Nephilim Rising
Angelic Hosts Series, Book 4, Episode 16
A new threat? Or an old enemy?
The short walk to the Basilica was an odd experience. While Antonio was used to marching quietly when he was deployed in Afghanistan, remaining quiet while walking next to two invisible angels was something else entirely. The best he could do under the circumstance was mimic talking on his cell phone so passersby wouldn’t think he was crazy. This was a difficult task with Blanca and Berto both forgetting from time to time and blurting out responses to questions unheard.
“You really don’t need to worry about what strangers think, Antonio,” said Cassiel. “No one is paying attention. People are too wrapped up in their own lives, heads bent to their cell phones, to notice you.” He threw a pointed look at a teen girl texting as she walked past almost running into Blanca. “See?”
“It’s just weird. Probably because I know no one else can see you two except us.” Antonio sighed, putting his cell phone away in his back pocket. “I guess if anyone wonders, they’ll just think I’m talking to you guys,” he said, looking at Blanca and Berto.
Gabriel patted his shoulder. “Exactly. Or,” he chuckled, “they’ll just think you’re nuts. But it’s Paris. so c’est la vie, oui?
“That didn’t really help, Gabriel.” Next to Antonio, Blanca laughed. He took her hand and lifted it to his lips. “I don’t know what you’re laughing at. Those two people passing,” he pointed at a couple, “probably think your name is Gabriel now.”-
Cassiel stopped at the bottom of the steps leading to the Basilica. Berto stared, wide eyed at the church. All around them, tourists bustled past climbing the stairs ascending the hill to Sacred Heart, all to see the old Roman Catholic church and take in the breathtaking views from the summit.
“This is where we’re going?” Berto asked.
“Yes,” replied Cassiel. “Just up there beyond the carousel. He pointed to the vintage carousel off to the left with its painted horses, reflecting an earlier era. “Rafael and Camael are with Sophie and Cecilia.”
Gabe led the way up the stairs, occasionally playing a game of chicken with a few tourists coming down. Of course, they didn’t know they’d almost run straight into an archangel. Antonio wondered what would happen if they did. Would they be stopped in their tracks by an invisible wall or would they pass through. He was about to ask when they reached the landing but was cut off by a loud squeal.
A little girl with blonde curls came running at them, arms spread wide.
“Uncle Gabe!” She flew on slender legs wearing pink tights. A purple sweater and matching coat topped them while silver sneakers completed the look.
Gabriel grinned as he caught her lifting her high and swinging the laughing child around before settling her in his arms.
Antonio looked around at the people milling about. No one seemed to notice a human child suspended in midair.
Cassiel eyed Antonio’s alarmed expression and chuckled. “He’s not invisible right now if that’s what you’re wondering.” Blanca and Berto cast an inquiring look his way. The angel answered easily. “Yes, I am still incognito, if you will.”
“But how in the world could she possibly know that?” Antonio asked.
“I can just tell,” she answered.
Gabriel came closer to the group. “Sophie, this is—”
She reached out a small hand and touched Antonio’s face.
“My new guardian,” she answered. Then she cast her brown eyes at Blanca and Berto before settling on the woman. “You’re special,” she added. “I’m going to need you one day. What’s your name?”
In awe at the girl’s words, Blanca replied, “I’m Blanca Ramos, from San Antonio.”
Sophie smiled and nodded. “I’ve never been there.” She extended her hand. “I’m Sophie Fairchild. Very nice to meet you.”
Her French accent was noticeable, but her English was perfect.
Behind Gabe, Camael and Rafael approached with another young girl in tow. This one was a few years older than Sophie, who looked to be all of eight years of age. She held tight to Rafael’s hand.
“That’s Cecilia. She likes to be called Ceecee. She’s my best friend.” Sophie tapped Gabriel on his shoulder, and he set her down. Taking Ceecee’s hand, she led the girl to Antonio.
Amazed at the girl’s commanding presence, he knelt, coming face to face with her.
“How do you know I’m a guardian,” he asked.
Sophie reached up taking his face into her small hands. She stared into his blue-green eyes and smiled. “You have white light around you, and a wolf inside you. He wasn’t a nice wolf at first, but you’re his master now. You’re a warrior,” she said. “Cam says your name is Antonio. I like that name.”
A sense of peace and wonder filled Antonio’s heart. This child, whose hands still cradled his face, exuded something powerful, something he couldn’t quite identify. All he knew was that he wanted to cry tears of joy, felt them pricking the backs of his eyes, but he blinked them back. He glanced at Gabriel who gave a brief nod.
“She affects everyone that way. She’s very special.”
“But she’s just a girl,” he replied. “I don’t understand.”
Ceecee leaned in and hugged Antonio. She patted his back and whispered, “You will, Antonio. In time. And in time, Sophie won’t be just a girl. You’ll see. It will be okay because we will all protect her.”
Tears stung his eyes again and this time he couldn’t hold them back. Carefully, he hugged the taller girl-child and then pulled away, wiping the wetness from his cheeks.
“So, what now?”
Sophie moved around him approaching Berto. She tugged at his hand. “Now I show you Sacre Couer and you can tell me about your birds. Cam says you have birds. I do too.”
Sophie led Berto away by the hand, with Ceecee at her side. The three chattered on about pigeons while Antonio fell in with Gabriel, Cassiel, Cam, and Rafael. He held tight to Blanca’s hand as they climbed the rest of the way to the top of the summit whereupon the Basilica sat.
“She’s the reason for everything, Guardian,” Cassiel said. “Your futures are intertwined.”
“You said back in Texas that she’s the second coming. You meant that literally, didn’t you?” he asked, throwing a pointed look at the small girl. “You’re saying she’s the Christ child? I’m confused. I’ve always been taught that when Jesus comes again to this earthly plane, he’d be Jesus. Nowhere have I ever read that there would be a second Messiah or that he would be a she.”
Gabriel and Cam exchanged a knowing look. Gabe answered, “There’s quite a lot missing from scripture, Antonio. Remember, the books of the bible were assembled by the ecumenical Council of Nicaea, hand selected by mortal men and the Roman Emperor Constantine to control the masses and serve their own agenda. Not every gospel made it into what most people consider to be a complete story. Some were completely discarded because the words contained within didn’t fit with the bishops’ plans. Others were lost to time, probably still buried somewhere or even deliberately destroyed. Fun fact, there are many hidden away deep in the vaults of the Vatican, but that’s a story for another day.”
“Gabriel!” Cassiel threw a warning look his way.
Gabe shrugged, palms up. “What? I’m not lying.”
Rafael snorted. “But you’re not helping either.” The dark-haired angel picked up the thread of the conversation. “What Gabriel is trying to say is that Sophie is the Nazarene…in spirit. Souls recycle, Antonio, when it is His will. It’s no accident that this time around, the one you know as Jesus is Sophie. As unbelievable as it seems to you in this moment, there is a reason, a plan. Sophie’s destiny is one foretold in prophesy. She will be hailed as our lady of peace.”
Blanca shook her head, amazed at what the angels revealed. “And it all somehow involves me and Antonio?”
Cam nodded. “Exactly. You’ve both been touched by divinity, enshrouded in His grace.”
She swallowed and then looked over at her brother. “And Berto? Is he just along for the ride?”
Cassiel watched Berto interacting with and carrying on a conversation with Sophie and Ceecee as they looked out over Paris.
“No. He’s something special in and of himself. It’s no accident that he’s here, Blanca. His is an old soul.”
Sophie stopped her chatter, looking around, and then abruptly turned and ran to Blanca. “He’s coming. We need to hide you.”
“What?” she blinked. “Who’s coming?” She looked around and then back at Sophie who tugged at her hand.
“The bad man. Uncle Cam,” she cast worried eyes at the blond angel, “we have to protect her. He wants the key.”
The archangels circled creating a protective wall around Blanca, Sophie, and Antonio.
Cassiel surveyed the crowd for threats. “We must get her out of here. Cam, Rafael, take Sophie and Ceecee back to Nanette and escort them home now.” The two angels nodded and whisked the girls up the steps moving fast to the chapel of the Basilica.
Sophie waved at them, a world of worry in her young eyes.
“Gabriel, Antonio, keep your eyes peeled. We need to move fast, get to a secluded spot out of sight from onlookers. From there, we can transport you easily back to your hotel, but once there, we need to figure out who’s coming for you.”
They descended the steps back down to the street. Gabriel led the way followed by Antonio, Blanca, Berto, and Cassiel. No longer hiding their presence in a cloak of invisibility, humans quickly moved out of the way of the imposing angels in their black attire. Gabriel turned left, slipping down a side street. He moved with purpose towards a back alley finding a large dumpster.
“Here,” he said, motioning for the others to follow. There, out of sight from onlookers, he and Cassiel reached out, touching the shoulders of Antonio, Blanca, and Berto, and in a flash, they were back at the hotel just outside the side entry. With haste, they proceeded inside, and all gathered in Blanca’s room.
Surprised, she blinked rapidly. “How did you do that?”
Cassiel offered a half-smile. “Supernatural abilities. Hard to explain but there is a science to it all.”
Unlike his sister, Berto wasn’t the least bit thrown by their quick getaway. “Very cool. Can we do that again sometime?”
Gabe shook his head and turned to address Antonio. “It seems we have a new threat, or perhaps an old one.” His eyes darted to Blanca. “Sophie said the bad man wants you.”
“Who’s the bad man?” she asked.
The angel shrugged. “Unknown right now. I need to find out though. Otherwise, we’re completely in the dark. Cass,” he said, moving to stand before the Keeper of Sorrow and Tears, “I’m going to pop over to the Fairchilds’ house. Stay with them. Call if you need me. I’ll let you know what I find out.”
Gabriel glowed bright white and disappeared.
“Wow!” said Berto. “Saves on cab fare, doesn’t it?”
“I suppose,” Cassiel murmured, deep in thought. His phone vibrated in his pocket. “That was fast,” he said, looking at the screen. His brows pulled together, perplexed. Answering, he said, “What is it, Hector?”
Blanca watched as Cassiel paced, listening to the old man on the other end of the line.
“Are you sure?” he asked. Nodding, Cassiel sighed. “Okay. Yes, that’s helpful. If you notice anything else, don’t hesitate to call. Thanks.” He hung up. Turning, he looked at Blanca.
“Well? What is it?” she asked, impatient.
“Do you know some people by the names of Alejandro, Sam, and Joker?”
She glanced at Berto, confused. “Yeah. They’re local drug dealers from our neighborhood. Real jerks. Why?”
“They’re dead,” he said. “At least, the last two have been identified. Their bodies were nearly burned beyond recognition. Hector said the fire happened at the home of the one called Alejandro right around the time you left yesterday. He said it wouldn’t normally be something he’d notice except that apparently you acquired quite the reputation where they’re concerned. Something about “La Cabrona?”
She squirmed, feeling as if the angel was censuring her. “Alejandro isn’t a nice person. He harassed me a lot. I flipped him in front of his friends, putting him on his…um—butt,” she amended. “Since then, his stupid sidekicks called me that name, and since then, he has stalked me to and from work almost daily. The dude is a criminal,” she said, defensive.
Cassiel nodded. Berto jumped up, facing his sister.
“Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve helped you.”
Blanca’s shoulders dropped, feeling the weight of the world. “Because he would’ve hurt you, little brother, that’s why. I can handle myself. Always have.”
He went to her, throwing his arms around her shoulders, and pulling her into a tight hug. “I know you can, but you don’t have to do everything alone. I’m not a kid anymore, Blanca. I’m a grown man. I can help you.”
She pulled away. “Like when he kidnapped you and tied you up inside his house? Who do you think came to your rescue?”
Berto winced, embarrassment evident as Antonio watched the scene play out between brother and sister.
“Blanca, he only got to me because I had no idea what was going on. If you had confided in me, I wouldn’t have been caught unaware. Not telling me about the threat made it worse, not better.”
She chewed her lip, aware of both Antonio and Cassiel watching quietly from the sidelines. “Maybe, but I still had to rescue you.”
“And look where that got you? Beaten by that animal. Nearly raped!” he said, upset. “If Antonio hadn’t been nearby, we might both be dead right now. You’re strong and smart, sister, and I love you with all my heart, but you’re not Superwoman. Everyone needs help. You need to put your pride aside and ask for it. Otherwise, your good intentions might get us both hurt. Or worse, killed.”
Tears welled in her eyes, born of both humility and frustration. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Berto.”
Seeing his sister like this, defeated, broke his heart. Throughout his childhood, she’d been a giant influence, a fierce protector. His big sister had always seemed larger than life despite her small stature. Now, she looked fragile, as if a gust of wind could knock her down.
“It’s okay. We’re here, aren’t we? Still in one piece,” he said, unsure what to do. “You made that happen. But from now on, you need to trust in me the same way I trust in you. Lean on me. I can help you, Blanca. I’ll always be here to help you. I love you.”
His last words broke through, and she wrapped her arms around him. “When did you grow up?”
He chuckled. “Somewhere between San Antonio and Paris, I think.” He kissed the top of her head.
“Well, now that that’s cleared up, we need to figure out who’s after you.”
Antonio cleared his throat, affected by the scene between Blanca and Berto. “Any ideas? I mean, I don’t understand how the one has anything to do with the other.”
Cassiel hit speed dial on his phone. “I do.” The call was answered on the second ring. “Gabriel, we have a problem. Seems Del Fuego didn’t take our warning to heart. He’s escaped Hell…again.”
Let me know below your thoughts on this week’s episode.
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE now for FREE so each episode lands in your inbox every Monday!
Last Week’s episode: Click here.
All Episodes: Click here.
Reminder, the first 4 books in the Angelic Hosts series will be presented here FREE! We are now in book 4, Nephilim Rising. This is an epic fantasy/paranormal, action-adventure romance. And there will be more books beyond book 4… (Announcement)
All you need to do is subscribe. New episodes every Monday.
