Choosing Soul Wars Trilogy Book One

by Barbara Henderson

  Chapter 13

  AJ

  AJ and Frederick had felt really good about letting Mal know immediately that they were not interested in anything he had to say. By the middle of the next week, they were still completely comfortable with their decision to ignore anything to do with Mal's new found faith and his common little girl friend. AJ thought it would serve him right if he did marry her, have a couple of kids, and have to spend his trust fund paying child support and alimony. She did hope he got a new vehicle before that happened because it was embarrassing to have a brother driving that old pick up. She guessed he would have to get a minivan or something. AJ shuddered at the thought.

  Frederick, while equally content with the way they had behaved when Mal and Belle visited, was thinking along different lines.

  "How much would it take to pay her off?" He mused. She was obviously after Mal for his money. There was just no way around it. Mal was too stupid to keep his money a secret. And people with money attracted people who wanted money. "After all," he thought without the least bit of guilt, "that is what first attracted me to Shelly. She looked ok and she was even nice. But, truthfully, it was her money."

  "I will have to talk to Shelly about it," he thought. Frederick was usually pretty straight forward with Shelly about money. He was certain there was no way he could gain control of her trust fund. But he was equally certain Shelly would let him do as he pleased within the bounds the trust allowed. He just didn't know whether to try to buy Belle off outright or threaten to cut off Mal's income if he didn't straighten up.

  Shelly was also thinking about Mal the next week. There was no way she could attend his Baptism service without really causing a fight at home. The service would probably make her uncomfortable anyway.

  Shelly also knew Frederick was going to try to break up Mal and Belle. And, it was probably Belle's fault that Mal was involved with getting baptized anyway. Never the less, Shelly could not forget how Belle had looked at Mal. It was nothing short of 'adoring'.

  Shelly was not sure if she approved or not, but she was resolved not to interfere in anyway. That Frederick was going to try something was certain. Shelly guessed it would be either through attempting to buy Belle off, or manipulate Mal in some way. The only way he could really manipulate Mal was cut off his allowance, and that really was not an option. Shelly had set up a fund for both kids when they were born, and Mal was already in charge of his trust fund. Since it was solely her money to begin with, she had kept sole charge of the fund. She had not bothered to tell Frederick that Mal was in charge of the fund now. She had planned to wait a while with AJ because she just didn't seem as stable as Mal. So it would stand fully on Belle. She either would or would not accept Frederick's attempt to pay her to get out of Mal's life. Shelly wondered what he would offer the girl.

  Malachi

  Mal was baptized on Sunday just as planned. The pastor carefully explained to the congregation that baptism would not save Mal, but that baptism was the way for a new convert to proclaim to the world that he had become a believer in Jesus Christ as the way of salvation. Then Mal walked into the baptistery. Pastor CC said, ‘I baptize thee my brother in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Buried with Him in baptism.’ Then Pastor CC put Mal under the water and raised him from the water. He said, ‘Raised to walk in newness of life.’

  Mal understood that he had just publically announced to the world that he was finished with his old life and going forward into the his new life as a follower of Jesus Christ.

  Mal turned to see Belle and Amelia sitting on the front row smiling at him. He gave them his best smile in return and walked out of the baptistery. He understood that he had just publically proclaimed to the world that he was finished with his life as a child of the world and turned to living his life as a child of God. He truly was ‘walking in newness of life’.

  Mal was disappointed that no family member was present for the service. He wanted them present for two reasons. First, he wanted them to hear the gospel. And second, it just would have been nice to have them present.

  "The first time I make a really big decision, and I get no family support," he had thought sadly to himself. But then he remembered Belle and Amelia were there. And the pastor was there not only in the official capacity, but as a new friend. Plus, without Frederick and AJ there, Mal didn't have to worry about what they would say or do. Attitude counted too. Whether they had said or done anything wrong, he doubted they could have kept up the appearance of civility.

  Angels of Darkness

  "It's a good thing I kept Mal's family from that service," Cabiri said to Zisa. "I am certain that AJ and Frederick belong to us, but Shelly is another story. What do you have in mind to secure her soul really don't know for sure," Zisa answered. "She already believes that all you have to do to get into heaven is be 'good enough'. So I hope to manipulate a few situations to let her 'do good' to reinforce that idea. You know how humans love the feeling that goes with doing good. And I was hoping you might send a few re-enforcements to assist. I want to do something to sway her toward that 'everyone is going the same place' or 'all roads lead to heaven'. Anything to keep her from the idea that there is one way to paradise. But overall I think her weak point will be that she doesn't want to admit no one can be good enough to reach God."

  "That's right. I think that will be her weak point too. Just focus on how good she feels when she does something good, and make her think that means God is with her.

  "Ok, but what about some help here?" Zisa asked.

  "What about it? Can't you do anything by yourself?" he asked sarcastically. "Actually, this really too important to trust to you alone. I will see what can be done. It is probably as simple as getting her husband to pay her a few compliments.

  Angels of Light

  Raphael was joyful. Mal was not only born again, he had publicly stated his faith, been baptized, and was openly committed to actually applying the teachings in the Bible to his daily life. And, Mal had brought many many smiles not only to Belle, but also to Amelia. Raphael had watched over the girls after the death of their parents. He had seen their sorrow. He watched them become more mature in the faith, and behave in a way he knew would have pleased their parents under the circumstances. But it had broken his heart to watch them go through the grief. Now they were both smiling.