“Onafiel, Anahel, Zarall, after your wards!” Ranoss shouted as he charged after Nyla. With Arithem and Anisian gone, Ranoss had been left in charge. Though he really had no need to order the angels to protect their wards. ’Twas their assignment from the Almighty. But Nyla! She had been through so much. Had he been able to protect her thus far only for her to be captured now? And by her own brother?
Oh, Commander, let it not be so!
Drawing their weapons—Anahel, his mace, Onafiel, his long blade, and Zarall, his ax—the three warrior angels surrounded Brianna, Tori, and the children as they raced through the minefield of trees and fallen branches, thorns, and rocks. Encumbered by the children and their own exhaustion, the humans moved too slowly.
The soldier chasing them would have no trouble catching them.
In truth, he was nearly upon them now, a hoard of demons surrounding, spurring him on.
But the angels could do naught until the daughters of Eve commanded.
Zarall grew impatient.
Drawing his weapon, the soldier slapped aside a branch and shouted. “Stop right there, or I’ll put a bullet in the child!”
The demons cackled and snorted as if they’d already won.
The women halted. The angels growled in frustration. Why did they not use the power the Commander had given them?
Slowly, Tori turned and stared at the possessed human. “I command you to stop and return from whence you came in the mighty name of Jesus.”
“That’s my girl!” Zarall shouted. “Onafiel, shield them from his eyes! Anahel, with me!” The two angels swooped down upon the mob of hideous spirits swarming about the man.
???
No sooner had Tori issued the command than the NWU soldier halted, blinked, and stared at them in wonder. The weapon wavered in his hand as he reached with his other hand to rub his eyes. When he opened them again, he uttered a sigh of unbelief and glanced across the clearing and into the surrounding woods…
As if he could no longer see them.
She would laugh, jump for joy, lift her hands in praise if she weren’t so frightened. Yet, as her heartbeat returned to normal, she saw the demons swooping up and down and all around the soldier. They sliced right through him, whispered in his ear, and uttered such dreadful sounds, she wanted to plug her ears.
Brianna gripped her hand and eased beside Tori, trembling.
Carla, however, clapped in glee. “Onafiel made us invisible, Mommy!”
Tori glanced at Brianna and smiled. “She’s right.”
“And the other angels are fighting the black dots,” the little girl exclaimed.
Tori’s gaze landed back on the man, who swatted the air around his head as if he were being attacked by a swarm of bees.
The demons disappeared one by one, uttering shrieks of pain and cries of defeat. And each time, a glimpse of a glowing weapon, a golden ax, a shimmering hammer appeared flying through the air.
Finally, when the vile spirits had left the soldier, he turned and dashed back the way he had come.
Carla began to dance, twirling and hopping about, singingJesus loves me, this I know. Overcome with joy, Brianna chuckled.
Sinking to her knees, Tori raised her hand in praise and thanked the Lord for His protection and His mighty angels. Carla and Brianna joined her, and together they praised God and prayed that He would protect Nyla, Calan, and Thomas as well.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John 13:35
Chapter 27
Nyla knew this forest. Knew it as well as she’d known Fort Lauderdale when she’d been stationed there as an NWU Florida Peace Keeper. So it was easy to navigate around trees, boulders, even creeks—all familiar landmarks—to evade capture. She was at the top of the NWU Deviant Kill list. They wanted her and Calan more than any other Deviant in the North American Region. Which is why she’d sent Tori, Brianna, and the kids in the opposite direction. Now, if she could only lure them away from them while not getting captured herself. Of course that was easier said than done with her being seven months pregnant. She’d kept herself strong and healthy, but still, running with this extra weight wore her down. Not to mention was maybe hurting her precious child.
Weaving around a group of trees, she balanced carefully down a steep incline, then took off at a slow sprint over a flat area filled with underbrush. Sweat dampened her shirt and jeans. Her breath came fast and hard, and several small cuts sliced her arms where she’d swiped thorn bushes. Though she was a trained warrior, she hated being without Calan, but they’d decided long ago that should they run into NWU troops, they should separate. Best they didn’t both get caught, for who would run UnderHisWings?
