He hears Alex tell him, “All is not lost, Jake. His soul fights in the darkest of places. We will free him so he can go home.” Pride fills Hunter’s soul.
“You did good, Dad,” Elina says with a small smile.
Ronnie looks at his daughter as Polly and Ruby walk up carrying bags. They all look afraid “What happened?” Polly asks.
Simeon leaves to check on Elsbeth, needing to see with his own eyes that she is healed. Malach sighs for his brothers feeling the pain they carry.
“Lucas,” Jake says hoarsely wiping, his eyes with the back of his hands. “His name was Lucas. We need to bury him.” Looking at Alex beside him, Jake is touched when he sees a tear in his eye for a man he does not know. “Why do you weep, son you did not know him?”
Alex replies, “I weep for the lives he should have touched, but I know faithful men are given the crown of life. His journey is not over, Jake, until we bring him home.” Rising up he pulls Jake to his feet and at his touch, they are gone.
Everyone moves at once, Elina tries to port to follow her brother but finds the way blocked. With a horrified look, she tells, Hunter, “He’s blocking me!”
Malach tries to follow but he, too, finds the way barred. “Incredible!” he murmurs.
“Incredible? Someone better get my son back!” Hunter yells!
Polly starts laughing, and they all look at her as if she has lost her mind. “That boy is a fast learner!”
Journeying deep into hell, they follow the screams of Lucas’s soul. Jake is stunned as they travel swiftly through the volcanic depths. The smell of sulfur fills his mind, and he urges Alex to go faster. They find his soul being beaten by the angels who hold him prisoner. They laugh as they make Lucas relive his skinning, as they mock his pain. Standing beside his friend, Jake is furious, he hears Alex say “Not yet,” in his mind.
“They can’t see us, can they?” As if to prove the point Alex steps forward and stands in front of Lucas.
“Jake when I tell you cast a shield around Lucas; make sure it is solid so he does not slip through.”
With a grin, Alex leaps into the body of the angel in charge. The three angels torturing Lucas, all freeze and stare at Jake as he seems to materialize from nothing.
“Get him!” They scream pointing at Jake.
“Now!” Alex screams in Jake’s mind. Jake slams the shield around Lucas.
“Cap, how did you get here?” Lucas asks.
“I will explain it as soon as we are free,” Jake tells him.
Alex turns in the body of the leader attacking his companions and the fight begins. They can’t understand why their leader is fighting them. Like piranha smelling blood in the water, they attack each other.
Confusion gives them the moment they need. Breaking free of the angel’s body, Alex grabs Jake and Lucas. Picturing Lucas’s body in his mind, they return, slamming onto the ground in Polly’s yard. Alex is laughing.
“You are amazing!” Jake tells him.
Hunter rushes to his son followed by Elina. Malach checks out Jake for injuries and Lucas stands back watching. He is staring at his body on the ground. Everyone goes quiet when Lucas speaks.
“Thank you for not leaving me, Cap.” Lucas says softly.
“I am sorry I failed you, Lucas. Can you forgive me?” Lucas begins to glow softly filled with a peaceful light.
“There is nothing to forgive, Jake, that others may live brother that is our creed. I know you would have been with me if you could have.”
Alex knows what they need to do and asks Elina, “Will you show me what you do, sister?” With a soft smile, she steps forward only to be stopped by Malach.
“It would be my honor to escort you home, Lucas.” Stretching out his hand, Malach says, “They are waiting for you, Lucas. Are you ready?”
Lucas looks up at the large archangel and smiles, “Yes.” Malach grasps his hand in a warrior’s handshake, a beam of holy light drops down from above and the two are gone.
“That was sick!” Alex says excitedly and everyone laughs.
Jake knows his work is not complete. They now have to bury his friend.
Twenty_Four
Inside the house, Elsbeth wipes the steam off the mirror with her hand and stares at the reflection in the mirror. She has lost weight and the bags under her eyes are dark. Her long, blonde hair is damp. She towels it dry then brushes it. With a towel around her body, she turns away from the mirror and finds Simeon standing behind her. Startled, she drops the brush and hesitates only a second before throwing herself into his arms. Simeon wraps his arms around her waist he lifts her from the floor savoring the feel of her.
“I was so worried for you, Simeon!” Pushing back, she looks at his face and smiles “Are you hurt?”
He slides her back down to the floor, relieved to see she is healed. “I am fine, Elsbeth. Let me see you.” He runs his hands over her shoulders and leans close probing the pink scars.
“Does it still hurt?” Pressing his lips to her wounds, she cradles his head and leans her head back savoring the touch of his mouth. Chills erupt over her body and she sighs.
“No, Simeon, nothing hurts when you touch me.” Opening her eyes, she watches his dark hands run over her shoulder and she turns to face the mirror. His brown eyes meet hers in the mirror and she smiles. He massages her shoulders, and she says “Thank you, Simeon, for
