by Lynn Landes
Daniel waits until the sun is rising before heading to the library he loves. He sees the damage done by a battle that was fought, and knows all of this is his fault. Pushing his wheelchair past the books littering the floor, he makes his way to the corner cabinet where he finds to his relief the Family Bible. Using the pen he brought with him he opens it and writes the date that his precious daughter Sophia died. Wiping tears, he bows his head and asks for forgiveness for his mistake. Next he pens a letter for Scott and seals it in an envelope, placing it in the bible he looks at the tree and knows what he must do. Porting to the crystal caves, Daniel is not sure what he will find. He is hoping the book will be there, so he can use it to stop the war. All she had to do was use the book, he thinks angrily.
Moving further into the cave he watches Elina from the ceiling as she places a hand on the crystal cave sinking deep through to the wall below. Shifting the images on the wall, she changes the scenes to the story of the watchers who fought so hard to save each other, and the bear that helped them.
“How dare you change our history!” Daniel screams from above. Dropping to the floor in front of her, his anger shows in the red glow of energy around him. “If you had used the book, my daughter would be alive! Where did you go? Why were you not here with us, keeper!” Daniel demands.
“Daniel, I am sorry for your loss but…” she starts to say. Daniel interrupts her saying angrily, “Maybe you are not the true keeper! Where is the book?” he demands stepping into her space.
Elina is not surprised that Daniel followed her again; she felt it when he entered the cave. Her original plan was to clear the wall and leave the protection in place. Then return to the house with the stones, but she did not find the stones or the crystal warrior.
“Enough watcher! You do not know everything Daniel! Please return to the house and we will talk about this later.” A sound has her spinning around eyes glowing ready for battle as her crystal warrior flashes into the cave. Landing on his knees, he holds one hand over a hole in his chest and a broken black blade in his other hand. His clear crystal body swirls with a black smoke, as he fights the evil inside of him.
Rushing to his side she drops down asking, “The stones, did you find the stones!” Nodding yes, he lifts his hand from the hole in his chest and she sees he has carved a hole to hold the stones. “You used your body to protect them?” she says in awe. “Thank you, my brother. I release you.” Laying her hand over his chest she pulls the stones free and with another hand melts the crystal from his body returning him to light.
With a sigh he stands and turning back to the wall, steps back into the crystal. The black smoke pours from his body; free now and begins to take shape once more, Daniel steps back in horror, watching as six night walkers begins to take shape in front of him.
Daniel picks up the broken sword of the warrior and rushes toward the nearest demon. The night walkers are ready for him and with a quick spin one grabs the sword, shoving it deep into Daniels heart. Elina screams and sends a blast of energy deep into the night walkers, obliterating all of them. “Daniel!” Elina screams as she watches his light fade.
“I’m so sorry,” he says to her, “I only wanted to stop the war, and protect my family.” The chord holding his body to his spirit breaks free, and begins to disappear into golden dust.
“I know Daniel. That is what I am trying to do, go in peace knowing that I will help them all I can.” Daniel turns with a smile, as he sees a small flame appear and grow larger. “Good luck, keeper,” he says as he steps into the light.
Epilogue
A vibration is his only warning before he enters the cell. Deep in his underground hell, imprisoned for countless years he waits for his chance at freedom. His punishment for his betrayal was severe. His powers were useless against one such as he. The demons held him as others chained him to the floor. They took turns slicing him with their claws, long razor sharp and dripping with venom. He was forced to watch as his life force leaked away drop by drop onto the rocky floor; taking with it every ounce of vitality, angelic beauty, and humanity with it. Screaming he kicks at the demons when they fall like dogs to the floor licking his blood.
"I hope you like your accommodations son, I designed this especially for you; my first born. The walls are made of thick volcanic rock, honed to a beautiful mirrored sheen, so you can never forget what she took from you." At the sound of his voice the night walkers scramble like dogs obeying their master, falling back to allow room for him.
He screams in a rage pulling against his chains. "What is the meaning of this? Release me!" he demands feeling his strength seeping away drop by drop. His beautiful wings begin to drop feathers and his long black hair begins to fall out. His skin begins to shrivel back to the scarred, rippled leathery texture it once held. His lush black eye lashes sprinkle down his cheek, as his eye lids shrivel and disappear once more. Looking at the ground around his knees he picks up a handful of feather and hair and jumps up throwing himself over and over again at his Father, growling and screaming in rage.
Watching his father laughs at his futile attempts. "Those chains are unbreakable! Never again will you destroy my plans!" Walking slowly around behind his son he begins to show his true fury. Manifesting a whip made of white light he snaps it across his sons shoulders, over and over while he screams in pain. The whip sears his skin open filling the wounds with special venom, sealing the poison beneath his skin.
"What plans?" he asks is a raspy voice. Panting, trying to catch his breath, he looks up at his father.
Grabbing his son by the throat he lifts his battered body up in the air growling and shaking him he screams, "I had the keeper in my grasp! You ruined it! She has escaped me and so you shall pay for your arrogance!" Dropping his withered, hairless, and scarred body to the floor he turns and walks out of the chamber taking his dogs with him.
Not a moment’s reprieve was ever given for the pain. Not a breath is drawn without the fire searing his insides, scorching, burning like acid poured into his lungs. His thirsts, hungers and desires torment him until the madness overtakes him. The mirrored cell proved to be the worst part of all the torment. His lidless eyes could give no relief from the constantly burning of the light, no darkness was ever allowed. So he would cower in a corner covering his face like an animal shielding itself with his tattered wings.
Every so often they would throw him a scrap of live food and laugh as he squeezed the life blood out of the rat, if he could catch it. Chained to the floor he had to learn patience and stillness in order to catch something. The blood would fill his throat soothing his insides for a brief second before the burning returned. They are the fallen; who think they are better than the half human, half angel imprisoned here. Posted as his guards they liked to laugh at his torment, telling him stories of her exploits. At first he blamed her for his predicament, his every thought of how he would make her pay for his torture and shame. She took his freedom, his beauty and turned him into a monster! Slowly his thoughts began to shift. After two hundred years or so his rage towards her faded and his sole purpose became the destruction of his father.
His father would return in fits of rage when the keeper began giving him trouble, the torture started again. The last time she killed one of his brothers, crucified him and detonated the chamber taking out hundreds of the demons who lived there. He begged, screamed for forgiveness thinking that is what his father wanted, but it only seemed to fuel his anger. He lit the prison walls from the outside causing them to glow amber. He could see through the transparent walls and what he saw stopped his heart cold. His cell was surrounded by watching eyes. The fallen were brought to witness what would happen to them if they betrayed the one. His own brothers watched standing among the fallen and showed no compassion.
Standing in the cell with him his father begins to speak. "Brothers once I lived and breathed to please our creator, I was a mindless drone who never questioned my orders. I watched his human pets became more important to him than his le
gion of Angels and I questioned why? Why do we slave for a dictator who does not care for us? Are we not capable of thinking for ourselves? So I made a choice, and I paid the price. I too begged and pleaded for forgiveness; hoping for a shred of compassion and understanding. After all he is a forgiving God, but he gave me none. We were treated like the vermin who live in the shadows of this planet, and now I am glad for it. I am more powerful now than ever and I promised those who followed that we would be free again!” The roar of approval is deafening. Raising a hand; he gestures to his prisoner and says "Today I show you the one who betrayed us all! He chose his own vanity and pleasures over the greater good! I do this so you Do Not Forget the consequence of that choice. Follow me and we shall rule together, free and no longer at the mercy of a totalitarian leader!"
Struggling to stand on his weak limbs Raphaim faces his father as he says "I shall show you the same mercy I was shown for my free choice and you shall thank me for it one day!" snapping his fingers four fallen angels enter his cell. Sneering in disgust two of them grab and arm and a leg, while the other two stretch out his leathery tattered wings. Pulling a sword his father severs them from his body.
Raphaim does not scream for he no longer cares if he lives or dies. His eyes never blink, nor waiver from his Father's. Somewhere deep inside hope he hears a question whispered "Are you shadow or light?" Staring into the eyes of his father he whispers in a tortured voice "I am shadow."
Blinking in shock his father steps to the wall returning them to darkness. Louder this time "I am Shadow." He says boldly. "Shut up boy!" His Father screams, slapping him hard across his face. Dropping to his knees Raphaim roars in rage "I Am Shadow!!" as his father leaves the chamber with the fallen angels close behind. He screams alone once more in complete darkness, “I AM SHADOW!”” he says to no one.
He felt the ripple and knew before he appeared what it meant. She must be giving him trouble again. Except this time he was ready. The stupid dogs who guarded him failed to check the chains, and his withered form had slipped free. He waited knowing he would only get a moment to attack. When the opening appeared in the rocky wall, he quaked with his hands shielding his face. As Samiel prepared to strike, Raphaim launches himself towards him. He sinks his teeth deep in his fleshy thigh, wrapping his bony arms and legs around him drinking deep. He ignores the fists pummeling him as he quickly sucks the healing blood into his throat, only to be ripped away and pinned to the wall by his Father. Laughing, he licks the blood off his lips waiting for the usual abuse to begin.
The rich purity of the blood in his system was hypnotic and he snarled and scratched, fought and kicked like an animal fighting for its meal. His Father called for two of the guards to help hold him. They watch as the blood began to work its magic, regrowing a single wing, with beautiful black feathers. "You are evolving, awakening to your new form; I may have need of you soon." Turning to leave he seals the two fallen guards inside and watches through the glass wall. They wait a moment before they realize what is happening and the panic sets in.
One drops his hold on the prisoner running to the wall, looking for the opening that no longer exists. Seizing the moment; Raphaim attacks without a thought, going straight for the throat of the angel holding him. The blood so warm and rich pours into his system fueling his starving cells. Releasing his first victim he launches an attack against the one trying to get out hitting him from behind. Sinking his clawed nails into his eyes he blinds him and sinks his teeth straight into his throat ripping out his jugular, releasing a river of angelic blood. Covering the gash with his mouth he drinks his fill, watching his father through the wall. Dropping his victim he stands at full strength once more, and prepares to fight the injured angel.
Smiling he looks at his Father never blinking. Naked his fully formed body is covered in grime and filth, but he has no shame. His wings are fully feathered once again, and he waits with the patience of a starved animal on the hunt. “I am Shadow,” he says once more.
I am Lynn Landes, happily married mother of three from Lake Wylie, South Carolina. Thank you for reading my debut novel, “The Angel’s Covenant.” I have been writing poetry and short stories all of my life. In fact this book began as a poem for my husband for Valentine’s Day. It soon took on a life of its own and I decided to “follow the thread,” and take a chance. I hope you enjoyed the story. You can write to me at:
[email protected].
