“Elina!” he whispers.
“I love all that I create, my son. You may be a Fist of God, but that simply makes you an extension of me. Your joy is my joy, just as my strength is yours.” The Lord speaks to him of forgiveness and compassion, of understanding and hope. He offers him this one chance to seize his destiny.
Turquoise eyes meet his and she asks, “Will you be my teacher once more, Malach?” She holds out a hand to him with all of the hope of heaven in the question.
He takes a step towards her and eternity holds its breath, “I will not be your teacher again, Elina.”
Her wings droop, touching the ground as her disappointment floods through her body.
“I would rather be your partner, companion, and husband. Will you spend eternity with me, Elina?”
Her smile erupts and she steps towards him.
“I always have been, Malach. I want to be your partner, lover and wife, forever! Help me keep the Covenant?”
He takes the final step towards her and they stand wingtip to wingtip, breath to breath and heart to heart.
Elina touches his face and for the first time she does not feel ashamed. “I love you, Malach,” she says and a single teardrop slips free.
Malach leans forward and catches her tear with his fingertip, “I love you, Elina.”
With that, he leans forward and kisses her and all the Angels erupt in cheers! They are the first mated pair of Archangels and the love they share is felt by all of Heaven.
A man takes shape in the light and steps forward, clearing his voice. “Elina?”
They step apart and Elina turns to see her father. In his arms he holds a large book. He smiles at her when she says, “Papi?”
“We are so proud of you daughter, but your task is not yet complete. This is the Book of Watchers, you have done well, but I am afraid more is asked. Give this to Alex, and help him cast the Mocker to hell until the end of times.”
She nods in understanding and looks back at Malach.
“I have a plan, but I will need your help.”
Malach holds a hand out and accepts the book before turning to her. “Are you ready to fly, Elina?” He projects to her mind all the knowledge he has of flying. From his first lesson to his last.
Her face lights with excitement, “Oh yeah!” She extends her wings and they step away as the Ketuwah opens.
Chapter 35
Makaio holds Loe’s lifeless body in his arms and fights to keep the demons from claiming their prize. Alex stumbles to his knees after all of his power is spent. Absorbed by the globe, it slowly fades until it disappears from sight.
Countless angels are destroyed after their ruined bodies can no longer contain the holy spirits. The six archangels of the Fist are spared. The blessed armor encasing their bodies deflect the sons attack in a showering display of sparks, leaving behind only discolored and blackened reminders.
The angels stand fast fighting back the ever-closing circle of darkness, protecting the light and the remaining keepers. Some angels dive from the sky, firing at the demons with arrows, swords and holy fire helping to hold the horde at bay. Dying shrieks of the damned fill the air as the rush of wings pass overhead.
Jake reloads his pistol with the last clip from his belt. The earth shakes with the fury of battle around him. He searches through the smoke and debris filled air looking for the Mocker and his sons. The need for vengeance is running hot in his chest.
A quick scan shows them to be holding back behind the main line of fighting. They are allowing the lesser devils to do the heavy work of breaking the archangel’s defenses. A push from behind has Jake snapping around with his pistol aimed straight into Alex’s face.
“Damn boy, I nearly took your head off! Be more careful!” he snaps as he scans past Alex looking to see if anything has broken through their lines.
“Sorry, Jake. I am still getting my legs under me. Those fireworks took a lot out of me.”
A sudden arc of black lightening has both of them diving backwards to the ground, barely escaping its path. The hair on Jake’s body stands up from the power of the charge as it passes.
“Alex, grab Makaio. We need to get clear of these damn demons. There is no room to fight here and they have us pinned. We can’t do anything but stay under cover, and pick off what we can!”
“Ok. Jake, I can get to him, but where is Simeon? I though he was supposed to help? The Arch’s are being overrun!”
Jake doesn’t need to look for the angels to see that Alex is right. “All we can do is hold our ground and pray for backup, Alex. Makaio needs us, now move!” he says shoving Alex.
Alex sprints to the cover where Makaio has pulled his son’s body. A flash of lightning and thunder booms across the valley, as Jake watches Uriel wielding the Sword of Justice against a wall of demons working to drive him to the ground with their numbers. Uriel swings the huge sword in great arcs lopping off heads and cleaving bodies in two.
“Uriel,” Jake calls, “We need to move to higher ground before they overrun us.”
“Patience, Keeper. We need to hold them here. Help is coming!” he responds.
“What do you mean help? I don’t see any help! Most of our help was burned to a crisp in the last attack!”
“Jake, Have Faith in our Lord.”
Jake shakes his head at the angel and mutters a quick prayer for strength. He knows they will need it in the coming trials, and jumps from his cover, running to help Alex and Makaio. He fires the last of his shells at the demons fighting through the line of Angels behind them.
Wet
