Book Excerpts

Excerpt #1:
Chapter Two-Ghosts and Demons
He raced on, in full panic. The English 1-A door opened a little. The demon reached out its claws. Jeremy grabbed the door handle and jerked it open. It was all he could think of to do.
 

The demon ran headlong into it, wham, and hit the hall floor with a thud.
 

A warm, masculine voice laughed near his ear. “Well done!” said the speaker. “Caught him by surprise.”
 

Jeremy peered about him, trying to locate the man. Who else could see the monster, when everyone stared at him as though it wasn’t there? He didn’t have much time to look. The demon kicked the door shut and faced him with its fists clenched, roaring like an alligator.
 

“Fly,” said the voice.


Excerpt #2:
Chapter Three-The Nephilim
“The descendents of the Nephilim held the bodies in awe and terror. They built new tombs strongly hidden. They wrote of them in pictures, held as holy, for this was before written words.”
 

“Egyptians?” asked Jeremy.
 

“No. The Pharaohs’ bodies are hard leather and bones now. The Nephilim still look asleep.”
 

“Now? They’re still around?”
 

“Yes. And their legend lives on, though it’s known to a bare few. Some of those few would kill the legend at all costs, for they don’t want others to believe it, even as they seek the Nephilim for themselves.”
 

“What for? Have they found them?”
 

“I’ve told you all I know.”
 

“Yeah, but how did I get like this?”
 

“Too much knowledge now will be dangerous for you.”
 

“Dangerous?” echoed Jeremy

Excerpt #3:
Chapter Six- Higher Humanity
He stopped for a hard look, his heart speeding up. There, something flew from tree to tree, but going so fast he wasn’t sure if he really saw it. His eyes must be playing tricks . . . No! He caught a glimpse of large, bat-like wings. Then the shadow thing was gone.
 

A demon? Icy fright hit him. “Asiel?” he whispered. “Did you see that?”
 

“The enemy is always near,” said the angel. He didn’t appear.
 

What a great comfort! Maybe Mom had been right to mistrust this place.

Excerpt #4
Chapter Nine-Decisions

Asiel’s eyes were alight. “Gird your sword about you.”
 

“Who would I fight?”
 

“The demon, Scrag, and his underlings.”
 

Jeremy backed away from the weapons. “Me!? Fight that thing? He’ll cut my arms off.”
 

“Why do you build up your fear?”
 

Asiel waited. Out of sheer obedience, his hands trembling, Jeremy picked up the sword and scabbard, tip downward. The hilt felt cold. The blade weighed as heavy as iron. Without his new strength, he would’ve had no hope of lifting it.



Excerpt #5
Chapter Nine-Decisions
He stepped back out of the travel-way to the mountain meadow. The shadows had grown long. The sun sank behind the mountains. He willed himself to be dressed like an angel again, because he was cold, not because he felt worthy of it.
 

He knelt in the snow, and his heart broke. “Do you really love me, Lord Jesus?” he cried out. “Do you?”
 

A soft golden light enveloped him. Had the day still been bright, he wouldn’t have seen it. But the deep shadows let him take in the glow, blanketing him on the outside, working its warmth into his core.


Excerpt #6
Chapter Fourteen-Battle
The three fat demon guards lolled around Prouse’s office file. One sat on the cabinet. The lead guard stood in front, sharpening his claws with his twisted dagger.
 

Jeremy burst through the travel-way into Prouse’s office shoulder-to-shoulder with Asiel, the other angels streaming in behind them. They were all so bright the demons could only snarl and turn their eyes away for the first moment of their appearing.
 

They also slammed their knobby shoulders together, their swords bristling at the ready. Jeremy set his teeth and charged, drawing back his sword like a batter waiting for the pitch. The lead guard met his attack, his teeth bared in a snarl.
 

Jeremy swung his sword. He struck the demon’s iron blade and pushed it away. Clang! Now, back swing! Clank!