Immortal Memory (Book One) Page 4

  Lucinda stopped mumbling, and her shifting gaze tore Simra’s soul to shreds. Tristan must have done something to her grandmother. Simra’s scattered emotions raced. There was only one explanation. Everything Zach said began to make sense.

  Lucinda’s frightened gaze softened. The woman’s stiff shoulder relaxed against her granddaughter. Her grandmother stopped rocking. Lucinda's calm stare fixated on the doorway.

  The lamp's faint light flickered a couple of times beside her bed. Silence settled in the room until footsteps came closer…closer down the hall. Simra’s throat went dry with her breathing heavy from desperation. The tall figure of Zach stepped into the room. He closed the door behind him and walked toward Simra and Lucinda.

  The angel placed a gentle hand on her grandmother’s cheek. “There’s no reason to be afraid anymore. I’m here.”

  “Stay away from her!” Simra moved between them to protect her grandmother from him.

  Lucinda gave him a warm smile, stretched across her bed, and dozed into a peaceful snooze. Zach seemed to comfort her grandmother so. On the other hand, Tristan caused such chaos for Lucinda and her granddaughter. However, Simra must remain on guard at all times with both brothers. Zach might be tricking them. How could Zach and Tristan be visible only to Simra and her grandmother?

  Flashes of the past few hours replayed in her mind. One thing was certain. This was all very real and no dream. She'd just woke up in the same ghoulish reality as the evening before.

  Turning her heavy sleep-deprived eyes toward her grandma’s digital clock, she saw the flashing green numbers of 3:15 a.m. There was no reason for a doctor to come in this time of the morning. Zach probably arrived to collect her grandmother's soul. Didn't most deaths happen during the morning? No, he wouldn't have the chance!

  Simra pressed her lips together and stepped closer to him. She held down her voice in a hushed tone. “Leave us alone. If you want me to believe you're not like Tristan, you'll stop following me and never return here.”

  “I'm not following you, Simra. I arrived to calm your grandmother. Azazel came and frightened her. She needed assurance that everything would be all right. I sensed something was wrong that involved my brother. I got here as soon as I could.”

  Torn with what to believe, Simra sighed with frustration. She needed to stay there with Lucinda the rest of the day to make sure her grandmother would be all right. Tristan could come back. Most importantly, Simra knew Zach wanted Lucinda's soul. Her key priority was keeping her grandma safe.

  “You realize how difficult it is to trust you? You might be an angel. But how's it true that Grandmother’s been placed under such a hideous curse? Curses aren't real!” she hissed.

  Zach sat next to Lucinda on the bed with much stillness in his eyes as he gazed at Simra. “Souls, angels, demons, curses, and God do exist. Azazel's a fallen angel of death, and I’m an angel fighting for the Lord. We’re all very real, and you must believe in Jesus to survive. Trust in Him to bring you through this.

  “A demon like Azazel is wicked enough to place a curse on anyone who gets in the way of what he desires. I realize it's difficult to trust me since your involvement with my brother. But the fact is I’ve been sent to stop him. We’re nothing alike. Your grandmother knows this."

  He paused and gazed with sorrow at Lucinda. "She was his first chosen bride years ago, but he got humiliated by her rejection. So, he cursed her for it. Allow me to take you to safety. You deserve some peace after what he's placed you and your family through all these years."

  Simra’s senses reeled from ragged emotions, and she paced the room. “What do you mean by that? He didn't know my family. Tristan…wanted to marry Grandmother? How's that possible? He and I were engaged."

  Zach stood up and placed his gentle hands on Simra’s shoulders. He caused her to melt underneath his compassionate touch. “He's always known and stalked you like his prey. Azazel lured you to fall for him with his charm. He couldn't have Lucinda. But he knew she'd have a granddaughter just like her in the future. So, he waited for you. Your parents and Melton would only be in his way of you, and he knew it. So, he-”

  "No, no, no!" Simra pounded her fists against his chest and broke into sobs.

  Since the tragedies, she'd tried for years to find out what caused the accident and the mysterious heart attack. The police, doctors, and witnesses could not explain them. Her parents' car swerved off the road and crashed for no reason. Melton Reece always had perfect health.

  This 'angel' toyed with her mind! He'd read her thoughts. Zach probably gathered some information about Simra's family from her. It seemed he wanted to make himself look better than Tristan!

  All Simra could do was sob harder when he surprisingly placed his arms around her with a warm embrace. "You must stop blaming yourself. It's not your fault why they died, nor is it Lucinda's. I'm the one who let her down years ago because I didn't save her in time. I was too preoccupied with my own feelings. I let her down. I let you down. Most importantly, I let God down."

  He squeezed Simra closer against him. "But I'll assure you of this. I'm protecting her granddaughter with every power I have whether you like it or not."

  She inhaled his intoxicating cedar aroma between sobs and jerked away from him. He had the same effect on her as his brother in the beginning. She needed to avoid Zach as much as possible to keep from getting hurt again. Both angels were fallen whether Zach said so or not. "Just leave us alone!"

  "I'd do as you ask, but I can't and won't. Lucinda asked me to take care of you. I promised her. And I need your help." Zach's gaze turned troubled. "We should flee to safety. Now! My brother's back. He's here for you this time. Trust me and hold on to me."

  Simra’s breath caught in her throat when a dark shadow billowed behind Zach, and the lamp flickered. Her body grew weak again. She needed rest. But she needed to stay conscious and protect Lucinda!

  Tristan was back, and there was nothing Simra could do. She felt like a helpless human with sudden fainting spells. Darkness closed in on her, and she collapsed.

  Chapter 5

  "For God's purpose for us is not wrath, but salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." - I Thessalonians 5:9

  Zach caught Simra in his arms when she collapsed. Something was wrong with her. Something caused by his brother. A curse.

  Zach placed Simra beside her grandmother on the bed. Azazel shadowed over him as Zach bent down. The angel turned to look into the face of his twin brother. The demon’s glowing eyes burned into his with a smoldering fury. Azazel’s hands clenched by his sides, and he squared his shoulders. The evil demon showed no fear of Zach.

  “I thought I told you she belongs to me, Zach. Simra doesn’t want you. She loved me first and still loves me. If you don’t leave now, I’ll bring an end to you…forever this time.”

  Zach tightened his jaw. “Simra thought she loved you once. You never loved her. You’ll never understand the meaning of love. You’re nothing but a demon, and her soul belongs to God. What have you done to her?”

  Tristan gave him a sarcastic smirk. "She'll be with me forever, whether I'm destroyed or not. Simra's staying with me wherever I go. So forget about keeping her for yourself. She's mine."

  Zach stormed toward his brother before Azazel could reach him and placed a hand on the demon’s head. The angel pinned him against the wall. He mumbled a prayer to send his brother into a dark slumber for a while.

  “Lord, thank You for giving me power and authority over demons. I cover myself, Simra, and Lucinda in the blood of Jesus. I command you, Azazel, to leave this area in Jesus's name," Zach grumbled in the Aramaic dialect.

  Azazel’s ragged screams filled the nursing home. The sunlight of the Spirit beamed through the room and chased away the demon. Zach nodded a silent ‘thank you’ to Him before rushing to Simra. He glanced at Lucinda, who smiled in her peaceful slumber.

  Simra remained unconscious. Zach took her hands in his. They were clammy. He remembered Simra eating donuts earli
er, but that's all he saw her eat. Was she a diabetic?

  Zach left Simra with her grandmother to grab an insulin shot and glucose meter out of the medicine room. He returned without anyone noticing the extra equipment taken. Zach pricked Simra's finger and allowed her blood to trickle onto the meter. Sixty-two. She suffered severe hypoglycemia.

  Zach jabbed the insulin shot into her to bring her blood sugar back up. Now, he just needed to take her to the lake house before she awoke. The angel of death dared to caress the tender flesh of the young woman’s face.

  Zach gathered Simra close against him, and warmth ignited inside him. Her nearness captivated him as he went through the city and held her in his arms. He looked down at the sleeping beauty again and almost couldn’t resist stealing a quick kiss. Shaking off such tempting thoughts, he focused on his mission in this world.

  He did not return to this world to fall in love a second time. Zach would not allow himself to become distracted again. If it was wrong for him to love Lucinda, it was wrong to love Simra. He only needed Simra's assistance in stopping Azazel and communicating to their mortal parents.

  However, Simra must be protected so she would live to fulfill her duty. That duty was to help him destroy the demon. His heart twisted in regret. A bigger part of him wanted to protect her for another reason.

  He hated to admit how much she affected him. And worse, he knew how much he affected her too. She was falling in love with him. She was making the same terrible mistake as Lucinda years ago.

  Zach arrived at his old lake house and stepped onto the porch to unlock the door. The strong aroma of cedar suffocated him with aching memories inside the house. The old floors creaked beneath his feet. Huge oil paintings of the mountains hovered over breakable figurines of bears and wolves. Large evergreen candles stood beside the porcelain figures on wide cedar shelves. The decorations lavished the inside of the place.

  His parents kept it just as Zach had it before he left his mortal vessel. The scent in the house with Simra there caused his heart to ache. His past in this house with Lucinda would always haunt him. Forcing his gaze back to the young woman, he realized he must focus on his mission with her now.

  Zach lit the candles to bring more comfort inside the house when Simra awoke. He studied the sleeping woman after lighting them. Enduring these dangerous encounters with Azazel must have drained her delicate human body. After her lashes fluttered open, her gaze traveled to Zach. Mistrust and rage seethed from her hazel eyes.

  “Zach, where am I?”

  Remaining calm, Zach explained about protecting her. “I’ve brought you to safety so Azazel can’t get to you and hurt you. He can’t come inside my lake house. It's been protected for years. I prepared my house on the Lake o’ the Pines to protect anyone against a demon. A pastor was asked to recite sacred prayers all around the outside and inside.

  "I asked him just before your grandmother came from Farmerville, Louisiana. This home belonged to your grandfather's Aunt Cathleen. I bought the place when I returned in the modern days. I persuaded my mortal parents into keeping it as their camp. They kept their promise to me.”

  He gazed down as regret filled him. “I didn’t have the chance to tell my parents to take precaution of Azazel. He murdered my mortal vessel before I could tell them. My death was made to look accidental. I think my brother wants to murder our parents in my presence.”

  Simra bolted up from the chair with her hands balled into fists at her sides. “Take me back to my grandmother! Tristan might still be there. How could you leave her there with someone like him?”

  Zach stood from the chair. “She’s fine. You’ll be fine. I defeated Azazel and said a prayer of protection to keep him away from Lucinda for the time being. God’s protecting her for now. You can inform your cousin and the nurses of bringing your grandmother here to stay with us if you’d feel more secure. Have faith that we’ll endure this and destroy Azazel.”

  Simra took slow steps away from him and walked around the house. She stopped to gaze toward the yard and the shed outside the kitchen window. “Why would I want to bring her here to stay with someone who’s collecting her soul? I don’t see a lake. You certain Tristan can’t come inside this house?”

  He couldn't control a grin from forming across his lips. Simra seemed somewhat more trusting of him. Azazel was the cause for her mistrust. Sympathy filled Zach for the poor woman and what she endured with his demon brother.

  “Yes. I won’t collect her soul until the curse claims her life. I’m not doing this because I want to. There's more bad news. Azazel cursed you as well. You have hypoglycemia. You should eat healthier, balanced meals and eliminate your sugar intake.

  "The only time you should eat sugar is when your blood sugar drops. That's why you've been blacking out all this time. The lake’s less than half a mile down the road. As you can see, Simra, there’s a boat in the shed. All of this belongs to my parents now. I wanted give this place to them before I died because I knew we'd need somewhere safe to stay.”

  “Tristan killed the body you inhabited? How do you know he cursed me and that it's hypoglycemia?”

  The angel took a seat in one of the cedar chairs at the kitchen table. He repeated what Azazel said to him during her unconsciousness and how Zach figured it out. “And, yes. He’s the one who murdered me right after Quint killed his vessel. Azazel intended to die. He's more powerful now. God wants me to stop Azazel before many more people get hurt.”

  She took a seat in the chair across from him at the table. “People like me and my family have already gotten hurt. Can this curse that Tristan placed on us be removed?”

  “I’m not certain, but we'll see. Perhaps if Azazel’s destroyed, the curse will be as well. Again, I’m not sure,” he leaned forward in his chair, “I need your help. But you must be willing to change things within you. In return, you'll be rewarded greatly. God will bless you. You’ll have peace, love, and happiness.”

  Simra clasped and unclasped her hands. “I’m sorry, but I continue thinking I’ll wake up from this nightmare. None of it seems real. It’s difficult for me to believe in angels, demons, and curses.” She drew back in her seat. “Please take me back to my grandmother.”

  Determination seized Zach in making this stubborn woman help him. He must keep her safe so she could get the job done. The angel held his tongue from showing any impatience. “You’ll die and awaken in a real nightmare if you go back out there. Azazel’s waiting to take you. I advise you not to do that. Fallen angels and curses are as real as God and His blessings.”

  He paused and added, “The Lord didn’t want the darkness in this world to pass. Evil and curses are from the dark one. Some people in this world have lost their faith or gotten on the wrong path. Many dwell in darkness instead of living in Him. This is why so much darkness walks among us. Some of you allowed it into your lives and refuse the Father’s salvation.”

  Simra glanced away from him. The emotions scattered in her eyes after he described her in some ways. She didn’t turn her gaze toward him for several moments. “I…I…must get back to Grandmother.”

  “Simra, you won’t be able to go to the nursing home for a while. I suggest calling your cousin and telling her you won’t be able to make it. We have a job of our own we must do. I’m warning you. It’s about to get ugly. First, I need you to talk to my family about protecting themselves. They must be kept safe from Azazel.”

  A fuming rage ignited in her eyes. “I’m going to work Monday. I’m needed there, and no one can stop me from doing my job. Grandmother needs me most of all right now.”

  Zach leaned forward and tried convincing the stubborn woman of the danger around her. “You’ll be missing work whether you want to or not. Something terrible is about to happen. A messenger of God told me, and God knows all. Your grandmother will be fine. She can stay here with us. For now, focus on protecting yourself. We have to find Azazel’s body to burn as we recite prayers over it. The demon must be destroyed before you and ever
yone else you know and love is murdered.”

  Simra turned toward him before walking out the door. She placed her hand on her hip. “Are you trying to draw a reaction out of me? And making threats? You're acting just like your brother and wasting my time. Goodbye.”

  Bolting up from the chair, Zach followed Simra onto the front porch. “The only reaction I’d ever try to pull from you is happiness. I didn’t threaten you. I only warned you about what will happen.”

  He paused and added, “Azazel will come after you if you leave the safety of this house. I didn’t try to draw a reaction out of you. I know my brother told you lies and that he's miserable on the inside. I only speak the truth. God wants to help you through me.”

  Simra ran down the steps of the porch and turned to him before leaving. “I’m sorry, but I can’t trust you. Your brother tricked me in a similar way. He acted like he wanted to rescue me. Tristan turned out to be someone completely opposite. I have to go check on my grandmother.”

  “Simra, please…”

  Zach started going after her until she ran away from the house. A chill spread through him when he realized his only hope of saving many people might be lost. This innocent woman, blinded by her anger with the Lord, might be killed. A woman who left his heart weaker than the last time he fell in love.

  Chapter 6

  "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for the murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." -Revelation 21:8

  The breath of roses and gardenias embraced Simra with their sweet aroma in Zach’s yard. No vehicles were parked at Zach's home, which mystified her how he brought her. Moonlight glistened onto what appeared to be a road through the thick trees ahead of her. Simra ran as fast as her legs could go down the dirt path.