked Uriel into his new bed and, confident his son would continue to sleep soundly, entered the bathroom to join Mei. He stripped off his clothes and stepped into the shower. Mei greeted him with a sultry smile and warm hug.

  “Are you ready for this one?” Max wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head
.

  “I hope so,” Mei said. “At least this time you won’t have to deliver your own child.”

  “I kind of liked it. After you get over the initial shock it’s… I don’t know how to even describe it… holding Uriel for the first time. He was all hot and slimy, and it doesn’t sound beautiful, but it was. It was magical. I will always have that memory.”

  “I still can’t believe you did it.”

  Max leaned in and kissed his wife. Mei ran her nails down his back. Max wrapped his arms around Mei and was about to pick her up when she protested. “The baby,” she said.

  “He won’t know what’s going on,” Max mumbled.

  Mei laughed. “No, Uriel. What if we can’t hear Uriel cry or anything?”

  Max released her and reached past her to turn off the shower. He stepped out of the tub and helped Mei out.

  Mei stood behind Max admiring his physique. His muscles seem to be larger than normal.

  “Have you been working out more than usual?” Mei asked.

  “No.” Max turned to face her as she wrapped a towel around her.

  “You look bigger.”

  Max didn’t respond as he took her hand and led her into the next room. He pulled off her towel and laid her down on the bed. Max, being flirtatious, ran his fingertips along her legs and up her thighs, kissing her from her bellybutton to her neck.

  Mei clawed at him, wanting every inch of her man. Max pushed her hair away from her face. Mei’s eyes were closed and he smiled as he gently bit her chin and made love to her.

  ***

  Makayla watched Tamarius as he came out of the shower. It was minutes after seven in the morning and they were just heading to bed. Tamarius looked at her and smiled. “Something wrong?”

  “No,” Makayla said.

  “You should be tired by now?” he said, walking over to her.

  “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

  “About this battle?” Tamarius hoped she wasn’t going to bring up last night again.

  “Yeah, is it over? Can we finally relax?”

  “Sorry, but any day now Maxwell and I will be called back.” Tamarius sat next to his wife and looked into her eyes. His heart broke when she looked away, disappointed. “Hey, we serve God first, right?” He cupped her chin and turned her to look at him.

  “I know. It’s not that. For some reason I’m nervous. Like something really bad is about to happen and there is nothing I can do about it,” Makayla said.

  “There is always a silver lining.” He thought she was picking up on the unexpected pregnancy. “Promise me something.”

  “What?”

  “That you will be strong when I’m gone.”

  “When you’re gone?” Makayla didn’t like his words.

  “When I have to go back. I need to know that no matter what happens, you will keep a level head and be strong.”

  “Stop. I don’t want to hear you talking like that. You know I will do whatever I have to

  do. Whatever God wants me to do,” Makayla said as a combination of passion and pain filled her eyes.

  “Baby, I’m sorry, but I worry about you more now than before.”

  “Why? Nothing’s changed.”

  “I never felt this way for anyone before. I thought I understood what love meant, but when I meet you… I never knew love could feel like this. You knocked me off of my feet.”

  Makayla smiled. “You scared me so much.”

  “How?”

  “I looked into your eyes and they were pure and honest. Your intention was clear and I knew in an instant what you wanted. It scared me to think you could be the one I’m supposed to be with. What if you’re the one my heart has been searching for,” Makayla answered.

  “I am.” Tamarius leaned closer and kissed his wife, pushing her back onto the bed. He pulled her clothes off. A knock at the door halted his actions. “No, not now,” he groaned.

  “Tamarius, I just got the call,” Maxwell said somberly. “We must leave... tonight.”

  Makayla and Tamarius stared into each others eyes the entire time Maxwell spoke. Makayla’s eyes began to water.

  “Hey, I’ll be right back. I’m always coming back home to you.”

  Makayla looked away from him and cried silently. Tamarius pleaded and begged her to stop crying, but she couldn’t. He kissed and nuzzled his head on her stomach.

  “I don’t like seeing you like this.”

  “Tamarius, something bad is going to happen. I can feel it,” Makayla said.

  “What do you want me to do? It’s our job to secure a safe environment for our family. We can’t let Satan destroy what God has blessed us with.”

  Makayla knew he was right, but could not help feeling the way she felt. “Just go,” she whispered.

  “Kay?”

  “Please.” She turned onto her side.

  “I love you. Everything is going to be fine.”

  Makayla stayed silent. Her throat ached as she fought back her tears.

  Tamarius got up and dressed. He pulled back the sheets next to Makayla and, although she fought him, he picked her up then placed her on the bed properly, covering her with the sheets. “Dead or alive, I will come back to you.”

  “Death do us part remember,” Makayla said coldly, turning her away from him.

  “Well, then I guess I will have to live.” He kissed her cheek.

  Tamarius reluctantly left. He took one last look at his wife before closing the door.

  “You better live,” Makayla whispered.

  Tamarius met up with his brother who was just walking out of his room. He did not look too happy either.

  “Ready? I want to get this over with,” Tamarius grumbled.

  “She didn’t want to let you go.” Maxwell smiled at his brother.

  “It’s more than that. She will be fine. Can’t be mad at me forever,” Tamarius replied.

  “She’s not mad, bro, she’s your wife. No loving wife wants to be a widow.”

  “I just hate seeing her that upset, especially now.” Tamarius realized he’d said too much.

  “What do you mean, especially now? What’s going on? Is Makayla...?”

  “No, let’s go.” Tamarius walked to the front door.

  Maxwell was confounded by his brother’s actions, but knew when to leave him alone. He followed Tamarius to an awaiting car as they both began to mentally prepare themselves for the upcoming battle.

  As the car drove off, heading to the college’s private air strip, a tall dark reptilian demon with yellow eyes appeared in front of the family’s vacation home. Satan had sent one of his elite spies to follow the Martinez brothers in order to find where they had hidden the ones they loved the most. It was all a part of his master plan. He needed them to put their guards down. The demon rubbed his hands together as he snickered, elated by his victory. He dematerialized and returned to hell to report back to Satan.

  Maxwell reclined his seat in the jet as Tamarius gazed out of the window. He couldn't get over Makayla’s reaction. The nagging sense that something else was wrong began to worry him. Tamarius knew from experience that Makayla’s persistence held a reason.

  Maxwell looked over at his brother. "Tamarius."

  "She took a test and it came out negative." Tamarius knew the question that was on his brother’s mind.

  "Okay, sorry to hear that," Maxwell replied, not really knowing what else to say about it. "Give it some time."

  "I'm not worried, but you know women."

  "Yeah, I think Cressida wants to have kids."

  Tamarius turned his attention to his brother. "How do you feel about it?"

  "I've always wanted to have a house full of kids, but now Max and Mei are doing it for me," Maxwell replied.

  "Are you worried about what other people will think?"

  "A little. Max is grown I would be starting over, and I wasn't so good at it the first time around."

  "You weren't so bad, and don't you think you should give yo
urself a second chance? Max loves you. You’ve made up for the things you did in the past, and we’ve seen worse. Look at Cressida's dad. You would never try to sell your son's soul to the devil."