Aaron merely narrowed his eyes at the men.
“We mean it, mister!” The knife-man charged forward.
???
Plucking his ax from his belt, Zarall charged forward, his intent to battle the hoard of demons inhabiting the man with the knife. If one could call him a man, for ’twas obvious his DNA had been altered so much, he was no longer fully a son of Adam.
“Wait!” Arithem ordered, mighty hand in the air. “Let us see how he handles this threat.”
“Alas,” Anahel protested as he hovered over Brianna, “he does not know ’tis spirits he battles and not flesh.”
Arithem nodded. “But his male heroics will do much to unite he and Tori, for united they must be to complete the Commander’s plan.”
“Ah, these foolish humans with their romantic notions,” Tagas added, standing beside Sara.
Zarall huffed. “Indeed. And ’twas such notions which destroyed a third of our kind after they were cast from heaven.”
Thomas shoved the man’s knife away with a bat of his stick, then swept down and clubbed his attacker across the knees.
The half-human screamed and fell to the ground, dropping his knife. One of the others grabbed it and slashed Thomas across the arm. A line of blood appeared.
“Protect your charges!” Arithem shouted.
Hefting his sword, Arithem started forward, but Thomas leapt out of the way of the next attack, kicked the man in the gut before he could regroup, and then pounded him across the back. The knife flew from his hand and Thomas caught it.
The third man fled. Struggling to rise, his two friends followed.
Arithem smiled at his friends. “See? I did not have to do a thing,” he said proudly.
“Aye.” Zarall sheathed his ax. “But now she must deal with the storm.” He nodded to the torrent of rain around them. “Will she realize the source before it does them harm?”
Onafiel fluttered his wings as he gazed down at Callie in her mother’s arms. “’Twould that it will not come to that.”
Anahel drew his spiked mace and glared at Aaron. “Your time will come, spawn of hell!”
Aaron grinned, which only infuriated them all.
“Never fear.” Arithem crossed arms over his chest and nodded at Tori. “She senses the evil. She is close to passing this test.”
“I pray you are right, my friend,” Zarall said with a sigh. “For if she doesn’t, many souls will be lost.”
???
“You’re bleeding.” Tori pressed an old rag over Thomas's arm.
“It’s nothing.” He looked behind him where more people emerged from tents and were heading their way. “We need to leave.”
She agreed.
“Way to go, son!” Aaron slapped him on the back. “I would have joined you if I was twenty years younger.”
Thomas smiled, and Tori could tell that the old man’s praise meant a lot to him.
She headed over to help Brianna with Callie. Covering themselves with jackets and backpacks, they dashed out into the deluge.
To say Tori was impressed with Thomas would be an understatement. How many times had he risked his life for her? Too many to count, starting with many times in their teens, to helping her escape from certain death at his Reformation Headquarters, and now to protecting her from drugged vagrants. In fact, if not for his heroics, he’d still be Vice Regent of New World Faith North American Region, living in his luxurious beach mansion and hobnobbing with the ruling elite. She glanced his way as he helped Brianna settle a blanket over Callie to shield her from the pouring rain. His torn shirt clung to a muscular body, the sight of which sent a swirl of warmth through her, despite the storm. His saturated hair matted to his head, dirt slid down his skin in rivulets as the rain washed it away, and he limped slightly from the blisters on his feet.
She’d smile if he didn’t look like a mere shadow of his former self. Guilt pinched her. She’d done this to him. Yet…in the long run, his soul was better off with them. At least he had a chance to make the right choice for eternity.Lord, please help him to see.
