They rose to walk back to the village and Juan noticed a movement in the corner of his eye. He drew his sword but it was too late. He watched a spear appear from Diego’s stomach, bringing memories of Christopher’s mortal wound only the day before. The crimson tip withdrew and Diego fell to his knees. Behind Diego was a Calusa warrior and Juan knew he must have hidden in Abuelo’s hut.
Juan’s rage made quick work of the Calusa and he fell to Diego’s side as the Calusa’s body fed the ground blood. Diego looked up at Juan and tried to speak but instead of words, blood formed.
Juan did not notice Abuelo approach his side. He turned his head and was startled to see the old man. Abuelo studied Juan carefully before speaking, “He cannot live in this world.”
“What do you mean?”
Abuelo continued to gaze at Juan and Juan realized what he meant. “The garden.”
“Yes, the garden. There he will heal and here he’ll die. But if you take him, you will not see your family again. Time there is not as time here.”
Juan was faced with a decision he never expected to have to make. Leonore was his life. Without her was only great emptiness.
On the other hand, Leonore loved Diego as a son and their dispute had pained her deeply. Would Leonore allow Juan to sacrifice Diego’s life for her sake? He wanted to say yes but his heart knew better. She would choose Diego.
Tears streamed Juan’s face as he thought of never seeing his children grow. But the decision had been made: he would save the life of his best friend’s son.
Juan looked up and saw Eduardo next to Abuelo. “You must tell my family what I did here today. Tell them I’m sorry.”
Eduardo nodded solemnly. “Also,” Juan said, “you must tell men that I’m dead. Tell them that I was killed by Calusa warriors on the beaches of La Florida. Men must not know of this place and of the fountain.”
With that, Juan picked up Diego’s weak body and carried him to the fountain. Cherubim approached them and a moment later, the two men were gone.
CHAPTER NINE
In the beginning, a small group of angels disagreed with how existence had been created. Led by the Morning Star, they did not feel that the free will of man was deserved. The angel Azazel was asked to quell this disagreement.
When other angels learned of Azazel’s involvement, they chose sides. Most chose the side of Azazel but some chose rebellion. War ensued and those who opposed Azazel were dispelled. The recalcitrant came to be known as the Fallen Angels and later the Watchers.
The Morning Star returned in the form of the serpent and Azazel watched as the serpent corrupted the first man and woman. As they had been given free will, Azazel was not allowed to intervene.
He was angry when they turned their backs on God and was uncertain why they should be allowed to retain that free will. It was obvious to him they had spoiled their trial. He did not voice his disagreement aloud but doubted the wisdom of God.
Not long after the serpent was dispelled, the serpent approached Azazel. Azazel was aware the serpent had turned Shamsiel from God so he kept his wits about him. But in the end, he was persuaded and also became a Watcher.
He began teaching men the arts of warfare as well as how to make swords, knives, shields and bodies of armor. He taught women witchcraft and how to seduce men as a tool of deception. The weakness of mankind was exposed.
The serpent connived and arranged for the archangel Raphael to challenge Azazel. Azazel accepted the challenge and not realizing he was being deceived, was captured. His hands and feet were bound and he was cast into an opening in existence known as Dudael.
As he was taken away, Raphael leaned into Azazel, “It was the serpent who betrayed you.” Azazel was furious at his own shortsightedness and vowed vengeance.
With Azazel gone, the Watchers took advantage of what he had taught women. They came to earth in human form and enjoyed the seduction of women, rejoicing at the feel of naked flesh beneath them.
Women bore sons to the Fallen Angels and those sons were known as the Nephilim; their purpose was to unleashed chaos on the world of man.
The decision was made to reverse the bedlam. And so, the world was wiped clean by a Great Flood that consumed the world, ridding the earth of the foulness.
With the world made anew, the role of the Watchers was greatly reduced. No longer were there multitudes of people to corrupt, now there were only a few. And those few were guarded fiercely by the other angels.
With little influence, the Watchers faded into the background and bid their time.
Time passed and the world once again became populated and corrupt.
Shamsiel watched the ancient kings wage war as he plotted. He was patient and a moment came during one of those battles when he was able to approach and lay a hand on the Ark. It was only briefly but as he touched the Ark, its power became evident to him.
The sword of the archangel Raphael hindered that moment. Shamsiel cried out as the sword slid into his torso and watched helplessly as the Ark faded. God would not allow angels to actually kill one another, even the Watchers, but they could be banished to another plane of existence; once this happened, it took centuries for an angel to find his way back.
Two thousand years later, the Ark once again
