Amber by Dan-Dwayne Spencer (e book reader .TXT) 📕

into the viper’s nest and they will not harm him. He can’t hurt you, no matter how much he may want to.”

“No. I cannot harm you, young prophet. But I’m not the one you should worry about.” Phoenix raised his hand and a dark shadowy shape rushed into the light. Immediately I recognized the blob-like shape of Mr. Dark, and he was screaming in pain.

“You’re hurting him,” I yelled.

“Have you ever wondered why he stays out of the light?” The angel made a fist with his outstretched hand and raised it over his head.

The shadowy blob started rising from the ground and took shape. It only took a moment for me to realize Mr. Dark was a shadowy replica, an exact doppelganger of me. In awe, I stood there looking at the dark version of myself.

I glanced over at Flower and she stood slack-jawed, staring at Mr. Dark for the first time. Not only had the angel’s power revealed Dark’s true form, but it allowed others to see him.

“This familiar is your dark side,” Phoenix said, “He is both forever bound to you and forever separate. To do all that judging, condemning so many people as it is written, you will need to be able to separate your dark side from the righteous side. Sadly, from the looks of him, the separation is not complete. See how translucent he is? Yes, he is not well baked yet.”

Mr. Dark cried out to me, “Make him leave me alone. I care for you. I help you. I warn you of dangers.”

“Yes, he warns you of danger because his existence is locked to yours. If you die, the shadow side dies too. He is only fending for himself.” The angel shook his head and uttered a disgusting grunt. “Don’t believe anything this one says. You can’t trust him.” Phoenix dropped his hand to his side and the shadow me melted back into a blob before scurrying out of the light.

I barked, “At least he has never lied to me. How do I know anything you’ve said here is true?”

“You don’t, but my Lady-Love knows I would never lie to her.”

Flower grimaced, “There is always a first time for everything.”

“You have come to me for answers, therefore, for you, my darling, I will recite the sacred words of the angel Reuwel, the revealer of secrets.” He put his hands in a prayerful position and as he pulled them apart, crackling sparks of electricity spat from hand to hand. His eyes glowed and emanated twinkling flashes of amber light. After a moment he slowly put his hands together again and recited:

“Earthly clay made flesh, Child of Zerachiel and child of Ramiel,

Protected Healer and Prophet transcended, instructed by Holy Ta’el.

Remove from your ears the filter and leaven.

Harken to he who sits in the window of heaven.

The Queen of Babylon rises to her throne.

Humanity has much for which to atone.”

 

Strange, vile creatures crept into the tent from under the bottom of the canvas. Down on their bellies they crawled, drawn by the angel’s words. With deformed human faces stitched into place, they crept around the tent. Their back legs bent forward in what looked to be a painful position. They were the hellspawn, loyal to Phoenix, and they embodied both a human and insect-like appearance. Climbing up the sides of the tent, and racing across the canvased ceiling, the demons gripped the cloth with their talons and hung upside down.

When Phoenix stopped to take a breath, these abominations cried out, “Et ideo scriptum est: Let it be done.”

“Haniel finds favor in his lady’s eyes,

And in her wings, Lilith abides.

Prophecy’s virtuous words, elegantly written.

The harlot lover by her charm is bidden.

Now Ishtar, she who will decimate;

Awaits him alone, her beloved doth hesitate.”

 

And the demons hanging overhead cried out, “Et ideo scriptum est: Let it be done.”

“He seeks the mystic words forbidden,

Archaic wards for angelic accession.

The script, written by Dominion and Seraphim,

Secret knowledge of Thrones and Cherubim.

Holy text on mortal stone, they did scribe.

Annihilation’s power, they resolved to hide.”

 

With a frenzy, the demons climbed down the sides of the tent and stood around the edges of the spotlight. One of the demon-creatures stood directly in front of me. It growled and snapped its fangs in my direction before in unison they all screamed, “Et ideo scriptum est: Let it be done.”

Fear overcame me and I wanted to bolt away—but my feet froze to the spot. I looked over at Flower for support. She took my hand and my fears subsided.

As quickly as they had appeared, when Phoenix finished reciting prophecy, the demons scurried into the shadows, back under the edges of the tenting, and out of sight.

“The Book of Uriel—angel who holds knowledge in his hand,

A book of revelation depicting mysteries unknown to man.

Prophecy for the tribes of Malach and Engel;

Like Isaac and Ishmael, never to mingle.

To restrain Abaddon the destroyer, find the text you must,

Before Ishtar’s unholy light ignites, leaving

ash and dust.”

“Phoenix, there is no redemption for you.” Flower jeered. “You are cursed by far more than the bonds you forged keeping you here. That was nothing but gibberish—meant to impress.” She scowled, released my hand, and shook her finger at him. “Calling your minions here didn’t impress me at all. What a childish ploy, trying to distract me from hearing your words. You think of yourself as master and those pitiful creatures as your subjects. You are master of nothing but corruption.”

The handsome angel pushed his silky hair over his shoulder, placed his hands over his heart, and said, “Go now, my love. Your presence—your closeness—pushes me into the depths of despair too great to bear. You chastise me for naught. So, in my suffering, it is best