“Don’t make her stand in the bathroom,” Patti whispered at me, waving us out. She drifted behind us into the living area, but when we got there neither of us could sit. The room felt unfamiliar, as if we stood on a mountaintop with clear, fresh air, more relaxed than ever. We clung together.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t get there in time,” I began, but she shushed me gently.
“I must speak quickly because I can no longer ignore my calling to the afterlife. I must tell you a story, dearest Anna. It has been my family’s purpose to keep this story, passing it down through countless generations so that it could be told. To you. My family line stopped with me, so I gave my life to the Lord, forfeiting an earthly family of my own. What I’m going to tell you could not be written. If it had fallen into the wrong hands, it could have been disastrous. And you will do well to guard it yourself.”
Prickles of anticipatory sweat beaded on my skin.
“Know this, Anna: if a demon or Satan himself were to hear what you are about to learn . . .”
“I understand.” I took deep breaths to calm my heart so the rush of blood wouldn’t muffle her soft voice in my mind.
“So it goes: In the year of our Lord 62, while the apostle Paul was under house arrest in Rome, a messenger angel was sent from heaven to speak a prophecy unto Paul as he slept. The apostle awoke in the dark and carved the words of the prophecy into the dirt floor with his fingers, bleeding into the earth. He covered the words with straw, hoping they would be found by someone trustworthy. The very next day he was beheaded. Only two souls besides Paul and the messenger angel knew the prophecy: his own guardian angel, Leilaf, and a demon spirit of the night. The demon had seen the messenger angel descend upon Paul’s prison quarters. When Paul was taken, the demon spirit entered the empty cell and saw the words. He briefly possessed the body of a guard in order to destroy the prophecy. We do not know what became of that demon afterward.
“Once the angel Leilaf had seen Paul’s soul safely to the afterlife, he was given special permission to return to earth. Having found the written prophecy destroyed, Leilaf took it upon himself to enter the body of a shepherd whose life was just ending from an untimely illness. He then took a human wife and had a child: an angelic Nephilim child. He told the prophecy to this child. And so it has passed through each generation. I had no siblings, and I felt strongly led toward the sisterhood vows, so I would have no child with whom to pass along the prophecy. I am the final Nephilim child in the line of Leilaf, guardian angel of the apostle Paul.”
A purely angelic Nephilim of light. Amazing. How did the Dukes not know about her? I realized when she paused that I was holding my breath, trying to ingest every word of her story without interruption. She waited for my breathing to steady before continuing.
“And now, here is the angel’s lost prophecy, to the best of my knowledge:
“‘In the days when demons roam the earth and humanity despairs,
Will come a great test. A Nephilim pure of heart
Shall rise above and cast all demons from earth, sending home
To heaven those righteous lost angels with whom forgiveness is shown,
And sending those lost forever to the depths of hell where they shall
Remain with their dark master until the end of days.’”
She watched me as I untangled the verses and attempted to decipher them. Cast all demons from earth. Could it be? Sending home righteous lost angels. My dad! Could there really be redemption for fallen angels? My heart and mind were racing.
“Anna, I believe you are that Nephilim.” What? A chill of trepidation trickled down my spine. “There is grave danger in the task ahead of you. Danger from which we are all helpless to protect you.”
Understanding racked my being to the core. This was my life’s task and it was huge. Monumental.
Focus. I had to think. This was a good thing. I wanted nothing more than to rid the earth of the despicable demons. But fear of the unknown threatened to smother me. Where would I start? How would I accomplish this?
“I need to understand exactly what it means,” I said. And then silently I asked, “Can I speak freely?”
“You may. There are no Dukes nearby, and I spied no spirits when I arrived.”
I cleared my throat. “So . . . I’m supposed to cast the demons from earth?”
Patti went as rigid as a mannequin next to me. “Should you be saying this out loud?” she whispered. We’d become so accustomed to being careful. I nodded to her that it was okay.
“I believe ridding the earth of dark ones will be done through you. It is the belief of my family that this Nephilim will be the bridge that provides the fallen angels with a second chance. They have been allowed to come to earth to influence the humans, but not for eternity. Their time will come to an end very soon now that you are here.”
“Sister Ruth, I’m honored. . . .” But I was also overcome with a dire sense of urgency. I needed to find out as much as possible and she would be gone forever at any moment. I felt so small in comparison to the undertaking I’d been destined to perform. “What should I do?”
“What you do now is a matter for your own discernment. All the tools you need have been provided, and you must seek them. You may find that trustworthy allies can help you along your path, but that is at your discretion. Be careful whom you trust. Have you retrieved the box I left to you at the convent?”
“Yes, Sister. The hilt?”
“You must keep it hidden and carry it with you always. It is the flaming sword of Leilaf used in the war of the heavens.” Just as Kaidan had guessed. I pushed down feelings of panic that came whenever I thought of having to wield the spiritual sword. I couldn’t fathom such a treasure being left in my care.
Sister Ruth’s form began to shimmer and lift higher. I reached out a hand, desperate.
“Sister, wait!” With effort, she driftd back down. It was purely selfish of me to keep her here longer, but I didn’t want her to go yet. She was my only link. “How did you survive the Nephilim purge?”
“Mm, yes. The desperate years. I was in utero during that time and they did not know about me. My mother was warned by an angel from heaven that they were coming for her. She was my Nephilim parent, but she told my human father everything. She was lucky to have found a devout man she could trust with our secrets. She went into hiding underground in the basement of a church. Demons avoid the Holy Spirit, so they won’t breach areas where two or more are gathered together in prayer. I spent my life in churches and convents.”
Her voice was getting softer. I had to let her go.
“Thank you for finding me, Sister. Thank you for everything.”
“Yes,” Patti said. “Thank you.”
Sister Ruth looked down upon Patti and laid a hand on her head. “I knew you were the right woman to raise her from the moment I saw you.” And then she turned to me. “Have faith, dear one. And do not despair.”
Her spirit glided up, disappearing through the ceiling, emanating pure joy as she ascended home. I stood there, trying to process all I’d just learned. I tried to imagine the earth without demons. What would this mean for humans? For Neph?
“She’s gone,” Patti whispered. “I can feel that she’s gone.”
By the time I’d told her all the details she was in tears and my hands were trembling with the shock of it.
“Do you know what this means for all of you?” She reached up and touched my cheek. “For the world? I knew you were destined for something big, baby girl.”
Her eyes were filled with parental joy, but the half smile showed her underlying fear.
My thoughts went to Kaidan, able to live a free life, and a noise slipped from my throat. Patti pulled me in and hugged me hard.
“It’s all gonna be okay,” she whispered. And when she said it, I believed it. She let go and swiped her fingers under her eyes.
In that moment I thought about my biological mother, the angel Mariantha. I wondered if she was watching
me, and if she knew she could get her soul mate back soon.
“Oh, my gosh,” I said. “I need to call Dad.”
I pulled my phone from my pocket and scrolled through the contacts.
With a shaking hand, I typed the emergency code he’s taught me, “A911,” and hit Send.
CHAPTER FOUR
FOR NOW
I couldn’t sleep that night after the revelation. Patti and I stayed up late discussing everything, rejoicing at the thought of no more demons on earth. We never mentioned the obvious fear—that I could die in the process of attempting this feat. She tucked me in after midnight and kissed my forehead like she did when I was little. My head had been hurting after I saw Kaidan, and it throbbed worse now with the weight of the prophecy.
Dad had called after I texted, and told me he’d be here to talk in person as soon as possible.
At three in the morning I still lay awake.
Thinking of Kaidan.
I was burning with the urge to call him. Or jump in my car and drive until I found him. Because he needed to know about this. Like, now.
My fingers were on fire, itching to dial a number I didn’t know. I picked up my cell and scrolled through the names until it landed on Marna. Inhaling deeply and letting it out slowly, I pressed Send.
“Gah, what time . . . ?” she muttered groggily. “Hallo?”
I sat up in bed at the sound of her sweet, sleepy English voice. “Can you talk?” I asked.
“Oh, thank God you’re all right, Anna. I’ve been dying to hear from you. Yes, it’s safe here, luv. I needed a lie in this mornin’, but it’s about time I got my arse outta bed. What time is it there?”
It was so good to hear her voice. “It’s late here. Are you guys okay?”
“Sure, sure. Astaroth’s been up our arses, but I’ve been more worried about you.”
I gave her a brief recap of my last six months before taking a deep breath and saying, “Listen . . . I need to get ahold of Kai.”
Silence.
“Are you in danger, Anna?”
“Well, no. I mean, not yet. I just really need to talk to him.”
Marna sighed. “I’m sorry, Anna. Truly. But he’s asked me not to give his number to you. I’ll pass along a message if it’s that important,” she offered.
I’d figured as much, but it still made me feel tight all over to hear it.
“Fine. Tell him I said to call me.” I squeezed the edge of my bed.
“Not happening.” Her response held a no-nonsense warning.
“Why not?” I stood. “Don’t all of you talk to each other? You, Kai, Ginger, Blake—”
“Stop right there, Anna. Kai rarely answers when I call. Blake’s the only one he’ll speak with anymore. I hate telling you no, but I really don’t want to get in the middle of this. What’s gotten your knickers in a twist, anyhow?”
I wanted to tell her, but I couldn’t. We shouldn’t even be having this conversation over the phone, and we both knew it.
“I’ll need to see you soon,” I whispered.
“Sounds interesting.” There was a grin in her voice. I wanted to smile, too, at the thought of Marna being free of her father’s control.
“How’s work?” I asked.
“We’re busy breaking hearts by the dozens,” she deadpanned.
“I’m sure your father is proud.”
“Oh, terribly.”
“Hey, I have a weird question,” I said. “What does it mean if a guy calls you ‘bang tidy’?”
Marna snorted. “Sounds like something a dirty wanker would say. Or someone pissing about.”
Now it was my turn to snort, because she’d called Kai a wanker.
We got quiet.
“Please,” I whispered. I knew I sounded as desperate as I was. “Can’t you tell me anything? Because I saw him tonight and even though he can be so mean, I know he still cares. I know it. Please, Marna.”
“All right!” Her fierce whisper halted my pushiness. The line was so silent I thought she’d hung up on me. “Fine. I’ll tell you something he told me. He admitted last week there’s a woman at the studio who’s always trying to chat him up. But apparently he ignores her advances because she’s this kind, cute little blonde whose name also happens to be Anna. She obviously reminds him of you.”
Her words spiked inside me.
“What else did he say?” I whispered.
“Nothing. I couldn’t get another word out of him, and that’s the truth. He only told me that ’cause I caught up to him while he was high at a party.”
“High?”
My heart began a quick gallop. What was he doing? Smoking? Snorting something? And, oh, gosh, why was I tingling all over? Lately my attraction to drugs had escalated. I’d been lucky. The demons thought alcohol was my specialty, and I’d mostly been able to avoid parties with drugs. But lately I’d been having dreams about just letting go. No more caution or responsibility or thinking. The very idea of being high . . . with Kaidan . . . I let out a strangled sound. Marna cursed under her breath.
“Get ahold of yourself. I shouldn’t have told you that.” She sighed. “And it’s not like he does it all the time. There’d been a whisperer doing rounds nearby him that night, so when offered he couldn’t say no.”
I sobered at the mention of a demon whisperer near Kaidan.
“What do you think’s going on with him?” I asked. “He won’t talk to me.”
“I think he’s a few sandwiches short of a picnic. I know you want to believe he feels the same as you, but what if he doesn’t? I love him, but he’s a funny one, Anna. Finicky. I’m telling you for your own good. . . .” I hated her remorseful tone. “Let him go, luv. He won’t budge when he’s made his mind up about something. He’s gone.”
Gone. A ragged breath caught in my chest.
“I’ve got to go,” Marna said. “Ginger’s waking.”
“Take care, Marna,” I whispered.
“You as well,” she whispered back.
My body wanted to cry—to soak my pillow in tears, but they wouldn’t come. Instead I ended up on the floor, on my knees, pulling down the pillow to muffle my gasps for air. I’d known since Kai left that I’d have to let go of him, but it was a fresh slice of pain to hear Marna say it. I’d tried to come to terms with not having the things I wanted. I knew there would be something bigger to focus on someday, bigger than my life and my worries. And now it was happening. But I never imagined my life’s mission would be coupled with such agony and loss.
It wasn’t about me, and I couldn’t lose sight of that. My life was a tiny dot on the map. But even those tiny dots could make a difference—especially when they came together. I grasped that thread of hope and let it lift me.
The next morning Patti and I puttered around the kitchen in slow motion, waiting for Dad to show.
“Taste this.” Patti held out a plastic spoon she’d been using to stir the pitcher of sweet tea. I took the offered sip.
It was perfect, as always. I gave her a thumbs-up, then squinted my eyes against the sharp pounding in my head.
“A couple aspirin would help,” Patti said.
I shook my head. No painkillers. They’d burn through me too quickly to be worthwhile anyway.
When Dad showed up, he skipped all greetings, coming straight for me, wearing faded black leather pants and a white T-shirt tight around his wide chest and arms.
“What’s going on?” he asked in a rough voice, searching my face.
He appeared the same as always—like a giant brute glaring down at me with his shaved head and graying goatee, but I knew it was only a harsh look of concern.
“Hello to you, too,” I said. I went into his arms and let him squeeze me. After half a year, it was a sweet relief to see him again.
I reached out and took his hand.
“Let’s sit down,” I told him. We sat next to each other on the couch, with Patti across from us in the rocking recliner. He watched me intently. “Something major happe
ned yesterday. Remember Sister Ruth, who died before I met her?” Dad nodded. “Well, her spirit found me after all this time and she told me a prophecy.”
His demeanor changed. His eyes got bigger and he sat up straighter. “Go on.”
I told him everything. How Sister Ruth was a heavenly Neph, and who she’d descended from. When I got to the part in the prophecy about the fate of the demons, and a second chance at heaven, his eyes glazed over, lost in thought. The room quieted as we all pondered the possibilities. I was once again filled with exhilaration, imagining earth without demons, and that excitement was followed closely by the fear of having no clue what I’d have to do to make it happen.
I squeezed Dad’s hand.
“You’re sure she said that?” he whispered gruffly. “You’re positive about every word?”
“I’m positive.”
When he finally sucked in a breath, his body shuddered. Dad brought my hand up to his lips for a kiss, then patted it and laughed with a quick burst of joy.
“You don’t know what this means to me. The thought of going home again . . .” He brought my hand to his heart. “Thank you, thank you.”
I had a hunch he wasn’t thanking me. I glanced at Patti, whose eyes were glistening just as mine were.
Dad stood and began to pace, running a hand over his smooth head. He whispered “hot damn” under his breath and grinned to himself. “I can’t believe there’s really a prophecy.”
“Huh?” I asked, confused.
“Back before I became a Duke, there were legends of a supposed prophecy of a Nephilim destroying the demons, but nobody believed it. They all thought it was made up by angels to psyche us out. Duke Rahab’s always hated the Neph and refused to have any of his own. I think it’s ’cause rumors of that prophecy left a bad taste in his mouth.” He stood there, shaking his head as if he were still trying to process it all.