Nephilim Rising
Angelic Hosts Series, Book 4, Episode 12, Part 2
Into the abyss…
Blanca blinked back tears of frustration and fear as a bead of sweat trickled down her spine. By now, Berto knew she was missing and was most likely sick with worry. His worry would lead him to seek out Alejandro thinking the thug was responsible. It was only logical considering recent events. Only this time, she wouldn’t be there to rescue him when the drug-dealing hoodlum and his cohorts decided to extract revenge for the beating Antonio inflicted on them that night. And even if he came to a different conclusion as to her whereabouts, one based on what she’d told him on the phone after seeing the angel, or birdman, or whatever he was steal Antonio away, (and what she saw in Antonio’s eyes), what could he do? If he went to the police, they’d laugh him off and dismiss him as crazy!
Thoughts raced through her head as she worked to dismantle the clock under the watchful eye of Esteban del Fuego. In the background, the creature called Cinder taunted her, morphing back and forth between a human woman and a hellish demon. The scent emanating from the burnt flesh of its demonic form wafted in sickening waves past her nose.
Blanca tried opening the back casing. When that didn’t work, Del Fuego gave her a hammer. She took a few good whacks at it and still, the old wood would not even chip. It was as hard as steel. She even threw it on the ground but not a single dent. The clock was ticking.
Literally ticking!
Blanca knew if she failed to get the key out of the clock this man, who was not really a man, and his pet demon, would kill her. Dread sat like a heavy stone in her gut.
At the end of her rope, she clutched the clock to her chest, and feeling a flood of fear, prayed silently. Dear God, Blessed Virgin, Sweet Jesus, help me! I don’t know what to do!
In her hands, the carvings in the wood began to move, the intricate Tau’s swirling. Startled, she placed the clock quickly back on the table and stared, mouth agape.
Del Fuego sucked in a breath, his dark eyes shining like obsidian.
“You’ve done it.” Behind him, Cinder clapped her crispy hands, once again the burnt-out husk.
As they all watched, the carvings slithered and reformed. A bright light began to shine from within as the wood disappeared along with the clock’s face. Within seconds, all that remained was a ball of bright, white light hovering in place.
In awe, Blanca stared at the purest light she’d ever seen. Oddly enough, she wasn’t afraid of it. Reaching out, she extended one finger carefully touching what appeared to be the outer edge.
“Don’t!” Del Fuego began.
The warning came too late. Her fingertip sank in. It was warm, like the sun-kissed sea.
Blanca turned her hand over and the ball of light moved slowly settling onto her palm. Once there, it began to sink into her skin until it was gone.
Cinder screamed. “No! What did you do? Where did it go?” Furious, the demon raised her burnt arm, preparing to strike Blanca.
Del Fuego caught his pet’s hand. “No! It’s inside her. If you touch her now, you’ll be destroyed!”
Blanca watched them as if from a distance. Inside, she felt at peace, but not quite in control. She stood, not because she wanted to, but because another force told her body to stand. “Fear not, child, for I am with you,” it said.
Del Fuego stepped back keeping Blanca far enough away that she could not reach out and touch him. A smile slithered across his lips. It was the smile of a hungry crocodile. “You have done well, human. I am a man of my word. Deliver the key for me and I’ll set you free.”
The dread lodged in Blanca’s stomach was still there despite the peace infused within by the light. Maybe it was there to warn her.
“Deliver it where?”
Triumph glinted in his evil eyes. “Here,” he said. Del Fuego turned, pointing at the wall on the far side of the wine room.
He recited words spoken in a language unfamiliar to her, yet it sounded as old as time. Somehow, she knew it was Aramaic. Blanca had no idea how she knew that but if she had to guess, it was the key settled inside her body providing this information.
The wall seemed to bow, then bubble out, and then dissolve into a black swirling abyss.
Esteban turned to her. “You will walk through there,” he said, pointing at the black hole where the wall used to be. “Once through, go to the rock shaped like the devil’s horns. There is a tunnel there. Go inside. The key will leave you. It will have no choice. When it does, you can come back.”
“He’s lying,” it said.
Blanca swallowed the lump in her throat. She knew that before the light within warned her. But what choice do I have? she asked, hoping it could hear her thoughts.
“There is always a choice,” it replied.
Right then, she remembered his fear. He could not touch the light because it would destroy him. He said it would also destroy Cinder. If she refused, what could he do to stop her from walking out of this room and leaving wherever it was she was being held? Feeling more confident, Blanca straightened her spine and squared her shoulders.
“No. I don’t believe you. I’m not going to help you. What I am going to do is leave.” She stepped back, searching for the door leading out of the wine room.
He watched her closely, peering into her very soul as if searching for something. His eyes narrowed, then his face relaxed as if he’d found something that pleased him.
“If you go, I’ll kill your brother.”
Blanca swung back around. “You lie! You don’t have him.” She waited for the internal light to confirm her words. It remained silent.
Del Fuego grinned. “No, I don’t have him…yet.” He looked at his pet. “Cinder, go find the boy and bring him here.” The demon squealed in delight and before Blanca could protest, it ran past her, out the door.
“No! Don’t do this! Please,” she begged.
Esteban paced slowly. “You have the power to stop this. You hold the key, after all.” He mocked her, shaking his head in disdain. “All you need do is walk through the doorway and deliver that key as I’ve instructed. Do this and your brother will not suffer. Refuse, and I’ll let Cinder have free rein to torture and kill him as she sees fit.”
Blanca’s eyes bounced between Del Fuego and the swirling black abyss. She had no idea where it led, but she knew without a doubt it was not a good place. She hesitated, waiting for the light to speak to her again, but it did not. She felt abandoned. Alone. No one was going to save her. Swallowing her fear, she took one step forward, defeated.
“Okay. You win. But you will keep your word and not harm my brother.”
“Not a single hair on his head.”
Her limbs shook as adrenaline flooded her body. Fear flushed away the peace previously keeping her calm. She was going to die, but she would die protecting Roberto. It was what she’d done all her life. How could she stop now? The love she felt for her little brother filled her heart. Memories of him saving stray cats and dogs and birds filled her mind. His laughter echoed in her soul, laughter she’d worked extra hard to make possible protecting him from mean and abusive foster parents. His joy at earning top grades and being accepted into college, the first step to becoming a veterinarian, was a balm to her own pain. She’d done all she could, and Roberto would be fine. She’d raised him as well as any mother and with all the love in her heart.
“Goodbye, little brother,” she whispered. “I love you.”
At peace with her choice, Blanca walked into the abyss.
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.
