Slaying the Shadows

Excerpt from Chapter 23

Lily sprinted away; leaves and foliage crunched beneath her feet. The beast was gaining on her. She could hear its ragged breathing behind her as the gap between them closed. Her feet flew down the overgrown path; she lifted the lacy skirt of her long, white gown as she dashed in and out of the trees. Her eyes watered as her bare foot alighted on something sharp. Crack! The branch beneath her foot broke. She didn't dare cry out. The gargantuan was crashing through the brush behind her, seemingly undaunted by her swiftness.

The tree limb lay across her path, but Lily saw it too late. She tumbled headfirst over the branch and onto the forest floor. She scrambled to her knees, tearing her dress in the process.

'No…! ' she silently screamed over and over as she attempted to rise to her feet. Her ankle burned, and the searing pain in her foot dragged her back to her knees.

"Lily!" The hideous beast roared.

She hid her face in her hands.

It was on top of her, pushing her back, tearing the fabric of her gown with one swipe of its mangled claw, revealing her heaving chest.

The stench of its steaming, foul breath gagged her. She tried to turn her head to gasp for air.

"Look at me, Lily!" it commanded. "Look at me…"

She did. Its eyes glowed a fiery red. They were filled with lust and hatred, an evil so strong she could feel it. Her mouth opened, seemingly of its own accord as she cried, "God, save me…!"

The creature was lifted up and flung against a tree by an invisible force.
"Logos! You are forever banished to the dark region, never to return." A voice, holy and powerful, ordered.

The being howled in agony as it was sucked into the spirit realm beyond.

Everywhere Lily looked, glorious and heavenly forms now stood alert around her. One towering creature knelt directly in front of her and lifted her dirty, tear- streaked face to his. He wiped her tears with the tip of a shimmering white wing.

"You're so soft," she said as she giggled, not able to contain her childlike wonder. "Thank you, thank you so much."

"You're welcome, Lily. I am Argentio, your guardian. God loves you so very much, precious human. Call out to Him soon, Lily, before it is too late." He vanished.

She sat alone in the woods. Beams of afternoon sunlight filtered through the surrounding sweet-smelling pine trees. Looking down, she saw that her tattered lace had disappeared. Instead, she was now clothed in the finest and whitest of laces and silk. Her bloodied and broken ankle was whole and beautifully showcased in stunning slippers. She was draped in a vibrant, jeweled robe, fit for a queen…for royalty.

©2003 Virginia Pines Press