THE FALL (Rapha Chronicles #1) (The Rapha Chronicles) (12 page)

He tried to convince himself that the pounding and purifying process was far off in the future, perhaps a trial that distant generations would have to endure in order to help renew their commitment to Adonai. But the unwelcome answer inserted into his soul was no comfort.

Sheep, water fowl, and a myriad supply of four and two-legged creatures gathered at the water’s edge, tokens of a waking garden, as the girl poured water into a depression on the rock’s surface and studied her reflection. She smoothed a stubborn curl behind one ear but, as if possessing a will of its own, it soon reasserted itself, poking out at an awkward angle. Finally, she repositioned the flower directly on that troublesome area and gave a satisfied nod. A brilliant blue and green bird she and Adam had dubbed “Strut” hopped up beside her, a bright yellow tuft waving above his inquisitive black eyes. She reached for its head, gently stroking the golden protrusion to make it lie flat. “I can fix that.”

Glory giggled as he shook his head free and then… strutted… as if to say, “But the chicks love it!”

A snowy white lamb trotted forward, requesting its customary morning audience. She scooped it into her lap, nuzzling her face into its silky wool as it bleated with contentment. Of all the animals in the garden this one held a special place in her heart. It could not climb like the monkeys, or roar to shake the ground, or fly, or dazzle with any exceptional talent, but it would relax in her arms, not demanding food or belly rubs or even a romp, and gaze at her with trusting eyes, content simply to breathe in her presence.

Glory loved all the animals and enjoyed their chatter, rambunctious play, and antics, but this one was her special pet—so much so that Adam had decided she alone should determine its name.
Grace
. That was what she called the sweet friend who had no special talents to speak of but could soothe her mind with its quiet snuggles.

Bathed in sunshine with the lamb’s squeezable warmth nestled in her arms, she thought again of the precious hours with her Maker when questions ceased, preparations for their destiny halted, and only that moment mattered. It was better than the joy of laughing, playing, eating, or learning all rolled into one. And last night, getting to share such closeness with Adonai
and
Adam had been the most beautiful experience of all. In fact, she would not have been surprised if she had been able to fly like the angels, since she could not imagine feeling any more “malleable” than the way her heart had melted.

What an amazing unity the three of them shared! Together with Adonai, they were to rule creation, bringing a new start and fresh hope to the whole world. But there was still so much to learn. They had only scratched the surface of the angels’ knowledge and, although she and Adam were eager enough, Glory could not imagine how long it would take them to prepare for the task.

The lamb, Grace, broke her reverie with a calm bleat.

She looked down at the lamb and laughed, “It’s easy enough for you. All you’re concerned about is which patch of grass to chew next!”

As Grace held her gaze she saw something flicker in the innocent depths of its eyes, some knowledge or instinct that surpassed her own wisdom as if to say,
“We are together. What else matters?”

A mournful whimper sounded from behind her and she turned to see a tiny monkey holding up a crushed front paw. Bright crimson drops fell to the grass at his feet. The girl stared in horror. She had seen blood, she had even experienced pain but she had never beheld terror.

“Come here, baby.” She held out a hand but it backed away, eyes wide and wary. That was another first. She set aside the lamb, “What happened?” As she took a step closer the creature hissed at her, baring sharp teeth. The next moment it appeared penitent as it licked its abused limb. That did it. She
had
to try to help. When the monkey took off through the trees, she was hard pressed to keep it in sight.

Rapha had been so distracted by the alarming turn of his thoughts; he had relaxed his focus on Glory. He probed carefully, expecting to discover tranquility but was dismayed to encounter confusion. He wanted to assure himself her emotion was fleeting and harmless, but something about the subtlety and timing felt all too familiar. The sky was just as blue, the trees still waved in the breeze, but something. Was. Wrong. He bolted from his work, taking no notice of the clatter of precious gems across the hewn stones. This present unrest bore Lucifer’s signature. As he raced toward Glory’s bathing pool he summoned the angelic hosts. The response was sluggish. Something was hindering their communication. This was the moment, just as the sun peeked over the edge of the world, that signaled the changing of the guard. Fresh celestial forces were indeed arriving, so why did his summons not bring their ready response?

Rapha emerged from the arched shelter of the garden’s workshop just as he heard it… or rather did not hear. The birds. Their songs had stopped. Then came one, harsh “skrawk!”

A buzzard? Here?

He crashed into the clearing where Adam still reclined under the flower-canopied bower of standing stones. “Has Glory returned?” Rapha tried to keep his voice steady but the boy must have read something in his demeanor.

“Why? What’s going on?”

Without a word, Rapha turned to make his way toward the bathing pool. The urgency in his heart made him desire to fly but Glory’s trail would be easier to locate and follow on the ground. Even so Adam, still wiping sleep from his eyes, had to scramble to keep up with the angel’s long stride.

They broke through the thick foliage surrounding the pool to a tranquil scene, but not her. There was something in the air, something besides the girl’s bathing oils, something that brought horrific memories to mind—a faint but unmistakable metallic smell, a smell that settled on his tongue with the memories of swords coated with its slick stickiness—a smell accompanied by the scents of fear and cruelty. Rapha’s concern escalated to panic.

Just then an angry roar erupted from the lioness at the water’s edge as her mate shook his mane and charged. The two fell to the ground, claws and teeth bared. This was
not
a moment of passion. Adam ran toward the enraged pair to break up the fight but the lions turned on him, snarling and roaring. What had gotten into them? Rapha materialized between them with a flash of light and the startled pair ran away.

The smell was overpowering where the lions had been. Rapha looked down. There were drops of fresh blood on the grass at his feet. He knelt to pluck a crimson-stained blade and, with trembling fingers, held it up to a shaft of light. For Rapha, all sound ceased. The disturbed rhythm of nature and the anxious breathing of the young man at his side were outside his universe as he studied the bright red against green, delving deep into its molecular structure. With a rush he retreated from the tunnel of his sight with a sigh of relief. What the scent had hinted, his sight confirmed; this blood was not human.

Adam’s questions came in a torrent. “What’s going on? What is that? Blood?” Then the young man was reaching to grasp his shoulders, “Rapha!
Where is she
?”

“Come.” The angel shook off Adam’s hand and ran, chasing the mingled scent of fragrant oils, fresh blood, and fear.

Chapter Ten

Corruption

Time and again, just as Glory came close enough to reach for the injured animal, it would dart away. It seemed eager for her to follow, trotting on its hind legs but never running fast enough to get out of sight, and even making frequent stops to ensure she still followed. But the animal’s fear was genuine. The only time she had beheld such panic was on Adam’s face as he had plummeted head-over-heels during a botched dive.

Her concern for the monkey was so great Glory did not even realize when she entered a part of the garden she had never visited before. And when the monkey dropped out of sight, she did not hesitate but boldly pushed aside bushes to reveal a wide, overgrown, stone path. As the monkey’s chatter echoed back, a glorious fragrance of flowers and spices—a scent that made her heart race and chills of excitement run through her body—assaulted her senses.

“What’s going on?” Adam asked. “Is it Lucifer?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Is she hurt?” The still developing young voice caught on a stifled sob.

With a wave of compassion, Rapha drew his attention from her trail. “I do not detect pain in her. It appears Glory is following an injured creature.” The relief that flooded Adam’s features smote the angel with guilt. He knew the girl’s path led toward far worse than physical peril. Taking a deep breath, he voiced his fears. “The creature Glory follows, apparently a young monkey, is terrified. Great power is required to bring terror to this place. And only great evil would desire it.”

The relief fled. “Go, go, go! Let’s find her!” The boy shoved ahead.

“Wait! I am better equipped to follow her trail. You could destroy the signs of her passage.”

Adam whipped around with an accusing glare, “It seems with an enemy such as this our teaching would have included such knowledge!”

A deep grief smote Rapha’s heart as he recognized the trademark of Lucifer’s handiwork. The discord hung between them like a stench as he said, “Come. We must hurry.”

Glory had never seen anything so… old. Walls of stone—stones that bore a dark sheen as if countless hands had stroked them—rose on either side and formed a lofty, vine-coated arc that was four, maybe five times higher than she could reach. She stumbled in the dim light and put out a palm to keep from falling. A shock of raw power almost threw her to the ground. Glory recalled the feeling of placing her hand in Adonai’s, sensing a controlled might that was far beyond her comprehension. That power had been dazzling, stupefying, and overwhelming yet… kind. The stones in this ancient place spoke of a power with no such safeguards. It was raw, dangerous—and thrilling, like the beast that daily beat against its stone prison in their lake.

The monkey’s voice echoed toward her, rising to a shriek. As Glory forged ahead a breath-like wind brushed her cheek and lifted the crimson flower from her hair. She did not even notice as it floated to the ground.

Rapha was at a dead end. Glory’s scent disappeared into thin air at the edge of a precipice. Unless she had sprouted wings, his angelic senses were fooling him. Again and again their efforts had been slowed by her elusive trail that had led over solid rock and through shallow streams.

This was taking too long! Hopelessness gripped his heart as he realized his connection to Glory’s thoughts had been cut. She must be deep in Lucifer’s web. Rapha was failing in every way. He had relaxed his guard and now, when the real test came, he could not even follow a trail that was quickly growing cold.

“What now?” Adam’s voice broke through Rapha’s mental flogging.

How could he admit he hadn’t a clue?

The enticing scent was growing stronger. Glory felt her senses relaxing, growing fuzzy and warm and… muddled. Why was she here? Oh yes! There was that monkey… the familiar little face peeked out from the next corner where sparkling, colorful light glimmered against another massive arched entryway. She had to get a closer look.

Rapha paced at the ravine’s edge, studying the air where Glory’s slight scent lingered as if willing it to divulge its secrets. It was so hard to focus his thoughts. The other angelic forces were still not responding to his summons. When he turned his thoughts to them he encountered a hodgepodge of distress. It would seem the young woman’s trail was not the only challenge in the garden this morning.

But another fact disturbed him even more. When he called to Adonai, he encountered silence. Was his guilt shutting off communication, or was his Master silent for a purpose?

As Glory rounded the corner, the dazzling lights softened to a caressing glow and she gazed around at the enormous courtyard that opened to the sky… and gasped. The feast of sights, sounds, smells, and delicious sensations overflowed her senses. The air caressed her skin as a musky, intoxicating scent compelled her forward, awakening her appetite and curiosity. Glory was excited and yet she wanted to shut her eyes and inhale the bliss. But her eyes were wide with wonder and her mouth gaped as she beheld immense birds with glorious plumage that strutted with other majestic animals she had never beheld, in a vibrant garden of gigantic flowers and fruits—all three and four times the size of those in the rest of the garden. Most of the animals were a combination of those she recognized, but some had a surprising feature or ability, such as the horse with a sharp horn protruding out of the center of its head or another with massive wings tucked along its body. There were others that sported wings. A monkey swooped, cackling, through the air while an enormous feathered creature as
large
as a horse yet possessing beak and claws, regarded her with unblinking eyes from a high ledge beside a mighty waterfall rushing over multi-hued stones that appeared to glow from within.

Glory blinked and stared. In the deep pool below, large forms flitted among glimmering rocks and submerged flora. Suddenly she realized that wide, tilted eyes were regarding her from—was that a
human
face?

She stepped closer, peering through the sparkling water, mesmerized by the timid creature who cowered behind a spray of underwater foliage as if it too could not believe its eyes. Suddenly the creature shook its head and waved an arm as if shooing her away, in the process exposing the upper portion of its body—the smooth skin and breasts of a human female. Glory gasped and stumbled to her knees in shock, splashing the water’s surface and startling the creature that flashed out of sight, displaying the bottom half of its body—the grey, sleek tail of a large fish. With a swirl of shimmering hair, the creature flitted away through swaying seaweed and out of sight.

Rapha put a hand on a large tree trunk, bent his head to its bark and spoke in a quiet voice.

“Are you talking to the tree? Can it tell you what happened?”

With a sigh the angel pushed. Slowly the tree bent, giving way with surprising ease. Loud pops and groans echoed through the forest until, seemingly in slow motion, it fell with a mighty crash, massive roots exposed, forming a bridge across the chasm.

“Why did you do that? There’s no way she’s over there unless she flew.”

Without a word, Rapha walked across, sidestepping and swinging around large branches. Adam followed, casting wary glances toward the jagged rocks far below. “Are you sure about this?”

Rapha hopped off the trunk and scanned the ground. The scent was once again unmistakable. There it was. A bright patch of blood and several broken branches on a flowering bush showed evidence of a crash landing while, in the intertwining branches over their heads, he spied a thick vine.

The truth was evident to Adam as well. The creature had crossed on the thin treetop branches and Glory had followed, swinging over on an accommodating vine—a vine that just happened to be in the perfect place and of the perfect length and thickness. What were the odds?

Yes indeed, this plot was well planned, and by someone who knew Glory’s nature, that her daring was outweighed only by her compassion.

With the trail clear once again, Rapha began to run.

“But why should the tree suffer? You could have just flown us across.”

“If there is need for escape, the path will now be prepared.”

“Escape?”
Glory
was all that mattered.

She felt bereft at the mysterious creature’s disappearance. Glory would dearly have enjoyed another female to talk to…
if
it could talk.

All at once the aroma grew even stronger and she sighed, drinking in its richness as a flurry of bright, fluttering…
somethings…
rose around her like a colorful, living veil. She gasped with delight and spun in an attempt to study every glittering wing. She glimpsed tiny faces… and legs… and arms among the flurry and sparkle.

“I have never seen anything more beautiful.”
A melodic voice settled around her like a caress.

She knew even before she looked. The one who had spoken was the will behind all the loveliness. Glory turned toward the center of the open expanse where an enormous tree towered up, higher than the gigantic walls of the courtyard. As she watched, draping vines that hung from the tree parted, revealing what appeared to be a blazing star. Its blinding brightness caused Glory to bring up a hand to shield her eyes.

“My apologies, dear one,”
the melodious voice spoke again
. “Please, take what I give you.”

Something flew toward her from the midst of the brightness—a winged fire that came to hover over her head. Once more Glory had the impression of a face among the wings and luminous eyes that peered back at her, mirroring her solemn fascination. As it swayed, dazzling her eyes, Glory’s mouth gaped open in wonder and a drop of flame fell on her tongue. Instead of burning, its sweetness flooded into her mouth and spread throughout her body until her entire being pulsed with its warmth. The brightness lost no intensity but her eyes changed, absorbing and reflecting the light in a new way. When she once more looked toward the brightness at the base of the tree she found herself gazing straight into the prismatic eyes of a being so marvelous Glory gasped with delight.

It was a woman with flowing, golden hair, her transparent garment clinging to her ample bosom and trailing onto the blossom-strewn grass. Glory felt lightheaded and her knees buckled as the woman’s brilliance came into focus like the glimmer of a perfect sun peeking over the world’s rim to set morning mists aflame.

The power of speech left her. This being, now at the center of undulating lights of every hue known to nature—and a few
un
known—smiled. In that smile Glory saw the promise of fulfillment of her every dream. She had not realized she was unfulfilled before, but that would now be remedied as well; she could learn to desire what she truly deserved.

As Glory watched, she felt her ambitions melt and transform. She could think of nothing more glorious than to be just like… her. This glowing being was much more than female; this was the epitome of feminine aspiration, the ultimate wisdom and beauty complete with luscious curves, flowing, lustrous hair, and… more. Here was a being who would make a devoted slave of all who beheld her and receive nothing but admiration and gratitude in return. Until Glory beheld this marvelous being, she had had no idea what the word “woman” meant. This was the ultimate female—a goddess for the ages.

A chatter at her feet reminded Glory of the reason she had entered here.

“Yes, my pet. Come,”
the gorgeous being reached one graceful, tapered hand toward the monkey who ventured toward her, keeping its face averted as if the sight of her hurt him. A few paces from the raised, curtained platform where the woman lounged, the monkey began to hover above the ground. Its terrified shriek was silenced with a wave of her hand and a glazed expression replaced the terror in its eyes. It floated to the woman’s outstretched hand and she cupped it to her bosom with endearing tones before placing a kiss on its forehead. Immediately, the mangled paw straightened and, to Glory’s wondering eyes, all traces of the wound disappeared.

“There now little friend, be relieved of your pain.”
With another wave, the monkey floated back to the ground. Its confusion vanished when it realized the source of its pain was gone, and it chattered and scampered about on all fours. Then the woman reached toward a feast-laden table Glory had previously overlooked. The woman tossed a tidbit to the monkey who grabbed the treat and ran.

Tinkling laughter filled the air and echoed back from the ancient walls,
“Ah, there is gratitude for you. He will be back when he hungers once again.”

Then those eyes were once more turned her way,
“And what is your desire, my pet?”

The only coherent thought in Glory’s mind was,
“I will be happy to just look at you,”
but the woman’s gaze probed deeper.

“Ah! The young man. Of course.”
She leaned forward, sending forth another wave of intoxicating perfume.
“I could teach you how to fascinate your Adam for all eternity!”

Glory’s eyes widened and her face grew hot as shocking images of being with Adam flooded her mind. Oh my! This was territory they had never covered with Rapha.