The Light of His Sword by Alaina Stanford Page B

Samantha when she knew
nothing of Him and never worshipped Him. Alyssa did everything in
her power to keep Samantha away from the compounds demon worship.
She would not even allow her mother to teach Samantha about
Christianity for fear it would give credence to the demon beliefs.
The only way she knew how to keep Samantha from believing in demons
was to teach her there was no after life, no divinity, no Hell and
therefore no demons.
    Alyssa sighed, recalling how her mother
still managed to teach them both about the bible without their
knowledge. She smiled; he mother was stronger than she ever
imagined. Now that the demons appeared, Alyssa dreaded the moment
Samantha would begin to question all that Alyssa had taught her.
Her mother’s deception was well meant, but Gabe was not family and
had no right to interfere.
    “Okay, let’s get going.” Gabe said after he
zipped up his pants and pulled his boots back on. “The warehouse is
open 24 hours so it’s shouldn’t take too long to unload.”
    “Let’s just get it over with so I can get
Samantha to my grandmothers and you can be on your way.” Alyssa
snapped.
    Gabe frowned at her. She ignored his stare
and buckled Samantha into the seat near the window keeping herself
between them adding, “And I’d appreciate it if you would not
encourage her overactive imagination. I don’t believe in angels or
Heaven so I would appreciate it if you would not discuss it with
her.”
    “Then how do you explain the demons? You
can’t have Hell without Heaven.” Gabe asked casually as he shifted
into reverse.
    “I don’t know,” Alyssa admitted abruptly,
“They looked more like lizards than demons. Perhaps they are some
mutant race Walton kept hidden until now. Who knows, he’s a very
secretive and crazy person. But he’s also very smart.” Alyssa
didn’t know why she was arguing with him about demons. She did
believe they were real. But that didn’t mean Heaven was.
    Gabe backed out of the parking spot and
turned to head to the highway. “I won’t argue the fact he is crazy.
As for the rest, you know perfectly well…”
    “This discussion is over,” Alyssa declared
sharply. “I don’t want Samantha’s head filled with nonsense. I
don’t believe there are mysterious forces at work in the universe.
I don’t believe in fate or destiny. We exist; that’s it. There is
nothing fancy about our existence. There is no mystery as to why we
are here. We simply exist because of biology and evolution. I have
seen nothing that would lead me to believe otherwise. There has
been no point in my life where I have witnessed any sign whatsoever
of a loving and peaceful entity guiding or protecting me. There was
no one there to comfort me when my family was held against their
will. There was no one there to comfort me when my father was
beaten, taken from me, and likely killed. There was no one there to
comfort me every night Walton raped me. Where was this God of yours
then? I’ll tell you where. He was, nowhere , because He doesn’t exist.” Alyssa’s eyes filled with tears. She glanced
past Samantha out the window so Gabe wouldn’t see.
    Gabe’s face screwed up into a tight knot. He
gripped the steering wheel hard and scowled at the road. “How can
you sit there and deny everything that’s been happening?” He began
slowly keeping his voice low and calm. “Are you really that naive?
You have no idea what’s really happening or why. I understand why
you chose the path you’ve taken. However, that path has fallen out
from under you. You are hanging by a thread, dangling from the
walkway above a fiery storm. You’re ignoring the hand that’s
reaching out to pull you onto solid ground. If you continue, you’re
going to fall, and it’s a real possibility you’re going to take
Samantha with you.”
    Alyssa turned to stare at Gabe. “What?”
    Gabe turned to meet her gaze. “There’s no
middle ground in this.” He turned back to the highway, and they
drove to the