The Awakener (40 page)

Wanting to soak it all in before they left, Eden found her feet slipping away from the group. The grass was soft and cool between her toes, the sun was bathing her back with its warm rays, and the gentle breeze sent the ivy on the surrounding walls dancing. It felt magical. Stooping down, she let her hand glide through the blades of grass, when something caught her eye. There was something growing. Cocking her head to one side, she was overcome with a desire to touch what appeared to be a small sapling. Just as her fingers extended, her body hurdled back, flying through the air, and landing with a thud.

“Do not touch it, Eden!” Gabriel’s voice roared with such authority it scared her.
Gasping for air, she grappled with what just happened. She gaped at Gabriel standing over her, sword drawn, spitting flames.

Where’s the danger?
She searched Gabriel’s stone-hard face, trying to understand. He didn’t flinch, only held his sword like he was ready to strike.
Wait, he thinks I’m the threat!
She scrambled to her feet as someone pulled her up from behind.

“Are you ok?” Micah held onto her arm, looking her over.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She glanced back at Gabriel. “What did I do?”

Gabriel’s face softened
, but his stance remained rigid as he hovered over the small tree. “Eden, I can’t permit you to touch this tree. For this tree, no mortal’s permitted to touch until the great judgment, when He shall take vengeance on all and bring everything to its consummation forever. It shall then be given to the righteous and holy to eat.”

“Just like it says in the Book of Enoch
. How interesting,” Micah commented next to Eden.

How interesting?
Eden gaped at Micah.
Gabriel’s talking crazy and I’m shaking head to toe!

What frightened her even more was how powerful a being Gabriel truly was.
She had grown accustomed to their easy relationship; she sort of forgot who he really was.

With wobbly
legs, she shuffled away.

“Eden, wait
,” Gabriel called.

She hesitated and then peeked over her shoulder.
Gabriel lowered both of his arms and a line of Cherubim immediately surrounded him, their flaming swords drawn and ready. Without a word, the angels encircled the sapling. Gabriel examined them and then sheathed his sword. His eyes met Eden’s as he walked towards her.

“Eden, I’m sorry.
I know that seemed a bit rough, but I had to keep you from touching this tree,” he explained once he was close.

She
nodded, staring at her toes. Somewhere in her mind, she wondered where she’d tossed her shoes earlier.

Micah touched her arm. “You need to understand
… this is Gabriel’s first command from the Captain. He’s to protect the Tree of Life.”

“I
know. I read it in the Bible,” she whispered.

Micah’s eyes widened.
“That little tree’s the same tree that was in the Garden of Eden. It’ll grow and the Cherubim will stand guard, protecting it until the day the Captain returns.”

She supposed that should make it all fine, but for some
reason, she couldn’t tear her eyes from the ground. In her peripheral, she saw Gabriel shift his weight between his feet, his hands balled up at his sides.

Trent called out, “What happened?”

It didn’t take long for everyone to gather around. Micah told them. She was embarrassed more than anything else. With the Cherubim glaring them down, eventually they all backed away, leaving only Gabriel and her left. Perhaps Micah sensed she needed a minute alone with her guardian.

“You understand
, right?” Gabriel asked. His tone sounded worried.

“I wouldn’t have tried to touch it if I’d known.”

Gabriel exhaled. “It’s my fault. I should’ve been looking for it. I wasn’t expecting the tree to appear so quickly. You had no way of knowing what you were doing.” He paused and then his tone became lighter. “Just because I’m an angel doesn’t mean I’m perfect. We mess up too sometimes.”

She peeked over at him.
There was small smile on his lips.

“Sometimes?” she teased.

He grunted.

“I’m fine, really.
You just scared me a little.”

“You aren’t afraid of me now?” He cocked an eyebrow at her.

“Should I be?”

“Maybe, but I don’t want you to be.”

Why I ever deserved him as my guardian, I’ll never know
. She threw her arms around him before she could second-guess herself. He stiffened, and then slowly, she felt his warm arms wrap around her.

The drive back home was very different from the one out.
Eden glanced back to see almost everyone was asleep now as they drove. Trent had climbed into the back and passed out hours ago. If he wasn’t snoring, he was muttering under his breath.
Probably the first real sleep he’s had in weeks.

Andrew, next to him in the back, would periodically shove Trent over when he toppled in his direction.

Willow had insisted on Damon sitting next to her on the middle seat. Eden peeked over her shoulder. Damon stared at the window, with Willow curled up next to him.
Ironic that Damon’s unnerved by Willow, considering how powerful he is. But I doubt he’s ever had a girlfriend as gorgeous as she is.
Maybe if Willow were a tree, he’d be more comfortable.
Eden grinned and turned back around, happy to be riding alongside Micah in the front. She ached to hold his hand, but with bucket seats, it’d be too visible for Andrew.

She glanced at Micah.
Now I know why he seemed so old when he got back from Rome. After these past few days, I don’t feel sixteen anymore.

Micah peeked over at her.

“Just checking for gray hair,” she admitted.

“Huh?”

“Remember in that movie the Ten Commandments, when Moses comes down from the mountain and suddenly has gray hair?”

Micah slowly nodded, staring at her.

“I just had to make sure we’re still teenagers.”

Micah chuckled.

“It’s going to be weird being home and going our separate ways. I feel so connected to everyone now,” she said quietly.

He nodded.

“I overhead you telling Vern you’re coming back soon.”

“Yeah, I’m going to talk to my parents.
See if I can fly back Thursday.” Before leaving Vern’s home, Micah had encouraged everyone to go home and tell their parents everything. She was still mulling over how to begin
that
conversation.

“I’m hoping my parents will come too. We’ll stay the weekend so Trent can have some time translating and Damon can start clearing the land.
He’s better than any backhoe, that’s for sure,” Micah added, with a glance into the rearview mirror. Damon was asleep.

“Yeah
, he is,” she agreed. “So, you get a break for the next few days then?”

Micah snorted
. “Sort of, I’ve been told by Trent I’m not to bother him until we leave. I think he needs a little down time.”

“I’ve been hearing his plans from the back.
Sounds like they all involve Jessie. Hope she’s ready for him.” She grinned at Micah. “How about you? Do you get a little
down time
too?”

“I sure hope so.
I think I need it as bad as Trent right now.”

The visions were coming rapidly now
. After a long night of dreams, Micah was anxious to talk to Trent, but he’d gone out shortly after they’d arrived home. And if Micah knew Trent, he’d been out late. He decided it was best to let his cousin sleep. Eden came over around ten o’clock and he was glad for the distraction. When Trent did emerge around noon, he was already dressed to go out.

He saw Eden sitting on the couch next to Micah
. Giving them both a salute, he said, “Off to fill my canteen a little more. It’s going to be another long weekend, you know.”

Micah laughed at him, completely understanding his need.
He felt desperate to enjoy every minute with Eden. They started in the pool, but after seeing Eden in her swimming suit, he decided she needed to have more clothing on. Even on the couch, they couldn’t stop kissing each other once Micah’s parents went out shopping for a few hours. Eventually, they ended up on the porch swing, Eden leaning her head against his shoulder as they gently swayed back and forth.

It was almost dusk, and the sun was finally leaving, giving them some relief from the humid heat.
Micah was glad for the mosquito-repelling candles his mom had placed all over the porch, knowing they’d be eaten alive without them.

As the fuzzy light faded
, and the crickets began to chirp, Eden asked, “So, did you mean it?”

“Mm…?”

“Those three words you said—did you mean them?”

Micah knew exactly what she was referring to, but teased, “Now that’s not fair, because as I recall, you didn’t say them back.”

Her head popped up. “Well, as I recall, I’m the one who said them first. And you didn’t say it back then either.”

“That’s because you were too busy running away then.”
Seeing her anxious eyes peering back at him, he said, “Yes, Eden. I meant it. I love you.”

He pressed his lips on hers, each kiss feeling
like the first kiss all over again. Each time left him wanting more. When he stopped, she leaned her head against his chest.

“I’ll miss you while you’re gone. Promise you’ll be safe.
No more fighting demons, right?”

Micah kissed the top of her head, mumbling into her hair, “I’ll be fine.
We just have to get things going and I’ll be back. We’ll be going to Vern’s a lot, but you don’t have to worry about those trips.”

As soon as he said
it, he wished he hadn’t. Her head came up. “What trips do I need to be worried about then?”

“None, sorry, that came out wrong.”

“Micah, you’re a terrible liar.”

He sighed
. “I’m seeing things and I’m not sure what it all means yet. I promise I’ll tell you once I know. Ok?”

“That answer again?”

He smiled at her. “Guess I sound like a broken record. Sorry your boyfriend’s half crazy.”

She grinned back at him.
“I like the sound of that.” When he laughed, she added, “Boyfriend… not you being crazy.”

“Sure.” He chuckled.

She swatted his shoulder and he pinned her arms.
Her smell’s driving me crazy.
He kissed her again, loving how soft and warm her lips felt.

She pulled back, her eyes troubled.
“Have you seen more about that angel, Semjaza?”

He grunted.
Guess she catches on fast.
“A little.”

She stiffened.

“Don’t worry about it. Gabriel will pull down half of heaven to protect you. You know that right? And I’m not done with what I need to do.” He paused, kissed her again, and said, “Let’s not let fallen angels, or demons, ruin this moment.”

She sighed
. “Ok.”

Pushing his feet against the ground, Micah kept the swing rocking gently.
He was running his hand through her hair, when he began to see the dry, brown landscape again. It was somewhere he had never been before. There were no trees, just brown land as far as the eye could see. The desert plants were sparse as he walked amongst the sagebrush and tumbleweeds. Just ahead, he could see a large rock formation. There were other lone rocks dispersed around, but this one called to him; he found his feet plodding closer.

He was nearly to the rock, feeling a surge of adrenaline, when Eden’s voice cut through the scenery, causing it to disappear.

“Micah?”

He pulled himself back to be present.
It was a strange sensation, almost like waking from a too-vivid dream. “Yeah?” he replied, blinking, trying to regain full consciousness.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his lips to hers.
All lingering thoughts of the desert were gone now. He kissed her back, enjoying how silky her skin felt, when she stopped and whispered, “I love you too.”

He loved the way those words made him feel.
They spent another hour talking and kissing and, though he didn’t want the moment to end, he knew he needed to get Eden home soon. He needed uninterrupted time; the visions were begging for his undivided attention. Reluctantly, he drove her home, walked her in, chatted a few minutes with her family, and then hugged her good-bye one last time.

Driving home, his mind continued its journey towards the lone rock formation.
His need to get close to it was overwhelming. In his mind, Damon was next to him now. He felt the strength Damon brought to him and he knew what needed to be done. Suddenly, Gabriel was marching alongside them. Panicked, Micah searched for Eden. Gabriel never left her, but he didn’t see her anywhere. Good. She didn’t need to be here for this, but Gabriel did.

In his vision, Micah turned toward Damon
, asking, “Ready for this?”

Damon smiled.
“Looking forward to it.”

Sitting up in bed, Eden tried to get lost in a book, but it was useless.
She tossed it aside. “Gabriel, are you still here? I guess I know you are. Why am I so nervous?”

She waited but it remained silent.

“Can you help me sleep?” she asked. This time she felt something. The sweet, peaceful, calm she’d come to recognize as Gabriel’s touch.

Sighing, she laid down.
“Thank you.” Then, to her surprise, Gabriel was sitting next to her on the bed.

She glanced over. “There you are.”

Startled, he jumped back.
Eyes wide, he gasped, “You can see me?”

“Yeah,” she replied, baffled.

Gabriel ran his hands through his hair, leaving the curls standing on end. She wanted to laugh at seeing him so disheveled, but then noticed his troubled expression.

“You didn’t mean to appear to me?” she asked, sitting up.

“No. I didn’t cross over.” He stared back at Eden.

“But I can see you,” she said, stating the obvious.

“I suppose the barrier’s getting thin for you. You’ve always believed I’m there. Perhaps, your faith’s allowing you to see more.”

When he remained thoughtful, she asked, “Isn’t that a good thing?
Why do you look upset?”

Gabriel folded his arms, his feet planted
shoulder-width apart. “Yeah, it’s fine. Don’t worry.”

“Your body language isn’t backing up your words, Gabriel.
You look like a drill sergeant right now,” she said, tugging her blanket around her.

He gazed at her and then peered down at his stance.
Unraveling his arms, he sat at the foot of her bed, giving her a quick smile, “Sorry, I’m not use to you seeing me. This will change things slightly.” His smile faltered, leaving his expression hard to read.