Hadassah's Watchman Trilogy, Evangheline Farcas [red scrolls of magic .txt] 📗

Each tear that continued to flow was caught-not one was wasted-in an alabaster bottle by yet another angel. Before this merciful angel took flight towards heaven it stroked her cheek bringing peace to her soul. Soon this careful angel would see the face of the Creator, placing that precious alabaster bottle before His throne. This angel’s gift was mercy and it had been the same one who had delivered the cries of captive Israel to God on so many occasions both in times present and in times past.
Silently, her sobs subsided, strength returning to her along with clarity of mind. Rising she made her way to the window, our eyes meeting for only a moment before she looked towards heaven as if she was following the path that the mercy angel had taken. For that brief moment I thought she may have seen, or heard, or felt what I had. But she sighed and looked away, not fully grasping how even now the angels were ministering unto her as unto a queen, faithfully keeping at bay the hungry Dark Ones who roared as lions, seeking to devour their prey.
Yes, indeed, the battle had begun in earnest once more, beginning with the battle cry of a song. Yes, I would keep watch, for that is what I am, that is my gift, or curse, take it as you may. I am a Watchman, and as David sang to Saul causing each demon of hell to flee, so my voice would be lifted in a battle song, I would sound the shofar.
Vigilantly I will watch and sing and pray and be the very tool of the Most High to be used to rescue and pursue her. Until the dark haired beauty would see her worth that the Master put in her. Until her eyes would be fully opened so she could comprehend that she is this generation’s Esther, a Hadassah who must go before the king for her people. My melody would continue on and on and on until her rescue and redemption would be complete. This is her song, composed by heaven to be sung by me, for I am Raphael. I am and always have been her Watchman.


CHAPTER 1

22 years ago, communist Romania 1988
Doftana Prison, City of Telega, Prahova County

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." ---Acts 7:55-56


Securitate officer Victor Vulpes shoved Mr. Richard and Mrs. Estera Marcu through the damp cold halway. Light would have been a luxury not given to such as these, and warmth would only come in their dreams, as they walked their bare feet made no noise. Moans reached hi ears from the cells just a few paces down, yet the luminescent gaze in the couples eyes did not fade nor falter. It irritated Victor to no end, did they not realize the full weight of their predicament? If they would not placate his superiors and recant, did they not realize they would cause a child to be orphaned? Yet they claimed the Savior redeemed, rescued and loved, yet they themselves were heartless not caring about their child.
What hypocrisy! He raged to himself. This is why the inhuman torment and treatment was suited perfectly for these types of people. They deserved this and much more, society needed to be purged of these kinds, they diseased the soul and heart of too many.
"Miscate! Move!" Victor commanded, to which without argument and with humbleness they complied, walking into their shared cell. This would be the only kindness they would receive here at Doftana Prison. The cell creaked, groaned then slammed with a finalizing bang.
Estera seemed to try to compose herself and stifle a cry. Then her demeanor relaxed slightly as she looked at the cell across from them and heard a melodious hum raise. With each note as the couple held each other, they seemed to draw strength.
"Silence Raphael!" he thundered. "None of that religious garbage in here, unless you want to get what they're getting!"
Raphael looked at the officer with a penetrating glare, "Officer Vulpes, I beg your pardon. I was only humming to pass the time, since when is humming considered religious?"
"It's precisely that kind of talk that will keep you behind those bars instead of being freed tomorrow." he retorted.
"That, officer, and quite fortunately, is not within your authority." countered Raphael.
Victor harrumphed. He gave no witty response knowing full well that someone had indeed outranked him, for reasons unbeknownst to him.
Raphael continued humming his irritating little hum which was vaguely familiar, with a pure clarity of an unblemished voice. The guy had talent at least, he thought. Shaking his head he made his way back the dark long hall.
As he rounded the corner, about to step out, he heard the captives begin to whisper causing him to stop. His dark mind thought of the possibilities of what he could learn, perhaps they would reveal other sects in the underground church, these sects that were springing up like flees. Victor firmly believed these flees needed to be exterminated, so his ears perked up as he listened.
"Peace, be still." Raphael said in a whisper that echoed to the weeping couple.
"Domnule, sir," Richard began, "We are trying to hold on to our credinta, our faith, but sweet Jesus help our unbelief."
A sob was heard from Estera, "Our baby, she was taken from us, if we don't recant, it is true, o sa murim, we will die tomorrow, she will have no one!"
"Estera, God Himself will be her father, do not fear, has He ever broken a promise?" Raphael spoke in a soothing tone.
She looked up at him in shock, "How do you know me? How do you know my name?"
He smiled in reply, "Oh I have known you since she was born, she has never been alone, is your memory so short daughter of God?"
She gasped and looked to Richard, "Oh! Sweet Jesus! You, your voice I know that voice!"
"Yes, what do you remember?" he probed.
"A doctor, I recall a doctor who made a promise that felt it was the very mouth of God speaking," she said in afar away look, as if she had traveled in time, "yes, a promise that she will be desired by the King... that He has set watchmen around her."
Richard sank to the icy ground, weeping, "Will we never see that day? She is our daughter, she will hate us. But to give in would send so many to prisons like this, so many lives will be lost. How do we choose?"
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life," he replied, then continued, "There is no greater love then for a man to lay down his life for his friend."
Estera held her head up high, and from where Victor was standing she looked regal. It was as if she saw something he could not as she met Raphael's gaze with a steady one of her own.
"Then if we perish we perish, for if we do not stand, then many more will disappear."
As the husband and wife embraced each other, somehow strengthened, though the officer could not comprehend how, the mysterious prisoner began his hum once more. As he did so Victor's own eyes widened as light filled the cells, bursting forth from each one, at one moment he could have sworn he saw what looked like white feathers, but just as quickly as this hallucination appeared, it had also disappeared.
He turned and walked out rubbing his temples, trying to keep at bay an oncoming headache, Too much tuica, he thought. His shift was over and he wouldn't think of it anymore until he had too, this religious talk caused even the most sensible of people to go crazy. So he determined to find the nearest bar and douse the throbbing with more tuica, at least until tomorrow, when finally their voices would be silenced forever.


----------------

Ironically, the next morning was beautiful, as Estera and Richard were lead into a closed off couryard. A firing squad stood ready. Executions of these treasonous citizens was no very common, the norm was usually endless torture, but these two they were different. Each time they had been imprisoned they had somehow escaped, surely it was some type of inside job, still each time they escaped more of their sects sprouted. In this instance an exception would be made, at least that is what the chief of the Securitate, the Secret Police, had determined. Only a select few knew of what was taking place here, and those had been bought.
They grasped each other's hands standing against the stone wall waiting patiently.
From the corner of his eye, Victor saw Raphael without chains being set free by none other then the Chief. He knew the order to release this man had come from elsewhere, nobody seeming to know exactly the origin point, but the documents had been official. Yet he did not leave, he remained eyes fixed on the couple, ever watchful, but for what?
He looked towards heaven and again began that irritating haunting hum, Victor followed his gaze, though he saw nothing but clear blue skies.
The Chief walked to the middle of the courtyard and faced Estera and Richard, his face was as stone, "One last chance," he said, "Give us names, and you are as good as free, give us even just one name."
Richard looked up unafraid, "Today we will be free indeed, but you will not be the one to set us free. A name is what you seek?"
The Chief nodded, surprised that his prisoner would perhaps give in.
"You may have one name," said Richard as he looked at his wife still gripping her had, she nodded and kissed him tenderly on his cheek.
"Jesus." he then said, "The name I give you is Jesus."
In that second Victor Vulpes could have sworn there was a tremble beneath his feet, he looked up at the officers and saw that each one had swayed slightly before regaining their composure.
"So be it, you had a chance!" the Chief replied then turned to his officers.
"Attention!" he yelled in a booming voice, at which each of the seven officers positioned their firearms and readied them.
The silence was deafening, then the thunder of shooting began, husband and wife fell as one still looking towards heaven, not a trace of anguish on their faces. In that brief time in this eternity Victor looked at Raphael, who had tears streaming down his face. Somehow he was now beside him, although he did not remember taking a single step in his direction.
"Never," said Victor, "Never, never, never have I ever seen anyone executed who had such peace on their face." Extreme awe filled him, he couldn't deny it no matter how he tried.
"How is this possible?"
"Jesus, they told you, Jesus."


CHAPTER TWO

Present