The Angel's Covenant (The Covenant series) (10 page)

“Excellent.” Jakes says sitting down at the computer he logs into his email.  Clicking on the first video he is shocked as Elsbeth’s beautiful face fills the screen. Tossing her blonde hair over her shoulders she leans in and with tears she says “The shadows have returned, and I don’t know how much longer I will be able to run from them.” Stunned Jake watches a series of video clips and then goes through her emails. Someone was helping her and they called her cell phone!

Hitting play he watches her video clips again. Trying to look at it objectively, he notes that she looks exhausted. They were physically attacking her, just like what he went through earlier. Jake feels unseen eyes watching him. Turning he looks at the corners of the room, and he knows they are here. Rising he crosses to the bed and decided to test his theory. Stretching out on his back, he sends a quick prayer asking for protection, imagining a hot white light of protection surrounding his body. Heather spent some time on the plane explaining to him how to protect himself; he hopes this works. As a keeper they should not try to attack him, but from Beth’s videos he is not sure what he is dealing with here.

Lying on his back waiting for the demon to attack him Jake feels his anger grow. Thinking of Beth dealing with this alone, he tries to hold the image of white light around his body, but his anger begins to change shifting to bright blue. A cold draft moves up his legs over his body and he feels the soft touch of fingertips tracing up his legs. The pressure soft at first changes as the fingers move up over his knees. Opening his eyes he sees the shape of a female shadow moving up his body. He feels the drag of her naked breasts as she slips higher up his body. Her fingers shift to nails making him groan. Her blood red eyes stare into his and he feels a hiss of fear as she sees his
eyes glow bright blue.

Straddling him she rises up and he sees her nails have changed into talons. "No more foreplay!" Jake says grabbing her by her wrists, blocking her from punching into his chest. She screams at his touch and tries to break away but she is stuck in a grip of ice. Jake pictures the shadow woman in his mind changing into ice. He feels the weight of her change and watches as she begins to freeze above him.
Jake rolls to the right, just as she turns solid throwing her into the wall watching as she shatters on impact. Other shadows in the room creep quickly into the corners and disappear. The frosty air around him returns to normal and Jakes waits for his heart to slow down. "Son of a bitch! What is going on?"

Thinking maybe he will get some information from Beth's videos he watches them again. Looking at his sister deteriorating condition he can only guess at how bad things were for her. He notes that she listed the tripping, pushing and even throwing things at her. "They were slowly torturing you, Beth" he says. Closing her video he sees on her home screen a folder titled archives.
  He decides to open it and is confused at what he finds. Articles from multiple newspapers listing the following:

"Body of man found burned inside house, missing heart
,"

"Young teen
found drowned, missing organs"

"6 year old died from infectio
n, all internal organs missing"

"Woman walks away from home, aft
er she reported hearing voices"

"3 migrant workers found dea
d on a southern plantation." Beth wrote "Common link ALL missing hearts with NO visible signs of trauma. All interviews with family and friends showed attacks of some kind from unknown entities. They were dismissed as mental disorders. Appointment with Mortuary Manager Kristen Plant, Thursday 4:15pm at Medical University.” she wrote, “How is this happening? How is it related to attacks? Why have the attacks increased? Is this how they pick the victims?”

"My God, Beth what have you gotten into?" Frustrated Jake runs his hands over his face. In the morning he will go to the hospital and see the mortuary manager Beth met with. Maybe this will all become clearer. Shutting the computer down, Jake decides to go to a hotel and try to rest.

Running through the woods Jake screams her name "Elina! We're are you?" He yells, "Elina!" panicking.  "I waited for you Jake" says a small voice from the shadows. Turning Jake sees the little girl with black hair and blue eyes.
"Why did you go? Are you an Angel?” he asks the little girl surrounded by the darkness. She walks toward him with each step she takes she grows older, taller and changes into a beautiful young woman. Reaching for him she steps forward out of the shadows and into the light, only to explode into golden showers of glitter.

Startled Jake wakes in a cold sweat, heart pounding with her name on his lips.
"Elina!" Waking in the hotel holding his pistol in his right hand Jake looks around rubbing his eyes. Confused he cuts on the bedside light in the room and sees the clock says 7:05. "If you were just a hallucination, then why do you feel so real to me?" Jake asks frustrated. Realizing where he is he lowers his gun deciding to get started and call Seth.

It rings four times before he hears cowboy say "this had better be good Cap" in his
deep sleep filled voice.

"I'm in trouble Seth." Sitting up quickly all trace of sleep gone, Seth says "fill me in." Listening and dressing at the same time, he turns away from the beauty sleeping in his bed and slips out of the room. He walks to the kitchen in the log cabin, an
d starts a pot of coffee.

"Jake you can't handle this alone. Heather’s people are special, I will ask them what they know and you forward me the files so we can look at them. In the meantime be careful. Whatever you’re wading into
sounds bad."

"You have no idea. Thanks cowboy
," Jake says smiling because he knows Seth hates it when he calls him that. Ending the call, Jake rides to the hospital and heads to the morgue.

At the desk he smiles at the nurse asks
"Is Kristen Plant available?"  She smiles at him and says "I'm sure she will be for you." Laughing, she says “She's in the basement; take the elevator to the right.”

"Thanks" he says turning to head toward the elevator. That's when he notices the shadows creeping along the walls. They are in every corner, some walking beside people, trailing behind them, pushing, sneaking, creeping around, some even clinging to the backs of others. The elevator doors slide open and Jake sees people exiting and watches as the shadows slide down the walls following them out. Deciding to take the stairs, Jake heads down the four
flights to the basement.

Immediately his senses are assaulted. The fluorescent lights, shine from above, the air is cold, and the smell of chemicals permeate the air. Heading toward the first office he sees a blond girl in scrubs, walking toward him. Her hair is clipped up and she is holding a clipboard and talking. "Hey Ray, its Kristen I have three for pickup. I know busy night
," she says laughing, "Okay I'll tell them."

Hanging up her phone she turns and stops, "Can I help you?"
she asks walking toward Jake.
"Yes I am looking for Kristen Plant," Jake responds smiling down at her.
Smiling back, "You've found her." Removing her gloves and tossing them in the trash. "What can I do for you?"

"My name is Jake Landous, Elsbeth Landous is my sister
," he says watching her closely. Her smile fades a little and she steps toward him in sympathy, "I was sorry to hear about your sister Jake. She was a good friend."

"Thank you, I am investigating her disappearance, the police have closed her case and filed it as a missing person case. Do you mind if
I ask you some questions?"

"You are in luck; I just finished my shift, How about s
ome coffee?" Kristen asks. Relieved Jake says "That would be great" and follows her into a bright office. "Jake the coffee pot is in the corner, give me a second to change." Kristen walks through the office to a room in the back.

Jake finds what he needs and pours a cup, just as she returns. "Wow!" He says looking at the little pixie before him. She's tiny compared to his six foot plus body, and stunning. Her hair spills around her shoulders in a riot of curls and she smiles at him saying "Elsbeth talked about you all the time Jake. She was so excited you were coming home." Moving around her office she grabs a cup of coffee for herself and sits down gesturing for h
im to sit across from her.

"How do you know my sister, Kristen? You were one of the last people to see her before her accident
," Jake asks wasting no time.

"I visited her shop downtown, looking for a gift for my Mother. Her pieces were one of a kind, and exquisite. I found her website, and decided to go see for myself. That was a year ago. We became fast friends
," she responds sipping her coffee.

"Did anything seem off to you about her?" He asks.
"The last few months for her were bad," she says biting her lower lip. "I am sorry Jake but..."
"Please Kristen" Jake leans in pleading with her “I have to find her she's in trouble. Anything you can tell me will help."

Getting up, she heads to her desk and pulls out a large envelope. "The day before she left she came in asking me to look into something for her.
It was a group of unusual deaths, all of them missing hearts with no physical signs of trauma. She asked me how this could happen. She looked exhausted, bruised, and like she hadn't slept in days. I was worried but she was insistent that I look at it."

Closing the door to her office, she says "I did some digging and every single case had some kind of cover story, but they all point to the same thing.” Lowering her voice she says “Organs harvesting for the black market.” Pacing away she continues “I don't know what she got into or why, Jake but I was warned off and I may be blonde but I am not stupid." Handing him the envelope, she continues "this is all the in
formation I could dig up.”

"Have you ever seen an internal organ removed without physical si
gns, Kristen?" Jake asks.  "No. There would be some evidence left behind," she says shaking her curls. "I didn't get a chance to give it to Elsbeth. Jake the police were her asking questions about her mental condition, I did not tell them any of this because I think she was on to something, what I don't know is why or how she was involved."

"I won't keep you any longer." Jake says rising. "Thank
s for your help Kristen."

"Jake let me know if I can help"
she says walking him to the door. "I will, here’s my cell number in case you find out anything else."

Taking the stairs, Jake heads out but stops when he sees a shadow flow t
hrough the door above him. Following the shadow Jake enters the hall above and watches as it enters the last room on the hall. Nurses walk by, machines are beeping; the murmur of people can be heard from the many rooms. Yellow caution tape is strung across one door and glancing in Jake sees blood sprayed on the floor. Parked in the hallway, waiting for death are ancient people in wheelchairs. Some missing limbs, one lady grabs his arm as he walks by asking for medicine. "Sorry," Jake says gently pulling away. He continues to the end of the hallway. “This must be the geriatric floor,” Jake thinks. Walking closer to the room the shadow entered, he hears a man calling for help.

Thirteen

Floating in a sea of silver stars she is drawn to the silver threads flickering and calling to her for guidance. She sends a prayer asking for protection. Malach’s note said to guide Serena home, room 418, St Mary’s Hospital. As a watcher she often goes to hospitals to assist those passing, but this time she is distracted by a thread that shouldn't exist. She sees a metallic thread flash, blinded with its golden brilliance. As a keeper she knows this is unique, so she follows it.

The shadows are thick today, she thinks as she walks the halls looking for the brilliant flash. A silver glow from a room pulls her closer, diverting her from her quest. Walking into room 418, she finds Serena and un
derstands why she is here.

Her ragged breathing tells
Elina it won't be much longer. The cancer ravaged her little body the pain too much for anyone to bear. She is surrounded by her family as they wait for her to pass, praying for a miracle. Elina sits and guards her knowing the demons will devour the sorrow in this room and steal her pure spirit.

As children we are taught to lift up our shields of faith- that fear and worry gives the demons an opening, but how do I do that when my shield is so heavy with t
he blood of those left behind?  The others say my thoughts must solely rest in our maker. I must trust in the gifts I have been given. The demons thrive on terror and pain; I have seen that first hand. The screams haunt me still. I am tired of running, now I will become what I was born to be; a keeper.

In the quiet moments I hear the whispered question, "Are you shadow or light?" Once I thought I knew the answer to that question. Now as I sit watching over this six year old girl, keeping the demons at bay I wonder w
ill I ever know the answer.

It's never the same, the moment before death and this is no exception. A soft glow begins to seep into the room, surrounding the child. The tinkling of wind chimes fills the air, and Serena opens her eyes. Sitting up suddenly with a new found strength she cries out in an excited voice "Mama, Do you se
e them? They are so beautiful!" Holding her daughter in her arms her mother says "What sweetie, tell me what do you see?"
"The Angels Mama! Their wings are silver and gold. Do you see them? There are four of them!” She replies excitedly pointing towards Elina.

A shiver runs down Elina's spine and she savors the velvety brush of the angel’s wings as the
y pass her. Elina smiles at the joy in the child's voice. The angels are marching toward the child when a rumble in the room has Elina jumping to her feet. They turn facing the child in unison spreading their metallic wings. Serena is completely encased in a shield of silver and gold.  They wait, watching Elina and she smiles relishing the moment.

Taking the stance of a warrior, she pictures in her mind dual swords of light, one flaming blue and one flaming red. The shadows creep in advancing on Elina growing in size to more than nine feet tall. Still the Angels wait. The moment the demons scream, attacking her from all sides the tinkling of the wind chimes grows louder, blocking all sound. Elina leaps midair spinning and slicing through the demons sending them straight to hell. Some freeze at the touch of the blue flame, others explode into flames
at the touch of the red flame.

Running toward the largest demon she leaps straight up, bringing her swords together over her head slicing
down cleaving the demon in two. Breathing hard she spins looking for more, the shadows fade away defeated and Elina looks at the Angels. They bow, turning to the little girl; one lifts her in his arms, giggling Serena smiles and waves at Elina as they fade into the bright light taking her home.

The sound of weeping is heard as her family says their final goodbyes. Breathing deep Elina fades from the room to search once more for the golden thread.

Demons will use every trick in the book to lure a soul, even the giving nature of a compassionate man. Jake is drawn to the pleas for help, but he does not know what is waiting for him on the other side. For it is not the weak soul of the old man that they cr
ave, he is just the bait.

Stepping through the door Jake sees an old man lying in a bed, emaciated and weak. The man turns to see Jake enter the room and reaches a bony hand toward him "help me" he manages to say before the coughing fit over takes him. Stepping toward the table Jake pours a cup of water and walks toward him to offer it. A sound from behind Jake has the man cowering in fear. Pointing a withered finger to the corner of the room he croaks; "
Monkeys stop the monkeys!"

Jake turns just in time to see a medium sized shadow monkey leaping towards his face with a growling sound. He swiftly punches the monkey in the head; it flies back into the corner. Jumping up it screeches at him, and lets out a sound like an air raid siren! Loud, long drawn out growling, a low vibration fills the room. Jake feels a rumble like a herd on the move and begins backing towards the hallway. Leaning his head out the door he watches as shadow monkeys come pour
ing out of the adjoining room.

They are swarming toward the call of the one; racing down the ceiling, walls, and floor returning the call and headed straight for Jake. "Shit!" Jake yells returning to the room; slamming the door shut, he turns and faces the monkey in the corner still sounding his call. Rushing to the old man, Jake finds he is no longer breathing! Monkeys have swarmed him and are pulling at his spirit. They are fighting over his soul, as the old man screams
trying to fight them off.

Backing away, Jake is hit from behind as a monkey jumps on him. Reaching behind him, he grabs a handful of skin and rips it off, throwing it at the group of monkeys that are racing through the door! They fall into each other, snapping and fighting over their prey. Remembering the cave Jake imagines a shield of white light around his body, and this time when they leap at him, they explode upon contact. More screaming and fighting breaks out as Jake pictures a hand grenade. Quickly pulling the pin he tosses it into the group, ducking behind his shield as monkeys scream and explode. For every five he kills, more enter the room, howling,
 screaming and fighting over him.

Elina is tracing the thread from above the hospital, when she hears the demons call. Howler demons travel in pods of hundreds. Whoever it's after is in trouble. Elina pulls her swords and dives from above spearing through the center of the hospit
al straight into the pack.

Jake is blown back into the corner of the wall, as a force of bright white light explodes into the center of the monkeys. The force of her impact cracks the tile floor beneath her feet; she stands fierce like a warrior surrounded in a golden light. Her blue black hair is glistening, and her turquoise eyes are filled with determination. "Enough! She says using the power of her voice to silence and immobilize them.
 Bringing the swords together she slices the head off the biggest demon. The others leap towards hers as one covering her completely in shadow, hardening like a shell around her body. Elina waits allowing the power within her to grow, and then with a shrug of her shoulders she releases the fountain of light outward destroying them. Turning to the old man she picks his spirit up from the floor softly speaking to him, "Time for you to move on my friend."

A light fills the room, but it is not the light of heaven that waits for him. He is frightened by what he sees; he looks at her and says, "I have done bad things."

"We all have shadow warring with the light inside of us. You are going to purgatory; you will be given a chance to make amends for the choices you made. It's going to be alright." He walks to the light turning back to Jake; he says "Thank you, I couldn't fight them any longer," then he is gone, like a candle snuffed out.

Elina turns to Jake and smiles. He stands up and says "Elina, I thought you were a dream?"
     "Hello Jake. I have been searching for you. You have to get out of here. The nurses will be checking on him soon. Walking towards him, she says "Jake once again your light drew me towards you. I need you to trust me, and go the R & R Ranch in Montana. Can you do that?"

Jake shakes his head yes and she is gone. "Move it Cap" he says to himself, as the heart monitors start to go off in the room. Walking swiftly Jake takes the stairs up two more flights and heads
to his motorcycle. Time to book a flight to Montana he thinks to himself. Smiling Jake realizes he feels hopeful. Maybe with her help, he will find Elsbeth.

Elina sits up smiling, realizing for the first time in a long time she feels hopeful. "He's
coming" she says to herself. He must be a connection to the book. Why is it that his thread is golden? What does it mean? Maybe with his help she will find the first part of the book? Jumping up, she runs to tell her family that company is coming.

Walking into the back bedroom, Elina sees her Aunt Ruby checking on their guest. She suffered a concussion in the accident, minor cuts and bruises, but it was the damage to her mind that worried them the most. Elsbeth slept for two days from the swelling to her head, when she woke she did not speak. They spent days r
eassuring her that she was safe; now they just let her rest, hoping she would come out of the safe place in her mind.

"Any change?" Elina asks. Looking at
her Aunt she waits for a reply. “No change yet,” Ruby states. Joy fills Elinas face, "It will be better soon," she says confidently picking at the food on the tray in front of Elsbeth.

"How do you know that?" Ruby asks
popping her with a hand towel.  "We have a guest coming soon," she replies. "I will get the other room ready for him," Elina says helping her carry the tray out of the room.

"Who
is coming?” Uncle Ronnie asks grabbing some grapes off the tray she is holding.
Smiling at him, she says "Jake." She tells them how she met him as a child and shows them the flat coin he gave her when she was little. "His thread is golden. It's what's drew me to him when I was five and again today. He is strong but untrained. I am hoping he will help reunite our people,” thinking to herself maybe he will have some clues about the first part of the book as well.

"Ron, I have never seen a gold thr
ead, have you?" Ruby asks him.  "Nope, can't say that I have. Let’s just see what this young man has to say" Ronnie remarks.
"I can check the flight times, and hope he flies in some time tonight," Elina says running off to the computer.

"What can it mean these golden threads?" Ruby asks. "I'm going to call my sister, Polly. She may have some clue as to what this could be."
"Good idea" Ron says kissing her forehead. "Tell the old witch I said hi!"
Laughing as she walks away Ruby calls back "I'm telling her you called her that."