Midnight Rain

  Midnight Rain

  Order of the Anakim

  Cecily Magnon

  Text copyright © 2019 Cecily Magnon

  All Rights Reserved

  12 Angels Publishing

  This book may not be reproduced or transmitted or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  Dedication

  Alita Coker

  1953 – 2019

  Thank you for being my friend.

  Contents

  Midnight Rain

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty One

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Chapter Twenty Five

  Chapter Twenty Six

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty One

  Chapter Thirty Two

  Chapter Thirty Three

  Chapter Thirty Four

  Chapter Thirty Five

  Chapter Thirty Six

  Chapter Thirty Seven

  Chapter Thirty Eight

  Chapter Thirty Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty One

  Author’s Note

  The Order of the Anakim

  Chapter One

  January 16th, The Order’s Estate

  3:00am

  What happened was unforeseen. The Order had never been attacked on its own land. They’d gotten arrogant. Gotten used to minor demons kept at bay for years. Now, a demon king had risen. Baal was flesh and the king was moving an army of demons through his city.

  Smoke rose like curling dark towers around the estate. The smell of gunfire and fuel hung heavy in the woods. Jarron, High Guardian of The Order, had been up all night. Who was he kidding? No one had slept. Everyone was running on adrenaline and shock. Even the dissipating energies from the battle remained on the property, like mournful ghosts clinging to the land. Jaw muscle twitching, he let out a sharp breath and turned for the cave. He looked around the large expanse of The Order’s holding cell--Ellie’s prison. His lip curled, menace radiating from every pore. “Baal,” he growled. This was all the demon king’s doing. Ellie, the attack, all the lives that have been lost.

  The ache in his heart threatened to overcome his resolve. He squeezed his eyes shut trying to center himself. He took a deep breath, the flowery air inside the cave making him long for Ellie. Making him remember the night she came into her powers. He had taken her to the creek on the estate. The night jasmine was blooming, the air smelled sweet and deeply fragrant, just like within the cave.

  The cell was old. Part of it was natural, but most of it had been dug out and reinforced by prior generations of The Order. The cave was perfectly hollowed out, the natural ceiling reaching over forty feet at its highest point with clear crystal stalagmites hanging down like chandeliers. Most of the cave walls were of a dark, hard, stone; some showing fissures from past earthquakes. But this cave had remained standing, stable, and secure. At least it had been. Until the demons that broke out Ellie tried to crush it from its very foundation. It was only thanks to Marcus and Phoebe, the cave did not crumble. He could see the energies of their magick holding the cave together. Infusing it with life and strength so the interior resembled a garden and no longer a prison. The walls were covered in leafy vines, flowers, and jasmine. It was deceptively peaceful, making it hard to believe a few hours ago a battle had ensued here.

  Ellie was here.

  She was safe.

  Memories of their training flooded him. He had been pushing her hard. Truth be told, he was trying to break her. Hoping she would quit, and return to her life as a scientist.

  But she wouldn’t quit. She pushed back and refused to be broken. She worked until she couldn’t move.

  He knew he drove her to tears. He’d watch from afar when she thought she was alone. He would see her break down, sobbing, and punishing herself for mistakes he’d harshly pointed out. He’d watch her pick herself back up, and her energy would grow in strength. He would come back, ready to deliver harder exercises, and see fire burning behind beautiful, exotic eyes.

  It intrigued him.

  What did the pretty professor think she could do? She knew nothing about their world. She was untrained, impulsive and would have been an easy target for any demon. He’d asked her, ‘Why be a Guardian?’ She’d only thought about the answer for a second and she looked at him; held his gaze in hers, and with all the conviction in her soul told him, “The Order is now my family and that’s reason enough”. He had thought she was foolish until he understood that when she loved, she loved completely. It wasn’t foolishness that drove her, it was love. Always love.

  What started out as a duty to train the newbie recruit quickly became something more. Physical attraction turned to deep admiration, respect, and yes, love. It was impossible not to fall in love with Ellie.

  He trained her hard to make sure she was the one who walked away from a battle. He trained her hard because he knew he couldn’t always be there to protect her. He had to make sure she could survive a fight because losing her was not an option. And yet, that’s exactly what happened. He’d lost her over and over again.

  Ellie’s rods had been left for him to safekeep. He stared at one of the hammered metal silver shafts, and tapped a finger on one of the golden tips. The points were impossibly sharp, quickly drawing blood.

  How did things get so bad?

  Jarron’s head fell heavy toward his chest as he strained against the cave’s control panel. Ash stained fingers curled slowly around the unique weapon. He lifted the metal sticks from the table, inspecting every inch, appreciating the balance, and feel in his hand. God, how he wished he was holding Ellie instead. For just a moment, he smiled remembering Ellie’s laugh, her little snorts, when she couldn’t stop laughing. The happy feeling quickly dissolved when flashes of Ellie’s face as a spawn marred his memory.

  He lowered his forehead to the rods, feeling energy coursing through the metal. It was Ellie’s. Pained. Forced. Suffering. He gasped, taking in Ellie’s pain as his own. Impossible. How could that be? She had been turned to a spawn. A spawn had no spark. No essence.

  Was Ellie truly an empty vessel?

  Moments from the battle came back to him in a hurry. Ellie had him locked in her sight. Her stare was ice-cold. Deadly. Then a flicker of her old self surfaced, and the ice melted instantly from her gaze, revealing beautiful hazel eyes with gold flecks. She had reached out to him. It was only for a mere second, but in that moment, he felt their connection. She was holding on to love.

  There was still hope.

  He set the rods down carefully, staring at them. Ellie’s essence was present. She was fighting, refusing to be broken. Ellie could be saved. He vowed her return. “No matter the cost. I’ll get you back,” he promised.

  A flood of energetic waves crashed into him, diverting his attention. Making him acknowledge the coming of a strong presence. He turned. E
llie’s father was approaching. His steps soundless.

  “Jarron,” Will called before stepping into the cave, his silvery-blue gaze immediately roaming the space. “I made those for her.” Will jutted his chin to the wrapped rods sitting on the control desk. He took a heavy breath, his energy going somber. “She didn't know who I was. She only knew me as a shopkeeper in Greece.” Will walked towards what had been Ellie’s cell and ran a hand over the clear, shattered plexiglass wall. “She’s gotten so much stronger than I ever expected.”

  Jarron leaned back against the table, arms crossed casually across his chest, trying to remain grounded, despite Will’s energy overwhelming him. “You were the stranger.” That had been a good memory for Ellie. “You were teaching her? You knew?”

  Will nodded, pausing from his inspection, a large hand still pressed against the broken cell wall. “We knew that eventually her destiny would lead her to the Anakim... even with mine and Sarah’s interference. We knew she needed to learn to defend herself.” His voice had softened, a small smile showing off a dimple. “I showed her what I could in our short time together. She was a natural.”

  Jarron watched Will, his own inquisitiveness distracting him from his discomfort around the man. He swallowed, remembering their first meeting. They had been in the Nether looking for Ellie. The dark energies of the realm had been too much for Jarron. It overtook him, keeping him from listening to reason. He attacked Will. He’d been ready to do serious harm. Brooks had to disable him, to give Will time to get them out. He could feel his energy constrict with the memory; he hesitated, guilt keeping him quiet.

  Will caught his eyes. The angel’s silvery-blues intense yet warm. “Go ahead I can tell something is on your mind.”

  He swallowed unsure of how Will would react. If the man took offense, it would be understandable. “Why did you leave Sarah and Ellie? Ellie never knew about you.”

  Will looked away momentarily, a hard swallow bobbing the large Adam’s apple on the man’s muscular neck. “Because I had to. I had to draw the demons to my energy. Away from Ellie.” Will faced him, sadness dulling his eyes. “Staying would have put my family’s life in great danger. I was never too far.”

  “You could have trained her.” Jarron straightened; he was crossing the line, but he needed to understand.

  Will scoffed, “I could have done a lot of things. I question my decisions every single day. And…” Will turned to the broken cell, a twitch stressing the corner of the man’s strong profile. He blew out as he shook his head and looked to the heavens. “And every single day I realize how much I fucked up with Ellie. We did not want this life for her.” He backed away from the cell. “I left to protect her future. To give her a normal life.”

  Jarron examined Ellie’s father. The plain black t-shirt tucked into plain black jeans belied the power coursing within the man burdened with regrets. Will presented himself as a man, and as a father grieving his daughter’s disappearance. William Koraki may have been an angel, but it was his human side that ruled him. This was the most they’d spoken and he was surprised with the man’s candor. “The night I met Ellie, was the first night a major demon had been in San Francisco. Ellie was going straight to it. She was walking towards death, and didn’t even know it.” Jarron hesitated, remembering both the confusion and curiosity he felt as he watched Ellie that night. “I forced her out of the club.”

  “And you almost died that night.” Will held his gaze, eyes glinting with compassion. “Isabel told me.”

  Jarron wondered how much Isabel had confided in Will.

  “My blood makes her part Carrion, a Dark One. The pull to dark energies is strong. It’s our nature.” Will shifted. “If you had not carried her out, the demon would have gone after her. That pull also attracts demons to us. Enemies by design. You saved her.” Will straightened, the energy of gratitude coming off of him in waves.

  Jarron warmed, the angel’s energy affecting him. “How do we get her back?”

  “I don’t know. But we cannot leave her in Baal’s hands.”

  He felt a connection growing with Ellie’s father. They had the same goals, motivations, regrets. He could trust this man. “The demon queen was here.”

  Will stepped closer, his energy heating with tension. “Ashtaroth.” The name came out like a lowly growl.

  “She told me to get Ellie back before it was too late.” Jarron confided.

  Will gripped his shoulder as his gaze pierced through consciousness. Focused beams of warmth seeped into his head, entwining his mind with Will’s. Jarron’s memories flipped rapidly like playing cards being shuffled. Will held the deck, perusing each card until he came upon the specific vision he wanted. He stopped at a memory card from a few hours earlier. Jarron and Naisa stood together, both sensing the demon queen. Bone chilling wind circled them as Ashtaroth’s words pierced the night air like an icepick. “She is his weapon.”

  Will broke off the mind-meld, and cursed under his breath. Tension pulled the corners of his dark brows together. “Jarron, this goes beyond my selfish needs as a father wanting to save his child.” He twisted to look at the broken cell. “Her powers are growing inside a vessel without an essence. Without Ellie’s soul and spirit, the powers are raw, uncontrolled, and violent. There is nothing to temper those growing powers.” Will took a deep breath, his troubled gaze going up to the heavens again.

  Jarron was shaking his head. “No. She’s not all gone. There’s a small spark of her essence left.”

  Will looked confused, trying to make sense of what he’d just heard. “Are you sure?” he asked.

  “I felt her.”

  Will was contemplative, his dark brows pinching. “I had a vision. It was right after Sarah and I met. The vision foretold of a child who would command all four elements.”

  “Ellie. Ellie can already control three of the elements. Anya had foreseen her control all four.”

  Will bristled. “The vision ended abruptly, but not before a voice ordered me to protect them all.” Angel energy spiked in anxiety ridden frequencies. “It didn’t occur to me then, that the child would be my own.”

  “Protect them from Ellie?” Dread filled him. “Ellie would never hurt anyone or anything willingly.”

  “Ellie wouldn’t. But a spawn of Baal would.”

  Jarron felt his heart thud painfully against his sternum.

  “There was a war in the vision. Storms were raging. People were dying. Demons marched in the streets, and rose from the oceans.” Will paused as if trying to recall the vision. “I can’t see Ellie. That must mean something.” Will took a step closer, and reached for his shoulder, clasping it. “If I fail. I need your word; you will get her back. The connection you felt. I believe it. She must be saved, Jarron.”

  Will linked with him again. He could feel Will’s energy, the formidable strength of its radiance and pure light mixing with his own. This was more than a mind-meld. Gasping, he straightened as angel energy sped through his veins, and a knowing that came with divinity slammed his heart. Will’s trepidations became his own.

  “We have work to do, Jarron.” Will bowed to him before large black wings exploded from his back, and he disappeared. You must learn and learn fast. The she-demon is right. Ellie must be saved before it is too late.

  Unexpectedly, despair, guilt, anger, fear, and sadness collided within Jarron all at once. His stomach fell to his feet, and his heart pounded furiously against his rib cage. The emotions were not all his. Will. Will’s fears were mixing with his own. Angel energy was running through his system, setting off coils of power within him, activating hot spots of new abilities. Control. Control. He directed his mind.

  No Jarron. Feel it. Feel everything. Get out of your head! Will’s voice echoed in his mind like a canon.

  Jarron twisted on the balls of his feet looking for Will. He was here, he could still feel him, but his vision was blurring from pressure building inside of his head. His powers morphed, snaked, and intensified as he allowed his and Wil
l’s emotions to crush him. He had thought the transmutation he went through was hell. He remembered Anya telling him the changes would not be instantaneous. That he would continue to evolve. Was Will part of his evolution? He hissed as the pain intensified within him.

  Feel it all Jarron. Let all those feelings and memories you’ve suppressed all these years come alive. It’s time to let it all go. Your mind will not set you free. Only your heart.

  Jarron hunched over as scalding heat bloomed inside his gut. “What are you doing to me?” he growled, and fisted his hands into the hollows of his eyes.

  Isabel tells me you’re a leader. A teacher. Do you remember how to be a student?

  Jarron forced himself to straighten, and clear his sight. There was more than one way to see. Intuitively switching his field of vision from physical sight to energetic, he saw the cave in a much deeper spectrum. Will’s energy was everywhere, but there was no concentration of it to signal a formed being.

  “Show yourself, Will.”

  No, Jarron. You must honor your powers. All of it. The light and the dark.

  Jarron curled as if hit in the gut, his vision turned to grey and flashes of white light came to him. Phoebe’s voice was in his mind, the dark is not the enemy, son. It is simply the other half that makes us whole. He twisted, trying to isolate Phoebe’s energy. Where did she come from? Was she back? “Phoebe!” he called out. What kind of game was Will playing? There was no time for this. He blinked his eyes, trying to regain his vision. Instead, flashes of memories, bad memories snapped inside his mind. Giving him no choice, but to relive each damaged moment.

  You’ve been taught to stay away from your darkness, lest you awaken your Nephilim ancestors’ curse. Will scoffed in his mind. Curses don’t make a person good or bad. Curses only bring out what is already there. If we’re going to save Ellie. You must be comfortable in the dark because that’s where we will have to go to find her.

  He bit through every single memory Will forced on him. Fighting it, justifying it, then finally accepting it and forgiving himself. How long he was forced to endure the intervention, he had no idea. He was depleted and no longer had the fight. Will’s form of therapy was brutal and he was brought down to his knees. “I’m done, Will. You win.” Tears came down and he allowed himself to feel. EVERYTHING. He grieved, mourned and celebrated in a matter of minutes, feeling like he’d lost his mind. When the last bit of feeling flittered away, his vision came back. His elemental fire ignited within. It felt new, stronger, more powerful. Ready. In the distance he could hear footsteps running toward his location.