Phoebe Wren and the Vortex of Light (6 page)

“This is Solas the Bright,” he said, placing an arm around the broad shoulders of the first angel. At well over seven feet tall, Solas stood only a few inches shorter than Cosain. His jet black hair was pulled back from his face in a braid, and his sharp stoic features reminded Phoebe of a picture she had seen once of a Sioux Indian brave.

“This is Dilis the Brave,” Cosain continued, nodding to the gentlest looking of the angelic troop. Dilis had the same broad shoulders and imposing stance, but his brown hair framed his face in soft waves, accentuating his hazel eyes, which exuded a kindness that made Phoebe feel at once safe with him.

“This is Lasair the Fiery,” Cosain introduced the next giant, who had bright, eager green eyes, and fiery red hair.
‘He looks Irish!’
Phoebe thought, and smiled.

“And Trean the Loyal,” Cosain smiled across at Trean, and it occurred to Phoebe that this great warrior had a Nordic look about him, with fine features, piercing blue eyes, pale skin and hair so blonde it was almost white.

“Neam the Defender. And Croga the Valiant,” Cosain gestured to the remaining two warriors. These angelic giants stood upright, their dark skinned faces set like flint, yet kind and soft behind their steely gait. Both Neam and Croga had long, dark hair, and they reminded Phoebe of Maasai warriors. They were all, without exception, dressed for battle, with imposing looking breastplates, and long leather laced boots. She noticed that most carried one enormous sword which, for now at least, was sheathed and hanging at the angels’ sides. Croga, however, had dual swords, which were strapped to his muscular back, their handles forming an ‘X’ just behind his head.

“This will be strange and new to you, Phoebe,” said Cosain.
‘You’re not wrong there!’
Phoebe thought. “But you must trust us. The Atoner needs you to implement the task at hand, and we will be with you every step of the way. Are you willing to do what He requires?”

Despite the bizarreness of what was happening to her, Phoebe felt the same comforting sense of being safe and secure as she had felt when she came to at the crash site.

“Was… was that you I saw when the plane crashed?” Phoebe stuttered.

“Yes, we were there,” replied Cosain. “We stayed with you – just like we were there when you fell out of the tree, or when that runaway tractor narrowly missed you. There were many times that we were able to offer help, to thwart the plans of the Enemy for your demise. All those ‘coincidences’ you can think of as you look back through the years? They weren’t coincidences, Phoebe – our mission has been to protect you, and that is what we have done all these years. We have been assigned to you, Phoebe, and now we need you to work with us to action the Atoner’s plans. You have a vital role to play. This is
your
time. Come, there is much to be done. We must not delay.”

And there beside Cosain, emanating up from the dusty African earth, a vortex opened up, light beaming high into the sky. Phoebe looked at Demetrius, whose expression said,
‘Don’t ask, just go’
. The two of them stepped together with the angelic warriors into the shining, radiating portal, which whirled shut behind them, causing two startled lilac-breasted rollers to take flight with an indignant and guttural
‘rak-rak’
.

Despite the bizarre happenings of the last few hours, Phoebe couldn’t help but giggle at the look of disbelief on Demetrius’s face as the teenagers swished through space in the warm golden light of the vortex.

“I’m glad you’re amused!” gasped Demetrius, who was clinging to her for dear life.

“Sorry, Dem, it’s just that that’s what
my
face must have looked like first time I stepped inside this crazy time machine! I’m a pro now, don’t ya know..?!”

Cosain smiled at the teenagers. It was good that they had such a close bond – he had no doubt that they would need it in the weeks ahead. He flew alongside Phoebe and Demetrius with the other angelic warriors right behind them. They were travelling so fast that they looked almost still, leaving a blaze of light behind like some kind of celestial contrail.

In what seemed like a heartbeat Phoebe, Demetrius and the angelic troop came to a halt with a gentle jolt. Phoebe took a minute to gather her thoughts and establish her whereabouts, and she quickly recognised the familiar sights of Johannesburg International Airport. A butterfly did somersaults in her belly as she recalled what had followed the last time she had stood in this place.

As if he could read her thoughts, Cosain spoke: “This is where the Enemy began their onslaught, Phoebe,” he said, “The demonic host had been hiding here for some time, awaiting your family’s arrival. They had free rein here, nobody saw them. They were inconspicuous. But we knew they were here, and now, with your and Demetrius’s help, we must vanquish them before they can replay history and bring your plane down again.”

Phoebe’s head began to spin. “Wait,” she stammered, “You’re telling me that me and my family are due to catch the
same flight
tomorrow? The one that crashed and killed my parents? That’s crazy!
You
must be crazy! Surely you don’t expect me to actually
encourage
my parents to make the flight?”

“I know it sounds preposterous,” Solas interjected, “But things will be different this time round – very different.”

“How?” Phoebe couldn’t even begin to imagine in what way there could be an improvement to this scenario, but her heart told her to at least hear the angels out.

Demetrius could see that Phoebe was having a hard time working through what she was being told, and he spoke up in her place.
‘I’m just chatting with these eight foot tall winged dudes with giant size swords, no big deal,’
he thought. Surreal.

“How can things be different?” queried Demetrius. “If you knew those… those, uh,
ghouls
were after the Wrens last time round, how come the plane crashed and Phoebe’s folks got killed?” Demetrius’s rather blunt question caused Phoebe to look at him in surprise, but she knew that he had just summed up everything that she had been wondering.

“It is difficult for you to comprehend, I know,” said Cosain kindly. “But you must trust us. On the day of the crash…”

‘Tomorrow!’
thought Phoebe.

“…we were despatched to the airport along with you and your parents, Phoebe. We knew that the Enemy had malevolent intentions for your family, and we had been monitoring the situation carefully. Where the Atoner has plans for good, the Enemy always seeks to thwart and destroy, and it was no different with you. We anticipated an attack
en route
to the airport – we had heard that the demonic horde had been stirring up locals to provoke an attack against your parents as they drove here. We had the route covered, and there were
ghouls
, as you put it, Demetrius, along the road – but these trouble makers were merely sent to distract us from where the problem really was – in the air.”

“So…” Phoebe’s voice was steadier now, the realisation of how the Enemy’s deceit and trickery dawning on her. “So we would have been alright if you hadn’t been scammed?” She realised how that sounded and not wanting to be rude or offensive mumbled, “Sorry, scammed isn’t the right word. But you know what I mean, right?”

“Yes.” It was Croga who spoke. “We were too late to save your parents because we were sure the attack would take place on land, before you were airborne. Deception, trickery, half truths – that is how he works, our enemy Abaddon, the Author of Lies.” Croga’s long dark hair fell in bunches around his perfect features as his head dropped in humiliation.

Cosain placed a strong hand on his comrade’s shoulder.

“No, Croga, none of the Enemy’s plans prevail without reason. That is why we are back here today with Phoebe and Demetrius. We have been given this chance, there is too much at stake to waste time on misplaced guilt. We fought well, and Phoebe’s life was spared. Now we must fight again to ensure that she and her parents – and Demetrius – get safely back to Ireland and fulfil their destinies.”

Demetrius’s head jerked up as if he had sustained an electric shock.

“What? Me? Ireland? Nobody said…” he stuttered. “But… I’ve never even left Johannesburg!”

“No, but you will. Soon, you will travel with Phoebe and her parents. You are a part of her story, you
both
have work to do back in Ireland.”

“Wow!” Demetrius’s face had lit up like a child’s at Christmas. “I’m gonna have to practice looking shocked when your folks break this to me, Bird!”

Phoebe laughed at her friend’s glee, but fell sullen again as she remembered what potentially lay ahead of her. She turned her gaze to the angelic host standing to attention before her.

“What now?” she asked. “What do we need to do? How can we change history?” Even as the words left her mouth, Phoebe was acutely aware of how crazy they sounded.

“Don’t worry, Little One,” Cosain’s earnest eyes held hers, “We are all with you, and you have the impenetrable protection of the Atoner Himself on you. You will know what to do.”

“It’s not really me I’m worried about, Cosain.” Phoebe stood for a moment, her eyes closed, a silent prayer playing in her mind. “Abba, thank you for this second chance. It’s totally weird to me, but I know that Your ways are not mine, and nothing is impossible with You. Will you help Dem and me now, please? I’m kinda scared, but please help us to do what we have to do. Amen.”

When she opened her eyes, Phoebe saw that Cosain and the other warriors had their heads bowed with her. As her unspoken prayer ended, the angels’ swords began to glow, dimly at first, but the ethereal glow grew stronger until the light radiating from them pulsed and shone through their scabbards. Cosain smiled at Phoebe, “
That
is what you must do, Little One. The Atoner hears when you call on Him, and as you talk to Him and trust,
we
are strengthened and empowered to act on your behalf. Our command is to guard you in all your ways, and when you speak with the Atoner He releases power, which enables us to the best of our ability. Now we must move, there is no time to lose.”

Phoebe and Demetrius walked through Johannesburg Airport with the seven angelic warriors. The teenagers still felt as though they were trapped in some surreal dream and wondered if at any minute they might awaken. Phoebe surveyed the faces of the hundreds of travellers mulling through the airport, scanning each one for signs of shock or disbelief, or any other reaction that would suggest that they could see her angelic companions. But there was no reaction from any of the faces they encountered, each stranger intent on being where they needed to be, and Phoebe realised that the angelic troop was visible only to her and Demetrius.

“Stop!”

There was urgency in Cosain’s voice that halted Phoebe and Demetrius in their tracks. They spun around to find that Cosain, Solas, Dilis, Croga, Neam, Trean and Lasair had all drawn their swords and taken to the air, enormous wings extended, eyes fixed on a threat seen only by them.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” Phoebe shouted heavenward as loudly as she dared without drawing attention to herself.

The astonishing sight of the Heavenly Host in battle mode took Phoebe’s breath away. They were above her and Demetrius, and held their positions around them. It occurred to Phoebe that she and Dem were entirely surrounded by Cosain and his warriors, something that obviously struck Demetrius too.

“They’re protecting you, Phoebe,” Demetrius said. “Guarding you on every side. Something must be…”

He didn’t have time to finish his sentence.

“NOOOOO!”

A spine-chilling shriek pierced the air.

“We will not let you have her! You cannot save them!”

Phoebe was suddenly aware of a rancid, sulphurous stench so overpowering that it caught her breath and seemed to permeate every atom of the air around her. She spun around, wide-eyed, not knowing what to expect, and gasped in horror as four huge winged creatures swooped from above, passing through the ceiling of the airport terminal building as if it were not there. Their black twisted bodies hurtled towards her like hideous distorted clouds, and as they spun ever closer she could see their gargoyle-esque faces were drooling masks of venom and hate, their red eyes flashing and yellow smoke bellowing from their gaping mouths.