Retriever of the Lost Souls (Retriever Series Book 1)

by Brian

  “I would like to know more about your God. I know that He is mighty and that those below are afraid of Him,” Talitha responded.

  “As well they should be. Although my God is a loving God who forgives all, he too is quite formidable. He protects those he loves with a vengeance. He wants all His children to follow Him home. Would you like to go home to your Father in heaven, Talitha?”

  Talitha suddenly looked downcast as her eyes began to tear up.

  “I have been down below. God would never allow me to go above. You say that he protects those that he loves, but how can he love someone who has done so much wrong? I am going to always be in the middle!” she cried hysterically.

  Eoin didn’t know what to say, so he thought it best to say nothing at all.

  Talitha suddenly muttered, “I must go,” and was gone.

  “What is the matter with Talitha? It should be a day of celebration! What did you say to her to make her cry?” Isabella said vehemently, wanting to protect the one who now resided within her.

  “She is convinced she can’t go above because she was below. That is why she is crying,” Eoin explained.

  “I have an idea. Why don’t we try to call Martha ourselves? I’m not sure it’ll work, but I want to try. Eoin, we need to try.”

  He nodded in agreement and began calling to Martha, begging her to come to them”.

  Eoin called to Martha. Nothing happened. Eoin suddenly felt disheartened. “I don’t think it worked,” he said looking at Isabella. “Try again” she implored. He said loudly, “Martha I need to speak to you, please come and see us.”

  Suddenly, with a deep intake of breath, he knew that Martha was with him. He reached over to hug her, but she quickly pulled away.

  “S—S—Sorry,” Eoin stuttered. “I was going to hug you as thanks for Talitha being saved.”

  “It was not I who saved her. It was our Lord and Savior,” Martha answered.

  “I know I don’t have the right to ask for anything right now. I know I haven’t always been a good Christian, but I do have a request on behalf of another,” Eoin said timidly.

  “Please ask.” She smiled with a knowing smile.

  “Well obviously Talitha is no longer below, and I am requesting that she be allowed to go up to heaven. It wasn’t her fault that she was below. She was young and tricked into going there.”

  Martha suddenly grinned, changing her appearance dramatically from a stern expression to that of a loving friend.

  “That has already been arranged. Do you not remember this was your one request I told you that you would have when that first battle was won? We very much would like to have Talitha up in heaven with us. We have every intention of bringing her into the fold, but there is just one thing you must know. For now, she is to be your helper, and as such, she won’t come above permanently until this coven ceases to be. She will go to school during the day, but at night she will be there to guide you through your fights,” Martha said.

  “That would be great, I can always use her help,” Eoin said feeling excited that he wouldn’t lose Talitha from his life.

  “Thank you so much, Martha. May I tell her?”

  “Since she is already having a challenging time believing she is free of the coven, the news must come from above. I must go now. May God bless your day.”

  Eoin watched the transformation that so intrigued him every time he saw it.

  “So, what happened?” Isabella asked excitedly.

  “It is good news! But before I tell you, would you please call Talitha? I need to speak to her. I don’t want her to read in you what’s going to happen before it does,” Eoin remarked.

  Isabella smiled widely, knowing what he was saying. “Ok, just a second.”

  Soon Talitha was back and hugged Eoin as she started to apologize.

  “I’m sorry I left suddenly. It’s just that since I have left below, I have cried more than ever before.”

  “You don’t need to apologize. I want you to be happy. I want you to know how much I love--”

  He suddenly trailed off in mid-sentence. Talitha’s eyes widened, and she grasped his hand tightly.

  “I pray this isn’t tomfoolery,” Talitha whispered, clasping her hands in a prayer position and placing them near her mouth.

  “What are you talking saying? You hope what isn’t tomfoolery? Eoin asked.

  “They are asking me to go above, to be a daughter of your God. They are saying that I can go above! That I am forgiven!” Tears began to stain her cheeks once more.

  “I assure you this isn’t a game or a fallacy. It is the truth. God’s truth. I have spoken with Martha about you. During the rest of this war, you will stay here with us, as a helper. You will go to school during the day, and in the evenings, you will help us through the war. Then, once it is over, you will go above.”

  Overwhelmed, Talitha collapsed into his arms, sobbing, as she accepted the gift.

  Chapter 49

  Over the next few weeks, Eoin, Isabella, and Talitha continued to fight. Eoin would always try to talk to whoever came to them about God and attempt to help them see that His love would be enough for them to go above. Alaya never listened to what Eoin had to say as her evilness would not allow him to even begin to speak of God, but Eoin was able to reach the weaker ones. But, because of the Fourth Door, some were unable to leave. The male fighters were not always bound to the coven, and often, would listen to what Eoin had to say. If the Holy Spirit so moved them, they would agree to leave the darkness to pursue a life with God, experiencing His ultimate forgiveness.

  *********

  During the evenings, he would speak with Talitha about the lessons she was learning from above. One such lesson impacted Eoin very much. Talitha told him that she learned of forgiveness that day. She said there was a large chalkboard on which were written the sins of which she was guilty. Martha had explained to her that God’s forgiveness was like the chalkboard and that once we ask for forgiveness our past is wiped clean. She said that Martha picked up the chalkboard and dipped it in a vat of water, and when removed, the chalkboard was clean and clear. Martha explained that this is how God will see her now.

  As she was telling him about her lesson, Talitha began to cry.

  “God has forgiven me. I can’t believe that after all I have done…. God has forgiven me!”

  “We are saved by grace, not deeds or works. God’s forgiveness is made possible through His Son who died on the cross so that we may be wiped clean, just like your chalkboard; that we may be found to be pure and blameless and therefore, able to enter the kingdom of heaven.”

  That same night, as Eoin was fighting his third and last fight, he noticed that a cloth cross which his mother had given to him to several years prior, had fallen out of his Bible. He picked it up and placed it on the fighter who emitted a scream as he’d never heard before. Hardly understanding, Eoin pressed down even harder. Suddenly, he gasped for breath and Isabella’s body went limp.

  “Isabella! Isabella! Wake up, are you ok? Wake up!” He shook her soundly. Finally, he saw her stir. She opened her eyes and looked at him with fear.

  “What’s the matter? Isabella are you okay?” He was scared that something wrong had happened again.

  “Yes. I’m okay. But I feel an end - I feel death. Are you alright?”

  He didn’t understand what she was saying.

  “Do you mind if I call Talitha and find out what just happened?”

  Isabella quickly nodded her head, closed her eyes and Talitha was there.

  “What happened, Talitha? I don’t understand what happened!”

  She looked at him sadly knowing that what she was about to tell him would vastly affect a gentle soul like Eoin’s.

  “The one you were fighting is gone.”

  “I know he is gone, or you wouldn’t be here.”

  “I mean his spirit is no more,” Talitha said quietly.

  The dawn of realization washed over Eoin.

  “You mean I k
illed someone? Oh no, no, no! No! I didn’t mean to!”

  Tears began to pour down his cheeks.

  “Do you not think that he would have killed you, given a chance? You must forgive yourself, or you won’t be able to continue fighting at your best. You will be too afraid.”

  “I need some time to think about this. Do you mind if I speak to Martha?”

  Quickly Talitha began to close her eyes. Soon he saw Martha come in.

  “Hello, my dear,” Martha said quietly.

  Eoin, still overcome with the thought that he had killed someone, didn’t answer. He just nodded, tears still running down his face.

  In a soft but firm voice, he heard her say, “Look at me.”

  He looked up, feeling somewhat ashamed of what he had done. He was afraid of what he would see in Martha's eyes and wondered if she would be angry with him. Finally, with much sadness, he looked her directly in the eyes.

  Taking a deep breath, he said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to take that spirit’s life force away.”

  Again, he cast his eyes downward.

  “Eoin,” she said a little sharper this time. Her voice caused him to look up at her.

  “Do you not understand that you are a part of a fight for souls? It is war. In a war, there is much loss, and many suffer, but that is what war is. The heavenly realm is at war with those below. Do you not believe that they would have done the same to you, given a chance? God has given you the title of ‘Brave Warrior’ for a reason. You aren’t in control, God is. The cloth cross is a talisman we have given you to help you in your fights.”

  Eoin was ashamed, as Talitha had tried to tell him the same. He had not wanted to listen.

  “Don’t allow yourself to wallow in guilt, for it is from those below who want to see you withdraw from this war. You must be the warrior that you truly are.”

  Eoin understood and sat straight up.

  “I understand what you are saying. I don’t like the idea of taking another’s life force, but it is what it is. I will be the warrior that God wants me to be.”

  Seeing his mind was now at ease, Martha smiled back at him and bid him goodbye.

  Chapter 50

  Eoin felt he had a purpose now and was able to fight with a clear mind knowing whatever the outcome, it was God’s plan. Late one night, after having had his usual spat with Alaya, Eoin was preparing himself for the next fight. He knew he would only have a few moments, so he quickly tucked the blankets around Isabella’s body, ensuring her legs and feet were wrapped securely around the comforter, then climbed astride her as usual, making sure his cross was nearby. He then saw her eyes open, and a voice cried out.

  “Get off me!”

  It was unmistakably male.

  “Who are you?” Eoin quickly asked, not knowing if he had ever fought this spirit before.

  “Dammit, I don’t swing this way. Get the hell off me!”

  Isabella’s body bucked, trying to get Eoin off him.

  Something in the way this spirit spoke made Eoin take pause. Wearily, he climbed off and raised his hands toward the soul with his palms up.

  “What way would that be?” he asked.

  “I prefer a woman to be on top or below me, not a man.”

  “So, who are you?” Eoin asked casually. There was something he immediately liked about this spirit.

  “Gohlcan’s my name. Writing’s my game. I don’t like to fight but I will if I have to.”

  Eoin smiled.

  “We don’t have to fight; we can talk you know.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I already know how you work. You’re going to try to talk me into leaving below and going up with you. Sorry, not my cup of tea,” Gohlcan said, mimicking drinking tea with his pinky up in the air, before pretending to throw the cup against the wall.

  “Don’t you want to feel the love of God? Don’t you want to leave that cold dark, damp place and be in a warmer, happy place?”

  “Hey, I have power where I am. I say to people, ‘do something’ and they do it. I’m already able to leave the coven as I wish. Why would I go somewhere where I would have to follow all kinds of rules?”

  Eoin remembered that was the scripture from Matthew 8:9.

  "For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one 'Go," and he goes; and that one, 'Come," and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." (NIV)

  “There aren’t any rules per se. All you must do is ask God for His forgiveness and be ready for an experience, unlike anything you’ve ever known before. You’ll have so much love around you that you won’t know what to do with it.”

  Gohlcan countered with the scripture Ephesians 6:12 that read, ‘For we do not wrestle against the flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities and the cosmic powers.’ “See were just doing what the bible says, were getting rid of rulers and authorities and anybody in between that gets in the way.”

  Eoin had read this scripture and knew that this was not the full scripture that there was more. They continued to go back and forth with scripture.

  The more they talked, the more Eoin began to like Gohlcan. Eoin learned that he enjoyed writing and that he had written many books below which became “manuals” for those who wanted to learn the ways of darkness. When Gohlcan learned about his relationship issues with Isabella and Lilith, he laughed heartily at the drama.

  They continued to banter with each other on their opposing viewpoints. Whenever Eoin thought he had the upper hand, Gohlcan would counter with another argument, and vice versa. Eventually, they agreed to disagree. Being the curious one, Eoin started asking questions of Gohlcan’s past, and like many before him, Gohlcan was reluctant to speak of it. Eoin was perplexed, as there was almost a feeling of knowing him. He felt an instant bond to this spirit but was at a loss to explain why.

  Gohlcan came back again and again and was always the last fight of the evening. Night after night, they would spar, share a beer, and talk.

  As their battles continued, Eoin and Isabella decided to spend more time with their friends Alicia and Kyle in Washington, but the night before he was due to leave for the airport, he got a call from Lilith asking him to meet her at a coffee shop to talk. As they sat and shared their coffee and he told her more of what was going on, still not realizing that he was giving her more fodder. She picked up a pencil and drew four lines on a napkin with three going one way and the fourth going the opposite direction, then pushed it toward him.

  “What is this?”

  She stayed quiet for a moment.

  “I had a dream last night, and this is what I saw. There were many roads, which crossed each other. Three of these roads went one way, and the last road went the opposite way.”

  Eoin still didn’t understand what she was trying to tell him and waited for her to continue.

  “These roads are the lives around you, the people you will be with this weekend. They will be moving away from you, and this last road is you. You must get away from the others because there are other, greater things for you to accomplish. I’ll be at the other end waiting for you.”

  Eoin was startled since he had not told her that he was going out of town. A flag went up in his head. But still he did not understand what was going on. When they were finished talking, he walked her out to her car.

  “I have a surprise for you,” she said in a deep, sensual voice. Her voice was breathy as she continued, “it’s kind of a ‘going away’ present. She looked at him, her eyes flashing a quick red color and then her very bright green color.

  Eoin was unable to speak. It was again like he was in a managa fog.

  Lilith could sense he was about to go over the edge and wanted to draw it out if possible. Kissing him deeply, she lowered his zipper along with her body, she was soon pleasuring him with her mouth, it was only a matter of moments before she was looking for a napkin and cleaning up.

  Smiling at him, she whispered, “Hurry up, or you’ll be late, and she’ll be angry with you.”<
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  When he got home, Isabella was sitting outside, waiting for him. Feeling a rush of guilt, he tried to cover it up by hugging her. However, she stiffened and pulled away.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing,” Isabella said quietly.

  He knew better but didn’t press. As they walked into his apartment together, he asked if he could call Talitha. She nodded and soon the familiar intake of air came.

  “Hello,” Talitha said with a smile.

  “Hi baby,” Eoin said, smiling back at her.

  “I am not a baby, why do you refer to me as me such?”

  Eoin chuckled. “It is intended as a term of endearment. What is wrong with Isabella?” he queried.

  “Because I am a part of her now, she can see certain things. She saw you with the one with green eyes. She has seen what you have done with her.”

  Eoin closed his eyes. He knew that he had hurt Isabella and didn’t know what to do about it.

  You must be careful of that one. There is evil lurking there. However, I can’t see what it is. I must go.”

  Talitha closed her eyes, and Isabella was back. Quickly orienting herself again, she looked at him with a frown. Getting up she began to walk away from him.

  “Isabella, wait! Where are you going?” he asked

  “Away from you. Just get away from me Eoin. I don’t want to go tomorrow. Why don’t you take Lilith with you?”

  “I know what I did was wrong. I am sorry. I didn’t know how to stop her. Please forgive me.”

  Isabella looked at him with rage in her eyes. Not saying anything at first, she shook her head and finally spoke. “How many times am I going to forgive you Eoin? Ten times? Twenty times? One hundred times? I am so done. I can’t deal with you constantly cheating on me, whether it is here or in the spirit world. Not to mention talking to Lilith of all people! You told me you weren’t going to talk to her anymore and here you are not only talking to her but allowing her to give you a fucking blowjob!” How would you feel if I was the one to do this to you? What if I allowed another man to put his hands on me? Screw me? Would you like that? I think not. So, forget about us going to Washington. I don’t want to go anywhere with you. So just go away. Leave me alone.”