Chapter 12
Saving Jezzz
Abigail sat in her Washington D.C. townhouse with a cup of hot cocoa, which was sitting precariously on four-foot-high stack of newspapers. The Internet showed information on the local, front-page news of a recent accident. At her feet and surrounding her were mounds of old newspapers, magazines, and numerous Internet printouts. With her scissors, she clipped out a recent article and moved slowly to a 15- by-15 foot, corkwood pegboard and pinned it to the last of three rows. At the right of this board, she had a dry eraser board with numerous numbers and dates written on it. She added another figure to murders by two, adding another to a list of states, and then added to a list, by size, (seven feet +) with a new question mark. She went back to her computer, then changed her mind. As she turned to look back at the board, she almost knocked her cocoa off the newspapers. Instead, she whistled loudly and four small puppies came running into her office living room. She grabbed the newspapers and threw them on the floor in front of the only clear space of carpet and pointed to it.
"Bathroom," she ordered loudly.
Each one took its turn to pee, then sat still in front of her and waited for a doggy treat. She thought how ugly they were in spite of how cute pups were supposed to be. This was the fifth Nicodemus generation. Nicodemus died years ago, but not before passing his genes down, over and over, through a variety of very pretty females, to no avail. They all turned out ugly—the Nicodemus genes were just too strong. They all had that hyena-spotted, black-and-white look surrounded by dull butterscotch, brown blotches that leaked into the other colors. They didn't have his cross pattern on their forehead, but they did have that stupid and very goofy, white smile that Nicodemus was famous for. She had been keeping his clan alive without him for years, now.
"Good dogs," she spoke to them.
They bowed their heads to the floor, in what Abigail called an act of respect. She never did figure out how Nicodemus' kin learned to do that without being trained. His genes must have been mutated by some D.C. radiation or something; it still gave her the creeps.
Abigail spoke in disgust, "This is it. I'll not raise another litter of you ugly mutts who will probably outlive me."
She was only 70, and her independent ways made her refuse captivity in a nursing home; it was never considered. Being the President's wife came with extra perks, which included free quarters of her choosing and a security guard. The security guards used to be mountainous men in uniform, which she accused of being angels. Jerusalem eliminated many occupations, including the military. Last year they were meter maids all over 60 and carried only flashlights, probably volunteer workers. They didn't stand guard but were provided a nice recliner in her house, which really interfered with her privacy. She finally got Jerusalem to disband all of it and provide her with a security system that allowed her to see everything coming and going.
Her townhouse was spacious and roomy with its large deck overlooking a rich and fully shaded yard. It was set on a hill overlooking the capitol. Washington was more new parks than capitol, created from heaven's fields. Government buildings were changed to everything from prayer hospitals to warehouses. The traffic of Washington had reduced its noise to a few occasional travelers traveling back and forth on motorcycles, bikes, or just walking. It reminded her of a sleepy southern town from the turn of the 18th century. Most of the noisier businesses were near the airport, surrounded by large hotels like the Jerusalem Hyatt, the Jerusalem Marriott, and the Jerusalem Holiday Inn, the only three approved hotels in the world. All the hotels were controlled by the Jerusalem licensing board. Abigail thought that much of Washington's lack of noise was also from the nuking it took over 30 years ago. New York City was much the same for that same reason. That was harder for her to imagine than Washington.
The phone rang. "Hello, this is Abigail."
"Mom, it's Day. You sound hacked off. Been potty training another set of Nicodemus litters?" she asked laughing. Day was glad Abigail was fooling with them and not her.
"Yes, those little rodents. These four have already started bowing. I can't figure it out. Right now, they're growling at me for calling them rodents. The Nicodemus genes have got to be from a science project gone wrong. Enough with me," she replied laughing.
"Have you spotted anything else going on? I haven't had time to do my paper searches with moving in and the first week of school," Day replied sadly.
"Don't worry, sweetie. Just concentrate on the real important stuff. This stuff can wait. Yes, I have seen another one. It's all so isolated. This one was a little close to home, though."
"What did you find?" asked Day.
"Two bodies showed up under a Ferris wheel. They were missing body parts. It was on the front page of the obituaries, listed under the unknowns. There is a note that they looked exactly the same size, but big, very big. I just don't know, Day. I'd like to know what big is to someone. To me, having been around angels, it's at least seven feet or taller. To someone else, it might be either of you two. You're both about six feet. I bet you look down on lots of people. It's so relative."
"So, if two identical bodies, twins, showed up at this amusement part, cut to pieces, they could be dark Nephilims, right? Without looking at their eyes, you couldn't tell. Star and I have been there, Mom. We've seen our Nephilim friends drive themselves crazy when their eyes turned to those red stars. It freaked them out, us, too. We'd never had anything like that happen. That's when we figured out it was time to get out of Hodge."
"It's Dodge, Day. I know dear, but you both should have called me earlier. I could have helped. Mom isn't exactly stupid about these matters. I lived with the President during the Day of the Dragons. You should've given me more credit than you did. I'm a survivor," she reminded her in a motherly tone.
"Yes, I know. You said that before. It would have been better than Star and me changing universities ten times before finishing. We kept running into them and from them. They figured we were like them until their eyes changed, and we knew different," she replied regretfully.
"But, you two did make it. That's what I mean. This family is a family of survivors."
"We survived, but Star did better. I'm still jealous about it. She told me what to do, and I wouldn't believe her. Maybe I didn't want to admit she was smarter than me. She told everyone that she had special contacts. She didn't lie. She even got some contacts with just a little red tint in the middle. What a joke. They ate it up. I wouldn't do it and dropped out. Now, she's the Doctor of English, and I'm just working on my masters."
"Stop the self pity, Day. You have Riley, don't you?"
"Yes, but you know what we have planned. She'll have Hayden," she stated flatly.
"You don't have to go through with this plan if you don't want to, Day. Neither does Star. I just suggested it. You two are the ones running with the ball. Although, I'm encouraging you both to do what needs to be done."
"No, no, Mom, we're committed. I just fell in love. Star may be having problems with it. I haven't heard from her."
"You know I'm connected, but I'm just old power now. I don't have any clout. You need to be on the inside and connected at the same time. Riley is on the inside. Hayden is connected. He's the new power. He's the one everyone listens to; at least, they read his stuff. It's still both your decisions. I just hope you agree, that's all."
"I'm in too deep now, Mom. I'd marry Riley whether we followed through with this thing or not," she stated, then grabbed her hand over her mouth from mentioned getting married.
"Married! Girl! You'd better tell me what's going on! 'Fess up, Day! Are you two getting married? Not before he gets his assignment, are you?"
"Yes, married. No, after his assignment. He's in Star's English class at seminary," she said, then pulled her phone away from her ears and waited for the Abigail explosion.
"What in the world are you two doing? I hope everyone knows their part. That could mess up everything if word gets out. Is she cool about all this?" as
ked Abigail, not shouting but wanting to.
"Don't use those stupid words, Mom. No one says 'cool' anymore. Anyway, it just happened. It was an accident, that's all. We don't handle the seminary class schedules."
"Has she met Hayden, yet?" she asked, not knowing if she wanted to know anymore.
"I'm sure she has. Had her first class with him on Monday, and her first class with Riley yesterday. I'm expecting to hear from her, shortly. Either, she's going to quit on me or stick it out. I'll let you know. If she quits on me, I'll be calling back for Plan B."
"Hold on a second, Day. Don't hang up. Someone is ringing at the outside gate. Let me turn the surveillance on. Well, that's interesting. It's a very tall lady, about your size. Nice looking. Hold on," she said as she took her phone with her and looked closely into the monitor.
"Can I help you, ma'am?" she asked.
"Are you Abigail? The President's widow? Day and Star's mom?" Jezzz asked while staring intently into the gate camera.
"Yes, but who are you?" she asked nervously.
She whispered to Day, "Did you hear that? Stay on the line."
"I'm sorry, but I don't know you. Can you tell me what you want?" she asked as she trembled all over with a tinge of fear and great excitement; something about this girl fascinated her.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Tabor. I'll just tell you the truth. I'm a dark Nephilim, who has come to warn you about your daughters. They're in danger. There's a terrible plot to destroy the Glory Throne with Jesus in it, and another to release Satan and his angels from the abyss. The powers to be are scared of what they think your girls know. Please, help me! Please let me help you! Please!" cried Jezzz into her hands.
"Hold on a minute," she said shaking.
"Did you hear that?" she asked Day.
"Mom, don't let her in. She's scaring the 'sillies' out of me," shouted Day.
"It's the 'willies.' I'll call you right back. I’ve got a second sense about these things. She's not here to hurt me. She's here to help and get help. Don't worry, love. Bye." she hung up and left Day shaking all over.
Day dialed back, but there was no answer. She called information to get Star's new number and called every five minutes, but no one was home.
"Come on in. Just remember that the cameras are recording you. It pipes the feed back to the Jerusalem archives on all my stuff. Call it a Presidential perk," she warned.
As Jezzz came to the door, she was wiping away the tears and trying to straighten up. She smiled weakly at Abigail as she came through the door. Abigail moved slowly, but still with great agility, and pointed to a chair filled with newspapers.
"Just throw them on the floor. I'll clean up later," she said, still watching Jezzz carefully. Before Jezzz sat down, she saw the board, changed her mind, and walked over to it. She studied it, then returned to her chair.
"You're on the right track. But, you'll never figure it out in time," she said as she looked at the puppies licking at her shoes. Abigail sat across from her in silence.
"Those are ugly pups, ma'am," she said while shaking her head. The pups growled at her, and she became alarmed, then looked at Abigail for an answer.
"Don't ask me. They don't seem to like criticism. Their great, great, great, grandfather, Nicodemus, didn't either. Had quite an attitude and that same stupid, white smile. Watch this."
"Company," she commanded. The pups bowed before Jezzz in respectful and obvious bows.
"You're kidding. How did they know how to do that? You're a great trainer," she complimented, amazed at how expertly they had it down. "It was as if they knew exactly what they were doing."
"Not me. All of Nicodemus' pups know how to do that. No one ever has to train them. By the way, you passed the Nicodemus test," she said and laughed while pointing to them licking at her shoes again.
"These guys, the test, how?" she asked mystified.
"All of his pups know when the intentions of others are, should we say, not honorable, to say the least. Nicodemus was the dog that attacked Cassidy, the President's wife, the first dark Nephilim I ever heard about, and she called him Jehovah's dog. These guys aren't any different. Although I've never had any of them baptized."
"Baptized," she laughed, tickled by the thought.
"Makes me laugh too, but that Nicodemus was some kind of Godly electricity rod. If you weren't a believer and touched him, the Holy Spirit went right through you. I know. It happened to me. I tried not to touch him until after I got saved. "
"Saved, believer, Holy Spirit! Somehow, that kind of talk never got taught in my home. We weren't allowed to speak of God, his angels, and especially, about salvation. I know why, now. Dark Nephilims can be saved, you know? I just found out. Can you believe it?" she said as she teared up again.
Abigail moved to the floor in front of Jezzz and moved the dogs out of the way. "Jezzz, I'm really good about reading people. You're scared, aren't you?" she asked, then took her hands in hers and looked directly into her eyes.
"I'm scared to death, Abigail. I'm so scared that I can't even sleep at night. I didn't even tell Young Herod that. He's on his way to Europe to find out about the dark Nephilim kingpins. Please, Abigail, you have to help us. Please," she said in anguish, then broke down and sobbed. Abigail reached out after getting near her on the sofa chair and held her until her crying stopped.
She never said a word, then spoke softly as her crying ebbed away, "Tell Sister Abigail all about it. No one will hurt you, Jezzz. I promise. Let's see if we can sort through some of this stuff, okay?"
Jezzz nodded "yes" in a pathetic groan that reached deep into Abigail's heart. Abigail knew that Jezzz was damaged goods. She knew that only the Lord could heal her. Before she left, she knew of a certainty that Jezzz would be a believer. Never had she sensed a hunger for righteousness in anyone as powerful as with this girl.
Abigail got up and knocked some newspapers onto the floor and laughed, "Hey girl, you remember when I told you I'd clean up later. I never do, sorry. I let Day and Star come over, ever so often, with a shovels and bundles of trash bags. What are daughters for? I mean adopted daughters. Want some coffee? I got the real thing, great French Roast. Don't see much coffee around, lately," she replied as she poured big spoons of coffee into a 15-cupper and pushed the perk button.
"Coffee, really. I don't think I've ever had any. What's it taste like?" she asked and felt almost perky now. She was relieved that she was being treated like a human being rather than a freak at a circus sideshow. "I'm so sorry I bothered you. Do you want me to leave? I will, if you want me to," she asked pathetically.
"Jezzz, you're welcome in my home anytime you want. You're doing an old lady's heart good. I haven't had company in so long I might not let you go."
"I'd actually like that. It's terrifying out there right now for my kind," she replied.
"Stop that 'my kind' language. I raised two of the most beautiful Nephilims, my little girls. If they hadn't been told they were Nephilims, they'd have never figured it out. They were just girls. You are too. You aren't dark or light, just a girl. When you have your own family one day, you'll understand. Just your kids, not bad kids or good kids or dark, light or gray kids, just your kids. You'll love them, and they'll turn out right. If you don't, they won't. It's as simple as that."
"Do you really think there's a place for us in this world? Do you really think that God cares for us as much as He does the light Nephilims or humans? Do you?"
"You know what? I'm going to do something today that breaks all my rules. I'm going to change a rule about keeping the girls' father away. I'm going to ask for interference just for you. I know that this will work, but I haven't done it for quite a while," she proclaimed loudly.
She continued, "Here, sit down. Want some toast and jam?" she asked as she watched Jezzz's puzzled look.
"Yes, that would be nice. I haven't eaten anything in about two days. Especially, after killing the Agrippa twins," she stated, letting it slip out.
"Those two at the amusement park? You did that? The bad guys, I hope," replied Abigail chuckling.
"Yes, the bad guys. Real bad guys."
"Remember, God asked Sal, the girl's real mom, to kill the President's wife, Cassidy, to stop the nuking of all those believers and their newborns. There is such a thing as justifiable homicide," she comforted.
"I feel dirty because of it. I don't want to be dirty. I want to be clean inside and out. I don't want to be one of the bad guys. I want to be one of the good guys," she confessed and watched the knowing looks on Abigail's face.
"I knew you felt that way. What do you say we start by solving that problem of yours first, then I'm going to invite someone for a visit? First things first."
Abigail went to the end table near a long couch where she often napped and picked up her worn-out Bible. She brought it in and placed it on the table in front of Jezzz. Jezzz recoiled from it, then put her hand on it.
"I know things about the Bible that are from my memory, but I've never read it. Why?" she asked, then felt the texture of the leather binding, and then, impulsively held the Bible to her chesst in an embrace.
"I believe it's because you're more part of heaven and hell than you can ever imagine. The history of hell is mapped in heaven and vice versa. You can't understand one without the other. You are part of the original race of God beings, angels, created from the foundation of the world, way before we humans ever made it. You were part of heaven and the glory of the firmament. The darkness changed some of that, but not the original stuff. Your original stuff is still with you.”
Jezzz closed her eyes and felt angel memories flooding back to her. She sensed the elation of angel flight, and she saw a glimpse of heaven and the glory around the throne. Then, a darkness snatched it away, and she groaned in pain.
"You're feeling the darkness stealing away your real heritage. You aren't cast out anymore, Jezzz. You are a part of us. You mustn't yield to the darkness that separated your own father from the Lord. You must make your own decision about whom you will serve."
"I feel my father's pain for being cast from heaven. It feels like razors cutting me into pieces. He wanted to go back, but Apollyon wouldn't let them. They begged heaven to let them back, but Apollyon wouldn't surrender. He wanted it all. He wanted to be God and hated the humans for their special place with God. He and the angels were cast down even farther, and Apollyon fell to earth with them. He ruined them and wants to ruin the humans now too. He wants them to pay for him being only the Prince of the Earth and Air. He wants us dark Nephilims to make them pay. I can't stand the pain of this!" she screamed and flung the Bible across the room.
Abigail was frightened for a minute. She thought about the progress Jezzz had already made, even before she got there. She felt Jezzz was losing ground to the darkness, and she saw the flames in Jezzz's eyes burning brighter with a stone cold face replacing the brokenhearted one that was there a minute ago. Abigail reached over and grabbed her hand while at the same time she heard the pups growling at Jezzz.
"Leave me alone, Abigail! It's a lie! I'm not allowed to be this good, this righteous! We can never be that way? We are dark Nephilims!" she said as her voice forced the words from her like they weren't her own.
Suddenly, she moved from the table, ran to the Bible, and sat on the floor. She pulled the Bible into her chest again, embracing it, "Help me, Abigail! Please help, me! I feel the darkness swallowing me up again! Help me!" she cried like someone trying to hold onto a rope hanging off a cliff.
Abigail moved to the floor with her and put her arm around her, whispering gently, "Ask Jesus to forgive you and surrender to Him. You must ask Jesus to take you over, to live in your heart. Nothing about salvation has changed since I did it. It's still the same. Do it, Jezzz!" she encouraged strongly, still watching her carefully.
There was a tearing sound that was painful to hear coming from Jezzz right after she spoke the words, barely able to form them, "Forgive me of my sins, Jesus. I surrender to You, Lord. Come into my heart," and the screams coming from her were terrifying. Abigail thought she saw something fly from Jezzz's mouth like a dark shadow that appeared, then disappeared, and melted back into the air.
Jezzz gasped for air while breathing heavily. After several long, deep breaths, she said, "The darkness is gone. Oh, my precious Lord, the darkness is all gone! Nothing in me but Jesus! Oh, my God! I love you so much! I'm so sorry for my father's sins against you! I am free! I am so free!" she shouted and got up and danced in the kitchen with the pups howling and baying; they seemed to know what happened.
Abigail was completely overcome by the emotion of it and felt lightheaded, then passed out. She hit the door with her head, and Jezzz panicked, then carried her to the couch while getting ready to call an ambulance.
A voice behind her said, "I'll take care of her."
Caleb was standing in his heavenly glory with his wings fully expanded, still carrying his mighty sword on his back. Shortly after, Irish appeared with her rainbow-colored star eyes and filled the room with her brilliant aura, then Jezzz fainted this time.
"Man, what is it with you women?" Caleb joked as he watched the pups licking at Jezzz's face and bringing her around.
Caleb stepped over her and moved towards Abigail on the couch while Irish knelt beside Jezzz. Irish picked her up and held her. It was an act of healing the deep wounds even more. Jezzz reached up and gently touched Irish's face as she felt the love of God pouring from her and back again. When Abigail came to, Caleb was bending over her with a washcloth, patting her face. She smiled and reached up to kiss and hug her old friend.
"You haven't changed! You big hunk!" she whispered, then felt the pain shooting up her face.
She commanded, "Take care of my pain just like last time."
He reached out and touched her face, and she felt the heavenly glory pouring over her body. She felt it restoring her and healing other aches that she had been feeling for years.
"You're so good at that, Caleb," she whispered. "How's my guest. She's a believer now. You know that, don't you?"
"Yes, she's fine, and so are you. We can always count on you, can't we?" he replied while laughing joyously.
Jezzz got up with Irish's help. "Man, you are one good looking angel! Are all the angels like you?" she asked.
"Thanks! Most! It depends on whom you ask. Sal thinks so. That's Day and Star's mother. I'm their father. Sal is with me in heaven, now," he smiled at her and watched her putting the pieces of the puzzle together and smiling knowingly.
"I want to thank you for coming here to warn us about what's going on. I'm going to assign some special protection for Young Herod. We aren't allowed to interfere much; but if he gets into trouble, Aaron let me lend Joseph to help.
"Thank you. Why can't you just stop it yourselves?" she asked, and Abigail nodded in agreement.
"I'm sorry, but this is your world, not ours. This is your 1,000-year peace. You need to work out things. If we did it all for you, you wouldn’t be ready for New Jerusalem. But, we’ll help you this time."
He continued, "Abigail, your two girls are going to follow in their mother's footsteps pretty soon. Don't stop them. They must follow their own Godly instincts. Your plan about being on the inside and connections is good, but it must go further than that. They'll know what to do. Take care of the CDs. Pull these videotapes on Jezzz at the front gate and turn off the cameras. You don't know who may be viewing them at Jerusalem. That's all the help I'm giving you now. Oh, by the way, Jezzz, welcome back into the family of God. Can we count on you to lead Young Herod to the Lord?" he asked; and after seeing her nod "yes," he and Irish disappeared.
"What CDs?" Abigail asked after getting up full of energy from her angel healing.
"Oh, that, let's see," Jezzz said as she pulled two copies out of the plastic covers.
"Wait a minute, let me call Day for just a second," she said as she dialed the phone.
"Mom, mom, are you okay? Are you
okay?" she almost shouted.
"I'm fine. Stick to the plan. I'm sending," she held up one, then two fingers as Jezzz nodded "yes" at two as close enough, "two, dark Nephilims to visit with you. They have information you need to know. Caleb and Irish came by to help. Everything is fine. Isn't this all so exciting! Bye," she replied excitedly and hung up.
Day finally called and got through to Star, "Star, it's Day. We have two dark Nephilims coming to see us, and they have information we need. Something big is going on! Mom saw Dad and Irish today! Something big is happening!"
Star was so stunned by her excited speech that her own Hayden reluctance faded in comparison. It didn't seem important anymore. She heard Day say, "See ya," and she hung up.
"Jezzz, stay with me till this guy, Young Herod, gets back, will you? I have a bedroom without newspapers messing things up." Jezzz reached out, and they held each other for a long time.
"I think, after we see the CDs, I'll do your Day and Star duties and clean up your place for you. Do you mind? It's bothering me a little," she giggled.
"Bothers me a lot, but I never have the energy. Do now. Caleb is always a good one for the great angel B12 shot. I'll help," she laughed.
"Don't forget to stop the cameras and erase the feed, okay?" she reminded her.
"Yes, Sister. Sister in the Lord, I mean," she said.
Jezzz answered, "I know what you mean, Sister."
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