Immortal Memory (Book One) Page 13

  "Night, Sim."

  As soon as they made it out of the hospital, her cell vibrated in its holder against her waist. Simra snatched the phone in hopes that Ms. Hanley, Mandy, or Lucinda were safe. She shifted her heavy eyes to Zach. It was a call from Tristan’s cell. The drug dealer might be calling to make threats since he broke out of prison.

  Simra lifted the phone to her ear and answered with determination. “Quint, we’ll catch you and lock you up for good this time. You won’t receive any money, and I won't let you murder anyone else. The cops will find you, and you’ll never locate where I’m hiding.”

  “This isn’t Quint. It’s your fiancé. Don’t look for my body. I wouldn’t send anyone else to search for it either. We're getting married soon. My brother will be sent back to heaven before anyone discovers me. I’ll kill whoever gets in my way or tries to find me,” Tristan growled from the other end of the line.

  The phone clicked, and the vicious demon hung up before she could reply. A deep ache filled her heart to even think about losing her loved ones, and tears burned her eyes. Simra grasped onto her tiny amount of faith with all her strength. But it faded away more each moment.

  Chapter 22

  "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." -Ephesians 6:11

  Sunlight poured through the white lace curtains of the bedroom window and stirred Simra from her slumber. The digital clock showed 8 a.m. beside the bed. She slept very late, but she needed to catch up on her rest. The bruises didn't throb anymore on her leg.

  Her nose twitched to the smell of bacon and eggs coming from the kitchen. They smelled just like her grandmother used to make them. Simra's mouth watered for her grandmother's delicious breakfast. She missed waking up to Lucinda's cheesy scrambled eggs, maple bacon, and cheese toast.

  She slipped into a pair of blue jean shorts, a red shirt, and gold sandals after brushing her hair. Applying a light touch of makeup, she got ready for the day. Her cell buzzed from the other side of the room, and Simra rushed toward it. Mandy must be calling from the office. Her cousin left with their grandmother early this morning.

  Simra grabbed the phone and placed it to her ear. “Yeah? Hello?”

  Lucinda’s voice trembled on the other end of the line. “Azazel dangerous. Don’t allow him come too close when you end it, Honey. He do something terrible to you.”

  “Grandmother, is Tristan with you? Did someone dial my number for you, or did you remember it?”

  The dial tone hummed in Simra’s ear. Were Lucinda and Mandy in trouble? Her cousin couldn’t have dialed the number for their grandmother. The demon might be at the nursing home. Mandy wouldn't know if he was there because she couldn’t see or hear him.

  Simra squeezed the phone as tears streamed from her eyes. Her grandmother warned her by those exact words just before Simra broke up with Tristan. The curse must be broken, and she’d never give up hope for the elderly woman. She wouldn’t dare allow Zach to claim Lucinda’s soul.

  Zach needed to take her to Lucinda. Her grandmother might need her more than anything now. Simra rushed from the bedroom to find Ms. Hanley setting a plate at the table. It looked and smelled just the way Lucinda cooked it. How was that possible? Lucinda and Ms. Hanley met only recently, and her grandmother had a unique way of cooking breakfast.

  Ms. Hanley looked at Simra and smiled. "Simra! I made Zach's special this morning. I hope all my noise in the kitchen didn't disturb you. I know you need all the rest you can get. You looked so tired yesterday."

  Simra bit her lip with hesitation on what to do. She needed to find Zach and get to her grandmother. But Simra didn't want to be rude to Ms. Hanley by not eating. "Zach's special?"

  Ms. Hanley nodded and gestured for her to sit. "Yes, Zach had a unique way of cooking breakfast. He cooked it once for us, and I asked him to show me how he made it. He told us someone special taught him how to make it. I figured she was a girl he liked."

  Curiosity got the best of Simra. Maybe she could eat very fast to see if it was like Lucinda's. Then, she'd find Zach. Her stomach rumbled to devour the delicious meal.

  Simra sat at the table and tried the scrambled eggs first. They were cheesy and tasted like Lucinda's for certain. The cheese toast and maple bacon tasted just like her grandmother's too.

  Simra couldn't control a spark of anger and sadness igniting through her. "He learned this from my grandmother. She must've taught him how to cook it years ago. Thanks for breakfast, Ms. Hanley. You're too kind, but I must hurry to find Zach. I think he's outside."

  Simra ran outside before Ms. Hanley could respond. If he wasn't in the house, then he had to be in the yard.

  “Zach, please take me to Grandmother. Where are you?”

  Silence settled around the yard. She called Mandy to see if they were all right. Simra’s shoulders slumped when her cousin didn’t answer, which could've meant one of two things. Something terrible happened, or Mandy became much too busy to take a phone call.

  Her cousin always tried her best to answer Simra. She especially responded now that they were all in danger. Leaves crumbled on the ground from a short distance.

  Maybe only an animal drew near her. Worries about Lucinda, Zach, and Mandy caused her heart to skip several beats. Simra's breathing became erratic when Tristan appeared. A depraved grin curved across his lips.

  “Hi, Baby. Looking for someone?”

  Simra looked past him at the front door and hoped Ms. Hanley stayed inside the house. “Don’t call me that. Leave me alone.”

  Tristan placed a strand of hair behind her ear before she drew away. “We’ll be married soon, and I am allowed to call you that. You know, it disgusts me to see you with my pathetic brother. Now then, I know you're only attracted to him because he looks like me. He’s trying to take you away from me to have you all to himself. I won’t allow it. At least not anymore.”

  What a lie! If anything, that's one reason why she could not see herself with Zach. These games with the demon were getting old, and Simra blinked only to find him gone. She turned around to find Tristan smirking at her. Simra receded away from the demon. Then, he moved behind her and grabbed her hands to hold them in place.

  His cold breath nipped at her ear, and Tristan’s whispers were like needles of ice pricking her neck. “I got rid of Zach for good. You have no one but me now. Our future awaits us, Simra.”

  A deep gasp escaped from her lips, and Simra struggled to free herself from his tight grip. Tristan might be telling the truth. Zach could be found nowhere. Then again, she should trust nothing the demon said.

  “I don’t believe you, Tristan. Zach’s coming for me.”

  Tristan threw his head back and laughed. “If that’s so, why hasn’t he already come? I don't sense him anywhere, and I’m certain you don't either. You're engaged to me. Zach’s gone forever and isn’t returning to this world.”

  Simra’s eyes burned with tears at the anguishing thought of never seeing Zach again. Tristan must be telling the truth. Some of what he said was true so far. The angel would’ve shown up to save her by now. Lucinda’s last words caused a harsh ache in her heart. Tristan was dangerous, and Simra needed to stay as far away from him as possible.

  She strained to free herself from the demon, but she couldn't escape his powerful grasp. “Release me! I don’t want to be with you anymore. I will destroy you with or without Zach.”

  “It’s too late for that, Simra. I’m taking you with me now, and we’ll be together for always. There’s nothing you can do about it.” He gathered her into his powerful arms and carried her away until thunder roared over them.

  The brutal winds stirred around them, and jagged streaks of lightning lit up the sky. It caused Tristan to stop. This indicated the demon didn’t cause the bad weather. The storm did not seem as violent as the ones Tristan made. Another angel must be stopping him, or it might be God.

  The demon’s eyes glowed, and anger boiled in them. He turned in every di
rection with Simra still in his arms. “You’re not ruining my plans this time! Where are you? There’s no need to hide.”

  Zach’s powerful voice came from behind them, and the angel gave Tristan a hard shove. “I’m right here, brother, and your plans aren’t of God’s will. Therefore, they shall not come to pass.”

  Tristan released Simra and stumbled to the ground. Jealousy and rage fumed in the demon's glowing eyes when she rushed into Zach’s arms. “Simra, come back to me.”

  She ignored Tristan’s hideous face and clung to the angel. “Tristan told me another lie, and I fell for it again. He makes them sound so believable. I thought you were gone forever.”

  Zach drew her close in his protective arms. “I promise I’m all right. Lying is what demons do best.”

  She dared taking another look at Tristan. Her heart dropped to her stomach when she found him gone. “Did he leave?”

  Zach’s gaze shifted in all directions as though searching where the demon might be hiding. “He’s not gone. Go back to the house where it’s safe. I must send him away.”

  She broke into a mad run toward the lake house. Zach groaned in pain behind her before she got too far. Simra turned around to see what happened. She started to run toward the angel. Tristan mumbled with his hand resting on his brother’s head. The angel rushed into the thicket and disappeared as a shadow.

  Tears flowed down her cheeks. She didn’t know if Zach was gone forever or sent away by him. Simra started running toward the house without looking back but crashed into Tristan. A wicked grin tugged at his lips.

  She tried to conceal a deafening cry for help. Her body grew limp from the dread building within her. Simra could not escape from the powerful demon on her own. It didn’t matter how much she attempted to fight him.

  Tristan drew her into his arms and carried her from the lake so fast that her head spun with dizziness. “I’m taking you where no one will ever find us.”

  Simra closed her eyes in an attempt to avoid her head from spinning. Opening them when it stopped, she saw the inside of a large old abandoned home. Tristan stood beside her with his hand resting on a dusty fireplace. The aged house must have been deserted for many years. Thick dust smothered the stairs except for a few footprints on them. A faint rotten scent caused her stomach to churn.

  Maybe Tristan’s body was hidden here. She saw no furniture. Someone had scribbled symbols across the walls of the home. Cold whispers of evil breathed against her ears.

  Simra gazed outside the windows but didn’t recognize her surroundings. She needed to get out of there somehow. Her family might be in danger with Quint. Maybe that's why Mandy didn't answer.

  She turned to Tristan and saw a devious grin across his face. “Where am I?”

  His depraved laugh caused bitterness to grasp her heart with its icy hands. He lifted her chin with his finger. “Zach’s gone forever, and no one will ever find you. I’ll be certain you never escape.”

  Chapter 23

  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." -Proverbs 3:5-6

  The angel opened his eyes to see the thicket around him. “What happened?” he groaned and held his head with a hand.

  Then, he recalled being sent away by Azazel's demonic prayer. The lake's crystal water shimmered beneath the late afternoon sun. Simra was nowhere in the area. Zach rushed into the lake house to see his mom praying in tears.

  "Lord, speak to me on what I can do. If Simra's in danger, please surround her with Your love and protection. Protect her family-"

  Zach raced from the lake house to find Simra. Azazel took her, and it was all Zach’s fault. The angel let his brother get the best of him. He searched the entire city for Simra and found her nowhere.

  Zach looked in other places outside of Longview and still discovered no trace. He searched everywhere. Azazel could not even be traced.

  The demon must have already taken her to his world. The angel’s anger smoldered hot. A persistent hope consumed him to never give up on finding Simra. God sent Zach to stop his brother before Azazel took a bride.

  He refused to fail Him again! The angel wouldn’t allow the demon to become any more powerful by marrying Simra. Azazel would be stopped before it became too late, and Zach wasn’t finished with him!

  Rage ignited in him, and Zach dashed across town to see Lucinda. Did Mandy and Jeff know about Simra's disappearance? Maybe the older woman knew of Tristan's whereabouts. Perhaps Tristan stopped by to torment her before capturing Simra.

  Zach arrived in the woman’s room and stepped in front of her to stop her pacing. Instantly, he saw the worry in her mind about Simra. Zach placed his hands on her shoulders to stop Lucinda’s fretful steps and gave her an intense gaze.

  “Lucinda, I promise I'll find her. Has Azazel been here?”

  Her tangled words were wild with panic, and Lucinda’s faded eyes widened more. The woman's knuckles were white from clenching them so tight. Lucinda didn’t look him in the eyes but shook her compressed fists.

  She snatched the collar of his black polo shirt. “Hisss houssse!” She began throwing objects around the room, and much anger seethed from her eyes.

  Several nurses rushed in with medication, and Mandy followed them. He gazed at Simra's cousin. He noted how she knew not of Simra's disappearance. However, Mandy started to sense something wasn't right. His mom must not have known Mandy's number.

  Lucinda slapped the drugs from their hands and refused to take anything. She and Simra were just alike. They were both determined to keep their family safe. Zach knew they wouldn’t rest until they were certain each other was out of danger.

  Another nurse raced into the room with a shot as two others held her down. Lucinda continued mumbling unclear words until she was knocked out into a deep sleep. Zach placed his hand across the older woman’s brow and bent down. He whispered a ‘thank you’ in her ear. Zach turned to leave after the nurses left her there to rest.

  “I’ll rescue your granddaughter and stop Azazel, Lucinda. I promise,” Zach whispered before leaving to go to the house he saw in Lucinda's thoughts.

  The angel raced to the old abandoned house that still haunted him from many years ago. Returning would bring him much pain. But he had to save Simra. Zach tried walking inside, but a shield of darkness stopped him. The place was protected well by demonic prayers.

  One of God’s angels wouldn’t be able to enter. Only Jeff could go inside, and he was still in the hospital. The corpse had to be in there too. That's why it was so difficult to find.

  Zach got reminded in an instant of what God sent him to do years ago. The demon must be stopped now. This was the angel’s last chance to destroy Azazel before he married Simra. Zach waited for this moment for years. Many people would die if Tristan forced her to become his bride.

  Zach wanted a life with her. Somehow. He began to sense God brought them to work together for more than one reason. Zach's love felt wrong for Lucinda, but his love felt very right for Simra. But he had to be mistaken. Angels and mortals couldn't combine.

  Only the Lord knew the future. All Zach could do now was trust God and hope for His will to pass. Plans to save Simra began to unravel in his mind. Somehow, he must get through to Jeff about the abandoned house.

  Azazel could be drawn out of the house long enough for Simra to escape. Then again, the demon had everything he wanted there inside the house. He had Simra. Nothing could draw him out of the house. Zach's only hope was getting through to Jeff or Mandy.

  It may be too late to stop Azazel. The demon might have already forced her into marriage. Zach was knocked out far too long. A painful ache rose in his heart for the beautiful woman and what she must be enduring with his cruel, manipulative brother. Azazel made certain Zach couldn't get to Simra in this house like the angel rescued Lucinda here years ago. Zach knew his brother wanted to make sure he got his way this time.

  Chapter 24


  "I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

  The decayed odor suffocated Simra inside the place and almost choked her. The body must be somewhere in the house. Her sanity slipped deeper into darkness after spending so long with the demon. Simra spent two days in the old dusty home.

  She began to lose all hope of anyone finding her. Tristan had food stored in the house to keep her fed. Simra fought tears from misting her eyes. She refused to believe Zach was in heaven. Were Jeff and her family still alive? Quint might have already murdered them by now.

  The demon placed a gentle hand to Simra’s cheek, and his gaze softened. “There's no reason to worry, baby. Everything is fine. We’ll be married soon.” His lips tugged into a smile.

  Simra jerked away from the vile demon. “You've created nothing but chaos for me and my family. You’re a danger to everyone, and I don't believe anything you say. I’m not marrying you. I’ll escape, and I will destroy you.”

  “I’m sorry about the chaos, princess, but I had to go to great lengths to have you. I hate to spoil your expectations of destroying me. You won’t escape. I've waited too long for you, and I will have you.” Instead of showing rage, Tristan remained calm. He kept showing an apologetic smile.

  “I'm not your possession!” A sob lodged in her throat, and she held back tears from falling.

  Tristan's eyes danced with delight. “I’ve always admired that about you. Determination and defiance. Zach didn’t enjoy like those traits about you. You never listened to him, and he couldn’t stand it. Besides, he wanted to collect your grandmother’s soul.”

  Simra’s cheeks fumed with heat from the anger building within her, but her stomach churned with disgust. “You admire me because I remind you of Grandmother. That’s what drew you to me. You’re sick. You mean nothing to me, and you’re only trying to turn me against your brother.”