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

He held his head, then looked up at the ceiling of the Roundhouse. Before running his hands through his hair, he rubbed his forehead as if he had a severe headache. “Why depend on us to fight your battles?” To say something was wrong would be an understatement. He looked super stressed.

“It is the Master’s way. To perform a miracle, He would rather use two fishes than a whole roasted lamb at a banquet feast. His favorite instruments have always been His chosen. We who were created to sit in His presence may only do what He allows us. We are an extension of the Master’s will and power, but one of His chosen has the ability to alter any outcome. The chosen named Moses changed God’s mind when His children angered him. God’s champions have dominion over predestination. We angels do not, therefore, since the Master says His time is not at hand, He must depend on the gifted to fight this battle. You know not of the resources at your bequest.”

“Okay, big shot, if angels only do what their master tells them, how did the mighty Lucifer and a third heaven manage to think for themselves?” He gave the Seraphim a hard glare. “If you wanted to, you could stop all this and save Rose at the same time. Isn’t your army twice as big as his? What happened to angelic free will?”

Jimmy knew as much about the bible as he did quantum physics. That wasn’t him talking. Calypso was goading Reuwel to rebel against God. Even I could see through her plan.

Reuwel put his hands in a prayerful pose and slowly drew them apart. Blue flames swirled between them and the room suddenly felt like a meat locker. “Mage of Ishtar, do not tempt me.” The angel turned his palms toward Jimmy, and a glaring light beamed from between his fingers. “Ogygian Witch, the light of truth will reveal your intentions.”

Instantly the glamorous image of Calypso overlaid onto Jimmy’s manly frame like a film projector casting an image on a Herculean statue. Jimmy’s voice became an octave higher as he said, “If you stumble and break your vow of servitude you will be free as the chosen are, your Master will not cast you out into the darkness of this world. Sweet Seraphim, I would never label you as fallen. I would call you free. Break your vow; speak freely and do as you want, not as He commands.”

The angel folded his hands, and the glaring light ceased to shine, leaving the Nymph’s faint features hovering over Jimmy’s. “Yours is the voice of treachery, the voice of deception. This is the guile that befell the children of God in the garden. Do you not know, free will is a gift for the children of Adam alone? Thy foul tongue desires to twist the truth, but in His light, all lies are revealed. Truly, your sins will find you out.” He paused. “Witch, look at your vessel.”

Jimmy looked down at his hands and said, “What have you done. You dare deceive me by turning my words against me, and now, my masquerade is undone. Fortunately, I yet control this one you call Jimmy. His selfish desires are strong. I will take him as my prize.”

Flower yelled, “Calypso, how did you escape the barrier? Are you not also bound by Phoenix’s curse?”

Jimmy sneered at her “I do not answer to you, human fool.”

Ignoring Calypso, Reuwel spoke to Jimmy. “Child of man, deliverer of justice, will you come to our aid? The lady Rose needs your strength.”

Jimmy laughed. It grew in volume and emotion until it became a maniacal cackling. Suddenly, he stopped. The unmistakable look of sanity reclaimed his face, and he cried out, “Rose...Rose…Rose.” His face began undulating. It looked as if something on the inside of a bag was trying to press its way out.

Standing and twisted from side to side, his entire body jerked and gyrated with amazing velocity. The faint projection of Calypso’s image vanished, and after an exhausted sigh, he collapsed. I ran to him. Not knowing what good it would do, I put one of the folded blankets under his head.

I glared at the Angel. “What have you done to him?” I demanded.

Reuwel stood and spread his six wings to their full size. They reached from one side of the large room to the other. A chime tinkled as he moved them. “I have done nothing. Jimmy, of the Dugan clan, found a reason to battle the entity called Calypso. His feelings for the woman Rose have broken the Nymph’s charm. She no longer has power over him. When I take my leave, he will revive.”

Relief overwhelmed me, but my fifteen-year-old nervous system operating constantly at DEFCON two or higher crashed—or it felt like it. What should have relieved my anxiety, instead heightened my angst, and I maniacally yelled, “I’m sorry. All this is my fault. It’s my fault Jimmy went to the carnival in the first place.” I turned to Flower. “He should have never come with us. I’ve failed Jimmy, just like I failed Kelly, Dave, and Rose. I’ve failed, and this war hasn’t even started. After all the warnings, I couldn’t save Dave. Jimmy spoke the truth when he said, this is not his war any more than it’s Rose’s. I put them in harm’s way.”

“Child prophet, you are mistaken. This is their war—it is everyone’s war. Ishtar is coming and has no mercy for the innocent. It is time to rise up and seize the day. Claim your victory.” Just as he did in the meadow, he lifted his hand above his head and made a fist, and a pulse of mystic power surged across the room. I tingled from head to toe while the potent sensation, both pleasing and peaceful, washed over me. “What makes you believe the truck driver is dead?”