Jasper and the Shelter of Angels Read online

CHAPTER 4

  BELIEVING it was a good plan to sneak off, Jasper glanced back. Discouragement preoccupied him knowing he could do nothing to help the woman who was now Demon possessed. The guilt of an evil intruder taking over her body was all his fault. Then Jasper saw Krustatious shoot a dark arrow into his back. Twisting around as far as he could, Jasper found a family of dark arrows embedded in his back. This was why he felt so bad.

  Calling out as he hustled amongst the crowd, Jasper called for an Angel to pull the arrows out of his back. Taila and Elana responded to his call and immediately began tearing the arrows out. Escaping the Insufferable Six, Jasper’s deception was short lived when he ran right into Dr. Adams, face to face. Jasper was identified immediately.

  Silently signaling the security to him, Dr. Adams quickly turned Jasper in. The security personnel already had Jasper’s description and were anxious to nab him. There was nothing Jasper could do to keep from being captured. Still Jasper struggled to be free as he saw the Insufferable Six still hunting him. Hopeful he would soon find a new possibility of escape, Jasper didn’t notice Wengroangrinch stomp his way up behind him and jab a key into his back. With a quick twist, Jasper’s body was open to Demon possession. The Angels gasped at what was happening and raced in to intercept. With no time to lose, Wengroangrinch entered Jasper’s body himself.

  With Wengroangrinch in control of Jasper, the Angels set to work right away to cast him out. The Seven performed a spiritual combat maneuver that resembled a circular group chorography. Each of the Angels fought the Insufferable Six in turn. They didn’t tire while working to drive Wengroangrinch out of Jasper’s body. It required the use of their combined weapons and powers. Wilson and Joel used their fists of fire, Roger tried to cut Wengroangrinch out with his water-blade sword, West blasted Wengroangrinch with his powerful spiritual tornado, Starr’s light exploded over Jasper’s body to drive out the darkness, Elana bound up Wengroangrinch’s abilities with her lasso and Taila provided graceful prayers to cast out the Demon with the powerful name of the Lord.

  Jasper’s body convulsed under the Angel’s efforts. Wengroangrinch growled menacingly from Jasper’s mouth as he struggled to keep Jasper’s body under his control. From the dangerous display of Jasper’s actions, Dr. Adams made his decision about Jasper’s mental health. Legally he would document that Jasper’s mental instability, brought on by his fall from the church roof, has left him with permanent brain damage. Administering heavy sedatives, Dr. Adams had Jasper placed in a new hospital room.

  With no intention of co-operating with the Insufferable Six from the beginning, Jasper forged a friendship based on trust with the Seven Angels; a trust not easily shaken.

  As swords continued to clash, Wengroangrinch sought revenge for being cast out of Jasper. Appearing behind West, lunging forward, he stabbed a long black sword into the Angel’s back. West dropped his own sword in shock - his eyes; defeated and sad.

  Thrusting the long black blade further, Wengroangrinch pushed it so it came right out of West’s chest. Bending forward slowly, Wengroangrinch whispered into West’s ear, “Know my pain, brother.”

  Joel tried shooting arrows at West, knowing an Angels good arrows can strengthen another Angel, but the Insufferable Six stood guard over West as though they claimed him. Any attempt to save West was intercepted by one of the Six. Darkness had permeated West to his undying soul. It was too late and the Angels knew it.

  Trying to take a breath, West was shocked at how he’d been over taken so easily. Time slowed around West as the unthinkable occurred. Yelling, reaching his hands to his face like it was on fire, West’s voice altered into a ghastly shriek. His translucent, luminescent skin became deathly sick; eyeballs nearly popping right out of their sockets and countless sharp teeth hungry to tear apart anything good. Uncovering his hands from his eyes it was clear; the Angel’s friend was no more. The soft handsome blue eyes of West were replaced with yellow reptilian eyes of a wild, crazy Demon.

  Manifesting into a horrific bat-like Demon with West’s stark white feathers exploded off his wings. His naked wings quickly darkened and mutated shape into dark, bat-like leathery wings.

  “No!!!” shouted Wilson with deep sorrowful regret. The other Angels looked on in disbelief and shock. Swooping to his fallen brother, Wilson quickly pulled the long crooked black sword out of West’s back. The others noticed what had happened as they too shouted denials of the truth and fought back the Insufferable Six even harder. The dark Angels shielded their eyes from the intense light, hissing at the pain when the Angels quickly drove them off with a great burst of their combined Holy light. Turning back, the Angels of light came together around their fallen member, West.

  During West’s transformation, he momentarily changed back into an Angel at the moment the Demon blade was pulled from his back. “Keep fighting, West.” Starr spoke with deep concern, “You are strong.”

  It was unclear to Jasper what was happening, but he felt his trust of the Angels was being called to question. Just as one of the good looking Dark Angels had changed into a Demon, now one of Jasper’s bright Angel friends had also twisted into the image of evil right before his eyes.

  The Insufferable Six had the audacity to return and roam around the outskirts of the room. Snickering, they mocked the sentiment of the moment. Laughing at the scene, knowing they were successful at confusing Jasper and corrupting one of the famous Seven Angels, Morbidant smiled and shrugged, “When will you fools ever learn? You don’t have what it takes to defeat the darkness.”

  West began to speak, “I’m sorry I’ve failed you, my friends. Remember the great love in my heart for each one of you. May you find it in your hearts to forgive me for my downfall.”

  The remaining six Angels sat with their friend and lamented. They agreed; West was the most radiant of them. During this time of mourning, the Insufferable Six began to close in. Bony black hands came up behind Jasper to take him, when suddenly, everything froze at the sound of a loud trumpet blast. Light and smoke exploded across the ceiling before the Insufferable Six and their Demon Imps fled the room.

  Through all of this, the friends stayed close to one another. They watched as West’s long golden hair fell out, his eyes; corrupted, became dark with anger. His ears crinkled and stretched. His sickly skin grew coarse and flakey. His mouth grew wide and a long hideous tongue slithered out and reached up. West’s entire body twisted back into a Demon-bat. Glaring at the six Angels, provoking an air of danger, West was filled with rage as he quickly sunk down; phasing into the floor, to join his new family in Hell.

  Thunder broke and all eyes focused on the swirling light and smoke that ominously circled over-head. After driving away the Insufferable Six, the remaining Angels appeared to be more regal and wise-looking in the wake of the loss of their close friend.

  With a sudden boom of thunder followed by a loud cracking flash of lightning, a cloud swirled open across the ceiling. Within the depth of Heaven’s glorious colors and light, beyond the open cloud were three bright and glorious Guardian Angels. They approached the rift, gliding with the use of their wide illustrious wings.

  The room was too small to hold the great size of the three mighty Angels so they remained on their side of the open portal. The Angels bowed in reverence and respect to the three amazing Guardian Angels. Jasper just watched everything in wonder and awe before he felt an overwhelming desire to bow along with his Angel friends. Getting right out of bed and lying flat, face down, on the hospital floor, Jasper reverently prayed a prayer of respect.

  The voices of the three female guardian Angels came like a thunder, “Angels of the most high. Grieve not for the loss of your friend. You knew, one of you would be subdued by the enemy. The Creator of All, has plans for each one of you even still. You are challenged with distractions now; distractions to lead you astray. Don’t occupy your time senselessly fighting Demons. Angel reinforcements will make your way clear. Focus on your task. Should you who mourn and are sad not be joyful?
Your Master in Heaven rains blessings down on you, this day.”

  “Who are you?” Jasper called out. The moment he said this, however, he wanted to take it back. He felt so foolish and unworthy of any utterance at all.

  When the three Guardian Angels looked at Jasper, he could feel the heat of their gaze on his head. The giant Angel on the left brightened slightly, “I am, Emunah which means Faith.”

  The great Angel on the right was the next to brighten warmly, “My name is Tikua. My name means Hope.”

  The Angel in the center had a countenance that grew brighter than the other two. So beautiful was she, Jasper had to shield his blind eyes or risk further injury. “And I am, Ahava, meaning Love. We are the three appointed by the Seraphim to observe your cause on high.”

  The thunderous melody of words from the three mighty Guardian Angels ended abruptly when they backed away into the opening of the swirling cloud on the ceiling along with their powerful presence. As the swirling cloud subsided, so did the sound of continuous rolling thunder. Finally the portal closed up completely and the ceiling looked like nothing had happened at all.

  Everyone who remained rose from the floor. It was amazing how quickly despair had turned to faith; a solid faith, tempered by experience. Wilson, the smallest and youngest of the Angels felt, as the leader, he should say something. Bringing the message of the three Angels to mind, he said, “Our focus shall not be the loss of our good friend, West. Our focus is the Lord’s plan.”

  Unable to contain her emotions, Starr shouted from the despair of her heart, “I can’t go on without West!” she began to cry and buried her head in Joel’s chest. Tears ran down her smooth cheeks.

  Jasper saw there was nothing more sorrowful than to see an Angel weep, “How can this be?” Jasper asked, “You are Angels. You are symbolized as perfect and good. You cannot go to Hell.”

  “Do you not know, the Demons you despise were once our brothers and sisters, Angels; all of them. Perfect, you say? Can’t go to Hell, you say? One third of all of the Angels were cast down when they swore loyalty to Lucifer. You have heard of Fallen Angels. If we weren’t immortal, it would kill us to bring harm to one of them. The God of creation doesn’t need humans or Angels as proven in The Great Flood, but it hurt him deeply and profoundly to cast ‘the one third,’ out. He knew their hearts. They thought Lucifer was invincible, perhaps more powerful than the creator, but they were mistaken. Lucifer was actually just very persuasive and boastful. Do you think there was at least one Angel that God cared for so completely, it tore his heart out to cast him or her out of fellowship with him? The answer is; they all tore at him, especially Lucifer. They were once so close. The betrayal of a brother is like no other. By his great jealousy and need to love, he was double-crossed by his own family. And it was this great family in Heaven that was torn in two! Oh, God knows the depth of pain. He knows it better than anyone,” explained Roger.

  “But, West was the most beautiful of the Angels,” Starr commented. “He didn’t swear loyalty to Lucifer or any other, save the most High God.”

  “Remember, this is a test of the Lord, not condemnation. We must all have faith for the Lord, alone, who is the author and finisher of all things.” Wilson moved slowly in a circle as he spoke to everyone.

  “We are a broken circle now. We aren’t the same Seven as we were before,” said Starr.

  “You’re right, Starr.” Wilson agreed with a certifiable nod. “We’re not the same Seven, but we are still Seven.” The others looked at Wilson, then Wilson looked at Jasper.

  Jasper rose from the cold hospital floor wearing only his hospital gown. The others crowded in close to Jasper creating a circle of unity or perhaps to give him a spiritual group hug, Jasper wasn’t sure.

  “We must move on from here.” Wilson told the others.

  “Do you know where we are to go?” Elana asked.

  “I have been given this sight.” Wilson told them confidently. “You must all trust me to lead the way.”

  “We trust you, Wilson.” They all said at once.

  “I trust you too.” Jasper added.

  Wilson smiled his young crooked smile. Joyous eyes shone from the Angels upon Jasper before they turned toward the door. Leading the way, Wilson walked out of the room through the door. Behind him the others followed. Jasper quickly looked around for some clothes but he couldn’t find any. “Oh, come on!” Jasper whispered to himself. “They’re taking off without me?”

  Jasper dashed to the door to see if the Angels were waiting for him on the other side. As he cracked the door open and peeked through he met with the bright florescent lights of the hall that blinded him with sight. He had to squint and let his eyes adjust, then Jasper saw Angels everywhere. He saw his Angel friends also. Activity of Angels and Demons escalated more than Jasper ever saw before.

  A Demon struck a patient and the patient felt a shooting pain, like a head-ache in his whole body. An Angel touched the same patient and he was immediately made well again. Another Demon scruffed up a doctor’s hair and the doctor became stressed out and enraged. The doctor began to shout at a nurse. The Angels ran around trying to bring order, peace and health to each situation while the Demons worked overtime to ruin everything they could.

  “Evil never sleeps.” Jasper said loud enough for all the Angels to hear.

  “Neither does God.” Wilson replied. The Angels smiled and nodded to one another in agreement.

  Through the crowd of confusion, Jasper saw a man walking toward him. Somehow he could recognize the man but he wasn’t sure from where. As the man approached, Jasper backed into the room again and sat on the bed. Looking at the door, it opened and Jasper watched the man stride into the room.

  “Hello Jasper, remember me?” The man said.

  At that moment Jasper did remember him from the construction site. “Pastor?” Jasper answered, unsure of himself.

  “Yes, I am Pastor Jay Reynolds. I sure am glad to see you’re feeling better. Many people have been praying for you and your recovery. I don’t enjoy recalling your accident. I was there and saw the whole thing, you know.”

  Jasper looked down at the Pastor’s shoes. They were two shades of black and brown leather, very shiny and no doubt expensive. At the sight of the Pastor’s shoes, Jasper decided he wouldn’t be fully understood by this man.

  The Pastor stepped forward to take a closer look at Jasper’s eyes. He held Jasper’s head in his out-stretched hands and stared into his white eyes. “I was told that your eyes were milky white and that you would never see again. Your doctor told me that, just yesterday, you declined surgery which would restore your sight. Is this true?”

  “Yes, sir. I’m not completely blind, but I believe the operation will make me blind for sure.” Jasper backed away from the Pastor and walked over to a mirror. Studying his reflection as the Angels returned to the room, Jasper listened to the Pastor talk.

  “We’ve had a service on the site. Your boss didn’t want us going into the church yet, so it was an outdoor service. We will have our first official service next Sunday. Do you think you would be able to attend? It would mean so much to the people who have prayed for you. Until they see you, they won’t really know who they’ve been praying for.”

  “God willing Pastor, I just might attend one of your services,” Jasper answered honestly.

  “Oh, what a blessing. We had quite a lasting prayer meeting for you. The incident rarely leaves my mind. I’m pleased to see you’re recovering so well. Perhaps the prayers have helped.”

  “Yes, I know they have. I don’t have brain damage, or at least I don’t think so. And I haven’t lost my sight either.”

  The Pastor found the latter, questionable. “That’s extraordinary.” The Pastor was quite pleased with the visit thus far. “I’ve been a Pastor in Princeton for a very long time. I don’t believe you and I have met when you were a child. Did I know your parents?”

  “I don’t think so.” Jasper shook his head looking at the floor. r />
  “Well we have at least one thing in common, and that is the church.” The Pastor told Jasper.

  “We have something else in common, Pastor. We both believe in Angels.” Noticing Jasper’s cloudy eyes were locked onto him unlike anyone the Pastor met before with impaired sight, he suspected Jasper’s words were far deeper in meaning.

  The Pastor seemed a little surprised by this comment. “Have you ever attended church before, young man?”

  “Uh, no, I’m sorry, Pastor, no, I haven’t.” Jasper answered, soaking in his own humility. “But the Angels were with me when I fell off the roof of the church and they are with me here, in this room, right now. I can hear and see them no differently than I can hear and see you.”

  The Pastor took a deep breath, “I am thrilled to know that you believe, but if you want me to believe you can see and talk to Angels, I’m going to need a little more convincing.” The Pastor smirked, believing Jasper had nothing in the way of tangible proof to support his claim.

  Jasper turned to the Angels. “Okay, guys. The Pastor wants proof that you’re real. What are we going to do?”

  “We don’t have time for this, Jasper. You are required to follow me this instant. There is nothing we can do.” Wilson told Jasper, “Your communication with us isn’t an ability of our design. We can no more speak to him than he could speak to us. He has to listen with his heart and we will speak in ways beyond your chosen method of speech.”

  Jasper quickly turned to the Pastor, “They said, if you listen with your heart, they will speak to you.”

  The Pastor wiped his fore-head. “I see.” glancing at his watch the Pastor added. “I have listened with my heart since I was a small boy, and I have had my prayers answered more times than I can count. You are giving me very sound advice. May I pray for you, right now, Jasper?” The Pastor asked.

  The Pastor was a kindly spirited person, but Jasper knew he wasn’t taking him seriously. Jasper let his breath out like he was defeated. ‘How is it a Pastor of a church won’t believe me?’ “Yes, sir, Pastor Jay, sir.”

  The Pastor pulled his Bible out from the deep pocket of his jacket. He opened the Bible and began to read from it. “I will read now from the book of Luke, chapter, 22, verses 39 to 44. ‘Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you won’t fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An Angel from Heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.’”

  Jasper saw the Angels kneeling around the two of them and praying a prayer of thanks for the reading of the Holy Scriptures.

  Before closing the pages of the Bible, the Pastor prayed, “Thank you Lord, for your written word.” He then stood in front of Jasper and held his bible to his heart with his right hand and placed his left hand on Jasper’s shoulder. Praying for Jasper, he said, “Our Father in Heaven, I thank you for sparing the life of Jasper. I especially thank you for sending Angels down to comfort him as you did for your own son, Jesus. And before too long, oh God, please let Jasper know your great love for him. Give to him the desire to follow after you in all of the things he says and does, Amen.”

  “Amen. Thank you, Pastor,” Jasper said. He looked over at the Angels and they were standing around him with hands stretched out and touching him. “Where can I get a Bible?” Jasper asked.

  Without hesitation, the Pastor handed his Bible to Jasper. Jasper was surprised and he hesitated before taking it, but the Pastor insisted. Then the Pastor said, “I don’t want to go to Heaven and find you didn’t make it.” He then turned and walked to the door. Before leaving, he said, “I’ll be looking for you in church. God bless you, son.” Stepping out of the room, he closed the door behind him.

  Jasper looked down at the Bible in his hands. It was brand new and must have been expensive because it closed with a magnetic flap. Made from real leather, Jasper let his fingers play over the cover of the Book.

  “What am I supposed to do now?” Jasper asked openly.

  “Is it not clear?” Joel asked, “The Lord knows where we need to be. Let’s follow our appointed leader.”

  Jasper grabbed the back of his hospital gown and in an attempt to save himself from any undue embarrassment, he tried to bunch the opening closed. “Are you saying we’re just going to stroll out of here?”

  The Angel’s looked to Wilson for the answer and Wilson responded by saying. “Worry not for what you will wear and eat. The Lord will provide for us as he does all his creatures.”

  Phasing through the door and moving down the hallway, Wilson led the way. Trying to keep up with the others, Jasper paid no attention to the ongoing Demon/Angel activity around him.

  “You’re doing fine.” Elana spoke lightly into Jasper’s ear solemnly. “Don’t look at anyone. Make no response to anything anyone says, just keep walking, and keep your head down.”

  Voices shouted at Jasper, “Hey, idiot! Hey, look at me when I am talking to you!” Other voices came from people who weren’t themselves, rather Demons were speaking through them. Shouts of more foul language and spitting rose up around him as he passed by.

  Then Jasper saw Wilson in the distance as he disappeared around a corner. At the moment Jasper lost sight of Wilson, he called out in frustration. “Hey, Wilson, where’re you going?”

  “I’m going to the washroom!” Wilson shouted back unexpectedly.

  Taila almost flew passed Jasper when he stopped her and asked, “Did he say he’s going to the washroom?”

  Taila gave Jasper a cute but coy smirk, “He is the leader.” she told him. Her cheekbones and glowing copper hair was like the return of some historic European queen.

  “Does that mean God wants me to go to the washroom? He really does act like my Father.” Jasper commented under his breath.

  Continuing on with his head down, Jasper noticed Pastor Jay had stopped Dr. Adams in the hall. Making a quick detour to a vacant pay phone stall, Jasper lifted the telephone receiver to his ear and began acting like he was making a call, so he could hear what the two men were saying.

  Dr. Adams responded to something Pastor Jay had told him, “He’s supposed to be dead. He fell twenty feet and smacked his head against the pavement. After a near-death experience, Jasper believes he can communicate with Angels. I mean he talks about Angels like they’re right there with him. He’s delusional. Come’on, Angels?” The Doctor studied the Pastor for a moment. “Admit it Pastor, you don’t really believe in Angels, do you?”

  Pastor Jay filled his lungs before he answered, “Doctor, when you die and you experience your own death, you will have a moment of truth. It doesn’t matter how convincing someone has been to argue their opinion that there is a God or not. In your moment of truth, when you die, your lights will go out, or you may find yourself in the company of Angels. Are you ready for the possibilities? People look to me as the expert of life after death as they do you. Are you really an expert? Is anyone? When you die, do you know what will happen?”

  Dr. Adams just looked at Pastor Jay with a blank expression. Pastor Jay held the doctor’s steady gaze for a moment, “If for no other reason, it would be better to believe in God as a form of life insurance than to choose a path of hopelessness and not believe at all.” The Pastor added, before he carried on his way out of the hospital. Dr. Adams pushed his spectacles up the bridge of his nose, as he turned and went behind the nurse’s desk.

  Jasper hung up the phone and slunk down the hall to the men’s washroom. He kept his grip on the back of his hospital gown to keep it from blowing open.

  Gathering in the men’s washroom, Jasper and the other Angels found Wilson was nowhere to be seen. A man stood in front of the mirror straightening his tie. This man had his hair slicked back and wore a bright, ful
l smile on his face. Smelling like an entire bottle of after shave the man said, “Hey, how’re you doing?” He was friendly, noticing Jasper walk in. Excited but nervous at the same time, the man said, “My wife is about to have our first baby. I want this day to be as special as our wedding day so I went out and bought this new suit. How do I look?”

  “Well, first of all,” Jasper said, “Congratulations! Secondly, you look great.”

  “Oh, thank you. I’m so nervous. Will it be a boy? Will it be a girl? Anyway, if you know someone who needs some clothes I won’t be needing these anymore. Thanks, have to go.” With that the man left the washroom. Jasper looked at the pile of folded clothes set on the counter.

  “Wow!” Jasper expressed, as he took a closer look. The clothes left behind were just simple jeans and a T-shirt.

  As Jasper picked up the items of clothing, Wilson came out through the mirror above the sink. “Get it together, we have to go.”

  Everyone vacated the washroom quickly but Jasper just looked at Wilson as if to say, ‘Don’t I have time to put on these clothes?’

  “Come on, Jasper, make haste. Let’s go, go, go!” Wilson urged.

  Bolting out of the washroom, Jasper moved like he was running for his life. Feeling the tie strings of his gown come undone and the gown flapping freely at his back like a confederate flag of freedom waving his liberty, Jasper looked down the hall. There, Dr. Adams was talking to a couple of security officers. With lightning speed, Dr. Adams turned. His neck almost twisted his head off, spotting Jasper again. Jasper’s eyes widened as he changed direction to follow the Angels. Darting into an open elevator, he pressed the buttons to take him down to the main floor. The elevator didn’t respond. Then Jasper saw the two security guards come charging around the corner.

  “Hey, you!” one guard shouted. “You’re not supposed to leave until properly discharged!” Jasper hit the elevator button, ‘Close door’ repeatedly. The elevator doors slowly slid closed. Security was too late.

  Alone and safe for a moment in the elevator, Jasper dropped his gown and began to dress. “About-Face!” Jasper called out and the Angels who floated in a tight huddle around him, respectfully turned and faced the other way.