The Journey (18 page)

“And has that been fulfilled?”

I nodded. “That time of martyrdom happened within the Roman Empire during the reign of Diocletian. He was Emperor from 284 to 305. Diocletian’s intent was to
completely
destroy Christianity. Under
his
rule, all Christians—leaders
and
followers—were arrested, punished, and put to death in every grotesquely conceivable way possible.”

“Then what happened?”

“The sixth seal was broken. Now, the sixth seal spoke of wildly catastrophic things—the sun turning black, the moon becoming as blood, the stars falling from the heavens—world-altering things like that.”

“Yet… such as this has not come to pass, has it?”

“Not
literally
, no. You see, the prophesy speaks in types and shadows.”

“What do you mean?”

“All these things—the sun, the moon, the stars—they all represented things or people here on Earth. This same language has been used before to describe earthly destruction of a town, a city, an empire—Babylon, for instance. So, it says that the sun would be darkened, the moon became blood, the stars fell, the heavens rolled up like a scroll, the mountains and islands moved out of their place—all tremendous things of earth-shattering magnitude. All these things depict such events as would
shake
the Earth… from the rulers downward.”

“…I see. So, what happened?”

“Constantine.”

“Who?”

“All of this was fulfilled when Constantine—who actually grew up in the court of Diocletian—became the 57
th
Emperor of the Roman Empire in 306.”

“What did this Constantine do?”

“Shook the very foundation of Rome itself.”

“How?”

“The Christians were hunted down and slaughtered during Diocletian’s reign, but when Constantine took the throne… he ended all of that, ceased the persecutions. Not only that, under
his
reign, paganism suffered an irreversible defeat. Constantine the Great made Christianity Rome’s national religion
and
in 313 he granted religious freedom to everyone in the Empire through his Edict of Milan. Constantine seated Christianity on the throne of the Roman world, and in 323 he made the already Christian-observed first day of the week a national holiday—Sunday, the day we
still
go to worship the Lord.”

“So… the souls under the altar, the martyrs… they got their revenge.”

“Yep. The martyred saints were avenged and
pagan
Rome fell… never to rise again.”

“Such is the power of Father.”

“Yes, it is.” I smiled down at him. “I gotta get going now. See you soon. Okay?”

“Make it as quick as possible, little one. I miss you terribly when you leave,
and
I wish to know about the seventh seal.”

“Very well, it’s a date. See ya later, tater.”

The Angel was still chuckling as I ran up the darkened passageway.

*****

“I need to go to Cairo, Mr. Padmeal, sir.”

The always-cross Angel hissed under his breath. “
You
again… and it’s
Paltiel
. Address me incorrectly just once more and I will—”

“Is this the Witness you were speaking of?”

I turned toward the beautiful golden-haired man as he spoke.

“Yes,” Paltiel hissed. “The only Witness I have ever wanted to bind within this place.”

I looked back to the dark-haired Angel. “And just why
is
that? Huh? Before you and I ever even spoke properly, you were hideous to me—barking and snapping and threatening. What did I do to you,
Paltiel
, to garner such misplaced wrath?”

The golden-crowned man held up his hand toward the darker-haired Angel and waited until I turned to face him.

“His anger is not misplaced,
if
what he says is true.”

“Who… Who are
you
?”

“I am Uriel, Archangel of the one God. Is what he says true, Witness?”

I glanced back to Paltiel. “What’s he been saying?”

“That you are close with the Bound One. That you have formed a gentle connection with the damned creature who provides your needed fuel.”

I swallowed hard. “Yeah… sorta… I guess.”

“And why would you do such a thing?” Uriel moved closer. “Were you not warned of the danger?”

“I was warned, yeah, but when I saw him lying there like that… it hurt my heart. Have you ever seen him?”

“I have,” Uriel said. “He yet lives, that alone is too kind a fate for such a treacherous soul. Do you not know of his wicked deeds?”

“Yeah, I know what he did.” I looked away. “He’s just… not what I was expecting.”

“And what
were
you expecting?”

I glanced back at the golden Angel right in front of me. “…Someone like you.”

Uriel smiled. “And he once was… but no more. Now, let me see why you are headed off to Egypt.” He gently took the book from my hands. “Ahh… Alas, what you seek is no longer there. Come with me, Witness.”

I glanced back just in time to see Paltiel’s snarl. Then I was standing in the midst of a thick forest.

“You have already come so very far upon your quest.” Uriel turned to face me. “I am glad to see you tackling your assigned task with such vigor.”

“Yeah, well, I was hoping that if I hurried up and finished… I’d never have to go back through the Nether.”

Uriel smiled. “So, you are more than ready to part ways with Azazel?”

“No… Paltiel.”

“You prefer a creature of darkness to an Angel of Light?”

“Is Paltiel Light?”

“He is.”

“Oh…”

“Why do you insist on saying his name incorrectly? You obviously know how to pronounce it properly.”

“Just to get under his skin, I guess. He thinks an awful lot of himself… I don’t like that.” I looked around at the dense trees. “So… where are we?”

“We are where you need to be.”

“Huh?”

Uriel chuckled. “You remind me so much of someone…”

“Whom?”

His soft smile slowly faded. “Never mind.”

He then took a lock of my hair between his fingers and gently caressed it. I just stood there—staring at an impossibly beautiful Angel, and not having a single clue what to say next.

“You are too gentle for your quest, little one. You have fire in your tongue, yes, but too much love in your heart.”

“
Too
much love?”

He nodded. “Too much
misplaced
love. Not every soul you cross paths with is worthy of your sympathy and compassion. Alas, I fear you are minus the capability of telling the difference.”

I just chewed on my bottom lip and looked away. Surely he knew what he was talking about. I mean, he
is
an Angel after all. I swallowed hard and looked at
anything
to keep from making eye contact. I had
no
idea how to answer the ethereal man.

“Very well,” Uriel softly said. “I will help you in this thing.”

“In what thing?”

But as those words were still coming out of my mouth, Uriel disappeared. Fear seized me—deep and intense and panic-worthy—a despairing kind of fear.

If you have never been lost and alone in the middle of the forest, describing such a thing is nigh impossible. You could be one hundred yards from the edge, or miles and miles and miles. No path. No sense of direction. No way to know which way or for how long you should be going. Sure, you could follow the waning sun,
if
west is the direction you wished to go. What if east is where the trees give way to open fields? You could travel
days
toward the setting sun, only to find yourself further and further from home. What if there are wild animals? Snakes? Swampy marshes? What if there are people living nearby who set traps for game? Would you be able to spot such a thing before you were snared in it? And what of nightfall? Nocturnal carnivores? Poisonous spiders?

I have no fire, no water. What am I gonna do? Dammit! Wait… Just calm down, Jem. Yes, you
do
have fire, and water as well. Lighter in your pocket, bottle in your backpack—remember? Okay, so… don’t panic and you’ll be just fine. First, find some dry wood and—

Uriel suddenly reappeared in front of me. Without thought, I grabbed for him—balling his tunic up in my fists and wiping tears upon his chest I didn’t even realize I was shedding.

“Never do that again, Angel. Hear me?” I clung ever tighter. “Never drop me off in the unknown and leave me there. Ever!”

He lifted my trembling chin and tenderly brushed my flowing tears with his thumb.

“I was gone but for a heartbeat, little one.”

“Not in
my
head, you weren’t. Animals had already torn me to shreds and I couldn’t find enough wood to build a proper fire. My poor old heart won’t slow down for days. You hear me?
Days
!”

“Forgive me, tiny Jem.” He smiled. “I didn’t realize your imagination was such a volatile thing. I will have to remember that.”

“I thought Angels knew everything.”

“You are good for my ego.” He chuckled. “Alas, we know what we know. When I looked within you I was focusing on your heart, not your fears. I did not know what I did not see.”

“Well… now you do.” I released him and took a step back. “So… where’d you go?”

“I sought permission to be bound to you.”

“Bound?”

He nodded. “If my earnest request is granted, we will see the proof of it shortly.”

“Why should I be
bound
to you? And who gives permission for such a thing?”

“Only Father can grant my request. And… I asked that you be bound to me so that you are no longer subject to Azazel.”

“What about Palpatine?”

He rolled his eyes. “You will have to deal with
Paltiel
no more.”

I breathed an audible sigh of relief.

“Wait… How will I not need Azazel? Don’t I have to have
his
blood to travel about as a Witness?”

“You need Angel blood to work the stones, yes. Yet, you do not need
his
.”

“Then, why did—”

“Angels can only be cut with Prisalyn. Such is the Witness’s dagger. Alas, an Angel will not simply stand there and let you do as you wish with such a blade. Yet, Azazel… he can no longer defend or protect against such a thing.”

“That’s… horrible.”

“Not horrible—necessary. That damned creature’s tainted blood is now set to purpose… to help
save
mankind instead of destroying it.”

I sat down then—weary, confused, and exhausted on a cellular level.
That’s
when the ring finger on my left hand began to burn. I jumped up.

“Something just bit me!”

“Be calm, little one. That is merely the visual proof of our tying bond.”

Only when the Angel gently lifted my hand did I notice the woven red tattoo now ringing my finger.

“What in the world…”

“My manacle,” he whispered. “Never has it graced another. Yet, it is not an eternal thing. Not for you and I. This mark binds us in life only. When you pass from this realm, so too will our tie.”

“How are we bound?”

“By blood.” He carefully caressed the red mark on my finger. “
My
blood will now be what fuels your quest. Speak my name—anywhere you happen to be—and I will come to you. I will fill your stones and see that your heavenly task will no longer be hindered. And if I have the time, I will see you to your next destination.”

“You mean… no more Nether… no more dark caves?”

“Yes, that is
exactly
what I mean.” He gently lifted my chin. “We now share a bond that only death can sever. No longer hold fear in your heart, little one.
I
will protect you.”

Only when my eyes started burning did I realize I was crying again.

“Do not get the wrong idea, Jem Stone. I will not be your bodyguard
or
your own personal superhero. I am not your servant. I will be there to protect your
soul
. Understand?”

I barely nodded.

“That means, do not put yourself in harm’s way with hope of my rescue. I have important tasks and summonses of my own to see to. Still… I was touched by your plight,
and
by Paltiel’s rather harsh reservations concerning the current state of your mind. It was by
my
choice—and probably will result in unneeded restraints upon my time and talents—that I decided to form a crimson bond with you.”