The Angel's Covenant (The Covenant series) (6 page)

Nine

"Malach was here, he left this for you," Uncle Ronnie says dropping a package onto the kitchen table.
"What, when. Why didn't he talk to me?" Elina says upset. "I can't believe this!"

"Elina
," Ruby says, "He came when you were gone, he told us you would be leaving soon and that everything you need is in this." Speaking softly she touches the envelope. "Let's get one thing straight before this goes any farther," Uncle Ronnie says "WE are your family and We will do whatever is needed to keep you safe. You will not cut us out of your life, We want to help you meet your destiny; will you let us?"

Standing up and facing them she says "I am
the Keeper of the Light. It is my duty to unite our people; will you help me no matter the cost?" Uncle Ronnie reaches for Ruby's hand and says to her "You shouldn't have to ask us that. We will help you, Elina. Let’s get started."

Elina takes the small
manila folder and opens it carefully shaking the contents out on the butcher block table. A set of keys with a business card and a small white envelope land on the table."Okay, a puzzle. I hate puzzles," Elina mutters picking up the keys. Dropping the keys in her pocket she reaches for the envelope and slices it open.

Aunt Ruby looks at the business card and reads out loud, "Galena's Treasures, Handcrafted Jewelry specializing in
custom vintage pieces and gemstone jewelry. Charleston, South Carolina. Odd."
"Let's just do a quick search on this, I will be right back,” and she rushes off to her laptop in the living room. "What's in the envelope, Elina?" Uncle Ronnie asks sitting down with her. "It's just a note from Malach," she says quietly sliding it to him.

"Saint Mary's Hospital. Room number 418,
Charleston South Carolina. Guide Serena home. Well, not much of a talker is he?" he says cryptically. Laughing Elina says, "You said it, looks like I'm going to the beach. No mention of the keys either," she says frustrated. From the living room Aunt Ruby says, "You need to see this!"

Hurrying to her side, Ruby lets Elina sit in front of the computer. "First I went to the website listed on the card, as I was reading some reviews; there was an odd one with a link to a YouTube video.
You need to watch this!”

Video 1

“My name is Elsbeth, and I am making this video from my phone to document these events.” Leaning in closer to the camera Elsbeth tosses her long blond hair over her shoulder. Her blue eyes fill with tears and she says: “The shadows have returned, and I don’t know how much longer I will be able to run from them.”

“My brother and I have always known they were around, though rarely did we feel threatened. The first attack came one stormy night, and I was afraid so I did what any sister would do, I went to my brother’s bedroom. We always kept each other safe. I didn’t wake him I just threw my pillow on bottom bunk bed and snuggled back down to sleep.”

“I don’t remember much of the attack; Jake said it wasn’t the screaming that woke him. It was the silence, before the screaming. Everything went quiet and Jake woke with his heart pounding not sure why; but terrified. He was shaking and looked around the room and that’s when he heard it; A deep guttural growl. From the corner of his room large dark shapes appeared. They separated and he realized it was a pack of what looked like wolves, with glowing red eyes.” Elsbeth stood up pac
ing and continued speaking.

“Advancing further into the room the Alpha watched as the pack members attacked me. They began snapping at me, grabbing my legs dragging me onto the floor.  The other wolves joined in tearing at me with razor sharp teeth. I awoke to excruciating pain.  I struggled to scream but the pressure was too much.  One of the wolves had its jaws clamped around my throat. I couldn’t break free, or make a sound. All I could feel was the ripping of my flesh on my arms and legs. Terrified I watched as it all unfolded. Jake jumped screaming from the top bunk at the leader of the pack and they collided in mid air. He was screaming, and screaming. We could hear Mom and Dad beating on the door, trying to get it
open.”

Pausing in mid stride Elsbeth advanced on the camera and with tears flowing freely she said, “Jake grabbed him by the throat and the moment he touched him the alpha wolf exploded into gray mist. There was a screaming in the room and I could breathe again. The pack members ran to the corner of the wall and simply disappeared into it. Crying, Jake crawled to me on his hands and knees. That is how they found us, after dad kicked the door in. I was coughing and crying but unharmed. There were no physical signs of trauma, not a scratch.”

“Our parents didn’t believe us, who would.” Laughing a little Elsbeth said, “they thought it was just bad dreams from the storm.  I do not know why they attacked me, but the wolves did not return. I guess Jake scared them off. The point is until then they only watched, never attacked. That’s all changed. I don’t know why? ” Looking into the camera again, she asks “Did I do something wrong? I don’t know. All I know is they feel evil, and I am scared.”

“Leave a comment below if you know what or who they are.”

Video 2

“Before the wolf attack; I thought of them as angels, my shadow people. They seemed to be around the frail, weak or dying. Often in places like hospitals or nursing homes. God, we were babies, I was eight years old, and Jake was only five! We didn’t know what they were; we just wanted them to go away!  I was never attacked again as a child. I could see them sometimes from the corner of my eye, or if I walked into a room. They did not want to be seen, any more than I wanted to see them.”

“Something’s changed!” Elsbeth said talking faster “the attacks have returned. They started small at first, a push from behind, or tripping over unseen things.” Looking into the camera with blood shot eyes she continues, “I have been waking in the night, feeling like I am suffocating, choking.  I am afraid to sleep. During the day doors open for no reason. Things are escalating; sometimes glasses fly across the room and shatter against the wall. Sunday after closing up my jewelry shop, I saw HIM.”

Leaning in and whispering “I saw the shadow of a man, with a black hat watching me. He was leaning against a lamp post, staring at me with the same red glowing eyes of the wolf. I ran to my car and jumped in, locking my doors. I watched him from my mirrors as I drove away, he walked into the center of the street and stopped.”

“
I floored it; I didn’t wait to see what he would do. I drove home threw things in a bag and left. Maybe I am over reacting” pausing Elsbeth says, “but the eyes. I feel like I have been marked. I don’t know if I can run from them, but I am going to try to find help.”

“If anyone knows who he is, or what they are please leave a comment below. I desperately need help.”

Video 3

Standing outside in the bright sun, Looking more rested she begins “Elsbeth here, I found help, or rather; she found me. I am on my way to meet her!” Excitedly she says, “I will let you know what I find out.” Looking directly into the camera with her long blonde hair blowing in the wind, blue eyes shining, she says “I feel so relieved to know that I am not alone in this fight. I will keep you updated on what I find out. Talk to you soon.”

Grabbing her phone off the top of Jake’s “baby”, she smiles as she climbs into the driver’s seat of the orange and black 1970 Ford Torino. He left his car with her when he was deployed telling her to take care of it while he was gone. Jake signed up with the Air force straight out of high school and was part of the Pararescue unit. Their mission is to rescue, recover and return American or Allied forces in times of danger or extreme duress. Sighing she touches the dream catcher that hangs from the rear view mirror and wishes he were here. Only three more weeks till he is home for good, she thinks as she starts the engine. Jake put his six years in, and during his last leave decided it was time for a change. During his last mission something went wrong, and lives were lost. He decided not to re-enlist and she was more than ready for his help. Due to the secrecy of his job, she had not been able to reach him to tell him all that’s been happening.

“Hurry home Jake.” Elsbeth says as she pulls out of the overlook onto the
two lane road. Driving down the stretch of road on the Blue Ridge parkway, she stares at the beauty around her. To her left a straight drop off to the mountains below, while to the right nothing but a mountain of rock. The car hugged the road with no problem. She reaches the top of the mountain just before sunset.

Descending to the valley below, Elsbeth notices a blur of movement to her left in the trees. Her heart begins to race, as she glances over. “Damn!” Elsbeth says. She can’t believe her eyes. It is a pack of shadow wolves keeping pace with her car. She presses on the gas and begins to pull away. Trying to keep track of the wolves through her mirrors, she looks back to the road as her cell phone rings. Answering her phone she hears a female voice ask “Where are you?”

“On the parkway, they’ve found me, what do I do? She asks in a frightened voice. “I’m coming to you.” The voice says and the line goes dead.

Glancing down at her phone, Elsbeth looks up and standing in the center of the lane with glowing red eyes is the Shadowman from her shop! Instinctively she jerks the wheel to the left, and screaming, she slams on her brakes. The car goes into a skid and rears up on its right tires.  Rolling, on its side the car flips and sound of breaking glass and metal crunching fills her ears.  Flipping a few times more before it crashes onto its roof.  Bleeding from her head, and locked in by her seatbelt; Elsbeth frantically tries to break free. Moaning she says “No, No, No!” The wolves are circling the car, snarling and she hears the sound of footsteps. The smell of gas fills the night, and just before she passes out she hears him say in a demonic voice; “I have been waiting for you, Elsbeth. We are going to become close friends”

Ten

The call came in and immediately Jake knew this was not a standard drop and recovery mission. Any time a Major General gets involved "complications" are bound to occur. Keeping his team safe and helping those in need were always his primary objective. That is what the Pararescue men train for. At 6 ft 2 inches and 215 pounds of rock hard muscle Jake traine
d hard and thrived on the job.

Sitting in the briefing room, Jake and his team of seven are being briefed on the mission.
"Locals call this stretch here the Mountain of the Dead." The Major says pointing to the surveillance footage.
"I've heard that name before" Jake says.  He continues, "It is home to over one hundred and fifty-six caves, and that does not include the ventilation shafts, and tunnels drilled to allow sun, and water in. The treacherous part will be the traps and buried mines that litter the face of the mountain."

"Exactly
”, the major replies."Terrorist forces kidnapped three British aid workers and one U.S. aid worker six says ago. Her name is Heather Jones. Repeated attempts at negotiations have proved futile, and intelligence recorded a call that makes it urgent to get them out now. Using footage from our predator drones we have been able to narrow it down to two distinct caves. They have separated the women, which makes it more difficult. Major General Mark Turner has been in contact with the British government, they are briefing a Special Forces team to recover their aid workers. Your mission; rescue the American hostage. The British will not move until you are in place.”

"Sir, where is our rendezvous point?" Jake asks.
"Our best option is to go in at night; high in the mountain valley here" the major states pointing at the map. “What goes on inside the caves is up to you and your team,” he continues. "That's how we like it," Lucas says stepping forward.  Looking at the group the major finishes, "Lucas, Thomas, Seth and Craig will handle security on this mission. Jake, take lead, the rest of you knows what to do.”

Lucas takes his team members to the choppers to make sure they are ready, and Jake turns to his commanding officer and asks him
, "So what makes this one woman a high priority? From the looks of the Intel they have a large group guarding her." Turning to look at Jake the major says, "Our Intel recorded a phone call telling them to execute her in the morning. They were told to make an example of her, to remind the Americans they will never be safe."
"Time to get going then and bring her home," Jake says walking away.

While in flight the team listens to an update from the Intel officers in the control room. Speaking into his headset he tells his team “We are going to take this nice and easy, I do not want to spook them. Intel does not say what condition she will be in, so we need to hydrate her and be ready to sedate her if needed."

Over the drone of the helicopter they hear
, "Inbound to insertion point, one minute.” Flying in low the chopper hovers long enough for the team to deploy to the ground. It's a three mile hike through heavy brush and trees. Jake takes point and the team moves cautiously through the dark toward the caves. Moving into position Jake points toward the three guards posted outside and speaking softly says, "On my mark, take them out quietly, and three of you set up a perimeter. Lucas your team follows me. Let’s go get her."

Jake keys his radio mike three times to signal control that his team is in position and ready. A minute later they get the signal to go. Motioning to his team they move into action. As the shooters take down the three guards, Jake and his boys are already slipping
through the mouth of the cave.

Moving quickly and quietly they spread out, weapons ready. Stepping cautiously they look out for rocks, while snaking around old blankets, buckets and trash. All movement stops at a signal from Jake.
Laughter can be heard and lights flicker ahead. Each tunnel has overhead wires running along the ceiling providing electricity. One tunnel trails to the left, Jake points for James and Eli to go in and clear it. Advancing silently the two find a group of three men sleeping. Drawing their combat knives they quickly eliminate the threats. Covering the bodies they move to rejoin the group.

Listening they hear the sound of breaking glass and the screams of a woman from the tunnel straight ahead. The corridor to the right seems to be where the music and laughter is coming from. Jake motions for the team of three to go to the right and s
ignals for Seth to follow him.

Advancing into the stone cut room, Jakes sees his objective towards the back of the cave. Kneeling on the debris covered floor she is shackled like an animal, with a wild desperate look in her green eyes. She cradles one of her arms and from what Jake can see it may be broken. Two men are taking turns drinking and throwing empty glass bottles at her. Blood drips from her forehead as she attempts to block a bottle that is hurtled by one of the drunken men. She tries to block the next bottle with her one good arm as it explodes against the wall, rai
ning glass down over her.

With the final shatter of glass, the two men do not hear death sneaking up behind them. Seth and Jake move together behind the two
of them. Heather looks up in surprise as they grab the men's heads in their hands and give them a quick twist. There is a sickening crunch as their necks snap and the men drop to the floor. "Heather, we are here to help you," Seth says as he and Jake work together to move the bodies. They hear the muffled popping of silenced guns from the other cave. "All clear" sounds in his headset. Lucas and his team set up a perimeter the hallway leading to Heather’s room..

A scream from Heather has Jake spinning around, only to freeze in shock. "What the hell
?" Jake says. A large bat like creature is diving at her from the ceiling. At first glance it appears to be a bat, with a grey fur covered body and large black leathery wings. On the tips of each front wing appears to be a large talon like hook. Landing on the ceiling it crawls across it using its hooks and bat feet to hold on. Turning to look at Jake with its ape like features it opens its huge hinged jaw, screeching, baring its sharp teeth.

Leaping toward Jake it makes a series of clicking sounds, and swoops down ripping his head gear off and knocking him to the ground. Seth rushes over to help Jake, not sure what is going on.
Standing up Jake watches as shadows close in from the back of the cave, reaching for Heather. She struggles with her chain, trying to break free as the bat demon scrambles across the ceiling and hits her in the chest. Jumping into action, Jake rips his knife from his chest rig and running towards her yells, "Get off her!"

At the sound of Jakes voice, the demon on her screeches in pain attempting to shield itself with its wings. Throwing the full weight of his body against the creature, Jake plunges his knife into the top of the demons skull, only to fall to the ground as it explodes in a shower of dust, dropping him
hard to the floor. Breathing hard Jake crawls towards Heather to check for a pulse. She lays bleeding from a laceration to her shoulder, bruised and bloody, but breathing.

Lucas has joined Seth and they stand back in shock trying to assess the situation. They are not sure what their team leader is doing.
"Chief! Talk to me!" Lucas says as they walk toward him.
"We have to move, more are coming! We have to go now!” Jake says to them standing up drawing his pistol. Stepping back warily they each rest their hands on their own weapon. Jake shoots the chain and tells Seth "help her up!" Looking around frantically, he holds his knife in one hand and his pistol in the other.

As Seth reaches for her she whispers in a hoarse voice "there's two more, help him!" Too weak to stand on her own Seth lifts her in his arms. “Two of what darlin, I don’t see anything” he says. Staring into his brown eyes, she wraps her arms around his neck and whispers "Father fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen."

Unsettled he glances over at Lucas, only to stare horrified at a creature dangling from the ceiling above him. Before he can move it hooks Lucas from his left shoulder, and lifts him off his feet. Screaming in pain Lucas shoots into the air above him.

Jake yells
, "I see you Demon" and throws his knife stabbing it in the chest. It screeches and explodes, dropping Lucas to the ground. Staring up in horror Lucas watches as Jake gets directly under the last creature and screams "Come on you ugly bastard!"

The noise from the gunshot draws their fellow soldiers in from the hall, providing the distraction the
demon needs. It seizes the moment and springs at the two men slicing at ones throat, and wrapping the other in its deadly embrace. Lucas and Jake are already moving, knowing they do not have much time. Lucas reaches Thomas relieved to see the hook only sliced through the shoulder strap of his chest rig.

Jake grabs the large ear of the bat demon jerking hard, and hears a sucking sound as it releases the throat of its victim. Shoving his knife deep into the black eye socket he yells "Time for you to go back to Hell!" He is not surprised as he is showered in a s
andy explosion of demon dust.

Running into the gruesome scene two of the PJ’s called by Lucas, come in and spring into action. Craig is severely wounded with half his throat ripped out. He is bleeding out fast and they work
frantically to save his life.

Jake looks around and takes stock of the situation. Lucas is wounded, Heather is seriously injured and needs immediate medical care, and Craig is critical. They will not make it to the extraction point. Putting pressure on Lucas's shoulder, Seth gives him a quick injection for pain. Lucas looks over at Jake and says
, "Get us out of here Chief!"

“LZ is hot proceeding to second extraction point. One critical, two seriou
sly injured Need immediate evac over,” Jakes says into his radio. Not waiting for a response Jake says, “Let’s move.” Seth carries Heather, while Lucas walks beside them. Eli and Thomas take point and the first of the group head to the extraction point.

James and Shawn are working on stabilizing Craig, but the blood loss is too great. James calls it, “Time of Death 3:14am.” Shawn says, “We have to go, I will bring him.” James takes point and the three of them move quickly to the entrance of the tunnel. The sound of the choppers can be heard, one lands and the first half of the group load up. After it takes off the second chopper drops and the three rush to board, Jakes looks back at the Mountain of Death as they leave wondering what this all means.

The next few days passed in a blur. Heather exhausted from her ordeal barely remembers what happened after they saved her from the caves. During the flight Seth never left her side, and she couldn't bring herself to let him. She panicked when the others came near, he started her I.V. administered a sedative, and just before the darkness claimed her she called his name softly, "Seth"

Holding her hand he leaned in as she said, "My bag, it’s in my car" Opening her eyes she looked directly into his saying "it's what they were after! They will send more...” Looking away he hears her say "Promise me, you will get my bag."
"I promise, now go to sleep. I won't leave you." Kissing her forehead he watches as she settles and the drugs take effect. He cleans some of the wounds on her face, marveling at her beauty. It's a miracle they didn't kill her or worse. He'd seen much worse.

"Hey Romeo" Jake calls out "how's our patient?"
"Stable, captain. How's hot-shot?" Seth replies.
"I heard that cowboy; still take you with one arm behind my back" comes Lucas's husky reply.
"I.V. Started he needs blood... "Jake starts to say but Lucas cuts him off, "No drugs! No one’s knocking me out! What the hell was that Captain?"
Seth listens closely, but to his disappointment, hears ETA five minutes. "Our patient has some questions to answer when she's able." Jake responds.

Seth looks down at the hand he's clutching, tracing the pale skin with his tan fingers and determines that she won't be alone when they interrogate her. Shocked with his urge to protect her, he tries to drop her hand only to feel her clutch his more tightly, and whisper his nam
e.

"Well, Hell
," he mutters turning away only to catch Lucas smiling at him. "Shut up!" he snarls, ignoring the laughter around him.