CHAPTER 16
OPENING HIS EYES at the sound of Angels singing morning praises to the Lord, Jasper lifted his head from his pillow, and stretched. Rubbing his eyes he beheld the magnificent sight of the Angels singing in the room, Jasper prayed for a blessing on the day, before he thanked the Lord for the Angels and his new friends. Pushing the blankets off, Jasper was the first to stand up. It was nice for the men to wake up in the cozy log guest house. The floor was comfortable, more comfortable than sleeping on stone, roots and branches like he’d gotten used to.
Jasper saw Bobby and Pastor Reed, also sleeping on foam mattresses on the floor. Randy had the entire bed to himself.
The Angel’s music ceased abruptly, just before a knock came to the door of the log guest house.
“All right, boys.” Came a shout from Bell. “The girls are up and I have bacon sizzling. Just get yourselves together and meet us in the house as soon as you can or I won’t be held responsible if you miss breakfast.” Though Bell spoke through the door, she was loud and clear.
Bobby and the Pastor were sitting up at Bell’s call. Even Randy sat up and yawned. His porcupine Demon awoke with him but it looked different. While it was frozen and asleep, the male Angels worked at cutting off the evil creature’s quills. Now, awake and warmed up, it looked even more scrawny and naked without them, but it was also far less harmful. Even most of the long quills that were stuck in Randy’s back had been pulled out. The bald porcupine Demon wailed and cried for some time like a child throwing a temper tantrum.
The men composed themselves for the day and went over to the main log home for breakfast. Bell prepared a lot of food. Ted sat at the head of the long dining table while Bell sat down at the opposite end.
“Dear Lord.” Ted began to speak. The others were kind of amazed because to them, it was Ted’s first time saying anything at all. “Bless the food and the hands that prepared it.”
They ate pancakes, eggs, hash browns, bacon, toast and sausages. Everyone had their choice of beverages also; orange juice, coffee, tea and even goat’s milk… Not everyone went for the goat’s milk.
After everyone ate their fill, they kind’a felt the sense that their visit was spent. Tessa danced around in the family room. She loved the care that Bell took in her choices of Victorian country fashion. Tessa was given a cute country dress that was like new. She wore it proudly. Both Tessa and Randy were singled out the most. Tessa was pretty, but Randy had undergone the greatest transformation. People couldn’t help themselves but to make a comment or two about how good Randy looked. Wearing some of Ted’s old clothes, Randy looked like a skinny child who was wearing his father’s clothes. Randy took on a whole new character. Clean shaven with a haircut, his sickly wrinkled face seemed slightly fuller with color, and his transformation to health was quickly underway. He even smiled and joked a little. His striking light blue eyes observed everyone and became more alert with each passing hour.
Jasper thanked Bell and Ted for opening their home to them and assisting them when they needed it most. Gathering everyone together, Jasper informed the others to prepare for a long walk to Ceramecy. Tessa was disappointed to have to leave and she showed it when her energetic dance lost its oomph, and her smile slid down off her face. Everyone thanked Bell and Ted in turn. Tessa gave a big hug to both of them. Not only did she seem to want the old couple to adopt her, but she lost all enthusiasm for Ceramecy. Jasper made sure he took the garbage bags of clothes, but he also asked for blankets. Bell was such an amazing and giving person who wasn’t shy to express her great faith in the Lord.
Everyone left the farm feeling so good and encouraged.
They walked out from Bell and Ted’s long driveway, across the road to Jim’s locked Gate. Randy was getting stronger. He would lean on Jasper and walk on his own two legs. Two dark ghostly figures stood guard outside the Gate. They held long sharp spears. Jasper knew no one else could see the dark guards and he wondered what purpose they served in front of Jim’s farm.
No one felt comfortable following Jasper over the Gate and down the long dirt road. “Are you sure we’re not trespassing, Jasper?” Pastor Reed asked with concern.
Jasper had to reassure everyone multiple times that they weren’t trespassing. The road led the group to the main house just as Jasper remembered. Randy had become a nuisance holding Jasper back quite a bit, but Jasper didn’t complain. Looking around, Jasper expected to see Rusty, the black lab, but the dog never came. There were no vehicles either. Jasper walked over to the stairs to the porch of the main house and set Randy down to rest. Climbing the stairs, Jasper looked in through the windows. All of the furniture had been removed from the house. Then a deathly face slammed against the window from the inside.
Jasper jumped back screaming as Joel punched the Demon out. Joel’s spiritual fist went through the window, but no one else had a clue what happened. Jasper’s heart was beating a mile a minute, but he chose to act cool to avoid a lengthy explanation.
“What did you see, Jasper?” asked Bobby.
“Nothing, nothing at all.” Jasper answered. “My eyes like to play tricks on me.”
Turning to examine the rest of the farm, Jasper found it had become a haunted domain. The barn doors swung loosely open to reveal it was also empty of persons or belongings but it was packed full of evil spirits. They wove in and out of each other and scampered over the exterior of the barn. All of the establishments of the farm were infested by the hauntings of Demons and their kinds. For many years these Demons had tormented the farm and its caretakers until they finally had the run of the place. In celebration of their victory, the Demons howled and laughed hysterically amongst one another. They had succeeded in driving off the owners.
There was nothing interesting about the barn to anyone, but Jasper clearly saw how ghosts from the pit of Hell had claimed it their Domain. Demons were alerted with terrifying screams from the main house sending chills through Jasper. Horned devils and winged serpents paced back and forth; growling, sneering and hissing; warning the Angels to stay back. They seemed to be on a build up to an assault.
The six Angels took defensive positions around the group to guard and protect them. “Stay together everyone.” Jasper told them, but no one shared his sense of danger.
Then something mysterious caught Jasper’s eye. It was an old carrying bag that Jim had made him use many times. Jasper used the back-pack to pack fire wood for Jim. It was old, and obviously no one saw any value to it or it wouldn’t have been left behind. Jasper knew he would need the old canvas back-pack and decided he’d have to enter the barn to get it.
Knowing Jasper’s thoughts, the Angels went in ahead of him. With a crack of Elana’s whip, they entered the barn. Joel drew his sword. Fire and lava sprung forth from the blade.
Wilson, Roger, Starr and Taila became a blaze of Holy light as they also charged in. Light shot from Wilson’s fists. Recognizing the light, Jasper remembered it was like the holy light he saw when he had a glimpse at Heaven. At a distance, Wilson punched his fists at the Demons and the blinding flash of light blew them back causing them to turn and flee.
Roger’s swords of water blades were also effective at driving the Demons back. The holy water of cleansing and renewal burned the Demons effectively except he was substantially outnumbered.
While wielding the golden sword of truth, Starr opened her wings and released thousands of doves. In droves, the doves flew together, spreading light and purity which the Demons found revolting.
Taila’s hands began to glow with a soft hue of orange. Focusing her emotions, sunset light flared out at the Demons. The affect was momentarily blinding to them but when the Demons regained their sight, they found flowers growing upon their bodies and it drove them out of their minds. Demons retreated, ripping bright colored flowers of beauty out of their detestable spirits.
The Angels seemed to be effectively driving the Demons away when a loud spiritual explosion occurred between the Angels and the Demons and a powerful Imp arose.<
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The Imp was the Demon, Krustatious. A member of the Insufferable Six, only she was here on her own to lead these Demons. When she settled to the ground from the explosion it was clear how short she was. Pointing to one Angel after the other she spoke with a crackly voice, “Take Joel with impatience!” a group of Demons and winged serpents dived in at Joel at once.
Joel fought as hard as he could and his friends assisted him.
Krustatious pointed her twisted finger at Taila and shouted, “Bitterness!” At this command, Taila was targeted by a separate number of Demons. Then it was revealed that Krustatious wasn’t alone after all. Vyxcious arose from behind the barn and he towered over it. Looking down at the Angels the old Viking roared.
Pointing at Elana, Krustatious shouted, “Rejection!” Wilson; “Confusion!” Roger; “Anxiety!” Starr; “Hopelessness!” Then from Vyxcious’s feet grew thick vines of thorns which slithered out from him like vipers stalking prey.
The vines began to grab and twist around the Angels. They were completely bound and conquered. Jasper could do nothing but watch.
Back up arrived with impeccable timing when Jasper saw the guardian Angels of the people outside stand around them protectively. Each citizen of the city had their own guardian Angel. Their wings opened wide and the tips of their wings touched one another like they were paper cut-outs. What protected the people the most from the spiritual battle exploding around them was their blindness and unawareness to it.
When Jasper ran into the barn after the Angels, he tried to keep his eyes closed for as long as he could. Dashing right past Wengroangrinch, Jasper open his eyes just enough to locate and grab the back-pack. It had a thin wooden frame overlaid with canvas which had faded to an old rustic gray color. Though the canvas was frayed at the edges, it was still strong.
As Jasper grabbed the back-pack from off the rusty nail, Wengroangrinch directed the Demons to flee from the Angels and enter the rats. Hidden under tarps, floor boards and within the bales and piles of straw, a countless number of rats were possessed all at once. Like a swarm of millions flooding out into the open, the dirty disgusting creatures attacked with an evil demeanor snapping their teeth at Jasper. Loudly squeaking, the multitude of rats moved like a wave of water.
Tucking the back-pack under his arm, Jasper bolted out of the barn like a football player with the vicious rats nipping at his heels. The Angels deflected the angry Demon possessed rats away from Jasper with their weapons as he ran for his life. Pastor Reed, Bobby and most of the others giggled as they watched Jasper running hastily toward them. Their smiles disappeared the moment they realized the movement in the darkness was rats. No one could clearly see the hoard of rats until they chased Jasper out of the barn.
“Rats!!!” Jasper shouted.
The group panicked and fear ran up their spines like the rodents were already upon them. Screaming, the group ran every which way. The Angels, continuing to wield their weapons, could only delay the rats; not stop them. There was far too many of the little varmints.
“Don’t let them bite you!” Warned Pastor Reed.
“I don’t want to get diseases!” Janet snapped back.
“Like rabies?!” Bobby didn’t have to say this but it did add an edge to the chase.
Arm in arm, Pastor Reed assisted Randy but they were the ones moving the slowest. Everyone began to head for the house.
“No! Run this way! Follow me!” Jasper called out urgently. Signalling the group to follow him, Jasper headed down a path toward the trees at the end of the overgrown corn field in the direction of Ceramecy. Throwing Randy over his shoulder, Pastor Reed changed direction and ran to join Jasper. The others responded to Pastor Reed and darted in his direction as they raced for their lives to stay ahead of the evil red eyed army of rats.