Angels of Light
Raphael had sent several extra of the unseen to guard Malachi, Belle, Shelley, and anyone associated with them. That meant Belle's sister Amelia as well. He knew Cabiri would stop at nothing to destroy or at least side track Malachi. And Cabiri new from experience that the death of a loved one was an excellent way to at least delay someone from full surrender to God. Of course that strategy occasionally backfired, and the bereaved person would throw themselves fully into God's plan for his or her life. But usually it worked in Cabiri's favor. Drunk drivers were one of his current favorite tools of destruction. But disease was another favorite, too. Anyway, Raphael was taking no chances. He had instructions to guard those people well, and that is what he was going to do.
Chapter Three
Ann
Ann skipped school the next day even though she actually felt OK about going back. Now that she and her father had decided how to handle the situation she really was looking forward to the rest of the year. Plus, she really wouldn't have to see Alice or anyone else. She could find a way to avoid study hall and she wouldn't have to see any of the seniors. But she decided to take the day off and get started with a trip to the beauty parlor. He dad had called his secretary already. The secretary had set up an appointment at a salon that not only had a reputation as being good, it really was good. Ann decided to drive herself. It would have been polite to invite her mother because her mother certainly could use a makeover. But if her mom was content to look like a frumpy old lady, than that was her business. Actually, Ann was beginning to resent her mother for not helping her more with her hair and clothes to begin with. If Shelly had done her job in the first place none of this might have happened.
Ann left the house early. She wanted a little time to drive by a few car dealers and see what sort of car she might want. She would have to ask her dad if she was trading in her car or not. Ann guessed it would be a good car for her mother. Her mother's car was older than Ann's so that might be the way to go. Shelly didn't care what she drove anyway.
Ann drove slowly through the new car dealerships on the way to the salon. She wanted to get a general idea of what was available. Next week she would compare what was on the school student parking lot to what was on the car lots. She knew she wanted to get something that would obviously be better than what most of the other students were driving.
Arriving at the salon, she went in and introduced herself. Apparently her dad's secretary had done a good job of explaining what they wanted accomplished. Three staff members were assigned to Ann for the day. They started with a computer program that put Ann's face in any hairstyle or hair color imaginable. It also offered an almost infinite variety of makeup styles and types. The program also offered clothing style and color hints based on Ann's size and coloring.
Ann decided to alter her hair color only slightly, just a few highlights. The stylist had suggested that as being easier to maintain. Also, Ann's hair was quite thick and had a lot of body to it, so she didn't really need anything but a good cut and a little highlighting. Ann also had very clear skin, so makeup was pretty easy as well. Clothes were not that hard either. Ann was a nice size. Her posture was good. Her teeth were straight. She had a natural easy walk. By the end of the day Ann had spent several thousand dollars on clothes and accessories. She walked out of the salon in a new outfit and had the rest of the things she had bought delivered to the house. She just needed her new car to be a complete new woman. "Maybe dad and I can narrow it down to a few cars this weekend. I don't want to make the final decision on a car until I check out the school parking lot one more time."
After Ann left the salon one of her personal attendants was heard to remark, "She really is a very pretty girl; all she really needed was a smile to be quite striking in appearance."
"Maybe she just needed something to boost her confidence. I hope this will do the trick," said the salon manager.
Malachi
Mal had listened to Belle talking about being a Fundamental Christian without becoming too concerned until she had said that for their relationship to go any further he would have to come to the same conclusions she had reached. He wished she had told him that sooner in their relationship, in which case he thought he would have just stopped seeing her. Now he was in a little too deep to just drop it without at least considering her beliefs as having some merit or validity. For one thing he was pretty attached to her already. And second, he did have a genuine respect for her intelligence. So it was possible she was on to something. He knew he hadn't been taught anything about the Bible at home. His mother thought everyone was just supposed to be good and if you were good enough you would get into heaven. His dad thought the entire matter was garbage. Fredrick said flatly that everyone should get all they could out of life because that was the only chance anyone would get. Mal had never really thought about it himself. Why should he? He was young, healthy, and well - rich." His mother had faithfully put 20% of the money from the yearly income from her trust fund into an account for Mal from the year he was born. It was re-invested wisely and over the years it had become quite a substantial sum.
But now Belle had asked him to think about something he really had not planned to consider until he was at least 80 years old. So Mal went home and began to read the books Belle had given him. He looked up the web sites Belle had written down for him. He was quite startled to discover the number of prophecies that had been accurately predicted hundreds and even thousands of years before they were fulfilled. The number of prophecies providing proof that Jesus Christ was the messiah were overwhelming. The virgin birth idea bothered Mal until he realized that the God who created the first man from dirt without a father or a mother would have no problem creating a baby without an earthly father.
Mal stayed up much later than usual reading and following threads from one web page to another. Finally, exhausted he went to bed. He had reached no final conclusion except this. Either the Bible was a very elaborate hoax, or it was true.
Angels of Darkness
Cabiri was following Ann's progress with delight. First he had planted the idea she was plain and maybe even ugly. She had believed it. Then with only the slightest changes to her appearance he had given her the idea she was beautiful and she had believed that. Cabiri was almost certain she would be one with whom he could communicate in person. He was excited. Through the ages he had been much more satisfied and he thought done a better job when he was able to actually appear to his protégé's and speak with them. He hoped to arrange a "meeting" soon. He wasn't sure of how to bring it about, but he was certain the opportunity would present itself.
He would have liked to arrange an accident for Ann's brother immediately, but that was impossible with the unseen protection that had been arranged by Raphael. But, Cabiri didn't dwell on what he could not do. He decided to just watch Malachi for weak spots and try to neutralize him in that way. Mal didn't drink or use drugs, so that was out. Neither did he chase women. So that was out. He wasn't greedy either. Well, Cabiri would assign watchers. Mal was human, therefore he had human weaknesses. Something would turn up.
Angels of Light
Raphael was delighted with the interest Malachi was showing in the Bible in general and prophecy in particular. Prophecy had been the instrument by which a great number of people and come to be believers. To Raphael it was very hard to understand why everyone didn't believe. Raphael acknowledged that he personally believed because he had "seen". People had to believe by faith, because they had not seen heaven. But he also knew that the evidence was all around them. The conclusion was that like the angels who fell from grace during the cosmic war, it was not a case of people not believing. Instead it was that they did not want to surrender to a sovereign God of creation.
Raphael's thoughts turned to Malachi again. He was showing signs of conviction with only a few hours Bible study. Sometimes it took years for someone to come t
hat far. He hoped that Mal would choose life in Jesus Christ quickly.