Angel in the Shadows, Book 1 by Lisa Grace (Angel Series) (3 page)

Now that we are at the campfire, I say hi to
some of the kids and staff I haven’t seen since last year. I can’t
believe how normal everything appears. I want to scream that there
is a whole hidden world around us. There is no one who can see, no
one to really believe. I work hard on getting anchored back into my
everyday life.

Mr. Steve along with Mr. Timmons, one of the
owners, calls Seth over to help him roast the hot dogs. Mr. Timmons
loads up these big metal tongs that hold a dozen dogs each. They’re
heavy, but the dogs can’t fall out of them into the fire.

I walk over to my Venus Flytrap girls who are
standing behind the table loaded with buns, plates, and all the
fixings needed for a cookout. “Hey Megan, have some chips!” Five
bags fly at me, hitting me mainly in the head. Somebody says, “A
chip off the old block!”

Now they’re all laughing so hard I’d almost bet
someone’s going to pee in their pants. Next someone yells out, “How
’bout a soda?” An empty can hits me on the shoulder. As I half
duck, I spill some of my coffee. The laughter continues. I’m
becoming more anchored by the minute.

Seth yells out, “I warned you you’d be in for
it!”

The laughter goes on. I have an intuition that
I’m going to be finding at least a frog in my desk drawer
tonight.

As the sun sets, I have the three musketeers as
I’m beginning to think of them, Tasha, Allison, and Tynekwa, run
back to get us all jackets and a couple of flashlights. I have a
few minutes to think about how ordinary the night appears except
for the fact that I can see angels. I’m still in shock.

Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the leaders for the songs
tonight. They’re the adult team from Robby’s bus. Mr. Davis comes
out lugging a big box of bandanas. “Okay, who has names picked out
for their cabins?” As each team yells out their name, followed by
much hooting and hollering, Mr. Davis hands over a bag filled with
their team’s color. We get neon orange. Seth’s team, the
‘Lightening Bolts’ draws a bright blue color. Robby points out,
“Hey put your colors together, go UF!” Robby is talking about the
University of Florida, back home. He starts doing the gator chomp,
along with the “Duh, da, duh, da, dudadudaduda.” Robby’s fan club
squeals as he comes close. Robby’s team name is the “Volcanoes”.
They get bright red.

We settle back into a light routine of singing
songs and roasting/burning marshmallows. We end with a group prayer
and Mr. Davis sends all the campers back to their cabins for bed.
“Bri,” I ask, “can you take charge till I get in?”

“Yep,” she says as she takes a flashlight to
lead our girls back.

Mr. Timmons comes up to Robby, Seth, and me and
says, “You kids know to dump some water on the fire once it dies
down and watch out for the steam. Buckets are over by the shed. You
can use the lake water. I’ll be in the lodge kitchen making notes
for the breakfast gang. I’ll be back out after that. See you in the
morning.”

We nod our heads, “Thanks Mr. Timmons.”

After Mr. Timmons is out of sight, Robby turns
to us and says, “I know I’m a fifth wheel.”

I pipe up, “You mean a third wheel.”

“Yeah, whatever. I’ve got my pole, I’m gonna
head over to the dock to see if I can catch something.”

Seth looks at him and says, “Thanks man.”

Seth and I sit down next to each other with our
backs to the dock facing out to the water now on our left. We can
still see the cabins off to the right and the lodge behind them.
Seth reaches out and grabs my hand. “I missed you,” he says.

I squeeze his hand lightly, “I missed you
too.”

“You know I never officially asked you to be my
girlfriend, but I am now.”

Seth takes my other hand and stares lovingly
into my eyes, “Would you?”

I smile at him and answer, “Yes, of course.” We
lean in and give each other a kiss. His lips are warm. Seth smells
smoky from the fire. I love that smell. He puts his hand on the
back of my hair and holds me gently while we press our lips softly,
searching, not wanting the moment to be broken. I breathe him in,
wanting to hold this moment for eternity. We slowly draw away.

“There, sealed with a kiss. You don’t mind if
people know, do you?” Seth asks.

“I think they already know, from the way the
girls were acting earlier.”

“Well back home I was texting you a lot. I think
they noticed, and Robby’s probably said a few things to Bri, and of
course she tells everybody everything.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty hard to keep secrets.”

The mention of secrets reminds me again about
Mr. Z./Zadok. For a moment I had almost forgotten. I wonder if he
sleeps while he’s in human form. I wonder if he’s watching us now
from a different dimension, in spirit form. Suddenly, I have a
million questions.

Seth asks, “What are you thinking?” I scoot
closer and lean against him. I want to tell him my secret. I won’t.
Not yet. Instead I think about us, our future.

“I’m just glad we have these eight days
together,” I say. Eight days with Seth, now my boyfriend, eight
days to ask Zadok questions.

“Really only seven, today’s almost over with,”
Seth says into my hair. Seth continues, “I peeked at your schedule
and traded with Carrie so I can do lifeguard duty this week with
you.”

“So you can see me in a swimsuit?” I tease. Most
of us girls wear T-shirts over our suits and only one-pieces are
permitted anyway.

“Nah. I don’t care about that. I just want to
spend as much time with you as I can.”

“I’m glad. Me too.”

Seth keeps his arm around my shoulder. I don’t
know what about him is so intoxicating. When I’m near Seth, it’s
just so right. Almost like we’re one.

The fire makes a crackling sound as a log falls
with a thump into the embers. I can feel the chill from the evening
creeping closer. I shiver. The fire is dying and our time together
is running out.

Robby strolls back, “Nothing’s biting tonight.
Whew, it’s getting cold.” He stands as close to the fire as he can
get without stepping into it. He holds his hands up to warm
them.

Seth stands up pulling me to my feet, “Let’s get
those buckets and get to work.”

We each dip our buckets in the lake trying not
to get our feet wet. We throw our water on the embers and the steam
makes a loud hissing sound.

Robby lowers his voice and says, “Steam fires of
hell.”

I feel a fingernail trailing down the center of
my back and jump. It was just Seth. “Boy are you jumpy,” he laughs,
“I’ll walk you back to your cabin.” Seth puts his arm around my
shoulder, and with a flashlight in the other, we make our way back
to my cabin. We can hear the girls giggling as we approach so we
just say goodbye as I head in.

As I enter, the cabin gets quiet until I hear
croaking coming from my desk drawer. The girls burst out laughing
at their little joke. I lift out the toad and let him go out the
door. “Remember, I can pay it forward. And,” I add menacingly, “I’m
not afraid to pick up a snake.”

The laughter quiets down to a giggle and soon
they’re asleep from exhaustion. I get ready for bed quickly,
patting down my cot just in case the toad wasn’t the only
surprise.

CHAPTER 3 - UNEXPECTED DANGERS

I awake to the sound of a bugle accompanied by
the groans of everyone in the cabin. “It’s too early”, “Just
fifteen more minutes,” someone moans. I force myself out of my cot
feeling the same way. I’m stiff and my muscles ache from spending
the night in the cot. I know not to stall on taking a shower as the
hot water will run out by third or fourth kid. Besides, the hot
water will wake me up and warm up my muscles.

“Okay, anyone left in bed by the time I get back
from the shower, is fair game to hit with your pillows, and if you
don’t take a shower this morning, make sure you do during the lunch
or after-dinner break,” I grab my tote that holds my toiletries,
wrap myself in my robe, and head out the door.

I take a quick shower and leave some extra
conditioner in my hair because of swimming duty, head back, get
dressed, and race over to the counselors’ lounge for a cup of
coffee. I’m not hungry, but I force myself to eat a bagel with
cream cheese. I’ll need the energy later. I say hi to the other
early birds while waiting for Seth to walk in.

“Hey Megan,” Carrie says as she comes in,
“What’s your schedule like?” She asks then continues, “I have
archery in the morning and swimming in the afternoon.” Carrie
sounds excited. She’s very athletic and it shows.

“Mine’s swim in the morning and arts and crafts
in the afternoon,” I’m not a fan of the sun, and not nearly as
athletic as Carrie. So I’m pretty happy with my assignment. We
compare notes on the kids in our cabin. A few minutes later, Robby
and Seth stroll in together.

Robby says, “So this is where all the beautiful
girls hang out.” Carrie punches Robby as he walks by. “Ow.
Superwoman that hurts,” Robby says, feigning pain.

“Where there’s coffee, there’s Megan,” Seth
comes behind me and rubs my shoulders. “Did you already eat? Want
me to grab you something?” he offers.

“I already had a bagel thanks.”

“Let me get you a refill,” I hand Seth my mug
and he walks to the breakfast bar.

Carrie gives me a look, “Well look at the love
birds.”

I just smile, “Robby’s available.”

Carrie gives me a dirty look, “I’m not
interested in Robby or any relationship right now. We’re young,
what’s the rush? Can’t we all be friends without getting into mushy
stuff? It’s just not for me right now.”

“You’re right. We are kind of young, but it just
happened. Who knows how long we’ll last? Besides, we are long
distance most of the time, so our relationship won’t go beyond us
texting and hanging out a couple of times a year. I do know how I
feel about him. I love Seth and I don’t want to be with anybody
else.”

Mr. Z. (Zadok) walks in talking to Mr. Timmons.
I look at him and my brain goes into shock. I hope it doesn’t show
on my face. I hadn’t remembered this morning what had happened
yesterday. I just woke up happy that Seth liked me as much as I
liked him.

Seth brings a plate loaded with doughnuts and
sits down next to me. He sets my refill down, then his plate, and
takes his can of Coke out from under his arm.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay? You look like
you’ve just seen a ghost.”

I think,
No just
an angel
, but I say, “I’m okay, just too much coffee
before I ate. I’ll be fine.”

Seth says a quick prayer, and starts wolfing
down his doughnuts. I feel guilty because I forgot to say grace, so
I silently ask for forgiveness and then say a quick thanks.

I start thinking of some other questions I need
to ask Zadok. Am I the only one at camp who knows what he is? Are
there others like me that I can talk to? Can I talk to people about
him, people who can’t see him? My mind is racing.

“Megan, did you bring sunscreen? I forgot mine,”
Seth says.

He pops the top on his soda and takes a big
slurp.

“Yeah, I have plenty.”

Carrie looks at Seth in wonderment and says,
“How much sugar can one person inhale? Six doughnuts and a
Coke.”

“I’m eating light today ‘cause of swimming,
don’t want to be weighed down.”

Carrie looks at me, “He’s kidding right?”

I shrug my shoulders, not really sure.

Seth swivels around looking for Robby. He spies
him talking to a cute blonde a couple tables behind us. Seth asks,
“Who is Robby talking to?”

“I think her name is Paige,” I vaguely remember
her from last year. She had seemed kind of shy.

Mr. Z. walks up to our table and says, “Good
morning Carrie, Megan, Seth,” looking at Seth he asks, “Can you
check and make sure your kids know where they’re going after
chapel? I’m going to borrow Megan and get the preservers out for
swim today.”

“Okay, see you soon,” Seth gives my hand a quick
squeeze under the table before he gets up.

Zadok and I head out the door together toward
the boathouse. It’s slightly chilly out and I wish I had a
jacket.

“I thought you might have some questions for
me.”

I nod my head yes and think of where to start.
“Is there anybody else here at camp who knows who you are?”

“No. Not currently. I’m sent wherever God wants,
whenever He wants.”

“Is there anybody I can talk to if,” Zadok looks
at me, “when”, Zadok nods his head with approval glad I had caught
my slip up, “things start to happen with these bad angels?”

“Pray,” Zadok answers.

“No,” I say thinking he’s misunderstanding
me.

“I understand what you mean,” Zadok says, “Just
because you can see angels doesn’t mean that you get any special
way to deal with them. Just like when Jesus walked the earth and
the devil came to visit him. He didn’t call on us to help. He came
here to fulfill his role as a Holy sacrifice.

“You have the same defense He used. God’s word.
If you need saving, use His word, the Bible. If that doesn’t work,
leave it up to Him. You can’t fight an angel on your own anyway.
Angels are stronger, faster, and smarter than you. We move between
the earthly realm and the spiritual. “You, however, are bound by
the rules of earth. The devil and his demons are not. For now, you
are trapped here. Earth is in the hands of the prince of this
world, the devil. Remember the devil can’t harm or kill you without
God’s permission. Keep that in mind.”

We reach the boathouse. Zadok pauses and looks
out at the lake. Zadok looks serious, concerned. He continues, “If
God allows the evil angels to hurt you, it is only to make you
stronger.” We enter the boathouse.

“Look, if you tell other humans you see angels,
most of them are going to think you’re a kook. Others will become
so fascinated with the spiritual realm they will be distracted from
their salvation. There are very, very few who can handle the
knowledge of spiritual forces and not be distracted from their
Creator. You must be very selective of who you share this knowledge
with.”