Sons of God Daughters of Men Page 3

  A seven-foot demon with brownish-red skin, large round eyes, and black hair throughout its body stared at Carmish. The creature snarled, displaying two rows of jagged teeth. He then pointed at Carmish with one of his three crooked fingers.

  “Help!” Carmish screamed in terror as he crawled backward.

  Three other similar demons came and stood in front of Carmish. Two of the demons grabbed Carmish by the wrists as they laughed and taunted him. He struggled, twisting, flailing his arms, and kicking his legs, but demons were too strong for him.

  One of the demons grabbed both of his legs while the other grabbed his wrists and cuffed them with a steel shackle attached to a thick, black metal chain. He then handed the chain to the other demon, which quickly placed the other shackle on Carmish's ankles. Now having him under control, both demons grabbed Carmish underneath his arms and carried him away. He looked back at the angel in white, pleading desperately for help. Another angel wearing a long white robe appeared and talked to the other.

  “Help me! Please help me!” Carmish screamed as he continued to struggle.

  Both angels gave Carmish a brief, sympathetic look before the angel with the book opened it and turned to the end. He shook his head and said something to the other. They looked at Carmish and shook their heads.

  “Don't let them take me,” Carmish begged.

  The two demons dragged Carmish into a flaming, oval portal with black smoke pouring out. After several seconds, the portal disappeared.

  _____

  Just before dawn, Nabal returned home in a drunken stupor. His wife Carissa met him at the door and immediately began scolding him. He stumbled forward and fell into her arms. He looked up, then pushed Carissa backward into the wall, where she hit her head and fell to the floor.

  “Did you waste all our money on wine again?" Carissa yelled. "You stink of wine!”

  Nabal lumbered over to Carissa. He formed a fist and struck her in the face. Carissa screamed and fell into the kitchen table next to the wall. Nabal followed, kicking and punching Carissa repeatedly as she covered her head. Between blows, she pleaded desperately for Nabal to stop. The more she screamed and fought back, the angrier Nabal became. He struck her several more times before coming to a sudden stop. Nabal stood above Carissa, with fist in the air, looking down at his wife on her back wiping the blood from her nose. He looked at his swollen, bloodied fist and thought of the man he had killed.

  Carissa crawled backward and leaned against the wall. She stared at Nabal, eyes full of revulsion, as she wiped blood from her mouth and nose, wondering if he would kill her. He had beaten her while in a drunken rage, but this was the worst. Nabal seemed, once more, capable of murder. He watched Carissa, that same, pitied, remorseful look on his face that often followed his beating her. Carissa screams echoed in his mind as he looked across the room. What have I done Nabal thought. He stood, fist clenched, staring at his wife’s battered face.

  Nabal sensed the fear and revulsion in his wife's cold, icy glare. He felt a sudden rush of uncontrollable rage, prompting him to walk over and strike Carissa once in the face, then repeatedly. Her head hit the floor with a soft thud and she lay motionless for several seconds. She tried to stand, but fell to her knees. Nabal grabbed her by the hair, pulled her head back, and struck her again. Carissa hit the wall and fell to the floor.

  Caelan shuddered. With every blow, his anger and resentment grew deeper and deeper. His right hand clenched the hilt of his broadsword, his eyes fixed on the back on Nabal's head, imagining what it would feel like to lop it off.

  “You cannot interfere,” Ramaliel, a Watcher angel assigned to Nabal said.

  Caelan looked away in disgust. He paced back and forth holding his sword, occasionally glancing at Carissa.

  Carissa screamed as Nabal kicked her in the side. Caelan drew his sword and charged forward.

  “You cannot!” Ramaliel shouted.

  Caelan stopped three feet away from Nabal with his sword held high. He let out a loud prolonged, scream.

  Several other angels from nearby came to investigate. They stood outside the house and spoke about Caelan losing his composure.

  "He is too attached to her,” one of the angels remarked.

  “Caelan. Trust the Almighty,” Ramaliel said in a calm, deep voice from behind. He came and stood next to Caelan, then put his right hand on Caelan's shoulder.

  Caelan had never felt such rage toward a human being before, nor allowed himself to lose control. His dislike of Nabal had grown over time as he witnessed the constant physical and verbal abuse.

  “Caelan, you know that we cannot interfere unless she asks for help through prayer,” Ramaliel calmly reminded. Caelan shrugged Ramaliel's hand away.

  “What do you think will happen if you interfere?" Ramaliel asked. "She chose this life. Now, she will live with the consequences of those choices. You can only have faith that life will get better for her. Perhaps one day it will.”

  Caelan frowned. “So it is the will of God that this poor woman should receive beatings until she dies?” he said angrily. “Why should she endure this suffering? Because she loves this fool? Does he not understand how lucky he is? This woman of beauty has given her life and love to a man never satisfied. She is no more than property to him.”

  “Caelan, trust in God. Surely he has a plan for her,” Ramaliel said.

  “Plan?” Caelan said. He pointed to Nabal. Several few feet away from them, he had struck Carissa again.

  By now, half a dozen curious angels had surrounded the house and were whispering among themselves. They were intrigued by Caelan's odd behavior more than Nabal's beating of Carissa. Caelan looked at Nabal briefly before turning his head in disgust. Caelan felt an eerie chill that caused him to rub the back of his neck.

  “You cannot save her Watcher,” an evil voice whispered from behind.

  Caelan, Lucius and Ramaliel drew their swords and quickly turned to see Lucifer staring at them from ten feet away.

  “The Lord rebuke thee Satan. You are a deceiver and a liar,” Caelan shouted.

  “There are no lies here Watcher, only hatred and envy," Lucifer said. "It calls to me.”

  “I think not wretched one,” Caelan said.

  Lucifer smiled. He took two slow, deliberate steps forward.

  “Oh yes Watcher. I can feel it in your heart," Lucifer said, his hand just above his heart. "I can feel your envy . . . your lust. It burns inside you . . . and drives you towards her. You desire this man's wife. You yearn for her touch and affections. Take her Caelan. You need only draw your sword and strike him down.”

  "Be gone liar!” Caelan shouted.

  Lucifer laughed, still slowly moving forward. “You know that I am right Caelan. Tell me holy angel, do you watch her bathe? Do you watch over her at night . . . wanting to feel her warmth, her touch . . . wishing it were you next to her and not Nabal? “ Lucifer stopped in front of Caelan. “I know your heart Watcher. I once stood above you all.”

  “He who has fallen wishes to teach those who still stand?” Caelan said with sarcasm.

  Lucifer held his arms out. “Oh, what have I to teach thee Caelan? You know better than I the needs of men.” He turned and pointed to Carissa. “Very soon, she is going to die. Sadly, she will die loving someone who does not love her."

  Caelan grimaced. He clenched the handle of his sword, his eyes darting between Lucifer and Nabal. He wanted . . . needed to release his rage.

  “Men are animals Caelan, but I do not have to tell you this," Lucifer said. "They are not like us. They live with no law or order. Human beings are the only creatures in this world that perpetrate evil against their species. They are rife with hatred and jealousy.”

  Caelan stared silently at Lucifer.

  “I leave you to this spectacle," Lucifer said. "Enjoy watching Carissa during the rest of her short life Caelan, because when she dies, and die she will, her soul is mine.” Lucifer smiled and then let out a sinister laugh. He took several steps backward
and then vanished.

  Caelan screamed, and then turned to Ramaliel, “Watch the lad until I get back. I have something to do,” he said angrily before launching into the sky.

  Ramaliel watched Caelan vanish into the clouds. He then looked to Lucius. “Our brother's heart is filled with rage. I fear that no good shall come of this.”

  5

  CHOICES

  Caelan stood at the center of heaven's central square. As he searched the area for his old friend Azazel, white doves glided overhead, occasionally landing on perfectly trimmed shrubs or one of the dozens of cherry blossoms. Thousands of angels strolled along the shimmering gold street, oft reflecting the towering buildings in the background. Caelan's troubles seemed distant in the midst of such beauty, even if it were only for a little while.

  “Azazel!” Caelan shouted across the square after seeing his friend.

  “Caelan my friend,” Azazel shouted from a half mile away. He closed his eyes, vanished, and reappeared in front of Caelan a second later.

  “I don't have much time before I am needed back on Earth,” Azazel said hurriedly. “I heard about your encounter with Lucifer. Are you Okay brother?”

  “Can we talk somewhere privately?” Caelan asked.

  Azazel saw the concern in his friend's face. “Can I meet with you on your watch tonight?”

  “No!” Caelan replied loudly. Several passing angels gave concerned looks. “Meet me on top of Mount Carmel at midnight”

  “Sure," Azazel said. "What is on your mind?”

  Caelan looked around before answering, “Something needs to change Azazel. We need to change.”

  More and more passing angels were sneaking glances at them and whispering from afar. Azazel grabbed Caelan's arm and nodded for him to follow. They walked for about a block and then stopped inside a park adorned with red roses, cherry blossoms, apple trees, and apricots. Several angels in shortened white robes stood behind a small fence pruning roses. They gave brief, welcoming smiles as Caelan and Azazel entered the park. The pleasant aroma of roses, blossoms, and apricots combined with the soft bellows of music in the distance to help soothe Caelan's troubled spirit. He stopped to pull an apricot from a nearby tree before sitting on a gold bench intricately decorated with pearls and rubies. The moment he sat, a pleasant sensation swirled about his thighs and waist, slowly making its way up his back and shoulders. Caelan closed his eyes and moaned softly, and then leaned back to take in the serene environment, knowing he soon had to return to a much different place on Earth. A family of five white ducks walked in front of him and then into a small pond twenty feet away. Immediately, Caelan’s thoughts turned to family. I will never have a family he thought.

  “There's nothing like being home is there brother?” Azazel asked.

  Caelan smiled and bit into the apricot, releasing the fruit's potent flavors. He closed his eyes to enjoy the warm sensation that swept over him with each bite. Although he did not need the nourishment, he missed the pleasure of tasting food and the warm bliss it provided.

  “How long were you on Earth?” Azazel asked, noting that Caelan looked more relaxed.

  “One long week,” Caelan replied. “Life moves so much slower on Earth. I think it’s beginning to take a toll on me.”

  “I understand how you feel brother," Azazel said. "You are carrying a lot of burdens. Why don't you apply for some time off and let someone else watch over your woman for a while.”

  Caelan shook his head. “No, Carissa me right now. I believe Nabal is going to kill her. I have to keep watching, reporting . . . hoping that one day my request to help her will be answered.”

  Azazel sighed. “You have become too involved Caelan. She had a choice in marrying Nabal and she also has a choice to leave, stay, or pray for help. Has she prayed for help?”

  Caelan nodded.

  “Well, she chooses to stay. If you want my advice, just remember that your duty is to watch and protect. We only interfere when special orders have been given.” Azazel frowned and shook his head. “You should know better than getting so . . . attached like this.”

  Caelan leaned back. “I cannot stand by idly anymore. I need to do something Azazel?”

  “Caelan, do your duty and don’t complicate matters. Besides, there are rumors that something big will happen on Earth soon. Why concern yourself with one woman?”

  “Spoken like a true soldier Azazel. No sympathy or compassion for humanity at all. Why do we watch and protect humanity if they perish anyway? I am beginning to have my doubts.”

  “Unlike human beings, we know our duty and obey.” Azazel said. “What has gotten into you?”

  “What if one of us ignored our orders and . . . interfered?” Caelan asked. “What if we decided to change humanity's future?”

  Azazel sprang to his feet. He looked to see if anyone was listening. Upset, he leaned over and whispered, “You are talking about rebellion?”

  6

  NOW OR NEVER

  Caelan stood close to Carissa, staring as she sat alone at the wooden table in the middle of her small clay house. An unsettled feeling swirled about his belly as he tried to cope with a flood of new sensations and emotions. Is it right for me to feel this way? Perhaps God is trying to tell me that what I am doing is wrong he thought. Caelan quelled his troubled conscious and resolved to follow through with his plan. At this point, turning back was no longer an alternative. On his last visit to heaven, he had spoken with other like-minded angels about the need to change the destiny of humanity. Others were now depending on him. He could not back down now. The time to leave his eternal existence behind had arrived.

  He would be the first to leave heaven of his own volition. Millions of angels lost their right to live in heaven after Lucifer's rebellion, but no angel had ever abandoned the gift of eternal life to become mortal. He was not even sure it was possible. If it were, how would the change take place? he wondered. He was doing this to be with Carissa, but he did not know whether she would accept him. It would all be a failure if she did not want to be with him. Human beings were typically fearful when angels appeared, so trying to convince her to start a new life with him might not be so easy. The plan seemed so much simpler before. Now that he stood before her, nervousness and fear pervaded his thoughts.

  Carissa was sad and sullen as she sat at the table. Still, to Caelan, she was a remarkable sight. Her long black hair rolled off her shoulders and down just past her waist. Full figured, with soft, red lips and deep green eyes, Caelan found it hard to take his eyes off her. Several weeks had passed since Nabal had last beaten her and Caelan resolved that he would never hurt her again. In Caelan's mind, Carissa deserved happiness... she deserved to be with him.

  Nabal was at the tavern drinking the night away and causing trouble. Carissa likely faced another night of cruel abuse. For the past two years of their marriage, Carissa endured Nabal's resentment for not giving him any children, the insults of his family, his drunken tirades, and brutal beatings. At twenty years, Carissa was still young, so Nabal’s mother and sisters assumed the gods must have cursed her. Having lost her mother and father in her early teens, Nabal’s relatives were her only family and they treated her unpleasantly. She lived a miserable life; made worse by Nabal’s growing resentment.

  As Caelan's compassion for her grew stronger, Carissa stirred and looked around the house, as if she sensed someone else there with her. She had never felt Caelan’s presence before, but now his love for her had betrayed him. Disappointed, Carissa looked down at the table after not seeing anyone.

  “Carissa,” Caelan uttered.

  His deep, resounding voice startled her. Carissa looked up to see Caelan standing several feet away in the middle of the room. She screamed and jumped to her feet.

  Caelan stood silent, trying to calm her with a smile.

  Carissa took several slow, deliberate steps backward toward the wall, keeping her eyes fixed on her strange intruder. The soft white aura surrounding Caelan brightened the house more
than the burning candle on the table. His elegant, divine appearance was like none she had ever seen. His long white robe appeared expensive and finely made, held by a golden sash around his waist and well-crafted golden sandals upon his feet. He was handsome and everything about him, including his facial features was near perfect. Clean-shaven with blue eyes, short black hair and bronze skin, his appearance was different from the men in her city. Standing seven feet tall, he was larger and more muscular than anyone she had ever seen. He cannot be human. How did he get inside she thought.

  “You have nothing to fear Carissa. I am here to help you,” Caelan said.

  Each of his words echoed throughout her body, calming and soothing her troubled spirit.

  “I have watched you for many years Carissa," Caelan said. "I know your struggles and your pain.”

  Tears welled in her eyes, one eventually rolling slowly down her cheek.

  Caelan stepped forward, causing her to shudder. “Carissa, I am one of God's holy angels, here to let you know that your suffering has ended.”

  The soothing warmness continued to permeate her body and ease her spirit as he spoke. Surely, he is no ordinary man she thought. She fell to her knees and bowed her head.

  “Forgive me my lord,” Carissa said with humility.