by Mary May
Now it was Rocko’s turn to arch a brow at her. “Would it really?” he asked.
Jaxon stared at him, considering his question. Finally, she shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. Probably not.”
“Look, if it’s any consolation, all the other Muharreb’s responded in much the same manner.”
“All the other what?” Jaxon asked with a frown.
“Muharreb, it’s what we call human spirit warriors. Muharreb is Arabic for warrior,” he explained.
“We actually have a name? How many of us have there been?”
“You make number eleven hundred and one. Not very many at all, if you think about it. That’s why it’s so important that you fully understand what you’re facing.”
Jaxon’s face showed her shock. “That’s it? Why so few?”
“Two or three Muharreb’s are chosen for every continent since the crucifixion. They are called somewhere between twenty-five and thirty years of age and they serve for approximately thirty years or so.”
“So, what exactly is Sloan’s job where I’m concerned?” she asked as she refilled her coffee cup.
“His job is to train you in the skills every Muharreb needs. Has he not spoken to you about this?” Rocko’s face was one of surprise and concern.
“Don’t blame Sloan. I haven’t exactly been very accommodating when it comes to this subject,” Jaxon admitted with a deep sigh. “You see, me and the good Lord haven’t exactly been on the best of terms and to learn that all of sudden I’m so important to him has me feeling a little put out.”
“Jaxon, you have always been important to the good Lord, as you put it. Whatever your relationship with him was, know that he always loved you and wanted to be a part of your life.”
Jaxon eyed him over the rim of her coffee cup. “You sound like Sloan. He basically told me the same thing.”
Rocko smiled. “Then what does that tell you? I’m sure you know by now that we can’t lie. If you have heard the same thing from two different ones, it must be true, right?”
“I guess so. I just wonder why he is showing all the interest in me, all of a sudden. Is it because I’m old enough to be of use to him now?”
Her comment made the angel sitting across from her burst out in laughter. Crossing her arms, she glared at him. “What’s so funny?” she demanded.
Shaking his head, Rocko chuckled a little more. “You humans never cease to amuse me with the way you think.”
Jaxon narrowed her eyes at him. “Explain.”
“No problem. First, get the idea out of your head that God needs your help. He will use your help, of course, but it’s far from a need. There isn’t anything he can’t handle alone. Second, lose the idea that if he does use you that it’s all for him. There is something that he is trying to accomplish within you. Every person is different and he treats every one of you as an individual. Some people are easier to reach and some require… well, let’s just say a little more persuasion.”
“Maybe if he had been a little more present in my childhood I wouldn’t need so much persuasion,” Jaxon argued.
“Do you think you are the only one in the world with a less than perfect childhood? Can you sit there and tell me that others didn’t have it worse than you? Listen, life on this planet is far from how he wanted it to be. But never has he forgotten about a single soul that lived on it. He reaches out to mankind every day in countless different ways; most are just too self-absorbed to notice.”
“Well, don’t sugarcoat it. Tell me how you really feel,” Jaxon grumbled.
Narrowing his dark brown eyes at her, Rocko gave her a serious look. “Sweetheart, one thing you will learn about me is I don’t do sugarcoating. Besides, you look like you can handle a straight shot of truth.”
“Ok, so now what? Let’s say I’m on board with all this Muharreb stuff. What is the next step?”
Rocko shook his head. “There isn’t a next step until you accept the calling.”
“Didn’t I just say that?” Jaxon asked with a frown.
“No, you said what if; this isn’t a what if situation. It’s a do or don’t and you’re running out of time to decide. Tell you what, why don’t you take a drive or take a walk? Go somewhere where you can be alone with God. Talk to him and, more importantly, let him speak to you. I think there is some fence mending that needs to be done. I will keep an eye on things here.”
Jaxon was quiet for a minute as she considered his suggestion. Finally, she nodded her head as she got up to go get dressed. “The kids will be hungry. I have some cereal in the cabinet. I’ll take Higgins for a walk. Tell Sloan, if he shows up, I’ll be back in a little while.”
Twenty minutes later Jaxon pulled up in front of the city park. After letting Higgins out of the back seat, she snapped his leash on then let him set the pace. So much was running through her head that she didn’t have a clue where to start sorting through all of it. Deciding to take Rocko’s advice literally, she started talking to the one that she hadn’t spoken to since she was a child.
“Alright, you have my attention. I really don’t know what to say to you. You already know how I feel about everything anyway.” Walking a few steps further, she stopped and stared up at the blue sky. “Actually, I take that back; I do know what I want to say to you. I know that I didn’t have the worst childhood ever, but it wasn’t great either. I really feel like you could have intervened on my behalf a little more than you did. The only example that I ever had of you and who you were supposed to be came from my grandmother, and we both know how she was.” Jaxon continued walking down the sidewalk, her emotions now churning. Feelings she had long since buried were dangerously close to the surface. Anger, resentment and betrayal all took turns lashing at her heart. Before she knew it, her vision grew blurry as the pain that she had held locked down became more than she could keep inside. Finding a path that led off into a thicket of woods, she took it, grateful for the solitude. “I’m angry and I’m hurt, and, more than anything else, I’m tired of feeling so alone!” Letting the tears flowed unchecked, she poured out her heartache.
The further she walked down the secluded path she could feel the pain start to drain from her heart. Within minutes she could draw in a deep breath, feeling it go clear to her soul. A soft breeze drifted through the leaves, sending them dancing on the ends of their branches. Peace unlike anything she had ever before felt seemed to swirl around her. It was, pure and simple, the washing away of her pain. There weren’t any lightning bolts or dramatic thunder crashing. The God she had never encountered before announced his presence in a sweet and gentle way. Jaxon stopped and reached out to the nearest tree, digging her fingernails into the rough bark to keep from falling to her knees. Drawing in harsh, ragged breaths, she was unable to take another step. An unfamiliar feeling swept over her. Cleansing tears now fell from her eyes as the broken heart she had held so close was mended by the one who had created it.
Finally, Jaxon looked up and lifted her hands; then she laughed out loud. “Look, Higgins, I’m shaking worse than the leaves on the trees!” Lifting her eyes, she stared up into the brilliant blue sky.
“I know you’re up there. I can feel you now. I’m still not real sure what comes next, but if it’s alright with you, I think we have made enough progress for now. I need a little time to… to… I don’t know, absorb all of this, I guess. So, I will talk to you later. Oh! I almost forgot, I have no idea how much help I can be, but I would like to officially take the job as your next Muharreb person. Ummm…thank you and Amen.” Unsure if she ended her little heart to heart with the Almighty correctly, Jaxon hurried back to her car and headed home.
Chapter 11
The Jaxon that walked back in her front door was far different from the one who had walked out earlier. Rocko was seated at the table flipping through an old Glamour magazine. He knew without her saying a word that things were different for her now. “I never would have pegged you as a Glamour girl type,” he commented, giving her a sideways glanc
e.
Jaxon rolled her eyes. “Oh, I’m not, but I like looking at the Glamour Do’s and Don’ts generally just to make sure I’m not in there with a black bar across my face.”
Rocko chuckled as he watched her trying to decide between Lucky Charms or Fruity Pebbles.
“You know what? I’m starving, but I’m in no mood for cereal. How about I make some waffles?” she offered as she started pulling bowls and ingredients from the cabinets.
Before Rocko could answer, there was a knock on her front door. Glancing over at him, he shook his head, telling her he didn’t know who it was. Jaxon looked from the kitchen window to see a dark blue four-door sedan parked in her driveway. Feeling her heart start to thump, she turned back to the angel who was peering over her shoulders.
“It’s Rawlings!” she said in a hushed whisper.
“Does he usually come here?” Rocko asked.
Jaxon shook her head. “Not in the six years that I have been on the force.”
“I will keep the kids out of sight if they wake up.” He then slipped out of sight as Jaxon walked to the front door.
Jaxon took a deep breath then opened her door. The man whom she had known for six years, been her mentor, the closest thing to a father figure that she ever had, looked at her with a cold smile.
“I hope you don’t mind that I dropped by unannounced.”
“Uh… no… of course not. What brings you by today?” Jaxon stepped outside onto her porch, shutting the front door firmly behind her. Every instinct she had told her not to let the man into her home. She could actually feel the hairs on the back of her neck start to prickle with unease.
“I was wondering what you have discovered about the blood that was recovered out at the warehouse.”
“It was all in my report that I turned in. Did you not receive it?” Jaxon replied, carefully keeping her face relaxed.
Rawlings nodded as he looked around the front yard; then he settled his gaze back on Jaxon. “Yes, I read what was in the report. I want to know is what wasn’t in the report.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t understand what you mean,” she replied.
Rawlings’ chuckle sent chills down Jaxon’s spine. “Oh, I think you do know what I mean.” Suddenly he stepped in close, causing her to back up against the wall of the house, putting his face scant inches from hers. Jaxon could hear Higgins going nuts inside the house. At least now she understood why the dog had such an aversion to the man.
“Don’t mess with things that you don’t understand, Jaxon,” he whispered softly. “You are a good detective, but this is none of your concern. Leave it alone.” Jaxon noticed that his eyes seemed different somehow. She had never paid much attention to his eyes other than to note they were hazel, but now they seem darker, nearly black as he stared down at her.
Disbelief surged through her at his words. Taking a step sideways, she stared furiously at the man she had always thought so highly of. “Murder is always my concern. As an officer of the law it’s part of my job description, or did you forget the oath that we take when we are sworn in?”
Rawlings chuckled softly, shaking his head at Jaxon as if she were a small child. “You are very naïve, more so than I had realized. Maybe this would be a good time to consider a new career choice?”
“Maybe you should ask yourself that question. Personally, I like my career choice just fine. But then again, I’m not the one making a mockery of the badge I wear.”
Rawlings’ face grew cold and hard at her words. “Let me put it to you another way. Stay out of my way or you might find yourself in a cell next to the very ones that you arrested. I’m sure you know about how long a cop lasts behind bars.” He reached out and ran a finger down her cheek. “And one as pretty as you is sure to garner some extra attention.” Then with another mocking smile he stepped off her porch and walked back to his car. Jaxon stood in shock and watched him pull away.
Rocko appeared behind her, placing his huge hands on her shoulders. “Are you ok?”
“I can’t believe that just happened. There is no way I can go back to the station after that.” Jaxon walked back inside, rubbing her arms to ward off the sudden chill she felt.
Rocko watched with a sympathetic gaze. “I hate to tell you, but it was going to happen sooner or later. Once you start rubbing people wrong in high places, the job is the first thing to go.”
“The first? Are you saying I’m going to lose more than just my career? And to my knowledge I haven’t rubbed anyone! All I have done is what I have been told to do. Nothing that would bring Rawlings down on me like this.”
“But you have done something, Jaxon. You have teamed up with Sloan and you are aware of what is truly happening in this city. Word travels fast in the spirit realm. Very little that you do from now on will go unnoticed.”
“Why do I have the feeling that I still haven’t gotten the full rundown on this Muharreb thing? And where the heck is Sloan?” Feeling overwhelmed with everything, she dropped down in the kitchen chair, cradling her head in her hands,
Rocko looked sympathetically at the human who was fighting for control. The poor thing had no clue that her road would only grow more treacherous.
“Sloan is taking care of a few things, and, no, I haven’t told you everything. I wasn’t expecting Rawlings to make his move so quickly. I thought we would have more time, honestly.”
“More time for what?” Jaxon asked, already knowing she wasn’t going to like the answer.
“More time to prepare you,” Rocko said as he pulled out a kitchen chair.
Keeping her eyes on him, Jaxon propped her elbows on the table and rubbed hard at her temples. “I want to know everything, right now. No more holding back. Everything, Rocko.”
The angel resumed his place at the table. “Remember me telling you that there were two or three Murharrebs for each continent?” When Jaxon nodded, he continued. “They are responsible for the entire continent.”
Jaxon sat back in her chair in shock. “The entire thing? You have got to be kidding me!”
“I’m afraid not. Of course, you will have Sloan to assist you, and I always team up my new recruits with a more seasoned team member for a while. But after you are trained, you will be on your own.”
“Why so few? Why can’t more be called or trained or whatever? This seems like an impossible task for just two or three people.”
“Jaxon, becoming a Murharreb means that you will give up having a home in one place. It requires constant travel from one location to the next as the Spirit directs. You will be asked to give up a normal life of family and friends and your career. It is a lot to ask of someone -- that is why so few are called. The challenge is great but the reward is greater.”
“What reward? Not to sound selfish, but what will I gain from this?”
“It’s not a selfish question. Any reasonable person would ask. Here is your answer. You gain knowledge of things that most people don’t. You will get the satisfaction of knowing that because of you this world is a little bit safer.”
“That sounds all great and grand, but if I don’t have a job, how do I fund my world-saving trips?”
“When it’s time for your next assignment, you will receive a packet with your destination, the key to a hotel that’s already been paid for and the name of your contact person in that location. There will also be a credit card included in your packet for expenses. The card will be reloaded as needed. As I said earlier, Sloan will be with you. I would suggest placing your house on the market and selling off as much of your possessions as possible. You want to be able to travel light. One bag, if you can, would be best.”
Jaxon sat there slowly absorbing the fact that her entire world would be required to fit inside one duffle bag. Needing a break from that dreadful line of thought, she asked Rocko what his part in all this Murharreb business was.
“I’m the director, so to speak. You and Sloan would be under my direct command.”
For some reason that surprised he
r. Rocko didn’t come across as the “Director” type.
“So, that’s really the reason that you’re here, isn’t it? It’s not to help me watch the kid, is it?”
“No, I am here for that as well, but it was time to fill you in on everything. That’s one of the reasons why Sloan isn’t here right now. I always like to talk to my new recruits alone. I want to make sure that you know exactly what you will be facing and fighting.”
Pulling a face, Jaxon told him that she had already seen what she would be fighting.
“That’s not the worst of it, not even close. You will walk very closely to the edge of evil… you must in order to defeat it. You will see things that would give you night terrors for the rest of your life.”
“Would give me terrors? Not will give me terrors?” Jaxon questioned.
“Caught that, did you?”
“I’m a detective; I’m trained to pay attention to what people say.”
“If you were a normal human, what you will encounter would most likely make you lose your mind. But you will be able to withstand what the everyday human cannot.”
“Why is that? Do I get superhuman powers or something? Will I need to go out and buy tights and a cape?” Jaxon asked with a grin.
“No, tights and a cape will not be required. But you will get a little extra help,” Rocko replied with a straight face.
Jaxon opened her mouth to ask what he was talking about when Jazzy walked into the kitchen.
“Morning, Honey, are you hungry?” she asked. When Jazzy nodded, Jaxon stood and went to the counter to start mixing up the batter for waffles.
“You might as well go check on Zero,” she said over her shoulder. “Make sure he hasn’t crawled out a window or something.”
Rocko nodded as he got up, ruffling Jazzy’s hair as he passed by her.
“I love waffles. I haven’t had them in a long time,” Jazzy said as she watched Jaxon beat the batter in a large plastic bowl.
“I love them, too, but it’s too much trouble to make them just for me so I’m glad you’re here. It gives me a reason to cook them,” Jaxon said as she poured the batter into the hot waffle iron.
