“Dad, I have a favor to ask,” she starts to say but he interrupts her. When he turns around, he is holding a scroll, secured with a red ribbon.
Surprise crosses her face as she looks up at him. “Once you asked me to look after this for you, but I believe you will need this now.”
“How did you know?” she asks accepting the scroll from him with a soft smile.
“I have not been sleeping very well, bad dreams. Dreams of death, fire, and demons. Last night, I had a new dream. A dream of you standing on the other side of a wall of flames and I couldn’t get to you. When I woke up the scroll was glowing! I don’t know what is inside of it, but I hope it helps you on your journey, daughter.”
“Thank you, Dad. I love you. You know that right?” she asks with bright eyes.
He pulls her into a hug, “I know it, girl. Wherever you go and whatever you face, you will not do it alone. You will have our prayers with you.”
She holds on tight, inhaling his scent into her heart. “Dad, I need you to take Mom and Aunt Polly, and go with Hunter. He will take the others to safety. After I leave, you will not be safe here. The Mocker will come and he is bringing hell with him. I have to go after the book…”
“Say no more. We will go, how much time do we have?” She smiles up at this man she has called Father, amazed by him.
“Two days. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve but I have to leave now. I would like you to take them to safety, after Christmas morning. Enjoy the holiday together, for me, okay?” she asks him.
“We will. Does Malach know you are leaving?”
“No. It’s for the best. He will complicate things, and I need space right now.” She kisses his cheek softly, “Keep each other safe. Help train Varena and Alex. Malach can help with that. I will say goodbye to Mom before I go.”
He watches his daughter leave, “Keep our girl safe, Father,” he whispers to Heaven’s ear.
After a teary goodbye to her Mother, Elina grabs her bag and tucks the scroll inside her shirt. She needs to be alone when she opens it. The woods behind the house offer good cover, especially for an owl. Nameed is always in the woods behind Polly’s house, and she wants to see him before she goes.
The crunching of the leaves beneath her boots seems to echo through the forest as Elina hikes to the stream to search for him.
The stream sings its lullaby and soothes her tired soul. Elina sits on a boulder for a moment and listens to the water trickling down, around rocks and sticks. The crickets chirp and she breathes deeply, hoping that she made the right choice.
Humanity has been saved and Raphaim is gone, but she knows the Mocker will not be so easily destroyed. Thinking of Raphaim’s death brings her no joy, she had hoped for redemption for him. The call of an owl pulls her out of her reverie.
A rush of wings and Elina stands, turning to look behind her. The blonde angel called Kane, steps into the clearing and smiles boldly, “Alone at last”.
A deep sigh escapes her as she drops her bag from her shoulder, looking back at the fallen angel, “You are mistaken, Kane, I am never alone. My God has promised to never leave me or forsake me.”
Kane flinches as though her words cause him physical pain.
“Enough, Keeper! You will pay for all you have done!” he hisses at her and four of his companions step from the trees, effectively circling her. “Our master wants you alive, come with us now and your family will be spared. Fight back and they will all die a slow, painful death.”
“I wish it were that simple, demon. I will not go with you.” Before they can move she steps closer, “I offer you one last chance to turn from this path. You are the chosen race of our Father, a Holy creation. Fight for me and you will be forgiven of your transgressions.” She looks into the eyes of madness and Elina knows it is too late for them.
“A chosen race? We are nothing but slaves to his commands and desires, just as you are!” Kane snaps.
“Tell me this before you die, why would you choose to believe lies from a deceiver, over the creator of all?” Her words enrage them and they all move to attack.
Elina does not move she simply stands and whispers,
“The Lord is my refuge and my strength.”
Nameed drops from a tree where he had been waiting for Elina. Transforming to his arch form in full armor he hurtles to the earth with both of his swords drawn in a flash of steel. His impact drives the Fallen backwards to the ground where Simeon waits behind them, his knives ready. Malach hears the call of his brothers and ports, landing just behind Elina.
She does not turn to meet his eyes, but simply steps aside to let him fight. Her bag is on the ground where she left it, she picks it up, intending to leave.
Malach joins the battle and a sound from across the stream draws her attention, demons! They come in a horde leaping through the trees, they are not angels, but the offspring of them. Abominations, flesh eating, blood sucking demons who love nothing more than to destroy. They must not get the scroll!
This is the moment Elina was afraid of. If it came down to it again, would she be able to leave him. “Malach?” she whispers softly. The sound of her voice calls to him and he looks back, knowing what must be done.
In a blink she is gone, trusting them to handle this battle. She begins to port when a
