Simra glanced at Lucinda. “If something happens, we might have to go back. I hate putting you through all this trouble, but Grandmother's freaking out.”
Mandy’s gaze remained on their grandmother. “I can see that. I won't have a problem with it, Cousin. I'll try putting Grandma to bed now. Just tell me if anything starts happening.”
“You certain you don’t want to go to sleep and let me take care of her? You look so tired.” Simra's heart ached for Mandy and their grandmother, who were both deprived of rest.
“No. Go on to bed, Sim. The demon and Quint have you very stressed and tired. I see it in your eyes. You need all the sleep you can get. Goodnight. Love you.”
“Well, all right. Goodnight, Mandy. Love you.”
Simra smiled at her cousin. Grabbing her suitcase, Simra pulled it into the guest room. After changing clothes, she climbed into bed. She yawned and got ready to pray. However, Simra couldn’t erase a sick feeling in her stomach. Tristan always appeared out of nowhere.
A cold, gentle hand squeezed her foot under the covers. Simra dared opening her weak eyes and hoped it was only Lucinda or Mandy. She almost stumbled off the bed when she saw Tristan's glowing eyes.
Her ex-fiancé drew closer and closer in the suffocating darkness. Simra’s faith faded more by the moment. The demon loomed over the bed. Her wild heart hammered against her chest.
Tristan drove his face a breath away from Simra’s in a split second. He gripped her shoulders with his powerful hands. “Zach will be gone forever soon. Then, we’ll be together always and forever.”
Chapter 14
"Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted." -Matthew 5:4
Simra struggled to free herself from Tristan’s painful grip. She couldn’t get loose even after attempting to kick him. Tristan’s strength weakened her body. The overpowering scent of smoke almost suffocated her.
The demon just stood there and gazed deep into her eyes. His powerful grip on her arms held her still. However, Tristan didn’t try harming her in any way.
Simra closed her eyes tight and prayed in silence for the Lord’s protection. God, please surround me and my family with Your protection from Tristan. Amen. She couldn’t concentrate on her prayer.
Simra could only focus on the misery in the demon’s eyes. His deep sadness reached through her soul. Somehow, she needed to learn to have faith in the Lord.
Weakness spread throughout her paralyzed body. The demon studied her and held her arms in his firm, powerful grip. Zach stormed into the room. She hid a gasp of relief and shock. The angel yanked Tristan away from her.
Zach pinned him onto the bed. Her ex-fiancé struggled to get free from his brother’s strong grasp. The angel needed assistance holding him down. Simra leaped from the bed to help him keep Tristan pinned to the mattress.
Zach turned toward her, and his intense gaze lingered on Simra. “Trust God.” The angel closed his eyes and mumbled something in a different dialect. After finishing, Zach released his brother and pulled Simra away from the demon.
Tristan's agonizing screams echoed throughout the house. Fire reflected in his yellow eyes. “I’ll come back for both of you!” Tristan stormed out of the room. His shadow vanished on the wall in the hallway.
Simra wriggled from Zach’s grip and tried rushing after her family until the angel stopped her. “Mandy! Are Mandy and Grandmother all right?”
“There’s no need, Simra. They’re fine. Azazel’s in pain for now. He ran away to return his strength. Your faith’s weak. The Lord will fight for you. The Father’s love for you is overwhelming and strong. The hairs are numbered on your head, and He has many purposes for you. Trust Him to protect you.
"And don't always believe what you see or hear in news articles about someone. Most rumors aren't true." Leaving the room in a swift movement, Zach disappeared from sight.
“Wait!” Simra called to Zach to stop him, but Mandy ran into the room.
Mandy turned on the light, and her frantic gaze explored the area. “What's going on?”
Lucinda took quick baby steps behind Mandy and cried out in desperation. “Go now! We go now!” Their grandmother pulled Simra’s arm in a rough manner. Lucinda seemed to be trying to persuade them to leave.
Simra tried to calm Lucinda. “All right, Grandmother. All right. We’re going back to the lake house. Promise.” She framed the woman’s delicate face in her hands. Simra spoke in a gentle tone, but it seemed to soothe the woman only a little.
Mandy’s lips parted in surprise. “Grandma talked! Sim, is the demon here? What's happening?”
Simra sat on the plush brown comforter and explained everything. “Take us back to the lake house. It’s safer there. Tristan's gone for now but will come back. I’m more worried about what he’ll do to you and Grandmother.”
Bewilderment entered her cousin’s tired green eyes. “I’ll help you load the luggage, and we’ll go. Will it be safe? Is he gone for a while?”
Simra wanted explanations from the angel. “Zach sent him away for a while, but Tristan won’t be gone long. Let’s go to the lake house before the demon comes back. It’s protected. Zach will be there. I think that news article was just a rumor. You know how rumors in the news are sometimes not true.”
A heavy sigh followed by a lengthy yawn escaped Mandy’s lips. She helped Simra with their grandmother and grabbed the suitcases. “All right. You believe Grandmother's improving?"
"No. I believe she's getting worse. Some things she can remember, but most things she can't. It's getting worse."
Tears filled Mandy's eyes. "I hate the thought of losing her."
Simra placed her hand on Mandy's shoulder. "I'm going to try my best to break this curse on her by destroying Tristan. There might be a chance she can be saved."
Losing more faith by the moment, Simra’s rapid heart thumped against her chest. She hoped they would make it to Zach’s lake house before Tristan returned. Then, she also had to protect their grandmother from the angel.
"I hope so, cousin. I've just never heard of anyone being cured of Alzheimer's.”
Simra packed the suitcases into the car and helped Lucinda inside the vehicle. “Well, Grandmother might be the first.”
Mandy slipped into a pair of day clothes, and they got into the car. She began driving to the lake house and turned down the radio. “You know, Zach seems really nice. He’s done so much for you. I’m starting to believe you two are falling for each other. That’s kind of creepy, but at least he seems much more trustworthy than Tristan.”
Simra’s gaze followed the highway, which led to the dirt road. “Zach’s nice, and he’s done much for me. I owe him for how he’s saved my life countless times. I never wanted to trust God until I met him. But I’m not falling for Zach. He isn’t human, and he’s Tristan’s brother.”
Mandy drove into the driveway of the dark house. She parked the car and turned it off. Mandy took a brief glance at Simra and looked at the old home again. “Something about Zach’s house is so peaceful and serene. Maybe it’s because the place is protected from evil. Grandma seems to feel at home when she’s here.”
Simra followed Mandy out of the car with their suitcases. She unlocked the front door with the key hidden underneath the doormat. “Right. It’s very safe here, which is why it’s best that all of us stay.”
Mandy helped their grandmother inside the house. “I think it’s best that all of us are staying here too. Especially for you and Grandma’s sake.”
Although it relieved Simra that they made it, she still had to keep an eye on their grandmother. She wouldn’t dare let the angel take Lucinda’s soul. “It’s best for all of us, but you and Grandmother should get some rest. It’s late.”
Lucinda led them to the back bedroom and plopped onto one of the beds. The woman’s eyelids began closing to fall asleep. Mandy yawned and stretched. Simra couldn’t find it within herself to settle down. The demon wouldn’t stop chasing her. The horrifying look in his glowi
ng eyes drove her to the edge of insanity.
Simra never left her family alone in the bedroom after her cousin changed clothes and slid under the covers. Mandy drifted off to sleep in the bed next to their grandmother’s. Tristan would harm anyone who got in his way of Simra. She closed her eyes and prayed for protection against the bothersome demon.
They must destroy her ex-fiancé soon. Every person she loved would be dead if they didn’t find the corpse. She glanced at the time on her shiny silver watch. She and Zach could still try to find the body tonight.
Mandy’s eyes looked so deprived of sleep earlier. Lucinda seemed to need assurance that her family would be safe. Simra placed a gentle kiss on Mandy and her grandmother’s cheeks. They weren’t aware in their peaceful slumber. A tear slid down Simra’s face.
There must be a way to resolve the conflict between herself and the Lord. Why would He allow this manipulative demon in their lives? How could He let the demon rule over her and her family? And He allowed the demon to kill her parents and curse her and Lucinda. She needed answers tonight.
Simra turned to search for Zach and flipped on the lights in the dark kitchen to find no one there. She imagined what it was like when Lucinda stayed here years ago. Did it look the same?
The floors creaked with every step she took. The cabinets and shelves appeared to be remodeled. The aroma of cedar and evergreen candles made her think of sitting around a fire.
“Zach? Are you here?”
Nothing. Only the frogs and crickets chirped outside the house. He didn’t have any neighbors. She never felt as alone as she did tonight. The chilling thought of Tristan caused her to swallow a heavy lump in her throat.
Her shoulders jerked when someone placed a gentle hand on one of them. “Grandmother? I thought you were asleep. Come. Let’s get you back to bed.” She took her grandmother’s hand, but Lucinda refused to go.
The woman slid into her granddaughter’s arms and held Simra close. “Look to God. Stay ‘way Azazel. Let go.”
Everything within Simra snapped to coldness. Lucinda told her those exact words just before she became too ill. The only difference was that Lucinda spoke much clearer in the past.
Tears slid down Simra’s cheeks, and she framed Lucinda’s face. “Grandmother, I’m so sorry I never listened to you. I wish there’s a way I could return to the past and fix this. I broke up with Tristan, but he won’t leave us alone. I’m going to take care of you and Mandy. I won’t let him or Zach hurt you. I promise.”
Lucinda left Simra standing alone and broken when her words became jumbled together and unclear again. She followed Lucinda back to bed. Her grandmother slid under the covers and fell into another peaceful sleep. Another tear fell down Simra's cheek. She turned to go into the den.
“Zach, make your presence known! I need answers.”
Nothing happened. Simra’s heart raced in thunderous beats. She paid no attention to the creaking floor as she paced back and forth. Her mind swarmed with endless possibilities.
Did Tristan do something horrible to him? Perhaps Tristan sent Zach away permanently before he began killing her family. All of them were in the demon's way.
A sharp light shot through the house and aimed straight at Simra. She slipped backward and fell on her rear against the front of the couch. The bright beam almost blinded her. It came out of nowhere. Covering her eyes couldn’t even keep it from her view. Warmth enveloped her body when the light grew more bearable.
She gazed into the beauty of it to see a lone man walking toward her. “Zach?”
Zach placed a gentle hand on her cheek. His firm, tender voice sent ripples of splendor through her. “Wake up, Simra. You're not dead. God still needs you. Accept Lucinda's death.”
Simra’s breathing grew uneven, and she drew away from him. “No, I won’t allow her to die. I’m breaking the curse before that happens.”
Zach frowned, drew closer to her, and caused Simra’s insides to melt. No more words were spoken. Much frustration reflected in the dark blue depths of his eyes. Her eyes ached from the increasing need of sleep.
The vivid rays of the strange light amplified her drowsiness. The beam loosened her stiff muscles from head to toe. The light and Zach faded away.
One question weighed heavy on her mind as she tried to fight sleep. Was Lucinda all right? Her grandmother’s life might be slipping away at the moment. Simra had to fight this heavy wave of sleep to protect her! But the sleep began to overpower her.
Chapter 15
"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." -Psalm 51:7
Simra’s eyelashes fluttered open to see a brilliant crystal white winter dazzling all around her. Evergreens covered the towering mountains in every direction. Their crisp clean scent smelled so familiar. Thick, heavy snow blanketed the trees.
Tiny snowflakes drizzled from the sky onto her skin. The warm breeze kissed her face and made her feel like she was still in Texas. She took several steps in the snow, which didn’t melt in the warmth. Serenity embraced her soul. How did she get here?
She only recalled trying to save her grandmother from a dope dealer, a demon, and a charming angel. This had to be a wonderful dream. No such place existed in the world. She recalled the picture at her cousin’s place of her, Lucinda, and Mandy.
The painful memories of them making snow angels haunted her restless heart. Although far from Texas, she couldn’t escape the guilt pulling her into a dark hole. Those happy moments with her grandmother were gone forever.
Simra never experienced such security as she did in these winter mountains. The demon and all evil in the world seemed so far away. Only God's extravagant creations existed here. She needed answers about Zach and about her grandmother overcoming the curse.
Maybe God would give her the answers she sought with such desperation. Something about the place unwound her spirit. Every concern she had was left at home. Simra allowed the gentle snowflakes to fall into her hands. Strong, gentle arms enveloped her from behind. She welcomed their comforting presence.
Zach’s calm, gentle voice melted her soul like warm caramel. “You look even more radiant when you’re at peace with the world around you.”
Never did a man's arms comfort her this way. She cherished these sweet moments with him. Whereas, she would have pushed him away in the past.
A smile formed across her lips, and her cheeks warmed. “This place is beautiful. I feel so safe with you here.”
Zach turned her around to face him. “I’m glad you feel that way. You can stay at peace if you allow it. Remaining stuck in the past keeps you in a dark and vegetative state. That isn’t what God wants for you. He wants you to wake up and accept the past. Overcoming the past will bring you closer to the Lord. If you don’t allow Him to help you, you will die."
“I don’t understand. Tristan's the one who hasn't let go of the past. He won't move on.”
Zach lifted her chin with his finger. “Tristan’s only a small part of it. Let go of what happened to your grandmother. The curse was placed on her, and she's at rest now. Acceptance is the only way to peace. It's over. Let it go.”
He paused and added, “Everything works together for the good. You might not understand now, but you will later. Every human eventually dies from something. God didn't want death in this world, but Satan's the reason for so much despair. But the time's coming when there'll be no more tears. Only joy. And you'll be with your family again. For now, wake up and enjoy God's new blessings.”
“It's over? Did I miss something?”
Zach stepped away from her and nodded. “It can be over if you choose, Simra. Look at the past differently, and wake up. I know how terrible you want freedom.”
Her breath caught in her throat when she gazed at the top of the mountains. There were several snow angels standing all around them on every cliff. No, they were real and beautiful angels! At first, she mistook them for the snow angels she, Mandy, and Lucinda made years ago.
“They’re sad for you, Simra. They’re God’s angels. They want you to allow Him to help you. Stop replaying the past over and over again. Let go of the guilt. The past is gone forever. Face and accept the present so you can go into the blessed future awaiting you.”
Simra shook her head with a brutal force. A part of her died inside when he began to reveal what she denied. “I don’t understand what you’re speaking about, Zach. This is a dream, and I’m about to wake up any moment.”
Zach placed a firm hand on her shoulder. “Stop running from the truth. Your grandmother’s already passed to the other side and is at peace now. She wants you to move on and have freedom.”
Chapter 16
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." -Matthew 6:33
Zach, the angels, and the snowy mountains began spinning around Simra. She stumbled backward into the snow. Everything became dark, and she fell into a deep sleep. The rays of lustrous sunlight awoke her with a start.
Simra gasped in astonishment when she found the alluring paintings of mountains on the walls. Zach must really love the mountains. Was it a dream?
Simra was so flustered that she barely noticed him standing over her. “Where’s Grandmother? What have you done?”
Zach gave her a dark frown and motioned for her to stand. “She's fine. Let’s get to work. We have duties today, and my parents need me.”
Simra bolted up and ran into the back bedroom to check on her grandmother and Mandy. Both were gone, and she felt the blood rushing from her face. Simra turned to Zach and panicked. “What'd you do to them?”
She snatched a note from Mandy off the table. Her cousin took Lucinda to work so she could keep an eye on her. Mandy wrote that she knew Simra would be busy with Zach. Her cousin explained how Lucinda couldn't be left at the house by herself. They would return that evening. Mandy would be off from work by then.
Immortal Memory (Book One) Page 9
