Chapter Twenty-One

John was unusually stressed. Going into battle, many would be lost, but he couldn’t shake the feeling of gloom trying to invade him. He prayed nothing happened to his sister but he knew Jayden would protect her with his life. It was better the others didn’t know the girls were there because their focus would be equally shaken.

The girls were young and innocent and had no business on the battlefield. John knew they wanted to help, but they didn’t understand that being there caused more harm than good because the people who loved them were solely focused on them instead of being prepared for battle. It was simply too dangerous. He wouldn’t have been able to leave Phoenix’s side if Jayden hadn’t been there. He was having a hard time with it as it was.

It was bad enough that Chastity was with him, but she was a bit older and she’d seen so much and proven how useful she was on the front lines. He still worried about her, but not like he worried about his sister. He’d certainly go into panic mode if someone had a gun pointed at her, but she seemed to never get into those situations.

John cautiously approached the front entrance in preparation to take out the guards. Once he did that, all hell would break loose and they’d have only a short time to storm the camp. They couldn’t give the enemy time to send reinforcements. They’d picked this particular prison camp because of its location.

It was farther away from their central headquarters and it would take them longer to get backup. So far they’d been successful in all their raids but they’d lost a lot of lives.

“Are you ready, Chastity?” he asked.

“Yes,” she replied. There was no need for anything beyond that simple word.

“Brian, do you copy?” he whispered into the radio.

“We’re a go, John,” Brian replied. The other unit leaders all replied in the affirmative. John took a large breath, lifted his gun and fired three rounds quickly. The men at the gate fell before the sound of the shots fired had time to even reach them.

John heard several rounds of gunfire coming from behind him, and then he didn’t have time to think anymore. He quickly stormed the gate, as he knew the others were doing. He was in the camp before the inside guards could even blink.

The guys worked well together and knew what they had to do. It didn’t take them long to secure the perimeters. They knew there were a lot more men on the inside. He and Chastity headed quickly for the control tower and took it before any outside help could be called. John started to feel some of his anxiety leave. He’d been worried for nothing. It seemed the mission hadn’t been as bad as he thought.

“John, watch out,” Chastity yelled. Things seemed to move in slow motion as he turned toward her voice. She was standing about twenty yards from him with an expression of utter horror. He thought someone was attacking her and willed his body to move in her direction. He had to protect her. He couldn’t comprehend that she was telling him to watch out.

He felt a burning pain in his back as Chastity ran past him faster than anyone could possibly run. There was no way she could move so quickly. He had to be hallucinating. She cried out and he turned his head, still feeling as if he was moving in slow motion.

A soldier behind him held a huge, bloody knife and Chastity was holding the man’s head in her hands. He heard a crack and watched as the man dropped to the floor, his eyes lifeless. She’d broken his neck with a quick twist of her hands. How had she been able to do that?

He felt his legs start to give out and he was falling to the ground, knowing he should stop himself, but he couldn’t find the strength. The pain in his back was searing and he found he couldn’t draw any air into his lungs. Each breath hurt more.

Chastity was looking toward him again with tears streaming down her face. Was she hurt? He couldn’t figure out what was wrong. She didn’t seem to be injured but her face was contorted in agony.

He coughed when he tried to breathe. He watched, almost in wonder, as blood sprayed into the air from his mouth. He knew that wasn’t good. He wasn’t dreaming and he wasn’t going to survive. Chastity sank to her knees next to him.

“I’m sorry, John. I tried to get to you in time. I’m so sorry,” Chastity said over and over. She cradled his head in her lap, tears dripping onto his face.

“I love you,” he sputtered, knowing he had to tell her.

“I love you too, John,” she sobbed as she brushed his hair from his face.

“Tell my parents I love them. Tell Phoenix to please take care of herself. I love her so much,” he sputtered. His voice was getting weaker. “Jayden needs to protect her, no matter what,” he managed to get out. He then started coughing harder and he felt blackness slipping over him. He’d said all he could.

He struggled to gain some air, wanting a few more moments in Chastity’s arms. He was grateful she’d escaped and they’d had a few months together. Their time had been the best in his life and he hated to leave her.

“Josiah, please help me,” was the final thing he heard from Chastity before he blacked out.

“Josiah, please help me. I need you now,” Chastity called out with her voice and heart. She knew he could hear her. An angel would be in the room with them at that moment – it was just how it was done. John was dying, so they had to come. She couldn’t let him die. How could she have let him be stabbed like that? She should have protected him.

She was sobbing, holding him in her arms as he took his final breaths. Josiah could save him. “Please don’t leave me,” she begged. “Just hold on.”

“You must let him go, Chastity,” Josiah said as he entered the room, filling it with the most beautiful light. She’d only been away from home such a short time ago in her eternal life and she’d almost forgotten the beauty of Josiah and the power of his glow.

“I can’t lose him, Josiah, I can’t. I need him, but more importantly, he’s needed by many. He’s a leader, a son, a brother. So many count on him. Please, Josiah, it’s not too late, he’s still breathing and you can save him,” she begged. “Please don’t punish him for my choices. Please save him, he’s worthy.”

“His wound is a mortal one, Chastity. His body can no longer survive as human,” Josiah said, kneeling next to her and John.

“Please, Josiah, you can save him,” she repeated.

“The only way to bring him back is to make him an angel and he still wouldn’t be with you,” Josiah said. “Wouldn’t it be better to let him go home?” he asked.

“No, it wouldn’t be what he’d want. He’d want, more than anything, to stay here and protect those he loves,” she pleaded.

“You’re asking me to take the choice from him and do your will,” Josiah said.

“I know him. I know what he’d want. I’ve never lied to you. Please trust me,” she begged. John was breathing, but barely. She could feel the blood draining from his back and mouth. He only had seconds. She’d held many humans at this tragic juncture in their lives, and once he left his body, there would be no more choice.

“If I change him and he decides to stay, you know he’ll be condemning himself to the same fate as your brother,” Josiah warned her.

“I know, and I’m sorry. But I know him, Josiah. I know he won’t leave his sister. He’d rather burn for an eternity than leave her behind,” she told him.

“You understand if I do this and he isn’t pure, he’ll die a horrible death, and be condemned to walk in darkness for all eternity? You’ll be responsible for him living that way.”

“Yes, I take full responsibility. I know he’s pure, now please save him!” she cried. Her soul was worth John’s. This was what he’d want and she felt he was meant to be chosen. She knew it beyond anything she’d ever known before. She’d gladly sacrifice herself if she were wrong.

“So be it,” Josiah said. He laid his hands on John’s chest and a brilliant light shot out of him. He leaned his head back and Chastity let go as John’s body lifted in the air. She’d heard stories of humans who’d been so pure and so good that Josiah had instantly turned them, but she’d never witnessed it before.

Feelings of doubt that she’d made the wrong choice for him flashed through her mind, but when her entire soul screamed otherwise, she pushed down the insecurity and waited. She had faith in John, and it would all be okay.

The mere seconds seemed like forever. She heard the others trying to reach her and John on the radio, but she ignored them. She had eyes and ears only for John. She couldn’t even move as she watched Josiah filling him with brilliant light.

The light started to fade from the room and Chastity could feel the breath leave her body as John sank gently back to the floor. Chastity’s eyes homed in on every detail as John lay lifeless. She desperately watched for even the slighted movement – anything – to know what had taken place had worked. He lay there, motionless. She waited. The process took time.

Suddenly, John’s chest started to slowly rise. Tears freely fell from Chastity’s eyes. He was going to live. He might have to leave her, but he’d live. He slowly opened his eyes and they were no longer blue, but the same endless night color as she and Jayden had. The light of a new angel shone inside them.

“Chastity, what’s going on?” he asked as he slowly stood.

“John, something really bad happened. I had to make a choice for you and I pray you’ll forgive me for it, but I know I did the right thing,” she started.

“Are you okay? Is my sister okay?” he asked as he looked her over and then looked around, seeking out his sister.

“We’re both fine, John. This has to do with you,” she said softly. She was normally so confident in her words that John took a step back, worried about how wrong the situation really was. Then, for the first time, he saw Josiah in the room. John didn’t know who it was but he didn’t feel threatened. He could somehow tell the person before him meant no harm.

“John, you’ve been through a change. You were dying and a choice was made for you. You’ve been turned into an angel. Very few mortals are chosen for this honor, but you’re so pure…” Chastity said in a choked voice.

Josiah spoke for the first time since John woke. “My son, you need to say goodbye now. There’s much you need to learn.”

“Go? I can’t go anywhere. I need to be with Chastity and my sister. I don’t understand what you’re saying,” John said in confusion.

“There were only two choices, John,” Chastity said. “We could’ve held you while you left your body and went to your eternity, or transform you into a protector. I made the decision to have you transformed. I knew it was what you would’ve wanted. This way you’ll be able to always watch out for Phoenix and your other family.”

The pain burning through her was almost more than she could bear. If she stayed on Earth too long, she wouldn’t be able to return home. She didn’t think the war would end anytime soon, which meant she’d have to choose. She couldn’t leave her brother behind to do it all on his own. That meant an eternity without John. Josiah had warned her about all of that when he’d given her the choice to come to Earth to help.

“How do you know any of this?” he asked. She was afraid he’d ask her that question.

“John, I’m an angel. I came here to help you and the other humans. The longer I’m here, the more I will change. If I stay too long, I’ll never be able to return home. I made that choice because it’s what I had to do. I made the sacrifice, but you don’t have to,” Chastity said.

John didn’t know exactly what she was really giving up as he hadn’t made the trip to the kingdom, but he’d know soon enough and then he’d never understand how she could do it. Once you walked in the Light, it was incomprehensible to actually leave it.

“I won’t leave,” he said.

“John, you can’t say that. You don’t know what you’re doing to yourself. You must go with Josiah. You can’t condemn yourself to this emptiness,” Chastity pleaded. She loved him enough to know he couldn’t give up his eternity.

“Chastity, there is no eternity for me without you or my family. I don’t care what you’ve done before and I certainly don’t care about what I’m giving up. All I care about is protecting those I love,” he told her.

“Then you can do it from above,” she said.

“No, I won’t leave you,” he said. He turned to Josiah. “I hope you can understand, but I’m where I belong. I can’t leave my sister. She’s innocent and young and needs me. I can’t leave Chastity, either. Nothing could be offered to me that would ever make me change my mind,” he told him. He then bowed his head in respect. He didn’t know this being with the kind eyes, but his heart was hurting. He couldn’t understand it, but he felt as if something was ripping away inside him.

“There is nothing I can say to change your mind?” Josiah asked him, though he looked as if he already knew John’s answer.

“Nothing,” John replied.

“So be it, John, you’ll remain on Earth, forever outcast from the Light. I will warn you that you, more than Chastity, are vulnerable to the dark forces. You haven’t had time to learn what being an angel is about. You’ll be very susceptible to Vyco,” Josiah said. There wasn’t any anger in his words, just a deep sorrow.

“I’ll teach him what he needs to know. I won’t let him end up with the same fate as me. I know I chose wrong. I’ll take care of John,” Jayden said, as he stepped into the room.

“You’re supposed to be with my sister,” John said, immediately looking around.

“We have control of the prison now, and she’s safe,” Jayden said. John knew she was safe or Jayden would’ve never left her side.

“Jayden, you’ve been a dark angel for a long time. How can you teach him the ways of the Light?” Josiah asked. Jayden laughed bitterly.

“I didn’t know what I was giving up, but now I do. I may not be able to change my eternity, but I can certainly help John make the right choices,” Jayden said.

“Jayden, you aren’t as lost as you think,” Josiah said. None of them seemed to pay attention to the all-important words. “I’ll leave you now,” he said. Before anything further could be said, there was a great flash of light and Josiah was gone.

“No one can know what’s happened today. We’ll both teach you, but the others can’t know,” Jayden said.

“How were you able to keep this from us?” John asked.

“We had to, John. It’s the only way,” Chastity said. She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight. He’d given up his salvation to spend an eternity on Earth. It wasn’t as bad as being with the dark forces but it was horrible compared with what he could have had.

“I’m sorry, John, but I knew you wouldn’t want to leave your sister. I just thought you’d go with Josiah and keep an eye on her from the kingdom,” Chastity sobbed. She couldn’t let him go now that she had him back.

“You made the right choice, the only choice,” he soothed her. He lifted her chin and brought his lips down to hers. The kiss exploded through his system unlike anything he’d ever experienced. The pleasure coursing through his body was exquisite and he couldn’t pull away from her. He tightened his arms, bringing her closer, forgetting about the world of war around them, forgetting about everything but that single moment in time, when her lips stroked his.

“Um, guys, now isn’t the best time for this,” Jayden said, uncomfortably clearing his throat. They both pulled apart and glared at him. “Sorry, but we have very little time before Phoenix stomps into the room. When you didn’t answer your radio she went a little berserk. That’s why I was sent to find you,” he said.

The three of them talked for a few moments and as Jayden had said, Phoenix came flying through the door. She looked around in panic and when she saw John standing there, looking not only alive but better than ever, her eyes narrowed.

“How many times do you lecture me about answering the damn radio?” she yelled at him, shocking them all with her language.

“I’ve been worried sick. I’ve had this horrible feeling all week something terrible was going to happen and then you have the nerve to not answer when you’re being called,” she lectured as she started poking John in the chest. John grabbed her in a bear-sized hug, lifting her easily off the ground.

“I love you, Sis, and I’m sorry. I promise to never let it happen again,” he told her. She was so shocked by his words it stopped her tantrum.

“What’s wrong with your eyes?” she asked, as she looked at him with a puckered brow.

“I don’t know what you mean,” he said, looking just as confused.

“We had a very stressful situation in here, with some explosions. Sometimes, that can make your eye color change,” Chastity said. She wasn’t exactly lying – the events had been beyond stressful.

“Oh, I didn’t know my eye color was different,” John said.

“It’s okay, they’re really beautiful,” Phoenix quickly replied. The eyes were incredibly stunning.

“That’s because I look good all the time,” John said and ruffled her hair. She sent him another glare, not completely forgiving him.

“Well, we’d better find Dad. He’s worried sick about you,” she said. He let her go and Jayden pulled her close to his side.

“There’s much to be done in the coming months, but we’ll succeed as long as we stick together,” he said. He tilted his head and quickly kissed her as they stepped from the dingy room.

The rest of the group surrounded them. There was joy in the air. They had completed their mission with very few casualties. Those who fought and died would be honored. Their numbers would double from this rescue mission and continue to grow. Their missions would never stop until their people had freedom. They would take back their liberty, and with that, their land – never to be taken from them again.