Chapter XI: The Legacy: The Dawn of the Fallen Angels

In the veranda, John stood-up to stretch his body. His torso was well sculpted with firm muscles and abs. John was physically fit and healthy at his late forties. He could still be the subject of women’s fantasy. Any adorable and lusty women would desire him. Aside from being gorgeous looking, he was a symbol of opulence and power.  When his father, Zar and the fallen angels acquired the hidden treasures, he began to build a fiefdom. The blueprint of the transition was meticulously planned and laid out so no single loopholes could be the cause of its downfall in preparation to the advent of his nemesis, August.  He had established conglomerate businesses- a combination of two or more corporations under one structure such as oil, shipping, steel, aircraft, cars, hospitals, cellphones, software  and  hardware, etc.  He constructed myriad of skyscrapers and towering buildings all over the world.  The head of the different countries respected him at the same time feared him. His influence in political and economic structure was too contagious. The political leaders need his support to stay in power nonetheless, John thwarted the corrupt and greed leaders. He'd found a way to topple down the corrupt leaders. He spoke with authority, being half of angel. He was a rainmaker of his own kind. He employed millions of people all over the world and treated his employees fairly. Under his companies, social welfare was practiced. There was quality of life-free housing, free hospitalization, and free traveling expenses in a year and the likes. Racial discrimination or apartheid was prohibited. Each one should be treated equally and has his fair share. It was his Draconian rule.   He sent the downtrodden free from their oppressors and providing them jobs to start a new life. He feed the hungry and gave them dwelling especially living in the poverty stricken countries. He was admired by many but hated by devilish leaders.

Yet he had maintained his magnanimity despite of his financial standing because for him he was just an instrument to execute what his father desires and the legions of the fallen angels. 

John was still entangled of the series of memories of the past. He was unconscious what was happening inside Abigail’s small sanctuary. He was thinking of Bethany, Abigail's mom.

John happened to stumble upon Bethany in Nigeria when his Josephnus Group of Companies was constructing a 30 story Hotel Building. Bethany was a LDS missionary in Nigeria. As part of her religion, she was missioned to Kenya, the poor district in Nigeria for a community service and proselytizing. She would almost complete “the best two years of her life” of her missionary work when she got sick of some heart ailment. She kept this in his heart not informing the Church of the status of his health. She only want to finish the two years of her missionary work so she could fly back to Utah, USA.  One day, while on community service, Bethany felt a sudden severe pain stabbing her heart.  She asked permission from the kids to leave and bade goodbye. While on the way back to her Church she collapsed on the street. The beating of her heart was too weak including her pulse rate. Her face was colored purple. A Good Samaritan from the crowd called an ambulance. She was transported to the hospital. She was pronounced between life and death when her body reached The Aga Khan Hospital in Kenya. She was only 28 years old. Too young to die!

John was disturbed about the commotion when he passed the emergency room of the hospital.  As part of his philanthropic role, he was making ocular inspection of the hospital facilities and immediate needs to cater to patients health needs.  He also brought high tech equipment to donate for the hospital use to improve the delivery of health services. Out of his curiosity, he halted in front of the emergency room. With permission of the attending physician, he went inside. Bethany was under the life resuscitation support. The chance to live was very slim according to the stout attending physician. The members of the LDS Church were inside when John entered.  John found Bethany in a pitiful situation and at the same time, his heart bled for her. He said to his self “She is too young to enjoy the the possibilities of life.” Although Bethany was in ashen and frail figure, Bethany was ravishing with blond curly hair, porcelain Caucasian skin. The contour of her face was a blend of Marilyn Monroe. Her lips had thin lines.  He knew instantly he was love-struck. His heart never beat this way before.  With permission from the LDS leaders, he carried Bethany. Sneaked at the back where no conspicuous eyes could see them and up up and away, he was airborne with Bethany with him.  In split second, he was in Shangri-La. John laid down Bethany in a bed covered with white silk sheet in a sacred sanctuary. The bed was decorated with white and red petals of roses including the ground. The sanctuary smelled roses. The sanctuary was heavenly scent.  The angels began to gather around. Zar was watching his son. He had never seen John so upset and concerned when it comes to women before. This time Zar knew that John liked the ashen face girl.  Zar just watched John’s ritual silently. He loved his son dearly and whatever pleased him, he was pleased too. John kissed her forehead gently and breathe into her nostrils. A miracle occurred. Bethany was resuscitated to life. Her heart began to beat normally including her pulse rate. Her face was turning red. The bloods in her veins were pumping oxygen to her weak heart once again. Bethany opened her eyes slowly. The image was quite blurry. Bethany closed her eyes again.  While trying to close her eyes, Zar and the fallen angels hide themselves from Bethany in just half seconds. When Bethany opened her eyes this time, he saw a dashing guy in front of him.

Bethany was shocked. “Who are you? Where am I?” “Don’t be afraid. I won’t harm you. I took you from the hospital from Kenya and bring you over here. You had a mild stroke. You were under life resuscitating support when I happened to see you inside the emergency room sort a bit in lifeless form. You were battling between life and death.  The chance for you to live was minimal as declared by your attending physician," stressed John. 

“Oh really? The only thing I remembered was that I collapsed in the street and nothing else but in my unconscious state, I was traveling inside the tunnel. I was traveling in the abyss of time, in the dark passageway. Everything was dark. I could not see anything. My body was floating as though I was flying.  At the end of the tunnel, there were two holes that I could see. One was dark; the other one there was a shining beaming light but I don't know where the light came from.  I choose the hole where there was light but a man suddenly pulled me back to the present time so I woke-up and was shocked to see you standing in front of me. I thought that you were that man I saw in my unconscious state,” declared Bethany.

“So where am I really?” demanded Bethany. “You are in Shangri-La in the Himalayan Mountains. My family lives here. This place is paradisiacal. Very peaceful, quiet and far from the realities of the world,” John replied. How did I come here from Kenya? Kenya is too far from Shangri-La. It takes long boring hours to travel like I have experienced a long boring hours traveling from Utah to Nigeria. Don’t tell me that you are superman, my favorite comic character. Besides, you look one. You look awesome and enigmatic.  Did you fly me from Kenya?  Bethany was bombarding John with questions.

John blushed. Bethany was young almost 15 years her junior and very inquisitive. “Of course, I am superman, your superhero. I fly you here from Kenya just to revive you back to life.”  “Oh thank you, superman for saving my life. I have been sickly these days. I find it hard to breathe exactly. I thought it was just stress. I did not inform my ministry of my health condition because I want to finish my two years of community service before I go back to Utah. I find joy in serving. I love to hear the kids laughing and giggling. I love to play with them. I became an orphan at the age of 10. My parents died due to fire accident. They were burned alive. I grew up with my grandparents at my mother’s side. I don't have any siblings. I could have one if my mother was not burned in that fire.  My journey has been lonely. It was a pain knowing I’d never see my parents again and feel their love. We were one happy family. I am sad my health is deteriorating. Maybe I have few years to live. Can you let me go back to Kenya, to our Church? The Church might be worried about me,” said Bethany.

“I asked permission from you Church leader when I brought you here.  My name is John Josephus. What’s yours?” John asked. “My name is Bethany. Bethany Caldwin. John Josephus your name you say? The powerful John Josephus? Oh gracious, what a small world. Wow, my pleasure to meet you, Sir. Oh sorry for that joke that you are  superman, my superhero. I was just kidding. I have this illusion about superman. That I can meet a chivalrous guy one day... Forget about it, Sir. But did you really fly me here? Oh forgive me Sir, I am nutty at times. I’d like people smile when I talk to them. I guess I have to return to Kenya. Could you? Please Sir I need to go back,” Bethany pleaded. Bethany could be one voracious talker sometimes.  Kids loved and enjoyed every moment with her. She never ran out of stories. She had a funny bone.

“Okay, I will bring you back to Kenya, Bethany. I need to bid goodbye to my parents. Come with me.”  John held Bethany’s hand. Her hands were not soft. There was some sort of roughness. John sensed that Bethany was using her hands doing humanitarian works and light labor as part of her community service. She was not the type of girl who pretended to be socialite and a gold digger. She was not either wearing make-up or sexy dress to attract men. She was simply an ordinary girl but for John, she was a princess and John wanted Bethany to experience at least a life of a princess with a fairy tale ending.

On the other hand, Bethany was amazed about John’s abode. The architecture was that like a picturesque of celestial kingdom which she found in books. The place was colored white and the taste was so dainty. There were sculptures mostly of angels and Jesus Christ. They were made of gold and silver. The abode was so large at the grand scale but he could not found any human beings living.  Oblivious to her, there were angels scattered inside the place all wearing white linen sheets or silk wrapped around in their spiritual bodies.  She found the place calm and quiet. When they reached the garden, Zar was into archery. His favorite sports. He could hit bull eyes the target with grace. Ayumi was sitting eating grapes while watching Zar. As they walked towards them, thousands of butterflies with kaleidoscope colors were dancing around Bethany. Bethany was dazed. Then the butterflies slowly disappeared. They left silver dust floating in the atmosphere. The garden was full bloom of roses- red, puce,  white, yellow, blue, violet, vermillion,, yellow green and pink. Bethany have never seen these splendid colors before.  Bethany was so enchanted that she picked one red rose. She loved roses and she had garden of roses back home but not like this one in Shangri-La. 

“Mom, Dad, this is Bethany,” John introduced Bethany to his parents. “Come Bethany, sit beside me,” said Ayumi. Bethany obediently sits beside Ayumi. “How are you feeling now?” asked Ayumi. “I guess I am doing good at the moment. I thank you for saving my life.”  “You thank my son, dear. He saved your life,” stressed Ayumi. Bethany bowed her head then slow raised and looked to the direction of John. “I thank you again, Sir. How can I repay your kindness? I can be your servant after my two years of community service.”

“You don’t have to repay me. You don’t have to be my servant. It is my obligation to help you and others if they are in the same situation as you.  You don’t owe me anything, Bethany.” John reacted. “Mom, Dad we have to leave now. I must bring back Bethany to Kenya. Her Church might be upset now of her situation”.

“You have my blessings Bethany.” said Zar. Ayumi added, “You are always welcome here my child. John you have to take good care of her. I know that you have a special feeling for her for you won’t bring that beautiful child here.” Bethany's cheeks turned rosy red when she heard that statement.  She felt uneasy and cold sweat gushing from her forehead.  John was really dashing and every time their eyes met, she was melting like an ice cream. Her heart was racing fast. It was Amor Vincit Omnia for Bethany or love conquers all. She never felt like this before when it came to love. Although she had some crushes before that was pretty infatuation. This time she knew it was love at first sight. She could not take away her eyes from this good-looking creature he met today.

John noticed that Bethany from time to time would glance at him. When their eyes met, Bethany would instantly avoid his glance. John mused of her reaction. John held Bethany’s right hand with his left hand when they went outside of the dwelling. Bethany’s hands were trembling a bit. She bit her lips to control the trembling of his body.

“Bethany, do you want to fly? Just imagine I am superman, your comic super hero,” stated John. Bethany looked quizzically at John. “Sir, I was just kidding when I asked if you are superman. You know sometimes I am nutty as a fruitcake. I love to fantasize things as though they are real. At least, it helps me to me a peppy person,” answered Bethany. “Let me hold your hand firmly. Close your eyes and imagine we fly the sky, the universe. Just imagine that way, okay?” John instructed.

Bethany closed her eyes and she felt John’s hand holding her right hand firmly. She sensed that her feet were no longer touching the ground and he sensed too that she was floating without the gravity pulling her body down. She got excited that she slowly opened her eyes. She was shocked to see the small buildings below. She screamed loudly. Bethany was scared to be in great heights. There were butterflies in her stomach. She glanced at John. John saw that she was frightened so he immediately pulled him closed to him and embraced him tightly.  Bethany’s head was on John chest. Her golden hair smelled roses. John so loved Bethany closed to him. He wanted to kiss her yet he controlled his feelings. 

Bethany, “You’ll be alright.”  The fear of Bethany slowly subsided. She spoke softly, “So you can really fly and you have brilliant feathery wings. Are you an angel?”  “I am not a pure angel. Half-angel, half human! My dad is an angel, oh rather fallen angel. You heard the story about the fallen angel right waging war against God and they were cast to earth? My mom is human. Out of the seed conceived between angel and man, I am more of  an angel. There is no need for you to fear, you are safe with me.” John assured Bethany.  “You can now open your eyes. We are now going to land Kenya,” John said. When Bethany opened her eyes, they were standing in front LDS Church. Bethany gasped, “That was too fast”.