THE FALL (Rapha Chronicles #1) (The Rapha Chronicles) (16 page)

Adonai’s heart is with you, brother.

“Go, Adam. I do not deserve you. Leave this place!”

Lucifer growled. Glory’s selfless plea was unexpected. Not to worry. One more moment’s manipulation would win him the world.

“Yes, Adam. Go. You still have more ribs. I am sure Adonai could easily whip up a new mate.”
Lucifer’s silky voice encouraged him.

The girl shut her eyes as fresh tears spilled down. The thought of Adam mating with another was too much.

“I
will not
abandon you,” Adam whispered. Glory opened her eyes to find him kneeling before her as close as the shimmering light would allow.

“But you forget, son of Earth, she belongs with me now. She is my flesh and bone,”
Lucifer taunted.
“But there is still a way you can be with her, if you possess sufficient courage,”
he ended with a shrug as if Adam’s choice mattered little.

The love in Adam’s eyes warmed Glory, announcing loud and clear she was worth fighting for, dying for if necessary. “What must I do?”

“It is really not such a horrible fate. You simply need some of my fire in you,”
Lucifer tilted his head as if searching for the perfect phrase,
“to restore compatibility. Does it seem to you to have done her any harm?”

Adam threw her an inquiring look.

Glory’s body was quivering and she clenched her jaws to still her chattering teeth. She reached toward Adam but the light surrounding him repelled her. For an instant he saw panic in her face and then she turned away again, breathing deeply, clasping her hands tightly together. “Why did I touch Lucifer? Because I wanted to fly, because I wanted to speed the fulfillment of my highest calling and destiny—
our
highest calling and destiny—to heal creation’s wounds.”

She looked up at Adam, sobbing. “But now I know, even if wings sprouted from my shoulders and I shot high into the sky, I would… ache… for you.”

Then she collapsed back onto the couch, her shoulders heaving as she wept.

“Please, Glory, I will be with you.” Adam reached toward her but the barrier flared once again. His fists dropped into his lap and his head fell forward in surrender.

Then Adam rose and turned toward Lucifer.

“Do not worry, dear boy.”
Lucifer’s body wavered, flickered and refocused with voluptuous, alluring femininity. His next words flowed with Lilith’s caressing voice.
“You will only scream with pleasure.”

Adam, startled but determined, took one hesitant step forward. The glow around Lilith expanded and then surrounded him. Adam’s body relaxed, his eyes closed, bliss etched across his features as he took a deep, shuddering breath. When he opened his eyes, Lilith was directly before him, a dazzling smile on her lips, and one graceful hand held out in invitation.

Slowly, Adam reached for Lilith’s fingers, deaf to the sound of Glory’s screams, “Adam! NOOO!”

Glory jumped up from the couch and threw herself against the dazzling barrier, tears streaming down her face. “Adam! Stop!”

Although Adam appeared deaf to her pleas, Lucifer/Lilith did not ignore the young woman. She turned toward Glory with a victorious smile as she took the dazed young man beneath her.

The ground thundered and shook. Enemy forces descended and the sky grew dark with swirling fumes that rained fire and ash. Now Rapha knew. He was too late. Nonetheless, he flew to them, melting through solid walls and casting aside opposing forces like leaves in the wind. All the while, Lucifer’s triumphant cackling echoed in his ears.

Adam was thrown to the ground covered with red, oozing welts, wounds from the woman’s claw-like nails. Finally Glory could get to him. She reached to push Adam’s hair from his bleeding face but he turned away, too ashamed to even look at her.

Lucifer stood and stretched, shrugging off the feminine persona as he licked his lips, tasting Adam’s blood that lingered there. A loud crash sounded behind him but he did not even turn to look as Rapha arrived, moaning as he took in the sordid scene.
“Mmmm. Salty.”
Lucifer said,
“Makes me want something sweet… again. Care to join me, Rapha?”

Rapha knew it was useless, but his rage flashed forth, grinding uselessly against Lucifer who laughed,
“You fool! All authority is mine now!”

Adam’s eyes appealed to the helpless tutor. His arms were pinned to his sides and he fell to the ground, paralyzed, facing the nightmare of Lucifer’s blood-smeared hands reaching for Glory.

“It is only fair you observe her performance as well, Adam. I do believe she could teach you a thing or two.”

Suddenly, the fallen angel stopped to wipe at the blood on his hands with a look of confused surprise. Again he pushed at the stains, but instead of disappearing they spread, creeping up his arms toward his neck, burning like trails of molten lava with an audible sizzling sound on his perfect skin, continuing their relentless journey over his body’s flawless landscape. Lucifer’s eyes widened as the fire marched toward his groin and he shrieked, doubling over as the flames engulfed his entire body.

When the light encasing Adam and Glory faded, Rapha sprang forward and grabbed the two humans. As they ran through the structure’s twisting corridors, Lucifer’s agonized screams faded behind them.

Chapter Fourteen

Allies

Rapha knew he would have to repent for the delight he took in Lucifer’s pain. The fallen angel had visited agony on so many. Now, through stealing what was forbidden, Lucifer was learning true physical pain for the first time and thus his angelic body would forever be marked by this transgression—one more giant step away from the purity for which he was formed.

When Rapha led Adam and Glory through the monstrous arch and into the courtyard that now rang with the cacophony of vicious battle, they gagged on fumes roiling up from the ground as if the rot of a millennia had been loosed. Through the noxious haze, a shaft of sunlight pierced through. Glory shrieked. There was no need to ask the cause of her fright. They could now see clearly that all illumination was gone from her and from Adam. No heavenly radiance, no glowing colors. Nothing.

She looked around in horror and her arms flailed in a vain attempt to cover her body but there was no time for modesty. Their world had gone mad.

Fire and chaos greeted them. Horrors rained from the sky and crawled from the belly of the Earth bringing turmoil in their wake. In their terror, formerly gentle creatures ripped and tore, their bodies resembling more and more the accursed beasts trained for death as enemy forces spurred more bloodshed. Time and again Glory wanted to assist the frightened, wounded animals but Rapha drove them on without rest, until they came to a small cave where he left them a moment to spy out the path ahead.

When he returned to collect them, the humans were sewing together leaves to cover their bodies. Their attempts to hide their nakedness moved him to pity. For one short hour Adam had tasted his authority over creation only to experience complete humiliation before that hour was through. Therefore, even as a growing threat haunted his heart, Rapha humored their feeble attempts by grabbing one of the sharp needles from the prickly bush at the mouth of the cave and joining their efforts.

He wanted to say something to encourage them, to dismiss the fear and bring peace, but there was nothing to say. On and on they stitched, aware of the futility of the gesture, too shocked for conversation, too mortified to look at one other, but somehow the mundane task was calming. As they donned their garments, Adam finally spoke.

“Thank you,” he muttered. It was two words and Adam’s eyes were averted, but it was something.

Glory was so stunned she appeared unaware of her surroundings. Perhaps that was for the best. They could not afford the luxury of emotional collapse.

Rapha longed to gather them into his arms and comfort them but the urgent sense of danger made him press on at a greater pace. His fellow angels were summoning him. The sooner he could get the young man and woman into the midst of allies, the better.

On they journeyed past indescribable horrors and into familiar territory now rendered unrecognizable by earthquakes, falling ash, and bloodshed. Over and over Rapha saved their lives, not just because enraged animals prowled and the ground might split at their feet, but because Adam and Glory seemed too distraught to save themselves.

Strangely enough, when they did cross paths with enemy forces, they were allowed to pass unmolested. Stranger still was their encounter with a vicious, flying reptile that had circled lower and lower until it landed in a small clearing, blocking their path. Two others had joined it, obviously anticipating a feast. Rapha summoned reinforcements and braced himself for a fight, but when the ringleader came close and sniffed the wind blowing past the man and woman, it retreated, rose quickly into the smoke-filled sky on membranous wings, and immediately its companions followed.

Rapha had no time to ponder the occurrence since his brother angels’ summons was increasingly urgent. In fact, several from the bedraggled angelic host had already gathered in the center of the garden where, although defenses had fallen, enemy forces were still refusing to approach, repelled by Adonai’s fragrance which still lingered so strongly there.

The last frantic push past carcasses of well-loved animal companions was more than the humans could bear so that by the time they joined the circle of angelic hosts, Adam and Glory simply fell to the ground in a near-catatonic state, lost in the horrors they had witnessed.

Rapha peered around the circle at the solemn faces of his celestial brothers, sensing an animosity directed toward the humans.

Battue was the first to speak. “It is good they are with you. We can more easily accomplish… unpleasant duties.”

“The entire day has been unpleasant. To what do you refer?” Rapha inquired, turning to stand in front of Adam and Glory.

“We were sent to eradicate evil from the garden. They are carriers of Lucifer’s corruption, and thus they must be eliminated.”

Adam put a protective arm around Glory who gazed blankly at the accusing celestials, her face devoid of emotion.

“They are not your concern.” Rapha was shocked by the deadly intent in several faces and sifted through the surrounding thoughts, seeking support. “I will take complete responsibility for….”

“You are no longer in charge,” Battue shouted, cutting him off. “You abandoned your responsibilities when you entered Lucifer’s domain.”

“I could not abandon
them
!” He detected a hint of empathy beneath Battue’s harshness. He had been reluctant to oppose Rapha but others had convinced him of this present course.
Ah. There it was.
The deepest resentment flowed from the tight-knit threesome led by Phineas, a stalwart, reliable warrior, but not someone Rapha desired as an enemy. Phineas’ dark, angry eyes returned his gaze. “Speak your mind, brother,” Rapha said.

“There is no other choice.” Phineas replied as several others nodded agreement. “Will you deny their bodies were joined with Lucifer? Will you suggest another way to eradicate corruption? You know death alone will suffice.”

“This judgment is not ours to apply. We must await Adonai’s specific instructions—”

Phineas interrupted. “Have we learned nothing? If we allow this… thing to survive, all creation will once again destroy itself. Lucifer will have his way—again!”

Battue motioned to Phineas who reluctantly yielded to his authority. “Rapha, wiping out evil now will prevent an age of bloodshed. We all wish it could be otherwise. We had such high hopes and have grown so fond of the humans, but Lucifer’s plan must not succeed. If I were corrupted by Lucifer’s seed, I would gladly sacrifice myself to….”

“But it is
not
you!” The pious prose was grating on Rapha. “And it is not for you to decide whether another member of Adonai’s creation is not worthy to live. He will give us
His
counsel;
we
will not advise
Him
….”

“Do
not
quote Adonai’s ways to us,” Phineas reprimanded. “You have become so enmeshed with the humans, the truth is hidden from you!”

“No, I see the truth all too clearly, Phineas. You would end their lives because they threaten what you see as the proper order of things. You prefer a world where humans are kept in their place, unable to comprehend Adonai’s ways, with no longing for what they are missing.”

A breathless silence hovered. Rapha had just implied that Phineas’ views were in league with Lucifer. They remembered well Phineas’ history, that he had once almost joined Lucifer’s cause. Every angel crouched, ready for attack, as Phineas’ face twisted with fury.

“How dare you accuse me when you stand aligned with evil!” Phineas, flanked by his supporters, advanced toward Rapha as Battue leapt between them.

“NO!” The young woman’s voice cried out. “Please! Don’t. I will not resist, but let Adam and Rapha go.”

The angels stopped, stunned. There stood the woman, filthy, shamed and bloodstained but (how could it be?) she looked every inch a queen. And when Adam leapt to her side, the sun’s rays, sepia-toned from the smoke-filled haze, reflected off the white stone behind him, creating a halo of gold atop his head.

That was all the distraction Rapha required. He enveloped the humans in his arms. For a split second, they heard a corresponding outcry from the surrounding angels, then nothing but the sound of rushing water. Immediately Rapha was hit with a wave of exhaustion from the effort of shifting the three of them through space. He fell to his knees as Adam and the girl blinked in amazement to find themselves in a small cavern behind a waterfall.

This was her first time becoming “malleable” and the girl was too heartbroken to care. She realized this was the very spot where she had bathed just a few hours before, but a cataclysmic transformation had occurred. That girl who swam in the early morning light and placed a flower in her hair… was no more.

The freshness was gone. The air smelled strange. Even the sound of splashing water carried a thud instead of a happy sparkle. The light was dim, glowing with a strange, reddish tinge. Maybe that was why the water pouring down before their eyes looked pink rather than clear. She reached a hand toward the splashing fall that had always been so refreshing, but now recoiled as the first drop touched her skin. How could water
feel
wrong?

Then she looked
through
the falling curtain, down to the pool—and screamed. Immediately Rapha’s hand was over her mouth, squelching the sound.

Bodies were everywhere. Some were their enemies but most were remains of beloved animal friends. And not just bodies, but mangled body parts were strewn as far as she could see, the aftermath of mindless slaughter, the work of those who destroyed for the pleasure of it.

Glory was gasping, then she was on her knees, wretching until her stomach expelled its contents.

As she tore her gaze from the bloody panorama and wiped a trembling hand across her lips, her eyes met Rapha’s. And there sat Adam, weeping.

“Why didn’t you let them kill me?” She spat the words as Rapha winced at the harsh tone of her voice. “That would make it simple. Adonai could just make another woman. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” She addressed Adam, “Maybe this time He could do things right—wider hips, bigger breasts… perhaps someone who
enjoys playing rough
.”

Adam’s mouth went white at the edges and he flinched as if her words were physical blows. “I came after
you
. What I did, I did
for you
.” His voice sounded dead, hollow. “Why didn’t you tell me what he had done?”

She flushed and turned away.

“And why are there no marks on
you
? Is that because you did not resist?”

It was Glory’s turn to flinch as if Adam had struck her. “I saw you!” she hissed. “You loved every single blow, every single thrill of… that… that… creature’s….” Her hands were over her face as if to hide from the spectacle replaying in her mind.

“Please, stop,” Rapha pleaded. “This is Lucifer’s way. He tricks and seduces then divides. Resist the evil desiring to consume you….”

“It is far too late for instruction,
friend
,” Adam flung the accusation at Rapha, his shame and helplessness lashing out like a whip. “Go!” He rushed toward Rapha. “Do not look at us. Go back to your place of glory with Adonai. Go fly with your angel friends who hate us! Go tell our story to some other stupid boy who believes he is Adonai’s gift to creation!”

Rapha, filled with anguish, wanted to scream. Adam, with wild eyes and face flushed with rage, looked and sounded just like… Lucifer.

“You are fools,” Glory’s voice was quiet but it carried even more venom. “Fools!” she screamed. “You are free! You are both free. I am Lucifer’s now. His seed is in me.” She fell to her knees, bowing her face to the damp rock. “Failed. Failed,” she said over and over as she scraped her hands across the stone until the fingertips bled.

Rapha rushed to her but Glory shoved him away, her hands leaving red stains on his chest. He spoke kindly, told them again of Adonai’s love, of His word that cannot be broken, but Adam and Glory were deaf to Rapha—she, intent on punishing her body; he, lost in desperation.

With growing dread, Rapha realized the direction of Adam’s thoughts. “No,” he said. “Adam, do not do this.” He put a hand to Adam’s chest as the young man moved toward Glory.

Adam shook himself free. “Lucifer will not steal her from me. This was to be our day of joining. So it shall be.”

Glory froze and looked up at Adam through matted, mucked hair, her eyes puffy and feral. “You will not touch me.”

When Adam grabbed her shoulders and pulled her to her feet, Glory exploded with violence, kicking, punching, and scratching in desperation. Again and again Rapha bullied his way between them, but neither would stop. Both craved the abuse. Both welcomed the pain that numbed their torment and guilt.

In the blink of an eye Rapha was gone, streaking through the sky to escape. Yet there was no escape.

The doors of heaven were closed to him. He had thrown in his lot with the humans. The enormity of that decision hit home. There was nowhere to hide from evil’s consequences. Over the churning ocean waters he fled, but turmoil sped before him, infecting every intertwined cell of creation, from the depths below to the far-flung heavens that rained fearsome fire and blotted out the stars—a constant reminder of Adonai’s divine story.