by Lynn Landes
Looking at Raphaim she is once again stunned as he shifts to his dragon form. Dropping her sword and shield she looks at him in horror, realizing she almost killed him. "Why, Malach?” she whispers, "Why would you do this to me?"
Relief comes as he shifts to his true angelic form at last. Standing before Elina, is a beautiful angel with cobalt blue wings the same color of the dragon scales. His hair is shoulder length and black, and his eyes the color of emeralds. Across his muscular chest are the same runic inscriptions that once belonged to the dragon.
"It was a test Elina" he states stepping towards her. She backs away her eyes full of tears. Dropping his outstretched hands he continues saying "you have passed."
Shaking uncontrollably Elina's fear and confusion shifts to fury "I HAVE PASSED!!!!”, she says screaming louder with each word. With a flick of her wrist she hits him with a surge of power dropping him into the pool of water. Stomping towards the edge of the water she yells "I almost killed you!" She demands bringing her power to the surface again. "What kind of sick game are you playing?"
Shocked and spitting water Malach shoots into the air spinning the water from his body, gently gliding back to the Earth. "You have a right to be confused Elina, I did what I thought best at the time. I am an Archangel, sent to protect you until you were ready. Let me explain," he says stepping towards her only to find himself blocked by an invisible shield.
"You are an Angel like him!", she says spitting the words at him. "Why should I believe anything you say?"
"Have I taught you nothing Keeper!" he shouts angrily. "You can look and see me. I have not changed; I am still your dragon!" A crack of lightening fills the sky as his anger grows.
She spins away from him intending to go inside her cave and return home, only to find herself blocked by his massive chest. Trying to hold back her tears as her anger slows; she refuses to look at him.
"Elina, look at me" says the voice of her dragon.
"I can't look at you and not see him, Malach. Why would you do this to me? I don't understand," she whispers. "The child that came to me was broken, Elina. I gave her a safe place, a protector, and friend." Lifting her eyes to his, he says, "Someone she could trust and believe in until she could believe in herself. I will not apologize for that." Stepping aside he says to her, "Run if you must, but I told you once when you were ready I would tell you the story of Raphaim. Are you not curious, do you want to know what all of this has to do with you?"
Pacing away from him she says” I will listen, but I will not make you promises beyond that." Walking to a boulder, she leans against it and waits.
He follows and as he nears her, watches as she jumps when a campfire appears near her. "There are some perks to being an angel” he says chuckling.
"You know part of the story, how Raphaim came to be in your village. It is the story of his father that you need to know. For the time being we will name him Samiel. He was an archangel who became obsessed with humans. What he could not understand was the power they held over the maker, or rather why he cared for them at all. As his jealousy grew, so too did his arrogance. Samiel believed this weakness for humans could lead to the destruction of our maker.”
Elina stares at the angel before her, and watches him closely. He stretches his wings out warming them by the fire, just like her dragon used to do. Smiling slightly she focuses again.
“He becomes convinced that the Angels should have dominion over the humans. His obsession turned to lust, and greed for human women. He felt that any who wanted a human wife and children should have them, and began to convince others to join him. Three of the archangels left and more followed."
Leaning toward her he says, "Elina they took human wives, some willing and some not. Angels and humans are not meant to be together, the children from these unions were not normal. Some were giants, with a taste for flesh, some were demons half angel, half humans, and some more animals than human and all were demons."
"How many followed him Malach?" she asks.
Upset now he jumps to his feet and paces by the fire, "More than two hundred. Not only did they create demons but they taught the children of earth how to make weapons of war, spells, charms and more. Evil spread across the earth. It was the prayers of your people that called out to our father."
"The punishment for their betrayal was severe. Four of the strongest Archangels were told to go and find these fallen Angels to bind their powers. The entire group of half breeds and sons of the fallen Angels were destroyed, while their fathers were made to watch. Then they were cast into hell on Earth."
Staring up at the angel in front of her she is struck by his beauty. Looking at him, she could see how the women of Earth may have been tempted. Feeling her thoughts his eyes jump to hers and she is the first to look away. “I still do not see what this has to do with me. Where’s the connection. What am I missing?" she asks him.
Sitting near her he says "Before the punishment was carried out the fallen angels chose a favorite human to intercede on their behalf. Some of these angels were repentant and wanted forgiveness. They asked him to pray to the Father for them, because they had lost that privilege. He did and they were denied repentance. As a reward for his faith the maker, gave Aaron the names of the fallen Angels. He was told the story of their betrayal and sins and instructed to write it all down and keep the book safe.
It is a powerful book and therefore Aaron hid it with the tribes of the chosen people. He named it the Book of the Watchers because it contains the names of all the angels that betrayed us. After Aaron died, the book fell out of knowledge. Very few remained who knew of its power.”
"I still don't understand, Malach what does this have to do with me?" Elina asks frustrated and still angry.
"Patience" Malach says, “Samiel’s punishment was horrific, but just. The four captured him and sentenced him in front of the fallen. They spread his amazing white wings and using the Sword of Judgment, severed them from his body. The holy fire from the sword left burned stumps as a constant reminder of his betrayal. He was stripped of his angelic powers and cast to earth for eternity; to walk among humans but never belong. In his rage he roamed the Earth killing humans, attempting to regain his strength through the harvesting of their souls. His greatest power came from his destruction of God’s chosen ones. He began systematically executing as many of your tribes as possible, which is why they scattered to the winds. The elders of the ten tribes took the Book of Watchers and broke it into five pieces; placing each in identical sacred jars and sealing them. A total of ten jars were made to hide the five pieces and no one knew which jars contained the parts of the book."
"That was a good choice" Elina says, “the tribes separated to protect themselves and the book."
"Exactly. Raphaim is the son of Samiel, half-human and half-angel, you would call him demon. He knows of the book and will do anything to get his hands on it” and taking a deep breath he says, "and the Key."
"The Key, what is the Key Malach?"
"Not what, but Who Elina, Who is the Key?" he asks staring at her.
Elina stares at him shaking her head slowly, "No," she whispers standing up.
Standing up with her he continues, "You are the key Elina. On the day you were born the Ketuwah lit, signaling that it is time for the book to be remade. Only the Keeper of the Light has the power to return the pieces to the flame. It is a great honor you have been given," Malach says.
"Honor" she says in shock. "Is that what you call it?" Unable to look at him, she turns away for a minute unable to hear what he is saying anymore. In her mind she hears the screaming of her family and friends, but also of all the Watchers who came before her. She takes a step away from him and begins to run toward the water, porting just before she hits the pond.
Malach watches stunned, wondering what he said wrong, when a voice from behind him says, "That went well, brother." Malach turns to see Simeon striding toward him with a smile.
"It could have gone better, but she wil
l come around. She doesn't have a choice" Malach responds.
"Time grows short Malach. The demons are aware of the book and their attacks against the humans grow daily. They are looking for a clue to the book. Our brothers need you to return soon, there is a seed of malcontent growing amongst them,” Simeon states.
Malach looks at Simeon and says, "I will do as our Father commands and nothing less.”
"Does the keeper know where the book is yet?" Simeon asks.
"I am sure once she goes to the Ketuwah she will be shown the path. The question is will she follow it?” Malach replies.
Simeon looks at his friend and asks, "Do you doubt her faith?"
Smiling slightly Malach responds, "She can be stubborn, but her heart is pure. I have faith in her as does our Father."
"You believe this human is strong enough to return the book, hopefully she will live up to your faith." Simeon states. Not responding, Malach turns away as he feels Elina returning. Simeon shifts and flies off.
Returning in a full rage Elina struggles to hold her power in check. Stomping toward the large angel who was once her trusted friend, she pokes him in his tattooed chest and screams, "What gives you the right to choose my destiny?”
"It was never my choice, Elina. I did what needed to be done to protect you," he says calmly. "No, you lied and fed me half truths and for what? To clean up someone else’s mess? Why would an almighty Angel”, she sneers "need the help of a mortal girl Malach?"
"Once you have calmed down Elina, I will explain,” he replies quietly.
"Calm – down,” she says through gritted teeth. “Tell me friend," with tears shining in her blue eyes, "How would you feel if your most trusted friend lied and kept the truth from you? Or is betrayal to much of a human emotion for you?"
His emerald eyes flash as his anger begins to grow. "I did not lie to you Elina! I gave you a family, love, and… "
"No, you gave me Hope!” Clutching her heart she continues “Hope for a normal life...” Turning away from him she asks again "WHY do you need me, why is an army of angels not handling this?"
"Because that honor was not given to us. When the Angels betrayed our Father he chose a human to be the protector of the book, as a precaution. The Ketuwah will only accept the book from the key, you. No other, human or angel is able to go to the light. You have to return the pieces to the Ketuwah, only then will it be safe."
"If I choose not to accept this honor, then what Malach?" she asks him.
"There was a time when the fierce part of your nature cried out for justice, where is that girl now!" Malach snarls grabbing her by her shoulders.
"She found peace, and joy," she whispers. "She let go of the past and accepted what is."
"No! She gave up and cowers in the mountains-Maybe you are not the Keeper after all!” he says releasing her and turning to walk away.
Elina releases her fury, freezing him in place. Malach struggles against her hold on him. Smiling slightly she walks up behind him and runs her fingers over his beautiful blue wings. "Does it feel like I am afraid to you now, Malach?" Laughing a deep sexy laugh, she says "did you know that the spinal column is one of the most sensitive parts on a human body?” Tracing her fingers down his spine, barely touching the sensual spot between his wings. Fascinated she watches as chills erupt on his body.
Circling to stand in front of him she looks up into his beautiful eyes and asks, "What would an angel know of human emotions?” Tracing the tips of her fingers over the markings on his naked chest she is enthralled as they shift and ripple at her touch. Malach breaks out in a cold sweat as she continues exploring his body. Running her fingers up and over his shoulder she follows the patterns down his arm, and leaning in she inhales deeply saying, "you always smell so good Malach." Lifting his hand she brings it to her face and rests it gently against her cheek, "Maybe you did not notice, but I am not a helpless child any longer Malach."
Looking up into his eyes Elina is blasted with a vision of Malach, dropping his hand she tries to step back, only to have both his hands grab her face and hold her captive. She sees Malach; kneeling receiving his tattoos, and hears a voice saying, "Keep them safe until they find the Keeper." He is lifted into the air, screaming in agony as his body is covered in a bright blue light. He floats gently to the ground marked by the maker.
Elina stumbles back from Malach, staring at the runic tattoos. They begin to glow, swirling and moving. Once again he is lifted into the air and his wings extend fully as though stretched out by unseen hands. He does not scream this time for it is almost a relief to let them go, as they flow moving up around his shoulders, down his arm pooling into his hand.
Gently floating to the ground Malach holds in his hand a scroll bearing the same runic inscriptions his body once held. Holding it out to Elina, he says "The Ketuwah waits for you."
Looking at Malach, she reaches out to take the scroll with a shaking hand, as she grasps the scroll he holds on for a moment. Fascinated by the softness of her skin he traces a finger down one cheek and looking deep into her beautiful eyes, he says "I noticed, Elina" releasing her.
Saying nothing she turns to walk away, picturing the bright blue light of the Ketuwah. It flares powerful, bright and stronger than ever in her mind. The light covers her in its brilliance, and she is gone from her protector.
Seven
Shaken by all that has transpired, Elina holds tight to her "gift" from Malach. Not sure where she will end up this time, she trusts in the light. A gust of arctic air causes her to flinch away and blink back tears. Chills erupt over her body and the wind blows her hair wildly around her face. The light that surrounds her begins to seep down her body flowing off her onto the rocky ground beneath her feet. It pours away from her disappearing into a tunnel in front of her.
Another gust of wind pushes at her from behind as if to say hurry up! Startled; Elina steps into the tunnel following the blue river of light. Quickly looking around Elina realizes the tunnel leads to cave that looks more like the inside of an enormous wave that has been frozen. Indigo walls swirl around her and she hears the sound of water dripping. Reaching out she touches the wall and finds that they are surprisingly warm and very wet. It is then she hears the sound, the cracking and popping of ice with every step she takes. Looking at her feet she realizes that she is standing on a slippery wet floor of melting ice.
Carefully she moves forward, noticing that the deep blue of the caves walls are accentuated by the flickering of the flame. The river of light has formed a pool of light as if waiting for her. As she stares at the pool of water it begins to rise up forming an eight foot tall blue flame! From inside she sees the shape of a man; holding out his hand to her, he waits.
Stepping forward slowly she squints against glare of the flame. Elina gasps out loud when the flame moves forward to meet her, embracing her in its warmth.
"Hi Angel," the man says.
"Papi!" Elina whispers to afraid to move lest the vision disappear. He rushes toward his daughter and wraps her in his arms. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he looks down laughing and says, "I know it’s hard to believe, but I have been waiting for you Elina."
"Papi, how are you here, I don't understand," she cries out as her tears flow freely, holding on tightly to her Father.
“The Ketuwah brought me here to help you understand your destiny. Elina I am sorry this task has fallen to you, but I know you are up to this challenge. Everything Malach has told you is true, but there are parts to the story that not even the Angels know. The book does not hold just the power over the Fallen; but power over any who may choose to fall in the future.”
“I don’t understand,” Elina says.
“The book of watchers once in its original form can be added to. It is a protection, to ensure that any Angels who choose to fall will have their name added to the book. Never again will the demons have dominion over humans. The scroll Malach gave you was merely a tool to get you here, so you could be told the rest. Look at it.
> Glancing at the scroll she spreads it out and notices that for the first time, it is legible! “What is this magic?"
"Not magic Elina, a precaution. Only the Keeper of the Light is able to read the scrolls, and only the keeper can return the parts to the Ketuwah recreating the book. Once your task is complete it will be whole again.”
"Why me? Why not have the angels do this?” Elina asks frustrated.
"They betrayed all of us once, and when the name of a fallen Angel is spoken, he is freed from his tomb and at the will of the person who freed him. Would you give an army of fallen angels to a demon like Raphaim?"
Understanding begins to dawn, "Of course not!” she says fiercely. “Imagine what he would do, he would bring Hell to earth. That cannot happen! How am I supposed to do this by myself; against an army of demons?"
Stepping forward he takes her hands in his and says "You are not alone anymore Elina. Each piece of the puzzle will take you to our people, collect the scrolls and task them with helping you; rebuilding our people as one nation again. Our power is greatest when we are together. United in our faith, they will follow you when you call."
"What if I fail?” she whispers. "You Are the Keeper of the Light of all the chosen people of God. Do you think he would have chosen you if he doubted you?"
"So all I have to do is locate the parts of the book, while being hunted by Demons and Angels alike. Return the pieces to the ketuwah, and reunite Gods chosen people. No problem,” Elina says semi-hysterical. "Elina when you help as a watcher, what do you see?" Papi asks her.
"I see hope, and love Papi," she says.
"Exactly. Hope that death is not the end; that love does not die when we do. Our maker chose you because you heart is pure and you understand that our life on Earth is simply a step in a bigger journey. I have faith in you; it is time for you to believe in yourself! Daughter, Will you help me take my next step?”
