Spirit Fighter (Son of Angels, Jonah Stone) (16 page)

Henry perked up a little. “Good idea, Jonah.”

He motioned them to stand in the middle of the grassy field.

“Jonah, you start with your arrows. Fire them at the fire hydrant over there.”

Jonah reached back over his shoulder, and, just like it had in the alleyway, an arrow appeared in his right hand, a bow in his left.

“Good!” Henry said. “Now aim and fire.”

“But what if I hit it?” Jonah said uneasily. “I don’t want to destroy it and blast water all over the place or anything . . . well, okay, maybe that would be awesome, but I’d rather not wreak any unnecessary havoc right this moment.”

“If we were back in the physical world, then, yes, that would be a concern,” Henry said. “But in the hidden realm, your arrows don’t harm objects that aren’t alive. They have no concern for them. This is a spiritual world, remember? Angel arrows can only harm spiritual beings.”

His voice darkened. “Just make sure you don’t ever get hit by one. Humans are spiritual. If you get hit, it doesn’t just hurt a little bit. You die. And I wouldn’t want that to happen on my watch.”

Jonah raised his eyebrows at Henry, then turned back to his target. He aimed at the fire hydrant and released. The arrow flew lazily off to the right, fizzling when it hit the side of the building.

“Eliza,” Henry said, “go ahead and see if you can form a shield.”

He stood behind Jonah, repositioning his legs, back, and arms into a better stance, and giving him a few more pointers. Jonah shot a few more, each one getting better.

Eliza had extended her hands above her head and formed the shield.

Henry smiled. “That’s great, Eliza! The shield of faith. Excellent. Now, here’s what you need to know. The stronger your faith is, the stronger the shield becomes.”

The light of her shield grew fainter. Her hands stayed raised, but she looked at him uncertainly. “To tell you the truth, faith is not something I’ve been very good at, Henry.”

“Don’t worry,” he said. “It’s obviously stronger than you think it is. It is called a shield of
faith
, you know. You have to have some to be able to form it.” She breathed a little easier as he said this, and the light of the shield grew stronger again.

“Good! Now, the key to a strong shield is this—close your eyes, and rid your mind of everything. Everything that bothers you, that you worry about, even that you feel. And let your mind focus on Elohim, and Him alone. Imagine what He looks like, what He sounds like. Picture Him right there beside you.”

Henry raised his hands above his head and immediately produced a shield of bright golden light that went all the way around him, so bright that Eliza had to cover her eyes. He quickly extinguished it.

“See?”

She nodded obediently and tried again, squinting her eyes shut. After a minute, she opened one eye. Her shield wasn’t any brighter. In fact, it may have grown slightly weaker again.

Eliza dropped her arms in frustration, and the shield disappeared.

“It will happen,” Henry said. “It just takes time. And practice.” He turned toward Jonah again, and Jonah couldn’t help but see the lack of confidence on Eliza’s face. Faith was hard. They’d never felt until today, though, like their lives depended on it.

Jonah’s aim was getting a little better each time. He shot two more arrows that narrowly missed their mark. The third one hit the fire hydrant squarely in the center. Jonah pumped his fist in the air and Henry cheered.

“Nice shot,” said Eliza.

As Jonah pulled another arrow and Henry and Eliza looked on, a man in a business suit carrying a briefcase came around the corner of a nearby building, walking along the street across the lawn. They saw a very dim glow in the center of his chest, no brighter than if he were holding a lit match in front of him. Over his shoulder sat a black, winged creature. It had its gnarled claws dug into the man’s back, and it was busily whispering in his ear. The creature was so focused, he didn’t notice the three pairs of eyes watching him.

The creature made Jonah’s heart pound. He brashly leveled the arrow at him and prepared to release.

Henry grabbed the shaft of the arrow before Jonah could let it go. The bow and arrow disintegrated in Jonah’s hands.

“Not now,” he said calmly. “You need to stay focused on getting your mom back. He didn’t see us, and I’d like to keep it that way. The less fallen angels know about you, the better your chances.”

Jonah didn’t like seeing the fallen one with his claws in that man’s back, but Henry was right. They needed to concentrate on the mission in front of them.

“I wonder how long that creature has been on that man’s back,” Eliza said, concern in her voice.

“It could be mere days,” said Henry. “Or years. Judging by how dim he was, I’d say a very long time.”

“But doesn’t he know?” Jonah asked. “How could you not be aware that a fallen angel is on your back?”

Henry smiled sadly. “They are crafty creatures, the Fallen. They start with a whisper, an encouragement. Pushing him toward self-absorption. Telling him he doesn’t need anyone. Soon he’s telling him he doesn’t even need Elohim. Before the man knows it, the creature has his claws in him and won’t let go.”

Jonah shivered as the man rounded the corner, the fallen angel digging in deeply, and walked back into the shadows.

“So what do we do now?” Eliza asked. To their backs was the Hudson River and to the right, a subway station. In front of them were three streets heading in different directions.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight,” Henry murmured.

Eliza looked up at him. “Isn’t that from the Bible?”

“Yes. Second Corinthians 5:7,” he said as he studied the roads in front of them. “It’s how we are going to find Eleanor. Trust that Elohim is going to show us the way.”

Jonah frowned. “Sounds kind of low-tech, don’t you think? Isn’t there something a little more advanced than just
faith
? Isn’t that what this watch is for?”

He held it up and pushed the button again. Nothing happened. The old watch hands read 5:58.

“The MissionFinder 3000 won’t work here in the hidden realm,” Henry answered. “Lean into your faith. It’s more powerful than you realize. Especially when it’s all you have.”

As they stood contemplating their choice of directions, trying to figure out how to “walk by faith,” something rustled behind a row of bushes.

“Did you hear that?” Eliza said.

Before anyone could answer, they heard the sound of something moving across the concrete. They followed the noise until it stopped behind the small building that held the entrance to the subway.

Henry stood very still, watching for even the tiniest movement. Finally, he began walking silently toward it.

Creeping around the other side of the building, he flapped his wings once, and suddenly disappeared behind it in a blur of energy.

“Aha!” Jonah and Eliza heard him say. Grunts and a few high-pitched growls were all they heard for a few seconds, but Henry finally emerged.

And he was not alone.

He was dragging a long, greenish creature with him.

“Look what I found!” he said, breathing heavily and holding the animal up in front of them.

Both Jonah and Eliza took a step back.

“It’s a snake!” Eliza said, crinkling up her nose.

Henry held it just below its head. It was at least six feet long, its body thrashing back and forth. But the angel held it tightly in his grip, far enough away that it couldn’t reach him. It was the greenish-brown color of a slimy pond.

Its mouth was open, showing two razor-sharp fangs, trying to get at Henry’s hand. Its tongue was slithering around frantically. At the same time that it was trying to bite the angel, it spat and made screeching noises, almost as if it were speaking another language.

It was the eyes, though, that Jonah was drawn to the most. Piercing yellow, like the other fallen ones he had seen. They strained and glared at him. And he was sure that if looks could kill, not one of them would be standing here right now.

FIFTEEN
T
HE
B
RIDGE TO
B
ROOKLYN

H
enry seemed slightly surprised that he’d actually caught this creature, but he held it up higher and said, “Silence!” This only made it scream louder, however.

“Fine, have it your way.” Henry drew his arm back and made a throwing motion toward its mouth. Glowing cords appeared in the air, wrapping around its snout. He held on to the creature with both hands so it wouldn’t slither away. Finally it stopped flailing around so much.

“There are snakes in the hidden realm?” Jonah said.

Henry nodded. “The hidden realm is full of mysterious creatures. I’ve never actually seen one of these guys this close. My guess is it was watching us and getting ready to report back to its superiors.”

Jonah didn’t want to think about what that would mean.

“You mean it can talk?” Eliza asked.

“Oh yes,” said Henry. “Those screeches you heard? That was its native tongue.”

“Well, it’s a good thing you caught it, then, Henry,” Jonah said, leaning over a little closer to study the creature. “Maybe it knows where they’re holding Mom and the others.”

The snake glared at him as he spoke, as if it knew exactly what he was saying. Its mouth remained closed but it growled, like it was daring them to try to get anything out of it.

“Do you think it can understand us?” Eliza asked, noticing how it had appeared to listen to Jonah’s words.

“Let’s find out,” Henry said, turning to face the creature again. “Do you know what I am saying? Can you understand me?”

The snake looked away from him and exhaled heavily out of its nose, wriggled again unsuccessfully, and finally nodded.

“Excellent,” said Henry. “If I take the chains off your mouth, will you be quiet?”

It gave an abrupt nod again, and Henry reached toward its mouth.

“Hold on a second!” Eliza said. “Do you really believe that it won’t just start screeching again? Or try to bite us?”

“Only one way to find out.” Henry gave the glowing chains a tug. They disappeared in a puff of white smoke.

“Can you speak to us? What is your name, snake?”

“I am a serpent,” a high-pitched voice hissed back at the angel. “There is a difference. My name is Salmir. I have lived on the Lower Island for many centuries. And you three, by your very presence here . . .
are in danger
.” He seemed to almost grin as he hissed again, if snakes could really do that.

Jonah smirked. “We’re the ones who have caught you. Looks like you’re the one in danger here.”

Salmir sneered at him, burying the gaze of his yellow eyes in Jonah. “Boy, what are you doing in a place like this? Shouldn’t you be at home in your crib, all safe and sound?”

Henry spoke firmly. “I will need to put your muzzle back on if you continue to be rude, snake.”

“Of course, my dear
guardian
angel. How thoughtless of me,” the snake hissed sarcastically. “How can I be of service to you and your
powerful army
today?” He grinned, showing his two sharp fangs.

“Do you know where the nephilim are?” demanded Jonah. He strung an arrow from his back and stepped forward. “Have you seen them? Tell us where they are, or I swear I’ll—”

“No need to get angry, sir,” Salmir said, a suddenly submissive tone in his voice as his eyes followed the tip of the arrow. “Salmir is at your service. You seek the nephilim? Yes, I may have heard of one or two nearby. Very rare creatures they are. Very powerful.”

“Keep it aimed at him, Jonah,” said Henry. “If he can lead us to the nephilim, we can have your mom back in no time at all.” Jonah kept the white-tipped arrow trained on the serpent.

Eliza still had her arms crossed, glaring at the creature. “He’ll just take us right into a trap. You guys don’t honestly think that this servant of Abaddon is going to help us, do you?”

“I am no servant of Abaddon,” Salmir hissed again. “Salmir is the servant of no one, neither man nor angel!”

“And we’re supposed to believe that?” Eliza muttered.

Henry raised his eyebrows at Jonah and Eliza.

“Right now,” Jonah said, his eyes not leaving the snake, “this . . . serpent . . . is our best bet. If he’s seen a nephilim and knows where they are, he can lead us there.”

“Or else run the risk of being turned into black dust,” Henry said sternly.

“Yes, yes,” Salmir said. “I will take you where you want to go. And then you will release me. If you don’t find what you are looking for, I am your servant forever.”

“Ewww,” Eliza said, disgusted. “Who would want a slimy snake for a servant?”

“But”—he glared at her—“I will need to be let go if I am to be of assistance.”

Jonah nodded at Henry. It was decided.

“Okay, we’ll take your deal,” Jonah said, as Henry dropped him to the ground, pulling an arrow off his own back and aiming it at Salmir too.

“But I am warning you,” said Jonah. “If you try anything, or lead us down the wrong path, you will have to answer to Elohim Himself.”