Broken (Endurance) (43 page)

"We need to get home now. The family is in danger."

Treasured Gifts

Tamarius appeared in his room facing his bed. He heard the shower running and looked down at his watch. It was minutes to one. He immediately pulled out a few suitcases and filled them with Makayla's clothes. As he clipped the suitcase shut, he thought of Max and took off down the hall like a mad man.

Max played with his son on his bed will Mei still slept. It was strange for Mei to sleep this late. Max remembered the last time she’d had the same sleeping habits.  

Uriel put his hand on Mei's stomach and said. "Wake up, baby... time go bye bye."

Max froze. "Was he calling his mom baby or...?"

"What baby, L?" Max gently asked his son.

Uriel looked at his father and smiled. "Mommy, baby," he replied.

"You’re Mommy's baby?" Max asked.

"No, Mommy...baby... here," Uriel explained, pointing directly to Mei's womb.

Max froze as he stared at Mei's flat stomach.

Mei awoke and realized that her son had just ratted her out.

Max turned his head to look at Mei and their eyes meet. "Oh, we are staying home," Max informed her.

Mei rolled her eyes as she sat up in bed. "I knew you couldn't keep a secret." She smiled at her son.

"How long have you known?" Max asked.

"Not long. Dr. Uriel here pointed it out to me..."

"When?"

"Max, please."

"When, Mei?"

"A few days ago."

"Why didn't you tell me yourself?"

"I didn't want you..."

"Because, I wouldn't want us to go back to college," Max replied, nodding as he stepped out of bed.

"Are you mad?" Mei asked, helping her son off the bed as she stood up.

"I don't know." Max was conflicted by his emotions.

Suddenly there was a loud bang at the door. "Time to go bye bye," Uriel said as he held his mother's hand.

"Why does he keep saying that?" Max asked as he opened the door. 

Tamarius stood in front of him, frantic. "Quickly pack your things. I'm sending you guys back to college early," he blurted out.

"What? Why?" Max asked.

"Our family is in danger," Tamarius answered. "You will be safe at the college and I'm sending everyone with you."

"What about you?" Max asked, suddenly alarmed.

"Your father and I will need to stay here and fight."

"I’m old enough. You don't have to protect me." Max wanted to help protect his family.

"You’re still too young. You need to develop your abilities and...” He shook his head in disgust.  “Damn, I should have taught you more. I should have prepared you better."

"I can do it, Unk."

"Son, I love you. Please don't start disobeying me now. I need you to protect the women and children, please." Tamarius grabbed a hold of Max's shoulder.

"We can be ready in an hour."

"Good, but try to make it faster than that," Tamarius said as his brother walked up behind him, eager to see his son.

"Max, are you all right?" Maxwell stepped towards him.

Tamarius stepped out and saw Cressida leaning against the wall, distraught by the turn of events. "Everything is going to be fine. God couldn't have placed you in a better place." Tamarius gave her a hug.

"This is all my fault," she mumbled.

"No, it is not," Tamarius reassured her. "This will not destroy our happy home."

Maxwell stepped into the room to see his grandson and Mei. "Come here, guys." He stretched his arms out and motioned for Mei and Max to come closer. They obediently walked towards him. Maxwell pulled his son into his arms and hugged him, crying. "I love you. I know I haven't always been there for you when you needed me and I am so sorry for that."

"Dad, it's okay. You’re here now."

"I need you to learn as much as you can absorb from college and spiritual warfare. Study Proverbs and Psalms every day. Live by it. You too, Mei." Maxwell pulled her close.

Mei was bewildered.  She’d never seen Maxwell and Tamarius act this way and it scared her. If they’re scared, then it is bad, Mei thought.

"Mei, my princess," Maxwell said, squeezing her. "I love you. I need you to be really strong. I know you are. We can't let Satan break this family apart."

"Dad, Mei is pregnant," Max said.

Maxwell looked down at Mei. Panic swept through him. "Now… go pack now!" He let them go and grabbed his grandson. Max and Mei took off to their closets to pack.

Maxwell held his grandson in his arms and told him how much he loved him as he gently swayed back and forth with him.

"It okay, pop pop," Uriel said as he placed his small arm around his grandfather’s neck.

Suddenly there was a loud explosion downstairs. Everyone froze. Max and Mei dropped everything and ran out of the closet to see what was happening.

Maxwell gently placed his grandson down. "It's beginning. Hurry." He left the room, took his wife by the hand and rushed her to their bedroom.

Tamarius entered his room as Makayla was dressing. He rushed to her and pulled her in to his arms, hugging her passionately. "What's wrong, and what was that noise?" Makayla asked.

"I need to get you to safety." He walked to one of the suitcases.

"What are you talking about?"

"We are all in danger. I can't explain too much right now. Just hurry, please."

"What about you? You’re coming with me, right?"

Tamarius stopped and turn to his wife. "I can't. I need to help put a stop to this."

"I'm not leaving," Makayla said, standing her ground. "We stay together, we fight together."

"If anything happens to you..." Tamarius walked towards his wife. "You mean the world to me, please. I need to do this for my peace of mind; to know that you are safe."

"Please, baby, don't do this," Makayla begged.

Tamarius held her. "I can't lose you."

There was another explosion.

"Where are you sending me?" Makayla asked, as he held onto her.

"You will head back to the college with Max and Mei. Cressida is going also." Tamarius walked away and grabbed her suitcase off the bed. "We will be sending Lin, Winston and Anna along... the chef, too." He opened the door.

"The mansion will be empty," Makayla mumbled, walking towards him.

"We don't want anyone getting hurt."

"Tamarius, I can help," Makayla insisted.

"I won’t be able to focus if I feel you’re in any danger. Please. I love you. I can't lose you; you’re my future." Tamarius reached out to her.

Makayla nodded. She understood, though it hurt her to be apart from him. He kissed her passionately, wrapping her in his loving embrace.

"Let's go before it's too late." He took her hand and left.

Maxwell stood by the open front door, looking out at the front gate. Winston and Max stood beside him. Tamarius came up behind his brother. "It's too late to leave out the front. We will have to take the secret passage." Maxwell felt his brother's presence behind him.

Tamarius and Makayla stood dumbfounded by what they saw. Legions of demons surrounded the front of their home trying to break through an invisible force field. The explosive sound was coming from them attempts to break through the protective barrier.

Makayla could also see Archangel Michael pacing the driveway as he analyzed the situation, taking into account the types of demons Satan had sent to destroy the Martinez family.

Makayla was overwhelmed by the legions of demons standing behind the gate, snarling and growling, ready and eager to fight. "Tamarius, no," she protested, pulling his arm.

"We don't have a choice!" Tamarius yelled at his wife.

Makayla walked away, too upset to deal with him.

Tamarius ran after her and pulled her aside. "I'm sorry for yelling, but you must remember who we are." He lifted her chin. "I have to do this. I know you’re a strong woman and you could take all of them on for me, but it’s my job to protect what God has given me, with His support, of course."

"I know."

"Then why are you fighting me, woman?" Tamarius asked jokingly.

"It's funny all my life I wanted a real man to protect me, comfort me, to have a heart that God would be proud of, and here I am wishing you were a coward, just so that I wouldn't lose you."

"Women, they never know what they want," Tamarius said with a teasing wink  before kissing his wife.

"They’re starting to break through. Let’s go, now." Maxwell grabbed his wife's hand and headed towards the back door that led out to the pool area.

Max carried his son and a duffle bag which carried their bare necessities, mainly things for Uriel. Mei also carried a duffle bag stuffed with a few clothes and emergency items.

Winston pushed Lin's wheelchair and followed Maxwell and Cressida to the family’s secret wing. Maxwell stood before the ten-foot gate facing his family and making sure everyone was accounted for.

"What is this place?" Cressida asked.

"I will tell you about it later," Maxwell answered, too distracted to talk. "Tamarius!" Maxwell called for his brother, searching wildly around him.

"I'm here." Tamarius walked up to him with Makayla.

Maxwell turned and placed his hand on the gate.  After whispering something inaudible the gates opened and they walked through. Maxwell led the family down a long corridor as Tamarius fell behind, making sure the gates locked behind them and everyone was accounted for.

Makayla waited for him, not wanting to leave his side for a second.

They made it out through some secret passages and arrived at the path that led to the family’s private airstrip. It was a long walk, taking them an hour to reach the location. The flight crew was prepared for the family emergency. They first helped put Lin on the plane. Maxwell hugged his son, grandson and princess, telling them that he loved them before they got on the plane. Winston, Anna and Marla, the family’s private live-in chef, boarded the plane. Maxwell called the rest of his staff and told them not to come in until he called them again. 

Maxwell held his wife. He didn't want to let her go. "I'm sorry that our honeymoon got ruined."

"This is my fault. I put your family in danger and I will never forgive myself," Cressida cried.

"Don't ever say that. You are right where you are supposed to be," Maxwell said.

"It's our honeymoon and I'm being separated from the man that I love; my husband." Cressida looked into Maxwell's grey eyes.

"We will have the rest of our lives to have a honeymoon. Please have faith that God will see us through this. This is what my brother and I were built for. I never believed I would ever need to use all the gifts God had given me, but I'm glad they’re here for me to use. Cressida, don't worry. Before you know it you’ll be back in my arms."