The Warrior's Beckoning Read Online Free Page A

disgraced. Such would be the fate of my people if the demon gained entrance to my world through me.
    I could not allow it. Mustering what strength I could, I pushed his blade back, much to his surprise.
    “What’s this?” the demon asked in shock. Our eyes met.
    “I will allow you to go no farther!” I said, pushing him back yet again. We held our swords high, our eyes still locked. In that moment, I realized that he gained strength from my fighting. Was I fighting for victory or from victory? I sheathed my sword and looked to Ahadiel, nodding at him. “There will be no glory for either of us today, demon,” I said to him, in peace. He lunged, driving his sword into my stomach. With a smile, I grabbed the hilt and drove it deeper into my own flesh. The demon lord was puzzled…until Ahadiel drove his sword into the demon. I had denied myself the glory of taking the victory, though the victory following the struggle would be told.
    “Be at peace, my friend,” said Ahadiel. I fell to my knees. The demon released his grip on his sword and fell beside me. It all went black as I lay on the ground.
    I did not need to win that battle; God had already done so. A light beckoned to me. I was home.

Log 3
    This occurred during the Civil War era
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    The war is often waged through dark influences that chip away at one’s will. From these dark influences stems possession. A spiritual war rages as the depth of love is tested
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    RIFLE IN HAND , I shadowed their movements. They had my son. I was afraid of what I might find; even before that night, rumors of dark rituals had circulated. I stayed low, moving under the bushes where possible. The captors had finally stopped and had joined a large camp on a flat area before me. As I watched, everything came back to me, memories from earlier in the night when they had taken my son.
    He had been sleeping in his room. We had a large home, two stories and six rooms in total. Just recently, we had taken in a young drifter. Having no money, he performed basic farmhand chores in exchange for room and board. My wife and my daughter seemed to be at peace with him, and that was good enough for me.
    One night he woke me. “I am so sorry, sir. I should not have stayed here. I have endangered you, not protected you as I had hoped,” he said frantically.
    “What is it?” I asked, puzzled. The look in his eyes was terror and resignation.
    “They are coming for me,” he replied.
    “Who?” I asked. Lightning ripped across the sky, and the wind blew the doors open. A window shattered. In that moment, I felt something, some power beyond my understanding. I doubled over, the hair on my body standing straight out. I could not control my breathing, and I could not move. A black cloud loomed over me, laughing and menacing.
    The drifter was nowhere to be seen. Had he been killed? Had he run away at the first sign of the cloud? I had no idea and no time to think about it. “Who…what are you? Stay away from my family!” I cried out. The laughter echoed from everywhere.
    “I already have them,” said the sinister voice. Then I saw them—my wife and my daughter, hand in hand with the dark entity! Small, imp-like shadows stood behind them. My wife gave me a strange look, and I saw that she was no longer herself; there was evil inside her. My daughter was similarly possessed. But my son was in the arms of a cloaked figure, and he was still slumbering, seemingly still safe for the moment.
    Though I feared what would happen if my son awakened, I could not stop myself from crying out, “Nooooooooooo!” The pain was too great.
    The demon vanished. I began to weep, curled in pain on the floor. My family was gone. My wife and daughter were…possessed. My son had been taken by the villainous creature that had appeared and disappeared like smoke. I was alone. Even the drifter had abandoned me.
    When I remembered the drifter, I felt hope stirring deep within. Perhaps he was out there, waiting to help me. My