His Sign 2: The Ezra Solution: His Sign, #2

By Mary C. Findley

Drew Goddard and Nomie Harker land headfirst in the middle of a supernatural war over an ancient evil. Nomie gets a sign of her own, but they aren't sure it can stop the self-destruction of an ancient race. The Sethites are locked in civil war with their far-gone dragon kin. Ordinaries are the bait to trap and remove the only obstacle to the ultimate act of rebellion. Hope may lie in the wedding of a most unlikely couple. A traitor tries to destroy the peace but they might be wrong about the real enemy. Drew is about to relive the history of a certain Bible king, coming face to face with a giant race out for blood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Findley Family Video
• Release date: Sep 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393387862

Mary C. Findley

Mary grew up in rural NY and Michael is from AZ. We met at college, taught school in AZ, MO and PA, homeschooled, and created curriculum and videos for church and commercial productions. We have three supposedly grown children and traveled the 48 states and Canada together in a tractor trailer.Findley Family Video Publications has the key verse “Speaking the Truth in Love” from Ephesians 4:15. We have four main goals:To Present a Biblical WorldviewTo Exalt the Lord Jesus ChristTo Edify BelieversTo Teach and to DelightMichael J. Findley has been on the road most of his life and his writings reflect that motion. From the rise of the ancient Hittite Empire to a generational saga of a Space Empire, the one constant is his desire to communicate the truth of God's Word through fiction and nonfiction. Homeschoolers, church leaders, and ordinary believers who want to go deeper into the Word and reach higher to put God in the exalted place where He belongs will find many answers here.They say write what you know. Mary C. Findley has poured her real life into her writing -- From the cover designs inspired by her lifelong art studies to the love of pets and country life that worm their way into her historicals. The never-say-die heroes in her twenty-some fiction works are inspired by her husband, a crazy smart man with whom she co-writes science and history-based nonfiction. These works were jump-started by a deep awareness of the dangers in our future if we don't understand ideological enemies rooted in the past. She's a strong believer in helping others and also has books about publishing advice and the need to have strong standards in reading and writing.She has traveled internationally and around the lower 48 and Canada multiple times. Anecdotes from her small town life, college experiences, European, Canadian, and south-of-the border travels, as well as adventures as shotgun rider in a tractor trailer fill her contemporary works. She has also donned the cloak of alt-Victorian adventuress as Sophronia Belle Lyon, steampunk writer with her own League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (and ladies) from the great 1800s novelists. In all her works you will find faith, family, friendship and fulfilling stories. Do come have a look!

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His Sign 2: The Ezra Solution A Paranormal Urban Fantasy by Mary C. Findley © 2019 Findley Family Video Publications

No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. Exception is made for short excerpts used in reviews.

Findley Family Video

Speaking the truth in love.

This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to persons living or dead is coincidental

Cover images from Neostock and Pixabay

Scriptures adapted from The Holy Bible: The King James Version, public domain.

In Association with The Edge Books

What is THE EDGE?

THE EDGE is a conviction. It’s where we stand to save the lost. It’s stepping away from our comfortable pews to bring God to the world. It’s following Jesus’ example to minister to the outcasts, the overlooked, the forgotten.

THE EDGE is about relationship, not religion. It’s God’s power being stronger and God’s love running deeper than anything people face. It’s being fearless in the face of adversity and willing to look the devil in the eye and say, You can’t have him or her anymore.

We are authors, Christians, people walking by faith. We are THE EDGE. www.TheEdgeBooks.blogspot.com

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Lest readers be confused, I will state that the stories in this serial are not about the great and terrible day of the Lord or the end times. Some conversations of characters make comparisons to signs that will come in the last days to signs given to the characters. The Bible is truth, but my story is fiction.

It is an allegory of sorts, written in the grand tradition of John Bunyan, C.S. Lewis, and others who have used symbols and shadows to impress on us the reality of spiritual warfare. My symbols and shadows are different, but they make the same point.

The Sethites are also fictional, but were inspired by a former pastor’s minority position on the sons of God who comingled with the daughters of men. This pastor did not believe in angel DNA and made a compelling case, which you can read more about in our book The Conflict of the Ages Part 2, Teacher Edition The Origin of Evil in the World that Was (by Michael J. and Mary C. Findley). This is the section where you can read about the theory that the sons of God were descendants of Seth. XI. God’s Judgment on the Antediluvian World A. Who Are the Sons of God?

God may not give us a sign as tangible as those given to Drew Goddard and his friends, but that does not excuse us. We were never supposed to be sitting around waiting for a sign, anyway.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: THE BIG BAD WOLF

One morning as Drew and Nomie prepared for a day of teaching and learning with the Yahyites, one of the Sethites appeared in the caves among the crowd as they washed clothes and chatted among themselves.

We must take you back, the Sethite said. His speech was stilted, artificial.

Drew took a step back. You can talk to us now?

We are learning, the Sethite replied. Come."

"Take us back?" Nomie exclaimed. We’re just getting started here! We’re learning their language. They want to learn to read, and figure out how to make translations. There’s so much to do!

More Sethites appeared in a blinding flash of light. In the middle of the group stood three Middle Eastern men, looking only slightly bewildered.

They will take over the work, the Sethite said. They are from the place where these ones lived before. They know the speech, and the writing. You must hurry.

What’s going on? Drew demanded.

Chay sent a message. He said fires have been set by enemies of the Sethites. They seek the hiding place of his cell. The whole city is burning.

But what can we do? Nomie asked.

El has given you power, the Sethite replied. All the Sethites murmured praise and the floor vibrated. He will give more.

You guys have all the power, Drew said.

The Sethite shook his head. "Like the speech, we are learning. We cannot read the Word, so our power is small. Please. There is no time."

Drew and Nomie grabbed their things, wet clothes off the lines and all, stuffed them into their backpacks, and took their places in the center of the Sethite circle. The humming and light intensified and they rose into the air.

Drew glanced uneasily at the ceiling of the cave as it came closer and closer. He sighed with relief as it winked into darkness, but immediately regretted that decision when he found himself with no air in his lungs in some black interworld place. These Sethites didn’t seem to be as good at transporting people as the Sethites back home. He remembered, trying to distract himself and stay conscious, how he and Nomie had been dumped in the lower caverns into that thick darkness. Hass had said they had not transported ordinaries for centuries. Were any Sethites good at this?  He also remembered how Qareen and his demon pack had tried to bedevil them until the Afghan Sethite had appeared in that burst of brightness. Could they be bedeviled in this dark place, and without even breathable air to sustain them?

God, we could use some of that light. And maybe some air too. Air would be good, please.

*****

Something heavy fell on top of Drew. Nomie? Oh, yeah. He had no strength to catch her. He tried to suck in a mouthful of air but she had hit him in the chest and his lungs did not yet forgive him for that or the trans-dimensional airless transfer. She did not move off of her own accord so he had to shove her aside. A brief prayer that they were not at the edge of some cliff he could be pushing her over got him a little more awake and finally his lung accepted air.

Drew sat up and looked around. They had landed in what appeared to be a ruined, burned-out building. The floor was concrete and, although it was cracked in many places, it seemed solid enough. Drew turned his attention to Nomie. She was unconscious. He checked that she had refound the ability to breathe and tossed his jacket over her. The light of the crown of thorns and spikes symbol in his chest illuminated his surroundings enough to let him explore.

"So what happened to you in the woods when I went root-tripping, or the black cave basement in Afghanistan?" I am talking to my chest light. Crazy, much? God knows what I need and when I need it, I guess.

He made it to a grimed-over window and had to use his sleeve to clear a spot to see out. Gray daylight and snow falling heavily told him only that they were probably at least somewhere near the city he had called home. This building did not seem to be a country structure, so probably not near Jonas and Anna’s farm. Was it anywhere near the Sethite cell tent city? Were they even there?

A man’s face thrust into view at the window and Drew staggered back. He had a moment of relief, seeing a glimpse of golden eyes and other typical Sethite dragonlike characteristics.

Hey, Drew greeted the stranger. Are you from Chay’s cell?

The man phased right through the wall into the room. No, but I would very much like to visit. I suspect you can take me there, can’t you?

He had long, blue-streaked hair and Drew saw that actual scales had formed on the backs of his hands and neck. And is that a — tail? This man did not seem much older than Drew but even Chay, the oldest Sethite Drew had met, did not have such distinctively dragon features.

Yeah, well, I’m not even sure where we are, so that would be a no. Drew kept backing up until he stood by Nomie, who was beginning to stir.

Wrong answer, the man said. Let me persuade you to reconsider. He snagged Nomie by the back of her jacket and hoisted her into the air, hovering four or five feet off the ground. His wings did not look wasplike at all, but pure leathery reptile skin with bony talons at the joints. "I think it will hurt if I drop her from here."

Hey, pick on somebody your own size!

I have no desire to kill you, so I must resort to intimidation and threats, the man said, blowing up piles of dust and soot with his wing beats. "I know ordinaries are fragile but I’m not sure how fragile. I spend as little time among them as possible.

You can imagine what an odious task it has been, therefore, to search these ruins day after day for signs of my dear brothers of the Chay cell. So many noisy vermin of your sort, crying for help, bleeding, sporting some impressive burns. I’m so glad I finally found someone who isn’t at death’s door, and who actually knows who Chay is.

Put her down and we can work something out, Drew said. Hurt her and you have no more bargaining power. So make it a gentle landing.

The dragonite, as Drew had decided to call him, dropped to the ground and set Nomie on her feet with exaggerated care. She staggered to Drew but seemed fully focused and unharmed.

Drew picked up his jacket and slid into it. This was so much colder than even nighttime in the Afghanistan desert, it hurt.

So where are we? Nomie asked.

I believe this was once called Sunnyhill, the dragon man answered. Not so sunny anymore, as you can see.

Okay, I know where Sunnyhill is, Drew said. He covered his shock at seeing the pleasant hillside community reduced to this. How long have you been playing pyromaniacs in the city? What’s left that we can get through to find Chay and his people?

Such fragile structures, the dragonite said with a wave of his hand. I can transport you anywhere we need to go. Both of you, just as easily as I passed through that wall.

Nomie shot a look at Drew. "He came through a wall?" she whispered. Drew nodded.

You will find that those of us who embrace the power of our bloodlines can do great things. And we can do great things for you, if you cooperate. We do not cower and hide like Chay and his kind.

So you are a Sethite? Nomie asked.

From the heritage of the gifts to Seth, my family obtained its special nature, the dragonite conceded. But we have refined and coaxed out more power than most of them dream of or desire. They say they embrace the gifts from their El, but they are so limited, by their own fear, and by clinging to ordinaries.

Well, we’d rather walk, Drew said. "Lately the Sethites have proven to be, as you said, limited, in their ability to get us safely from A to B, so you can understand how there might be trust issues."

I am trying to be patient with you, the dragonite said. He started to take some slow, deep breaths, as if to calm himself. Drew noted the vapor he expelled into the cold air was not just a white cloud, but a small plume of bluish flame.

So, you didn’t just set fires around the city, Nomie said. You are the Big Bad Wolf, huffing and puffing and blowing our houses down?

Yes, the man said with a smile. I’m happy to show you how that works if you desire a demonstration. He blew at the wall through which he had entered and it burst into flames.

At least you warmed things up, Drew said, trying to keep his voice bland. Thanks.

It’ll be quite toasty in here soon, the dragonite said. We should be going, but I need to know where to take you. Until you tell me where to find Chay and his little family of misfits, you stay here.

And here I am, completely out of marshmallows, Nomie said. I don’t even know who this Chay you guys keep talking about is. Does that mean I can go?

No, because I find that bigger, stronger ordinaries tend to protect smaller, weaker ones, and are more compliant when faced with the possibility that the smaller one may suffer, the dragonite replied.

Bully, Nomie said. What if I just look weak? What if I’m not? What if I’m stronger than him? She swung her elbow in Drew’s general direction while keeping her hands in her pockets and shivering.

They were keeping as far from the fire as possible but it was bitterly cold. Their Afghanistan clothes were not much protection. Snow drifted through holes in the wall behind them and the wind had picked up. That fanned the flames and the wall on fire began to crack and crumble.

You have to let us out of here! Nomie exclaimed. We’re no good to you dead.

Convince me you’re any good to me alive, the man said. Tell me how to find Chay and his people.

Drew, it’s so cold, Nomie whispered.

Drew looked down at her and saw her shivering had become more violent. Her teeth chattered. He was feeling the heat of the fire more and more, watching it spread to the beams along the roof of the building. When would the whole thing fall on top of them?

What’s wrong with me? Nomie asked. Her eyes rolled up and she collapsed.

Drew started to kneel but the dragonite pushed him back with tearing claws and put his hand on Nomie.

A harsh, terrifying scream ripped out of the dragon man. He tried to pull his hand back but it seemed stuck to Nomie. Drew saw icy frost creeping up his arm.

Stop it! The dragonite screeched. What are you doing to me?

Nomie’s eyes squeezed shut and she shuddered. The man backpedaled and finally broke free, cradling his ice-coated arm. Nomie pulled a hand out of her pocket, eyes still closed, and clutched at the man’s dangling hair. It turned brittle and broke off