The Sifting by Azure Boone

whatever did it, planned to save her.
    But could she endure what was coming next? Could he?
    “Let’s see how well she does with a little reversed psychological torture.”
    Revin looked his way. “Seven.”
    Without a word, M icah followed Zane, knowing how hard this was for him. Micah had become like a son. The old man had been very good to him. But he was not a man to cross in his earlier days. Seemed that even the hardest of them wearied of wickedness. He wondered if Christians wearied of righteousness the same? Of happiness?
    Micah suddenly got a clear vision of living with Sarah. She smiled at him from their bed, naked and unashamed, eyes filled with love. For him. Micah paused in mid stride at her holding a baby. Smiling up at him.
    His baby.
    Micah allowed them to strap him to the torture wheel. He’d done this before countless times for power ups. It wasn’t himself he worried for, it was Sarah.
    The door opened and they all entered with Sarah in the middle of them, a look of horror on her face. One that said not that, anything but that.
    Revin finally spoke. “We have had to make some very difficult decisions during this Sifting. And this final decision was indeed the weight iest of all. Our beloved brother, Seven, has cleaved to this woman, Sarah, in such a way that no power in Heaven and Earth can undo it. They are indeed one. And if she does not renounce, then they will die as one.”
    Micah’s eyes slowly closed and his head fell forward as all hope slipped away.
    Zane lit the flame torch and Sarah whimpered. Micah roared as the fire hit his skin, but the screams of Sarah hurt more than anything.
    Scythe laughed cruelly. “I hope you live so that you have to wear that filthy word on your skin. Christian,” he giggled, wickedly.
    Micah fought to not give them the pleasure of his agony. Fought not to give them what they wanted. They wanted his fury. His pain. He focused his eyes on Sarah. On those wide, terrified blue eyes, so tormented. He fought to show her what he needed. He needed her strength. God, he needed her strength.
    She finally saw his silent plea. Help me .
    She stared at him and held her hand out toward him. He watched her lips move , trembling with silent prayer. Her eyes closed and tears rolled down her cheeks as her brows pinched in concentration.
    The power hit Micah like a blast of wind through him. He gasped on the sensation as warm fire coated his insides. He smelled his burning flesh, even felt the pain, but somehow, it didn’t relay the message of agony to his mind, like his brain was cut off from that part of his senses.
    Just what Sarah described.
    She finally opened her eyes, panic shadowing them. He didn’t know how to tell her what was happening, that her God was helping him. Just the idea, the impossibility, overwhelmed Micah more than any torture had. Why? Why would her God help him?
    Hope surged through him like a wild fire and he roared with all his might in the face of his new enemy.
    “I renounce!” Sarah screamed. “I renounce! I renounce, please stop! Stop hurting him!”
    Micah’s eyes widened. No. “No, no no!” he roared.
    Darkness fell on them. The overhead light, the Sifter’s torch flame, the ceremony candles—all went out.
    Fear unlike any Micah had ever known fell on his soul. Oh God, no. Please don’t. Don’t forsake us.
    “Raxxon is angry,” Agony gasped, dread evident in her voice. “He wanted her blood.”
    The orange glow of a match illuminated the wicked gaze of Scythe. “Then let’s not disappoint him.” He looked at Revin. “She’s renounced her god and our brother has renounced us. The sacrifice is still powerful.”
    “ Yes,” Revin’s sinister shadow whispered. “To renounce ones god for the sake of a lover is indeed powerful.” Scythe lit a candle and Revin floated forward and began unstrapping Micah. “Her blasphemy will open the portal of power. And you, dear brother,” he kissed Micah’s cheek, “will prepare her alter