GS Chapter 3

 

Chapter Three

Friday, December 7^th

Ellie finished her meal, grateful to be full. She left the kitchen and headed toward the direction of the hallway that Isabel had taken her through. The house was huge, a mansion and she wondered how she was going to find the library. She found herself back at the foyer, by the grand staircase, where Caleb was descending the stairs.

He wore a plain white t-shirt that fit his muscular frame perfectly. It was loose, but showed off his sculpted chest and arms. He was tall, well over six feet, with thick thighs flexing with power. No movement was wasted, like a tiger stalking his prey.

He ran a hand through his rumpled dark hair and beamed at her; the smile making her jaw go slack, stunning her in her tracks.  A dark-haired deity was approaching.

Ellie guessed he could charm his way into any woman’s bed with just that smile, but who was she kidding? He probably didn’t need to do anything, but gaze at a woman with those equally striking eyes -- turquoise eyes that reminded of the Grecian seas.

Her girlfriends would go crazy for him.

Caleb reached her. “My lady. Are you lost?”

She couldn’t tell if the chivalry was an act, but she enjoyed it and had to stifle a giggle. A light snort came out instead. “Isabel said to find her in the library.”

He offered his arm to her. “Ah. I shall see you to the library safely then. This way, please.”

Ellie hooked her hand gingerly around the bend of his arm as he led her to another hallway off of the foyer. It was bright and airy and seemed to sparkle with the morning sun. On one side, floor-to-ceiling windows stood proudly every few feet apart. Caleb slowed, as they passed the first large window.

He motioned for her to look outside, a small smile crinkling the corners of his eyes as she gaped in awe at the incredible courtyard garden on the other side. Beautiful. This place almost didn’t seem real. If she wasn’t actually standing there, she would have thought it was all a dream.

They reached a double door with carved reliefs of angels on the door panels. She couldn’t resist the pull of a fat, little cherub pointing at her. She was leaning, her fingertip almost making contact, when Caleb knocked on the door, startling her. Wasn’t this how, Drew Barrymore first met E.T.? The movie was older than she was, but had been one of her mom’s all-time favorites.

Catching herself, she stuck her hands in her pants pocket and looked away. Caleb had seen what she was about to do and was just looking at her, possibly waiting for her “close encounter.” When she dodged looking at him, he pushed open the door. “Isabel is inside.” He gave her a supportive type of smile before leaving. “Good luck.” He called over his shoulder.

She watched him pad quietly away, admiring the way his jeans hugged the chiseled contour of his behind. He turned, catching her ogling, and gave her a shallow bow, his eyes gleaming.

“Elysa, please come in.” Isabel’s voice called from inside the room, taking her attention away from Caleb’s posterior.

The library was well appointed in dark woods and supple leather seats. Wall sconces in gold and crystals lit the room warmly, while Persian rugs layered the floor. The rugs looked like antiques, the colors in dusky tans and greens, swirling in patterns that grounded the library in warmth.

“Do you know of the Nephilim, Elysa?” She had stood up and was waiting behind her desk, hands clasps behind her back.

Ellie started to shake her head, brows crooked in question. “Not much. Only that they were evil half-angel, half-human giants.”

Sadness veiled the patient smile. “Please, take a seat.” She offered the couch, in front of the crackling fireplace. “Bear with me, Elysa; for I will have to give you a bit of a history lesson in order for all of this to make sense.” She lowered herself next to Elysa, facing her, deep brown eyes filled with kindness. “Much of what is known about the Nephilim came from the holy texts. These books are considered honored and sacred, and have shaped the lives of countless generations, cultures, and countries. The effects of the holy word upon the people of this world have been profound.”

Ellie remained quiet, meditative, and wanting to be open to what Isabel was about to say.

“Elysa, please understand that I am not here to talk about religion, nor beliefs. It’s not about whose lessons and whose beliefs are right. In the end, the only thing that will remain is the truth. What I’d like to share with you is our story, the story of the Anakim.”

“Anakim?” The word was foreign, but twinged a nerve deep in her gut.

 “A celestial war between brothers was fought; an ancient war between the angels of heaven. One side, intent on proclaiming themselves god; the other side fighting to preserve the cardinal commandments of the Creator.” Isabel recited her tale with practiced perfection. “A great angelic warrior led legions of angels into battle to cast out, Satan, The Great Dragon and his followers. Many suffered on both sides and the heavens were fractured for eternity. The Fallen were exiled from the heavens and condemned to reside within the bowels of the earth. They lost their glory and were reduced to the shadows of existence.” Isabel stopped and watched her. “It is said that these Fallen became demons.”

Elysa’s eyes sparked with excitement, a moment of understanding glazing over her hazel eyes. “The painting? In the alcove upstairs?”

Isabel nodded. “The story is as old as time itself. Whether the Fallen became demons, we cannot know for sure. Some say that The Great Dragon took dominion over the demons -- gathered them, unified them, amassed their power for his purposes.” Isabel stood up and walked to the fireplace. She stretched her arms toward the flickering flame. “What we do know for sure is that demons are not mindless. They act with purpose and with intent. They are driven and nothing is done without motive.” Her shoulders slumped. “So many have perished...” She straightened, snapping her attention back on Ellie and continued her story with a period of rebuilding, when hope was renewed and restored, when “humans” were given rule over the earth.

Ellie’s brows creased at the mention of “humans.” A chill coming over her as fragments of a dream began to claw at her mind.

“The Creator showed favor on man. The Creator’s youngest progeny, and also His most fragile, inherited a most prized gift. This sparked anger and jealousy amongst His other children, including those that had fallen. Humans became targets for all sorts of devious and reprehensible deeds brought about by Others.”

Ellie could feel her chest tightening as a tormented scream from her dream echoed in her mind, making her hold her breath.

“… to protect His beloved children, the Creator sent a host of angels, His Watchers, to act as protectors and guardians. The Watchers were tasked to live on the planes of earth and safeguard the people, but the influence of darkness and the Fallen was strong upon the earth and some of the Watchers were corrupted… they fell in love.”

Ellie’s strong mind was working, her forehead wrinkled in contemplation. Falling in love was wrong? What kind of god would be against love?

“Some of the Watchers banded together to become leaders of a mutiny. These Watchers shunned their heavenly duties to live as men. They taught men about vanity, weapons, and warfare -- the very things that the Creator did not want His children to be burdened by. The Watchers took on wives who bore them children. Those children are known as the Nephilim.” Isabel twined her fingers together as she continued her tale. “As a group, the holy texts have made the Watchers look as if they were evil, but that’s not completely true.” She shook her head slightly. “As with any other group, the colors you see painted on the canvas is because of the actions of some; a convenient omission of certain truths by those who want to propagate their perception of events. It is not the complete picture you see.”

Ellie nodded as she looked down on her lap. She could hear the phantom scream rattle in her mind, the pained call for help, tore at her heart.

“Elysa, I need you to listen. The Watchers… yes, some of them did great wrongs -- unforgivable, but others continued in their task to protect, even while living their lives as men. This was their self-imposed penance for having lost their way. For those few Watchers, their regret was too great and they were anguished by their separation from the Creator.”

Ellie looked up and focused on the fire dancing in the fireplace. What was it about Isabel’s story? Why was her recurring nightmare, nagging at her now?

“The Nephilim were the same. Those that were fathered by the evil Watchers grew up uncontrolled and destructive, while those raised by the Watchers who continued to honor the Creator’s decree grew up virtuous and honorable. Unfortunately, they were in the minority.” Isabel made her way back to Ellie and sat next to her. “Many of the Nephilim were corrupted by greed and power, destroying everything in their path, abusing the advantages they had over humans. The people of earth cried out in despair. The damages being done were so horrendous that the Great Angels themselves asked the Creator for help.” Isabel looked up to the ceiling, seeming to look for an answer. “The Great Angels begged the Creator to save His children from the hybrid abomination that were the evil Nephilim. When the Creator could no longer watch His human children suffer, He commanded a cleansing of the earth to rid it of evil. The Great Angels were then tasked to bring about the heavy edict of the Creator.”

Ellie’s curiosity was piqued. “Cleansing? How?”

Isabel looked at her, truth lighting her eyes. “The Great Flood.”

Ellie’s eyes widened with interest. “Noah’s flood?” She asked for confirmation.

Isabel nodded, “Before torrents of deadly rain were set upon the earth, the Creator decreed that the few Nephilim who held true to the covenant be saved. The Nephilim that were saved were taken by a Great Angel and allowed to hold temporary court in what you and I refer to as “heaven.” When the waters receded, the chosen few were sent back to earth. The few surviving Nephilim were then forever bound to this world to help rebuild it, to protect and watch over its inhabitants. Their immortality was lost, but the Creator did not vanquish all of their extraordinary abilities for He saw purpose in their presence.”

She could feel her head tingle and the pores in her arms rise up when a certain knowing opened up in her heart. She was having a hard time with the overpowering sensation spreading throughout her body.

“The few Nephilim that survived were allowed to have families. They continued on and lived their lives as men, albeit gifted men with incredible abilities.” Isabel smiled to herself. “The children of these Nephilim were the first of the Anakim.”

A stab of knowing pierced her heart, making her tighten at the word. She was agitated. “The Anakim.”

“As it was, the children of the Nephilim, the first of the Anakim, became the heroes of legend, endeavoring feats that only the sons of heaven could bear. But because of fear and misunderstanding from the people of earth, the Anakim were persecuted. They chose to retreat from society. The holy texts cite that the Anakim were defeated.” Isabel smiled tightly. “It would be more accurate to say that the Anakim allowed defeat and disappeared, to be forgotten and forever lost.”

“What happened to them?”

“The Anakim dispersed, living in peace and in small clusters all over the world. They never forgot and kept true to their promise to uphold the Creator’s decree -- to watch over and protect the people, same as their fathers before, and the honorable Watchers before that. The Anakim watch in silence and protect in secret. The Nephilim fathers are long gone, but generations of Anakim continue to uphold the covenant the ancient fathers took on. Each Anakim will feel an internal calling.” She tapped her palm to her heart. “It burns and screams. It is as if the Creator himself pulls at the very soul of the Anakim to remember the promise of so long ago.” She stopped for a long moment. “Elysa, you are one of us. You are Anakim.”

Ellie sagged, her shoulders drooping heavily.

“Elysa, each of us has a purpose; each of us has a part… Last night, at the club, did you feel anything? Did you feel a pull? A feeling so compelling that you couldn’t ignore it?” Isabel was watching her, anticipating her response.

Ellie stared at her in surprise. “I need to leave.” She muttered softly.

“There is an invisible world around you, Elysa. A world that you belong to by birthright. We need your help. Our history is complex and simple at the same time. Our purpose is much the same. Elysa, I am asking you to join The Order; to join us, the Anakim.” Isabel looked gently at her.

Ellie stood up abruptly, almost launching herself completely off the couch. She remained silent and couldn’t look at Isabel.

“I will have someone take you home. Thank you for listening.” Isabel excused herself with a gracious bow and a downcast smile.

Her heart sunk and she felt like a complete idiot for freaking out. Isabel had been nothing, but gracious. She should have ended their conversation in a better way.

It was time to go home.