Ravens Cove, An Iconoclast Thriller (Book 1)
The Spiritual Battle for a Small Alaska Town
By Mary Ann Poll
America’s Lady of Supernatural Thrillers
Chapter 13
AN ANGEL SPEAKS
Josiah walked toward the small church at the end of Main as fast as his aged body would allow. He passed the adult shop. Late morning yet the place stood silent. The lights were off. The lack of activity spoke volumes.
Josiah’s morning prayers confirmed his feeling about another death. He knew someone connected with Ravens Cove to be the victim. His heart grew heavy. The owner of this place had welcomed evil into his life. Josiah knew an eternal soul had again been lost to the Evil One.
“So many, O God, so many!” Anger, then urgency, replaced sadness.
The Thing, all he could call it, as he did not know its name, grew stronger at an even faster rate than he first suspected. It must be drawing strength from a source in addition to the victims.
As if to confirm this, the Congregational Alliance building drew his attention. He chose to walk on the opposite side of the street to get a better view of the black being guarding the door.
What a beautiful building to accommodate such evil.
Uriel, the angel who accompanied Josiah on his journeys, spoke. “Look with your mind’s eye, Josiah. Why would such evil be at home in a building of worship?”
Understanding dawned. Josiah realized this church, and what went on behind its closed doors, strengthened the Thing. Just like all evil beings, adoration gave it as much, if not more, power than the violence it so craved.
“Pride goeth before the fall, dark one, pride before the fall!” He whispered the well-known verse of Proverbs to the dark being covering the door.
Atramentous shivered as if a cold breeze touched his black core. He turned blood red eyes on Josiah.
“You do not fear me, evil one. And it is not you I fear. I fear the One who is true and just. Fear Him! In the mighty name of Jesus Christ!” Josiah’s voice rose and caught the attention of a passerby.
The woman stopped in her tracks. She crossed to the sidewalk in front of the Congregational Alliance, walking through the invisible tail of the mist.
Atramentous strengthened when he encountered the passerby’s fear.
“The deceit is endless, O God. How are we to know?” Josiah lamented.
Atramentous refocused his attention on Josiah. A long, fog of an arm shot out and toward Josiah.
Uriel stepped in front of Josiah, raising a golden sword toward the appendage. “He is not yours!”
Atramentous glared at the angel. “You have the advantage—this time. But we have plans for that man. And once we have the souls Iconoclast needs, you won’t stop us!”
Atramentous’s semi-transparent limb snaked back to his body. “Enjoy your small victory for now; we will win this war.”
