Fly: A PORTAL Chronicles Novel (The PORTAL Chronicles) (43 page)

“Are you saying Fear is a demon?” I asked in shock.

“Yes, not just an idea or a feeling, but an actual spirit sent to do Divaldo’s bidding.”

“And we have to defeat it?” Everett asked.

“Yes,” Mom answered. “He will challenge you soon. If you defeat him, you will experience great breakthrough.”

“And if we fail?” Everett asked.

“Don’t let Fear rule you, Everett,” Mom said. “Has the Creator ever set you up to fail, ever brought you to a challenge he has not yet prepared you to overcome? You are ready. Everything you have experienced up to this point has prepared you for the battle ahead.” She sighed. “Don’t let the condition of your heart or mind keep you from the authority or dominion Dio wants you to have.”

We heard a loud rumbling then. My heart fell as I realized we’d been near the train tracks this entire time, where my dream usually ended.

Seeming to read me, Mom hugged me close. “Don’t be sad. We’ll meet again.”

“But I still have so many questions,” I whimpered into her shoulder.

“Just follow Dio’s leading and you’ll be fine. Don’t make the mistake I made. Never lose sight of the path he sets before you, and things will go well with you.”

Mom’s words resonated and I was suddenly aware of the connection from her story to Divaldo and Benson’s. I sensed Dio communicating a direly important truth, calling me to learn from the disastrous consequences of their mistake so that it didn’t trip me up, also causing me to stumble and fall: I must trust Dio wholeheartedly, never leaning on my own power or understanding, and use the will he had given me to make a conscious decision to follow him no matter what.

The train whirred by us, pulling me from my epiphany. Arriving all too quickly, it stopped — something it had never done before.

Everett approached, eyeing it warily. “I take it we’re supposed to get on.”

“Yes,” Mom said, releasing me to give Everett a hug.

“Thank you. Your guidance means more than you know.”

“You’re most welcome, Everett. Give your mom a big hug for me. And take care of my girl, okay?” She winked.

“I will. I promise,” he solemnly answered, kissing my forehead before climbing aboard.

I turned to follow him, but Mom grabbed my hand. Looking into her eyes, I broke.

“Don’t cry, baby. Everything is going to be okay,” she soothed, hugging me again. She rubbed my back like she used to when I was little, causing an unexplainable calm to spread through me, quieting my tears. “I’ll trade you one last truth for a smile,” she said with a funny look that made me laugh. “How is the forest different?” she asked, turning me to face it.

“It’s never looked more beautiful or alive,” I marveled.

“Precisely. This forest, which you’ve ran through night after night, is your soul. Dio has breathed new life through you, explaining why the forest now thrives. Each time you return in your dreams, Dio gives insight into the state of your life. Dio will bring you back here when you need guidance.” Bending down, she fingered a pretty plant at our feet. “When this happens, remain alert of the state of the forest, for just as this vine needs water and sunlight to thrive, so you need Dio and his direction. Without it, you — and this forest — will surely wither away.”

I trembled then as the giant of my dream came into view, his monstrous silhouette moving along the horizon in the distance. I cowered into Mom for comfort.

“Fear not, for that is only what Fear wants. To intimidate you. To shake you. To distract you. Anything to prevent you from achieving your destiny.”

“That’s Fear?” I asked, flabbergasted. It was freeing to finally identify the giant, to size him up.

“Time and again, you’ve allowed him to scare you away, each time forfeiting a little more territory of your soul. But it’s time to overcome this giant, Sophie. It’s time to walk in your destiny and take back what’s rightfully yours. Overcome him or he’ll overcome you. Until you do, you’ll never truly spread your wings and fly.”

Finally seeing the giant for what he was infuriated me. He was merely a bully, and I was sick of letting him push me around, steal from me, and torture me by tearing off my wings and preventing me from flying. All this time, I’d had the power to stop him. Realizing this amplified my determination to defeat him now.

“Thank you for this revelation. I’ll take back what was stolen from me,” I swore.

Placing her hands on my shoulders, Mom stared into my eyes. “I’m so proud of you. You’ll be great.”

I’d fantasized about what I’d say if I ever saw Mom again, yet none of it mattered now. I could only hold her and tell her I loved her, and I somehow knew that was enough. “I love you, Mommy,” I said, relishing one last hug.

“I love you… so much,” she said, squeezing me tight. “Tell Daddy I love him, too. You’ll be seeing him soon.”

I nodded and Mom kissed both of my cheeks before helping me onto the train. Onboard, I opened a window, reaching for her hand. The train slowly rolled. Mom walked beside it as we gained speed, holding my hand until she couldn’t keep up anymore. As she released me, I realized I held an ornate gold key.

“What’s the key for?” I yelled out the window.

“You’ll see,” Mom laughed, waving wildly. “Live life to the fullest, Sophie. Hold nothing back. Live, my sweet darling. Live!” The word echoed in my ears, growing in volume. “Live, live, live!”

The train approached a tunnel of great light. Reaching it, the phrase circled in my mind.

Live! I must live. Live! I must live.

I MUST LIVE!

Chapter 50

The Battle

Ba-boom! Ba-boom! Ba-boom!

My heart beat loudly in my ears, meaning only one thing.

I’m alive!

My eyes popped open and cold surged through my body. It was snowing, the flakes lodging on my lashes and melting on my face. I cautiously rolled onto my belly, metal groaning under my movement. Where was I? Taking in my surroundings, I realized I was suspended in air.

Everett hid me on an awning?

It seemed silly but must have been a divinely inspired stroke of genius as I hadn’t been found. I peeked over the edge. Two men, one normal size and the other hulking, stood over Everett’s body, their backs to me.

“What do we do with him?” the hulking one asked.

“Leave him. The hordes are on their way. They’ll take care of him,” said the other with a wicked laugh.

I instantly recognized Hagen’s voice. “The hordes” he spoke of didn’t sound friendly. I needed to get to Everett. But how?

Dio, I trust you. Help me. Lead me,
I silently prayed.
I will follow you.

The hulking man perked up just then. “Did you hear that?”

“Hear what?” Hagen asked.

“Damn them. They’re coming. I’d know that sound anywhere.”

“What are you talking about?” Hagen asked, irritated. “I don’t hear anything.”

“Angels,” the large man growled. “We need to get out of here. Now. Move!”

Hagen and the man ran, disappearing in the distance.

Taking advantage, I quickly dismounted from the awning, then running to Everett’s side. He was bloody and unconscious.

No, this can’t be. He was with me. He got on the train like I did.

I knelt beside him. “Everett?” I gently stroked his cheek, blood coming off on my hand. I brushed the accumulating snow off his body. “Everett, it’s me. Wake up,” I begged. I pulled his limp head into my lap as panic welled up within me. “Everett!” I yelled, cradling his face. I felt for a heartbeat. Nothing. “No! Dio, please. You said we were a team. This can’t be happening. He can’t die.” I began to cry.

“Sophie?” I heard his sweet voice.

“Everett!” I kissed his face again and again until his eyes fluttered open. “Everett, I’m here. I’m right here,” I said, my tears mixing with the melted snow on his face, washing the blood away in thick rivulets.

Gasping, he sat up abruptly, then grabbing me in a tight embrace. “Sophie!” he breathed. “You’re okay. We’re okay.” He rocked me in his arms.

“Yes, but now what?” I asked.

My question was instantly answered as the snow about us began to swirl, fiercely blowing like a blizzard. Everett and I clung tightly to one another. Closing my eyes, I buried my head in his shoulder.

That’s when I saw them, and with my eyes closed of all things. Huge beings stood all around us, heavy armor covering their muscular bodies. Some hovered in the air by flapping mighty, metallic contraptions connected to the back if their chest plates. One such being landed near me, and upon closer inspection, I realized the flying devices were connected to them — a part of their body — and looked iridescent, feathery, and soft up close, but somehow like metal weaponry from far away.

“Wings!” I gasped aloud.

The one I stared at looked down at me then. I froze in fear. “What did you expect?” He laughed warmly. “We’re angels.”

“You’re
angels!?!” I blurted, not knowing what to do or say.

Others now turned and looked at me, too. I didn’t know what I had expected for angels to look like, but it definitely wasn’t like this. They were massive, ripped warriors, suited and ready for battle.

“Sophie?” Everett asked from my side. I kept my eyes shut for fear of not being able to see the angels again if I opened them. “Who are you talking to?”

“Angels,” I said, matter-of-factly.

“Oh.”

“Oh?” I had expected him to freak.

“I will gift her, and lead her, and show her the way,” Everett quoted.

The angels finished his sentence in unison with him, “A Seer, Heeder, Sayer will keep the enemy at bay.”

I gaped, unable to believe what was happening, but somehow still believing it, sensing this was how things were meant to be.

The angels laughed at my stunned expression, like a friend laughs in a shared joke. “We’ve been sent here to protect you and Everett,” another angel said, casually extending his huge hand. “The hordes are coming. Come on.”

“Ezrafil!” I stared in awe, recognizing the beauty of his kind face.

“Hi, Sophie.” The great, dark being smiled down at me. “Last time I saw you, you were eight years old. My how you’ve grown.”

Taking his hand, he nimbly lifted me to my feet. I pulled Everett up behind me.

“What’s happening? Can you speak to them?” Everett asked.

“Yes,” I nodded. “They were sent to protect us from the hordes that are coming.”

“That can’t be good.”

“Fear not, for Fear is coming. He feeds on the fear of those who are afraid or unbelieving, growing bigger and more powerful,” Ezrafil said.

“Everett, remember the giant in my dream?”

“Yes,” he answered.

“He’s coming. He is the demon Fear that my mom spoke of. She mentioned the time would soon come for us to defeat him and that we must overcome him if we’re ever to move forward in victory. That’s what this moment is. We’re about to face Fear,” I explained, the puzzle pieces coming together.

“And cut his head off,” Ezrafil added.

“What!?!” I asked. Ezrafil nodded like he’d said something perfectly normal. I gulped and turned to Everett. “We must defeat Fear by cutting off his head. And we can’t be afraid because it will only make him more powerful.”

“Okay,” Everett said. “Let’s do this.”

“My kind of guy,” Ezrafil said. “Here, hand him this sword.” He chuckled, adding, “And open your eyes now and again. You look crazy walking around with them shut. You won’t lose your gift.”

I too laughed, testing it out. Blinking, sure enough the angels were still there every time I closed my eyes.

“Do you know how to use a sword?” I asked Everett.

“Yeah, why?”

“Because the angel would like to give you one.”

“Okay,” he said, holding his hand out.

I took the sword from the angel, about dropping it on the ground, its tip delving deep into the muddy earth. “Geez! How much does this thing weigh?”

“It’s manageable for the one who’s meant to wield it,” Ezrafil answered. “Dio’s burden is light for those who obey.”

“Everett, take this thing,” I said.

Opening my eyes, I led his hands to the sword’s hilt. Grabbing it, the sword appeared in Everett’s hands.

“Wow!” he breathed. “This thing is a slick piece of work,” he said, skillfully whipping it through the air.

I closed my eyes again. Ezrafil smiled in approval. “Your gifts are one of the many ways you and Everett fit together. When in battle, Everett can protect and warn you of things happening in the physical, while you can alert him to things in the spiritual realm. You will have to learn to communicate, but once you do, you’ll be unstoppable.”

I was about to relay what Ezrafil said when the angels stiffened, keening their ears on something in the distance.

“They’re here. Move!” commanded Ezrafil.

“Yes, Ezrafil,” boomed the other angels, instantly forming a barrier around us.

Grabbing Everett’s hand, I pulled him along as we ran down city streets, soon entering a park.

“Duck!” Ezrafil called.

Pulling Everett down, we both hit the ground as Ezrafil drew his sword and struck a fiery object out of the air, slicing it in half and sending fragments flying in various directions.

“Nothing like the smell of burnt demon,” said an angel beside me, shaking his head in disgust. Noticing my confused expression, he explained, “They burn their own, using old demons who are useless as fireballs to throw at their enemy.”

“Aren’t there more… renewable… items they could use?” I asked, a little shaken from the thought.

“Yes, but they’re… well… them. Not the brightest bunch apart from Dio’s infinite wisdom.”

“Oh,” I nodded, feeling enlightened.

“Oh, what?” Everett asked.

“The hordes are throwing balls of flaming demon at us,” I explained the best I knew how.

“Gross… but interesting,” Everett said, lighting up like an amused little boy.

“Dominick, Tartus, cover Everett and Sophie. The hordes approach,” Ezrafil yelled.

Two especially lethal-looking angels came to where we hunched on the ground, and, placing their backs to us, extended their huge metallic wings, again forming a barrier around us.