Hey all,
Wow! Another surprise. This part of the story seems filled with them. I wonder what the other angel's responses will be. I think we'll be finding out. Enjoy!
Wow! Another surprise. This part of the story seems filled with them. I wonder what the other angel's responses will be. I think we'll be finding out. Enjoy!
The Watcher's Guild: Sweet Nephilim
~~~~***~~~~
His obvious
surprise had Amaris sitting up as well.
“Yes. What’s wrong? Are two so unusual?”
He didn’t
answer, but turned to Orifiel. “Hey! Did Eran tell you that Amaris was tempted
twice? Not just once?”
“Twice?”
The older guardian’s eyes narrowed in curiosity as he turned from the fire. “You went through two temptations?”
Wanting to
roll her eyes at the echo in the room, Amaris nodded. “Again yes.
And why is that so weird?”
“Because,
little angel—” Eran’s voice immediately warmed her heart when he answered, but
his eyes…his eyes were very serious, “—most Nephilims are tempted only once. Either they win out against that temptation
and are brought into the army of God or they fail and fall as their fathers did
before them. There are no second
chances. No do overs. Once the choice is made, it is made forever.”
“But not
for me.” She could see in Eran’s eyes
this was another thing he’d chosen not to tell her. Part of her was angry for his renitence, but
a bigger part of her was beginning to understand him. He didn’t want her worrying. He was trying to protect her…again. But she didn’t need protecting. Not anymore.
She knew she was different. In
many ways, some she was just recognizing.
Learning she’d been attacked differently as well, wasn’t all that
surprising.
“Amaris…” Hayyel touched her hand. “I’m sure it’s not a big deal. I wouldn’t worry about it. I mean—”
“It’s okay,
Hayyel,” she interrupted, a slight smile touching her lips. She wasn’t worried. At least not much. “Guess I’m just lucky.”
“Probably
because you’re female.” Orifiel sipped
his wine thoughtfully. “Eran told me it
only took you once to find your wings.”
“Once!” Hayyel shook his head. “Took me three times to get them to unfurl. It was the hardest thing about being a
Nephilim for me. Honey, you are
different.”
“I had a
good teacher, that’s all.” Amaris smiled
at her guardian. Backlit by the flames
he was the most gorgeous thing she’d ever seen.
She wished she could go over and kiss him, but she’d promised to be
good. Later though…later all bets were
off. “I’ve known from the beginning that
as long as Eran was with me, I’d be safe.”
Eran’s
heart swelled with love at Amaris’ words.
He’d been afraid for a moment she’d be angry with him. It had
been another omitted truth. Something he
suddenly realized he’d done a lot of.
But he would do anything to keep his little angel comfortable and
happy. Even if it meant keeping some of
the more scary things about her new life away from her.
Yet looking
into her eyes now, he could see the time was fast approaching where he would
have to be one hundred percent honest with her…in every way. Amaris was growing in her Nephilim powers
exponentially. She’d proven today that
she was almost as good with a sword as a two-century old Nephilim, and more
importantly, when she’d been hit with the knowledge about the prophecy, she
hadn’t run scared. Hadn’t cried or
ranted about what was happening to her.
No, his little
angel had tucked the fear and worry away and concentrated on the here and
now. She’d taken a deep breath and gone
on with her duties, just as a warrior should.
His love and his pride in her filled him to almost bursting. No wonder Orifiel could see it. It was a wonder no one else could.
“Do you
think there will be more?” Hayyel’s
question brought Eran back to the present.
“Or is the Evil One done?”
“No.” Amaris’ tone left no doubt. “As long as Asmodeous thinks he can turn me,
I’ll be tempted.”
“Asmodeous?” Now it was Orifiel who straightened in his
chair. The old warrior had a streak of
dirt slashed across his cheek, courtesy of a blow from Eran’s sword, but it
didn’t hide the sudden worry on his face.
“By Jehovah! You’ve got an Elite
Demon after you?”
Amaris
shrugged. “Again. Lucky me.”
Orifiel
looked as if he was going to explode at her facetious words, but Eran put his
hand on his old friend’s shoulder.
“Peace, brother. Amaris knows how
dangerous the demon spawn is. What he
can do.” He cast a reproving glance at
his lover, telling her without words this wasn’t a time for joking. “Do not mistake her flippancy for
indifference. She understands just how
far the Evil One will go to bring her into the fold.”
“But he’ll
fail, just the same.” Amaris’ chin went
up, not giving an inch. “I’m not stupid
or foolish. I know Asmodeous has no
boundaries. No heart or conscience. He’ll do whatever it takes to get me to turn
away from what’s right. I know he’ll
attack me again and again until I can defeat him completely.”
“And you
will, little angel.” Eran moved closer,
unable to resist taking her hand. The
connection soothed him, and her slow sigh of pleasure showed him he wasn’t
alone. “You are strong and growing stronger. I agree, Asmodeous won’t give up. Not yet.
You are too important. But you
won’t be alone. You will never have to
go up against him by yourself. I will be
there with you. I promise.”
“As will
I,” came Orifiel’s deep voice.”
“Hey! I may not be a guardian,” Hayyel promised,
“but I’ll be there too. I’m happy to
kick a little demon ass. Besides—” he
grinned and waggled his eyebrows at Amaris, “—I don’t want to be the youngest
Nephilim again.”
Amaris’
tears mixed with her laughter and forgetting caution, Eran pulled her into his
arms. At that moment he didn’t care if
Jehovah himself saw him. His little
angel needed him and as he’d promised, he would always be there for her.
~~~~***~~~~
*sniff* Gotta love a hero like that. Makes me want a guardian angel for my very own. Amaris is one lucky Nephilim.
Just as a heads up, if you haven't read my Friday, November 7ths blog (click HERE), you may want to take a quick look. There are some major changes going on in my life and it will affect this blog in the upcoming months. Between the changes and the holidays, it will truly be a blessed and CRAZY time for me.
What it means for this blog is that today is the last of this story for awhile. Don't fret, it will be back, but not until next year. (The reasons are on the other blog.) Instead, I'll be posting a Christmas story starting next week and ending the last of December.
After that, since things will be in such turmoil at this point I'll be putting the FREE READ blog on hiatus. Just until things are a little more settled. I'm hoping I'll be able to start it up again in February once the crazy stuff is over, so cross your fingers!
We're excited and happy at what's happening in our lives and I hope to share it with you all when I can.
Let me know what you think of my news!
Until next Sunday...
Hugs,
CJ England
Follow Your Dreams
http://cjengland.com/luckbealady/luckbealady.htm
2 comments:
I will miss reading this. It's going to be hard to wait till February! lol Good luck with all the travels and changes coming in the next few months! Safe travels!
Yeah, Phylis. I'll miss writing it. If I'd known this transfer was coming, I'd have written ahead. But to do it all at the same time? Just the thought makes me want to scream! LOL But I will be back. I promise.
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