by Lynn Landes
"Scott hold the shield as long as you can, we will be back!" Jake says and they run in different directions leading some of the monsters away. Two demons run forward, just as Scott slams the shield around the four remaining. Slamming into the hot light they scream in pain burning from the intense heat of the shield. In frustration they turn on each other snarling and snapping at each other. They roll around on the ground tearing chunks of flesh from each other; while others throw themselves at Scott's shield trying to find a weakness.
Eighteen
Elina opens her eyes to a misty sea of green and finds that she is standing in a thick forest, surrounded by grove of giant redwood trees over three hundred feet tall. Every inch of the thick forest floor and every branch is covered in a thick layer of green moss. A slow mist is filtering through the darkening forest. Afraid to move and disturb the fairy tale vision she sees before her, she turns her head slowly taking in her surroundings.
A singular beam of light has filtered its way down from the sky above; spotlighting a massive cinnamon bark covered sequoia tree. The call of a bird snaps Elina out of her trance. She jumps as the small turquoise bird flies toward the tree and lands on its branch. Staring at her with its dark eyes it calls again turning its head slightly as if to say "over here!"
Giving a small laugh Elina says, "Okay little one." She moves forward holding the ark tightly in her hand and heads straight for the tree drawn by its uniqueness. Scanning the forest around her she carefully makes her way through the woods; stopping for a moment when she realizes the forest is silent, except for the call of her blue green friend.
A clear, pure, whistle from the bluebird draws her attention once more and she continues carefully making her way to the tree. Stopping an arm’s length from the tree she looks up at the bird and asks "what now?" He cocks his head and waits and she feels as if the entire forest is holding its breath waiting for her.
Standing in front of the two thousand year old tree she lifts her free hand and places it on the rough bark feeling its coarse texture. Beneath her hand she feels a ripple and hears a groaning as an opening slowly appears. Elina pauses for a moment and looks at the wooden ark in her hand, remembering what Daniel said to her. "It would be simple to keep this and use the power it holds," she sighs "but it was never my choice to make." Slowly she places the ark in the opening of the tree and watches in amazement as the ark flares with a ruby glow.
As the tree closes around its gift, the forest explodes with life! She hears the river rushing along, and the wind blowing through the branches of the trees. Birds are calling to each other and in the distance she hears the song of tree frogs luring their mates. Underneath the song of the forest she hears the distinct drumming of a heart, not hers but the heartbeat of the tree.
Turning to go with a sigh of relief she is astounded to see Malach waiting for her. For a moment she does not move or breath for fear she will find it is just a mirage. Then with a sob she runs to him and finds herself engulfed in his strong arms. Breathing him in she buries her face in his neck, unable to make herself look at him.
"You plan on coming out anytime soon?" His deep voice asks with a chuckle. Her muffled response has him squeezing her even harder.
"I've missed you too Elina" he says quietly. Happy to be reunited with her, Malach knows their time together is limited. Reluctantly he releases her and sets her down on her feet, looking her over as she steps away. Looking into her beautiful turquoise eyes, he smiles.
"You've done we'll Elina," he says softly.
"Thank you Malach" she replies with a shaky breath. "Why are you here?" She asks looking up into his stunning emerald eyes. The beauty of the angel before her takes her breath away. She is more aware of him as a woman, drawn to the power of his muscular frame and cobalt blue wings.
Looking at the beauty before him, he dreads telling Elina why he has come. "You have completed the first task; however the rest of your journey will not be so easy. The fallen have eyes everywhere, and they are intent on finding you. They want the book and the power it holds."
"I am aware of that, Malach. You are not telling me anything new," she says a little confused.
Stepping closer to her he touches her face and continues, "I'm worried for your safety Elina. They are going to go after everyone and everything you come into contact with, for a chance to get to you. You must trust no one, and leave no lose ends."
Holding his hand against her cheek Elina is moved to tears. "Malach ...." she starts to say but he steps back taking his hand with him. "Things are worse than I feared; you must understand that some angels do not want the pieces returned. You must be on guard at all times, against friend and foe."
"What about you Malach, can I trust you?" She asks "I can't feel you any longer. Touching a hand to her heart she says softly, “I feel only emptiness when I reach for you now."
Taking her hand and placing it on his bare chest she feels the heat of his skin and the drumbeat of his heart. Smiling up at him she feels her heart beating in rhythm with his once again.
"Our connection was broken to protect you, Elina you can always trust me," he says running his hands through the curtain of her silky black hair. "Remember to hold fast and cherish hope, our Father will never fail you Elina." Realizing he is telling her goodbye her heartbeat jumps and begins to beat erratically.
"When will I see you again Malach? How will I find you?" she asks desperately as he begins to fade away. His heartbeat grows more distant and she hears him in her mind say "I am always with you Elina, and when you call I will come and bring an army of angels to fight at your side!"
Unaware of time Elina drops to her knees a hollow shell once more. Not sure if his coming was a gift or a punishment she cries sorrow filled tears.
Nineteen
Daniel knows just what he's looking for; he spies it from the trees. He moves through the trees as fast as he can, knowing they are locked onto his scent. Sniffing the air, they follow him to a cave. The leader of the five is the first to enter; he does not hesitate for he has no fear.
With one swipe of his massive paw, the demons head rolls out of the cave coming to a stop at the base of a tree. When the aroma of blood permeates the air, the red eyes of the demon turn black. Falling on the body of their brother they begin a feeding frenzy, oblivious to how or why. Ripping chunks of flesh from the headless body, one severs an arm and runs off hoarding his prize.
Using the distraction, Daniel explodes from the cave borrowing the body of a male grizzly bear. He attacks the three demons busy devouring their meal. Using his enormous jaw, he grabs one of the demons by his throat shaking and smacking at it with his claws. One demon leaps onto the back of the eleven foot tall bear, sinking its razored claws into the meaty hide. Deep inside the bear, Daniel feels its pain. Rearing up with a roar of pain onto its hind legs, he hurls the limp body of the dead demon into another one. Then with a beastly roar rips the demon from his back by his foot. Slamming him repeatedly against some rocks on the ground, he tosses him aside sniffing the air for the final demon.
Bleeding from the gashes on his back and lacerations to his neck; the bear falls to his four legs roaring and shaking his massive head. Watching from his tree the final demon takes his time finishing his meal. Tossing what's left of the arm on the ground, he leaps from the tree with a howl aiming for the grizzly's throat. With a slice of his mighty arm the demon stands no chance. His five claws rip the demon from shoulder to hip. Falling to the ground the bear bounces on the demon with his front paws, pounding on his prey waiting for his movements to stop. Urging the bear into a run, Daniel heads back to help his family.
Watching the man she loves run out into certain death Heather knows true fear. Not for her own safety but for his. "Seth..." she whispers in a broken voice. She begins to pray. Crouching in the dirt with her arms around her Mother; she prays. Watching her Father struggle to hold the shield against the demons beating upon it; she prays.
The demons are circling the shield, growing
more and more frustrated they continue fighting each other. Snarling, snapping, and beating their clawed hands against the shield; the noise is deafening, but Heather hears the quiet power of her creator in her heart.
Seth makes it only a few feet before he is forced to fight. He swings his axe in a large arc taking out three of the demons as they try to circle him. The power he fed into the axe makes it a formidable weapon. Glancing back at Heather, he sees her release her Mother and stand as she says, "The Light of God surrounds us."
A quiet falls over the demons as they all turn to look at her. Heather becomes the target for the mass of demons as she continues saying stronger this time "The Love of God enfolds us."
With every breath she takes she feels the power of her maker with her. The demons become enraged and turn flinging themselves against the shield over and over trying to stop her. Seth uses the distraction to hack through the demons closest to him, but they pay him no mind. "The power of God protects us!" Heather continues louder.
Desperately hacking attacking at the demons, Seth looks for Jake and finds him in position. The plan they often used in combat was to create crossfire and take out as many as possible before falling back is now jeopardized because of Heather.
Heather stands beside her Father resting her hand on his shoulder she looks at him and says, "The Power of God watches over us." A silent tear traces down his cheek, not from fear but from pride at his daughter. The demons rage beating, screaming, scratching at the shield and this time his voice joins hers and together they say, “The presence of God watches over us". The next three demons to hit the shield explode screaming into mist once more.
Jake watches but cannot fight his way through the mob of demons blocking his path. Picturing double swords Jake begins to attack them from behind, trying to create a path back to the group. Seth sees what Jake is doing and begins fighting his way back through the demons as well.
Sophia sits rocking herself in the dirt, covering her ears with both hands trying to block out the noise. She wants to go home. Rocking and moaning she does not see a demon approach the shield from behind. He sits just outside the shield and reaches out a long talon tapping on the shield. With a sizzle and a burn he jerks his clawed talon back and licks his dry lips. Scraping both clawed hands in the dirt he gouges out a path and waits patiently staring at her.
Glancing at her father, Sophia sees a shadow behind his motionless body. Squinting at the shape, she is caught in the web of his reptilian gaze. Through the chaos and noise the others do not see her stumbling towards him. The moment her foot crosses the protection of the shield he seizes her, driving his talons deep into the top of her foot. He leaps backward dragging her out of the safety of her cocoon.
Running with his catch dragging behind him, he is attacked by another demon trying to steal his meal. Sophia feels the pain of being dragged through grass, rocks, and trees but cannot scream. She is paralyzed from the venom in his talons. Ripping his claw from her foot he fights the other demon, only to roar in frustration when another snatches her and runs toward the trees. Leaping from limb to limb he climbs as high as possible and slices a branch off close to the base leaving a sharp point. He jams Sophia on it impaling her through her shoulder, hooking her under the collar bone. The blood from seeping from her wound is too much of a temptation for him to resist. He leans in for a taste, when he hears the screams of his brothers from below. Snarling deep in his throat he leaps away hoping to lead them away from his treat.
Sophia's eyes are frozen open and to her horror she sees a body pierced on the branches of the tree next to her, Anna her Father's nurse. She has been stripped of all clothes and her broken body has been brutalized and feasted upon. Sophia sees her fate, and screams over and over in her mind. A crushing tightness in her chest begins and her wildly pounding heart slows and skips a beat, then another, until finally stopping all together. She welcomes the blessed darkness and when she leaves her body, the demons in the fields below all scream in rage at the sky.
Jake is fighting swinging his swords trying to break though the mob of demons, when they all look to the sky and begin screaming. Doubling their efforts they are intent upon the humans behind the shield. Jake finds himself the center of attention when he slices the arm off one of the large demons. Five turn and drop to their knees rushing towards him with fury in their eyes.
Just before they reach him Jake hears a roar and watches as the largest grizzly he's ever seen comes crashing through a group of trees! He barrels into the demons sending them flying in every direction. Jake takes the distraction and follows the path the bear is making. He just makes it back to the shield, when he realizes Seth is in trouble. The bear turns; stopping straight in his tracks and swings his mighty paws scattering more demons. Then drops back down and barrel straight towards Seth, as if he heard Jakes thoughts. Rising up onto his hind legs the bear stands at least eleven feet tall; he wastes no time slicing through the smaller demons ripping out throats. Seizing the arm of one demon he swings him like a club batting them down like flies. Seth sees Jake and runs swinging his axe and together they make it back to the shield.
With a mighty roar the bear runs in front of the shield turning with his back to the group runs straight into the mass of demons. Fighting with all of its strength, but the bear cannot fight them by himself. Daniel stays with him as long as possible leaving him just as he feels the venom overtake the bear. With a gasp he finds himself back in his withered body and through tears watches as the demons feast on his friend. He hears Heather says softly "Wherever we are, God is."
Seth pulls her into his arms and kisses her joining her in her prayers for help. They all know the odds are against them. Daniel watches Scott fight to hold the shield and sees how he trembles because his strength is failing and that is when he realizes Sophia is missing.
"Where's Sophia?" He asks the confused group.
The shield flashes as Scott almost drops it, turning his head he stares in horror at the empty spot where she should be, "PHIA!" he roars. Jake and Seth both join their power to his in hopes of reinforcing the shield. The demons begin turning back to the task of destroying them.
A crack and more rumbles follow and they watch and despair. More eruptions of steam spurt once more, reinforcements have arrived. The fifteen demons they managed to kill with the help of a bear, doubles. Now an army of hungry night walkers await their orders.
Heather desperately looks for signs from her Mother; only to drop to her knees beside her grandfather, weeping silently. He rests a hand on her shoulder and says, "I will find her."
"No." Jake says firmly, "You are needed here Daniel." It will take all of our power to hold the shield. Look at them! More are coming by the second; your family needs you here."
"Heather,” Jakes orders, “help your father, let me look for tracks." Walking towards the tree where Daniel rests, he sees behind him bloody traces leading out of the protection. "There are tracks leading away into the trees." Jake tells them.
Seth walks up behind Heather, while continuing to add his power to the shield. With no warning Scott drops the shield on Seth and tries to run past Jake only to be stopped with Jakes fist, knocking him unconscious.
"Sorry, but I thought he might try that," Jake tells the stunned group as he pulls Scott's body next to Daniel.
"We have to stay calm," Jake starts to say, only to have Heather jump up and shove him in the chest screaming, "That's my Mother out there!"
Seth says "He's right; we have to stay together Heather." Heather drops down to her knees by her Father weeping softly. Seth struggles under the weight of the shield and decides to cast a net around the shield Scott had envisioned. A wide golden net appears billowing down around the group digging deep into the earth beneath them. Releasing Scott's dome of protection he feeds power into the net. He is rewarded when a demon tries to slice the net with a talon, only to find he is stuck to it like a spider web. The net begins to suck him in burning into his skin disintegrating his screamin
g hide.
More demons appear hitting the net from every side thinking it weaker, only to be sucked in. The group moves back to the center of the net, as Heather asks, "how long can you hold it."
"I don't know," Seth tells her already feeling weak and shaky. "We can help, by feeding Seth our strength," Daniel tells them,”I'm too weak to be of much help, holding the bear took all I had."
Jakes knows they are in trouble when the demons begin circling the net, trying to dig under. One tries to drop on it from above, only to be burned into dust. Seth is sweating and shaking from the exertion when he sees a flash in the distance. Thinking it is lightening, another flash catches his eyes. Random flashes begin to appear, growing closer and closer as they all wonder what it means. Scott begins to wake, dizzy, and in pain. Heather supports him as he sits, "Sophia?" He asks her in a croak.
"Not yet Dad, please listen to them, I need you here" she whispers to him. "Something's coming, and we do not know what it is. Look," she says pointing in the direction of the woods.
Struggling to his feet, he looks into the distance and sees more demons than he cares to count. Some are fighting over the bear, while others circle the net trying to find a weakness. They throw rocks, sticks, and dismembered bear parts trying to break the net.
A loud crack and a white hot flash appear and one by one five large crystal warriors land, each holding black glass swords. They move in unison like a beautiful dance slicing through the demons. Except these swords do not sever, they inhale. Each time the blade touches a demons skin, it is sucked into the depth of the swords.
They stand no chance against the assault, as the five warriors spin through the mob showing no mercy. "I've seen them before, in the cave," Daniel says in amazement. "Elina sent them!" They swirl like miniature tornados extinguishing the demons leaving no traces behind.
