Immortal Memory (Book One) (27 page)

Gazing at the blue ocean, Zach was
brought back to the tortuous moments on a similar island with
Lucinda. The salty breeze drew a bitterness within him to remember
what Azazel did. Zach understood why Lucinda hated beaches ever
since it happened. He could still hear Lucinda’s painful screams
from the past, and they’d haunt him forever.

Azazel couldn’t have Lucinda years ago.
Zach knew the demon would make certain Simra didn't escape. Simra
and her family must stick to the plan. Nothing could go
wrong.

However, something else tore at the
angel’s heart. He and Simra's grandmother would return to be with
Christ very soon. Zach’s heart belonged to Lucinda years ago, but
his love became stronger for her granddaughter. He could be cast
out of heaven upon returning for not controlling his feelings for
Simra. Why didn't God rebuke Zach for his mistake like He did last
time with Lucinda? It was almost like Zach did nothing wrong. But
that couldn't be true.

God chose Melton for Lucinda just like
He’d choose another mortal for Simra. Zach and Azazel were not
meant for humans. Then again, how could Zach continue in heaven
without his beautiful Simra? She taught him the true meaning of
being in love.

He’d only feel like half an angel
without Simra by his side. Although she refused to part ways with
Lucinda, the two must be separated. God began calling Lucinda home,
and Lucinda was ready to be with Him, Melton, and the rest of the
family.

Zach fought all selfish desires of
wanting Simra by his side whenever Azazel got destroyed. How
horrible of him! He was beginning to think like his evil brother.
She belonged with a mortal in her future. Not them.

Zach sought strength to be happy for
her, but his heart ached. The angel’s jaw clenched when he sensed
his brother returning with Simra. Zach hid behind the forest of
palm trees and observed them.

Azazel placed Simra at her feet. The
demon’s gaze shifted in all directions of the island. “Something
feels different. It’s not a good feeling.”

Bitterness seared through Zach. Yes,
Christ was here with them. The Lord would protect Simra from
getting harmed by the angel’s pesky brother. Jesus meant business,
and so did Zach. Diving into Simra’s mind, Zach identified her
powerful shield keeping the demon unaware of their plan.
Good.

Simra replied without revealing
concern. “Didn’t you say there's powerful evil on the island?
Perhaps it’s only your master. He probably knows how things were
becoming almost uncontrollable for you.”

Azazel scratched his chin and became
lost in thought. “You’re right. I can’t see how the spell could
ever be broken. Tell me again how Zach rescued you from
here.”

Simra shook her head and took his hand
in her own. “Oh Tristan. You’re still always so suspicious about
everything. I got worried about you and my family. I didn’t want
anything terrible happening to any of you. I searched for a boat on
the island and paddled out to sea. Zach found me far away from the
island. I asked him to take me close to your house in Longview
because I was worried.”

Azazel squeezed her hands with
affection as uneasiness still shadowed his blue eyes. “This is
different. I know you couldn’t have broken the curse on the island.
Zach can’t come near it. You wouldn’t know how to break such a
complex spell. However, I’ve noticed how Zach seems stronger since
I tried sending him back. It makes me think God made him this way
for the battle against me.”

Simra crawled into his arms and glanced
around the island as if searching for Zach. “Just hold me. Can’t we
enjoy these moments together? It’s been so long since we’ve had
happy times alone like these. So much time between us has been
lost.”

Azazel drew her lips closer
to his and gave her a brief kiss. The demon scanned the island a
couple more times as though reassuring himself no one was there.
“Time
has
been
lost between us, princess. I want no more of it to be wasted. Our
future together starts now….always and forever. We’ll be married in
a few hours.” Azazel’s lips lifted into a tender smile, and he
placed a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Tristan, I’m exhausted and haven’t had
rest in a long time. Can you fix me a bite to eat? I’m hungry and
need to sleep for a bit.”

Resting was in the plan. Zach had
agreed to wait a few hours to proceed. She needed her strength to
destroy Azazel.

The demon brushed a soft kiss across
her brow and trudged through the sand toward the forest. “I’ll find
something to eat, and then, you should get some rest. You’re very
deprived of sleep.”

Grabbing the phone from her pocket,
Simra read something on it. Zach dove into her thoughts again. Jeff
sent her a message. They were having trouble convincing Pastor
Mervin to come to the house and remove the curse. The preacher
seemed frightened to face Azazel in his demon form.

Simra placed a hand to her brow. Azazel
would return any moment with food. Keying a message back to Jeff,
she told him what to say to Pastor Mervin. Simra explained that the
preacher must do this for Zach. It would save lives and set the
angel free.

The text message must have been sent
with a poor signal on the island. It was hard to believe she
received any service at all. Maybe Christ caused her phone to have
a small signal. Zach knew the Lord needed the demon to be
destroyed.

Simra and the rest of her family must
stick to the plan. Their faith in Him was the key to success. If
they didn't have faith, Azazel might win.

The phone buzzed in response after
several moments. The detective told her in a brief message how her
idea succeeded with Pastor Mervin. The preacher had revered Zach.
The angel suspected the idea would succeed. Her shoulders swayed,
and she plopped into the hammock by the dying campfire.

“Who were you texting, Simra?” Azazel’s
disgusted voice came out of nowhere. He returned much too quickly
and quietly.

Simra gasped in surprise and turned to
see Azazel stomping toward her. “The signal’s poor. It’s
nothing.”

“Give me the phone. Let me see.” Azazel
dropped the fish on the ground. The demon growled in a heated rage
and tried taking the phone from her before she jerked it away from
him.

“No, I don’t want you looking through
my cell. What’s in my phone is none of your business! I told you
it’s nothing. You make me uncomfortable when you behave this way.
Please leave me alone, and let me rest. Can you at least do that
one thing for me right now?” Simra controlled the infuriated tone
in her voice. She slid the phone into her pocket. She gazed down at
the fish, which was too dirty to eat now.

“Fine. But they're inconsiderate of us.
You should tell them to leave us alone. The phone shouldn’t have
been brought here in the first place. I have a special romantic day
planned for us after our marriage ceremony when you wake up.”
Azazel brushed a soft kiss across her brow when she reclined in the
hammock.

Zach needed to keep a closer guard on
him now. The gentle swaying of the palm trees and the supple waves
rolled across the white shore. Simra drifted into a deep
sleep.

Azazel paced around the campfire. The
demon’s eyes glowed as he studied Simra in her slumber. The angel’s
evil brother walked toward her and slid the phone from her
pocket.

Zach’s plan would have to take place
much sooner than anticipated. He prayed to the heavens in hopes
that Pastor Mervin and Simra's family were close to finishing their
parts.

There wasn’t any time left, and Simra
would not have much strength because of sleep deprivation. The
demon read through the messages between Jeff and Simra. Azazel's
eyes glowed with jealousy, hatred, and anger. Zach shook his head
at the demon’s madness.

The angel clenched his fists when
Azazel threw Simra's phone against a palm tree trunk. The
shattering object caused Simra to bolt up from the hammock. She
rubbed her eyes and gazed around to see about the disturbance. Her
lips parted in surprise when Azazel glowered over her.

The demon's eyes glowed with heat as he
stormed toward the campfire. He picked up one of the burning logs
from the dying embers of the fire with his bare hands. Azazel threw
it at one of the palm trees across from her.

A vibrant blue streak of lightning
flashed near them and startled Zach, Simra, and Azazel. The dying
flames of the fire roared up from the ground and caused her to leap
from the hammock. She broke into a mad run toward the trails. The
pathways led through the thick trees of the island.

The plans may be interrupted now. From
where did the lightning come? Christ? The powerful thunder boomed
behind it and caused a tremble to course through Zach.

Surely Azazel’s master didn’t return to
the island after the angel and Christ sent him away. If Azazel's
master returned, Simra and her family were in great danger. But the
Lord's great power always made every creature and soul tremble. For
now, Zach must tackle one action at a time.

Saving Simra’s life and getting away
from Azazel came first. Zach didn’t consider who caused the thunder
and lightning for now. Simra’s safety mattered more than
anything!

Chapter 33

"Be sober-minded; be
watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring
lion, seeking someone to devour." -I Peter 5:8

Simra’s temples throbbed from running
so fast, but she resisted looking behind her. Tristan might be at
her heels by now, but she was too afraid to glance back. Her body
ached from being so tired. Because of hunger, her body grew weak.
Simra’s muscles constricted with fear. She felt something would
ruin their plans.

Tristan couldn’t have caused those
powerful streaks of lightning. Instead, it seemed to startle him.
She couldn’t understand why Zach didn’t appear sooner to stop him!
Zach appeared at such odd and unexpected times.

There was a loud thud behind her. Simra
dared taking a sideways glance at Tristan. He was just a breath
away from her.

Her heart fluttered when the angel
grabbed his brother. Zach shoved him against a palm tree and pinned
him against it. Zach mumbled in another dialect. Those vibrant
streaks of lightning caught up with them and struck over Tristan’s
head.

The booming thunder brought
a cold fear into the demon and the angel's eyes. The powerful
weather wasn’t caused by Tristan
or
Zach. Neither of them frightened each other in the
past. These vivid streaks were created by something more dominant
than both of them. It must be an act of the Lord!

The demon would fight harder
now that he became aware of their plans. Her faith must stay
strong. The lightning died away, and Tristan took both of his
brother’s arms. The demon pinned
him
against the tree. Tristan began
mumbling something in rage against Zach.

Simra squared her shoulders
and stomped toward Tristan. She placed her hand on him and
whispered a soft prayer with renewed faith to the heavens.
“
God, forgive me for ever doubting You.
Please protect us, and let Your will be done in all things. Cast
out this demon so that we may do Your will. Amen
.”

Tristan threw his hand back to shove
her away but Zach grabbed his hand to keep him from harming her.
The angel mumbled something in a foreign language over him. She
realized at that moment how God could not do all the work for her.
Simra must take action too. This was the only way He could assist
her.

Simra jerked back when vivid lightning
and roaring thunder erupted out of nowhere again. It struck Tristan
down as Zach finished grumbling in another dialect. The demon’s
wild glowing eyes grew wider in fear. He turned and ran away from
them into the thick forest of swaying palm trees.

Zach gathered Simra into his strong
arms and carried her toward the shore. The demon could not be
sensed anywhere on the island. Only Zach and the warm presence of
God embraced her. The angel carried her over the waves of
water.

Simra squeezed Zach and closed her
eyes. “Where’d he go? How soon do you think he’ll come back for
us?”

Zach gave her a worried stare, and they
continued their quick travel back to Texas. “Azazel won’t stay in
pain for long. He’ll be very angry and vengeful if he returns
before we can destroy the body. I’m only warning you. He went to
heal, and Azazel’s in pain from our prayers and faith. Thank you
for being so brave. God saved us.”

Simra tried to avoid the dizziness
enveloping her and closed her eyes tighter. She clung to the angel
and inhaled his strong cedar aroma. They had to hurry and find the
corpse. The demon must be destroyed before Tristan
returned.

Simra’s head spun at how fast they
moved. She inhaled a quavering breath when they appeared at the
house. Simra opened her eyes to see Jeff’s brown Impala parked in
the driveway. The warm spring breeze caressed her cheek and caused
her to sigh. It was much different than the salty breath of ocean
air.

She turned to look at Zach. “Has Pastor
Mervin come?”