The Awakener (39 page)

Trent harrumphed
. “Next time, a little warning would be nice! Don’t let me be reading things guaranteed to shorten my life span!”

“You’ll be
fine, Trent.”

“I’ll have you know
, I have plans for my future, Micah, and they involve Eden’s redheaded friend back home.”

Oh good, Trent does like Jessie after all.

“Ok, I’ll warn you next time, happy?” Micah asked.

Trent shrugged
. “It’s all good.”

I think mentioning Jessie just lifted his mood, or at least distracted him
, Eden mused.

“So to answer your earlier
question, Willow,” Micah replied, “after Enoch saw God, he was told to tell the Watchers their petition wouldn’t be granted at that time. They have to remain buried until judgment day.”

“Wait a minute.
Are you saying they’re actually in the earth still?” Andrew blurted.

“Yeah,” Micah hesitated, “although somehow their influence is still felt.
Semjaza, the leader, is the one sending the demons after Eden and me. We can probably assume he’ll want all of you too.”

There were several gasps.

“Your guardians don’t rest; they watch over you night and day. You don’t need to worry,” Micah added. His eyes met Eden’s.

“The demon in my bedroom,” she mumbled
. “All those demons at prom.” Andrew stiffened. “Semjaza sent those after
me
?”

Micah hesitated and then said, “Yes.”

Gabriel moved closer to Eden.
“Semjaza is still bound; he’s not free.”

Eden nodded but it still terrified her to know an ancient fallen angel had a personal vendetta to kill her.

Micah placed a hand on the top of the stack of stones. “This is what we came to get today. The angel Uriel gave these tablets to Enoch.”

Trent hefted the first stone off the stack, holding it up for everyone to see.
It was the first thing allowed to be touched, let alone picked up. Eden immediately recognized the oval symbol on it, with writing underneath.

“It says City of Enoch,” Trent announced. “These stones are the blueprints for Enoch’s city.”

“Andrew, you asked about the fire earlier. Well, I kept having visions of a fire.” Micah explained to them all about the fire and the city he saw, finishing with, “We have to build these cities, and these plans will help us do it.”

“Us?
Last I checked none of us are architects or builders,” Andrew cut in.

“We don’t need to be,” Micah answered.

“What does the oval mean?” Eden blurted. “I keep seeing it everywhere. On the well, the stone wall, the chambers of the temple, and now on these tablets.”

“It was Enoch’s favorite symbol
—it means Eternal. Everything has a way of coming back around again. Take for example what we’re about to do now. Enoch lived over five thousand years ago, and he used these plans to build a city, saving people from the flood. And now we’ll use these same plans to save people from the fire.” Micah stared at Damon and Gabriel. “There are other ways things are coming full circle.”

Willow glanced at Damon and nodded.

“Ok, we got what we came for. It’s time to leave the temple,” Micah said. The room brightened as all the guardians became present again.

Trent handed out stacks of stone tablets to everyone one by one. As Eden stepped up for her share, Micah smiled, saying, “I can get the last part, don’t worry about it.”

“But what about those?” she asked, pointing at the remaining stack.

“The ones with the gold wrapper stay,” Micah explained.
“They’re the sealed portion, not for us, yet.”

“Oh,” she replied, not sure what sealed portion meant, and painfully aware she was the only one not carrying anything.
Does he think I’m that big of a klutz?

She wondered how they’d ever scale the well wall back up
while carrying heavy stones, when she saw Damon walk to the wall with a gigantic sun motif on it. He carefully set his tablets down on a nearby shelf, running his hands along the wall.

He
spoke, and the rays surrounding the perfect circle cracked like the stone was being pushed through a cookie cutter. The entire sun sank back behind the wall, revealing a five-foot opening.

“Nice,” Trent said as he
followed Damon.

Micah explained, “Enoch built another way out.”

As each of them passed through, their guardians walked directly behind them. Before Eden exited, she glanced back to make sure Gabriel was with her. She was surprised to see him lagging, staring at the room.

“Gabriel?”

He faced her.

“What’s wrong?” There was definite pain in his eyes.

He glanced around again. “This used to be a familiar place to me many years ago. Now, it is just memories from another time.”

She was touched by his openness but
, as quickly as it came, it was gone. He turned her around and pushed her forward. “Got to keep up, Eden. Don’t want to miss anything, do you?”

She sighed and scurried through, stepping into a tunnel made of clay and brick. She knew they’d descended a long ways going into the temple, but after ten minutes of uphill
hiking, she was felt there was no end in sight. Being the only one not bearing a heavy load, she caught up to Willow and Caitlyn quickly. Sweat was beading on their foreheads. After insisting, they lightened some of their loads into her arms. A few minutes later, Eden regretted it. Her arms burned.

She was ready to complain to Gabriel, holy or not, when she realized the tunnel was leveling off a little.
A few feet more and she saw a bright opening at the end.

“Finally,” she grunted.
Gabriel chuckled behind her. “By the way, why couldn’t the angels carry these things out?”

She felt a gentle push from behind, and was surprised by the sudden weightlessness she felt.

“We’re not allowed to remove anything from the temple. Micah was instructed to remove the tablets.”

“Oh,” she replied, enjoying how light her body felt, with her feet still on the ground.

“I may not be able to carry the tablets, but I can help carry you out,” Gabriel said, close to her ear. “Besides, you’re taking forever.”

“I’d think you’d be much more patient, considering how long you’ve been around.”

He snorted and then his hands were no longer pushing her, her body growing heavy again.
Thankfully, they’d reached the end. She squinted, trying to see anything, but it was too bright.

Gabriel steered her by the elbow. “Careful Eden, you’re going to drop them!”

Her eyes rebelled against the brightness. Through tears, she made out her surroundings. They had emerged out on a small, grassy knoll. Seeing the stone hefted to the side, she assumed Damon had cleared the way for them.

Everyone was together, holding their stones, blinking in the sunlit cornfields.
Then, without a word, Willow turned on her heel and disappeared into the cornhusks.

“Where’s she going?” Damon asked.

“Why don’t we follow and see?” Micah suggested.

Can’t we set these down first?
Eden scampered behind Caitlyn’s guardian, Alaina, her arms throbbing.
So unnerving how much she looks like a regular teenager.
Again, they were scaling a hill and sweat began rolling down Eden’s back. Breathing hard, Eden watched the corn give way to the stone wall again. She glanced around.
Where did all the dead corn go?

The archway loomed just ahead of them.
Where shriveled vines had been, green ivy draped the opening. Leaves tickled Eden’s face as she passed under.

She gasped.
The once-desert ground was covered in a soft, rolling grass. The stone wall was now draped with bright green vines and leaves. Kneeling next to the well was Vern, his face buried in his hands.

Spying the two neat stacks of tablets to the left, Eden was anxious to relieve her arms.

“Careful, not too fast,” Gabriel warned, as she lay the tablets down.

After making sure they were secure, she sprinted over, catching
Grandpa Vern saying, “I don’t understand. How did you do it? This well’s been dry for over seventy years.”

Eden peered over the side of the well and was astonished to see there was indeed water in it.
No wonder we couldn’t come back the way we’d gone.

“It’s all done. The land will be fertile again,” Micah answered.

Willow knelt beside Vern.

“I’ve always blamed myself,” Vern said quietly
. “I thought, because I broke the rules, the well dried up, and the land was cursed. I’ve spent my life hoping I could mend my wrong.”

“This was never your fault.
When you showed my grandfather it, you were just kids. That’s not what caused the curse. The Captain would never hold a child accountable for something like that.”

Vern peered up at Micah.
“Then what happened?”

“Your father was greedy.
He told other farmers about the water from the well, how it guaranteed a huge harvest every year. He hated being a farmer and kept trying to sell the land, but when others believed his wild tales of magical water, he decided to sell the water itself. He came out to pump the well one morning and found it dry. This water is not for sale.”

Vern’s eyes widened. “That explains his unhappiness for all those years.
As a child, I’d always believed he’d blamed me, that maybe he’d figured out what I’d done.”

Eden’s heart ached for the old man.
What kind of burden would that have been like?
That’s why he never married or had his own family. He blamed himself.

Eden felt something stir within her. She knew what she was feeling now
. Glancing at Gabriel, who stared back at her expectantly, she held out a hand and said, “I got this one.”

Gabriel smiled and then nodded.

Eden dropped down next to Vern. Putting her arm around his bony shoulders, she squeezed gently. Vern glanced up at her and gave her a small smile.

“Grandpa Vern, the Captain wants you to know you’re special to Him.
He wants you to let go of your guilt and shame; they were never yours to carry. And he wants to call you to His work.” Micah said the words and Eden felt a warm rush flow from her arms.
Funny, I never noticed it before. Guess I was too busy being embarrassed.

Vern attempted to stand.
Willow and Eden helped him up easily.

“
Now, what’s this about work? I’m an old man. I don’t know how much I have left in me.” Vern stopped, peering around, “Wait, there’s a lot more of you now.”

“Yeah, there is.
I’ll introduce you to everyone, but I think there’s someone wanting to speak with you first.” Micah gestured behind them.

Eden turned with Vern to discover a man looking to be in his mid-thirties
, with wavy, dark brown, shoulder-length hair, and a neatly trimmed beard. Bright hazel eyes peered out from under bushy eyebrows. He wore a white, tailored dress shirt and light brown pants ending at his knees, with tan stockings and black loafers. His dress reminded Eden of Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Jefferson. He was definitely not from this time period.

“Vern,” the man said in a
rich, English accent.

“Yes?
Do I know you?” Vern replied.

“I suppose we have not been properly introduced in this life.
My name’s Charles Brown. I’m your eighth great grandfather. And I am your guardian. You are fulfilling my vision. This is what I saw so long ago.”

Vern’s mouth gaped open.

“This young man, Micah, is the Seer for your time. He has come to do much more than just reclaim the well. Listen to him, for he is the Captain’s mouthpiece. I will be here for you, to assist in your new calling.”

Vern stared at Charles and then Micah.

Micah introduced the rest of the guardians and told Vern about their spiritual gifts. He told Vern about the temple, and what the tablets contained. Eden didn’t mind rehearing it all; it was so strange and new. Although, she noticed Micah didn’t go into the story of the Watchers.

Vern listened until Micah stopped, and then asked, “I think I understand, but I’m not sure what work I’m supposed to do.
As I said before, I’m too old to be building a city.”

Micah smiled brightly.
“You’ve got more in you than you think. The well isn’t to be hidden anymore. It’s to be seen by all. With your permission, on your land, we’ll build the first city. For a city on a hill cannot be hid.”

“From the Sermon on the Mount
,” Vern replied, his face thoughtful. “Yes, of course you can build here. This land was entrusted to my family and my ancestors,” Vern added, glancing at Charles, who nodded in agreement.

“It will be the Captain’s city, built around the well Enoch built for Him.
The well’s special because it contains the waters of everlasting life,” Micah explained.

“Everlasting life?
Like the fountain of youth kind of stuff?” Andrew stepped closer and peered over the side at the water.

“Slow down
there, tiger,” Trent cut in. “Not just anyone can run up and drink it.”

“Trent’s right, the Captain says who does and doesn’t drink this, or even touches it,” Micah
added, at which Andrew jumped back a step.

“Everlasting life, incredible,” Vern whispered, scratching his thumbnail across his chin.
“I’m happy to give my land to you. Is that the work you spoke of, Micah?”

“It’s part of it.
The Captain needs an architect to oversee the city’s construction. You’re His Architect.”

“Architect?
But I’m just a farmer.”

“And I’m just teenager.
The Captain calls who He wants and needs. Besides, you’re more than just a farmer to Him.”

“Micah’s right, you know.
I see greatness in you. You’re humble and willing. The Captain couldn’t ask for a better person to do this,” Willow confirmed.

Caitlyn nodded her head.
“Sometimes we’re asked to do things that seem beyond our own abilities. And they are. We have to rely on the Captain, and then anything is possible.”

Couldn’t have said it better.

Vern threw his hands up and smiled. “Ok, I’ll do what I can. But I really don’t know the first thing about building.”

“We have the blueprints.
Trent will translate them for us,” Micah said.

“But having the plans and knowing what to do with
them are two different things,” Vern clarified.

“Don’t worry.
Eden took care of that,” Micah answered. “She gave you a gift when she hugged you.”

“Really?
What is it?” Vern asked.

Wish I knew.
I just do the hugging.

Micah grinned at Eden and then said to Vern, “The gift of knowledge.”

Comprehension dawned on Vern’s
face, and his lips split into a wide grin. “That will do it, yes, that will,” he said happily, clasping his hands together.

“Andrew’s going to give you something else to help too,” Micah added.

Andrew jumped and then strode over Vern, laying his hand on the old man’s arm. Vern’s smile faded while he concentrated on what Andrew was doing, but when he removed his hand, the smile rapidly returned.

“Better?” Micah asked, gripping Vern’s shoulder.

“Oh, hold on.” There was a piercing, high-pitch sound, as Vern fished his hearing aid out of his ear and tucked it into his pocket. “Much better. Andrew, that’s amazing. I can hear everything again. I can even hear the corn growing. Oh, how I’ve missed that sound.”

Micah squeezed Vern’s shoulders.

“I just have one question. Where in the world did this hill come from? All of sudden, I’ve got a mountain in my cornfields.”

Trent slapped Damon on the back. “You’ve got him to thank for that.”

Vern stared at Damon, who shifted under his gaze. “Now people can see the city better. Sorry if I ruined your crops.”

“Incredible,” Vern whispered.
“The well’s always been in a bowl. From the road, you couldn’t tell what’s hidden out here. But I guess it’s time for the world to see it now.”