THE FALL (Rapha Chronicles #1) (The Rapha Chronicles)

by Chana Keefer

  Adam’s gaze locked with Rapha’s.

  Without another word, Adam sprang from the trees and started sprinting.

  The magnetic pull grew stronger with every inch she advanced toward this one called Lilith. Surely her beauty was so devastating Glory would be consumed by its power. Power. It throbbed over, under, around, and through her. Unlike Adonai’s and even Rapha’s power, this was displayed in mind-numbing proportions. With the thought of Adonai her mind returned to those amazing hours spent with Him during the night. He was the creator of all things yet He was humble enough to hold the humans while they wept. It was almost comical to imagine this amazing creature wiping another’s tears.

  Glory was unaware she was standing still until the woman said with another melodic laugh, “Come, my dear. There is so much to learn.”

  When the girl looked back into those eyes she saw—or did she imagine—a hint of impatience. Lilith’s arm was stretched toward her, the long, graceful fingertips mere inches from her own, while the incredible eyes were fixed on her hand. Glory snatched her hand away and tucked it behind her back, at that moment, unsure why. A bolt of pain shot through her arm as if the attraction were a living thing that hated being denied. Her eyes opened wide in surprise and, for an instant, Lilith’s image flickered like a reflection on waters stirred by a passing breeze. Emboldened by pain, Glory searched the woman’s visage. Again, the feminine loveliness seemed to fluctuate.

  “Do you know Lucifer?”

  A slow smile spread across Lilith’s beautiful face. “So bright! What a jewel you would be to any crown!” Once more the one called Lilith laughed and a shower of brilliant petals floated from above, settling on the girl’s hair and shoulders and forming a bright carpet around her. Through the falling blooms, the girl watched the woman turn away, still laughing. As the floral shower continued, the petals washed away the femininity from Lilith’s form. In the place of curves, glimmering jewels winking from various body parts and flowing hair, a new landscape emerged—raw, virile, decidedly masculine.

  It was the ultimate torture. Rapha could once again sense the girl’s emotions and physical sensations, but his way was blocked. On either side of the wide path, fierce stone creatures marked the entrance to Lucifer’s domain. To add insult, a golden parchment appeared before his eyes and hovered, an ancient script aflame, reiterating the agreement between Lucifer and Adonai. “Adam!” Rapha shouted to the boy who turned with a What now? expression. “It is forbidden for me to enter!”

  Adam retraced his steps and studied the flame-inscribed scroll but was unable to decipher the language. “What does it say?”

  “In its simplest terms, Lucifer cannot have access to the humans elsewhere and Adonai’s forces may not enter.”

  With a confident shrug, Adam pointed at the hovering document and declared in a commanding voice. “I decree this agreement null. Adonai’s forces may enter!”

  A shudder ran through the ground as a sulphur-laced wind rushed from all directions to converge in a whirling gale around man and angel. Cackling laughter spun around them and the fiery scroll vanished with a flash.

  “There!” Adam declared and stretched a decisive hand toward Rapha.

  “I cannot. If I break the decree, the protection of the garden’s walls will no longer repel Lucifer’s forces.” Rapha did not add that those forces would have free reign soon enough if the young woman disobeyed the law given to her and Adam—that they must not partake of Lucifer’s poison, his fruit of corruption.

  “Rapha! Please! I will see to the rest of the garden when she is safe.”

  “No. If we love Adonai, we obey Him.”

  “But Adonai is gracious. If we break His decree, He will forgive.”

  “Yes, but the consequences cannot be avoided. His laws are for our good even when we do not yet understand His….”

  “I understand there is no time for argument. Come!” Adam exerted his newly discovered authority and, with a shock, the angel felt compelled to obey. With an angry mental shove Rapha lashed back, knocking Adam to the ground.

  Sensing the gravity of this lesson, Rapha prayed the young man would heed his words. “If we disobey, we serve evil’s purpose. If Lucifer finds the issue that will bring disobedience, he will use it again and again, forging a chain to enslave.”

  “I cannot leave her here!”

  “Then you must go on alone.”

  To Rapha, this was a momentous circumstance. He sensed a parting of ways, painful but inescapable. Adam was now a man, ready to risk himself for his beloved and take on the responsibilities of a king.

  Realizing his angelic friend would not budge, Adam stepped back through the gate marking Lucifer’s domain and grasped Rapha’s broad shoulders.

  Rapha bowed until celestial and human forehead touched, and said, “As lies within my power, I speak the eternal wisdom of Adonai upon you. May your body and spirit remain secure in Him until next we meet.”

  With a reassuring squeeze to his friend’s arms, Adam then turned to sprint toward the monstrous arched entrance. The sound of his footsteps reverberating from the surrounding walls filled Rapha’s heart with grief.

  Not only had her host’s appearance changed, their surroundings too had transformed. In place of flowering bowers and sumptuous furnishings, the ancient tree’s trailing vines were heavy with glowing fruit and its low-hanging boughs now released a musky scent. But all this was practically unnoticed due to the amazing creature who commanded her attention. Nothing could have prepared her for the devastation of that sight. Every element of his appearance promised fulfillment of her wildest dreams and anticipation of desires as yet undiscovered.

  Glory’s eyes were wide, her body poised to run, “You… are Lucifer.”

  He opened his hands toward her. “Please forgive me. I merely wanted to avoid startling you. I thought a feminine form would be less… frightening.”

  “I am not frightened,” Glory declared, though her voice quavered.

  “As befits a queen,” he inclined his head approvingly, turned toward the feast displayed beside him, selected two golden goblets, and filled them with a dark, red liquid.

  She could not help staring at his magnificent body, rippling with power and grace. Like the feminine image, his masculinity was evident through provocative, rainbow mists. Her mind once more beheld the visions that had caused her pulse to race and her cheek to flame—the visions of her and Adam melting into one flesh. Only this time, while her image remained, Adam’s had been replaced… by this angel before her.

  “Please, refresh yourself.” He held the goblet toward her but she shook her head, knowing her trembling body would find the hand-to-mouth movement impossible.

  “You do not trust what I would give you?”

  Again Glory shook her head, her hands clasped behind her back even while they longed to touch him. Not only was he beautiful, he also aroused her curiosity. He was different from the other angels who presented themselves in a form very similar to humans. His skin appeared almost molten, glowing and fluid—yet somehow solid. Would his skin (if she could call it that) burn her? Would it feel like thick water, or smooth and hot like the crowns when they had passed from Rapha’s hands? Or would it be a new, unspeakable sensation?

  He was talking again. It was difficult to understand his words because his voice affected her so, both soothing and dangerous. He connected to something much deeper than auditory response—as if his speech probed every nook of her existence and molded into the perfect shape to fulfill her. How she wanted to drown in the pleasure! But no. She had been warned about… something.

  “You are wise to be cautious, dear Glory. The warnings of a trusted counselor should not be cast aside lightly. You have a loyal soul. That is good.”

  When his iridescent eyes turned to regard her with admiration, intense heat rose from her toes. How she longed to touch him. But another desire was even stronger.

  How she longed for him to touch her.

  The feeling sho
cked her pristine body so she clapped her hands over her ears and shut her eyes tight, seeking respite from his overwhelming presence. Even then Lucifer’s image was burned on her eyelids, cast in dark relief but breathtaking nonetheless, and his scent still muddled her thoughts.

  “Run!” Rapha commanded the girl with all the force of his will though he felt his thoughts bounce back from a mighty barrier. “RUN!” he shouted his plea to the wind, hoping sound could break through where the spirit had failed.

  An icy blast swirled around Glory’s feet that, seemingly of their own accord, started to move away although every facet of her being rebelled.

  If only she had not tripped over something at that very moment. If only she had kept her eyes shut and her hands over her ears, even if it meant crashing to the ground and rolling in a blind, broken heap. But Glory’s hands and eyes betrayed her, reaching out to break her fall and opening to see what blocked her path.

  It was long and firm, colorful and glowing, round like an enormous tree root but… then it slithered, sliding through the grass at her feet.

  Rapha’s hopes soared when he sensed her desire turn to fright. Yes. Glory was resisting. She was fleeing. She was… fascinated. No! What new evil was this?

  “Run!” He commanded again but the cry was caught and shoved down his throat by a hate-filled deluge that roiled from the aperture before him.

  Chapter Twelve

  A Choice

  Adam’s efforts were thwarted at every turn. Tall tunnels of stone, lit by sunlight that poured down from square holes set high in the walls, were suddenly plunged into darkness; then when he thought he had discovered another path—some opening that beckoned with better light or perhaps a long line of stones set one on top of the other like a chiseled mountainside—the new path would lead to a solid stone wall or even to a narrow, ascending series of carved stones that would bring him to yet another blocked passage. Many times his heart would leap with hope and he would run toward an opening only to find the sight vanished when he drew near and came upon yet another solid barrier.

  When he once again smacked into solid stone where an opening had been seconds before, he beat his fists on the unyielding wall and commanded, “Open and show me the way to Glory!” The rocks moaned with a sound of pain and anger and—he could not believe his eyes—the walls around him expanded as if taking a deep breath in hopes of crushing him! An accompanying rage stole the air from his lungs and beat upon his senses while a dark malice pressed down, driving him to the hard floor.

  The thing was thicker than Glory’s waist as it glided, a shifting, shining iridescence, like a wide stream of reflective water that retained its shape outside its banks in order to curve around her. She followed an array of dappled, luminous golds, greens, pinks, purples, and patches where the colors seemed to bend before her eyes—from deep blue to black or snowy white transforming to bronze. It was, simply, a captivating, astonishing entity. But she had not yet learned the meaning of astonishment. Her eyes traced the unbelievable length of this mysterious… something… until it widened and rose into the air. Were those wings intertwined in the high branches of the tree? Higher and higher the incredible sight drew her gaze until, finally, there they were, shining with an inner fire and staring, unblinking, back at her—eyes—frightening, beautiful, and brimming with intelligence.

  Then, when she felt her heart would burst, it spoke.

  “She fears because she does not understand,” it said in a low, soothing voice. Then it stepped away from the tree—on strong, well-formed legs.

  When Glory fell backwards in astonishment, it reached for her, its wings unfolding above like a diaphanous canopy.

  No longer needing the guise of a humble tutor, Rapha’s body glowed like a powerful flame and he rose into the air, a beacon to his forces. The bright beings appeared around him, several bearing the marks of heavy combat. Their tidings were grim. Enemy forces surrounded the garden’s borders on all sides, waiting. Unfortunately, Rapha knew exactly what they were waiting for.

  When he felt he was drawing his last breath, Adam gasped, “Please, Adonai! Help me!”

  The pressure immediately lifted, his dark surroundings melted away, and he blinked in the warm, green light of a pleasant glade. At its center, the trunk of a huge, smooth tree rose up, branching into myriad limbs that climbed high to flow in every direction, bursting into clusters of bright leaves and flowering smaller branches, each bending toward the ground, heavy with fruit. A movement at the foot of the tree drew his attention where he saw a man digging in the soil while a snowy white lamb dozed beside him.

  A surge of frustration overtook Adam. This place was lovely and peaceful and already its wholesome fragrance had renewed his strength, but why had Adonai not taken him to Glory?

  He ran toward the man who remained, calmly digging in the dirt. “Please,” Adam shouted, “You must help me.”

  The man turned to him and Adam recognized the Holy One who had instructed him through the night. Rather than answer, the man motioned for him to sit down.

  “But there is no time! Even now she could be…” Adam’s protests died on his lips. The man was looking at him. In those eyes Adam saw empathy, peace, joy, compassion, boundless love, unfathomable pain, and even… hope. In fact, in that momentary connection, Adam felt he could look in those eyes and find everything he would ever need, never again requiring rest, food, drink, or instruction. He knew he was gazing upon the source of all things.

  “Come and drink,” the man said, offering the familiar cup to Adam.

  “Please,” Adam said, “come with me. We have to save her.”

  The man’s gaze was sad. “I am unable to break the agreement.”

  “I thought you had power over heaven and earth. What good are you if she remains in danger?” Adam shoved the cup away causing some of the liquid to splash to the ground. “Are you as impotent against him as Rapha?”

  In an instant, Adam had to shield his face and throw himself to the ground. The man’s appearance was blindingly bright but the eyes were still clear, piercing into Adam’s innermost being. As if a veil had hidden them, a vast host of bright, celestial beings stretched in every direction, a multitude of witnesses to this moment. Suddenly, the fate of one man and woman seemed insignificant in the presence of such glory. Despair seized his soul and Adam bowed his head, trembling at the Holy One’s feet.

  A gentle hand touched his shoulder. Adam opened tear-filled eyes to find the brilliant light was gone. The man lifted Adam’s chin and, with the sleeve of his garment, wiped away the dirt and tears. No sooner was the robe blemished with Adam’s filth than it was once again snow white.

  “Understand, son of earth, if I break the laws that knit all creation, I become like the fallen one, putting creation under his power.”

  “But what of Glory?” Adam’s voice was a tortured whisper, “I care more for her than all creation combined.”

  “That is both your strength and your weakness. The evil one knows this.”

  “Please show me the way to her. Time is passing.”

  “This moment is enough.”

  “Enough for what? You speak in riddles when Glory is in danger!”

  “Her greatest danger lies in your decision.”

  “There is no decision. I have to help her any way I can!”

  “How you choose to do this affects all that is and will be.”

  Adam dropped his head into his hands, “How I wish that weight could pass from me. The reward of her smile every day would be enough.”

  “There was a time Adonai’s favor was enough.”

  That stung, reminding him Glory existed due to Adonai’s love. “But she is more precious to me than my own body.”

  “More precious than the One who created her?”

  Guilt assailed him. Now that the issue was laid bare, he could not look in the Holy One’s eyes. “She is my flesh and bone,” Adam whispered to the earth from which he was formed.

  “Adonai knew the dange
r when He gave such a precious gift, but His nature is to give.”

  The Holy One’s voice was full of compassion, giving Adam the courage to look up. “Please. I must go to her.”

  “But I AM what she needs. Hear my words, trust me, and you will have power over evil.”

  Glory was frozen with horror as an arm—so like those of tiny lizards but one hundred times the size—came near. Was it going to crush her? Pick her up like a ripe fruit and eat her? Even in that terrifying moment, she could not help but admire the intricate markings around its eyes and triangular nose as well as its luminous skin that glowed from within like a pulsing, flawless jewel. It was a reptile, like those she saw every day in the garden, but transformed into a superior being that stood before her with majestic grace. It paused before her wide eyes, its huge hand still outstretched… to assist her? As if she was about to plunge into icy waters, she gulped and reached for the finger that was as large as her forearm.

  The hand looked damp due to its sheen, but it was surprisingly dry, cool, and smooth. Glory stared at that hand and gave it a quick squeeze, as if to prove she was not dreaming, before releasing it in haste with a mumbled apology as soon as she scrambled to her feet. She wanted to ask so many questions as her eyes raced to take in the creature’s entire length, but all Glory accomplished was another gasp.

  It, too, studied her, sweeping its unblinking gaze the length of Glory’s body and returning to her eyes as if measuring her intelligence. Finally it said, “This is the new order?” in a voice disarmingly refined and most assuredly feminine.

  Was she weighed in the balance and found wanting? Glory had no time to decide before Lucifer’s voice once again flowed over and through her.

  “Yes. This is Adonai’s most glorious creation. ‘Glory’ is an appropriate name, wouldn’t you agree?”

  “A definite improvement.” The amazing being smiled—at least she thought it did—the expression seemed to soften before a forked tongue flicked her way.