Awakening: The Deep Sleep (The Deep Sleep Trilogy Book 1) by Victoria Boyson

strength, empowering her to face the deception that loomed over her.
    She would, indeed, confront the wolves.
    She returned her attention to the oppressive presence of her captors, and immediately the wolves sensed there had been a change in their once spiritless prisoner. They stared at her again with their misleading smiles as they assumed a contrived, presumptive guise.
    Strengthened by the Lord, Beloved stood her ground. “You have tried to drive me away from my Lord!” she resisted them.
    Trying to make her point, she attempted to continue, but was cut off. Erupting like a volcano of relentless, calculated lies, they chose indignant outrage to combat her defiance.
    “How dare you speak to us like that,” they hissed like snakes.
    Still trying to cover their true identities, they continued their deception. “We are your covering! We truly care about you and you are being ungrateful for
all
we have done for you.”
    Had Beloved previously been suffering from any remaining self doubt, her eyes were completely open now. Truly, the wolves themselves were beguiled by their own lies, and she knew nothing she would say to them would move them. Indeed, nothing else mattered to them except maintaining their own deception – they were incapable of empathy.
    Beloved stood her ground. Regardless of whether they believed her or not, she would speak the truth for the sake of her own soul. “You are liars and I will not listen to you anymore!” she retorted.
    Seeing that Beloved was much stronger than they had previously anticipated, they altered their tactics and fought against her with fear and intimidation. Trying to regain control, they screamed at her. “If you leave us, you will go to hell!” they warned.
    “We are going to tell everyone what a rebellious person you are. We will tell it all – we are going to warn the world about you!” They continued to intimidate her.
    Fear began to seep into Beloved’s tender heart and confusion attempted to overtake her mind again. She sank to the ground and cried. Trying hard to shut out their accusations against her, she only succeeded in numbing her mind.
    Bombarded by regret, she cried out. “Oh, God! Forgive me, Lord. Rescue me and help me, my Dearest,”she wept. “I am Yours and always have been. Oh, God, help me!” she continued to pray as she broke into unrestrained sobs.
    Her enemies only laughed at her and mocked her sincerity, but she did not hear them. Her heart began to give way to despair, and the deep sleep loomed over her like a deceptive dream trying to take possession of her once again.
    “No more,” she lamented. “I want no more of this. I will not help anyone – I cannot help them! I can go no further. I’m done…” Thoughts pelted her numbing mind.
    All at once, she felt a powerful hand on her shoulder. She checked her tears and whirled around to see who had gripped her.
    She gasped, and peace flooded her heart. The radiant angelic had returned to her, though truly they had never left her side. Instantly, she felt their comfort. In her woundedness, the well-loved angelic reassured her she was, indeed, not alone in her fight and they had called in supernatural reinforcements.

    It was then she saw the heavenly warrior. He was a towering angel, even more radiant and glorious thanthe angelic who were with her. Manifesting great power, the warrior filled the forest with light. He stood between Beloved and the arrogant wolves. Obvious terror struck the wolves as they attempted to display a defiant resistance yet were crippled by the impact of the terrifying light.
    Stupefied by the heavenly appearance, Beloved stood paralyzed and unable to react. Slowly, as she was able to absorb the reality of what was happening, she was overwhelmed with fright for her enemies.
    The great warrior drew his flaming sword and, reflecting the fire it burnished, it gave off a piercing light. Casting aside the oppressive shadows of the forest, it illuminated the darkness.