Rise Of The Nephilim

When Maxine opened her eyes, the next morning, a blurred image danced before her.

She stared back at Āmand, seeming to be concerned about the sadness in his eyes. She shifted her arm slightly when he placed his hand on her. She mumbled softly, “Father.”

She smiled. He quickly removed his hand and returned to his austere posture and demeanor. “Sarai, you have awoken.”

“Yes, Father.” She placed a hand on the aching wound in her abdomen and tried to sit up, but she was quickly stopped by stabbing pain.

Āmand looked down on her, taking a deep breath. He knew that regrettably, he had to pronounce some sort of punishment for her, as well as for the others’―Haman, Silla, and Gaden. Shian had already paid the ultimate price. He backed away and saw that the others, including Zeda, were also awake, watching his every move.

Maxine looked over at the bed to her right and saw that Zeda was alive. A healer was redressing her wounds. Her memory of Mathias’s visit entered her mind. He’d tried to show her that Zeda was alive. Nevertheless, she’d seen only a field of wildflowers. She could see the guilt and shame in Zeda’s eyes as they looked at each other in silence.

At the same time, a look of bitter anger marred Silla’s, Haman’s, and Gaden’s faces. Maxine knew what they were thinking; they had risked their lives, Shian losing hers to rescue Zeda when she had not been in the Imps’ Dungeon in the first place. They had grossly misjudged Āmand.

Āmand stood, hands folded over his chest. He paced back and forth as if trying to figure out what to say. “Insolence will be met by harsh punishment,” he finally said.

The calm anger in his voice had quickly drilled through the walls of bravery and resolve that Maxine had built around her. Guilt coursed through her, for it was her persistence that had pushed the others to accompany her to the Imps’ Dungeon. Her persistence caused Shian to lose her life.

An awkward silence filled the room.

They followed Āmand with their eyes as he continued to pace back and forth.

Silla and the others thought it odd that he was so indecisive. It was not in his character. He had always been impulsive and swift and had never hesitated in handing down his judgment to his offenders. Something had changed in him since Maxine’s arrival. They were sure that Āmand would have forfeited their lives by now and were surprised that he had not left them to die in the Imps’ Dungeon.

Grateful. But surprised.

Āmand expanded his wings, his face twisted. “Tomorrow you will continue your training,” he said.

Then he lifted himself off the ground. But before he ascended, he looked at Maxine intensely. Although he would never admit it, he felt relieved that she’d survived the attack. He scolded himself. He was becoming vulnerable. He knew for sure that something in him was changing, but he did not have the power to stop it.