The Awakener (The Watchers of Men) Page 8

  “What council? What do you mean?”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll send someone to take notes for me next time.”

  Sensing his brooding mood, she changed the subject. “The woman I saw, is she Micah’s guardian angel?”

  “Yeah,” he hesitated, “Eden, I can’t stay, but you need to know I’m still here, even when you can’t see me.” His tone softened as he continued, “I’ll protect you.”

  She knew his words should make her feel safe, but when he stood up, she panicked, “Wait! Don’t go! Please don’t leave!”

  “I’m not leaving. You just won’t be able to see me,” he explained again.

  “Even if that’s true, I want to see you. Can you stay until I fall asleep?”

  He grunted, and then sat back down. She supposed it should’ve been an awkward moment, both of them looking at each other in silence, but she was too drained to care.

  “How come I’ve never seen you before?” she asked.

  “I’m not supposed to be seen by you. It could,” he paused, “mess things up.”

  She wanted to ask what he meant by that, but she somehow knew he wouldn’t answer.

  She rubbed her arms. “That demon would’ve hurt me?”

  His eyes clouded as he gave one curt nod.

  She shivered, pondering the fact that demons were real. Continuing on that line of logic, she concluded something else as well.

  She sat up. “So if there are demons and angels, there’s a God too, right?”

  The man smiled. “Remember that, Eden. That’s important.”

  She supposed it was his way of saying yes, and as she thought this, she felt something warm spread over her. A sweet peace settled in her chest, and the fear dissipated. She lay back down in her bed, feeling very tired.

  “Are you doing that?” she asked. It felt almost like a drug, a pleasant numbness spreading over her entire body.

  “Mm?” he hummed, his gaze intense.

  “I feel totally… relaxed. You’re the one I’ve been feeling at night. You’ve been helping me sleep, haven’t you?”

  “Glad to see my comforting abilities are working. I’m pretty lousy at it usually.”

  She was curious as to what he meant, but instead said, “Thanks.”

  He nodded.

  Her eyelids drooped. She slurred her words, “Wait, if I’m in danger—how do I call you?”

  “I’ll know you’re in trouble before you do. Now go to sleep.”

  Her body obeyed, and she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

  Trent waltzed into Micah’s room the morning after the attack, announcing, “Hey, so what do we need to study, ‘cause I’m pretty important to this whole shindig.”

  Micah finished pulling his t-shirt down. “Did your hot guardian come to you last night?”

  “No, man, so not cool,” Trent replied, throwing himself down on the chaise.

  “Well, at least you didn’t get manhandled by a demon.” Micah rubbed his knee. “I’ve got bruises everywhere.”

  “All worth it—you have Sage,” Trent stated, as if that made it even.

  “And you have Gianna. Don’t you think you should tell her about your new redhead?”

  “I think that would be best kept between you and me. I wouldn’t want to scare her with demon stuff, you know.” Trent grinned, standing up.

  Micah grunted back at him.

  Entering the kitchen, it didn’t take long for Caterina to know something had happened the night before. The large, jagged scrape on Micah’s face gave it away. With a glance at each other, they told her everything, with her gasping at their words.

  “Wait, Gustavo needs to hear this too,” she interrupted, poking her head into the hall and hollering his name. Gustavo came in and they relayed the story over again, while Caterina fussed over Micah’s cut. She unscrewed a small vile and, dabbing some on her finger, she rubbed earthy-smelling liquid on his skin.

  “What’s that?” he asked, as his cut smarted.

  “Frankincense oil. It’ll keep that gash from scarring your handsome face.”

  “Thanks.” The ache subsided, the oil soothing it.

  Gustavo cleared his throat. “I think everyone would agree we need to get back to our reading.”

  Micah said, “Yeah, we need to read about the Watchers.”

  Gustavo stared at Micah.

  “The demon said the name Semjaza. I want to know who he is,” Micah said firmly.

  Gustavo sighed and then nodded.

  “Wait,” Trent interceded. “I haven’t been privy to all this because someone,” he shot an accusing look at Micah, “didn’t invite me. So you better get me up to speed first.”

  “You’re right,” Gustavo said. “Let’s start from the beginning.”

  Gathering at the breakfast nook, Gustavo pulled out their research—papers, volumes of old, heavy books, various maps, and even pamphlets and brochures, sprawled across the wooden table, while Caterina put the kettle on.

  “There is much to learn of Enoch,” Gustavo deep voice began. “There are many different writings about who he was and what he did. I have studied in the Vatican from the Book of Enoch itself. As you know, it is considered to be pseudoepigraphal, which is a big word for a work that claims to be written by a character in the Bible. In your Bible, you probably don’t see a Book of Enoch. He is barely mentioned in Genesis. There are many interesting things in the Apocryphal Book of Enoch, though.”

  Trent listened, uncharacteristically quiet.

  “According to Masonic Lore, and other sources, Enoch was the inventor of writing and books. He was a God-fearing man, teaching people to worship God, pray, fast, and pay alms and tithes. He was also a builder, teaching men, and his son Methuselah, the art of building cities.”

  “Like the city Micah saw?” Trent asked.

  “Perhaps, just like that. Enoch knew there was going to be a flood, so he built within his city an underground Temple, a vault.” Gustavo paused, Trent wide-eyed and waiting. “Let me back up a little. According to some Sumerian legends, there used to be seven wise men, or Sages. Each of these wise men had sacred knowledge on different subjects. On a tablet of the Assyrian oath incantations, it lists Enoch as the seventh wise man.”

  “What did he know? What was his sacred knowledge about?” Trent asked, engrossed.

  “Depends on what version you believe. Some writings say he discovered the Zodiac and knew the course of the planets. In the Book of Enoch, it says he saw the heavens and the stars. The Masons pass the tradition that he knew the secrets of building. Whatever his secret knowledge was, he buried it deep in his vaults. He knew the great flood was coming so, as I said before, he built an underground temple in his city. This temple was a series of vaults stacked one on top of another. In the deepest level, the ninth vault, he buried the secret he feared losing the most in the flood.

  “Some say it is the Grand Secret, engraved on a white, oriental stone. Others say it is written on a triangular tablet made of pure gold, called a delta. Another account says Enoch made two golden deltas, the larger one he placed on a white altar in the lowest level, and the other he gave to his son, Methuselah. Methuselah did work on the brick chambers of the temple. Then there is the legend of Enoch’s columns, made of granite and bronze. The bronze is a symbol of the mysteries. The Masons believe these columns hold philosophical and religious truths, unknown to the rest of the world, passed down through the years in tradition, allegories, symbols, and emblems.”

  All of this Micah already knew, but it was new to Trent. Everyone’s eyes were directed to him.

  “So we don’t know for sure what’s buried in vault nine,” Trent processed slowly, “but we know it was so important to Enoch, he built this underground temple before Noah to keep it from being flushed away in the flood. So we just have to find the underground vault, so we can see who’s right and what it was.”

  “Easier said than done.” Gustavo smiled. “But yes, that is exactly what we need to do.”


  “We think we need what’s in vault nine to build the golden city I’ve seen,” Micah added.

  Trent rubbed his hands together. “Sweet, now all I need’s a wicked leather jacket and a whip.”

  Both Gustavo and Caterina exchanged confused looks.

  Trent grinned. “I’d make an over-the-top Indiana Jones, don’t you think?”

  The couple smiled and Micah cleared his throat. “So, Semjaza?”

  Gustavo nodded. “Yes, let me tell you a little story first. Enoch’s father, Jared, was a prophet. During his life, a group of angels decided they wanted to leave heaven to be with mortal women. This was forbidden, of course, and these angels knew it. They did it anyway, signing an oath with their leader, an evil pact. These angels were known as the Watchers and their leader was Semjaza.”

  Micah felt the hairs on his arms raise.

  “Before they fell, the Watchers had been given sacred knowledge as well, when they were still good, not corrupted. They knew the mysteries of the clouds, sun, moon, stars, astrology, enchantments… you get the idea. When the angels fell from grace, they came to earth with that knowledge, but they used their sacred gifts for evil. Semjaza knew the mysteries of enchantments and root cutting. The Watchers taught man half-truths, powers, and for lack of a better word, magic.”

  “Like the old black magic Sage talked about,” Micah said, feeling uneasy.

  Gustavo answered, “Exactly that. Semjaza had a right hand man, Azazel. Azazel taught the art of war, how to form and use weapons, tempting man with the desire to kill.”

  Micah nodded his head slowly. “So, somehow Semjaza taught the demons how to break through the barrier and physically attack me, probably using enchantments.”

  “Yes, it appears so,” Caterina agreed.

  “This is very grave news,” Gustavo stated. “More serious than you realize.”

  “Why?” Trent asked.

  “You see, the Watchers were rounded up, bound, and buried, deep in the earth, long ago. They’ve remained imprisoned for thousands of years. The fact that they are somehow breaking through their own binding is very—”

  “Freaky,” Trent cut in.

  “Yes, Trent. Very freaky indeed,” Caterina confirmed.

  Eden woke to loud banging on her door. Disoriented, she popped up, her eyes darting back and forth. Sunlight peeked through her blinds, leaving sun lines on her carpet.

  “Wake up, Eden!” Brendon’s voice hollered.

  She shoved the covers off, slid her glasses on, and peered over the side of her bed. Examining the carpet for any trace of ash, she saw nothing. Was it all a horrible dream? Continuing to scan her room however, she spied the items on her dresser knocked over. Remembering how hard she had hit, she gingerly touched her back and winced.

  Not leaving her bed, she called, “I’m up.”

  She was happy Brendon barged in, because now she felt safe getting out of bed. No claws reached out and snatched her legs. She remembered her guardian saying he’d always be with her and, taking a deep breath, stood up. Thinking of him, she realized there were no burn marks anywhere, no sign anything had happened last night, other than her room was a mess, which was common.

  “So?” Brendon asked, staring at her. “Want to go rollerblading or something?”

  “Uh, sure. What time is it?”

  “Like eleven, you never sleep this late.” Brendon looked around the room. “Man, Eden, you’re a slob.”

  “Thanks, Brendon, I know. I’m going to get dressed now so…”

  “Say no more, I’m leaving.”

  After he’d gone, Eden surveyed the clothes on the floor, reached down, and picked up whatever was on top. She began pulling her t-shirt off but stopped. Last night, the idea of a big, muscular man always being with her, had been comforting, but now…

  Is he watching right now?

  She grabbed her clothes and entered the hall bathroom. Glimpsing in the mirror, she gasped. Apparently, leaving her makeup on last night had been a big mistake. With all the crying she’d done, black streaks ran down her face. She’d thought Brendon meant her room made her a slob, now she knew he meant she was the slob. She tugged the shower curtain back and stepped in, still fully dressed.

  She whispered, “Ok, I’m getting in the shower now. And you can stay on that side of the curtain. I’ll let you know if something attacks me in here. Ok?”

  I’m talking out loud to an invisible person. I’m certifiable.

  Still, she stripped down and threw her clothes over the shower curtain, just to be safe. After she shut the water off, she dried and dressed in the shower.

  Climbing out, she mumbled, “Sorry, I know you’ve seen it all before, but it’s still creepy.”

  Jogging down to breakfast, she realized something. Darn, I didn’t even find out his name.

  Eden spent the rest of the day hashing and rehashing the entire study date for Jessie. Once Jessie heard Andrew had asked her out, it was all Jessie wanted to talk about, she’d even dialed up Caitlyn. By the end of the day, all Eden could think about was Andrew. She wondered what her guardian did all day.

  I must be the most boring person to guard.

  After dinner, she decided it was time to email Micah. She needed to tell him what had happened. She figured of anybody, he’d understand.

  That night, she purposely left the lamp on in her room before climbing into bed. She didn’t think she’d be sleeping in the dark for a while. She carefully set her glasses down on her nightstand, making sure they were reachable, just in case.

  She peered around. “Are you here right now? How do I know if I can’t see you?”

  She knew she shouldn’t feel disappointed when she saw nothing, but she was. Then she felt a warm, comforting feeling washing over her.

  So you are here. She smiled.

  She laid her head down and whispered, “Good night, Guardian.”

  Sunday night, Eden opened her nightstand drawer, pulling out books, stationary, and other random things. She stopped digging and sat back on her heels.

  She’d found her Bible; it was a gift from her grandma in Arizona.

  She shoved all the stuff back into her drawer, and then climbed on her bed. She stared at the book for a minute, without opening it.

  “When Micah started seeing things, he read the Bible. So, I’m thinking maybe I should read too,” she said as she leaned against her headboard.

  Flipping through the book, she stopped a few times, scanning the pages. Sighing, she shut the book. “What am I supposed to read?”

  She decided just to let the book open up. She peered down. It was in Isaiah.

  “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city.” She looked up. “What the heck does that mean?”

  Her fingers began turning pages again. She watched, fascinated. It was like they weren’t her hands anymore. Feeling how involuntary it was, made her realize something else.

  The book fell open but she glanced around. “It was you, wasn’t it? You were the one throwing me into people, making me hug them.”

  She didn’t feel anything, but she knew she was right.

  “Why’d you do that? It was really embarrassing.”

  She felt a flicker inside. She knew he was listening. Probably laughing.

  It made no sense to her either way. Why does he want me hugging everyone?

  She looked down; this time it was in Corinthians, in the New Testament.

  “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass … and though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries ... and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” She paused. “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity
, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

  She stared at the page, willing the words to make sense.

  “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face,” she re-read. “That’s how it is, isn’t it? There’s some kind of barrier between your world and mine. Like dark glass. And then I saw you last night.”

  She felt the good feeling.

  “Now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. You know me, don’t you? Probably better than I know myself. I know so little right now. As it said, it’s like I’m a child, still thinking as a child. It’s time for me to think like an adult. It is time for me to awake to what’s truly happening.”

  The good feeling engulfed her. She smiled.

  “It calls them spiritual gifts in the next chapter. The gift of prophecy, of tongues, of faith, of knowledge, but says without charity, they would all be nothing. That charity’s the greatest of them all. What am I to learn from that?” She waited.

  Nothing.

  “Well, I think charity’s important. Maybe that’s what I need to focus on right now,” she said decisively.

  Shutting the book, she stood, stretching her arms above her head. “Well, I guess I better get back to my family and homework. Nice talking with you.”

  Eden stopped at her locker, cranking the dial a few times, and then methodically selected the lock’s combination. The metal door swung open.

  “So?” Caitlyn asked over Eden’s shoulder.

  Eden jumped.

  “Sorry,” Caitlyn said. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “No, you’re fine; I’m just a little…” She let her words trail. Skittish, freaked out, scared of demons? Somehow, I don’t think she’ll understand that.

  Eden was kicking herself for the umpteenth time for not asking what her guardian’s name was. With how much I’ve talked to him all week, it’d sure be nice to have a name.

  Caitlyn’s hazel eyes were watching her, puzzled. Unlike Jessie, Caitlyn waited patiently; she didn’t push for details. Since they were both reserved by nature, it had taken them a few days to connect in the English class they shared. Now Eden was thrilled to have another good friend.