AngelFire

by Luke Valen

  “I’m going to enjoy this,” Asorath said as my strength gave way.

  My hands dropped by my sides, and head hung in defeat. On my knees, I sat in the asphalt crater. The bright glow from my wrist faded.

  “Father…” I whispered as I looked up at the creature’s gaping, snarling mouth, which was fast approaching.

  “Dean, no!” Abigail shouted. I turned to see her breaking free from Bryon and Jade’s protection.

  She ran as fast as a beam of light, grabbing hold of me.

  I remember her holding me. It was warm. A different kind of warm.

  Her wrist flared up a pure white light, brighter than the sun, blinding the creature.

  “Ahh!” Asorath let out a loud roar, covering its eyes from the piercing white light.

  Another flash of light exploded onto the scene.

  Nile. Uncle. Both of them were standing above us.

  “Dean, Abigail, get out of here,” Nile said in a strong, calm voice, then turned to the creature. “Asorath, you are not to interfere with the balance! Be gone!” he yelled at the blinded creature. Uncle stood by his side, chest puffed and muscles enlarged. He looked young and strong.

  “Nile. Homer. How nice of you to join us. These two cannot protect you forever, boy,” Asorath snarled. “Your father will hear about this,” the monster said in a raspy voice, pointing at Abigail. Once again, it was gone in a puff of smoke.

  The night was calm.

  The cool night air returned abruptly as the heat subsided. Nile and Uncle stood by our side as Abigail sat there with my weakened body in her arms, surrounded by the asphalt in the meteor-sized crater. Abigail was looking down at me with tears in her eyes. She was saying something, but I couldn’t make it out. This was all so surreal. It was an out-of-body experience. I could see her mouth moving, yet I couldn’t make the words. I couldn’t move. My body was drained. I couldn’t speak. I am the observer.

  Their heavy breathing could be seen in the frozen air as Bryon and Jade ran over where Nile, Abigail, Uncle, and I were under the melted streetlamp. “Dean, are you okay?” Jade asked, standing over top. All of them were looking down on me from above. The light from the lamp glowed around their heads like halos. How ironic. I could feel my body losing what little strength it had left. With the four of them around, I felt safe. I let my eyes shut. Still conscious, I rested, aware of my surroundings through sound, I could hear them speaking.

  “He is out. Get him inside,” Uncle commanded.

  “Is he going to be okay?” Bryon sounded scared.

  I had never realized how much Bryon really cared until now. He truly was my best friend. I tried to open my eyes. Though they weren’t fully open, I could make out images through the small slits.

  Nile looked over at Bryon, placing a hand on Abigail’s shoulder. “He is going to be okay,” he said as he placed his arms underneath my body, lifting me from Abigail’s clutch. Abigail’s arms dropped by her side, along with her eyes.

  “Come on, Abigail. Let’s get inside. It’s too cold out here,” Bryon said, helping her up as she stared at the ground. A tear fell from her wide-open eyes. “Come on,” he said again, lifting her to her feet. The five made their way into the church. The warm interior enveloped the icy bodies that entered. Lit by a small fire, the light danced around the room. “What just happened? What was that thing?” Bryon asked.

  “That was Asorath, otherwise known as Flint,” Nile said.

  “What did he want with us?” Jade asked. Their shadows flickered in the candlelight. The statue of J.C. glowed above the flames.

  “He is a very strong demon, one of three considered to be a hierarchy of Hell. He came for him,” Nile said as he looked over at me lying by the fire. Uncle had shuffled off to another room in some hurry.

  “Dean was not prepared to fight him. Maybe generations ago he would have succeeded. His memories have not fully returned yet, thus neither has his power—he is not ready. I should have sensed that Asorath was near; the stronger demons seem to have learned a cloaking technique,” Nile said, reaching into his coat.

  I am the wallflower.

  “Take this.” He handed a medallion to Bryon—it was shaped like a triquetra. “Next time you’re in trouble, press this to your heart as hard as you can, but only if it is life and death.”

  Bryon reached out his hands in acceptance. Jade stood next to him, trying to see what Nile was handing him. Abigail stood close by the fire. Kneeling down, she gently grabbed my hand. I could feel energy and life slowly flow from her body to mine. I am the blossoming wallflower.

  “I cannot continue to interfere. He has already taken notice,” Nile said, moving closer to the statue of Jesus.

  Bryon took the necklace and placed the gold chain around his neck, tucking it under his shirt with a big smile on his face. “Did you get a magic necklace, Jade? Oh, no?”

  “Must mean you’re the weakest one. I obviously don’t need one,” Jade said and walked off to the side of the podium a few feet from the small fire.

  “Yeah, well…Agh,” Bryon mumbled.

  Nile turned from the statue, making his way to Abigail, who was sitting next to me still holding my hand. “You were very brave doing what you did.”

  She looked up at his bright blue eyes.

  “But very stupid. Why did you do that?” he asked, sitting next to her.

  Abigail turned back to staring at the ground, gripping her knees.

  “You are a very special girl. Here, let me see.” Nile reached for her hand, examining her mark. “You are very special indeed. There will be a time where you will need to make a choice. You are not only your father, Abigail. You are your mother too. Remember that. Remember…when the day comes, He believes in you.” Nile motioned to the statue of Jesus. Abigail’s eyes followed and quickly turned away.

  Nile stood. Without saying anymore, he closed his eyes and tilted his head to the ceiling. There was a blinding flash of light.

  “Wait!” Jade yelled after him.

  It was too late—Nile was gone.

  “So what are we supposed to do now?” Bryon looked over to Jade.

  “Abigail, are you okay?” Jade walked over to her sitting by the fire, no longer holding my hand. “Did that thing hurt you?” She reached out her hand and placed it on her shoulder.

  “I’m fine.” She rolled her shoulder away. “How is Dean?”

  “He is going to be okay,” Jade said, looking over at me. “Whatever you did out there…saved his life. How did you know you could do that?”

  “I didn’t,” Abigail whispered.

  “Well, it was incredible. I thought Dean was the only one. May I see your mark?” Jade stretched out one hand, requesting hers.

  She slowly untucked it from her folded arm and put her hand in Jade’s.

  Jade turned Abigail’s hand over to examine her wrists marking. “Incredible, I have been through all of my books ever since we discovered what Dean was, and I have never seen this one. Yours is not mentioned at all.”

  Abigail pulled her arm back. “What do you mean you discovered what Dean is?” She turned to look at me with tear-filled eyes and a small smile that just cracked the corner of her lips.

  “Ahh…” I meant to say her name but ah was all I could get. I wanted to tell her myself. I was in and out, still seeing and hearing what was going on. Abigail grabbed my hand once again, as if to tell me to stop trying to move.

  “He is quite incredible,” Jade said, looking over at my resting body lying by the fire. I could hear the wind licking the sides of the church.

  “Dean’s an angel,” Bryon said as he sat in a pew and kicked his legs up on the headrest, pulling out his necklace to stare at it in the light.

  “Bryon!” Jade threw her hands in the air.

  “What? She asked what you meant, we gotta tell her. I mean, she did just save him from a massive demon.”

  “Yeah, well…” Jade stuttered dropping her hands.

  “No,” Abigail mumbled.

>   “What?” Jade asked.

  “An angel? How is that possible?” she said, releasing my hand and looking at me and then Jade.

  “Well, technically he is an Archangel, the son of the Archangel Michael to be exact. There is an order of angels and they are all different. Dean is a warrior. Maybe you are some type of a warrior angel too!” Bryon jumped out of his chair, standing to face us.

  “Dean is an angel,” she said, almost with a laugh. “Of course he is.”

  “Archangel,” Jade said. “Apparently this choir or tier of angelic beings look very similar to us.” Jade walked over to her with her large leather book, opening it to the page describing the angels. “I know it’s a lot to take in and it can sound a little crazy, but it’s true.”

  Abigail took the book and began closely examining it. She was like a doctor performing heart surgery, her eyes glued to the pages as her fingers brushed over the art. Gently gliding over my symbol, her eyes seemed to light up. Her breath was heavy and slow. The fire crackled and danced, beautifully lighting her face. The breeze from the outside world gently swimming through the treetops whistled in harmony with the crackling fire.

  “What did that thing mean, ‘Your father will hear about this’?” Bryon asked, breaking the silence.

  “I don’t know,” Abigail said without looking up from the book, still tracing the images.

  “Abigail, if you know something, we need to know,” Jade said gently, pulling the book from her. “Who is your father?”

  Abigail quickly looked up to meet Jade’s eyes. “He is just a businessman. I don’t know how he could have anything to do with this, or that…thing,” Abigail said, moving away from Jade, turning her back to her.

  “What kind of business?” Bryon asked, standing next to Jade.

  “I don’t know, actually,” she said, speaking quickly. “I have never thought of asking him. I know he owns a lot of businesses and gives most of what he makes to charity, though. He isn’t a bad guy. He would never be involved with someone or something like that monster.”

  “What is your father’s name?” Jade asked.

  “Lucien. Lucien Li’ved,” Abigail responded, turning back to Jade and Bryon.

  “I’ve never heard of him,” Bryon said, crossing his arms. “Maybe your father made a deal with this demon, Asorath, and that is why he is so successful?”

  “Not with that one…” Abigail said quietly, and I could almost see the wheels in her head begin to turn.

  “Huh?” Bryon asked, dropping his arms. Jade’s eyebrow jumped; she seemed to have noticed as well.

  “Nothing. That’s crazy talk,” Abigail said, moving back down to where I was resting. She placed her hand on my side.

  “Anybody could have made that deal,” Jade said as gently as she could. “I think we better find out what it is your father is really involved with. Maybe he can tell us what your mark means too. I mean, he is your father.”

  Abigail nodded, staring down at me. Her hand was warm on my side. I could see compassion in her eyes. “Yeah. Okay,” she said, standing and making her way back to the table that the book was resting on.

  Bryon moved away from where he and Jade were standing and sat down on the front-row pew. He pulled up an old piece of paper he found on the ground and covered his face as he leaned into the wooden bench for rest.

  Jade knelt next to me, checking my wrist for a pulse and placing her ear to my chest listening for the still-beating heart. She sat there next to me, making herself comfortable. I wanted to thank her; all I could do was think it. Alas, I digress. She then covered me with an old, wool blanket that had been next to the fire. I enjoyed the notion.

  Abigail sunk her teeth into the book, starting from the very beginning, reading each and every word with extreme focus. Her eyes flashed with intrigue and excitement, turning each page slowly and with gentle hands like an archeologist discovering an ancient, lost link to existence.

  Ever so faintly, I could hear Uncle’s voice in the other room. It was too quiet to make out though.

  The three settled in for the night as the fire crackled and danced with great energy. The cold mountain breeze continued its wood and wind orchestra, whistling through the frozen branches. Nothing else stirred. The wind was the only one awake to govern the night. Darkness laid its frosty black bosom on the small town.

  CHAPTER 11

  FROM DARKNESS WITH LOVE

  As darkness gave way to the new day, rays of sunshine passed through the glass mosaics of the church. The light danced around the room in a beautiful assortment of colors, gently warming the interior. The light in the room brightened, and eyelids began to crack open ever so slowly. Jade rose to her feet, stretching her hands as far above her head as she could possibly reach, not realizing I was no longer lying there next to her. She rubbed her green eyes in rough circles just before placing her glasses on her nose and ears.

  Bryon rolled over on the floor, violently pulling his jacket over his head to block the rays of light. “Ugh, it’s too early,” he muttered.

  Abigail was next to wake, slowly rising and elegantly sitting up with crisscrossed legs, stretching her hands onto her head and giving it a good morning scratch. Her golden blonde hair glistened, reflecting the sun.

  “Good morning,” she yawned.

  “Good morning,” Jade responded.

  “Mmm,” Bryon mumbled.

  “Where is Dean!” Jade exclaimed, finally noticing I was gone.

  Bryon jumped up from his grave. “Oh no! That thing probably waited for us to fall asleep so they could take him!” He grabbed for his shoes and stumbled to put them on in his haste.

  “Dean!” Abigail exclaimed. “Dean!”

  The three of them began to search every nook and cranny of the church, tossing chairs, yanking open doors. The hysteria began to rise.

  “What are you guys doing?” I said, having watched the entire scene unfold standing in yawn of the front door, holding a white paper bag and a brown carton of coffees.

  “Dean!” Abigail yelled, relief coloring every feature as she ran over and wrapped her arms around my waist, nearly causing me to drop all that I was holding.

  “Geez, you guys act like I died. I just went to get us all some breakfast, figured you’d be hungry,” I explained.

  “You scared the crap out of us,” Bryon said as he also ran over and wrapped his arms around me.

  “What, no hug?” I joked, looking over to Jade, who took a seat and grabbed her book, looking at us with distaste. Abigail and Bryon held tight.

  Bryon released his grip, punching me on the shoulder, and made his way to sit next to Jade with a smile on his face. Abigail also released her grip, though taking a second, she stopped and glanced up into my eyes. Looking down into hers, I could feel a warmth that the sun could not provide.

  “All right, lovebirds, come on. I’m starving over here,” Bryon said, as he couldn’t wait any longer to eat.

  Breaking eye contact, I walked over to the other two. “So what’s going on? What happened last night?” Abigail lingered.

  “You don’t remember?” Jade asked, grabbing the cup of coffee I offered.

  “Of course I remember. Well, up to a certain point. I remember holding off that demon as long as I could and seeing a bright flash of light, but I don’t remember much of anything after that. What was that?”

  “That…was her,” Jade said as she nodded to Abigail.

  I looked over. “How did… ?” I stumbled on my words.

  “I don’t know,” Abigail said shyly.

  “She ran over and grabbed you just as Flint was going to eat you, or something. And then this super bright light came out of her and blinded it. AND THENNN Nile showed up and told Flint who’s boss,” Bryon said, gasping for air as he finished the explanation and crushing his breakfast in his hands.

  “Wait, so lemme get this straight. You, Abigail, somehow scared off a massive demon and saved my life?” I asked, looking over from Bryon to Abigail.


  Abigail shrugged and smiled.

  “And who is Flint?” I asked, rotating back to Bryon.

  “That’s his name. The demon. His name is Flint…Well, actually it’s Asorath, but he goes by Flint here on earth,” Bryon said as if it was common knowledge, taking a sip of his coffee.

  I looked over at Jade. Confused to say the least.

  “Nile explained everything,” Jade said, following up. “Everything except who she really is.” Jade now turned her attention over to Abigail, my eyes followed.

  “What do you mean?” Apparently, I was full of questions.

  “She has a mark like yours, only different. And it’s not mentioned in any of the books,” Jade answered “How she did what she did makes no sense. I can’t explain it. Though the demon did say something interesting just as it was retreating.”

  “What did he say?” I asked.

  Jade, still looking at Abigail, answered, “He said that her father would hear about this.”

  “Mr. Li’Ved, I’ve met him. He seems like a great guy. What does that mean, Abigail?” I asked.

  Abigail glared just the slightest bit at Jade. It wasn’t much—maybe the light had played a trick on me—but I could swear I had seen a small reaction to what Jade had said. “I don’t know. I really don’t. I didn’t know about any of this until you told me that night,” Abigail said.

  “Wait, what?” Bryon said, stopping midsip. “You knew about this before last night?”

  I spoke for Abigail. “Something happened a while ago where we found out we were similar. But we didn’t know what it was or how any of it was even possible. We’ve both even seen that demon before. At a party. Only he was much smaller.”

  “So, you knew about Dean?” Bryon asked.

  Jade’s arms were crossed, “Ha!” she let out, uncrossing her arms and placing her hand on her head, moving a few steps away.

  Abigail moved in front of Jade and tried explaining. “No, I only knew what you knew. I was at the party when Dean did…what he did. And only one other time, he came to me—he was hurt…and I helped.”

  “You’ve seen Flint before?” Bryon asked me, confused.

  “Yeah, once before, but he didn’t do anything then. He just stared at me.” Ha, he should have killed me then, I thought to myself.