CHAPTER One
Guardians
The old house had been in the family for decades.Six generations of
Carabons have birthed, lived, and died in this ancestral home.The stone
house was well maintained.All the years of life only added to the unique
character of the estate. The west side of the yard exploded with
various colored roses.All the bushes, in full bloom, were neatly trimmed
and meticulously pruned.Yellow climbing roses intertwined the trellis
forming a sweet aroma-filled walkway to the back gate. On each side were
rows of red and yellow rose bushes embracing the walk way.Luscious
green Ivy had long since covered the south wall in the back yard boring
tenaciously into the aged mortar. The morning sun peeks through the grid
work of the wooden window into a small child’s upstairs bedroom.
Daniel is asleep on his bed, his face covered by his Mickey Mouse
down comforter.“It’s morning! Time to rise and shine.It’s seven in the
morning and time for work.”Slowly Daniel’s hand searches for the alarm
as the announcer continues, “If you’re heading down Interstate 30 this
morning you better get an early….”, Daniel’s hand knocks the black clock
radio off the pine table.The pine end table was artistically decorated
just the night before in a multicolored rainbow of Crayola
crayons.Daniel had to have his car shaped radio beside his toddler
bed.Daniel’s favorite toys are racecars.For Christmas, his grandparents
found a uniquely shaped NASCAR bed.To match his bed, his dad gave him
the race car alarm clock.The clock, which rapidly accelerated prior to
its abrupt pit stop, lies on the floor with one wheel spinning.Thin arms
stretch toward the ceiling and life once again breaks into the morning
like a chick hatching from its egg.
“Daniel breakfast is ready.Come down before it’s too cold.”The faint
voice of a woman lofts up from downstairs.“I’m up mommy.Be down minute.”
Daniel yells as he slides his tiny feet onto the wooden floor.Shuffling
his feet down the twenty foot hallway, half asleep and with only
partially opened eyes, Daniel feels his way along the textured wallpaper
to the bathroom.Daniel’s mom was very methodical.Everything must have
its place and every room must have its theme.When he was three, it was
ducks.Now, at the much advanced age of four “and a half”, Daniel heard
his mom say that the “décor has a beachfront motif” complete with sand
shells and a lobster toothbrush holder.Twisting the porcelain handle,
Daniel splashes cold water on his face.Glancing into the mirror, he
carefully pats his hair down without much success.It seems the harder he
tries, the more that bit of hair in the back wants to stand in
defiance.Grabbing his house robe Daniel heads down stairs.
The narrow spiral staircase wound its way down to the lower level of
the house.The metal rails were polished brass with intricate arrowhead
shaped points placed evenly along the length.Daniel loved to play on the
staircase.His plastic army men, some missing body parts from previously
vicious battles, would hang onto these points like a battlement of a
medieval castle wall.Daniel’s tiny fingers touched each point on the way
to the bottom.“One hundred thirty-four, One hundred thirty-five, One
hundred thirty-six!One hundred thirty-six!”Daniel squealed as his
fingers perched on the last point at the bottom of the railing.“Mommy,”
Daniel began, “Why are dare one hundred thirty-six pointy things on da
stairs?”
Julia looked up from the stove and into the living room.Daniel’s
bright green eyes were always a joy to her heart.“So that your WARs
wouldn’t hurt any more of your men.”Julia smiled as her son entered the
kitchen. The kitchen always smelled of baked goods especially
Cinnamon.Sweet Cinnamon remained suspended in the air escaping out of
the confines of the kitchen. The blue glazed ceramic tiles on the
countertops were covered with flour.Small cutouts of gingerbread men
dressed complete with the multicolored gumdrop buttons were scattered on
the breakfast bar still warm from the oven.“Don’t even think about it
young man!”Julia coaxed Daniel past the alluring gingerbread men and
toward the breakfast table.“Those are for your school party.”
Julia kept herself busy straightening up the kitchen.The stainless
steel double sink was filled with the aftermath of her morning
baking.Daniel sat in front of their bay window at the breakfast table
which his dad hand crafted.Jon always enjoyed woodworking.One side of
the two car garage was converted into his personal work shop.Daniel
thought his dad could make anything.Daniel’s little feet dangled off the
ground as he sat kicking his feet back and forth arranging his eggs,
bacon, and toast.“Morning Honey,” Jon kisses Julia’s cheek and sits down
across from Daniel.“Daddy,” Daniel’s face never could hide his joy,
“Why are dare One hundred thirty-six pointy things on da stairs?”
Jon unfolds his morning paper and says, “Well Danny boy, sounds like a
good question, again.I bet your mom knows the right answer.Don’t you
mom?”Jon looks toward Julia with a smirk on his face.“Don’t grab me in
on this one.I already told him.”“Well, there you go son.”Jon picks the
paper back up and thumbs through the black and white pages.“Now eat your
breakfast and this time,” pausing to peek over the top of his paper,
“no Kamikaze attacks on your egg yolks.I don’t have time to change
today.”Jonathan C. Carabon, or Jon as he liked to be called, was dressed
in his business suit.His still well maintained shape complemented the
gray custom tailored suit.
The thirty-five years of his life have been good to him.Jon’s
football years through college kept him in peak physical condition.Now
that his activity mostly focuses around a desk job, his physique now
lacked the smooth athletic cut he once admired.“Jewels,” Jon’s nickname
for his bride of twelve years, “After I drop off the tin soldier at day
care, how’s about we take the day off?”Finishing up with the last of the
breakfast dishes, Julia retorts, “Jon, I have a lot of stuff to get
done today.Don’t worry, you’ll do just fine!”Reaching into the broom
closet, she pulls out a white metal stepladder.She unfolds the metal
contraption and climbs up to reach some Tupperware dishes she stashed
away for “baking emergencies.”
“Jewels,” Jon gets up from the table, “let me get that for…” His
words froze in the air as the ladder gives way.Julia panics as she tries
to regain her balance.Lunging for a stabilizing handhold, she
frantically grasps the top shelf with her right hand and the cabinet
door with the other.The sound of fingernails scrapping against the hard
wood of the cabinets resembles that of a nails against a teacher’s
chalkboard as Jewels tumbles backwards.Jon rushes forward in a desperate
frenzy to stave off the imminent peril.Julia’s ankle winces as it
wrestles against the newly twisted frame of the stepladder.
The distinctive sharp sound of a bone breaking is one not easily
forgotten.Jon’s formal football days forever impressed this unique sound
into the very marrow of his being.Julia’s body reels backwards.Her
hands spread striking the wooden block knife holder sending its contents
sailing into the air.With a crack of thunder, her head hits the edge of
the marble island countertop followed quickly by the resounding impact
of the cold yearning floor.A stream of blood now issues forth onto the
white ceramic tile.
Two large carving knives with dark black handles acquire their target
as they descend rapidly toward her helplessly prone body.Unconscious
and incapable of moving, the knives plunge closer.The twisted ladder
shoots sideways along the bottom edge of the cabinetry.The rocketing
deformed metal ladder locks Jon’s right knee in place catching him in an
extended stride.With a mournful yelp, Jon collides into the corner of
the island cabinet.The knives make their final descent.
Jon’s eyes widen in prayerful desperation as the knives plummet
toward his lovely bride.Daniel screams!A small utility drawer from the
island slowly slides out.The two knives sink deep into the soft maple
wood of the drawer a few inches above Julia’s head.A hand releases the
handle of the drawer.“Very nicely done Anthony.Not exuberant and just
subtle enough to still make them have faith.”Two figures unseen by the
Carabons, watch tentatively over the young woman.
“And as for you,” Anthony poises himself and draws the crystalline
sword from his side, “You are not welcomed in this home.”The sword beams
light like fire caressing the edge of a fireplace log.“Sssss.You
havesss no Rightsss” hisses the dark figure.Standing obstinately against
Anthony is an ugly creature.No light is seen from within this being.His
face is twisted.Pain can be seen in the coal dark eyes sunken into a
human shaped skeletal skull.His skin lacks any luster.Void of normal
pigmentation, his face is pale as death.In direct contrast to the
illuminate sword wielded by Anthony, a dark blade emerges from
underneath the black cloak.“So be it!” Anthony stands protectively over
Julia’s motionless body.
Jon’s prayer is still coming from his mouth as the massive battle
begins.The two blades collide with gladiator force.Two gladiators in
heated conflict, return volleys of deafening blows.The dark figure’s
next swing is not targeted against his immediate adversary but instead,
the massive cruel sword is directed at Julia.Anthony tries to intercept
the treacherous blow but fails.“Michael help!”
Anthony’s plea invokes an immediate response from his cohort. The
Mighty Warrior radiates the entire room with an instantaneous flash of
blinding translucent light.“The Lord of Host rebukes you!”Michael’s
diamond handled sword easily deflects the enemy’s attack. In terror, the
panic stricken figure shrieks in pain as he is thrown across the
room.With venom dripping from his fangs, he fades from the room.Anthony
kneels to check on the woman he protected. “Anthony, she’ll be fine.You
did what you were meant to do.”Michael skillfully sheaths his sword and
places a gentle hand on Anthony’s shoulder.
“Michael how is it that he was able to get past me?”Anthony’s
wondering eyes meet with the tender eyes of Michael.“It is because you
care so much.It is, as they would say, ‘our weaknesses.’I prefer to say
it is our greatest strength.Our Father has placed his love for them in
us.At times, when you have battled enough, you too can harness the love
of the Father.You fought against your foe but they too have skills and
abilities.He broke the rules and I was allowed to intervene.”
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