Daniel and the Trees of Eden E-Book

Nathan Lumbatis

• Herausgeber: Dove Christian Publishers
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Barely two months after rescuing Raylin in the Abyss, the final quest begins. The mission? Seal the Spirit of the Age into the Serpent to usher in an era of spiritual awakening. But this will require a battle in the heart of Babylon where the Enemy’s power is greatest. To prepare, Daniel and his friends must first navigate a treacherous path through Babylon itself to find the Gates of Eden—and beyond, the Tree of Purity.
The road is plagued with scores of monstrous demons, and Eden isn't without challenges of its own. A trial awaits within the fabled garden, one that will either purify a growing darkness within the group … or prove its downfall. Should they triumph, further tribulation looms on the horizon. The Enemy is ready for battle, and in his possession is the Vessels’ greatest weakness. Amid each travail, Daniel clings desperately to the Three’s assurance of hope.
WILL THEIR PROMISES SUSTAIN HIM WHEN FACED WITH IMMEASURABLE LOSS?
Daniel and the Trees of Eden is a young adult, Christian fantasy novel focusing on sanctification, reconciliation, and faith amid tribulation. It is the fourth and final book in the Sons and Daughters series, which includes Daniel and the Sun Sword, Daniel and the Triune Quest, and Daniel and the Serpent’s Abyss.

Leseprobe

Daniel and the Trees of Eden:

Sons and Daughters Book 4

Published by Dove Christian Publishers

P.O. Box 611

Bladensburg, MD 20710-0611

www.dovechristianpublishers.com

Copyright © 2024 by Nathan Lumbatis

Cover Design by Donika Mishineva

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced without permission of the publisher, except for brief quotes for scholarly use, reviews or articles.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

eBook Edition

Published in the United States of America

For Ariel,

whose creative and brilliant writing

is an inspiration.

For other books by Nathan Lumbatis, including Books One, Two, and Three in the Sons and Daughters series, visit:

nathanlumbatis.com.

Contents

Substitutes and Roadkill

An Act of God

A Hair-ifying Purification

A Demonic Playdate

A Creepy Family Reunion

The Prince of Peru

Kon Is a Jerk

A Desert of Monsters

Dreams, Dragons, and Demons

A Scenic River Cruise

Psychopaths, a Wolf, and Quills—Oh My!

Secrets

A Fishing Trip with Enbidoodoo

Pop Goes the Demon

A Sea of Spirits

The Gates of Eden

The Tree of Life

A Bitter Truth

The Tree of Purity

The Charge

The Spirit of the Age

The Enemy’s Plan

Forsaken

Heaven

Ten Years Later

Landmarks

Cover

1

Substitutes and Roadkill

Daniel wove through a group of football players huddled around the door of his math classroom and made a beeline toward an open desk at the back. Garland decked the walls, heavily burdened with gaudy red bulbs and other Christmas ornaments. Someone had scrawled, “Math is evil. It’s Christmas Break. Let us leave!” across the dry-erase board. Most of the class stood around talking about their plans for Christmas break once school let out. Daniel didn’t join the conversations. He unslung his green backpack and tossed it on the ground, then slid into his seat and pivoted toward the door. Other students trickled through, mostly in twos or threes, while finishing conversations from the hallway. Four cheerleaders slipped in. One smiled at Daniel and gave a small wave. He politely smiled back, but his attention was elsewhere.

Ben walked by the doorway and paused. “She’s coming,” he mouthed before disappearing into a group of other students heading in the same direction.

“Here we go,” Daniel muttered. Every Friday since their last quest, it was the same thing. One of his teachers was mysteriously absent due to a sudden sickness, family emergency, or an inexplicable urge to travel somewhere far away. In their place—

“Good afternoon, class.” A woman with a pixie haircut the color of dishwater, long red fingernails, and eyes concealed behind dark glasses stalked into the classroom, her voice a raspy wheeze. She wore a disheveled pantsuit that was so threadbare it could have been fished out of a dumpster behind a thrift store. It smelled like it, too. “I’m Miss … uh … Miss …” The Creep glanced around the classroom, clearly at a loss for a fake name.

“Garbles Matlock?” Daniel offered, tossing out the most ridiculous name he could invent on the spot.

“Yesss,” the woman hissed, peering at Daniel over the rims of her glasses. “Garbles Matlock. But you can call me Ms. Garbles, because that’s a suitable name.” She studied Daniel while muttering. “Let’s see: brown hair streaked with white, brown eyes, tall, slightly muscular frame, defiant and cheeky. He’s the one.” She eagerly clicked her fingernails together.

The other students exchanged confused stares. Daniel didn’t know why. He figured they would be used to this by now. Last week, it was Mr. Mange, a squat, middle-aged man who smelled like manure. The week before, it was a Ms. Bloodmash. Daniel could never quite place what she smelled like, but it somehow made him think of a meat processing plant. There had been a Ms. Gore, a Ms. Wratch, and even a Mr. Murder. Every class had ended the same. Ben had similar experiences, and this one would undoubtedly be no different.

“Take out your history books,” Ms. Garbles barked. “Turn to page—”

“This is a math class, Ms. Flarbles Baggeldy-Goop,” Daniel said. “See, it talks about math on the board behind you. Also, it’s the last day before Christmas Break, and we only have thirty minutes before the bell. We get out early today, so you don’t actually have to teach us anything.”

“My name is Ms. Barbles Fladbock,” the Creep snarled. “And I’ve had just about enough from you! Out into the hallway. Now!”

One of the cheerleaders leaned over. “Daniel, why do all the substitutes hate you so much?”

Daniel shrugged. “It’s a long story.” He hurried into the hallway. The door slammed behind him, and before he could turn, he felt the Creep’s hands on his shoulders.

“Master will reward me for capturing you,” she said, practically salivating. “Power. Slaves. Wealth.”

Daniel ducked and spun away from her hands. “Look, you must be new at this. All the other Creeps have taken me around the corner and into the stairwell. There’re no cameras there, and since class has started, no one will see you attack me.” He nodded back toward the classroom, where students were leaning out of their seats to watch.

The Creep lifted her sunglasses and perched them atop her head, revealing black and depthless eyes. She chuckled, and her teeth began to elongate. “Well, then ... into the stairwell we go.”

Daniel casually slid his arm through hers and guided her along the hallway.

The Creep looked confused by his lack of fear. “The Master has wonderful things planned for you,” she wheezed, her voice strained like wind through a cracked door.

“Let me guess,” Daniel replied. “Remove the Image of the Three? Join him or face torture? Death? Yada, yada, yada?” He pushed the door to the stairwell open and ushered the Creep in. Two people already stood on the landing: a tall, gray-haired man with a scraggly beard leering down at a younger teen with blue eyes and white-streaked black hair. “Oh, look! Ben’s here too with his Creep of a teacher. Hi, Ben!”

“Hey, Daniel!” Ben waved happily. He gestured toward the man who was towering over him. “This is Mr. Horibal. He came up with that name himself, by the way. He’s my ‘substitute teacher’ for English today. See, Mr. Horibal? I told you if you waited long enough, Daniel would come, too. Two for the price of one. You can’t beat that.”

Mr. Horibal gripped Ben loosely around his neck and fixed Daniel with a menacing but thoroughly bewildered look.

“Hi, Mr. Horibal!” Daniel waved cheerily. “This is Ms. Marbles. You two know each other?”

Ben slipped away from Mr. Horibal and inched behind Daniel.

The door to the stairwell finally clicked shut.

“Get them!” Ms. Garbles hissed.

The Creeps lunged for the boys. Instead, they found the wavy blade of the Sun Sword as it completed its sweeping arc through their bodies, leaving a bright trail of orange and yellow fire in the air. Great clouds of black spirit billowed out of their mouths, and both collapsed to the landing, unharmed and purified. He counted to ten. With a pop, the predictable blinding light filled the stairwell, signaling that the man and woman, now free from the Enemy’s power, were taken into the Father’s service.

Ben yawned. “Are Creeps getting easier to defeat, or is it just me?”

“When you’ve faced the Serpent,” Daniel replied, “everything seems easy.”

“I suppose.” Ben opened the door to the stairwell, lazily side-stepping as a different female Creep lunged through and fell to the ground in a crouch.

She grinned. “Two Vessels! Master will—” The Creep’s gaze ran up the sword from its intricately woven metal hilt hovering just beyond Daniel’s right hand to the end of its tip-less blade. She nervously glanced around the stairwell. “I see you’ve been busy. Perhaps I should come back another time.”

With a sigh, Daniel flicked the Sun Sword through her startled face and released the weapon. It transformed into fire, spiraled around his arm, and flew back into his chest.

The Creep disappeared as Ben walked through the doorway, waving over his shoulder. “See you at the car line.”

Daniel grunted and plodded back to his classroom, his mind racing with thoughts of their next quest. The waiting had been agonizing. Sure, he was eager to see the Spirit of the Age sealed into the Serpent, but the interim had also meant long separations from Gabriela. Two months ago, she disappeared into the Mist to help her people in Aguas Calientes, which meant two months with zero contact. To make matters worse, he knew she put her life on the line every day.

Hardly an hour passed by that Daniel didn’t receive a notification on his phone about military conflicts all over the world, including Peru. The reports centered mainly on the Middle East, though. It was worst there: wars embroiled country after country, each falling to mysterious groups of militants. With every triumph, the new governments all but subordinated themselves to Ealim Wahid, the Enemy’s sham international peace organization. Its figureheads, the nefarious twins Amira and Abida, seemed to haunt every news program, YouTube ad, and talk radio show. Their message of international peace through the unification of nations under their banner never wavered.

Daniel gritted his teeth at the thought. Peace? Yeah, right, if by peace, they meant covertly removing the Three’s Image from huge groups of people and strong-arming policymakers to limit the rights of anyone opposed to their mission. Predictably, the Father’s children were targeted through unjust detentions, persecutions, disappearances, and expulsion from their countries. Even the U.S. felt Ealim Wahid’s influence to pledge money and troops for their mission—troops which frequently returned to the U.S. with dogmatic loyalty to the organization.

At the time of their first quest, Peru had all but fallen to the Enemy. Now, after the country signed on with Ealim Wahid, it was a veritable bastion of darkness. This is what Gabriela had gone to fight, all while battling demons and Creeps. Not that she was defenseless.

Daniel slid back into his seat. Ignoring the questions from his classmates about their missing substitute, he laid his head on his arms and shut his eyes.

No. Gabriela was definitely not defenseless. Before their quest to the Serpent’s Abyss to save Raylin and find the Abyssal Staff, the Three had gifted her with superhuman strength and the power to travel through a different dimension called the Mist. She was smart, athletic, beautiful, and powerful. Daniel moaned. And she was far away. According to Granny, their next quest would begin by helping Gabriela free her people, which was supposed to be soon. He prayed that “soon” didn’t mean another several months. The Three didn’t always have the same timeframe as he did.

Father, can you please keep Gabriela safe? While I’m at it, could the quest start before long? I mean, Creeps for substitutes? The Enemy is getting desperate.

Daniel waited, hoping to hear some sort of confirmation from the Three. Instead, the bell rang, and the classroom erupted into loud cheers and a rush toward the door. Daniel sat at his desk until everyone cleared out before scooping up his backpack and drifting into the hallway.

The sooner the quest started, the sooner it would be over, which meant the sooner he and Gabriela could finally be a normal boyfriend and girlfriend. The memory of her kiss was so strong, he felt it on his lips. At least she had left him with that. Not that it did much good beyond making him insanely over-analyze it for a few days. Was it simply a “goodbye” kiss? An “I love you and can’t wait to be back” kiss? A “You’re sweet, but I’m sorry I can’t date you” kiss? What had his breath smelled like? Did he look stupid when she was that close to his face?

Daniel ran his hands through his hair like a madman. What did it matter? She made it abundantly clear she couldn’t focus on a relationship while her people (and the entire world, for that matter) were in danger.

Daniel made a beeline toward the front of the school.

Ben slipped out of his classroom as Daniel passed by. His blue eyes glinted with mischief. “I know that look: longing eyes, insane hair, desperate, startled glances over your shoulder at the sound of every girl’s voice. Pining away for a certain Peruvian bombshell?”

Daniel groaned. “It’s bad today.”

“I can tell. Of course, I’m not one to talk. The last time we were at Granny’s, Raylin barely breathed in my direction. I’m still depressed.”

Daniel threw his arm over Ben’s shoulder. “Nah, man. She laughed when you tripped over Janice sleeping on the floor and crashed into the ironing board. That’s got to count for something.”

Ben rubbed his forehead, gingerly feeling the goose egg still visible just above his left eyebrow. “It counts for a headache.”

The cold sunlight of December in Oregon streamed through gathering clouds heavy with snow. A thin blanket of old ice already lay on the town, spotted with patches of mud and road grease waiting expectantly for the pure white of a new dusting.

Ben pointed at the line of cars. “Mom ahoy. Plus a Janice.”

Daniel didn’t need Ben to point them out. Above their Suburban, a glowing woman floated, a little more than a shell of light. Three interlocking circles shone on her forehead, and a glistening gown of ethereal blue draped her frail frame. Her lips moved in song. The sound didn’t reach them on the school steps, but Daniel knew what it said.

The Mighty Three, my protection be,

Encircling me, you are around …

The memory of the rest of the song played through his mind. It was the prayer of encircling protection that Janice’s spirit sang when she fell asleep while interceding for someone. The words were beautiful, but Daniel knew they were also powerful. When Shakti had first attacked him and Ben on their second quest, the prayer resulted in a fiery barrier strong enough to shield them from the Bolt of Pestilence. Thankfully, Seren and Raylin had discovered normal people couldn’t see Janice or her barrier. It happened one evening when Gator, Barf, and Barth, their enormous and bombastic neighbors, came to deliver the Christmas popcorn Janice had ordered. She was asleep on the couch, but her spirit hovered around the yard, singing away. Barf stomped right through her and was none the wiser. Since then, her presence on car rides home had been extremely useful.

Ben opened the backdoor to the SUV and threw his backpack in before sliding over to make room for Daniel, who jumped in behind him.

“Good afternoon, boys!” Leah, Daniel’s biological mother, waved from the passenger seat. Her blond hair was plaited into a thin braid over one shoulder, and her warm, brown eyes were a perfect match for Daniel’s.

“Mom!” Daniel exclaimed, launching forward to embrace her over the console. “When did you get in town?”

“Your mother thought I should come in to surprise you guys. I’ll be staying through Christmas!”

Daniel’s adoptive mother, Mariah Jones, turned around and smiled, one dark eyebrow raised over icy-blue eyes. “It’s one of your Christmas presents, Daniel. And I think I deserve a greeting, too, young man.”

“Oh, you know I’m happy to see you,” Daniel chuckled, leaning over to give her a quick peck on the cheek. “Thanks. I was just so surprised to see my other mom. Wait, if she’s up front, where’s Janice?” Daniel asked, looking around the SUV.

“Floorboards of the third row,” Mrs. Jones explained as she drove forward in the car line. “Poor thing tumbled down there after she fell asleep on the drive.”

Daniel sat back and buckled, then joined Ben to crane his neck around. He caught sight of frizzy-red hair and darned socks poking out from opposite ends of a blanket on the floor. “Oh, well, she looks comfortable. No use disturbing her.”

Mrs. Jones pulled out of the school car line and onto the road. “Yes, now keep your voice down. We absolutely don’t want her to wake up.” She tucked graying-black hair behind both ears, gripped the wheel, and stared straight ahead, her jaw set in grim determination. “Some nasty characters were stalking along the road up ahead. The last thing we want is for Janice to wake up and lose our barrier.”

Ben rolled his eyes and searched the wooded plots stretching along the road. “Don’t demons want a Christmas break, too? Good grief. What is it this time, a Grinch demon?”

“Raccoon and armadillo demons,” Mrs. Jones replied. Her words were short and clipped as she focused on driving. “At least, that’s what I think they were. Didn’t get a good look at them, but they seemed nasty. Skulking about the shadows in the trees as we drove by.”

Leah pointed ahead to where the forest grew thicker and crowded the road. “That’s where they were. Are you sure we’ll be okay?” she asked nervously.

“Perfectly fine,” Mrs. Jones reassured her. “Janice’s barrier will plow right over them if needed.”

Leah went a little pale but nodded resolutely. She was still a novice with the type of spiritual warfare Daniel and Ben were used to. The Three had allowed her to watch the battle in the Serpent’s Abyss, but it was clear she found it unsettling. Daniel couldn’t blame her.

Mrs. Jones, on the other hand, had taken right to it after their last quest. She was terrified at first, of course, but her anger at seeing her sons attacked through the Orb of Seeing quickly overcame any anxiety. She launched into full battle mode after Granny gave her and their dad orders on spiritual defenses.

Daniel turned his mind back to the monster awaiting them and prepared to summon the Sun Sword. He knew it might not be needed, though. Janice’s barrier could handle most ordinary demons. The attacks had begun immediately following their quest to the Serpent’s Abyss. Demons possessing all manner of things started assaulting them to and from school. But, because the area was not under the Enemy’s power, they weren’t allowed to show themselves to normal people, much less attack them outright, unless there was an Orb of Concealment cast. Since Janice began riding with them, though, they could blaze through pretty much any Concealment or demonic attack without worrying about a battle.

Right on cue, a giant raccoon with tire marks along its back, bear-like claws and fangs, and wisps of demonic spirit trailing out of its ears, bounded out of the woods.

“Looks like roadkill,” Ben commented. “Man, demons will take over anything.”

The raccoon demon jumped onto the lane behind them, launched itself on top of the SUV, and slammed into Janice’s fiery barrier.

My life, my home, encircling me,

Oh, Sacred Three,

The Mighty Three …

Janice’s spirit sang on above the car, unflinching and seemingly unperturbed by the giant demon hissing and spitting just feet from her.

“Ah! Give me the Vessels that I might eat them!” it shrieked, its claws burning away as it dug them into the barrier, doing its best to hang on for the ride.

Daniel opened the sunroof. “No,” he replied, deadpan.

Mrs. Jones took a sharp turn, and the raccoon demon was flung into the woods.

“Take a hike, you overgrown rat carcass,” Janice muttered in her sleep.

Ben smiled back at her.

“Incoming,” Leah whispered, her voice shaky and her eyes wide. “I think that one’s an armadillo. Or was, once.”

Daniel and Ben leaned over to gape out the window as a pile of bones, discombobulated armor plates, and a scaly tail came running out of the woods and jumped onto the road directly in front of them. It charged with surprising speed, even though its head was where one of its hind legs should’ve been. Its sorry state certainly took some of the intimidation out of its threats, especially since it couldn’t get a full sentence out without stepping on its own mouth.

“I’m going to dest—argh!—roy you Vessels. The Mast—ack!—er will give me a place of hon—orf!—or when I capture you. You bel—erg!—ong to me! Muhahah—aaakkk!”

Mrs. Jones plowed right over the demon. It was unclear whether the barrier or the SUV did more damage, but the remaining mass of seething roadkill stayed plastered to the road, a matching pair of flaming tire marks added to its battle scars.

“Loser,” Janice chuckled through her sleep. “Now, I need to go see a woman about a cardigan.”

Leah sighed. “Is this what it’s like every day after school?”

“After school. Before school.” Daniel shrugged. “Grocery shopping. Every time we order a pizza.”

“That much?” Leah asked, wringing her hands.

Ben waved her concern away. “That was all before Mom and her friends prayed up a barrier around the neighborhood. Some Creep disguised himself as a pizza delivery man. Of course, he couldn’t approach the house, but when Mom went out to get it from the car, he was foaming at the mouth. He threw the pizza on the ground and climbed out the window to get at her.”

“That’s awful!” Leah exclaimed.

“I know!” Daniel replied. “The pizza was completely ruined! Probably poisoned, in any case.” He sighed. “The barrier around the house stopped him, of course. Mom was fine.” His stomach rumbled. “Man, I’m hungry. Could go for some pizza right now.”

Leah shook her head and cast anxious eyes over everyone in the car. “You’ve been attacked even at home! Can’t you get a moment’s rest?”

Mrs. Jones turned on her blinker and pulled into their neighborhood. The Sweetbay Bottom sign looked a little worse for wear: claw marks all but obliterated some of the letters, and half the sign was charred. “Don’t you worry about us,” she said, her tone reassuring. “I got all my prayer partners from church to pray for protection around our neighborhood. I told them there were some illegal things happening and some ‘unsavory characters’ loitering around, putting our kids at risk. Didn’t mention all the demons and Serpent stuff, but they got right to work. It’s not that hard to convince women with children to start a prayer chain. Within a week, there was a barrier around the neighborhood. Creeps and demons can’t get past the entrance. They don’t stand a chance against my prayer circle.”

A black-eyed woman on a bicycle rode out from behind the sign and pedaled furiously toward their Suburban.

Mrs. Jones rolled down the window. “Not a chance!” she repeated, her fist in the air.

The Creep crossed an invisible line, and a flaming barrier roared to life. She froze mid-stride, hissed and spat, and then vanished.

“Goodness!” Leah’s eyes bugged out. “She was just burned up! That poor woman! What does everyone think about this? I mean, how do you explain it to the rest of the neighborhood when they see people going up in flames?”

Daniel put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “The Creeps aren’t killed, just purified. The Father takes them somewhere to help them.”

Ben reached around behind his seat to rouse Janice. “The neighborhood barrier is just like Janice’s. Normal people can’t see it, and the Creeps and demons aren’t allowed to attempt anything if normal people are around anyway. It’s the Three’s rule, and they have to follow it.”

“Janice, wake up,” he said tenderly. “We’re safe in the neighborhood now.”

Janice sat bolt upright. Her frizzy red hair and magnified eyes, fluttering behind thick glasses, barely cleared the back of Daniel’s seat. “Home already? Gracious me. How’d I get on the floor?”

“Tumbled down at a stop sign, dear,” Mariah called back. “Want me to drop you off at Granny’s?”

“If you could.” Janice yawned, then hoisted herself back into the seat. “I’ve got a few things to get done before you all come over this evening.” She tossed the blanket off to busy herself pulling on boots and straightening out her disheveled knit-cardigan and ankle-length plaid dress.

Snowflakes drifted down and slid off the windshield. Within moments, a steady flurry began dusting the pine forest on either side of the road. Granny’s, a solitary, white wooden house on the outskirts of the neighborhood, peered out from its happy prison of large trees and English ivy. Seren and Raylin sat on the front porch swing, covered in blankets.

As Mrs. Jones pulled into the driveway, Daniel slid the car seat forward to let Janice out. The girls waved eagerly as they caught sight of her.

Ben waved back, desperately trying to be seen over Janice’s poofy hair as she fumbled out of the vehicle.

“They’re waving at Janice, Ben. Don’t look so desperate,” Daniel whispered.

“Mind your own business,” he snapped back.

“You poor dears!” Janice chortled when she caught sight of the sisters. “It’s so cold, and you’re out here waiting on me. Right where I left you. Come on inside and let’s get things straightened up before everyone arrives. I’ve got some knitting to finish, too. Not sure why I need to, but it suddenly seems important.”

Mrs. Jones cracked her window. “We’ll be up with takeout once Alan gets home from work. Five-thirty sound okay?”

“Just right.”

“Close the door, Ben,” Mrs. Jones said over her shoulder. “Raylin’s already inside. She’s not coming back out, and we have to get home.”

“Mom!” Ben shouted, slamming the door shut and folding his arms in a pout. “Don’t be ridiculous. I was just … enjoying the snow.”

Leah and Mrs. Jones exchanged knowing glances.

“Of course, my son. The snow. You really think I haven’t noticed all those longing glances and awkward attempts at conversation? You’re about as obvious as Daniel.” She backed out of the driveway and onto the street.

“Hey, I’m not trying to hide anything,” Daniel replied. “I own my crush. Besides, she likes me, too. We kissed, so it’s official.”

“Here we go again,” Ben snorted. “The Kiss. Like it was amazing or something. It caught you so off guard you almost wet yourself, Daniel.”

“I did not! I was cool about it.”

Ben rolled his eyes and watched the passing trees. “Well, there goes the evening. Hope you all like talking about Daniel’s romance with Gabriela because that’s all he’ll blather on about tonight. It’d take an act of God to get him off that subject.”

2

An Act of God

“All I’m saying,” Daniel said very matter-of-factly as he and Ben climbed the stairs to their room, “is that I didn’t make a total fool of myself when Gabriela left through the Mist. There, now we can stop the conversation.”

Ben followed close behind. He rubbed his temples and groaned. “Sure, with you having the last word. Typical. Look, I don’t care. Can we please stop talking about this?”

Mrs. Jones stood with one foot on the staircase. “Be ready to go once your father gets home,” she called after them. “Don’t take too long up there either, Daniel. Come down and talk with your wonderful mother about the past couple weeks.”

Daniel heard his biological mother reply with some grateful comment before he walked into his room to change. He froze.

A scroll, glowing with a soft golden light and sealed with an eight-pointed star, floated in the center of the room.

“Ben.” Daniel nodded toward it.

Ben gasped. “What do you suppose that is? Is it safe?” He walked around it with an appraising eye. “From the Enemy? Oh, eight-pointed star. That’s got to be from the Three.”

Daniel reached up and took hold of the scroll. The star dissipated, and the scroll slowly unfurled. “I don’t think the Three need to send letters. They can just talk into our minds OH MY GOSH IT’S FROM GABRIELA!” He quickly scanned the letter.

Dear friends,

It’s finally time for you to join me in Peru! Get your stuff ready and go to Pedestal Hill this evening at 5:00.

See you soon!

P.S. Inti said hi before he left for battle.

P.P.S Pack for Babylon, too. Once we’re done here, you won’t return

home before transport.

P.P.P.S Give this note to your parents when you’re finished with it.

Daniel passed the scroll off to Ben and immediately grabbed his backpack to dump out the contents. Once certain everything related to school was out, he hastily stuffed it with supplies and clothes. His mind raced. He was going to see Gabriela tonight! Would they get a chance to talk? Would she want to kiss him again?

“What’s with the circle at the bottom?” Ben asked, looking at the front and the back of the scroll, then holding it up to the light.

Daniel shrugged. He hadn’t really stopped to even notice it. Not with his reunion with Gabriela so close! He checked himself. They weren’t meeting up for some date; she had been battling evil in her hometown, trying to free her people from the spiritual oppression of the Enemy. Romance was almost certainly the last thing on her mind. Breathe, Daniel. Relax, he told himself. Focus on the task at hand.

Father, help me to chill out, please. Help me concentrate on the quest.

His mind slowed, and he felt a sense of calm.

“What does one wear to Babylon?” Ben asked, oblivious to Daniel’s inner struggle. Or, more likely, totally apathetic. He grabbed his own bag and began packing. “It’s probably hot.”

“Desert,” Daniel said. “Oven during the day. Chilly at night. I’m going to wear jeans and a long-sleeved button-down over a T-shirt. And the stuff Janice knitted for us, of course.” His own words gave him pause. In his smitten stupor, what clothes had he even packed? He emptied his backpack of all the random clothes and supplies to restart more mindfully. “Don’t forget your knives,” he said to Ben.

“Duh. First thing I packed.” Ben pulled his golden daggers halfway out of his bag and went back to rummaging through his drawers.

A Celestial Arrow struck a fir tree outside their window, encasing it in a temporary shell of blue light.

“Hey,” Daniel said. “Arrow.” He jabbed a thumb toward the tree.

Ben barely looked up. “Seren and Raylin probably got a scroll, too. You know, it’d be so much easier if Janice would just buy them phones. That poor tree. Want us to come to Granny’s? Shoot the tree. Got a message from the Three? Shoot the tree. Want to know if we have any more donuts left over from breakfast? Shoot the tree. I swear, Seren is just messing with us half the time. Likes the power, no doubt.”

“Please. You gawk at it all day, hoping it gets lit up. The second you see an arrow, you’re out the door like a racehorse.”

“Maybe,” Ben allowed. “But I still think Seren is abusing her power. Ooh! Do you think we all have the power to write spirit messages now? Maybe I can send Raylin—I mean Raylin and Seren scrolls like that.”

“Nice save. But that’s a good question. I could actually communicate with Gabriela if we’re separated again.”

“Oh, holy Three,” Ben intoned, folding his hands and falling on his knees beside his bed. “Will you give me the power to send spirit messages?”

Daniel paused from packing. “Anything?”

“Nope. Guess it’s just one of Gabriela’s special powers. She’s so cool.”

Daniel sighed and read back over the scroll. “Yeah. She is.” He carefully placed it on the top of his dresser and then paused at the mirror hanging on the wall over it. Daniel brushed his bushy, brown hair to the side. He sniffed his underarms and crinkled up his nose. “Ew. I smell bad.”

Ben smirked. “Shocker. Would you quit fussing in the mirror? Your hair looks stupid and always will. Let’s just hurry and get ready so we can go meet the girls.”

“I’m getting a shower first. You might want to freshen up, too. You really want to start off the quest looking like a doofus and smelling like you just got out of P.E.? Because you do.”

“I don’t look like a doofus!” Ben ran to the mirror as Daniel disappeared into their bathroom. “Do I?”

Thirty minutes later, Daniel and Ben walked down the stairs together. Both wore jeans with long-sleeved camo shirts and brown T-shirts underneath, all concealed beneath Janice’s prayer-infused, knitted, stealth-black ponchos and beanies. Their backpacks bulged with supplies, with just enough room left for food and water. Daniel held the rolled-up scroll in his hand, ready to present it to Mrs. Jones when the litany of questions began. The best way to handle breaking the news to their mothers was to let the message speak for itself.

Leah was the first to notice the boys. She looked up from a magazine she was reading at the table and tilted her head to the side as she regarded their clothes. “New fashion statement?”

Mrs. Jones walked into the kitchen holding a basket of laundry and promptly dropped it on the floor when she caught sight of the ponchos. Her face went pale, and a hand strayed to her forehead. “Does this mean what I think it means?”

Daniel held out the glowing scroll. Mrs. Jones snatched it from his hands and unfurled it so both she and Leah could read the message.

Keys rattled in the door to the garage before it swung open, and Mr. Jones’s light brown hair and lanky frame appeared around the corner. “I’m home,” he sang from the hallway, dropping his briefcase and plodding into the kitchen. “I got off early today so we could …” His voice trailed off as he surveyed the scene. “Something happen?”

Mrs. Jones held out the scroll.

He took it from her hands, his dark blue eyes quickly scanning the note. When he finished, it pulsed brighter, and an Orb of Seeing popped out of the circle at the bottom.

“Oh my!” Leah gasped. “What’s that?”

The Orb hovered in the air in front of Mrs. Jones. She took it in her hands and frowned. “That’s how the Three expect us to keep up with what’s happening while the kids are on their quest,” she said, her voice saturated with self-pity. “Keep vigilant and pray; that’s all we can do.”

The Orb floated to Leah, who cupped her hands around it.

Mr. Jones patted his wife on the shoulder. “It allows us to see through the eyes of whoever is in need on the quest. Sometimes Ben, sometimes Daniel. Last quest, it flashed over to Raylin’s viewpoint quite a lot, but I think it was through Seren’s eyes half the time.”

Ben approached his parents and gave them a hug. “Sorry, guys. I have a feeling this will mean we might miss Christmas.”

“But your last quests,” Leah began, letting the Orb float back into the air as she crossed the distance to Daniel, “didn’t they only last a few days? There’s still a week before Christmas.”

Ben shrugged and passed the question off to Daniel.

“It might take longer this time,” Daniel explained. He stood between the Joneses and Leah, not sure who to hug first. “We have more to do this go around. We’re off to Peru this evening. I don’t know how long that will take. Then it’s straight to Babylon to do whatever it is we have to do to seal the Spirit of the Age. We don’t really know much about how big of a battle that’ll be.” He held up his hands helplessly.

Leah pulled him into a tight hug, her grip surprisingly strong for someone with such a small frame. “I guess we don’t have much choice in the matter?” She pulled away and squeezed his shoulders before pushing him toward the Joneses.

Mr. Jones shook his head. “No. We don’t. That doesn’t mean we can’t help them, though.” He nodded at the Orb of Seeing, now floating around the smoke alarm. “Our prayers helped to literally shield them from the Enemy on the last quest. You remember. They’ll do the same on this one.”

“How can you act so calm?” Mrs. Jones snapped, pulling away to grab a dining chair from the table. She stood on it to retrieve the Orb. “You talk about it like it was a little rain we protected them from. There was a seven-headed dragon and a horde of monsters, Alan. Christmas is ruined!”

Mr. Jones seemed to know when he was defeated and fell into an apologetic silence.

Leah studied the Orb. “All we’ll do is pray?” She looked confused and let her gaze drift out the window to the falling snow.

Daniel was about to explain more about prayer when Ben nudged him.

“Don’t you think we should go?” Ben held up his watch.

Daniel felt a stab of urgency. It was already 3:30, and they still had to meet up with Seren and Raylin, field whatever goodbyes Janice would throw at them, and hike up to Pedestal Hill before 5:00. “Yeah. Sorry, everyone, but we need to hurry.” He pulled away from his parents and inched toward the door.

“Oh, now, hold your horses,” Mrs. Jones’s voice rose in alarm. “Let me make sure you kids packed everything you need.” She grabbed their backpacks and hastily rummaged through them while muttering to herself. “Ok. Looks like everything’s in order.” She grabbed her coat from where it was hanging beside the garage door and tossed Mr. Jones his. “Although I can’t understand why you both can be so thorough when packing for death-defying quests, but you can’t pick up all the socks from your bedroom floor.”

Leah, still lost in thought and quiet, pulled her overcoat on and waited beside Daniel for the Joneses to be ready. “I … I’m proud of you, Daniel,” she whispered. “I still feel like a stranger in your life, but I love you, and I’m proud of all you’ve accomplished.” She reached out and took his hand, studying it as if it were something precious. “It’s funny, isn’t it? You spend so long looking for someone, and suddenly, they’re in your life. Then they’re gone. Just like that.”

Daniel felt a warm sensation spread through his body. “I love you, too. In all fairness, my life is awfully strange. Anyone would feel like a stranger. Even I do sometimes. But, um, we’ve made it through three other quests. I’m sure we’ll survive this one. Just pray for us.”

Leah looked up into Daniel’s eyes. “I’ll pray every second of every day.” She gave his hand one final squeeze and stepped back as Mr. and Mrs. Jones filed through the door.

“We’ll all be praying furiously,” Mr. Jones said. “Come on, boys. Grab your bags and let’s go before your mother tries to stall.”

“I heard that, Alan,” Mrs. Jones annoyed voice drifted back inside.

Daniel and Ben snickered to each other and quickly followed.

* * *

Seren and Raylin waited on the front porch, poised like soldiers with their weapons summoned—Seren with the white starlight limbs of the Celestial Bow held by her side, and Raylin leaning casually on the obsidian black Abyssal Staff. Like the boys, both girls wore dark colors: jeans and earth-toned shirts. Raylin opted for a dull green long-sleeve, while Seren sported a muddy brown. These were mostly concealed beneath the same black ponchos and stocking caps Janice had knitted for the boys. Raylin’s straight, snow-white hair was pulled into a tight braid that snuck out of the bottom of the cap to hang halfway down her back. She leveled her green eyes at the boys and gave a curt wave. Seren’s hair was similarly braided, although hers draped over her right shoulder, her white-streaked blond standing out in stark contrast to the pitch black of her poncho.

Janice could be heard flitting around inside, crashing into furniture or clanging in the kitchen. She stuck her frizzy red head out the door. “You girls positive you packed enough food? Clothes? Underwear? I can whip up a few more pair if you need them.”

“You’ve made us plenty of underwear, Janice,” Raylin said gently. “More than we could possibly wear in a year, actually.”

Janice stepped onto the porch and put her hands on her hips. “How many times do I have to tell you girls? Call me ‘Mom’. I know that’s a touchy subject, and I can never replace your real mother, but I can’t bear being called by my name by you two dear little ducklings.” She launched herself at both girls and pulled them into a wild, yarn-filled hug. Her eyes brimmed with tears, each magnified through her glasses before falling onto their stocking caps and absorbing into the dark fibers.

Daniel half-expected Raylin and Seren to pull away in annoyance, but surprisingly, both seemed to enjoy the affection. They muttered something inaudible.

“Oh! There it is,” Janice exclaimed. “Music to my ears.” She ushered the girls off the porch and down to the group. “I assume another one of those Orbs came with your note, too?” She reached into the oversized pockets of her cardigan and pulled out a glowing scroll identical to Daniel and Ben’s.

Mrs. Jones held up their Orb and frowned at it. “Yes, we got ours. Now we can stare through it at all the horrible things happening to our children. You got one, too?”

Janice rummaged through her pockets. “My gracious. What did I do with that thing? Is that it?” She pulled out a ball of yarn. “Hardly. Oh, for goodness’ sake. Orb!” she called in her nasal voice. “Orb, are you there?” She whistled loudly, and surprisingly, the Orb drifted out of the open door and down the steps to Janice. “Let’s keep you in my pockets where I won’t lose you.” She dropped it in along with the yarn ball and spun around to engage the other adults with a slew of questions.

Ben stepped closer to the girls. “Why do you both have your weapons summoned?” He asked, directing the question at Raylin.

She shrugged. “Didn’t know when we would need them. We wanted to be ready. The Creeps attacked before the first quest even began.”

Seren gestured toward Ben with the Celestial Bow, its radiant limbs glinting in the depths of her blue eyes. “I attacked you in your front yard before the second quest.”

Daniel nodded sagely. “Abida and his goons did show up right before we left for Ireland. I guess we should be ready.” He summoned the Sun Sword. If Abida visited again, they’d be in real trouble. He broke through Granny’s barrier like it was child’s play, and the power of the Sun Sword wasn’t enough to permanently purify him.

Would Daniel have that power even if the Sun Sword was whole? He held up the sword, floating just beyond his fingertips. They were beginning their last quest, and still, the Three had not given him any clue about the whereabouts of the missing shard, no matter how many times he had asked them. They needed the sword to be complete if they were going to all have the Father’s superpowered Blessing like Daniel had at Intipuncu. Otherwise, they’d be going into the biggest battle of their lives with only a fraction of the power needed. The Three were cutting it close.

Ben snorted. “I feel kind of left out. Look at you all, brandishing your weapons just because you can.”

Ben’s comment brought Daniel back to the present conversation.

“You could summon the Triune Shield,” Raylin said, her voice, slightly deeper than Seren’s alto, was tinged with mischief.

Ben seemed relieved by her attention. “Oh, sure, I’ll just hang out as the Triune Shield. It’s perfect for conversation.” He whipped out his golden feather daggers and encased them in the blue light of the Triune Shield. “I guess I’ll have to settle with this.”

Daniel held the Sun Sword up next to one of Ben’s daggers. “That’s cute, Ben. They’re so little!”

“Shut up.”

“So, Raylin,” Daniel said, looking up from the blades, “how does it feel to be starting your first quest?”

Raylin’s eyebrows narrowed. “This isn’t my first quest.”

“I mean your first quest fighting for the Three instead of against them.” Daniel held his breath. All their interactions had been like this since returning. He couldn’t say anything without getting under Raylin’s skin, accidentally insinuating something negative about her, using the wrong words, or bringing up a sensitive topic.

Raylin paused for a moment as though uncertain of Daniel’s meaning. She looked away. “I’m not sure what I feel. Hopeful, I guess. Looking forward to kicking some Enemy butt.”

Daniel breathed a sigh of relief. Awkward conversation averted. He didn’t see why Raylin had to be so touchy on the subject of her betrayal and possession. It was her choice to betray them in Peru in the first place, and Granny had warned her about the Voidblade’s spirits possessing her if she kept using it. Why should he have to tiptoe around her decisions?

Ben sidled up closer to Raylin and took advantage of the silence. “I know what you mean. I’m looking forward to fighting, too. Gets the blood pumping, you know?”

Seren rolled her eyes, but Raylin smirked.

“I guess so,” Raylin replied. She gripped the Abyssal Staff with both hands and activated the eye. Iridescent green swirls eddied in the staff’s obsidian black. The half-foot-wide circular head separated into fragments, expanded, and orbited in a perfect ring. Triangles of yellow light flickered into being within and orbited in the opposite direction. A pitch-black point appeared at the center of the orbits. “But that’ll mean dealing with the Enemy—the Serpent—again. Face to face.” She shuddered. “I hope I can handle that.”

Ben let his daggers fall to his side. “You’ll do great. Besides, we’ll all be together.”

A smile played at the corner of Raylin’s mouth. “Thanks.”

“I mean, I think we will. Daniel? How does sealing the Spirit of the Age thing work, exactly? You’re supposed to be our leader. Know something?”

Daniel waved the Sun Sword back and forth, trying to ignore Ben’s desperate flirtation. “I know as much as you do. The Three haven’t been exactly specific on how we’re supposed to do this. Or what the Spirit of the Age is, you know? I mean, is it Supai, Shiva, and Arawn all together or something? Or maybe all his incarnations combined into one?”

Ben hugged himself. “Don’t even put that out there! Ugly Town, here we come.”

“Surely we’ll get some instructions,” Daniel continued, moving from Ben to the girls. “I mean, I hope we’ll get instructions. But you both have some inside information, right?”

Raylin released the Abyssal Staff so that its form returned to its resting state. “Even when I was on the inside, I didn’t know anything about sealing away the Spirit of the Age. I can’t imagine the Enemy likes talking about it.”

Seren walked over to Ben and patted him on the head. “Don’t make such a fuss. First of all, the Serpent is all the Enemy’s incarnations combined into one. They’re an extension of him. Duh. You’ve already faced him, so go change your pants.”

“Hey!” Ben objected. “I didn’t—my pants are just fine, thank you.” He glanced at Raylin.

“Second of all, ditto with Raylin. But I think it’s safe to say that sealing the Spirit of the Age has something to do with Amira and Abida. From what I understand, the Enemy has always had one or two people he worked directly through at the culmination of each age.”

Daniel let the Sun Sword float straight up in the air. The interwoven braids of golden metal comprising the handle hovered just beyond his fingertips as though he were performing a magical balancing trick. “What’ll happen to the Generals when we seal old Nasty Snake?”

Ben shook his head. “They’ll be totally ticked, that’s for sure. Maybe they can return to a normal life or something.”

“Just imagine Wanu”—Daniel laughed—“with her weird shark teeth and insane personality going grocery shopping. Who’d want to be friends with that possessed freak? Or Vinaash? That crazy, pestilence wielding …”

Ben glanced meaningfully at Raylin and Seren, who regarded Daniel with chilly expressions. He walked his fingers over the razor edges of his daggers.

A prickly feeling crawled up Daniel’s spine, and he quickly shut his mouth.

Raylin shook her head. “I used to be that messed up too, Daniel. You’re friends with me. I think.”

Seren rolled her eyes. “Four arms and blue skin, and I’m standing here because of the Three. Real smooth, Slick.”

“Right. Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. I just meant … Don’t be so sensitive, okay? I mean, you know that Wanu is different from you guys, so yeah.”

Ben gave Daniel a thumbs up. “Nice save.”

Daniel groaned and edged closer to Ben. “Why can’t I ever say the right thing to them these days?” he muttered.

“I don’t know, but I wish you’d get a grip and quit making things weird,” Ben whispered back, putting his arm over Daniel’s shoulder and turning him away from the girls.

“Listen, I wasn’t the one that let myself be possessed by the Enemy like the demon-sisters over there. I’m trying my best to avoid stepping on their toes, but it seems like I can’t say anything without offending them.”

Seren stepped in front of Daniel. “The demon-sisters have very good hearing. You two done with your powwow?”

Daniel craned his neck around to find Raylin waving at him. He cradled his forehead in the palm of his hand. “Yes.”

“Kids?” Mr. Jones walked over from the huddle of adults. “We better go. Forty minutes until your departure time.”

The other adults ambled toward them. Janice chattered on about the ponchos she had knitted for the companions, but Mrs. Jones plodded by in agitated silence, crunching her way through the now thickly falling snow. She parted some low-hanging branches and struck out on the wooded path that led up to Pedestal Hill.

Seren and Raylin fell in step behind the adults while Daniel and Ben took up the rear.

Daniel found his gaze frequently drifting to Raylin’s back. He exhaled, his breath becoming visible in the freezing air and momentarily obscuring her form. He shook his head. If that wasn’t appropriate, he didn’t know what was. She was impossible to read and always confusing. All he had to do was blink, and she’d be insulted. If he wanted the quest to go smoothly, he’d have to watch what he said to Raylin. The last thing any of them needed was to be distracted by conflict or misunderstandings.

They had just crossed into the thicker part of the woods when a twig snapped in the underbrush behind them.

Daniel and Raylin spun around. A sparrow darted out of the powdered bushes and flew past. Their eyes met, and after a moment of awkwardness, they rejoined the others, who hadn’t seemed to notice.

After hiking a hundred yards up the path, they passed the gully where Daniel used to practice swordplay. As usual, fallen trees and boulders crowded the ever-widening ravine.

A thud, followed by a low, muffled growl, came from down the path behind them.

That caught everyone’s attention.

“I think we’ve got Creeps on our tail,” Daniel whispered. He remained fixed on the bushes for a moment, thinking. He hoped it was Creeps. Demons would be a problem. He and the other Vessels could transport away, but that would leave the adults to deal with them. “I’m going to use a Sunstorm.”

The other Vessels nodded in unison. Raylin activated the Abyssal Staff and stood at the ready. Seren raised the Celestial Bow and drew back while a white arrow of brilliant starlight glittered into being on an invisible string. Ben began to glow, ready to summon the Triune Shield in an instant.

With one last glance behind them, Daniel mentally prepared himself for the Sunstorm and flung the arc of fire.

3

A Hair-ifying Purification

The group stood motionless, staring at the path after the muted thunder of the Sunstorm dissipated. No dark spirits tore through the air. No guttural screams of anger echoed over the hillside. No terrifying demons broke out of the bushes.

Everyone relaxed except for Leah. She looked still and small, frozen in fear. The whites of her eyes were a perfect match for the snow caught on her jacket and muffler.

“An animal, maybe?” Mr. Jones asked.

“Could be a black bear,” Janice suggested. “I’ve seen a few poking around in the woods from time to time. Mind you, I kept my distance. Mostly saw them through the window of the house, but once when I was—”

Mrs. Jones stepped in front of Janice. “Should we keep moving?” she whispered.

Daniel nodded. “I think so.”

The group quickened their pace almost to a jog and reached the top of Pedestal Hill within five minutes. Daniel and Ben helped the mothers down the incline to the ledge outside the cave while Seren and Raylin helped Janice slide down it carefully, one on either side of her. Mr. Jones brought up the rear.

The curtain of ivy overhanging the entrance to the cave, now covered in ice, clinked like chimes as the companions filed through. The inky darkness of the cave gave way to the brilliant light of the Celestial Bow and Sun Sword.

The Vessels quickly scanned their surroundings, weapons at the ready. It was empty, save for the familiar form of the pedestal standing like a sentinel in front of the back wall.

Seren released the Celestial Bow and made a beeline toward it. “Question: whose hand will the pedestal be keyed to? All our quests for the weapons are over.”

Daniel scratched his head and shrugged. “We could all try, I guess.”

Raylin joined Seren in studying the handprint engraved into the stone plinth. “It’ll probably be Daniel’s hand. We are going back to Machu Picchu, after all. Don’t see why it should change.”

Ben nodded. “That makes sense.”

Leah followed Janice, who hovered behind Seren and Raylin. “What are we talking about?” she asked, eyeing the pedestal over Janice’s shoulder.

Mrs. Jones pointed at the handprint. “It transports them to different places all over the world where the kids can risk their lives fighting demons and the Enemy.” She frowned at the pedestal as though it were a disobedient child.

Mr. Jones gave her a nudge. “I know that look. You can’t destroy it. Granny will just show up in a fireball and transport them away. Or Gabriela could open the Mist, and then they’d have to walk there.”

Her scowl deepened until, seemingly satisfied she had demonstrated enough displeasure, she turned to the Vessels. “We’ll be watching you kids every waking moment.”

“And praying like mad,” Janice interrupted, poking her head out from behind Seren’s shoulder.

“Don’t take any unnecessary risks.” Mrs. Jones raised an eyebrow. “Understand?”

“Yes, we know,” Daniel and Ben mumbled in unison.

Mr. Jones produced the Orb of Seeing from his coat pocket. “No fighting with each other, either. When Seren ran off from you all last time, it about gave your mother a heart attack.”

Janice flitted toward him with raised hands. “I quite agree. If I see you all arguing, I’ll … Well, I don’t know what I’ll do. I can’t imagine being angry with any of you, but I’m sure I would be. Please don’t make me get—”

“Why are we still following them, Dear?” a gravelly, all-too-familiar voice whined from the ledge outside. “They tried to blow us up. I have half a mind to call the police.”

“Be quiet!” Gator snapped, her voice low and commanding. “They might hear us. What if they’re right inside this cave?”

Daniel locked eyes with Ben.

Seren and Raylin exchanged sideways glances.

Everyone else watched the cave opening with bated breath, except for Mrs. Jones, who looked so annoyed, Daniel was surprised she didn’t march out onto the ledge and launch into a lecture. Daniel hoped she would resist the urge. Their only hope of not being discovered was to release their weapons and pray the darkness of the cave dissuaded the Gurges from venturing in.

Daniel released the Sun Sword. Raylin and Ben quickly followed suit. Darkness enveloped the cave.

“I didn’t know this was here,” Barth grunted. “Dear, let’s leave. Maybe Ms. Julie gave those horrible weapons to them so they could kill us. Wouldn’t surprise me. You can thank our lucky stars we had just fallen into that gully. Or maybe they’re aliens! Gator, I bet they’re aliens! That would explain how horrible Daniel is. Lying to the judge and getting you taken away. Destroying our life. Constantly meddling. And now he’s trying to blast us to bits with his evil space technology!”

“Hush!” Gator replied. “I’m going in.” The iced ivy rustled as Gator cautiously parted it.

Daniel stole a glance at his watch—4:58. His heart sank. They didn’t have time for this.

Father? he asked, trying to quiet his anxiety and listen. I’ve got two seconds, so I’m just going to do what I think I need to. Stop me if I shouldn’t.

The failing evening light of the gray sky filtered into the cave. Daniel gave himself one second extra, but no divine messages slipped into his mind.

He walked toward the entrance just as Gator forced her way in. Barth followed directly, clinging to Gator’s right shoulder. Both wore heavy jackets, work boots with mismatched woolen socks pulled up and over their pants, and stocking caps. Barth’s flaming red chest hair bristled out from the jacket interior as if he carried around his own cheery fireplace.

Daniel summoned the Sun Sword, throwing back the darkness of the cave with the sudden, blinding flare.

Gator and Barth blinked in shocked surprise.

“Aliens!” Barth screamed.

Gator threw her right arm up to shield her eyes. “What the heck?”

“Merry Christmas, Gurges. Sorry about this, but I think you’ll thank me. Eventually.” Daniel swung the sword in a blazing arc through their chests, and both promptly collapsed facedown in the cave.

Mrs. Jones and Leah cried out in shock.

Mr. Jones ran to Daniel’s side and grabbed his sword arm. “Daniel! What have you done?” He stared down at the Gurges in horror. “They’re not monsters, son! Why did you kill them?”

“They’re not dead,” Seren stated matter-of-factly. She knelt beside the Gurges, grabbed their arms, and attempted to pull them completely into the cave. “Whoa! That’s a two-person job for sure,” she laughed, dropping Gator’s arms and grabbing Barth. She easily dragged him into the interior. Raylin joined her in towing Gator over toward her father.

“Not dead? That’s good,” Janice prattled. “Always liked the Gurges. Silly people. Fun from a distance. Sell good popcorn. That man has hair like an orangutan. Though I suppose I’m one to talk. Mine’s so frizzy.”

Leah paced back and forth with one hand on her forehead and the other on her stomach, all the while staring at the motionless figures on the floor. “Okay, if they’re not dead, what happened to them when they got cut with your sword?”

Daniel released the Sun Sword and joined his mother. “It purifies them just like the Creeps. Only, they don’t have any demon spirits.” He took her hands in his and patted them.

Ben snorted. “As far as you