by Summer Lee
That would be a story for another time. Sam felt Anthea grab his hand. She would Soul Merge him to his wife.
Chapter the Seventh
ACHAVA was surrounded by tornado force winds and a circle of sand. It was her way of protecting herself. The original funnel cloud was just Kieleg showing off. He was matching her force for force.
She realized that she had every ability that he had. It was a standoff in every sense of the word. With each attack, they would just absorb it, or push it away with a similar defense.
She saw Anthea and Sam appear inside of her protective wind and sand shell. She had her hands raised, so she couldn’t embrace her husband. “Sam! Hi! Thank you, Anthea, for bringing him back!”
The wind was fierce inside Achava’s tornado.
Anthea made sure not to move, for fear that she would be sucked into the vortex. “We have a destination after this, so make it snappy!”
Achava saw Sam studying the tornado. “Do you have all of his abilities?”
She nodded.
“Has he combined any of them?” Sam asked, with a sense of excitement.
“He made some mud bullets, but that’s about it,” she replied.
“Good,” he said, with an evil grin. “Here’s what you need to do...”
***
With Sam’s plan in place, Achava was alone. She stopped everything from her place of action. She stood her ground without making any moves. “This is ridiculous Kieleg! We are equally matched. Surely, you are intelligent enough to realize what I say.”
A confused Kieleg looked at her, as she stood out in the open. “What do you suggest?” He stopped his winds as well.
She saw his suspicion, and maintained caution, as she walked toward him. “A truce. At least a temporary one. I am nothing, if not honorable.” She held out her hand. “Will we agree, or will you leave me hanging?”
He looked around as if searching for anyone else, as he approached. He carefully held out his hand. “I assume a temporary truce is a viable option.” He grasped her hand and shook it.
She gave him a leery smile.
“You know what, honey?” she asked, as she revealed her true self—she had transformed into Anthea. “You better make sure you know all of the variables, before you play with me.”
She squeezed his hand tight. Kieleg started to age by the second. He tried to relinquish his grasp on Anthea, to no avail.
She let go of his hand, just as Achava and Sam Soul Merged in. Achava waved her hand and sand completely covered the aged Kieleg. She then summoned a pillar of fire to surround him.
“Turn up the heat, Achava!” Sam yelled.
The flames grew hotter, as the sand started to crystallize. When she was finished, Kieleg was covered in glass and frozen where he stood.
“Thank you, Sam,” Achava said as she embraced him, enthusiastically.
“Simple physics,” he replied proudly. “It really worked, because you were able to emulate Anthea’s Soul Merge. I assume your new ability isn’t conditional upon contact. That’s amazing.”
“Will it hold him?” Anthea asked as she kept an eye on the glass statue.
“Normally, I would have said, no,” Sam replied, smiling. “Because he’s now older than dirt, he shouldn’t have the strength to break out. It should keep him for a long while, anyway.”
Achava let Sam out of her iron hug and turned toward Anthea. “Thank you again for getting Sam. You mentioned something about a new destination?”
“Let’s go,” Anthea said, with a sharpness in her tone. “I’ll explain later.”
Chapter the Eighth
SAM FOUND HIMSELF ON THE SAME NARROW PATH that he was whisked away from earlier by Anthea. The only difference was all three of them were there now.
He landed close to the edge of the ledge. A few rocks fell off as he appeared. “Thanks Anthea,” he said sarcastically. “A little further away from the danger side of the mountain next time, please.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I understand that you are under some stress, so I’ll let that one pass for now.”
Sam set his pack down and pulled out the Sling of David once more. It retained the glow it had from before. “Hey Achava, look at this.”
Achava looked at it closely, as she realized where they were. “The Valley of the Shadow of Death! That actually explains a lot. You didn’t drop Sam here on purpose, did you Anthea?”
Anthea shook her head adamantly. “Nope. I had no idea this was even in our Soul Merge path.”
“Then the valley reached out to you, Sam,” Achava said with a smile.
“What?” he exclaimed, trying to grasp what she just said. “Reached out? I know I’ve seen some amazing and still unexplained things since I’ve met you, but what you’re saying is...” He stopped himself, before he would say something he would regret. He decided, instead, to reroute his way of thinking. “Okay. I get it. Every time we go on a mission, we stumble across mouth-dropping surprises. I’m just having a problem wrapping my thoughts around a valley that’s... alive. And thinking!”
Sam saw the sisters fold their arms in front of them and slowly shake their heads.
“What is impossible with man, is possible with God, Sam,” Achava said, nonchalantly. “Because all miracles come from God, most of the time it is hard for us humans to comprehend. I would think you would be used to it by now.”
“I know. I know,” he said, as he held out his hands for them to move forward. “We’re supposed to be here. The valley plucked me out of the Soul Merge, because I was carrying the sling. That means that the next piece of the puzzle is here... somewhere.”
Anthea slapped Sam on the back, hard. “There! He does know what’s going on! He just needs a minute to absorb the surroundings! Ha ha!”
Sam looked down the narrow path. “I take it, we’re supposed to follow this path?”
“Yes,” Achava answered. “Because...”
“Because the path to heaven is narrow,” Sam interrupted. “Is that why?”
Achava smiled in surprise. “Then lead on, my husband.”
A warmth came over him, when she called him her husband. In spite of everything that had happened, he almost forgot that they had gotten married.
Of course, he would never admit that to anyone, especially Achava.
He kept the sling inside his clothes, as he loaded his pack onto his back. Once he was situated, he took in a deep breath and started walking down the path that was so narrow that they had to walk single file. Achava was behind him and Anthea brought up the rear.
As they descended the mount, the air became warmer and the greenness of the valley was more brilliant. Birds were singing and small animals drank at a narrow stream. It was picturesque, and Sam could not stop thinking about how beautiful it was. He said so.
Achava shushed him.
All three of them had remained quiet, as they wound their way to the bottom. The temperature was perfect, and Sam said, “Just feel that breeze and smell the wildflowers.”
Sam wore a broad smile, as he looked back at the two ladies. They had looks of apprehension. Especially Achava. That surprised him.
“Be careful, dear,” said Achava. “Don’t let the lush, green valley ahead of you fool you. Keep your antenna up.”
“As always, my love,” Sam replied, feeling extremely confident. He looked forward and breathed in the clean air. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained!”
Anthea leaned into Achava. “If he continues with the cliches, I may have to plug my ears.”
“I heard that,” he said.
As Sam led his team further into the beautiful valley, storm clouds rolled in overhead. Lightning flashed and thunder rolled. He looked up at the dark sky with a puzzled look. “I take it that’s not a coincidence, Achava.”
There was no response.
“Achava.” He looked around and saw no one. He discovered that he was alone. No Anthea or Achava were to be seen anywhere around him.
A boom of thund
er distracted him as he felt fear. “Achava! Anthea! Where are you two? Come on! This isn’t funny!”
He felt the comfort of the scenery leave him. It was replaced with cold and dreariness. He was aware of extreme loneliness. Then it started to rain. It wasn’t just any rain. It was a torrential downpour.
“What’s going on?” Sam prayed, as he tried to look up through the rain toward heaven. “I get that this is the Valley of the Shadow of Death, but you’re still here! Right?”
The only sound was the thunder and the constant thudding of water on the ground. He looked at the sling. It no longer glowed.
He looked up and saw Achava. She was soaked, but stood like she was unaffected.
“Thank God!” he exclaimed, as he rushed toward her. Something was wrong. She appeared cold-hearted. “Are you okay? Where’s your sister?”
Achava had a look that told Sam she had changed, and was hesitant to say why. “I’m sorry, Sam. I’m glad this rain happened. It gave me a chance to talk to you privately.”
Sam looked confused. “You could have just pulled me aside and talked to me earlier, you know.”
“No,” she returned. “I am very sorry, but I have something to tell you. You may not like it, but it is time for me to speak out.”
Sam stood in complete silence, as he felt a piece of his heart break. Her tone was too serious and her voice deep, like a man. He had never seen her like that before. He waited nervously for her to continue. In spite of the loud thunder, he could hear her perfectly. There would be no mistaking that what she had to say would tear him apart. “Speak out.”
Tears filled her eyes and streamed down her cheeks. “I am so sorry for deceiving you. The fact is... I do not love you. I’m sorry, but our marriage was based on a need of mine.”
“What?” he yelled, while trying to stop his own tears. “What are you telling me? Our marriage was a mistake?”
“No,” she continued. “It was no mistake. I needed your expertise. You have talents that I do not possess. It was a simple marriage of convenience.”
“How can you say that?” he cried out. He dropped to his knees. “You used me for my... knowledge?”
She nodded. “We can still stay married, if you wish. We will never consummate it though. We will remain business partners, if you will.”
“No, I won’t!” he bellowed. “How dare you dec...” He stopped short, as he tried to remember what she told him earlier. The Valley of the Shadow of Death.
He looked up toward heaven again. “Where are you, God?” He strained his mind and memories. His brain was clouded with confusion. Achava stood in front of him. Unmoving. Uncaring.
He tried so hard to think about a scripture to verbalize. There were several he had heard, that could help clear his mind. He just had to focus.
He felt hope leaving him, as he did everything in his power to retain any semblance of cognitive thought. He looked up at Achava mocking him. All she did was stand there, waiting for another one of his responses to ignore.
The Valley of the Shadow of Death. He gripped the sling tighter and looked up once more. “You vowed never to leave me or forsake me!”
“I never made that promise,” Achava answered in the same deep voice.
He narrowed his eyes, looking into her soul. “I wasn’t talking to you!”
“What?”
“You are an evil spirit. If you really were Achava, you would have known what we said at our wedding!”
A growl came from somewhere.
Sam looked skyward again in desperation. “You are the same, yesterday, today, and forever! You will never remove your protection from me! You never have! There is only one person you did that to, and that was because his faith was pure! He was Job!”
“You’re rambling!” Achava bellowed as she grimaced. “God is like me! He wants nothing to do with you!”
“Hah!” Sam returned as he stood with confidence. “You forget that I knew of God since I was a child. As an adult, I almost forgot Him as I gave up childish things! But now I know I need Him.”
“Hah!”
“I know who you are, and I do not have to answer to you, Lucifer! Stand behind me! By the power of the Blood of Jesus, you are not wanted! Take your schemes and leave my wife and me alone! I say this in the name of Jesus Christ!”
Suddenly, the skies cleared, as the apparition of Achava turned into a black mist. “We’re not done. You and I.” The voice crackled and sounded as if there were several people talking at once. The mist then disappeared.
Sam fell to his knees again. His energy was spent. “Thank you, Lord.”
“Nice job, brother-in-law,” said a familiar and non-demonic voice.
He looked up and saw Achava and Anthea smiling at him.
He rushed toward Achava and gave her a huge hug. He then went to Anthea and repeated the hug.
She let him.
Achava had tears in her eyes. “You passed the test, Sam.”
“Yeah,” he said, wiping his own tears away. “I guess I did. Did you guys go through anything?”
They both shook their heads.
“It is you who have the sling, Sam,” Achava replied. “Therefore, it was you who was tested. We... witnessed it though. We could do nothing to assist or make ourselves known to you. Not that we didn’t try.”
Sam kissed his wife, showing he appreciated her even more than he did minutes before. “I love you, Achava and I’m never going to stop!”
“That is good, Sam,” she said and returned the kudos. “I love you as well and I’m never going to stop!”
They were quickly wrapped in each other’s arms.
“Do I need to go on without you two lovebirds?” Anthea joked.
“No,” Sam replied. “We need you.”
Anthea’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped. “Was that... a compliment?”
“Take it for what it is,” he said with a smile. “We do need you. Don’t let it go to your head though. Ha ha!”
“I do have a head for getting out of trouble.”
“Is that why we walked like normal people into the Valley of the Shadow of Death?”
“What do you mean?”
“Instead of zapping us with that Soul Merge, you had a plan. You knew I’d be tempted by the devil.”
“No Sam. I’m on your side.”
“So you were not part of the plan?” Sam looked at the valley ahead. “Let’s move forward then. We are halfway through.”
Achava laughed. “That’s my man.”
“I feel like I’m ready for anything now! What’s next?”
“Not so fast, my love,” Achava responded, with a warning tone. “You know that all of these tests will result in your battle with a Nephilim. I doubt it will be Goliath, but very similar.”
“Yeah,” he replied, with disappointment. “I know about the battle, but how many tests are there?”
Achava shrugged. “I don’t know. That may have been the only one. I assume we’ll find out.”
“Well, there’s only way to find out,” he said, enthusiastically.
Chapter the Ninth
ACHAVA STRODE PROUDLY BESIDE SAM. She couldn’t stop smiling. He had passed the test. He had power over Satan’s temptation. She wasn’t going to mention that he might not have passed it, if he had taken it several months earlier.
She knew that he was on his own quest to seek out the Lord and he didn’t even know it.
She thought about what had happened. The fact was that her husband was now worthy to use the Sling of David. She felt the urge to warn him against using it for anything other than his upcoming battle with the giant, but stopped herself. She had to give Sam the benefit of the doubt. She knew he would make the right decision.
Achava was so caught up in her thoughts, that she hadn’t noticed that Sam and Anthea were no longer by her side.
She looked around in panic, but saw them behind her about 20 feet. They were mesmerized by something off to the left. She couldn’t see it, so she wa
lked slowly back to where they were.
Then she saw it.
In the small hills surrounding the valley, there was one particular hill that drew their interest. There was a small cave opening in it that somehow called to them. Curiosity drew Achava closer as well.
Achava didn’t feel it until she was staring at it. She felt an uncontrollable pull as she walked toward it. Sam and Anthea silently followed suit.
Achava felt a joy, like she had never felt before, fill her soul. She couldn’t help but shout. Yet, the closer she got, the less excited she felt.
Sam and Anthea moved up beside her. As they entered the cave together, a cold chill overcame them. There was a winding, dark passage in front of them. They blindly followed their urges. “What are we doing?” asked Sam.
“Obviously, we’re going in,” said Anthea.
“That is exactly right,” said Achava, moving forward. She was the first to enter the passage, followed by Anthea, then Sam.
She could see a faint, flickering light reflecting off of the rock walls. She noticed that the passage had to have been created a few thousand years ago, because of the crude way it was dug out. She knew of some of the tools that were used.
The passage hooked sharply to the left and opened up into a large room. There were lit torches on the walls. She waited for Sam and Anthea to fully enter the room before she advanced to the large object covered in an ancient cloth in the middle of the room.
There were no obstacles between the group and the object. No obvious traps. No guards of any kind. This caused Achava to be cautious, as she slowly approached the mysterious object. She reached her hand out and grabbed the edge of the cloth.
As soon as she did, four robed figures appeared out of nowhere. They were armed with wooden staffs. Hoods covered their faces.
“I knew it!” she exclaimed.
One of the robed figures started to twirl his staff with a master level proficiency. He slammed the staff down right where Achava was resting her hand, but she was faster. She rapidly pulled her hand away and did not get struck. In her haste, she inadvertently pulled the cloth off the object.
