by Lynn Landes
The first time her angel came to her, she welcomed death begged for it even. He could only stay in short spurts, and she was returned once more to endure. Each time he left her with the evil one, her soul screamed for him to free her; but he would not. He told her his name was Simeon whispering in the dark stories of heaven. Singing to her and when she thought she could take no more, he told her of Jake. How her brother was scouring the earth to try to find her, fighting demons and coming to free her.
Her light grew dim; the golden thread faded more each day. The evil one called himself Asa, he claimed she was his bride; a present given to him for his loyalty. So gently and reverently he said the word as he raped her soul and violated her in every way. Unable to move or speak she had no choice but to endure and just when she thought her mind would break, she caught the sound of an eagle calling. Hope flared for an instant and so did her light. Her dark angel with the golden wings came in a bright light and lifted her in his arms.
Gently Simeon places Elsbeth back in her body, and stepping away returns where he is needed. Elsbeth watches him step away and a tear slips down her cheek. The light fades and so does the golden glow of his wings. He leaves her and her spirit weeps his name.
Jake sits by her bed holding her hand and she hears him say "It’s been twelve hours and we have no way of knowing how much poison he used."
"The venom is strong; she will fight it off soon," Aunt Ruby says reassuring Jake.
Her body feels so heavy, drugged, every movement is a struggle she turns her head toward his voice, and tries to open her eyes "Simeon?" she whispers hoarsely.
Jake jumps as he feels movement, and then watches her struggle to come out of the haze. "Beth its Jake!" he says through tears. Opening her eyes she closes them quickly against the glare of the lights.
Ruby quickly dims the light, and rushes out of the room to get the others. "Jakey?" Beth asks?
"Yes, Beth it's me!" He replies, ecstatic to hear her knick name for him. The others come in and watch as Elsbeth's tears begin to fall, she turns her head toward his voice and opens her eyes looking at Jake she asks "Did he leave me again?"
"The demon is dead Beth; he will never hurt you again!" Jake says vehemently.
Slowly turning her head she looks around the room, as her tears flow faster "Where's Simeon?" Hiccupping, and sobbing, she begins to panic "Where is he Jake!"
"I don't know, Elsbeth." Jake responds looking at Elina in confusion. Thinking maybe she is still under the venoms effect. “Let me help,” Ruby says and takes her hand reading Elsbeth's memories. Horror fills her face and she struggles to stay on her feet. Ronnie pulls her back against him stabilizing her, as Ruby struggles not to cry.
"He shielded her," she states in wonder. "An angel protected her until we could get to her.” Releasing Elsbeth's hand Ruby looks at Jake telling him "she is asking for her guardian angel."
Ronnie takes Ruby leading her from the room, knowing she will need him and Elina steps forward hoping to calm Elsbeth. Taking deep heaving breaths, her tear filled eyes are wide with panic; she searches frantically for him, struggling to move her arms and legs. "Simeeoonn." she begs "don't leave me here, don't leave meeeee!!!!" she says screaming.
"Beth!" Jake says "you are safe now, you’re safe" he repeats gathering her in his arms, rocking her gently, waiting for her to calm down.
Elina knows what it means to spend time with an Angel, so she sits on the side of the bed next to them, and says to her "Elsbeth, you will see him again. They never go far and always watch over us. Do you hear me? You will see him again."
Looking at Elina with hollow eyes she says "He left me again.”
"He stayed as long as he could. In all your time away, he always came back, you will see him again" Elsbeth tells her once more. Exhausted she nods her head and falls asleep clutching Jake.
"Thank you Elina! You brought her back to me. How will I ever thank you?" He asks her through his tears.
"No Jake there is much more here than me and you. She was chosen by our maker for protection, you should thank him first." She says softly helping him place Elsbeth back in bed.
Ronnie walks back in carrying a cot, "You need sleep" he says setting it up quickly at the side of the bed. "You will both sleep better if you are together."
Ruby brings blankets and pillows. Walking over to the side of the bed she touches Elsbeth's brow. Turning to him with fresh tears she says "she endured because of you Jake. Simeon, the Angel told her you were coming and it’s what kept her sane. He shielded her for some of it, but he could not protect her from everything. Be patient with her." She turns quickly and leaves the room.
Three more times during the night, Jake was awakened by Elsbeth's screams. Each time it was the reassurance that she would see Simeon again that calmed her. The final time, she looked at Jake with empty eyes and says "I begged him to let me die. Why didn't he let me die Jake?" she whispers in the dark.
"Awww Bethie, he knew I needed you. How would I survive without you?" Jake whispers back. "Elsbeth when I thought you were dead, darkness began to fill my soul. I wanted to kill, it’s all I thought about, how many I would kill and all the different ways I would do it."
"Jake I knew you were looking for me, it’s the only reason...I didn't break. He sang to me and told me stories and when the pain became too much he wrapped me in his golden wings and took my pain on himself." Elsbeth says weeping, reaching for his hand she continues "Thank you Jake for not giving up on me."
"Never, you can always count on me Elsbeth" Jake whispers.
Fifteen
"Time is precious and it grows short," Elina says looking at her family the next morning. "They know how to find the watchers. There was another demon, stronger than all the others and they were afraid of him. I believe he is the original Fallen, Father of the demon who killed my family."
"How can that be?” Ruby asks. "I don't know all the answers." Frustrated Elina twists her black hair up and clips it, "only what I was shown but I do know none of us are safe. We need to move and find the others."
"I don't like the idea of running normally, but this is not a normal situation" Ronnie states, "we are stronger together; our strength will increase as our numbers do. We should go to Polly and tell her what's going on. She may have some answers."
Ruby smiles at him “I was thinking the same thing."
Elina looks at them with a sinking heart and knows they have to separate. "I have to find more watchers, but I don't know where to start."
"Maybe I can help with that," Jake says from the doorway. "Things happened so quickly, that I didn't get to tell you my story." Sitting he tells them of his childhood, and smiles at Elina as they laugh remembering the time they met as children. Then he tells them of Afghanistan, and his experience in the cave and how he met Heather; a watcher. He also told them of Seth, and the strange things that happened to him after the mission. Next he tells them about the stones.
"Aunt Ruby, can you show me the stones?" Elina asks excitedly looking at Jake, "Is it okay?
"Of course" Jake responds. Reaching across the table Ruby takes his hands as Jake closes his eyes. When he opens them again the questions start all at once.
"That settles it," Elina states, "I have to go to California. I need to see the stones and talk to this family of watchers." Jake responds, "I want to go with you. Seth is like my brother, he should hear this from me. I have to talk to Elsbeth." Ruby says, "I would feel better if Elsbeth stays with us. We can take her with us to Polly's, where she can heal while she trains."
Nodding his head, Ronnie agrees with his wife. "Polly is a trained medicine woman. She can help her heal quickly." Humbled Jake replies, "I would feel better knowing she is with you, but she has to agree to it. I will talk to her."
Elina watches Jake leave and quietly walks to her Uncle Ronnie handing him the scroll from Malach. Unsure what she is walking into she says "I need you to keep this safe for me." Looking at her, he accepts the scroll knowing the future
is not set. "I will protect it, but I expect you to come back for it. No excuses!" he says firmly. Hugging him she wipes at tears and says "I will come back, I promise."
Sitting up in bed, later that evening Elsbeth is sipping a cup of chicken broth and talking to Ruby when Jake walks in. Watching a smile light her beautiful face Jake can't help but respond. Smiling at his sister he sits on the foot of the bed and says "You look amazing!"
"I had a shower, and Nurse Ruby says if I drink my broth, I get some fruit later. I feel a million times better." Yawning, she looks closely at her brother and says "okay spill it brother, what's going on?"
His smiles fades as he looks at Elsbeth and replies "Elsbeth I have so much to tell you, about Afghanistan and what's been going on here because it’s all connected." Jake begins his story as she listens quietly.
Looking away from him she stares out the window watching the sun set, and speaks softly saying "Jake we have been dealing with this all our lives. I don't want to be afraid anymore, he almost broke me." Looking back into eyes that mirror her own she says, "He tried, he showed me your death in every gruesome way possible" taking a deep breath she continues, "he showed me Mom and Dad being ripped apart by a hoard of demons, wiping their blood on me like oil .....Much more, much worse.”
"Beth you don't have to... he starts to say but she cuts him off, "I have experienced what will happen to humanity if they win! Jake I would rather die fighting them then let them do to others what they did to me. They thrive off the fear and torture." Starting to shake again "if it weren't for Simeon..."
Holding her hand, Jake says "Beth if you go with Ruby and Ronnie, you will be trained. They can teach you how to protect yourself and others, but the choice is yours."
"What choice do I have Jake, they know how to find me I will never be safe unless I do this. Will you be safe Jake? What about Mom and Dad?” she asks him.
"Mom and Dad are not watchers. They are searching for the golden threads; maybe we can find a way to use that to our advantage. I will be training and finding others to help us fight. We won't be alone in this anymore and that gives me hope," he says.
So much death and so much life and she can have neither. Elina sighs slipping away in the middle of the night for a break, she lets her tears flow. If she spoke her thoughts out loud would they all run screaming from her? How it possible to be so alone when surrounded by people? These traitorous thoughts haunt her, when she is supposed to be sleeping. Elina teleports to the top of a mountain hoping for a reprieve. Her soul is heavy with the cross it bears and some days, she feels weary. So much has changed, so quickly.
“How are you? They ask. “What would they think if they knew she was bone tired, weary, and exhausted. “I’m sorry,” she whispers to her maker. “Strengthen me so that I can do what you ask.” Enough with the pity party Elina, she tells herself.
Standing on the top of the mountain, listening to the wave’s crash against the rocks below she wishes once again that she could fly, just pause time and take a moment to be free.
“I told you once, all you had to do was ask Elina. Whatever you need will be provided,” A deep voice says behind her.
Turning slowly, she looks at him with her tears drying. “Malach, how did you find me?” She asks not bothering to wipe her tears.
Stepping close he whispers “Ask me Elina.”
Taking a step back from him, close to the edge of the cliff, she looks up at him with hope and says “Really?
“Ask Me.” He replies stretching his beautiful blue wings out. Reaching for her his hands rest on her waist and he waits. Chills erupt over her entire body at his touch. Her smile could light the night sky, why didn’t I do this sooner he wonders. Stepping into the warmth of his body she asks boldly “Malach will you fly with me?”
His hands tightening on her waist is her only warning. Snapping his wings down he shoots into the night sky. Swallowing her scream she scrambles up his body, wrapping her arms and legs around him. Clinging to him with her face buried in his neck she feels his laughter and thinks; you could have warned me.
Reaching altitude Malach slows and soars slowly across the night sky. “Where’s the fun in that Elina?” he whispers in her ear. “Not funny Malach,” daring to lift her head; it is not the beauty of the night sky that takes her breath, but the feel of his body pressed to hers. His long black hair brushes against her face and she finds her hand sliding up the back of his neck and letting his silky black hair run through her fingers.
His green eyes lock onto hers and she leans in close to his neck inhaling. “Why do you have to smell so good?” she wonders. Slowly she unlocks her legs from his waist and allows her body to slide down his.
The feel of her breasts on his chest dragging down his body causes every muscle in Malach’s body to jump and his grip on her waist tightens. Fascinated by the beauty of his chest and the runic cross tattoo covering his heart; she traces its lines. Beautiful she sighs in her mind, distracted by the smell and feel of him, she thinks; will you taste as good as you feel?
“Elina” he growls at her. The smile on her face tells him that she knows exactly what she is doing. “What? You deserve it, scaring me like that.”
Twisting her body around in his arms he thinks, two can play at that game and he jerks her back hard against his body. “Careful what you wish for Elina” he whispers picking up speed and she finally sees as he does. He feels her excitement and it joins his own as they dip down and soar just above the ocean. Turning slightly he drags the tip of his wing causing a wet spray to shower her in a mist of cold salty water. “Hey!” she squeals delighted by his playful side.
Reading her mind he slows his speed and drops low enough for her to see her reflection in the water below. She traces her fingers on the surface of the sea and laughs. Adjusting his wings he catches and updraft and rises up high enough to see the moon reflected on the sea. Sighing deep she whispers “Thank you, Malach.”
Chilled from the sea breeze and wind she snuggles back into his chest seeking his warmth, wiggling as she tries to get closer. He leans down close to her ear and says “Enough, Elina.’ Nipping at her ear she jumps at the feel of his hot breath and teeth. Her nipples harden and she feels her body heat in response. “Higher” she urges him no longer caring about anything but the feel of flying in his arms. Spreading her arms wide she leans out and enjoys the cold air as he pushes them higher with his massive wings.
Cresting, not daring to go any higher; he stops in mid air spinning her body around, he is dazzled by the bliss on her face. With her head thrown back, her hair streaming down around her he laughs at the joy he feels in her soul. Her wet clothes are plastered to her skin outlining the beauty of her body. Realizing they are no longer moving her eyes look down, then up meeting his eyes and her heart stops. “Malach?” she whispers scared by the intensity she reads in them.
Pulling her close he wraps his large blue wings around them cocooning them in his heat. Savoring the feel of her, he leans his head close to her neck and he breathes her in, deep into his soul and he knows he will never be the same again. Turning up the heat, he runs his hands up and down her arms warming her body and he begins a slow spin.
Reaching up she cups his face in her hands and sees the longing in her heart mirrored in his eyes. Malach rests his forehead against her and slows his spin as his feet touch the earth. Unfurling his wings he sets her on her feet, back on the mountain top once more. Turning without a word he flies away. The frigid air returns and her heartbeat slowing she hears him say “That is why angels do not fly with humans.”
Sixteen
Goodbyes are never easy, but always inevitable. Sometimes to find our destiny we must walk alone, and sometimes it is in the company of others that we find our strength. Jake contacts Seth telling him of Elina. Heather invites them to her family ranch in Northern California. Not sure if the demons could track them through her powers, they decide to fly. Teleporting more than one person requires a lot of energy, and she is still r
eplenishing after the last few days. After a two hour flight, they rented a jeep at the airport and loaded their suitcases. "Seth said it’s just over an hour from the airport." Jake tells Elina as he opens the door to the jeep for her.
Elina looks at Jake and smiles at him, "Good, that will give us time to talk." Climbing into the jeep she remains quiet until he finds the interstate. "Do you trust this friend of yours Jake?" she asks. "With my life," he answers with no hesitation. "I did every day we worked together."
"What about the girl, Heather? What do you know about her?" she continues.
"I know that she is a watcher that her Grandfather knows their family history and she was in a hurry to get the stones back to him. She is impulsive, stubborn and crazy," he replies. "You like her," Elina states smiling.
"Yes, I think she's great for Seth. You know I only have eyes for you, beautiful," he says reaching for her hand and pressing a kiss to the knuckles.
Watching his lips touch her hand she pulls gently away thinking of Malach. "That's not what I meant, Jake, I only meant that you… Well I just thought that..."
"Easy Elina, I was just teasing. They are crazy about each other, and I admire her spunk. That's all," he says firmly.
Deciding to change the subject he asks "Tell me about your Aunt Polly? Will she be able to help Elsbeth?" Relieved, Elina replies "She will help her heal, and train her. Aunt Polly was never one to do what she was told; she likes to push the boundaries. She has had an amazing life, and her and Uncle Ronnie pick but they adore each other. Aunt Ruby just sits back and lets them go at each other because she knows her sister loves him too."
Turning to look at the scenery passing by, she says "I know Elsbeth will be safe and I feel better knowing they are together. There is strength in numbers. Do you know how many people live on the ranch?"
