by Ching, G. P.
Abigail placed the wind chimes back in the box, her arm too tired to hold them up, and rested a hand on his forearm. With stormy vision, she turned in her seat to meet her husband’s eyes. “I love you, Gideon. Forever.”
She was home. Finally and completely, home.
* * * * *
Days later, Abigail sat on the veranda outside her bedroom, recovering. She’d spent much of the last forty-eight hours sleeping, and she stretched her arms in an effort to shake the groggy feeling that lingered like an unwanted guest. How long would it take to feel like herself again? Or maybe she never would, because she was not the same self.
Beyond the veranda, the lush jungle was alive with tropical birds and small monkeys chattering within the green foliage. Paradise. How she hated to be the one to deliver the message from the guide in the red stone. Malini put her off about it again and again, insisting she get stronger first before explaining her ordeal, but she couldn’t wait any longer. The Healer needed to know what they were up against.
On the table beside her, a curl of steam rose from her herbal tea, her own healing recipe brewed by Archibald. Thanks to Malini’s daily healing touch, and the gnome’s regular meals, Abigail had already gained a few pounds. Still, she took none of it for granted. All of the Soulkeepers lived here on borrowed time.
A knock rang through the room. “Come in, Malini.”
The Healer entered with the graceful stride of an old soul. “How are you feeling today?”
“Better. I think our sessions are helping.”
“I’m not doing much. My skin doesn’t burn anymore when I touch you, which means I’m not exactly healing something that’s sick. Instead, I’m just giving you a little extra warmth and love to support your recovery.”
Abigail smiled and motioned toward the cushy chair next to her. “We need to talk.”
Pausing, Malini sighed deeply. Abigail expected a fight, but after Malini scanned her from head to toe, she resigned herself to the seat on the other side of the small table.
“Okay.”
“It’s time for me to tell you about what I learned when I was Lucifer’s prisoner.”
“About the challenge?”
“Yes.”
“There will be six curses and six blessings.”
“Fatima told me. She said they will go in order, curse then blessing.”
“The first curse was pestilence. Lucifer is running Harrington Enterprises. The cure was purposefully made to be addictive.”
“We were able to puzzle that one out. We think the first blessing was wisdom. There’s an entire anti-Elysium movement now. God had to be behind that.”
“The second curse was ignorance. Lucifer used his power to place Auriel in the position of Secretary of Education.”
“Like of the United States?”
Abigail nodded. “I’m fairly sure they’ve disposed of the real Mr. Duncan.”
“We assumed he was influenced. Sounds like Lucifer isn’t taking any chances.” Malini shook her head. “I had to kill a Watcher at PHS the last day of school before winter break.”
Abigail raised both eyebrows.
“Said the curriculum was being redesigned. I redesigned her molecules.”
“Was there fallout? Who saw? Do we have to cover it up?”
“You know, I thought there might be. When you burn someone in the middle of the hallway, you expect repercussions. But by the time the others came out, she was mostly ash. Dane told them it was experimental theater.”
“And they bought that explanation?”
“The weird thing is I don’t think the kids who saw really believed our story. They just wanted an explanation. They couldn’t process the truth, so they chose to believe the lie.”
“Hmm.” Abigail lifted her cup to her lips and took a long swallow. “Do you know if the second blessing has happened yet?”
“If it has, I don’t know what it is.”
Abigail nodded. “Then we may have some time. I’ve learned the third curse will bring us out of Eden.”
“What?” Malini furrowed her brow. “What are you talking about?”
“When I was in the stone—your stone—my guide told me that the third curse will be terror, and even Eden will not be safe. He warned me that we must evacuate. Eden isn’t safe any longer.”
“The curse makes sense. Lucifer deals in fear and illusion. It was only a matter of time before he used terror to his advantage. But Eden?” Malini shook her head.
“Eden has been our safe house since we found it. I didn’t think anything could reach us here. But the guide in the In Between made me promise to warn you. He said, and I quote, ‘You must protect the remnant.’”
“The remnant? Eden isn’t safe?” Malini searched Abigail’s eyes. “Are you certain about this? The guide is a manifestation of my deepest consciousness. I don’t have any memory of what he or she says to anyone, but I do know that sometimes the messages can be abstract. Even I have trouble seeing the future.”
“I’ve been human less than a year, Malini, but I’ve been around much longer. It wasn’t just what the guide said.” Abigail stared into the jungle, tapping that deep and distant part of herself that used to be a Watcher. “I can feel it in my bones. Something big is coming. Something brutal. Lucifer will stop at nothing to win this challenge. He’s not above cheating or trickery.”
“Another Trojan horse?” Malini asked absently.
“I don’t know for sure, but we must prepare.” Abigail turned to meet her young friend’s eyes and rubbed a hand over the mound of her belly. “We need to leave Eden.”
Chapter 20
The Second Gift
The rubber-coated, foam ball plowed into Tommy Snider’s stomach with such force that his young, lanky body toppled backward. He landed with a painful thump on his tailbone. The red ball rolled harmlessly away.
“Snider!” the P.E. teacher howled, his face turning red with the force of his yell. “Man up and play ball.”
Within the body of twelve-year-old Noah Spencer, the angel Gabriel reached down to help God from the floor of St. Andrews Middle School.
“Lord, are you all right?” Gabriel asked.
“Noah! You worry about you,” the red-faced teacher yelled.
Another red ball sailed between them.
“You know I am fine, Gabriel. I’ve suffered much worse humiliations than this,” God said through Tommy’s mouth.
Smack. A red ball collided with the side of Gabriel’s head. He rubbed Noah’s aching ear.
“Why must we do this, Lord? Dodgeball? In the bodies of twelve-year-old boys? What good could this possibly accomplish?”
God smacked another red ball aside with Tommy’s small-for-his-age hand. It bounced harmlessly between the targets on the other team and was promptly caught. “Tommy Snider has been bullied all year at St. Andrews. For one afternoon, I wanted to lift his burden. There’s no better day to do that than dodgeball day.”
“But, Lord, we hardly have time for this. Auriel is running the public education system for Lucifer. The things they are teaching the children are horrific. The scales still tip in his favor. We must do something. Perhaps, the next blessing?”
“All in good time, Gabriel.”
Gabriel leapt in front of God to block the next barrage of balls. A welt began to form under Noah’s right eye.
“Lucifer has gone too far,” Gabriel said. “It is time to smite the Watchers with heavenly force. Perhaps another flood? A legion of archangels to reclaim the children?”
God caught a red ball and focused on a particularly snotty-looking boy across the gym. He raised the projectile but did not throw it back.
Gabriel watched as the boy across the gym made eye contact with the Creator and shivered. A dark, wet spot bloomed low on the boy’s blue shorts. The perpetually angry P.E teacher uttered a curse and blew his whistle. The game stopped.
“There is a time for force and a time to display quiet strength,” God said, lowering the b
all. He turned piercing brown eyes on Gabriel. “Lucifer never did understand the force of peace. You can never combat ignorance with physical force.”
“Then how do we stop this?” Gabriel asked. The boy who’d wet his pants cried openly as the P.E. teacher ushered him to the locker room with a less-than-compassionate strong-arm. A sea of snickers and pointing fingers followed him.
God sighed. “I hate to do it, but sometimes you have to show a bully for what he is. To combat ignorance, we will impart understanding, specifically discernment of spirits.”
“My Lord?”
“If any man or woman receives my gift and then looks upon a Watcher in the light of day, the beast’s illusion shall fall away and the truth of what they are will be exposed.”
“You will remove the power of their illusions? But, Lord, there will be panic. The humans will see them as monsters. Great fear will come to pass. The world will never be the same.”
God nodded. “It is too late for the same. Those who choose evil must see the darkness for what it is, and those who choose good must know walking in the light does not come easily. There is a price, a responsibility that comes with knowing the truth and having a heart of peace and love.”
Gabriel nodded. “As you wish. How shall I deliver this gift to the world?”
God lifted the red ball toward the ceiling. The rubber skin inflated, thinning and rising from the prepubescent hand of Tommy Snider. Transforming into a giant red balloon, the ball sprouted a string as it floated above their heads. “Take this balloon and guide it in the sky above. See that it drifts for all to see.”
“My pleasure.” Gabriel gave a small bow and flew for the window, red balloon in hand.
“Prepare yourself, Gabriel,” God whispered. “The tide is turning. This means war.”
* * * * *
“Shouldn’t you kids be in school?” Mrs. McNaulty handed Jacob his Coke but eyed Malini accusingly.
“Senior ditch day,” Jacob blurted.
Malini widened her eyes at him, then turned her attention to Mrs. McNaulty. “He’s kidding. Of course it’s not senior ditch day; it’s the beginning of the semester.” She smoothed her hands over the table. “Actually, we’re doing a project for our sociology class. It’s part of the new curriculum. You can call the school.” She nodded nervously.
Mrs. McNaulty pursed her lips and drifted off toward the kitchen.
“Do you think she’ll call?” Jacob asked. “We can’t keep doing this, Malini. Someone is going to catch on that we aren’t going to school.”
“Bull. Who’s going to say anything? Since the Watchers brought in the new curriculum, they haven’t exactly taken attendance. If she calls, I bet no one answers the phone.” Malini tucked her hair behind her ears.
“It’s a small town. I’m willing to bet Mrs. M. tells my uncle.” Jacob nodded toward the kitchen.
Nibbling on her lip, Malini took Jacob’s hand. “I’ve been thinking.”
“That’s never a good sign.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ve been thinking we should tell our families the truth.”
Jacob’s mouth fell open. “Are you crazy?”
“No, Jacob, listen to me. They’re not safe. The town is crawling with Watchers. Every school is crawling with Watchers. They know who we are. I think the only reason they haven’t attacked is they don’t want to blow their cover. But it’s only a matter of time before they figure out who our families are and come for them.”
He shook his head. “So we tell them, and then what? They either think we’re insane, or worse, they believe us but can’t do anything about it but worry.”
“But we can teach them—”
“Oh my God!” Mrs. McNaulty cried from behind the register. She lifted a remote control and turned up the volume on the flat screen hanging on the wall. A local newscaster frowned under a banner that read Special Report. Next to him was a picture of Principal Bailey.
Again, long-beloved principal of Paris High School, John Bailey was found dead today in an apparent animal attack. A memorial service is being planned for the man described as the best educator Paris has ever known. The news of his death was a huge blow to local families, who were trying to have him reinstated after his recent termination. Several families have boycotted the school due to the changes in personnel and curriculum.
Fingers pressed over her lips, Malini’s vision swam.
“They killed him,” Jacob mumbled, staring at the screen. “It wasn’t enough to fire him. They killed him.”
Malini squeezed his hand. “I had a feeling…” She didn’t finish her sentence.
Dane flew through the door and focused on her. “Have you heard? Did you see?”
“Yes, Principal Bailey. So sad,” Malini said.
“No. Not that.” Dane rushed to Mrs. McNaulty, who was still watching the news, stiff and crying. Dane yanked the remote control out of her hands and changed the channel.
“Hey!” she yelled, but when the television tuned in to Dane’s pick of channel, she paled.
On the screen was a shaky cell phone recording of a Watcher. Not an illusion but a black-skinned, leather-winged beast.
Across the country today, people reported seeing strange winged creatures. Scientists are baffled by the sheer number of pictures, videos, and personal anecdotes but have no rational explanation.
Seventy-six-year-old Hazel Yearly had this to say about her sighting. “My neighbor thinks they’re aliens, but I know what they are. They’re demons! Mark my words, this is the end of times. Repent now.”
The newscaster smirked as the woman’s face faded from the screen. Well, whatever they are, the information coming in indicates they hate the sunlight. All residents are encouraged to lock their doors after dusk.
“Lock their doors?” Jacob said. “That’ll work if your door is soaked in holy water.”
“We’ve got to go.” Malini sprang from her seat. Dane handed the remote back to Mrs. McNaulty and followed out the door.
“Where are we going?” Dane asked.
“We’ve got to warn our families and then evacuate Eden.”
“Evacuate?” Jacob pulled up short in the gravel parking lot.
Malini pointed toward the door to McNaulty’s. “That, Jacob, was the second gift. They can’t hide among us any longer. And if I know Lucifer, when he can’t hide, he’s going to fight. Now come on. We’ve got work to do.”
“My aunt and uncle are at the flower shop with my mom today,” Jacob said.
Malini changed direction, crossing the street to Laudner’s Flowers and Gifts. A familiar face stopped her before she reached the door.
“Daddy?”
“Malini,” Mr. Gupta said, pulling her into a hug. “Have you heard? Did you see? I was afraid you were at school!” He kissed the side of her head. “Thank God you are safe. There are monsters … great, leathery—” he held his arms out to his sides and shook his head “—winged creatures. I drove to the school after I heard about Bailey and saw one!”
Malini sighed and took his hand. “Come on in. Call Mom. There’s something I’ve got to tell you.”
Chapter 21
The Truth
Once her mother and Mary Michaels had arrived, Malini locked the door to the shop and ushered the group into the back, where they couldn’t be seen from the street.
Uncle John adjusted his thick-rimmed glasses. “What’s this all about? We can’t keep the store closed for more than a few minutes.”
“Show them, Jake,” Malini ordered, brown eyes flashing to a vase of roses on the counter.
Dane crossed the room to put his arm around his mom’s shoulders. Always so thoughtful. He gave Malini a nod of encouragement.
Jacob paused, concentrating on the water. A thin geyser erupted, rising from the vase and forming into a rose. The flower turned to ice, then melted back into the vase.
Sarah Gupta squinted, trying to figure out the trick behind it. “How are you doing that?”
Malini
raised her eyebrows. “More, Jake.”
Holding out his hand, Jacob called the water to him. The liquid shot out of the vase and into his hand, freezing into his favorite broadsword. He twirled it around his body. Malini could feel the cold breeze as the blade sailed past her cheek and hear the sharp intake of breath from the adults.
Aunt Carolyn pressed a hand over her heart. “But how? Is it some kind of a magic trick?”
“Not magic. Genetics,” Malini said. “Jacob, Dane, Lillian, and I are Soulkeepers. We’ve been genetically gifted to kill the creatures some of you saw today.”
Mary Michaels whipped her head around to face Lillian, who responded with, “It’s true.”
Jim Gupta snorted. “Genetically gifted? I know your genetics, Malini.”
Malini eyed Jacob. “I need to show him what I can do.”
Without hesitation, Jacob drew his blade across his palm, slicing the skin. Blood bubbled up.
“Ah!” Mary Michaels groaned before collapsing in Dane’s arms. Thankfully, the other adults were able to keep it together.
Malini reached out and touched Jacob’s hand. The cut stitched itself up while Malini’s fingers began to smoke. The smell of burning flesh filled the back room. Jacob’s cut healed pink, then white, then disappeared altogether.
“Holy mother of God,” Jim Gupta said, staring at his daughter’s burnt hand.
Jacob commanded some of his sword to melt over her burn, healing the skin before rejoining his weapon.
“How?” John Laudner asked.
“Why?” Sarah Gupta blurted.
“Who else knows?” Aunt Carolyn whispered.
Lillian spoke from the corner of the room. “We kill Watchers. The creature you saw near the school, Jim, and the one you saw on TV, Carolyn, they are fallen angels or you might call them demons. You can see them because we are witnessing war between Heaven and Hell.” Lillian pulled up the news segment about the Watcher sightings on YouTube and passed her phone around the group. Conscious again, Mary Michaels insisted on watching the video twice, shaking her head the entire time.
