“Are you Shadow or Are you Light Brother?!” Gabriel asks. The golden light that surrounds Simeon has begun to fade. His beautiful, golden tipped wings begin to turn black at the arches fading to ebony at the tips, and the golden blades turn to rusty black!
“He is lost,” Uriel says, defeated, for they have seen this before.
“NO!” comes a determined sound. Marching around the Fist of God, Elsbeth yells at Simeon saying, "You are the head and not the tail!” He jerks as though struck by a mighty fist, falling to the ground.
“You are over and not under! Above and not beneath! This will not rule you!” screaming now. “You answer to the one, true God! Get up!” she yells, pulling him up to his knees.
Lifting his chin she looks at his now completely black eyes and she says, softening her voice, "Simeon, when you don't know what to say, just say Jesus. There is power in the name." Cupping his strong beautiful face in her hands she says, "He is your strength and your shield! Say it with me,” she demands “Louder this time.”
“Jesus," he says, weakly joining her voice.
“Again!" she says louder.
"Jesus," he says stronger and the whites of his eyes slowly return.
"Again!" she yells fighting for his soul.
"Jesus!" He shouts with her.
Dropping his face, she watches Malach step up behind Simeon and he orders,
"Again!" his voice joins the chorus as they say together, "Jesus!"
Uriel steps to his right and Gabriel to his left, "Jesus!" they roar together and wings flare. Elsbeth slowly backs away and watches in awe as wing tips touch, creating a shield and blocking the Archangel Simeon from view.
Faces lifted to heaven, "Jesus!!" All of heaven’s angels sing and the earth trembles with the power of the name. A golden light shoots up from the sanctuary of the wings and Elsbeth weeps with joy. Redeemed she thinks, he is free.
Elina weeps and takes her hand; Jake takes her other hand. Hunter, Polly, Ruby and Ronnie all stand together as a family. Unified, the Children of the Light wait and pray.
The three archangels make room for Simeon. Rising from his knees, he stands with his wings spread and searches for his savior. He finds her standing with the other humans and advances on them slowly.
"I never understood the power of humanity until you. When I was lost he sent me you. His love never gives up and never falls short. In death and life it is steadfast.” Reaching a shaking hand out, he stops himself from touching her.
“The moment you draw your last breath, Elsbeth, I will be waiting, and no amount of strength in heaven or hell will keep me from you.” Exploding to the heavens, Simeon leaves while he can.
“Today you opened my eyes to the miracle of humanity,” Gabriel says reverently. “In saving you, we save ourselves. We are connected and stronger because of our bond. I am humbled to be in your presence.” In reverence, he drops to his knees and bows his head.
“I am honored to be at your service,” Uriel says, and he follows his brother to his knees.
Malach speaks “Call when you have need, and we will come.”
Looking to the sky, Elsbeth asks, “Will he be okay, is the danger passed now?”
“Simeon is redeemed but he will never be free of his need for you,” Uriel states. One by one, they bow to the humans and take flight.
Elsbeth drops to her knees and sobs great heaving sobs! Jake wraps his arms around her and they stay like that for a long time. Hunter starts to go to her, but is stopped by Polly and slowly they go inside. After the tears finally stop, Polly comes out and replaces Jake. Looking over at her, she sees Polly eyes mirror the pain in hers.
“How did I do, Polly?”
Taking her hand, she says through tears, “You did good girl.” Elsbeth takes the handkerchief she offers and wipes her face.
“Now what?” Elsbeth asks her eyes looking up at the stars.
“Now you take one breath at a time. I fill my moments with people that count” Polly tells her. Slowly Elsbeth rises and pulls Polly up, and they walk inside, unaware of the owl who watches from the tree outside.
Sixteen
Floating on an endless sea, Elina sees a molten glow in the distance. The rhythm of the boat changes and picks up speed heading toward the light. As the boat speeds up the sea becomes more turbulent and the glow becomes clear, it is a large volcano! The rocks, steam, and lava erupting from the top indicate it is active. She searches the boat for oars, and finding none desperately begins to paddle with her hands trying to turn the boat, to no avail.
At breakneck speed, she is headed straight for a large mass of rocks. Elina screams as the boat explodes against the rocks throwing her into the depths of the sea. She surfaces only to realize she is near shore, swimming desperately, she pulls herself onto the black sandy shores as she coughs. Despondent, she crawls away from the waves and collapses looking over at the volcano. Is this how it ends, she thinks, burned to death or crushed by rocks? A sound to her left has her turning her head as a tiny, jewel colored hummingbird zips around her. Elina sits up and watches as it zips around flashing its multi colored breast. It stops in front of Elina and hovers at eye level as if to say, “Get up!”
"Right, I should get moving. Thank you little Jewel, Have you come to help me?" Zipping around Elina's head, the bird heads off towards the volcano. Elina runs to keep up with her. As they near the volcano, Jewel stops, and zips up the face behind some large, blackened boulders. Elina follows, sure her little friend can show her the way inside. A rumble has rocks tumbling down
