“Elina!” he roars as he strikes the shield with a crash of his massive tail. She blocks the sound, unable to take it anymore. Her heart is breaking, but she will not risk his soul again.
Unsure where she is going, she pictures the little girl Maeling. She holds the image tightly in her mind and moves quickly, landing in a dark alleyway.
The smell of fish floats along the air and she hears voices coming her way. Quickly she looks around and dashes to a doorway. Elina prays for guidance as she tries the door and finds it unlocked. She lifts the bronze latch and pushes inside and closes it swiftly, leaning against the wood she waits for the voices to pass the door. On the inside wall Elina finds a hook with an oil lantern already lit.
After a quick look, she realizes she is in a dust covered storage room. Crates are scattered and covered with thick tarps. She needs to rest and regroup, in the morning she will find Maeling. Elina looks under the tarps and finds they hold glass bottles in various sizes.
Determined not to draw any attention she makes her way through the room, seeking a safe place to rest. With the lantern held close she pushes one of the crates away from the corner of a wall, leaving enough space for her to fit behind. She tosses a tarp across two crates, covering the area and she crawls inside.
Sinking to the floor, she tries not to think about what the future could hold. Today they lost Scott and the demon escaped, but Malach lives! He’s alive! Better he is angry than the alternative.
Elina bows her head and prays, “Father, guard my heart and mind, please, guide my choices so the path I walk fulfills the Covenant. Amen.” Elina sleeps and dreams.
Scott’s lifeless body lies in a bloody heap at the feet of the Mocker. The creature he calls son rests panting, on all fours like an animal. The blood dripping down his chin and body tells the Mocker all he needs to know. Unable to stand the sight of it any longer, he yells for his guards.
“Take it and chain it up. He is of no further use to me!” he orders.
The demon clicks and grunts and holds up one long hand. He dangles his treasure in front of his father and smiles. In his hand he holds Scott’s heart. Before the Mocker can move he takes a large bloody bite ignoring the scream of rage from his Master. He leaps backwards and runs around the room holding his treasure and finishes his treat while the other demons try to capture him.
“Stop!” the Mocker screams. Amazed, he watches the creature transform in front of his eyes. The curved fingers that caused him to walk around on his knuckles straighten. His hooved back legs shift into muscular calves and he stands tall and strong. It glares at his father and speaks for the first time saying, “My name is Dominion, Father. I will rule…”
Before he can complete the sentence the Mocker strikes hard and fast. He plunges his hand into Dominions chest and jerks his heart free. “You have no rule here! I am the only Dominion here!” He shoves his body over and calls upon dark lightening burning his corpse to ash.
With the power of the keepers blood pumping through the still beating heart, the Mocker smiles. As he devours the heart battle images flood his mind. He sees the Keeper and her warriors, they think they are strong. Enjoying the metallic taste as he finishes the last bite.
“Your time is up Keeper, I am coming for the pen.” He says smiling into Elina’s eyes.
She jerks awake shaking.
Chapter 23
Seth and Heather return the next morning to an empty house. They walk hand in hand down the path leading to the beach and they feel it, the spiritual energy. The chanting of his brothers calls to Seth’s soul and he drops Heather’s hand and begins to run. Cresting the hill he skids to a stop. His eyes must be deceiving him!
“A dragon?”
He rushes to his family and joins his voice to the chorus and takes his seat next to his father. Heather looks around and takes in the scene.
A shimmering dome surrounds the large blue dragon and he struggles to free himself. He digs in the sand roaring out his anger, rage, and pain to the sky. His agony calls to her. Fear, frustration, and fury.
In her mind’s eye she sees the eyes of heaven watching him, wondering at his fate. Heather walks forward and steps through the ring of warriors.
“When you pass through the waters,” she quotes from the bible, “HE will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. You are not alone!”
She places her palm against the dome and his eyes seek hers. He feels relief as her words soothe his beast. Intense images flood Heather’s mind and she finds she can’t pull her hand free.
The images swirl slowly, until they stop on her Father. Scott, touches her cheek and begs for mercy. She understands, he is gone. Heather screams as the image of a demon holding her dead father fills her mind. Seth leaps to his feet, reaching for her, but Malach flattens him to the sand with a flash of power.
He shifts back to his angel form, placing his palm against hers and the dome fades.
HE is free. “Heather,” Malach calls to her and she looks into the emerald eyes of the angel. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. This I promise you.” Malach wipes her tears from her cheeks and releases Seth.
Seth yells her
