Angel in the Shadows, Book 1 by Lisa Grace (Angel Series) (2 page)

“Allison.”

“Is this your first time at camp?” Allison looks
like she’s going to cry.

“Yes.”

“Well, we’re going to have fun. Can you help me
unpack?”

“Sure.” Allison climbs down quickly from the
bunk and walks over to where I’m unzipping my duffle on my cot.

“Where are you from?” I ask.

“Jacksonville. By the river.”

“Nice. It’s beautiful up there. Can you keep a
secret?” I ask as I reach into my bag.

“Yes.” Allison says earnestly.

“Good. I brought a bag of candy bracelets and
you’re in charge of handing them out to the rest of our cabin.” I
hand her the bag and Allison gives me a big smile.

I look around and notice two other bags stowed
under one set of bunk beds. “Allison, do you know the girls who
brought those bags?”

Allison nods her head and looks excited to give
me an answer, “Their names are Tasha and Tynekwa Taylor. They’re
twins. They seem really nice. They went to explore the camp. They
invited me along, but I was afraid.”

“Would you mind finding them and telling them
I’m here?”

Allison looks at me for a second then nods her
head yes. She turns to her bunk.

“Also, don’t forget to tell them about the
surprise.”

“Oh I won’t,” Allison replies. She puts the bag
of bracelets on her top bunk by her pillow and starts heading out
the door.

“Allison, if you see anybody looking lonely
could you do me a favor and invite them to sit with us tonight at
the campfire?”

She hesitates, turns, and says, “Yes, I can do
that,” the door slams loudly as she hops down the steps and heads
toward the beach campfire area where many of the kids are hanging
out.

I smile to myself. I want my cabin kids to have
a great time. Just not at my expense. Last year, I hid a snake in
my counselor’s desk drawer. Hopefully, my girls will be afraid of
snakes and I won’t find any hidden in my cot. Other than that, I
think I’m ready to handle just about anything. I enjoy unpacking in
peace before the rest of the kids find our cabin. It gives me a
chance to think about Mr. Z. A memory keeps nudging around in my
brain. Then I remember. Last year at camp, I think I saw him
shining too.

A memory floods into my mind. I remember saying
to him the last night of camp, “Mr. Z. you’re my angel. You shine
just like an angel.” The other campers laughed and teased me about
it so I dropped it and avoided Mr. Z., except to say a quick
goodbye the next day.

Now it was happening again. What can it mean?
Why would he glow and not others? Lost in thought, I jump as I hear
the cabin door swing open.

“Megan!”

It’s Seth.

“Seth!!!” I fly over to him and give him a big
hug. We could get in trouble for this, but I’m so happy to see him
I don’t think. He smells so good, like shampoo, I don’t want to let
go. Seth runs his fingers through my hair and inhales deeply. I
feel his heart pounding in his chest. We pull apart, a little
self-consciously, amazed at our feelings.

“It’s so good to see you!” I gush.

“Eight whole days together, it’s going to be
great,” Seth smiles and reaches for my hands.

We stand there for a minute, hypnotized by our
feelings. The door opens again and three more girls enter the
cabin. We let go and look at the new arrivals. Seth turns to me and
says, “Oh no, you’re in for it now, Megan. This is Ashley,” Seth
says pointing to a cute brunette with short curly hair, “Brianna,”
pointing to a girl with long dark brown hair and bangs, “and
Kayla”, who has golden curls and big blue eyes.

“Hi Megan. Where should we put our stuff?”
Ashley asks. Brianna yells out, “Dibs on a top bunk!” “I don’t care
which is mine,” Kayla interjects as I point out the available
bunks.

Seth continues his intro, “They all go to my
church. Watch out, they’re terrors.”

“HA, HA,” Brianna smiles sweetly batting her eye
lashes, “Only to you.”

“Bri is Robby’s sis,” Seth looks at me with a
knowing smile and winks. Robby is Seth’s best friend. He’s very
out-going and prone to pulling pranks on people.

At that moment, Robby charges in, grabs me
around the waist and twirls me around. “Did you miss me? Don’t
worry I’m ba-aack,” he says in a singsong voice.

Bri yells at Robby, “Let her go, you don’t wanna
squish Seth’s girlfriend on our first day at camp!”

I look at Seth, wondering if everybody knows. He
smiles back while raising his eyebrows. I guess so.

“Nah,” Robby says as he lets go, “I’ve got a
better plan.” Robby starts wringing his hands together, “I saw at
least three fat long snakes with Megan’s name on ’em.”

Robby must remember my prank from last year.
It’s coming back to haunt me. I roll my eyes. I’m not afraid of
snakes, but still, I don’t want to find one in my bed.

Ashley and Kayla squeal, “Don’t bring them in
here!” “I won’t be able to sleep.” They keep chattering and
squealing at the same time.

Bri answers, “Don’t worry, I’m faster and better
at catching snakes than Robby is. I’ll put two in his bunk for each
one he puts in ours.”

Ashley and Kayla squeal again.

Seth turns to me and says, “I’ll see you at
dinner, I better get my stuff unpacked and chase down my cabin
crew. I’m the first cabin on the right side.” He reaches out and
gives my hand one last squeeze.

I look at him anticipating when we can go to our
“secret place”, hopefully later tonight. “Okay, I’ll see you then.
Bye.”

“Bye, snake haven!” Robby calls out as he
follows Seth out the door. The girls answer with one last
squeal.

My cabin mates get down to the business of
unpacking and jostling for position to each grab a drawer in the
solitary dresser. The door creaks open and in walks Tasha, Tynekwa,
and Allison. I can tell by the looks on their faces that they are
best buds now.

I get out my packet and sit at the desk to find
out if the rules for naming our cabin are the same as last year.
“Okay gang, we have to name our team something from nature—except
no animals.” Last year it was animals.

Names start flying around the room in a huge
free for all as the girls shout them out, “Glaciers, snowballs,
stars, rainbows, avalanche, tornadoes, hurricane, sunspots,
volcanoes, Venus flytraps, seaweed, waterfalls, roses, daisies,
eclipses, sunbeams, spider webs.”

It turns out our team has a wicked sense of
humor. After a lively debate, everyone votes for Ashley’s
suggestion, the “Venus Flytraps”

Tasha says, “I hope nobody else picks that
name.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. It’s pretty
original,” I say.

Two raps on the cabin door and Mr. Z. (still
glowing) sticks his head in the cabin door. “Hey girls. I’ve
volunteered your cabin to hand out the hot dogs, chips, and sodas
for dinner tonight. Why don’t you head on down and find Toby. Megan
and I will meet you later.”

The “Venus Flytraps” head out laughing and
chattering down the path.

“Megan, let’s go for a walk.”

I follow Mr. Z. down the path to a couple of
chairs set out on the boat landing. We have privacy while still
being in view of the whole camp. We sit.

CHAPTER 2 - ZADOK

“Megan, when you look at me, what do you
see?”

“You glow.” I can’t look at him as I say this.
It sounds so strange.

“Do you see anyone else who a—‘glows?’”

I look out at the lake. Everything is so
beautiful. “No.”

I voice the only explanation I can think of that
isn’t supernatural, “Mr. Z. is there something wrong with you? Are
you dying?” Tears are welling up in my eyes. I take a deep breath
and will myself not to get emotional. That must be the reason.
Nothing else makes sense.

He chuckles, “No. But let me ask the questions.
You’ll get your chance in a minute. When did you first notice?”

“Last year.”

“Have you told anyone, discussed this with
anyone?”

“No. Except last year, when we were around the
campfire, I mentioned you look like an angel. The kids teased me,
so I never mentioned it again.”

“Am I shining now?”

I look up at him. He’s looking at me, waiting
for an answer, “Yes.”

Now I’m getting scared. I’m afraid of what Mr.
Z. is going to say next. I sense my world is changing, the same way
water becomes an ice cube. It’s still H2O, in a different form.

“Well you’re right. You’re not imagining things.
Some people I can’t hide from. Those that have the gift. Like you.”
He looks me in the eye.

“Megan—what do you think I am?”

I can’t breathe. This is the moment where I
expand. I whisper, “An angel.”

“My name is Zadok.”

Suddenly, his brightness arises. I see wings. I
see his glory. He is beautiful. He is air. He is real. I am small
and earthy next to this heavenly angel. Zadok cloaks himself once
again in his human form. Unbelievably, no one else in camp seems to
have noticed. I am changed. I am more. I am afraid.

“Megan, I am a messenger of God. I’m here
to do what
He
wants. You have
the gift of seeing spiritual beings. That’s why you can see me. If
you can see me, you will also be able to see others. The good and
the bad.”

“Others? The bad?” I’m still in shock. I can’t
think.

“It’s in the Bible, Megan. We’re in there. We
are at war with the forces of darkness, even on a beautiful day
like today. When the evil ones notice you, and they will, you and
your loved ones are going to be targets. You need to be prepared.
They will come after you. You are in danger. You have eight days to
ask me questions. You have the gift to see and the responsibility
of freewill. You can choose to fight evil or join the devil and his
angels.”

“But what can I do? How can I fight spiritual
beings?” I start to panic. Waves of fear slip over my head. I’m
drowning in it.

“You can’t, but He can,” Zadok points to Heaven.
God is in control and he’s already won.”

I start to calm down as I realize Zadok is
right.

“Be still and know that I am God,” I pull up
from memory.

“That’s right,” Zadok smiles. “Everyone on God’s
side has special gifts. Seeing angels, demons, and other spiritual
beings, reminds you that we are involved in something much bigger
than your universe, more mysterious, wonderful and dangerous than
most people care to think about.”

I let my fear go,
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I silently keep repeating my simple scripture until I am
calm. I manage to smile at Zadok, pushing back my fear, “I can do
this. I guess I have to.”

“You were chosen for a reason,” Zadok says. He
gets up and stretches.

“Zadok,” it feels funny calling him that, “why
do you think God chose me?”

He looks at me and smiles, “I don’t know for
sure, but in the Scriptures, He indicates that a child’s faith is
powerful. You are at the end of childhood. I remember when David,
just a boy, slew a giant that a whole army of armed men were afraid
to face. Maybe you have that kind of faith.” Zadok looks at me and
smiles, but in his eyes I see that he is serious. “Well Megan, talk
to Him, tonight. You know He loves to hear from you. Now I have to
go start a fire for the weenie roast. I’m still not sure if I’m
brave enough to eat one of those things. We’ll talk again soon,”
Zadok squeezes my shoulder then walks back up the path, still
glowing.

I look out at the lake again. How do I act as if
nothing has happened? Who can I tell? Who would believe me? No one.
The wind in the trees behind me rustles the leaves; a cloud covers
the sun and suddenly I feel chilled and threatened. Darkness begins
to fall. The universe contracts and evil takes a step closer.

I look at all the kids running over to watch Mr.
Z., I mean Zadok, start the fire. With the extra flames behind him,
I see his wings again outlined in the light. I guess it’s true that
nothing can be hidden in the light. I hear footsteps approaching on
the dock, and see Seth and Robby, followed by Kayla and a girl I
don’t know.

“Come on Meg, let’s help the kids,” Seth says. I
let him grab my hand and lead me along. I’m stunned and not sure
how to act like nothing has happened. I’m shocked they can’t tell
I’ve changed.

Robby pipes up, “Hey genius, tell her what you
signed her up for tonight. He volunteered all of us for KP after
dinner and making sure the fire goes out.”

“Well, better tonight when there aren’t
any dishes to do
and
we get to
stay up past curfew until the fire goes out,” Seth
answers.

“Oh yeah. Good thinking,” Robby turns to the
girls, “Did you find enough sticks?”

He’s talking about sticks to roast marshmallows
after it gets dark. Kayla and the other girl look at Robby
adoringly while Kayla answers, “We’re working on it. Don’t worry;
you can pick yours out first so you can show us how to do it.” The
girls head back toward the tree line.

Seth holds out a cup of coffee for me, “Here, I
thought you might like one.” He’s drinking a Coke. Robby takes a
last swig of his Mountain Dew and crumples the can with one hand. I
say, “You really should have saved that move for your fan club over
there,” nodding to Kayla and her friend.

“Oh, yeah, I’m the man, check out the guns,”
Robby says as he flexes his biceps.

I turn to Seth, “I’ve never really gotten what
that means. Someday you’ll have to explain it to me.” Seth laughs.
I take a sip, “Thanks for the coffee.”

We start heading back to the campfire. Robby
puts his can on the ground, kicks it, and yells, “Kick the can!”
Several young hyper sugar-fueled boys converge as Robby yells out
directions and gets the game going.

Seth looks at me and shakes his head, “He never
runs on anything less than full steam. I’m glad he’s here. If he
can’t wear these kids out, no one can.”