by Lynn Landes
Stepping through the door of the cabin, Jake sees an open room with a fire burning in the fireplace and his soul sighs. "I guess he doesn't like me very much," Jake says turning to look at Elina.
In the soft glow of the light he can't help but stare at her. Standing with her blue black hair flowing free around her shoulder, her bright blue eyes are highlighted even more by the radiance shining from them. "Elina I really did think you were an Angel, or that I imagined you. To think, you were here all along," Jake says dropping his bags by the front room.
"We have a lot to talk about Jake," Elina responds drawing him into the living room. "I will get you some coffee, and then we will talk," she says moving off to the kitchen.
Walking into the kitchen she looks at her Uncle Ronnie saying "Why are you being so rude? You are embarrassing me." She stops speaking when she sees the stricken look on Ruby's face.
"What wrong?" She asks crossing to her quickly.
"He's her brother," Ronnie says. "What are you talking about?" Elina asks quietly. Knowing they would not joke about something this important.
"On the way here he told me he was looking for his sister, who disappeared in a car crash last week. He is hoping you can help with the search" Ronnie says.
Stunned Elina doesn't know what to think. "Of course," she whispers. “When I was little I followed two golden lights, Jake was one, and she was the other. That's why she's here. He has to be told!" Turning to go, she pauses at the sound of her name.
"Lina, you always think the best of others. What if he blames you?" Aunt Ruby asks.
"You have to realize what he's been through, thinking the worst. Not knowing if she is dead or alive. He's bound to wonder why we didn't come forward immediately," Uncle Ronnie tells her.
"I know my mission is to reunite the lost ones, what if they are the first? Don't you see? I have to trust my instincts in this? Will you trust in me, as I once did you?" she asks with teary eyes.
Wrapping her in a family hug, they nod and Uncle Ronnie says "Let’s not keep Romeo waiting."
Laughing they walk into the living room.
Smiling at the sound of them together, Jake turns as they walk in the room. His smile fades when he takes in the serious look on their faces. "Jake I need to show you something. I am going to ask you to trust me again. Will you?" Elina says stepping towards him. "One thing I learned during combat is always trust your instincts," Jake replies meeting her halfway. Looking down into her eyes, he says "I trust you Elina."
Humbled Elina simply takes his hand and leads him through the house to a back bedroom. Walking through the bedroom door, Jake does not see her at first. Glancing to the right he sees a figure in a bed. "Beth?” he whispers. Confused he steps forward rushing to her side and drops to his knees saying louder this time "Elsbeth!" Taking her hand in his, he feels how cold it is.
Looking at Elina he asks "What's wrong with her? Why won't she respond?"
"I don't know Jake, when I got to the car this is how she was. I was able to port her out and bring her here. She has not responded," Elina responds softly.
"I don't understand why she is not in the hospital?" Jake asks standing up."I need my bag." Thinking quickly; he runs from the room, grabbing his duffel he returns. He digs through pulling out his medical kit. Jake begins to examine Elsbeth. He notes that her eyes do not dilate. Her blood pressure is normal, pulse is normal, but she does not respond. Ruby steps toward Jake and says, "We had a doctor check her, they could not find any physical trauma to cause this."
"I promise you this is not a physical issue" Elina says. "She sleeps and eats, but she will not speak to us. I am sorry but I did not get to her in time."
"What are you talking about? How did you find her? Tell me what you know?" Jake demands his anger rising.
"Jake, I was doing a search, and found some videos she made. I offered to help her, but I did not know who she was until today. We made plans to meet to talk about what was happening, but they attacked her before I could get to her," Elina says frustrated.
"Who attacked her, Elina?" Jake asks calm and lethal. "The demons Jake; the same ones you have been seeing all your life" Elina responds.
Ronnie walks in and says "I will sit with her and you two can go talk. Let her rest." Kissing his sister on the head Jake says to her "We will figure this out Beth. I promise you." Elina leads him back to the kitchen, where Ruby is making coffee. She takes the phone, saying “I will go call my sister” and leaves giving them some privacy.
Standing with Jake she begins to feel nervous. "I don't know where to start, so I will keep it simple. Your sister put some video links on her website for Galeena’s Treasures, her company. When I watched them and realized what was happening, I offered to meet her to help. We were meeting Friday at a rest stop, but the attacks increased. I tried to get to her in time Jake." Sighing she says "I know it sounds crazy, but they forced her to crash and got to her first. I was able to get her body out, Jake but I do not know how to help her now."
Jake sits down and says "I can't believe this! First Afghanistan, now this! What the hell is going on? I thought I was losing my mind, honestly. Now I am not sure of anything or anyone." Frustrated he rubs the back of his neck.
"Tell me about Afghanistan Jake," she asks.
Shaking his head no, he demands "You first. Who and What are you?”
"I was born in the past, Jake in a village of watchers. We were the chosen children of God. He gifted the watchers and chose them to protect and guide humanity. We were a peaceful people, guiding and helping when we could. One day all of that changed..." Elina tells Jake her story and waits for his response.
Standing up Jake paces in the kitchen, “give me a minute here.” Trying to process all that she has told him; he knows her story is true. For the things he has seen cannot be explained away.
Walking in, Aunt Ruby says "I'm sorry to interrupt but I have some information that may help Elsbeth.” Turning to Jake she hesitates saying “We are asking so much of you...”
Jake interrupts her "You have filled in some blanks for me today, and given me my sister back. I am not going to start doubting you now. Just tell me what to do to bring Elsbeth back."
Elina and Jake follow Ruby into the room where Beth is. Ronnie is sitting quietly reading in a corner chair. "Ron, Polly suggested we try something that our ancestors used to do, this technique is ancient but it might help" Ruby says.
"Your sister may be old, but she knows our history. Tell us what to do" Ronnie says smiling confidently.
Ruby walks to the foot of the bed speaking softly. "Polly believes we are dealing with imps, or lesser demons. They like to leach off a person’s soul draining them of the essence, and if allowed to they will possess the body."
"I've heard of these during my training. They are reckless, and like to cause trouble by torturing people. They feed off a person’s fear, growing larger as the fear grows," Elina tells the group.
"How do we defeat them?" Jake questions.
Ruby stares at Jake and says "You must wipe away all fear, Jake. Your conviction will cause it to release her. No matter what you see, do not give into the fear."
Taking his hand Elina says "Family is the key. I believe that we are part of the same family, that Elsbeth and you belong to one of the lost tribes Jake. Today I followed a golden thread and it led me to you; it is the same golden thread that drew me to you as a child."
Stepping forward Uncle Ronnie takes Ruby's hand and Elina's asking "The question is; Do you believe it Jake?"
"I'm beginning to," he says looking at Elsbeth. "Tell me what to do." Standing close to the bed, they form a circle over her. Ruby says firmly "Do not break the circle."
Closing her eyes Elina prays,
"Father we ask you to protect us as we free your daughter from this evil. Protect us with your love, protect us with your light, free your daughter and help us guide her back."
Jake feels a vibration as he leaves his body. Looking down from above, he
sees the others below holding hands. One by one they join him. Turning they look, and see silver threads floating on a sea of stars, and one golden thread faint and flickering. Jake follows the thread down, leaving the beauty and light of the galaxies above him. Down, he goes following the thread into a misty, dark, frigid place. A place that smothers the golden light until it fights with every heart beat to maintain its luminosity.
Elina, Ron, and Ruby join him, as they travel deep into an abysmal world. Into a world where the skies are blue black and void of any light save the flash of lightening. Deeper they go staying close to one another, following the faint flickering of the golden thread. In the distance a volcano spewing ash and rock provides an amber light with which to see.
Soon they are surrounded by mountains risings up like tortured souls trying to claw their way back up towards the light. Dropping quickly through the peaks Jake follows the thread, as it disappears deep into a cavernous trench. Slipping through a crevice in the rocky wall Jake hears a whimpering, and moaning coming from the room in front of him. Dreading what he might find on the other side, he hesitates until he feels the others come up behind him. Family he thinks, as Elina rests her hand on his shoulder. He motions to Ronnie for them to split up as they enter the cavern. Jake slips into the room and stares in shock at the horror before him.
Elsbeth is suspended in midair, encased in a blue light rising up out of the ground. She floats on her back with her eyes wide open in terror. She is paralyzed by the creature intent upon his work. Her wrists and legs are shackled by the tentacles exploding from its large naked back. Standing in front of Elina with its head thrown back in rapture, is a demonic creature. Each of its large tentacles is suctioned to different points on Elsbeth's body leaching, pulling, and drawing the life from her. He is a larger red skinned demon with massive muscular arms, and legs. Each taloned hand is running over Elsbeth's body massaging and touching her. He strokes her blonde hair, down her neck cupping her breasts like a lover, while two tentacles release their hold, dripping venom they slither up her calves. He leans down to her neck inhaling the sweet nectar of her fear, and that is when he catches the scent of the others.
Turning slowly he smiles at the group, sticking out a black forked tongue as if testing the air. He says "I ssssmell the deliciouss sstench of your fear little brother," pinning Jake with his yellow snake like eyes. The pupils of his eyes are vertical and lidless. Jakes fear for Elsbeth turns to fury and he feels his power begin to hum. The demon begins to unravel his hold on Elsbeth, standing to his full height of eight feet he is now growing larger by the second.
Elina moves in closer to Jake as Ronnie and Ruby make their wake around the edge of the cavern towards Elsbeth. He hisses at them lashing out with one of his long black tentacles snapping the air like a whip. Elina senses Jakes power is building so she steps forward, saying "Demon, If you release her we will not harm you."
"You are all mine!" He hisses at her, whipping at her with a tentacle. Elina does a back flip landing a few feet away. The demon smiles at her and she says tauntingly "You know you are kind of sexy for demon. You almost look human except for your snake eyes, red skin, and tentacles growing out of your back."
Not sure what kind of game Elina is playing, Jake tries to get the demons attention away from her, "Are you crazy, he's damn ugly" Jake responds preparing to jump back as the creature moves into a fighting stance.
Releasing all his tentacles with a wet sucking sound he hisses at them saying "I will take my time with you both, and I promise ," he says looking at Elina "you will scream for more ssssso loud and ssssoo long that you will beg for death.” Turning his reptilian gaze on Jake he promises "You I will ssssuck dry while your sister watches, then I will take your body and kill everyone you know." Looking longingly at Elsbeth he strokes her with one black tentacle sinking its hooks deep into her pale flesh, releasing more venom causing her to jump and moan.
Raging Jake runs straight for the Demon picturing a shield of white light around himself. Elina sighs and shakes her head as Jake is jerked into the air by one large tentacle. Elina reaches behind her and creates a short curved blade, spinning it through the air it sinks deep into the demons left eye. Howling in rage he starts to run towards her just as Elina sends two more blades longer than the first, spinning at him. The demon dodges one, but the second blade hits its mark severing the tentacle holding Jake.
Screaming in pain with one clawed hand over his eye, he is distracted allowing Ruby and Ronnie to get closer to Elsbeth and pull her free from the light. Jake lands with a thud, on his back, and imagines a beam of ice encasing the demons feet. He sends it and rolls quickly running towards Elina. Realizing what Jake has done, she reaches for his hand and builds her power. Clutching hands tightly she sends him an image in his mind of the demon encased in ice.
Snaking out its forked tongue, he looks at them bleeding and laughs saying "Do you think it will be that easy?" He points a hand toward a pile of rocks sending them shooting towards Jake and Elina. Quickly he uses his tentacles to leap sideways, breaking free of the ice and sticks to the cavern wall. Elina and Jake follow building a current of arctic air, the room begins to fill with an ice cold mist. Clinging to the wall the demon lashes out at Elina, with one long tentacle. Looking at her he says "I know who you are keeper, sssomeone was looking for you!" Startled Elina realizes she cannot let him live. The picture in her mind changes, Jake looks at her and nods in understanding, causing the temperature to drop more.
Needing the humidity to; the icy mist begins to take its toll. The demons reactions are slowing and he grows more desperate. Panicking as he sees Elsbeth being pulled to freedom, he tries to flee further up the wall. Only to find Jake has shackled his ankles to the wall with white cuffs of light. Scrambling he reaches higher up the wall trying to break free and that gives Elina the opening she needs, pinning his wrists to the cavern wall with two throwing blades. Screaming in rage he tries to break free but he is too late. Elina releases Jakes hand and punches into the ground beneath her feet. Sinking her hand deep and pulls a rod of molten lava free from the fiery depths.
Jake rushes to help free Elsbeth. Elina cools the rod in her hand turning it to a black iron pike. She says to the demon "you chose the wrong soul this time."
"Who says I chose the wrong soul, keeper, Free me" he rages struggling against his bonds "and I will tell you everything!"
Elina glances over and sees Jake holding his catatonic sister in his arms. Seeing the portion of tentacle on the ground still twitching she makes her choice. With pity in her eyes she says "I will find my answers another way" and spears him through his mouth; as he screams sinking deep into the wall behind him.
Through the eyes of death he watches as the keeper walks over to his severed tentacle and picks it up. Careful to avoid the venomous hooks she closes her eyes and sees him bowing before the master. Crucified to the cavern wall the demon shudders one last time before his light is extinguished. Elina feels the moment he ceases to exist and concentrates on the vision.
Bowing before the master he is too afraid to raise his eyes, even when he begins to speak. "Asa, for your loyalty and devotion I have a gift for you. Bring her in" he commands.
Asa hears her pleas for freedom, and smiles, tasting the air with his forked tongue. Growing in size with each tear shed. Elsbeth begins to fight in earnest, struggling and screaming the closer he gets. Snaking out his tentacles he traps her wrists and sinks his venomous hooks to the side of her neck, immobilizing her with his poison.
"Excellent Asa, she was getting on my nerves," his master says.
"Thank you, Father," Asa hisses.
"Spread the word, any who swear loyalty to me will be rewarded. Follow the golden threads to find the watchers. Destroy them and bring me the book!" he roars.
Dropping the tentacle Elina rushes to the others, just as the ground begins to rumble. "We have to go now, just imagine your body Jake and you will be back! I will bring Elsbeth!" Ronnie and Ruby return quic
kly with Jake following. Elina thinks quickly and wraps her arms around Elsbeth and imagines the arms of her maker lifting the traumatized soul and placing it back in her body, and then watches as a soft white light surrounds Elsbeth. The rumble grows stronger and the ground begins to crack as rocks tumble. The mountain comes alive with a hoard of demons closing in on Elina. Relieved Elina watches as the peaceful light gently sends Elsbeth back to her body.
Free now Elina decides to send a message for those hunting the watchers. Quickly walking around the cavern she pushes her hand into the rocky wall and pulls out a baseball sized crystal. Concentrating she feeds power into the crystal, until it pulsates with energy. Walking over to the dead demon she punches the crystal into his chest cavity and draws her hand out, ignoring the sucking sound. As the crystal bomb reaches its critical point, she shields herself and backs out of the mountain. The hoard begins to break through as Elina watches from a safe distance. They fight like animals as they break into the room, each wanting a piece to return to the master with. Well over a hundred demons pour into the cavern and silence falls as they see the favorite son, crucified on the wall.
A chorus of demonic screams are silenced in an instant as the crystal detonates; releasing its holy light. The flash is like a beacon drawing the eyes of hell towards it. The shock wave from the explosion ripples across the abyss, and Elina watches the destruction of the mountain. Satisfied, she returns to her body dropping to her knees exhausted. Lifting her head looking at the others she says "They know about our threads and they are hunting for us."
Elsbeth floats in the arms of her guardian. His golden wings protect her from the wind and pain. Comforted in his muscular arms she is not afraid, though the poison still pumps through her body. She is unable to move; frozen by the vile ones venom, knowing as long as he holds her she can endure.
