My father was in me possessing me. I could feel him.

. . . so that when the day of evil comes . . .

My chest was so full of demons I could barely breathe.

. . . you may be able to stand . . .

The voices! I couldn't think for all the voices! Covering my ears couldn't shut them out. Fight them. Think. Don't let them take your mind.

. . . and after you have done everything . . .

There were too many of them. And they were too strong. I couldn't . . . but I had to . . . I couldn't let them take my mind. Think! After you have done everything . . . what? What comes next?

They were too strong.

After you have done everything . . . to stand.

Yes!

To stand . . . to stand!

They tried to rip the thought away. I wouldn't let them. I clutched it. Protected it. Pushed them away.

Stand firm, then . . .

I fought them for control of my arms and legs. Ignoring other areas, I concentrated on my arms and legs. There were too many of them. And they were too strong.

It was no use. I couldn't do it. I tried. G.o.d knows I tried. But they were too strong. And there were too many of them. It was humanly impossible.

Stand firm then.

Humanly impossible . . . humanly . . . but I was only part human. The other part of me was angel.

On the bay hadn't I seen the angelic realm? I didn't know I could do that, but I did it. I saw with angel eyes.

I clung to that thought. I was part angel. What else could I do?

Standing over me, the circle of angels chatted as though they were at a c.o.c.ktail party. Renewing old acquaintances. Exchanging stories about business, swapping stock tips. One of them laughed. They were oblivious to my torment.

It infuriated me.

Somewhere inside of me was angel and I was going to find it. I reached deep, summoning strength I never knew I had. Summoning angel strength . . .

To stand. Stand firm, then.

I clenched a fist. Then another. It was a heady experience. With excruciating effort I managed to do what most six-month- old babies can do, I rolled over onto my stomach. Then, winning the tug-of-war for my arms, I placed my palms against the gravel.

. . . and after you have done everything, to stand.

The demons rallied. But they fought each other as much as they fought me and my determination was greater. I pushed myself up onto my knees.

. . . so that when the day of evil comes . . .

One foot hit the gravel.

To stand.

The battle for control of the second foot took longer. A surge of strength came to me when I realized I was kneeling. I couldn't stay like this. I hadn't fought this hard to kneel. I was going to stand. My second foot hit the gravel.

Screaming with exertion, I managed to straighten up. Screaming. I heard it. I had my voice. I wanted sight as well. If they were going to kill me, they'd have to do it while I was standing and looking them in the eyes.

My chest heaving, sweat streaming down my temples and cheeks, holding off counterattacks of demons who wanted my arms and legs, I fought the battle for my optic nerves.

I saw angels. Blurred. Standing as trees. Then clearer.

The chatter stopped. They were looking at me. I looked at them.

Abdiel.

Semyaza.

Azazel.

Granite angel.

All of them.

I knew that at any moment any one of them could strike me dead and end the feast of demons. But for this moment I had their attention. I stood in the center of their circle.

With voices screaming in my head, with demons tearing at my insides, fighting for every breath, every heartbeat, somehow, I managed to speak.

Fighting to form each word, I said, "Hi-ho, the derry-o, the cheese stands alone."

There was stunned silence.

Fuming, the granite angel said, "Enough of this foolishness. Finish him."

The next moment the darkness hid and the night became light all around us. A ring of angels, larger than the tribunal, encircled us, a hundred count at least. Then circle upon circle filled the sky, until there were thousands of them, ten thousand upon ten thousand.

With one voice they were singing.

Great is the Lord and worthy of his praise His kingdom endures forever.

Let the seas resound and the rivers rejoice, On the day of the Father's visitation.

I felt a presence of such magnitude and weight, I could stand no longer. I sank to my knees. All around me the angels of the tribunal knelt and bowed their heads. Not out of duty, nor of fear, but out of the sheer energy of His nearness. Every inch of my being, every molecule came alive, charged with new life as it had never been before.

Time could not encompa.s.s Him. It bowed to its creator. In reverence, the universe ceased to tick.

The Spirit of the Father drew intimately near and entered me. The demons within me hushed and trembled at his presence.

Leave him.

At the Father's command the demons skittered like c.o.c.kroaches in a sudden light. I was free of them. I breathed freely. My mind was uncluttered. My muscles relaxed, weary from the fight.

But I felt more than just the absence of possession. I felt a communing, and with it a peace, a strength, an a.s.surance, a wisdom I had never known.

Thank you, I prayed.

The Father addressed the tribunal.

The boy deserves a chance to live. See, I have set my mark upon him. For as long as he bears the mark, you will not harm him.

I blinked and it was over.

Once again night's natural canopy of stars arched from horizon to horizon. The tribunal was gone. Traffic sounds filtered up from the street below. The building's air-conditioning unit roared to life.

I was alone and, strange as it sounds, it saddened me. It's amazing how empty a person can feel after a nation of demons is suddenly evicted from him. But what saddened me was that for one brief moment I knew what it was like to have the Spirit of G.o.d within me.

Shuffling my feet in the gravel, I did a three-sixty. I was standing on the roof of the Emerald Plaza tower in downtown San Diego. Not so much as a sc.r.a.p of supernatural had been left behind.

I made my way toward the stairwell.

"It's not over."

I turned. It was Semyaza.

"At best, a temporary reprieve," he said.

"I'll take it."

The understatement of the year, considering without the reprieve I'd be clinging to someone's ceiling.

Semyaza didn't stick around. The thought crossed my mind that given the turn of events, he might have some explaining to do. I hoped so anyway.

A hand fell on my shoulder. I jumped.

"Abdiel! Don't do that!"

"You have been given a special gift," he said.

"I know."

"Don't mess it up."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I said. "Oh yeah, and a little while ago when I was fighting for my life? Thanks for helping. Maybe I can return the favor someday."

"But I didn't help." He thought a moment. "Oh. Sarcasm. I get it."

He stood there and we stared at each other.

"Anything else?" I asked.

"You wielded your weapons well tonight, like a warrior," he said.

"My weapons . . ."

"Courage. Strength of will. Steadfastness. Spiritual weapons. You fought a good fight."

"Thank you."

"I may even come to like you."

"Let's take it a day at a time, shall we?"

I started to leave.

"One other thing," he said. "A couple of the angels in the circle tonight . . . on the other side . . . until tonight I haven't had communion with them since before time began. They were friends then. It meant something to me. Thank you."

"Was Semyaza one of them?"

Abdiel nodded. "And Azazel. And it's been a couple of eons since I've seen Lucifer. He's looking good, don't you think?"

"Good night, Abdiel," I said.

Again I started to leave, then turned back. "Abdiel . . ."

"Yes?"

"The mark that is on me. Is it visible?"

He nodded. "It's on your forehead."

"My forehead!" My hand flew to my forehead, half expecting to feel some kind of scar. I could feel nothing. "What does it look like?"

He studied my forehead a moment. "Three digits. 666."

My mouth fell open.

Seeing my expression, Abdiel let loose with a huge guffaw. "You're not the only one with a sense of humor, Grant Austin," he said. "Wait until I tell the professor!"

CHAPTER 32.