1.7 The Arrival of Doom

It was a one hour drive and Stanley barely made it. The nurse's screaming at the emergency door brought back Ray to his senses. How he had made it that far he did not remember. Neither did he bother to ponder over it. Admitting him to the ICCU Ray did not have time to wait to hear the doctor's opinion. He had a more pressing issue waiting at the place he once called home, where he had not set foot in the past two months because the woman he loved was kept there and she did not want him. They married because he insisted. They married because he couldn't control himself around her and took advantage of her innocence. She was a vulnerable girl and if there was anything he needed, it was to protect her even if from himself.

When Cassie had spoken of Samael it was dread that clouded her voice. So it couldn't be love or at least the man in him hoped not. He still didn't have proof that this was the Samael that Cassandra was to marry, the man he had stolen her from. However, the extraterrestrial lithography was connected to her ancestry somehow. Then again the tattoos on his bodies matched the lithography on the artefact which matched the tattoo that Cassandra had. Was this creature some kind of demigod that she was offered to? He had to find out and there was no time to waste.

Back in the apartment, Cassandra Sutherland was oblivious to the doom that awaited the world. She was entrenched in the drama of her own life as she grappled with the aftermath of falling for her boss while on the run from creatures beyond her control. Now there was another complication added to the entire scenario. Cassie was scared stiff. "This could not be happening." she kept telling herself. This was indeed unheard of. She was pregnant with a human, a mere human.

She had already lost all her powers and this child was everything she had of her legacy which was diluted with human blood. The child would not be able to protect itself or its father. Should she bring a creature into this world that would be sitting ducks for Samael to come and end its life? She couldn't protect it. She was a mere healer now. She could heal any disease with her touch but that was nothing compared to the powers she had earlier possessed. She could never fully utilize her powers but at least she had a chance.

Why did she have to fall in love with a human? She was on earth to hide, not to settle down. She could never settle down, not after her parents were brutally killed, and all for her. She remembered the day vividly.

She was sitting with her mother who tried to convince her that Raphael was a good match for her. Her powers and that of her father made it impossible for her to choose a lesser creature. How Cassandra complained that all the higher Angels, as they called themselves, were millennia older than her and had other mates. "You will need the best protection until you consummate the mating. You are a carrier and your powers lie in your purity. Every creature in the seven heavens will wish to claim it whether by trick or force. Had you been born to a lesser angel...?" So saying, her mother turned to dust.

Cassandra knew what it meant. A healer turned to dust when her mate was killed. Could it mean that her father was killed? That was when she felt it for the first time, the chill running down her spine. She looked back to see the tendrils of darkness spread towards her. She ran towards the secret vault and took the two most valuable things her family ever had, the white star and the Dagger. Her powers allowed her to be transported anywhere on her planet. She chose to go to her best friend Alexandra.

Alexandra had committed a crime. She had killed a lesser creature. She had been condemned to another dimension to serve as a guardian angel. The punishment was irrevocable. When she reached Alexandra's place the teleporter was ready to send her to earth. Earth to her was the miserable planet for exile and imprisonment. Cassandra never knew that she would find her freedom and salvation on earth. She even went to find her first true friend in Clara. But Clara too was gone now.

The darkness was close on her heels. Seeing darkness chase her Alexandra tried to defend her friend but suffocated in the darkness. Using her friend as a distraction Cassandra boarded the teleporter and beamed her onto the earth. Reaching earth she destroyed the teleporter and forever banished herself. She never imagined that Samael would send another teleporter after her to receive his signal. But fortunately, the teleporter had not been set. Had it?

Cassie could feel the tears running down her cheeks. As a carrier, she could never have cried but now she could and despite the fact that tears were associated with darkness and gloom she felt light. She wondered if her death would affect Ray in any way. In her dimension, the male was always the strongest of the couple and faced all threats. On the death of the male the female perished. In her case, it was not so. Then again she remembered that Ray could see her mark. Did that mean her powers were successfully transferred to him? Could a human manifest those powers?

All these questions plagued her when she heard the elevator come up. It had to be Old Mr Sutherland whom she had healed after Ray's departure. Ray hadn't called her in a month. She wondered how much had she hurt him. But it was all for his own good. She had to leave earth somehow before Samael came to earth bringing death and destruction.

Cassie was sitting in the living room facing the large window. Living in Ray's house she had learned that he loved light. Every room had large windows and his bedroom had starlight, something like the sunroof in a car. Cassie never slept in his room but the housekeeper, Mrs Sheldon, told her. She wondered how it would be to make love to him under the stars. She smiled and rubbed away her tears to face her new guest. The guest was Ray.

Ray was covered in sand from head to toe and he looked deadbeat. Cassie went near him to wrap her arms around him. At the last moment, she recovered but Ray pulled her into a tight embrace. Then he kissed her.

Ray had promised never to force himself on her because of their relationship. Cassie knew Ray would never break his word. If his kisses were so insistent, something was wrong. Cassie had longed for Ray's kisses for the past one month. If he was hungry for her she was starving. Soon they were spread on the living room couch entangled in each other's arms and almost out of breath. Ray didn't touch Cassie anywhere. It was just a kiss that she could never forget. Once sated, they sat up on the couch and Cassie enquired what was wrong?

Ray remembered how Cassie had earlier panicked with the mention of Samael. Ray had to first ensure himself that Cassie cared about him. He didn't mind dying if it made Cassie safe. Being a romantic should have been the last thing on his mind when the entire world was inching towards destruction but Cassie was his world and he needed her.

"There was an accident in the lab. I was outside. My partner is critically injured and everyone else dead. I am scared. When I thought what would have happened to me if I were inside the first thought that passed through me was that I wouldn't see you ever again. I missed you."

Cassie couldn't bring herself to consider the situation if Ray were dead. She loved him. A mere accident never posed a threat to life in their world but the thought how fragile life was here brought tears to her eyes. Ray kissed away those tears and asked her the question he had meant to. "Cassie, you once mentioned a guy named Samael. Is it love that ties you to him or fear?"

Cassie did not know what to say. She could not bear not to tell him anymore even if it was for a while. She didn't care if her child was never born. This was her family and she would rather choose to fight for her family than surrender to Samael out of fear. "Ray, he killed my parents and my friend and I have to go to him before he comes and kills you too."

"So you love me enough to leave me?"

"You are one of the people I love Ray," Cassie said, keeping the love for her unborn child a secret in her heart.

"One of the people? So you have many lovers I garner but I know for certain that I was the only one who claimed you," he said with a knowing smirk

"What we shared was a night of passion but I belong to Samael, Ray. We are not meant to be." Cassie said breaking into sobs.

"I won't let Samael touch you, Cassie. I know you are afraid of him. Fear isn't a great judge of character. Have faith in the Lord. If he brought you to me it is for a reason. Be assured he brought you where you belong. You cannot go against God's will out of fear. " Ray assured. That brought fright to her eyes. She vehemently shook her head.

"You don't know what he is, what you are up against. You can't fight Samael. Even God is powerless against him." Cassie said in a defeated tone.

"God is all powerful Cassie. If he does not demonstrate his powers it is for a test of our will and faith. And my will is strong Cassie and my faith is firm. I fully intend to fight him, Cassie. I will fight him for you. You belong to me, Cassie." Ray said solemnly.

Cassie was shaking her head denying her feelings for her husband; When Cassie looked up at Ray's face. "An accident didn't kill my friends. An accident didn't strike our research lab. It was Samael. Now I need to know everything about him. I know that his weakness is light. What else can you tell me about him? Most importantly, what kind of creatures are you?"

"How did you know he is one of us?"

"I am a scientist. It is my job to draw inference." Ray explained.

"You are a human, Ray."

"You make it sound like being human is a bad thing. We adapt. God may try us from time to time but he loves us enough to sacrifice his only begotten son for our redemption. "

"Ray humans are weaklings. That is a truth you cannot avoid. And the consciousness of God is a myth. The Creator is aloof Ray. He doesn't care whether we live or die. "

"You need saving Cassie, from yourself. You need faith. May God help you! May be we are weaklings. But God helps us through our weaknesses. What are you and how did you end up in my life?"