Immortal Memory (Book One) Page 8

  Simra smiled when she saw her friend waving. The detective motioned for her to come and take a seat beside him. She rushed toward him and gave him a tight hug. Something horrible was about to happen. Simra almost sensed it. This night seemed to have already happened, but she must trust God.

  “Jeff, I’ve been so worried about you. Glad you’re well. What'd you find?”

  His smile waned when she mentioned finding something. “Did Mandy decide not to come? I followed Quint to the quarters today, and something bizarre happened. I can’t explain it. It also seemed to stun Quint and the other drug dealers.”

  Simra placed her hand on Jeff’s, which rested on the table. “Mandy’s taking care of Grandmother at the lake house. I’ve witnessed incidents since Tristan’s death that can’t be explained either. So, please, tell me.”

  “Is Zach here, or did he stay?”

  “He's outside guarding the place. So what happened?”

  The detective leaned forward and described everything he witnessed in a hushed voice. Jeff seemed to not wish for others to hear the odd experience. Simra gasped when he told her about the tire airing up by itself. The wheel of the drug dealer’s car became flat. Jeff explained how it saved him from the dangerous situation in the quarters by magic. Zach must have been there to help her friend.

  The way the angel of death helped Jeff warmed her heart. Maybe Zach wasn’t anything like his brother. Perhaps the charming angel could be trusted. Zach seemed to want to protect her, her family, and friend. The angel was doing everything he could to destroy the demon forever.

  “Jeff, it was Zach.” Simra explained more about the angel and demon. She told him about Lucinda's journal.

  Her friend’s eyes lit up. “There's something else. I researched Dr. Zach Hanley. He drowned in the lake while fishing a year ago. There were also twins in Lucinda's younger days named Zachriel and Azazel Hanley. Azazel Hanley was wanted for murder years ago, and Zachriel was a detective. Both brothers disappeared after the murder. According to the newspaper article, Azazel and Zachriel were both involved in the cult. I'd be careful around Zach too if I were you.”

  Simra felt the blood drain from her face. "Oh my…”

  Quick movements snatched her attention outside the window. Zach clasped his hand around Tristan’s neck and shoved him against a truck. Never did the angel appear so aggressive and out of control! She and Jeff needed to get out of there.

  Simra turned to Jeff, rose from the table, grabbed his hand, and started to run. “Both brothers are outside the shop. We have to leave. Now! I'm not allowing anything to happen to you.”

  Jeff followed her into the face of danger. “Wait!”

  Chapter 12

  "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." -Matthew 10:28

  Simra hurried out the doors of the coffee shop and into the cool night air. She scanned the parking lot for any people. Everyone was inside the coffee shop and listened to the young musician. The people didn’t seem to notice what took place outside the windows. Jeff gazed from Simra to where she looked several times. He followed her into his car without Tristan and Zach noticing.

  The demon slipped from his brother’s grasp and stepped behind him. Tristan grabbed a handful of Zach’s hair and pinned him against one of the vehicles. Simra ached from her heart getting broken again. Zach tricked her worse than Tristan did. They were both fallen angels! However, a part of her couldn’t bear to see Zach defeated.

  Simra dialed the number to Mandy's phone, and her cousin answered. "Sim, is everything okay?"

  "No, Jeff found out some things about Zach. He's just as evil as Tristan, Mandy. You and Grandmother have to leave now! Take her back to your place, and I'll meet you there. Jeff's bringing me now."

  "Oh my! Okay, we're on our way."

  Zach seemed to have hidden his true form all this time. They must stay away from him. Simra’s main priority was keeping her family safe. There must be another safe place other than the lake house.

  Jeff sped down the road. "How are you going to stay away from Zach and Tristan? You know they'll probably find you, right?"

  "It seems my only option is to rely on God. I know I've never really had a relationship with Him. But I think it's time to start trusting Him. After all, He's kept me safe all this time. What are you doing about Quint tonight? Isn’t he supposed to meet you in the quarters for his money?”

  “Yeah……actually, there’ll be disguised cops follow me into the quarters where I met him. We’ll arrest him tonight. No doubt about it. I believe God's been the One keeping all of us safe. There has to be somewhere safe from Tristan and Zach.”

  Simra recalled how a person involved with drugs lied most of the time, and her heart thumped with madness. Maybe Quint had other plans. Maybe the drug dealer knew it was a setup to arrest him.

  “We'll figure something out if Mandy's place isn't safe. I also don’t want you or anyone else to get harmed.”

  Jeff eyes wavered. “Yeah. I’ll do my best to stay safe. But I don’t know what to expect with an evil angel and demon on our hands. Quint will be handled properly.”

  “Jeff, can we stop by my house to pack a few things? I won't be home for a few days.”

  “Of course," Jeff replied, making the turn down Simra's neighborhood.

  Simra knew this would be the best opportunity to pack since Zach and Tristan were both distracted. She dug through her clothes in the closet and in the dresser. Simra stuffed them, her phone charger, and toiletries into a large suitcase. Everything in the house appeared the same as when she came with Zach. Tristan left all their memories scattered through the house.

  The pictures of Tristan and Simra together, which he left in the den and bedroom, drew a heaviness in her throat. The Burberry cologne still suffocated her. Everything sucked Simra back into a dreadful past she longed to forget. His letters were strewn across the floor, and she crumbled up one of them. Silence filled the room, and the cold breath of evil seemed to close in on her. A hand grasped her shoulder, and she jerked back in response.

  Simra turned to see Jeff behind her. “Sorry to startle you, Sim. I noticed everything of yours and Tristan’s everywhere.”

  Simra snatched one of the love letters from the floor and ripped it to shreds. “I trashed them. He must’ve found them, collected them, and brought everything back to me. Tristan’s manipulative and possessive. He’s only doing this to win me back.”

  Jeff gave Simra a look of apology. “Don’t allow him that control over you. Give it completely to God. He helped you live through all that madness with Tristan in the past. God will give you the strength to survive it again.”

  Simra gave Jeff a warm smile and squeezed him with a tight hug. “Thank you for being so supportive. Your kindness and friendship means the world to me.”

  “I love you, Sim. Now let’s get to Mandy's. I've got to meet the guys soon." He led Simra out of the house.

  "I love you too, Jeff."

  They got into the car and drove away. The lights of a vehicle behind Jeff almost blinded Simra after a while. The person tailed Jeff's bumper for far too long.

  Jeff frowned and squinted his eyes from the blinding lights in the mirror. “I wish this crazy driver would back off my tail. I'm driving fast!”

  Jeff made a wide turn onto another road. Simra’s heart dropped to her stomach. The street lights revealed a familiar dented vehicle speeding after them into the neighborhood. The engine fired up louder, and the car raced after them.

  “Jeff, don’t go to Mandy's! It’s Tristan’s Dodge Charger!”

  Simra’s heart bled because of the danger she placed Jeff into tonight. How could she have placed his life into the hands of a mad, enraged demon? Maybe she and her family really were safer at the lake house.

  Jeff grabbed his two-way radio and alerted other cops in the area. They responded in seconds.

  Jeff replied and told them the l
ocation he was headed. "We'll be there in five minutes at the most. Can you get there in that amount of time?”

  The officers responded, "Ten-four, we're on our way."

  Simra’s heart hammered against her chest. “You think it's the drug dealer?"

  "I saw a similar car at Quint's house today. He must've been parked by your house and saw us."

  The bright lights on the front of the car grew closer and blinded them more. Tristan’s headlights ducked under the rear of Jeff’s vehicle. Simra felt the blood rushing from her face as she jolted forward.

  The Dodge Charger rammed into them with a brutal thrust. Jeff’s car swerved to the other side of the road and back into the proper lane. They might be killed by this insane driver! Simra had to protect Jeff and her family to the best of her ability tonight. She would prove to herself that she could do it. Without a lying angel!

  The car backed away from them. Then, it sped up in a rush. The Dodge jammed into them when it caught up. Jeff’s vehicle dove off the road and into the ditch.

  The other officers were supposed to meet him at this spot. No other houses or cars were around them. Mandy lived in the middle of nowhere. Simra touched a small dab of blood oozing from her brow.

  Jeff, who appeared unwounded, remained seated in the car. "Don't worry. I have a gun, but he probably has one too."

  Simra lifted her head to the stars above the pine trees after seeing Quint get out of the car. God, please watch over us. Surround us with Your presence. Amen. Simra began to regret how she ran away from Zach. Her eager heart raced to go back in time.

  Quint reached into his pocket and pulled out a pistol. "Ya lying fool! Ya are a cop and involved wit' her. Step outta' tha' ca'! Both o' ya! I'm 'bout to kill ya both afta' I get my money. Now both o' ya owe me a million in cash."

  Jeff turned to Simra and nodded as they stepped out of the car. Simra’s feet froze to the ground, and her body grew numb.

  "I'll kill you myself if you kill him or my family."

  The drug dealer clicked his gun and prepared to shoot her. “No one kills anyone but me. Got it? Ya new boyfriend, dis cop, will die right now.”

  Simra couldn’t control her lips from parting with surprise. Zach rushed from the thicket of pine trees and made it to the drug dealer before Quint shot at Jeff. Simra blocked the detective. Her muscles tightened.

  She jerked back when the thug pulled the trigger. Her breathing halted. The bullet didn’t hit her. She turned to Jeff, who didn’t get hurt either. Gazing up, Simra saw how Zach eased the gun in another direction. The crook didn't realize Zach was there.

  Quint fired at Jeff and Simra again. The loud boom of the pistol made Simra’s bones almost jump out of her skin. Zach kept easing the gun in a different area. The drug dealer aimed at a sign and hit it right in the center. The thug tried to shoot them again. Zach caused Quint to fire in a different direction.

  The crook’s eyes narrowed with confusion when he gazed at the weapon in his hand. Simra gathered all the courage within her to run toward Quint. They needed to steal the gun before it was too late. Zach protected them. Maybe they could take the pistol without getting shot.

  She motioned for Jeff to help her knock Quint down. One of them could grab the weapon from his hand. Jeff wrestled him to the ground. Simra snatched the hard barrel of the gun from the thug. Sirens whirred in the distance and came closer by the second.

  Simra aimed the gun at Quint and kicked him in the groin. She hissed at him between clenched teeth. “Never touch my family again if you want to stay alive.”

  She would risk her life to protect Jeff, Lucinda, and Mandy. Simra took shaky steps away from the man and allowed Jeff to handcuff him. She glanced toward the angel, who frowned at her. Three vehicles approached, and their flashing blue lights almost blinded Simra.

  The tires of the cop cars squealed and came to an abrupt stop on the side of the road. Jeff rushed toward them and told them about Quint trying to kill them. The detective told the others that Quint had an awful aim.

  Simra glanced at the drug dealer, who glared at the cops. The numbness tingling in her veins couldn’t be controlled. Her body quivered as dread mounted inside of her. Simra's stomach churned to know what Tristan might do next. Surely he would be angry that Quint was arrested.

  The squealing brakes of Tristan’s worn out car caused Simra to flinch when one of the cops took it away. Quint must have wrecked the thing several times after he took it. That vehicle was in excellent condition when it belonged to her ex-fiancé.

  Simra turned to their friend when he came toward her. “Jeff, I forgot to ask if you found any trace of Tristan's body.”

  Jeff lifted the glasses from the bridge of his nose for a brief moment. “I looked everywhere around Longview and found nothing. I’ll continue searching for it; however. Come on, let's get to Mandy's. We're not far from it. I've got to get to the station and deal with the arrest."

  As they made the drive there, Simra looked at Jeff. "What made you believe me about seeing Tristan and Zach? Have you ever seen angels?"

  Jeff's eyes filled with pain, and he sighed. "No, but my mom did just before she died. She saw an angel and reached out for him. Mom asked me if I saw him too. I didn't, but she died seconds later. I believe in angels and demons. They are as real as God. That's why I believe you. I just hope you'll be okay. I'm so worried about you. My mom saw an angel of death just before she died. I don't want to lose you too, Sim."

  Simra felt the blood drain from her face. "You won't lose me. And we won't lose Grandmother either. I'll make sure of it."

  Nothing would happen to Mandy and Jeff either. Enough of Simra's family members were dead. Becoming involved with a demon would never be forgotten. Her grandmother’s life might already be taken. It was all because of Simra and Lucinda's involvement with Tristan.

  Simra would blame herself forever for not listening to her grandmother sooner about Tristan. A deep regret flooded her senses over deciding to stay at Mandy’s tonight. Something told her they should have stayed at Zach’s lake house.

  Chapter 13

  "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9

  The Lake O’ The Pines seemed so far away from Mandy’s place. Lucinda and Mandy needed their rest. Simra shouldn’t ask her cousin to go back to the lake house. The hour grew much too late. They had God, and He would protect them.

  “We’ll be safe. Right, Sim?”

  Simra bit her lower lip and realized her own lack of faith in the Lord. “Of course. Just have faith.”

  A few lamps lit up the den. Simra had sighed from some relief after walking into Mandy's cozy home. The faint scent of Sea Island Cotton caused her to relax. Simra's feet sank into the plush white carpet. She relished the softness beneath her feet. Simra flinched at the chiming grandfather clock. It was late.

  Portraits of Simra, her cousin, their grandparents, and Mandy’s parents surrounded the house. Mandy even kept the pictures of their friends from college. Simra spotted the photo of her, Jeff, and Mandy in their gowns and caps at graduation. Their silly faces drew a smile from her.

  All her happiness and joy had been snatched away by-oh, she hated to think of him again. Her breathing stopped as she held back a sob. A picture caught her eye. Lucinda’s bright smile tore her heart to a thousand pieces of remorse.

  Mandy picked up that same photo. She placed a hand on Simra’s shoulder. “That’s the day it snowed so much. I'll never forget how excited you became when Grandma showed us how to make snow angels. I miss those days sometimes. You and Grandma were so happy.”

  Simra cast her tear-filled eyes to the floor in shame. “It’s my fault. I should’ve never allowed that horrid demon into my life. How could I have been deceived by something so evil?”

  Mandy took her cousin’s hands and squeezed. “Don’t blame yourself. It isn’t your fault. He chose Grandma long ago, and he's a demon. It
was out of your and Grandma's control. Come. Let’s go to bed. It's been a long day.”

  Lucinda paced the floor behind them. The woman's hands trembled at her sides. Although her shaky words were unclear, Simra exchanged worried glances with her cousin. Mandy led them down the hall.

  Simra’s stomach twisted with revulsion at the thought of Tristan hiding in the dark shadows of the house. The demon might be very enraged that Quint was in jail. Simra hated to imagine how he would react.

  She reached for her grandmother’s delicate hand, but the woman wrenched herself free. Lucinda continued pacing back and forth when they got to the room. Their grandmother’s widening eyes ripped Simra’s soul in half.

  Mandy’s gaze followed Lucinda's every move. “You think she senses when the demon’s around? Look how she’s acting. She never behaved this way at the lake house.”

  Torn emotions scattered throughout Simra’s soul and weakened her body. They should have stayed at the lake house. Lucinda did react this way when Tristan came around them. But the hour grew late. Simra couldn’t understand why their grandmother was so fond of Zach. The angel wanted Lucinda's soul. He performed evil spells too. Surely the older woman knew that from years ago.

  Mandy and Lucinda had dark circles underneath their eyes. They needed rest. Faith. Simra could not let go of her faith. She would prove to Zach how she didn’t require his help. Mandy and Lucinda must be protected even if she got no sleep tonight.

  She squared her shoulders and took Mandy’s hands in her own. “Have faith. Pray for our protection.” Simra glanced at the floor and realized her own lack of trust in the Lord.

  Mandy’s eyes wavered, and she passed a troubled look from Simra to their grandmother again. “I’ll pray for it many times tonight. Tristan’s dangerous. I don’t trust him anywhere around us. Something tells me we were safer at Zach's.”