“LUA!” Malach yells looking around at the ring of warriors, “Face me!” He flares his enormous wings, stretching them out to their full strength. His eyes are full of fury as all the warriors face him, unflinching they are ready to battle if needed.
Jake looks around the circle of warriors seeing their strength through the fierceness of their eyes and bodies. He steps forward unblinking, becoming the focus of Malach’s rage. Staring into the eyes of a dragon warrior Jakes says simply, “I am ready.”
Simeon and Nameed appear, flanking Jake protectively. “You will not touch the Lua, Malach.”
“They will tell me where Elina is, brothers. One way or another!” he states drawing his sword with the sound of ringing steel as it clears the scabbard.
The surrounding Lua all go into a defensive stance, drawing their weapons and tightening the circle around the angel and Jake.
Simeon’s eyes flash in disgust, “Are you so close to falling that you would draw against your own!”
“Perhaps you ask the wrong questions, Brother. Why is it that all of you have lost faith in me?” he steps forward and drops to his knees in front of the Lua and Jake. With a bowed head, he offers his sword to Jake. “I am indebted to you. My weakness has brought shame to my brothers. Forgive me and show no mercy.”
Jake sighs, deeply affected by the angel’s words.
“There is no shame in showing weakness, it teaches us to be humble,” Makaio states simply, stepping beside Jake. The Lua drop to their knees in a show of solidarity. “We are all brothers in this battle you fight. You do not have to do this alone.”
Jakes watches the look of shock on Malach’s face at Makaio’s words.
“Clearly, I have much to learn. Thank you for your kindness, brothers.” Malach says as he rises and puts his sword away. Nameed and Simeon step beside Malach.
“Do not mistake our kindness for fear, angel. We will do what must be done to keep the Covenant.” Jake promises.
Malach nods his head in understanding and finds he has a new respect for these humans.
“Jake you will help me move this family to safety, then tell me where Elina is. She must not continue alone,” Nameed states.
“What is going on?” Seth asks Jake interrupts the conversation. “I go away for one night and all of hell breaks loose!?”
Jake moves away with Seth and Heather to explain and the angels walk further down the beach. Nameed turns to Malach and finds him glaring at them.
“Surely, you know me better than this, Nameed. Have you not walked the very same line as I, between shadow and light? What of you Simeon? Did your human not bring you back from the very brink, not long ago?”
“She is not mine, it is forbidden and I know it Malach, and therein lies the difference. Everything about you, claims her as yours. Can you honestly look at her, smell her and not want her?” Simeon demands.
Nameed listens in silence, watching the interaction between the two angels. How much they do not know, maybe it is time for that to change? “We must move the humans to safety and get to Elina. First, though, I think it’s time to renew our covenant to our creator and to each other. We must not let discord enter our hearts.” He bows his head and lifts his voice in prayer.
Jake watches while Seth takes Heather away to comfort her. How many people can say they have seen archangels pray? Or a dragon for that matter. If Malach is going to be anywhere near Elina, then he must be there to keep the promise he made to her.
Thinking of the images Elina showed him, reminds him of the fine line they are all walking. Feeling overwhelmed and afraid for all of humanity, Jake drops to his knees to bow his head to pray for the first time in fifteen years. The angels pause to listen.
“Father, your word says that when I seek you, I will find you. I am seeking you now. Please calm my fearful heart and mind. I know we can’t do this alone, I seek your hand. Father, I am trusting you to keep your promise, I am seeking only you. I give you all the worry, stress and fear, I release it to you.”
Jake feels the Archangels surround him and wing tip to wing tip they surround him, lifting his prayer to heaven, they join his voice with their own. Malach calls out to his maker…
“My heart is yours, you are my hope and my strength. I am hopeless and powerless on my own. Father craft your will and direction into it. Still our troubled hearts. Calm our willful minds, and help us to seek only your will, we await your voice, In Jesus name, Amen.”
Chapter 24
Elina smiles from her hiding spot in China when she feels it, the unanimous voices of human and angels. She laughs out loud when she feels the Mockers rage. She calls to Nameed and tells him of her plan.
Nameed smiles and turns to the others, “The Keeper calls, time to move.” Malach pulls him aside and asks for a few moments alone with her before the main force shows up.
Her laughter stops when she hears a noise outside a few minutes later. Quietly, she backs up into the wall preparing to port away if necessary. “No!” she whispers in horror when she feels Malach. She spins reaching for her power when she hears him.
“Elina! Don’t you dare run away from me again!” Malach yells.
“No!” she says.
Malach blocks her power so she can’t teleport. Eyes wide with panic, she bolts for the door only to find him standing in front of it. She is trapped inside with him.
Desperate to get away, she scoops up a glass bottle throwing it at him.
“I won’t watch you die, I won’t!!” she screams snatching another
