“As I’ve said, because you’ve left us no choice,” he answered.“We are running out of time, and that has left us little options.”
“How?”I asked as I cocked my head, studying him.“How haveIleft you no choice?”
“Three months ago, you were in a place of opportunity, and you ruined it,” he replied, and there was only one thing that had happened three months ago that I regretted and couldn’t stop thinking about.
Knowing that he couldn’t possibly know anything about that, I asked, “If what you are saying is true, why you?Why wouldn’t God send Gabriel or Michael to show me the way?”
He looked amused by my question, but he answered anyway.“Gabriel is only dispatched when all else fails.He is The Lord’s direct voice, and that is something that His Greatness takes seriously.As for Michael, he is only dispatched during times of turmoil.However, I can see why you’d ask about them since they are the most popular among us.”
“And who are you a patron for?”Now, while I didn’t go to church every Sunday, I’d been raised Catholic, so I knew a thing or two about The Bible and its Archangels.
“I am dispatched to offer wisdom and to assist in one’s spiritual journey to manifest a mastery in what a person is capable of,” he answered seriously.“I offer guidance for intuitive insight, and I am the keeper of all the secrets that we hold within.”
“And you’re here to do that for me?”
He shook his head, that touch of amusement back on his face.“No, I am not here for you.I am here for Elisheva.”
My back immediately straightened in my seat.I knew that name, but if he was talking real-time, then there was only one person that I knew of who even came close to being called Elisheva.
“How do you know that name?”I asked, my voice wavering a bit.
“The question is, how doyouknow it?”he countered, his eyes swirling again.“As a matter of fact, how have you been sleeping at night, Dr.Copeland.”
There was no way that this man could know about my nightmares.In fact,no oneknew about them.Though I’d told my parents about them when I’d been younger, they hadn’t taken them seriously, chalking them up to a young boy’s active imagination.
“What do you want from me?”I asked, taking him a little bit more seriously than before, though I still didn’t believe him about being an Archangel.
“I want you to bring her to me,” he ordered, and even though it was impossible, I knew exactly who he was speaking about, and that had my protective instincts screaming.
“For what?”
“As I’ve said before, because you have forced us to interfere with your ineptness,” he replied smoothly, not caring that he was insulting me to my face.
“What does she have to do with whatever it is that you’re planning?”
His brows rose with a touch of condescension.“Iam not planning anything.I am merely following orders.”
“From God?”I retorted, leaving professionalism at the door, angry that this stranger was mentioning Elisabeth in any capacity.
“Yes, from God.”
“Give me one good reason why I should bring her anywhere near you,” I said, my blood warming to a dangerous level.
“Because if you do not, then all of humanity will be lost, and it will be your fault,” he replied with a conviction in his voice that made him sound believable.
Yeah, but this wasn’t real.
I didn’t believe him.
Mr.Salmen let out a deep sigh before he said, “For reasons that I am not privy to know, this cannot be done without you bringing her to me.Honestly, given the choice, I’d rather go directly to her for this, especially considering who she is, but I cannot.You must be utilized for this to work.”
“Forwhatto work?”
“I’ve registered as a patient voluntarily, so I will wait as long as I can for you to bring her to me,” he replied evenly, refusing to answer my question.“Until then, you will know nothing.”
“Do you honestly expect me to believe any of this?”I asked, the psychiatrist in me forgotten.
“I expect you to make amends,” he smirked.“After all, that’s all you’ve been thinking about lately.”
