Before the Fall

by L. G. Castillo

  She took a step forward. “Jeremiel, I’m sorry.”

  He placed his hand up and took a small step back. It was as if he wanted to keep his distance from her. In all their interactions together, he was always so close to her. This was different. Had she hurt him that much?

  “Perhaps you could grow to love me?” His eyes pleaded.

  It broke her heart to see him this way. He was serious. There was not a glint of teasing in his eyes.

  “It is not that I do not love you.”

  “You do love me?” He looked hopeful.

  “As a brother,” she said quickly.

  “Maybe once you know me better. I fear that I have been so eager to be betrothed to you that I may not have wooed you as my brother has.”

  “It’s not that, Jeremiel.” Her stomach twisted into knots. She spoke carefully, praying that he would understand. “I could never feel for you the way I feel for Lahash. And I”—her voice dropped to a whisper—“I don’t think you love me either.”

  “I do, Naomi! I love you deeply.”

  “You hardly know me. I think you believe you love me.”

  “Isn’t that what love is? A belief in love?”

  “It is more than that, Jeremiel. Love is a belief in the person. The belief that with just one touch from that person, you can overcome any problem that is set before you. That one look of encouragement is all you need to help you feel like you can accomplish anything. And to know that without that person, your life would be like living as a shadow of yourself.”

  “You were thinking of Lahash when you said that,” he said slowly.

  She swallowed. “Yes. I love him.”

  He sighed as he approached her. He reached to her, his hand cradling the back of her neck. His thumb gently stroked her jawline. “Naomi, I do love you.”

  “Then let me go. Let me be free to marry Lahash,” she whispered.

  He stared at her as if memorizing her face. His eyes searched hers and trailed down to her lips. He paused, closing his eyes. It was as if he was fighting something within himself. When he opened them, he said, “I love my brother. I know his love for you is great and now I see that you feel for him just as strongly. When you speak of him, your eyes shine just as his.” He let out a breath. “I shall go to my father and ask that all that I have been given be given on Lahash’s behalf so that he may be betrothed to you.”

  She closed her eyes, tears rolled down her face. “Thank you,” she breathed.

  He stroked her cheek, wiping the tears away.

  There was a loud roar and Jeremiel’s hand suddenly disappeared. A rush of wind hit her, knocking her back.

  “Lahash, no!”

  Her eyes flashed open at the sound of Rebecca’s voice. She turned and watched in horror as Lahash pummeled his fist into Jeremiel.

  Lahash! He saw Jeremiel with his hand—

  She scrambled to her feet. She needed to stop him. It was a misunderstanding.

  Rebecca grabbed her arm. “You’ll get hurt. We need to get Raphael.”

  “He’s at the inn.”

  “Wait here!” Rebecca yelled as she rushed into the inn.

  “Lahash, stop!” Naomi cried.

  Lahash looked like a man possessed. It was as if he couldn’t even hear her cries.

  People began to gather around the square as they watched brother pitted against brother.

  Jeremiel placed a hand on Lahash’s chest and gave him a push, sending him flying into the air to hit the side of the well with a loud crash.

  Stones crushed beneath him with blood splattering over them. She gasped as he stumbled onto his feet, blood dripping down the back of his head and onto the ground. There was no way any man could have survived that kind of injury. The stones looked like they were pulverized to dust.

  Lahash lunged after Jeremiel. In a bear hold, he sent them into the crowd.

  The men in the crowd cheered them on as Jeremiel elbowed Lahash in the stomach. There was a loud crack followed by a groan.

  Naomi fought against the growing crowd, trying to see Lahash. He was injured. He had to be. “Jeremiel, please. Stop fighting!”

  There was another loud crack and the crowd roared. “Lahash! Lahash!”

  That’s when she saw Lahash, his face streaked with blood, sweat and dirt. He let out a savage roar as his arm swung around and came into contact with Jeremiel’s left side. Then his other arm swung up to hit Jeremiel’s right side. One after another, his fists moved in a blur. Each blow sent an impossible loud cracking sound of the crushing of ribs.

  “My sword, Jeremiel!” A solider whipped out his sword from its scabbard and held it up in the air. “Come, take my sword!”

  “No!” Naomi ran toward the soldier. “I implore you. Do your duty. Break up the fight.”

  The soldier laughed as he looked down at Naomi. “Go to your home, woman. This is no place for you.”

  He shoved her to the side.

  Someone had to help her. They were going to kill each other. She ran through the crowd, begging each of the men in the square to help her stop the fight. No one paid attention to her cries. They all continued to chant as Lahash and Jeremiel attacked each other.

  She let out a sigh of relief when Raphael rushed out of the inn.

  “Lahash!” he roared. “You will stop this. Now!”

  He gripped the back of Lahash’s neck and tossed him to the ground as if her were no heavier than a sack of grain.

  He raised his hand and was about to hit Lahash when there was the sound of a ram’s horn.

  The crowd quieted and there was an eerie silence.

  Jeremiel went to his mother and placed an arm around her as she sobbed into his shoulder.

  Raphael tilted his head as if listening for something.

  The next sound was barely noticeable at first. It was a thumping that grew louder. For a moment, Naomi thought it was the pounding of her heart at the sound of a ram’s horn. The Archangel Michael had mentioned a chorus of horns, not a single one.

  The sound grew louder.

  Thump. Thump. Thump.

  Thump. Thump. Thump.

  Thump! Thump! Thump!

  Then, silence.

  A chorus of horns blared, screeching painfully into her ears.

  And the ground began to tremble.

  Voices in the distance cried out.

  “We’re under attack!”

  “Close the gates!”

  People began to run, screaming as children and loved ones sought shelter. Soldiers pushed their way through the crowds toward the city gates.

  Oh, no! It can’t be happening. Not now. Naomi rushed over to Lahash.

  “Lahash,” she gasped when he swept her into his arms. “You must leave. Take your family out of here and—”

  She froze at the look on his face. His jaw dropped as he stared out into the square.

  In a halo of light, a woman moved gracefully through the crowds, her red cloak fluttering with each move she made. Beneath her hood, green eyes glittered, though stern with concentration, her face was stunning. Naomi had never seen such unearthly beauty. She was breathtaking. She was horrifying.

  People ran around her. It was as if they sensed her presence even though they couldn’t see her.

  Behind her was the Archangel Michael, his majestic wings spread open. He held a sword in his right hand.

  It had begun.

  The woman pushed back the hood from her head, revealing golden hair worn high on her head with intricate braiding.

  “Gabrielle,” Raphael breathed.

  Naomi looked at Raphael, surprised by the expression on his face. It was as if he was waking up from a dream.

  He glanced over to Jeremiel and then at Lahash, his face turning pale. “What have I done? What have I become?”

  The woman, Gabrielle, then shook off her cloak. With one swift move, she reached to her side and pulled out a sword.

  The inn! Naomi thought. She had to get everyone in there. She scanned the crowd frantica
lly.

  “Lilia! Leah! Where are you?” she cried. “Lahash help me. I need to get them into the inn. It’s starting.”

  “What’s starting?”

  “The battle. Joshua’s army is here to destroy the city. Please help me find them.”

  “What battle? Who is Joshua?” Lahash looked at her in panic.

  “I was told that the city would be destroyed because it harbored fallen angels. Anyone found within the city walls will be killed.”

  Rebecca’s face grew white and her hand flew to her mouth.

  “Who told you this?” Raphael asked.

  “You won’t believe me.”

  “I will, Naomi,” Lahash said.

  “The Archangel Michael. You probably can’t see him. He’s over there.” She pointed to the angels.

  “I don’t see him,” Rebecca said.

  “Over there, beneath the tree. Angels,” Jeremiel said, amazed.

  “You can see them?” Naomi looked astonished.

  “Lahash, can you see them?” Raphael asked.

  “Yes. I do.”

  “I don’t understand,” Naomi said. “I thought I—”

  Raphael grasped her arm, his face looking frantic. “Naomi, what else did Michael tell you?”

  “I . . . I hid his army’s spies last night and begged that he save my family. He said they would be spared, but only if they stayed inside the inn during the battle.”

  “Rebecca, Naomi, get into the inn,” Raphael said.

  “We need to help Naomi find her sisters first!” Rebecca sobbed.

  “Please, Mother. You’ll be safe at the inn,” Jeremiel said. “I’ll go look near the gates. Lahash and Father can go to the other side of the city.”

  “I’ll go with you. We can cover more ground if I go,” Naomi said.

  “No, Gabrielle!” Raphael cried.

  Naomi spun around. Gabrielle held the sword with both hands high above her head, pointing downward. It was as if she was going to plunge it into the ground.

  The golden-haired angel paused.

  “Please, give us time,” his voice pleaded.

  Green eyes locked with his for a moment. Her face was filled with unimaginable heartache, the likes of which Naomi had never seen.

  Taking a deep breath, the angel plunged the sword into the ground.

  A chorus of rams’ horns blew a second time.

  28

  Raphael went to the North and Jeremiel to the West. Fighting through the crowds with Rebecca and Lahash as they headed to the south side of the city, Naomi prayed fervently that they would find her sisters before the final blowing of the rams’ horns.

  Dozens of soldiers with swords in hand yelled at the crowds, pushing them out of their way as they headed toward the city gates. The ground shook again and people screamed as they stumbled.

  She shouted for Leah and Lilia, helplessly. How could they possibly hear her over the chaos?

  “Wait. I hear something.” Lahash stopped. “Over there!”

  They ran down a path near the city’s wall. The canopies that lined the path shook as merchants frantically gathered their possessions.

  Then Naomi heard a small wail. She would recognize that cry anywhere.

  “Lilia!”

  “Naomi! Naomi!”

  “Look, they’re over there,” Rebecca said.

  Huddled underneath a pottery table were Leah and Lilia. Naomi sighed with relief.

  Lahash took hold of Leah in his arms and Naomi scooped up Lilia.

  “Hurry,” she said. “We must get them to the inn.”

  They fled down the path as fast as they could, maneuvering their way between the fallen stones and bricks that littered the ground.

  “Rebecca!” Raphael rushed toward them, and Naomi could hear Rebecca sigh with relief.

  “We have the girls. Where is Jeremiel?”

  “He’s at the inn now. I told him to wait until my return.”

  Hope swept through Naomi. They just might make it.

  There was a rumble as the ground shook again, then a loud cracking sound.

  Naomi looked at the city wall to her left and gasped when the bricks started to crumble.

  Then there was an explosion of brick fragments and smoke, and the wall collapsed.

  Through the smoke filled air, she heard them, Joshua’s soldiers as they climbed over the rubble with swords in hand.

  “Take her,” Lahash handed Leah to Raphael.

  “No, Lahash!” Rebecca cried as he ran toward one of the soldiers who was heading in their direction.

  Lahash ducked as a sword sliced through the air. In one swift move, he latched onto the soldier’s wrist. The soldier winced in pain, releasing the sword. With his other arm, Lahash punched the wailing soldier in the face. The soldier fell to the ground, unconscious.

  Picking up the sword, he ran back to Naomi.

  “Let’s go.”

  “Leaving so soon, my son?”

  Rebecca screamed and she frantically reached out to Raphael. Naomi slowly turned to see what would cause the look of terror on her face.

  It was a dark-haired man she’d seen many times before with her father and the governor. His gray eyes gazed at Lahash, sending a shiver through her. Standing next to him were Saleos and his brothers, Jether and Joab. They looked different. Somehow they were bigger. Saleos’ black eyes scanned her body. It sent a chill down her spine.

  Then she remembered what David had said. Demons. They had become demons.

  “No,” she gasped. “It can’t be.”

  “Lucifer.” Raphael’s voice was as cold as ice. He handed Leah to Rebecca. “Lahash, take the others to the inn.”

  “Raphael, come with us. Please,” Rebecca said.

  “Go. Now, Lahash!”

  “I will make this easy for you, Raphael. All I want is the boy.” Lucifer then glanced at Rebecca with disdain. “Your whore has already served her purpose.”

  Raphael let out a savage roar and lunged toward Lucifer. Immediately, the demon twins attacked him.

  “Let go of him,” Lahash shouted as he charged the demons.

  He leapt through the air, his feet striking one of the demon twins in the chest, causing his grip on Raphael to slip.

  With his arm loosened, Raphael threw a punch at the remaining twin. The demon soared through the air, landing in a pile of mud bricks.

  There was a loud war cry as Saleos charged at Raphael, his sword held outward.

  Naomi cried out when Jether and Joab went after Lahash. She held Lilia close to her chest, covering her little face.

  Blood streaked down Lahash’s face as he grunted, swinging his sword at Jether. As the sword slammed against Jether’s shield, Joab clamped down on Lahash’s arm and with a turn of his wrist, there was a loud snap and Lahash cried out in pain.

  His sword fell to the ground as he dropped to his knees.

  “Lahash!” she sobbed.

  “Take him. Now!” Lucifer ordered.

  Naomi’s eyes widened as wings as black as night snapped out of Joab and Jether’s backs.

  “No!” Raphael fought against Saleos and Lucifer. “Not my son!”

  “Lahash!”

  Naomi’s heart leapt at the sound of Jeremiel’s voice. Through the hazy smoke, he ran through the crowds, his face fierce.

  In one seamless motion, Jeremiel jumped into the air and swiftly kicked Jether. Jeremiel landed gracefully on his feet and turned to direct his sword toward Joab. Seeing the sword coming toward him, Joab released Lahash. The tip of the sword sliced through his wing before he could move out of reach.

  Lahash regained hold of his sword. “Jeremiel, I...”

  Before he could say another word, Jether came charging at them. Jeremiel shoved Lahash away and raised his sword to meet Jether’s.

  “Go now, Lahash! Father and I will be behind you.”

  Lahash paused as he looked at Jeremiel and his father. He swallowed thickly then ran to Naomi. “Here, take my sword. Give the girls to me, quic
kly. Stay close to me.”

  “Raphael,” Rebecca sobbed.

  “Please, Rebecca.” Naomi took hold of her hand.

  Naomi struggled to keep up with Lahash as she carried the heavy sword in one hand and pulled on Rebecca with the other. When the entrance to the inn came into sight, she sighed. We’re almost there.

  Then there was a loud cry, and Rebecca fell to the ground, taking Naomi with her.

  “Lahash, wait!”

  Turning, she saw Rebecca’s foot caught in the crevice of a pile of bricks.

  Naomi tossed the sword aside and tried to move the bricks from Rebecca’s foot.

  “No, Lahash,” Rebecca moaned. “Take the girls to safety. Go with him, Naomi.”

  He looked frantic as he eyed the entrance of the inn and then back at his mother.

  “Naomi!” Lilia cried, reaching out her tiny arms.

  “I’ll help your mother,” Naomi said to him, and then looked to her sisters. “Lahash will take care of you. Don’t be frightened.”

  “I’ll be right back,” he said as he flew down the street in a blur.

  “Go with him, Naomi,” Rebecca said as she struggled to get up.

  “I will not leave you.” She pulled off the bricks and her foot was released, but obviously injured. She placed her shoulder underneath Rebecca’s arm, helping her to stand.

  A strong hand gripped Naomi’s shoulder and she screamed.

  “Move aside, girl.” She flew back and fell to the ground.

  Baka’s menacing face loomed over hers. “After I take care of Rebecca, I will take care of you. If you’re lucky, Saleos may still want you yet.”

  Naomi fingered the ground, searching for something, anything to defend them. Her hand hit against the hilt of the sword.

  She clenched her teeth as Baka laughed and moved toward Rebecca.

  “You should have belonged to me,” he said. “Now, all that you have will be destroyed today.”

  When his back was to her, Naomi jumped up. Struggling, she lifted the sword with both hands and touched the tip of it to his back.

  “Back away, Baka,” she seethed.

  He laughed and in one swift motion he turned, knocking the sword out of her hands.

  “Get down, Naomi!”

  With the sound of Lahash’s voice, she immediately dropped to the ground. There was a loud swooshing sound and then Baka grunted. She looked up and there was a surprised look on his face. His hands flew up to his chest, touching the sword that protruded out of him. He looked at his bloodied fingers in disbelief. Bright red dripped from them, splattering onto the dirt. His dark eyes then grew empty and he collapsed.