THE AIR PULSED with rhythmic club sounds as bodies undulated to the music. I danced with Christina and Eden while colored lights played on the wooden gym floor. I didn’t mind not having a date. It was actually kind of fun just goofing around dancing with my girlfriends. We’d heard about this new teen dance club and decided to check it out.
As soon as a slow dance began, Ty whisked Eden away. Christina and I just danced together. Amid all the sweat-covered bodies around me I spotted Andy following a beautiful gothic-type girl in a floor-length white gown. They crossed the dance floor, headed toward a door with a sign over it, saying No Admittance.
Two dark figures, both clothed in black hoodies with silver baseball hats and shoes, followed them. They weren’t dressed like any students I knew from school. Curiosity made me follow the two figures as they followed the girl and Andy. I told Christiana I was headed to the restroom.
The girl opened the door, took Andy’s hand, and dragged him inside. The two strange guys snuck in just before the door closed.
Who was this girl? I hoped one of the guys in black and silver was her boyfriend and they were going to catch them together making out or something. Or was one a jealous boyfriend and about to beat up Andy for sneaking into a closet with his girl? This I had to see!
I turned the knob and pushed the door a few inches. The room was so dark I couldn’t see a thing, especially after being in a room full of lights.
I heard loud voices not too far away. I couldn’t make out the words. At least three voices were interacting.
I crept inside, careful not to make any noise that would reveal my presence. The large closet was one that must have been used by a janitor to store equipment. Once my eyes adjusted to the dark, I could see buckets, mops, old light bulbs, and shelving filled with various kinds of tools and equipment. A soft glow of light emanated from another room adjoining the closet.
I peered around a cement pillar and saw Andy’s wrists chained to a rafter, his hands raised above his head. The girl in white paced around him like a cat stalking a mouse. In her left hand she held a golden whip. Andy’s chest heaved. His eyes were wide in terror. Neither said anything.
Just behind Andy I caught a glimpse of a head of blond hair and a face with translucent blue eyes. It looked like Mike, but his chest and upper arms were covered in scars. I’d never seen my strong champion look so battered. He approached Andy from behind, flaming sword in hand. His lips curled in a sneer.
The two black-cloaked figures stood silently to either side of Andy, their legs spread and fists clasped behind their backs.
Andy’s mouth opened wide, revealing a double row of pointed teeth.
I clamped my hand over my mouth to stifle a scream. He looked more demonic than human. What was he?
Mike dropped his sword at his side. “Seraphina,” he hollered, “take him out.”
The girl in white cracked her whip. “This is your kill.”
Was he going to kill Andy? Was he going to kill a spirit possessing Andy?
Mike raised his large blade. It radiated light. “I’ll send you straight to the abyss!”
Mike circled Andy, his grasp on his sword growing tighter and his veins on his face protruding.
“You can no longer possess this boy. You will never again attack my charge using his body.”
Mike’s going to kill Lagarre! But how?
Andy’s eyes rolled back in his head. His head thrashed back and forth, straining at the chains around his chest, feet, and hands.
I inched forward, trying to get a better look at the scene. I stumbled over a string of electrical cords. When I straightened, Mike, Seraphina, and the two boys in black stared at me, mouths slackened.
The blond boy yelled, “Who’s there?”
The brunette asked, “Can she see us, Mike?”
I cleared my throat and in a quivery voice said, “Yes, I can see you.”
Oh, no. How will they take this?
The short boy snarled, “You’d better get out of here.”
Mike stepped forward and stood between me and Andy. “Let her be. I want her to see this.” He puffed his chest out as if to punctuate his insistence of my presence.
“No way. Get this girl out of—”
Andy howled and lunged toward Mike, straining against his shackles.
He lashed at Mike with nails and teeth that resembled metal blades.
I backed up and tripped on a bucket, collapsing on the floor with a thud.
My lower back felt bruised, and I rubbed it as I clamored to stand up.
Why do I have to be so clumsy? How embarrassing.
Seraphina swirled her whip, catching Andy around the waist. He yelped and crashed to the ground.
The taller boy lunged at Andy and jabbed a knife blade into his chest.
Bluish-green liquid gushed from the jagged gash.
Wow, is that the color of demon blood?
Andy’s body rolled, flailing and gurgling as he held his hand over his bleeding chest. After a few moments of writhing and moaning, Andy’s body went limp.
Is he dead?
Seraphina grazed her whip softly across Mike’s wound, and it closed, leaving no scar behind.
That’s no normal whip. She seems to be able to control whether it wounds or not.
Mike stood over Andy, raised his own leg, and smashed it into Andy’s already wounded chest. “Go straight to the abyss, Lagarre!”
Mike was facing away from me, but I could see that he’d sprinkled something on Andy’s body. What is that?
Andy’s body convulsed violently, then went limp.
I stepped closer. Not a trace of blood remained on his chest or on the floor.
Where did the blood go?
Seraphina and the boys in black vanished.
Mike bent over Andy, his wings hanging limp against his body.
“Lagarre will never return. The Lord of All gave me authority to end this feud once and for all.”
Why couldn’t he end his life earlier? Had there been a purpose in his lingering? Maybe for me to learn my final lesson in discernment when it came to boys?
I clamored to Andy’s side and held his head in my hands, his body limp and eyes closed. Would he be OK when I saw him in school on Monday? He’ll sure need the weekend to recover from this.
Mike tucked something tiny into a pouch on his waist. “He won’t bother you anymore.”
What a relief. But I was more concerned that Andy would be all right at that moment.
I gently set Andy’s head back on the floor, then raised my eyes to scan Mike’s body. “Why are you so scarred?”
“I incur many wounds in my battles for you—and others. I usually hide them when you see me.” He fluffed out his wings and curled them around his body to cover the scars.
Come to think of it, when he appears in human form he’s usually covered in a long-sleeved shirt and jeans. Tonight he was shirtless and was wearing a tunic-type skirt. Golden shin guards covered his legs, and his chest glistened with a matching golden breast plate.
“I’m so sorry I caused those.”
The corner of Mike’s mouth turned up. “I consider them badges of honor.”
My eyes misted. What sacrifices he had made for me, ones I’d witnessed, and surely many in my past.
Andy began to stir and groan.
Mike nodded in Andy’s direction. “We need to go before he wakes up.”
“I can’t just leave him here. Won’t he need medical help?”
“He’ll be OK. He’ll assume he blacked out and feel a bit disoriented. He won’t remember what happened.”
“So he won’t remember trying to rape me either?”
“No.”
That was a relief since I’d have to face him in school. Perhaps it would cut out the awkwardness in seeing each other.
“Is Andy a ‘good guy’ now?” My usual conflicted feelings for Andy began to stir in my stomach.
“Give him some time.” Mike read my mind. “Don’t rush into being too ‘familiar’ with him for a while.”
“You’re trying to say he’s not ‘the one’?”
Mike nodded slowly, his head cocked to one side. “Try to concentrate on your spiritual walk right now, your friends, and school. OK?”
“You’re right. And I trust you, Mike.” I stepped forward and threw my arms around his shoulders, practically bouncing off his chest it was so solid. Then with my hands remaining on his shoulders, I traced my index finger on my right hand across a scar on his left side that led from his collarbone to the middle of his bicep.
“Me?” I cringed.
“No.” His eyes stared at the floor. “Lagarre,” he growled.
“But that’s over now, right?” I dropped my arms to my sides.
Mike lifted his gaze and looked me in the eyes. “Not really. He has cohorts that would love to carry out his revenge, as well as avenge the death of one of their own. Lagarre’s son, for one.”
I peered into his liquid-crystal blue eyes. His brow furrowed in worry.
“When the time comes and I’m able to pray you through a battle, I’ll be there for you,” I stated.
The concept sounded rather backward, since he was the one that was supposed to help me. But, then again, weren’t we beings with the same Creator, fighting the same battle? I wasn’t sure how that concept would play itself out, but I had a feeling I’d end up in a dual battle with this creature, someday—one way or another, side by side—and we’d equally cover each other’s backs. Goose bumps rose on my arms. I knew prayer was my best weapon. That would be some heavy-duty praying. Or would more be required?
“Sister in battle?” He offered his hand as if to shake mine, but instead grasped my forearm in a shake I’d seen guys do in movies involving brotherhood or battalion comrades. I returned his grasp and squeezed his lean, muscular wrist since that was as far as my small hands could reach.
My eyes fastened on the tiny pouch at his side. Before I could ask him about it, his form was gone.
I blinked in the darkness, looking for a slice of light coming from the door.
I had no desire to dance. I walked out of the storage room, meandered through the crowd, and headed toward the parking lot. I’d see if Christina was outside since I could not spot her among the throng inside.
Christina came running down the steps behind me, yelling my name.
I turned around.
“We’ve been looking all over for you. Where have you been?”
“Settling a little score with Andy.”
Christina’s face brightened. “Did your guardian angel bust his butt for attacking you that night?”
I smirked and shot one eyebrow upward. “Totally.”
“Awesome. What happened?”
“It wasn’t really Andy who attacked me that night. A spirit possessed him—one that Mike, my angel, knows well. They’ve had runins before.
But Mike assured me I’d never have to worry about this creepy spirit again. God gave Mike the authority to send his enemy straight to a place called the abyss. I guess it’s a place they can’t escape. ”
Christina placed her hands on her hips and wagged her head back and forth. “Wow. Wish I could’ve seen that.”
“I did. It was scary. Especially when four angels, including Mike, caught me spying on them during the whole exorcism thingy they did.”
She leaned in. “Four angels? Cool.”
It was sort of awesome watching those angels surround Andy.
“I don’t feel like hanging out tonight. Is that OK?”
“Sure, no problem.” Christina waved her hand as if to say, “Go.”
“See you at school tomorrow.” I hugged Christina, who then turned to go back inside.
I scrounged into my purse for my keys as I walked to my car. I opened the door and slid in, but before I even got the keys into the ignition Mike appeared in the passenger seat in human form, wearing his red, long-sleeved shirt and jeans.
Ahh . . . that’s better. I didn’t care for the scarred, armored Mike. I felt like a close friend had just popped in to hang with me.
I leaned across the console and wrapped my arms around him. He returned my hug with a squeeze, then disappeared, leaving my arms hanging limp in my lap.
I slapped the seat where he’d sat. “Why’d you do that?” I growled.
I heard a belly laugh coming from somewhere. I wasn’t sure of the location.
“Ha!” I said, expelling all the air from my lungs. His laughter broke through the stress that had lingered from the scene I’d just witnessed at the dance. I was thankful that Mike had put me at ease in his lighthearted way, which I’d become used to.
As I drove home, I felt the tension in my shoulders peel away with each mile, although I still hoped that Lagarre was gone for good. But I wondered if his companions would return for revenge. Was tonight an end of a battle or the start of a new one?