The Gift of Empathy (The Gifts Book 3)

by Jen Gentry

  Jake looked Marta up and down, it was very apparent this dame had money. He knew what money looked like when he saw it. But there was something else about this woman and her friend with her. There was goodness like a light shining from them and suddenly Jake found himself wanting whatever it was that they had. He wanted to walk in the light and warmth of that goodness. Jake was ready to repent—he just wasn’t sure where to start. Gemma and Marta were just the ones to rectify that problem for him. This day, this moment, was about to become Jake’s time to come to Jesus.

  ****

  Ethan made his way to the airport with one of Bradley’s men. This man had been given orders to not let Ethan out of his sight and given everything that had happened in the last few days Ethan was only too happy to accept this man as a shadow. Especially if it meant he would have help if he ran into any of the Dutch Highway Men, as he had come to think of the men who had whacked him and left him for dead.

  Right now, Ethan didn’t really care about any of that. Emily would be here any second and he intended to be at her gate to greet her. He loved that woman, but he never knew just how much until they’d been separated. Ethan wanted to protect Emily with every part of his being and he could not imagine that pain and agony his love had suffered when Jewel first went missing. It must have been agony for her. They were going to get Jewel back and then they were all going home. And if God was willing he was going to marry Emily at the first opportune moment.

  He didn’t have to wait long. Emily and Bradley made it through customs in record time then met Ethan at the front gates.

  Emily ran to Ethan and threw herself into his arms. “Oh, praise God. Ethan, don’t you ever scare me like that again.” Emily held Ethan so tight he nearly cried out for mercy. Instead he just held her back.

  “Hush, hush, Emily, I got you. I’m here and we’re together now. We got to keep it together if we are going to get Jewel back, OK.”

  At the mention of Jewel’s name Emily did cry. “Oh, Ethan, did you see her, really? Is she OK? Do we know where they took her yet?”

  “Honey, this is not the place we want to talk, but, yes, I saw Jewel. She seemed unconscious, but she was alive and breathing. I can’t imagine these men would go to all this trouble to bring her into this country alive just to let her die. We have to have faith that the Lord is with her. Now, let’s get out of this public place so we can talk and I can bring you and Bradley up to speed.”

  Up to that point Bradley had been standing to the side while he received his own brief update from his man that accompanied Ethan to the airport. Ethan shook Bradley’s hand.

  “Good to see you, boss. Thanks for sending out the Calvary to look for me.”

  “Well, it was the least I could do.” Bradley smiled and then got serious. “But you’re right, Ethan, let’s get out of here. I don’t like the feel of this airport.

  Emily didn’t like the feel of the part of the city of Amsterdam that they drove through. Amsterdam was a beautiful city with waterways and canals on just about every street, but on the way to the hotel the car passed through a part of the infamous red light district. Emily was overwhelmed by the site of so many demons. It seemed they permeated the air. So much evil and oppression packed into one place. Dear Lord, I pray for all those people who are caught up in this nightmare of selling their own flesh just to survive. How many Lord? How many young people have fallen into this trap and not made it out. Father, I can only pray for them and lift them up to you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

  After Emily prayed the demons fell from her sight and the car drove on. Still it was a difficult thing to escape the feeling of so much oppression all at once. This must be only a taste of what Jewel must feel when surrounded by so much pain and sorrow. Suddenly a vision of Jewel hit Emily so hard she almost passed out.

  Ethan grabbed Emily before she fell to the floor. “Emily, honey what is it?”

  “Ethan, we have to get to Jewel—they are drugging her and trying to take her mind from her. She is surrounded by demons, so many demons.” Emily then went limp in Ethan’s arms.

  The Gift of Empathy

  Chapter Fifteen

  1 John 4:1

  Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

  Jewel continued on in her fantasy world. Everything was so beautiful and serene here. The sounds and sites were all so soothing. The bubbling of a brook brought Jewel to its banks. The water looked cool and inviting and, as Jewel bent down to run her hands in it; she saw her reflection in the pool at her feet.

  Never before had she looked so amazing. Her skin was alabaster and her dark hair shone like never before. In the reflection, she sat so deeply immersed in her own beauty that she didn’t see the movement of a large animal behind her until the white horse nudged her back and she almost fell into the water.

  Startled, she stood up so fast she had to wing her arms for balance. The rider of the great white horse jumped down to catch her. Jewel was held safely in the strongest arms she’d ever felt. Then she looked up into a face she almost recognized but not quite. It was Jake’s piercing blue eyes that stared into hers, but yet it was not Jake. This young man was steady and solid in a way Jake had never been.

  Jewel felt herself being sucked in to the warmth and safety this man exuded. When he spoke it was with the voice of angels.

  “Hello, my love. Jewel, I have been waiting for you here in this world created just for you and me so very long ago. I have come to welcome you home, Jewel. I am Joaquin, your spiritual guide, and I will never leave your side since now we are together for eternity. Come let me show you our castle. It was built with every desire you’ve ever had.”

  Jewel was so mesmerized she could do nothing but allow this prince from right out of her dreams lead her away.

  ****

  Emily came around to herself in a hotel room. Ethan was standing over her with a cool cloth in his hands.

  Bradley was on the other side of the bed. “Aw, there she is. Emily, are you feeling better? You must be suffering from some serious jet lag. These fast trips across the world make even the stoutest of men weak in the knees.”

  Emily wanted to tell Bradley that was not the case but what did it matter. There were more important matters at hand. Like finding Jewel fast. Emily swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat like that for a moment as she got her bearings and stood up.

  “OK, let’s go get Jewel. Where is she, Ethan. And don’t think for one minute that I am not going in with you to get her.” Emily stared both men down challenging them to tell her she wasn’t going.

  Bradley spoke first. “Emily, we have a tentative plan let us fill you in on the details. For starters can you speak Frisian?”

  “Yes, I can speak Frisian fluently. Ethan can, too.”

  “Good, that is why I hired Ethan. I have quite a story to tell the both of you.

  In the end I hope you will both forgive me for getting you into this mess, but I intend to do everything I can to help you get Jewel back safe and sound no matter what the cost to me. Let’s order some room service and, while we wait, I’ll tell you everything I know about the Ba al` and how dangerous they are.”

  Ethan and Emily looked at each other. They both knew that Bradley had some deep connections and influences they just didn’t know how deep.

  After room service was ordered and delivered, Bradley began to share his story.

  “When I was boy, my Father sent me off to military school in New Mexico. You remember that don’t you, Emily? It was right after I attacked Marta, and so help me that was the best thing my father ever did for me. After I left for New Mexico, my father brought a man much like a guru or holy man into our home.

  The idea was that Bathomet would teach my father how to manage the great stress of running a political campaign for the presidency. That man’s name was Bathomet. Bathomet and I clashed the moment we laid eyes on each other. I know now that B
athomet could see Jesus in me because I had just accepted Christ as my personal savior.

  Anyhow, I rejected Bathomet’s attempts to sway me to his side and in return the division between me and my father widened with Bathomet’s influence over my father. After the downfall and subsequent arrest of my father, Bathomet disappeared and I halfheartedly looked for him after that. But when Marta nearly died and lost our son this past summer, I resumed the search for him full throttle. I do not believe the attack on Marta was a coincidence. I believe Bathomet and his cult of demon worshippers are responsible for that attack, and now I feel I have no choice but to launch an offensive attack back. I want this sect of demons and demon worshippers taken out for good. I will not tolerate any more harm or threats to my family.”

  Bradley expected at least some astonishment at his story or even some looks of disbelief, but both Ethan and Emily gave him support and even approval. Emily hugged him and then shared some things of her own.

  “Bradley, you think you are responsible for the Ba al’s attacks on Marta? Well, let me share some things with you. You’re not the only one who knows of Bathomet and the Ba al`.

  You see, I also have battled with them. You remember I told you about my gift to see angels and demons and that I told you I was there the night that the police found you and Marta locked up at your Father’s townhouse in DC?”

  Bradley shook his head, yes.

  Emily continued. “Well, the angels that guard Perry House came to me and warned me of what was going on with you and Marta and that your father was holding you both hostage. So I prayed as I went into your father’s townhouse. I even spoke to your father and warned him of his impending doom before the police swarmed in to rescue you both. While I was there, I saw the Ba al` exit the place as Jesus came with me. The Ba al` are fearsome, but they cannot withstand Jesus. Yes, it’s time to take the Ba al` down, but it is not your fight alone. You see they are not just after you or yours. They want all mankind to suffer and that is what the Ba al` does. They bring about the suffering of all mankind, and what better place for cowards to hide than on a remote island?”

  Ethan cleared his throat after Emily spoke. Bradley took in what Emily shared with him. She was right this fight wasn’t just about him it was about everyone and ridding the world of a horrible cult with demonic influences could save many more lives than his own family.

  “Yes, I can see where this fight is not just about us, but I still don’t see where Jewel fits into all this. What does the Ba al` want with one young girl?”

  Ethan stood up and said. “Bradley, there is much more to Jewel than what meets the eye. Go ahead and fill him in, Emily, since he knows almost everything, we might as well as come clean about it all. Maybe Bradley can help us figure out more about Jewel’s gift and how the Ba al` could use her exactly. My guess is that with the proper amount of influence, the demons could use Jewel as a weapon against mankind. I’m not sure just how.”

  Bradley looked to Emily. “Well, we do know that Jewel is an empath and…”

  Bradley held up his hand “Wait, Emily, did you just say Jewel is an empath?”

  “Yeah, why? Do you know something we don’t, Bradley?”

  “Maybe, you see I never would have known anything about Bathomet, like where he came from except that my father’s old secretary, Nikki Trent, finally agreed to talk to me about how Bathomet came to be with my father.

  It took a lot of money to get her to talk. She was very afraid of Bathomet and the Ba al`. One thing she did tell me was that Bathomet had everyone who worked with my father praying and worshipping daily.

  She overheard the guru specifically praying for was the ‘Empath’ to be found. It seems the Ba al` has been looking for someone like Jewel all along.”

  “What is it they could possibly want with Jewel?” Emily searched Ethan’s eyes and found that he was just as confused as she was. Excusing herself, she into the bathroom. She needed to pray and she needed to pray now.

  ****

  Jake didn’t know what happened exactly or how this sudden turn of events led to him accepting Jesus Christ as his personal savior but he had never felt so light. It was as if he let go of a very heavy weight. “Ms. Steel, I need to talk about what I have done. I have to help those I have hurt and if I can, bring them back to their families. I am very ashamed of what I have done, but I would like to try to make it better if I can. What should I do?”

  Marta thought about what Jake was asking for and decided to make some phone calls.

  If Jake was headed to a full confession then he needed a good defense attorney to help him barter a deal. “Hello, Robert, this is Marta Steel. I am in Hook Pond and I need your help.”

  The Gift of Empathy

  Chapter Sixteen

  2 Corinthians 11:13-15

  For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

  Jewel allowed herself to be carried along by Joaquin. She wrapped herself around him as they both rode on the great white horse until they came to a gorgeous white castle that gleamed in the bright sunshine. The sunlight was warm and caressed Jewel’s face. This was home and, oh, how wonderful it felt to be home. Something tugged at Jewel’s mind. Briefly another place flitted in to her mind what was that place called? Was it her other home? Surely not, because this castle was the only place she’d ever wanted to live. Right? Jewel shook the notion of another place called home from her mind. She was exactly where she wanted to be.

  Wasn’t it always her dream to live as a princess in a castle with her Prince Charming? Something wasn’t right. Maybe once a long time ago she wanted to live this life when she was a little girl sleeping next to her mother in one shelter or another. But as beautiful as this dream was it wasn’t Jewel’s dream. Not anymore.

  Jewel shoved herself away from Joaquin and started to run. “Let me out. Let me out this is not my home. My home is at Perry House with Emily, Ethan, and Aunt Gemma. Do you hear me? Let me out. I am a child of God. Jesus is my savior and in his name I demand you release me from this nightmare, right now!” As Jewel screamed she felt the dream world begin to crumble and fall away. She found herself falling and as she fell, her dress faded away and Jewel was again dressed in her t-shirt and jeans.

  With a giant “Whoof!” Jewel fell into herself and sat straight up on the bed. Her ragged breathing slowed down. That’s it! They need me because they cannot read the minds of God’s children. They are only guessing at what our dreams are and they are trying to use those dreams to suck people in so they can destroy them. I can feel what others feel. I can tell if they are really happy within the fantasy world created for them. They want to use me to control others.”

  ****

  Bradley came to the same conclusion as Jewel did at almost the exact same moment. He continued to fill Ethan on what he knew.

  “One of the other things that Nikki told me was that Bathomet would reward his followers with little mind trips. He would give them a small pill and when those people drifted off, they would have the most vivid dreams. The dreams would give them a false sense of peace and happiness, but when those same followers got out of hand, Bathomet would send them into their worst nightmares and that was where Nikki stopped talking. She flatly refused to talk about the nightmares they were subjected to so that Bathomet could keep them in line and on their knees, worshipping the Ba al`.”

  Emily let herself out of the bathroom and caught just the last part of what Bradley was telling Ethan. “Well then, Bradley, don’t you think it’s time you told us how we are going to get Jewel away from the Ba al`. You wanted to know if I spoke Frisian. So tell me, who do I need to talk to?”

  “Fishermen, Emily, you need to help us get onboard a fisherman’s boat that will take us out to ‘Goat Island.’

 
This island is supposedly uninhabited, but I have sources that tell me that not only is this island off the grid it has some very high tech wizards working day and night to keep it that way.”

  “Well, let’s go find us a fisherman and a boat then?”

  “That’s the plan, but first I need to get all my men in place. I have skilled men from all over the world coming in. They’ll all be in place by morning. So we’ll just have to wait a little bit longer. OK?”

  Emily wanted Jewel back and she wanted Jewel back now. But she conceded to Bradley. “Fine, I am going to go get myself a room and get some rest, then.” Emily left the men. She went to the front desk of the Hotel and rented her own private room. She wanted to talk to the Lord and find some answers. Emily had never felt so out of sorts with herself and everyone else. She wanted to understand why.

  After showering and curling up in her bed with her Bible Emily started to pray. Before long her room lit up as the angels surrounded her. “Liam, what is wrong with me? I feel like I’ve lost my way. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this far from the Lord in my whole life.”

  “Emily, you have entered a time in your life when your faith must come to the forefront. It is during this time that you have been tempted to turn from God and blame him for all that has happened. But, you have not done that. You have stumbled, fallen, and come right back to our Father. You have never stopped believing.”

  “But what about Jewel? Liam, is she all right? Is she alive? What are the demons doing to her? Are they torturing her? Oh, I just cannot stand this. Tell me, Liam, what must I do to get Jewel back and safe?”

  “All I can tell you is that, yes, she is in the enemy’s hands. But, Emily, you witnessed her salvation first hand. The Lord goes with her wherever she goes. You must trust the Lord in all things even with your loved ones. You must remember your God is sovereign and all things come to pass by his own design. The hardest thing I have seen humans struggle with in trusting that whatever happens, no matter what the enemy sends your way, your God is still God, and he desires only good for you and your loved ones.”