Angel in the Shadows, Book 1 by Lisa Grace (Angel Series) Read online

Angel in the Shadows, Book 1

  By

  Lisa Grace

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  Angel Series:

  Angel in the Shadows, Book 1

  Angel in the Storm, Book 2

  Angel in the Ice, Book 3

  Angel in the Fire, Book 4; release date November 2012

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  Optioned for a movie by Motion Picture Pro Studios

  Movie development started in mid 2012

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  The difference between vampires and angels? Angels are real. ™ © copyright 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

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  Book Description: Fifteen-year-old Megan Laughlin has a gift; or what seems like a curse at times. Megan sees angels and demons.

  Megan knows her destiny is to protect her friends against dark angels who try to sway them into situations that can destroy their souls, their lives, and their eternity.

  At school she recognizes an über popular boy, as a demon hell-bent on destroying her and everyone she loves. As Judas spreads horrible rumors and overdoses two of her classmates at a rave, Megan realizes the enormity of his power. While classmates die, Megan, with the help of an angel, Johnny, and a team of friends will face the fight of their lives as they battle Judas.

  Megan thinks God hasn't given her any "special" powers, but discovers she has what she needs as she confronts Judas and his seemingly unconquerable power.

  Copyright © 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 All rights reserved by the author—Lisa Grace

  Angel in the Shadows, Book 1 by Lisa Grace Revised April 2012

  https://www.lisagracebooks.com or you may email the author at [email protected]

  Scripture quotes and footnotes are from the King James Version of the Bible, unless otherwise indicated.

  Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

  The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of the International Bible Society.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any means, or by any information storage retrieval system without the permission, in writing, from the author.

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  …concerning spiritual gifts…I would not have you ignorant…to another the discerning of spirits… 1 Corinthians 12: 1 - 10, King James Bible

  CHAPTER 1 - MEGAN

  Who would believe there is something different about me? No one. Most days I wake up late and move half-dazed until Mom yells she’s going to leave without me, an idle threat that doesn’t work.

  I grab a cup of coffee, my not so secret vice, to wake me up and shift my brain into first gear. I get to school carrying too many IB books to make me “in”. Anyway, you get the idea. I, Megan, am a good kid leading a normal boring life in the suburban beach town of Clearwater, Florida. Then this last summer at camp, I had a paradigm shift (that should make Mrs. Grey my IB creative writing teacher happy). I would show this to her, but she would totally flip and make me get counseling if she suspects that I believe anything I’ve written is true. My world now is upside down and inside out. Let me take you back to this summer when I found out what Zadok is and who I am or might be.

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  I can’t lie. I’m excited to be on our way. On the way to the lake I see flashes of light in three or four of the cars we pass. I shake my head and I wonder if I need glasses. As we drive through the small town that borders the main road to camp our bus stops at a red light. I notice a dark figure in the woods and squint out the window for a better look. I have no idea what I’m seeing. By the time I get one of the other kids to look we are on our way again and whatever it was, is out of sight. I make up my mind once I’m back home, I’m getting my eyes checked.

  Finally, after a grueling eight-hour bus ride, we arrive at camp. My voice is almost gone from leading the last few hours of songs and games. It’s exciting to finally be old enough to be here as a junior camp counselor. I don’t have to sneak my coffee anymore. I can go right into the counselors room and get it. One draw back is we’re not allowed to bring cell phones, iPods, or anything like that to camp. There’s no place to plug them in and zero reception anyway. It’s about as rugged as I want to get. About the only person I would want to talk to, besides my BFF Mandy, is going to be here anyway, Seth.

  I’m bouncing with excitement because Seth and his bus should be arriving in the next two hours. We’ve always liked each other. Seth is so cute with light brown hair and golden brown eyes. We’ve been texting each other, but it’s not the same as seeing him. I’ll get to stand close enough to feel his heart beat, absorb his warmth, and get dizzy like I’m on the most exciting adventure of all. Nothing else compares.

  The bus jerks to a halt and I wake from my daydream.

  Mr. Steve calls out as he steps off the bus and stretches his legs. “Hey Megan, help those kids get their gear and lead ’em up to check in, would ya?” All the kids love Mr. Steve. He’s always laughing and has a smile on his face. He’s kind of like the uncle you always wished you had.

  “Sure,” I say as I’m tackled by Nikki, one of my youngsters.

  “Don’t worry Megan, we’ll help you,” Nikki says as she’s squeezing the life out of me.

  “Just grab your bags and help some of the younger kids with theirs, Okay?” I say as I peel her arms off me.

  “Can I be in your cabin please, please, please, please?” Nikki asks.

  Secretly, I’m flattered. “It’s not up to me. We have to go to check in and see where we’re assigned.” I grab my duffle and head up the walk yelling, “This way everybody!”

  Carrie, one of the other counselors, is still helping some of the younger ones unload their bags from the lower storage bays on the bus. Carrie always wears her blonde hair in pigtails, even though she’s the same age I am. Carrie’s a total tomboy. We go to the same high school and church, but don’t know each other well, because we’re so different. She turns to me and yells, “Go ahead I’ll handle the stragglers.”

  The lake is peeking through the trees on the left, and I can smell the water. I’m so happy to be here you can’t wipe the smile off my face. Seth and I should be able to sneak some alone time. We have our own secret place on the lake. There’s a small cliff only about eight feet high with a rotting dock about two feet down. When you sit there, you’re kind of hidden from the world. Last year we would head up there and talk. You can see a million stars at night. We would count the shooting stars and orbiting satellites that raced across the sky while the waves lapping at the rocky shoreline provided a rhythmic drumbeat to our senses. Loons call out in distress. The sound is so foreign and mournful, a sad contrast to the cry of the seagulls back home in Florida. The bats would appear like shadows, swooping over the lake to eat the bugs. It’s mysterious and magical. You feel anything could happen at any moment. It’s so nice to have someone as special as Seth and a private place to share with him.

  Half the kids are racing ahead. They’ve been here before and are eager to show the newbies the way. The walkway leads up to the main lodge, a hulking two-story building built of log timbers and stone. Check-in is in the lobby where it is cooler since even in North Carolina it’s hot and humid in July. The adults running the place, the Timmons, prefer not to sweat if they don’t hav
e to. There are two dormers upstairs for the youngest kids and cabins surrounding the lake for the older ones.

  I wait off to the side as my young charges find out where they’re assigned. I feel a quick tap on my shoulder. I turn around and see a smiling Mr. Z.

  “Mr. Z.!” I give him a quick hug. “I’m so glad to see you!” Last year he was one of my favorite camp staffers.

  “Megan, it’s nice to see you too. I’m glad you came back to help us out. We need some staff that can chase down the young ruffians, tackle ‘em, tie ‘em up, and keep them in line. Speaking of staff, here’s your badge of courage.”

  I laugh as he hands me my name badge. I look at it, MEGAN LAUGHLIN; CLEARWATER, FL; STAFF. I know it’s kind of hokey, but I feel happy all over again.

  “You know by putting this on you become an official target for every water balloon, frog, snake, and prank these kids can dream up.” Mr. Z. is smiling as he speaks, then I notice he seems to be glowing. What I thought was the sun behind him—isn’t. It’s definitely him.

  I laugh and shake my head trying to ignore what I’m seeing. “Yeah, I know I’m in for it.” I pause and just look at Mr. Z. and the aura surrounding him then quickly look around realizing no one else in the room is seeing the glow but me.

  “Are you okay Mr. Z.?” I ask.

  “Never better Megan. Why don’t you find out what cabin you’re in and when things calm down, we’ll have time to go over a few things.”

  At that moment the main lodge door slams shut, grabbing my attention. When I look back at Mr. Z., he’s gone. I know it’s not normal to see people glowing. Maybe I need to cut down on the caffeine. With a jolt a chilling thought hits me; maybe I have a brain tumor. I calm down as I look around. I realize there can’t be anything wrong with me, because no one else is looking like they walked out of some cheap nineteen fifties’ movie about radiation poisoning. No one else has an aura, only Mr. Z.

  Nikki, Paul, and a few other youngsters interrupt my thoughts, anxious for me to get my cabin assignment. “Megan, come on!” They drag me to the check-in table.

  Nikki grabs my arm and says, “We’re not in the same cabin,” Nikki’s pouty face lasts for about one second over this bad news. “But guess what?” she points, “see that cute boy over there? He’s in the cabin next to mine and he’s going to help me carry my bags. Isn’t he cute?”

  I ask her, “Did you notice anything strange about Mr. Z.?”

  “Who’s that?” She asks, never taking her eyes off the cute boy.

  “The adult I was just talking to,” I pick up my duffle and point to where I’d been talking to Mr. Z just a minute ago.

  “No. I kinda remember him from last year. He’s nice,” She answers offhandedly as she waves to the cute boy. “I gotta go. See you Meg.” Nikki picks up her stuff and heads over to her new Romeo.

  At check in, Toby, one of the older counselors who has sandy blond hair and reminds me of a California surfer, hands me a folder with the scheduled activities I’ll be supervising.

  “You know how to swim?” he asks.

  “Yes.”

  “Up-to-date on CPR certification?” He starts checking things off on a list.

  “Sure thing,” I smile.

  “Good. ‘Cause you’re assigned to swim duty from ten to twelve each day.”

  Then with the rapid delivery of a drill sergeant, he checks off on his list as he reads aloud, “Reveille at seven, (I groan),

  Breakfast - seven-thirty to nine

  Chapel - nine to ten

  First swim - ten to eleven

  Second swim - eleven to twelve

  Lunch - twelve to one-thirty

  Free-time until two

  First craft period - two to three

  Second craft period - three to four

  Kitchen cooking duty - four to five

  Dinner - five to six-thirty

  Free Time - six-thirty to seven

  Evening Chapel - seven to eight

  Campfire sing along - eight to nine-thirty

  lights out - ten

  Any questions?”

  I shake my head no.

  “Good. Counselor meeting tonight at six-thirty. See you there.”

  “Yes sir!” I reply and give Toby a military salute.

  He rewards me with a brief smile and a chuckle, then hands me my counselor shirts. They’re lime-green with the words JR. STAFF in big bold black letters.

  “See ya at the meeting Megan.”

  My cabin is the seventh on the left, next to the last one. When I open the screen door, I see the old familiar three sets of bunk beds, my cot, one nightstand (for me), one six-drawer dresser (one drawer for each kid), and a small communal desk. My home-sweet-home for the next eight days. I notice a small blonde girl wearing glasses already occupying the top right bunk. She is peering over the edge, watching me.

  “Hi. My name is Megan. What’s yours?”

  “Allison.”

  “Is this your first time at camp?” Allison looks like she’s going to cry.

  “Yes.”

  “Well, we’re going to have fun. Can you help me unpack?”

  “Sure.” Allison climbs down quickly from the bunk and walks over to where I’m unzipping my duffle on my cot.

  “Where are you from?” I ask.

  “Jacksonville. By the river.”

  “Nice. It’s beautiful up there. Can you keep a secret?” I ask as I reach into my bag.

  “Yes.” Allison says earnestly.

  “Good. I brought a bag of candy bracelets and you’re in charge of handing them out to the rest of our cabin.” I hand her the bag and Allison gives me a big smile.

  I look around and notice two other bags stowed under one set of bunk beds. “Allison, do you know the girls who brought those bags?”

  Allison nods her head and looks excited to give me an answer, “Their names are Tasha and Tynekwa Taylor. They’re twins. They seem really nice. They went to explore the camp. They invited me along, but I was afraid.”

  “Would you mind finding them and telling them I’m here?”

  Allison looks at me for a second then nods her head yes. She turns to her bunk.

  “Also, don’t forget to tell them about the surprise.”

  “Oh I won’t,” Allison replies. She puts the bag of bracelets on her top bunk by her pillow and starts heading out the door.

  “Allison, if you see anybody looking lonely could you do me a favor and invite them to sit with us tonight at the campfire?”

  She hesitates, turns, and says, “Yes, I can do that,” the door slams loudly as she hops down the steps and heads toward the beach campfire area where many of the kids are hanging out.

  I smile to myself. I want my cabin kids to have a great time. Just not at my expense. Last year, I hid a snake in my counselor’s desk drawer. Hopefully, my girls will be afraid of snakes and I won’t find any hidden in my cot. Other than that, I think I’m ready to handle just about anything. I enjoy unpacking in peace before the rest of the kids find our cabin. It gives me a chance to think about Mr. Z. A memory keeps nudging around in my brain. Then I remember. Last year at camp, I think I saw him shining too.

  A memory floods into my mind. I remember saying to him the last night of camp, “Mr. Z. you’re my angel. You shine just like an angel.” The other campers laughed and teased me about it so I dropped it and avoided Mr. Z., except to say a quick goodbye the next day.

  Now it was happening again. What can it mean? Why would he glow and not others? Lost in thought, I jump as I hear the cabin door swing open.

  “Megan!”

  It’s Seth.

  “Seth!!!” I fly over to him and give him a big hug. We could get in trouble for this, but I’m so happy to see him I don’t think. He smells so good, like shampoo, I don’t want to let go. Seth runs his fingers through my hair and inhales deeply. I feel his heart pounding in his chest. We pull apart, a little self-consciously, amazed at our feelings.

  “It’s so good to see yo
u!” I gush.

  “Eight whole days together, it’s going to be great,” Seth smiles and reaches for my hands.

  We stand there for a minute, hypnotized by our feelings. The door opens again and three more girls enter the cabin. We let go and look at the new arrivals. Seth turns to me and says, “Oh no, you’re in for it now, Megan. This is Ashley,” Seth says pointing to a cute brunette with short curly hair, “Brianna,” pointing to a girl with long dark brown hair and bangs, “and Kayla”, who has golden curls and big blue eyes.

  “Hi Megan. Where should we put our stuff?” Ashley asks. Brianna yells out, “Dibs on a top bunk!” “I don’t care which is mine,” Kayla interjects as I point out the available bunks.

  Seth continues his intro, “They all go to my church. Watch out, they’re terrors.”

  “HA, HA,” Brianna smiles sweetly batting her eye lashes, “Only to you.”

  “Bri is Robby’s sis,” Seth looks at me with a knowing smile and winks. Robby is Seth’s best friend. He’s very out-going and prone to pulling pranks on people.

  At that moment, Robby charges in, grabs me around the waist and twirls me around. “Did you miss me? Don’t worry I’m ba-aack,” he says in a singsong voice.

  Bri yells at Robby, “Let her go, you don’t wanna squish Seth’s girlfriend on our first day at camp!”

  I look at Seth, wondering if everybody knows. He smiles back while raising his eyebrows. I guess so.

  “Nah,” Robby says as he lets go, “I’ve got a better plan.” Robby starts wringing his hands together, “I saw at least three fat long snakes with Megan’s name on ’em.”

  Robby must remember my prank from last year. It’s coming back to haunt me. I roll my eyes. I’m not afraid of snakes, but still, I don’t want to find one in my bed.

  Ashley and Kayla squeal, “Don’t bring them in here!” “I won’t be able to sleep.” They keep chattering and squealing at the same time.

  Bri answers, “Don’t worry, I’m faster and better at catching snakes than Robby is. I’ll put two in his bunk for each one he puts in ours.”

  Ashley and Kayla squeal again.

  Seth turns to me and says, “I’ll see you at dinner, I better get my stuff unpacked and chase down my cabin crew. I’m the first cabin on the right side.” He reaches out and gives my hand one last squeeze.

  I look at him anticipating when we can go to our “secret place”, hopefully later tonight. “Okay, I’ll see you then. Bye.”

  “Bye, snake haven!” Robby calls out as he follows Seth out the door. The girls answer with one last squeal.