THE FALL (Rapha Chronicles #1) (The Rapha Chronicles) (10 page)

A hush fell among the animals as the large, bright hands cradled the baby and the Maker snuggled it closer to deliver a kiss to its forehead. Adonai whispered in its ear, gave one more hug, then His eyes fell on the mother who looked on with brimming eyes. The smile He gave her was blinding; each one present was rendered speechless by the intensity of love that flowed between them.

“This shall not be forgotten,”
His words radiated throughout the clearing. He reached an arm toward the mother who chattered and leapt to His side. Absolute silence prevailed except in the circle of His arms where the breathtaking drama was taking place. He held them close for a moment as tears ran down His cheeks. The mother whimpered and nestled closer while the baby appeared stupefied, one tiny hand grasping a fold of His robe.

“The gift is received, a living sacrifice, holy and eternal.”
With another kiss, He knelt to place the mother on the ground and then handed the baby back into her arms. As Adonai turned to attend to others, both chimps continued to glow, encased in His light.

Adam had yet to present his gift, the large diamond he and Rapha had used for their game, polished to a brilliant sheen. Now he hesitated. But Adonai beckoned to him and the boy stepped forward to bow and offer his sacrifice. Rapha sensed that Adam had hoped to increase his gift’s importance with a pompous presentation, but all it accomplished was to accentuate the contrast between his offering of a gem when the simpler creature had handed over her heart.

However, Adonai embraced the boy, and then held the precious stone aloft. Stars of light danced, transforming the clearing into a magical, glittering prism. A lion cub pounced and chased the points of light and the girl laughed at its play and even joined the pursuit. While the other creatures were distracted by the game, Adam knelt, a grateful smile lighting up his face. “Thank you, Adonai, for transforming my gift into something that brings joy to all.”

The Maker’s reply was inaudible but crystal clear to Rapha as it was written onto the boy’s heart.
“I am not greedy. I only desire that My good gifts never separate us.”

Adam’s eyes were drawn to the laughing girl, desire and love etched on his features. When he looked back into Adonai’s eyes, he could not hold the penetrating gaze for long.

Rapha shuddered. Lucifer would be seeking just such a weakness, just such a chink in Adam’s armor. He met the Maker’s eye. Yes, they would address this at the earliest opportunity.

The next day, Rapha tried to prepare them for the inevitable—an encounter with Lucifer.

The two young people were climbing a huge tree, grappling for handholds in their ongoing efforts to outdo each other. The girl was able to climb higher, her lesser weight making it possible to navigate the topmost branches. To deepen the drama of the moment she let go and inched along the thin branch, hands held out for balance.

“Okay, I’m very impressed. Now stop,” Adam’s voice had a commanding edge.

Rapha sensed the girl was pleased with Adam’s concern. In fact, her present mood bordered on giddiness as she wavered and her foot slipped. In truth, the little faker was in no danger and had the balance of a cat, but she loved to tease and could not help bursting into giggles when Adam gasped and crouched on his branch as if prepared to dive to her rescue.

Rapha climbed to join them, not shaking a single branch or leaf with his passage.

“What a showoff!” the girl pronounced. “But it is nice to know with Rapha around someone would catch me if I actually
did
fall.”

“Still, perhaps it’s wise to not push the limits.” Adam’s voice sounded a bit pompous even to Rapha.

The girl snorted, “This from the one who slipped this morning attempting three back flips from the highest ledge! You seemed awfully grateful to have an angel on hand.”

“It was worth it to hear you scream my name,” he took on a feminine tone, “Oh!
Adam
!”

The girl blushed. “Well, now you know how it feels.” She stole a glance at him through lowered lashes.

Adam’s heart pounded so hard Rapha could feel it throb through the branch where he perched. Heaven help them if the girl ever realized the true extent of the power she possessed.

Eager to change the subject, she looked out to the lands that stretched beyond their domain on the other side of the garden’s wall. “Just how far does the land go? Does it end where the sky begins?”

“No. If you were to stand at that place, you would see yet more land stretching to another point that seems to reach the sky, then another, then another, following a gentle curve until finally, after many, many times, you would end up right back here.”

The girl’s brow puckered a moment, then she laughed, “You’re teasing, right? Can you imagine animals on the other side standing upside down?”

“Just because you cannot imagine something does not make it false,” Rapha said.

“Alright,” her eyes took on a calculating gleam. “Take me flying. Show me the other side.”

“Hey! She’s not going anywhere without me!” Adam protested.

“We are not allowed to take you outside these walls.”

“So,” she said with a pout, “we’ll never get to explore what’s out there?”

“I do not perceive everything Adonai has in store.”

She pondered a loophole. “We can just dig down until we reach it! We need never go outside the wall!”

Rapha smiled. If only things were so simple. “Do you see how far it is until the earth and sky meet?” He gestured toward the horizon, “Could you dig that far?”

“Well….” she hated to admit defeat. “If we worked long and hard enough….”

“Through solid rock?”

“Oh.” Even her irrepressible will could see his logic.

Adam said, “I don’t see why we should be so desperate to explore the outside. Look around. We could explore for years and never see everything within these walls. Besides, is there another place in all the earth as beautiful as this?”

“No. Adonai has seen to your every need and desire. He has even provided those who can answer your questions about the outside.”

“So what
is
out there?” she asked as her hungry eyes scanned the horizon.

“The rest of creation; the other men, animals, birds of the air, inhabitants of the water, and things that grow from the ground. These, as you can see, are not the only trees; and every animal has those of its kind outside the garden.”

“Then why were we separated from them, these other men and animals? Do these walls hold us
in
or keep something bad out?”

Rapha regarded her a moment as he sent a silent plea to Adonai for wisdom. “Actually, the greatest threat is also within these walls.”

That got their attention. Both young people stared at him until a light dawned in her head. “Oh. I remember. You said we are our own worst enemy when we, uh,” she scrunched her forehead, “‘want what Adonai has not put in our reach’ or something like that.”

“No, it was,
‘led astray by their evil desires,’
and you were talking about what caused the wars between God and His creation.” Adam shot a satisfied smile her way.

“Good. You listened. But that is not the enemy to which I refer.”

“The creature in the lake?” The boy wondered, unable to conceive anything more dangerous than that.

“This evil one desires to discover your greatest weakness and lure you to destroy yourself,” Rapha said. “He will manipulate your highest aspiration and make it your master.” As Rapha’s description continued, the sun dimmed and the joyful chirp and chatter around them grew silent. “Then he will devour you as slowly and excruciatingly as possible, feeding on your tortured mind and soul until life becomes a constant torment.”

Rapha hated the effect of his words on the young faces before him. Revulsion shadowed their brows but there was also, playing across their faces, something which concerned him much more—a gleam of fascination. Words like “torment” and “devour” had no context for them. Even the larger animals in the garden feasted on plants, nutmeats, and fruit. None were prey. How could they comprehend Lucifer when they could not even grasp the words to describe him?

“Do you speak of Lucifer?” Adam’s voice was low, almost reverent. When Rapha nodded they both leaned closer.

“Is it true he can bend others to his will just by the sound of his voice?” her eyes blazed with curiosity.

“He makes what serves
him
best sound best for all,” Rapha answered. “He is very… seductive.”

“But you used that word when describing mating,” Adam blurted. Immediately a deeper red lit his cheeks, and his eyes, when he turned to her, were warm with anticipation.

“Alright you two. Pay attention,” Rapha said with mock severity. “The word ‘seduce’ can also imply ‘tempting to do wrong.’”

Their brows furrowed in tandem. The young people had no experience with falsehood or trickery beyond a friendly jest. How could he make them understand?

“Outside these walls,” Rapha began, “animals and humans devour each other, the strong prey on the weak and… horrible things happen.”

“No. Adonai would never allow it,” the girl stated.

“Understand. This is not what Adonai created. Long ago, Lucifer
seduced
mankind. He tricked them. They
chose
his corruption in return for power.”

“But why didn’t Adonai stop him?” Adam asked.

“What?
Force
Lucifer to obedience? Is that Adonai’s way?”

“Well, no, but Adonai knows everything, right? Why would He create Lucifer when he knew he would cause so much trouble?”

“What Adonai created was good. Lucifer was His beloved child, like you.”

Adam’s mouth gaped. “No. I would
never
be Adonai’s enemy.”

“There was a time I would not have believed it of Lucifer,” Rapha said, his face twisting with grief at the memory of that glorious head resting against Adonai’s breast.

“How did it happen?” The girl’s voice was no more than a whisper.

How did one answer a question like that? How could young, simple minds understand emotions that took eons to evolve? Rapha took a deep breath and plunged ahead. “Lucifer could not conceive of a love that is truly endless. He resented anyone and anything that gained Adonai’s favor—as if that regard stole from
him
.”

“But how could he dwell with Adonai and yet not understand Him?”

“It is never that simple,” Rapha answered, surprised by a rush of defensiveness on Lucifer’s behalf. “Undisciplined passion turns to contempt. Lucifer demanded what Adonai could not give. He demanded what he was not ready to handle. It began as an offense that Lucifer regarded as betrayal. Over time he became a slave to his lust, rage, and revenge.”

“That’s horrible,” the girl’s eyes were moist with tears.

“Do not pity him,” Rapha said. “Lucifer is powerful. His hatred for Adonai overshadows all. He would feel no pity for you. He would fill you with poison and revel in your pain. He would rejoice in the agony this would bring to Adonai.”

“But
why
is he allowed here?” Adam asked.

The angel swept a hand toward the view of their home as he tried to make them understand what still baffled him. “Adonai keeps no prisoner. He holds all He loves with an open hand—even those who hate Him.”

Anger flooded Adam’s face. Even without his gift of reading thoughts, Rapha could have read the boy’s emotions loud and clear as Adam digested those words, his eyes gazing ‘round at the beauty of the garden until they came to rest on the young woman beside him. The thought of Lucifer dwelling so close did not concern the boy… until he considered
her
.

“What good are walls if evil is shut in with us?” Adam asked.

Rapha gazed across the outlands, mulling distant memories. “Even in paradise, evil can thrive.” He sighed and faced them, “I, too, struggle with these questions. Adonai’s ways are mysterious but what seems foolish to me has always proved to be His deepest wisdom. Nevertheless, you are free to ask Him. He has often told me,
‘Deep faith is evidenced more in honest questions than in blind acceptance.’
Even if you are not ready for the answer, He will not forget. He always honors a request for wisdom.”

Adam grabbed a piece of golden fruit but rather than eat it, he gave vent to his frustration and flung it far and high, over the garden wall. They did not see where it landed but its passing roused a vibrant flock of birds that squawked their protest and flapped away over the wall only to wheel about in the sky and return to the garden’s peaceful shade. Rapha watched his young charges, hoping the birds’ wisdom was not lost on them.

But the girl had had enough seriousness for one day. Suddenly she clambered down, goading Adam, “You’re so good at diving. If I get too far ahead you can just
fall
to beat me!”

“Perhaps I should name you ‘Vexing’ since you’re so good at it,” Adam retorted as he dodged the branch she released with precision toward his head.

As their laughing voices retreated Rapha shut his eyes and shuddered at the icy wind that pierced his soul. “Yes, Adonai,” Rapha whispered, “he comes.”

But late that night as the girl slumbered, Adam stared at the stars, pondering their patterns. Rapha sensed an unfamiliar emotion in the boy: fear. He was moved by pity to go to Adam but Adonai’s silent direction forbade it,
“Let it drive him to Me.”

So in the deepest watch of the night, Adam leapt from his bed and made his way to the river. With the swift-moving water bubbling over stones that echoed back the sparkle of myriad points of starlight, Adam paced on the bank muttering, grabbing stones, and flinging them into the dark waters.

“Show yourself!” the boy finally shouted to the night. “I know you’re here, watching and waiting. I can feel your hatred. I know you want to hurt us, to hurt her. I am not afraid of you!” Adam spun as if expecting an attack but no one was there.

As Adam continued his rant, calling to Lucifer, even taunting him, a shadowy figure appeared in the half-light.

After a few moments, a quiet voice came from the cloaked form.
“What do you seek?”