The Growing Years (The Angel Chronicles Book 3) Read online

  Charlotte beamed at him then took her usual perch up on his counter. “Oh, no offense taken. Let me see if I can help you understand us a little better.”

  Edgar took a seat at the table and listened intently as Charlotte explained how angels came to be…

  “When the Creator made angels, He made the exact amount that He would ever need. No more have been created since the time of the Great Beginning. We were all created like humans in His image with free will, except that we don’t have souls. We were never children, so we didn’t grow up into adult angels. We were created exactly as we stand before you now. We were created to be messengers or warriors, guardians or ministering angels. I feel that we were given our assignments based upon our individual strengths and weaknesses. As you know, we have ranks and titles, leaders and commanders. As you also know, we can lose our rank if we do not follow orders or if we misbehave.” She smiled when Edgar glanced at Gideon in amusement. “Oh, yes, we have the choice to be bad. Most of our offenses, however, are usually not that bad. When they are, then we are reprimanded.”

  “So Blondie must have been exceptionally bad to lose his position, correct?” Charlotte looked to Gideon for the answer to Edgar’s question.

  Chapter 2

  “Zareck was always a leader from the moment he was created. I used to look up to him. As his second in command, I thought he was what I always wanted to be. I mean that in a good way. I wanted to be the strong, commanding leader that he was. I never even considered the possibility that one day that would happen. I was sure that he would reign over the warriors forever.”

  “What happened? What did he do to lose his position? If I may ask?”

  Gideon smiled at the aging gentleman. “Edgar, I think it’s a little too late to try to keep you in the dark on anything. The best way to explain would be to tell the story from the beginning…”

  Gideon swung his sword at his leader with every intention of knocking him off his feet. He had bested every warrior here save one, his commander.

  Zareck smiled, mocking him as he fought. “Come now, Gideon, surely you are playing with me. Is that all you got?”

  Gideon watched carefully for his moment, the time when Zareck would least expect the attack. He let his swings get droopy, his breathing become labored; he even stumbled to make it look as though he was getting tired. He started using his wings more and more to keep him stable. Zareck shook his head then made the move Gideon was expecting. He spun to the left, dropping down to sweep Gideon’s legs out from under him. Gideon leaped into the air and brought the flat of his sword across his leader’s forearm. Then he laid it across his exposed throat. Gideon smiled in triumph. He did it! He won! Suddenly he felt searing pain engulf his abdomen. When he looked down, Zareck had his dagger buried to the hilt in his stomach.

  Gideon stumbled backwards, falling to his back as Zareck got to his feet and stood over him. His commander reached down and yanked the blade from Gideon’s body. With the light coming from behind him, Gideon couldn’t see his face, but he heard the contempt in his voice when he spoke.

  “Never start what you won’t finish.” Then he turned and walked away.

  Gideon groaned as he lay there staring up at the blue sky with the golden swirling ribbons gliding across and tried to control his temper as he breathed through the pain. He was shocked that Zareck actually stabbed him. This was only practice; they never went for the kill in practice. He knew that he wouldn’t die from his wound, that they couldn’t die no matter what they did to each other, but it was a show of respect to stop just short of harming your fellow warrior.

  “You know he was just angry that you had bested him, Gideon. That’s why the sucker stabbed you like that.”

  Gideon rolled over onto his knees with another deep groan, sitting up slowly. He held his hand over his wound, which was already starting to heal. That didn’t mean it still didn’t hurt.

  He looked up at Tomora. “I don’t understand him.”

  The other warrior walked over and pulled Gideon to his feet. “I hate to say it, but he did have a point. Never start what you won’t finish. He has drilled that into us from the beginning.”

  Gideon picked up his sword from the sand and shoved it roughly into its sheath.

  “Was I actually supposed to behead my own leader? It was just practice!” The angels made their way across the camp slowly.

  “You know that Zareck’s biggest fear is someone coming along better than he. No one has come close except for you. Today you proved that you could best him, so he didn’t take that lightly. To you this was practice; to him this was war.”

  Later that day Gideon swam far out into the Crystal Sea, the salt in the water stinging his still-healing wound. He knew he would choose to keep this scar because he had learned a very valuable lesson. Always expect the unexpected. He flipped over onto his back, spreading out his wings to keep afloat. He thought about what Tomora had told him earlier. Did Zareck feel threatened by him? He had fought his way up through the ranks because he wanted to be the best, not necessarily the commander. He had never even entertained the thought of taking Zareck’s place. For one, he didn’t think it was possible; secondly, Zareck was a great leader with centuries of battles under his belt. Flipping back over, he started swimming back to the beach, his long muscular arms pulling his body through the water quickly.

  Once he reached shore, he shook out his wings then sat down in the hot sand, fanning the glossy black feathers out behind him to dry. He could wish them dry immediately, but he liked to let the warm rays of the Most High do it slowly. He looked down at the wound that was nearly completely healed. The scar wouldn’t be that big or that noticeable nestled in between the muscles of his taunt stomach. However, he felt that it was perhaps the most significant scar he possessed.

  The next day Zareck called a meeting of all the warriors that were in the heavens at that time. Ever since the fall of man, they were never all home at the same time. Squads were sent out then replaced as needed with fresh faith-filled warriors. Gideon stood in the back as Zareck announced that a large number of warriors would be sent to earth on a special assignment. It was time for the Most High to leave the heavens and walk on the earth as a man.

  “Lucifer will do all that he can to keep the Most High from His appointed time. We will follow Him and make sure that all goes according to the Holy Scriptures.” Murmurs could be heard as the news spread throughout the crowd. Gideon knew they would be up against a formidable enemy. Lucifer, now called Satan, was once one of them. Although he wasn’t a warrior angel, he was a high-ranking angel in the heavens. He was well-liked and one of the most beautiful angels created. However, he became prideful and obsessed with becoming God. He had convinced one third of all the angels in heaven to follow him and rise up. When the battle was over, they were all cast to earth.

  Gideon had fought that battle with a heavy heart. He didn’t understand why Lucifer or any of the other angels would choose to rebel against the Most High. He knew the Creator loved them all; it was a sad day indeed when it was over.

  “Gideon, I need you to follow me.” Zareck motioned to three other warriors then turned and walked back into the command tent. The four warriors all stood waiting to hear from their commander. Zareck stood with his back to them for several long minutes before he turned and spoke.

  “The four of you have been chosen for a reason. You are the most capable and dependable warriors that I have. Your strengths will complement each other very well for this assignment. As I said earlier, the time of the Lord to walk the earth is fast approaching. I have need of a special task force to stay with the Lord at all times.” Gideon looked at the other three standing there with him; then he looked at Zareck.

  “Are you not going to be with us on this assignment?” He couldn’t believe that with something this important he wouldn’t handle it himself. Zareck shook his head.

  “The Lord has requested that each of you be assigned to Him. I know not the reasons behind it.” />
  The four warriors all looked at each other in disbelief. Cameron spoke up. “The Lord specifically asked for us?”

  Zareck narrowed his eyes at the red-headed angel. “Is that not what I said?”

  Gideon placed his hand on Cameron’s arm to stop him from saying something he actually might not regret saying later. “What exactly is the assignment?” Gideon asked.

  “You will accompany the Lord to earth, keeping Him safe up until His time. Then you must step back and allow Him to die. You cannot prevent it in any way. Everything must happen according to the Holy Scriptures.”

  The room grew quiet as each angel considered what was being asked of him. Then slowly all three nodded their heads except for Gideon. He walked to the opening of the tent, staring out at rolling waves and watching sea birds dance and flit on the warm ocean breezes. The weight of this assignment was heavy in his heart. He understood what was being asked of him, but could he do it? Could he stand by and watch as his Lord was crucified? He honestly didn’t know.

  “Gideon? I need your answer.”

  Taking a deep breath and without looking back he finally answered. “I’ll do it.” Then he walked out of the tent.

  The Lord found him later that day sitting on an outcropping of rocks beside the Crystal Sea. “Gideon, I understand that you have been told of your assignment?” Gideon started to get to his feet, but the Lord waved his hand for him to stay and joined him instead.

  “I know what it is that I am asking of you.”

  Gideon turned to him. “Why? Why must you go and suffer for a bunch of humans? Most won’t even return your love or appreciate your sacrifice. I truly do not understand, my Lord.”

  The Lord was quiet for a moment. “I do it because I can’t bear to see them without hope, without a way of coming back home. I do it because my heart won’t let me not do it. Gideon, they are all my children. My very essence is in each one that has ever been or ever will be.” Gideon started to speak, but the Lord raised his hand again.

  “Yes, there will be many, so many, that will refuse me. But it is for those that won’t that I must do this; even if it was only one, it would be worth my sacrifice.”

  Gideon continued to look out at the sea. He didn’t know what to say to that, but then he asked, “Why me? Why did you choose me and the other three warriors? Why didn’t you choose Zareck?”

  The Lord smiled. “Your questions will all be answered, my warrior, just not today.”

  The day finally came that the Lord was to be born of man He didn’t step up to the chutes that took every other living soul to the earth to be born. Instead He stood in the inner circle of the inner room in the center of the Holy of Holies surrounded by the Father and the Holy Spirit. The golden ribbons that floated over the entire kingdom of heaven swirled around Him faster and faster until they exploded with a shower of sparks and lights, and He was gone. Gideon and a regiment of warriors were right behind Him.

  “So you were there? When Jesus was born? You were there?” Edgar asked, looking for the first time just a little awestruck. Gideon hated to lose this opportunity to finally get some recognition from the unflappable old butler, but he had to be honest.

  “No, I was not there for the actual birth. I was needed elsewhere for a few days. However, I was with Christ for most of the thirty three years that He walked the earth with a few exceptions.”

  Edgar frowned. “But wasn’t it your assignment to watch over Him?”

  “Yes, but as I explained with Charlie, I don’t have to be within arm’s reach -- I can be out of sight of whomever I am guarding and still reach them in time if I am needed.”

  Edgar seemed satisfied with that answer then asked, “So what did Zareck do to lose his position?”

  Gideon walked over and pulled out a chair then he sat down. “He very nearly stopped the crucifixion.”

  Only the ticking of the clock, which hung on the wall, broke the stunned silence in the room. Edgar cleared his throat. “How did he try to stop it?”

  “He attempted to kill Judas before he could betray Christ. In his mind if he wasn’t betrayed, then the crucifixion wouldn’t happen. I got there just as he was swinging his sword to behead him.”

  Charlotte’s mouth formed a round O.

  “Oh… wow. No wonder he doesn’t like you.”

  Gideon nodded. “Yeah, that was the beginning of the end of our not-so-wonderful relationship.”

  Edgar drummed his fingers on the table. “But surely he realized that even if he took out Judas that another would step up to finish the job? That the crucifixion had to take place?”

  Gideon shrugged. “I guess he didn’t think that far ahead. He made it no secret that he pretty much detested all humans, so in his mind he would be doing the Most High a favor. After Christ had returned to heaven, He demoted Zareck and reassigned him. But it appears that even after guarding humans for over two thousand years his opinion hasn’t changed.”

  Suddenly Charlotte looked around the room.

  “Hey! Where is your guardian, Edgar?” Gideon lifted his head, searching the room as well.

  “I haven’t seen him or her either, come to think of it.” Both of the angels turned to the butler who suddenly became very interested in the surface of his small dining table. Gideon frowned.

  “Edgar, where is your guardian?”

  Not waiting for an answer, Charlotte hopped off the counter and searched the butler’s suite. Then going through the door she looked out into the hallway before turning back to Gideon.

  “He isn’t here. He should be somewhere relatively nearby; I’ll go look in the kitchen.” She started to turn back to the door to continue her search when Edgar stopped her.

  “Come back and sit down, Charlotte. You won’t find my guardian in the kitchen.” Casting a curious glance at Gideon, Charlotte resumed her seat on the counter, tucking a slim foot under her.

  “And why won’t she find your guardian in the kitchen? Is there somewhere else they prefer?” Gideon questioned with narrowed eyes.

  Edgar sighed deeply then got up to make a pot of tea. The room was silent as he filled the small copper kettle then set it on the stove and adjusted the flame. Finally he turned back to Gideon.

  “She won’t find my guardian because I do not have one.”

  Charlotte looked at Gideon with a puzzled frown. “That’s not right. All humans have guardians! I should know! Of course you have a guardian. Right, Gideon?”

  She turned to find the warrior staring at the old man very intently. “Edgar?”

  There was a wealth of emotion behind that single spoken word. The butler pulled out a chair and sat down heavily.

  “Oh, stop frowning at me, Gideon. You should know by now that scowl does not intimidate me in the least. I knew this day would come sooner or later, so I suppose now is as good a time as any.” Charlotte looked from the man to the angel, feeling ready to burst.

  “Tell us what?” She finally asked in exasperation.

  Edgar looked at Gideon. “The reason I don’t have a guardian is because I am a guardian…I’m your guardian, Gideon.”

  Charlotte’s mouth swung open in astonishment at Edgar’s announcement.

  “What exactly do you mean you are my guardian?” Gideon asked softly. The shrill whistle of the teapot was followed by an uncomfortable silence as Edgar, in no hurry, made his cup of tea before he sat back down. He took several fortifying sips while he looked at Gideon over the rim of his cup.

  “I mean exactly what I said. I am your guardian.”

  The furrows between Gideon’s dark green eyes drew together tighter. “So you are not human?”

  After taking yet another sip of tea, Edgar replied, “Of course I am human; what else would I be?”

  Gideon raised his hand to silence Charlotte, who was about to fall right off the counter in her excitement. “You know that doesn’t make any sense. How can a human be a guardian; furthermore, why do I need one? I’m hardly defenseless.”

  Edgar
nodded then put the empty teacup on the table. “Perhaps guardian isn’t the right word…perhaps mentor would be more accurate.”

  Getting to his feet, Gideon paced. “Guardian, mentor, neither one makes any sense to me. Why would I need either? How can a human mentor an angel? What do you think you can possibly teach me?”

  The butler got to his feet and approached the towering warrior who was filling the room with his confusion and immense pride. In a move that was nothing more than a blur of motion, he swept the warrior’s feet out from under him and watched as the angel landed hard on the floor with a thud. He then stood over him as he answered.

  “What can a human possibly teach you? Humility, Gideon…humility.” Then he stretched out his hand to help the stunned warrior off the floor.

  After Gideon had been settled back into his chair Edgar explained how he came to be.

  “When I died, I was little more than a child. The angel informed me that I could return to earth in one of two ways. I could return as a normal human and live out my life as such, or I could help them. Of course, I was very intrigued. So I asked how I could be of help to them. I couldn’t imagine anything that a young boy of my age would be able to do to help. They explained that my help wouldn’t actually be required until I was older…significantly older. When I was sent back I was given certain ‘gifts,’ such as the ability to be able to see heavenly creatures.”

  Gideon had gotten his wind back enough to finally be able to speak. “So up until I arrived, you lived a completely normal life?”

  “Not exactly. I helped the Laskers and the other refugees escape and build a life here. I wouldn’t call that normal; however, I didn’t do anything that any other human couldn’t have done. I didn’t use any of my gifts. Actually as I grew older, the more of a hindrance they became. I had to be more and more careful to make sure the angels were unaware of my ability.” He looked up and smiled at Charlotte who looked nearly ready to explode as she tried to suppress all of her questions.