Hadassah's Watchman Trilogy: An Awakening by Evangheline C Farcas (books to read for 12 year olds TXT) 📖

People all around were busy, but not the kind of busy she was used to. It was not the kind of busy that left them with no time to greet others, in fact they were greeting her, in a language she had never heard, but she understood perfectly. Her eyes were feasting as they never had before.
“Where am I?” She whispered in wonder, though she was sure she already knew.
“You stand before the gates of heaven.” He said as he set her down on the road that was paved with the same translucent gold. She smiled, at a loss for words, though none were needed.
He held out his hand, and she placed her delicate one in his. In comparison, it looked like a small child holding the hand of a giant. But she felt secure, and that’s what mattered.
“Where are we going?”
“To meet the King.” he said.
They entered just like that, hand in hand, beyond the gates. As soon as they stepped through, they were greeted by many people, they all welcomed her, as if they had been patiently awaiting her arrival. Everything felt familiar, as though she had returned home after a long time away.
As they walked, some chose to follow them, but they didn’t interrupt their progress. She didn’t look behind, she was too enraptured to look anywhere else but ahead.
Before she knew it, she stood before a throne so magnificent and brilliant that she had to shield her eyes. In that moment she bowed, her garments, which she realized now, were pure white-they surrounded her like puffs of clouds. He looked at her and she trembled, not of fear, but of awe. All she wanted now was to praise Him, for she felt such unconditional love holding her, the kind of love she had not been worthy of. It had been this kind of love her heart had always desired, but she hadn’t fully realized it actually existed.
In those moments she realized much. His love was full of justice, it could not tolerate injustice, even in the smallest degree. He was truth, lies couldn’t stand before him-even the so-called white lies. He was Love, and hate couldn’t abide His presence. Yet in her life she knew she had all of these flaws. Injustice, lies, and especially hate had often resided in her. But she had been marked by blood, she understood that now, it was a ransom that had been paid, and all wrongs had been wiped away. Now she could stand before Him. It was Him, the Lamb who had done this for her, so she could be here. She was so grateful. Because this love she felt surpassed everything, even her heart that had shattered so many times, within His presence it had been made whole.
He embraced her, like a father would embrace a lost child. When He spoke, all of heaven stood silent. “Well done, My child.” He said.
“Thank y--” she began, but He tenderly placed His fingers on her lips.
“Not yet, My child. I’m not finished with you yet.”
Immediately she understood this was just a visit, a taste of home. Disappointment didn’t overtake her, such a sentiment was not possible in such a place as this. But she knew she longed to be finished soon and return to her King.
“I have graced you with many gifts Hadassah, and now it’s time to use them. Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you by name. Remember that My plans are to prosper you and not destroy you. Are you ready child?”
Hadassah nodded and the Angel of Death took hold of her hand, to lead her back to life.
As they reached the gates there was a young couple who stood waiting. Hadassah’s heart leapt with joy as she recognized them. They looked the same, yet perfected. They smiled at her warmly and embraced her. Her mother, Estera Marku stroked her cheek.
“Mother.” sighed Hadassah.
“We’ll see you again soon, Hadassah. This is your time. Stand bold.” said her father.
Once more the Angel of Death picked her up and they were soaring.
“It’s not often that I get to do this, you know.” He said as they were nearing their destination.
“I’ll see you soon, child.” He whispered in her ear.
And just like that, the moment faded as Hadassah gasped and almost chocked on oxygen. The pain returned as she opened her eyes.


-Chapter 3-


“Well, it’s too late.” said the Queen.
“What in Heaven’s name do you mean ‘it’s too late’?” Philip questioned in an arctic voice.
“The Princess has arrived, she’s already comfortably situated in the Royal suite.” explained the King.
Philip strode to the window, then back to the antiquated oak desk. He traced the intricate designs with his fingers. The days had blended into each other, as if there was no firm line from one to the next. No clear design, or perhaps too intricate a design to comprehend in this human shell. The world had turned upside down with rage. The United States had tried to respond to the not-so-peaceful revolution on the streets of Romania-but the country was under lockdown. No communication whatsoever, no exceptions. Rumors assailed the world like tsunami, threatening it all to be crushed by its waves. Jewish families in Romania were disappearing and the Israeli government were responding with threats of their own, of bitter consequences. It seems they knew, or had known all along who Hadassah was-what she was worth, not only to this present time, but to history. She was concrete evidence of the legendary Esther, and the hope she resembled. A ransom. Now she was gone, this priceless national treasure-his treasure.
“Mother, you dishonor her. Was she worth so little to you? We don’t even have her body to burry and you think I should marry?” his voice broke.
The sun that was breaking through the window gave the illusion that the Queen’s eyes were shimmering, as if they were pools of flowing water being held captive. Before Philip could be sure she turned to the bookcase behind her desk, as if she was contemplating which to read. He clenched his fists, trying to control what couldn’t be controlled. He waited for her to respond.
“She heard us, you know.” she said so softly he almost didn’t hear her.
“Heard what?”
“When we were discussing the Princess,” before he could say anything she continued, “she loved you Philip, so much so-that she let you go.”
“What do you mean? Let me go?”
Sighing she continued as if she never stopped speaking, “This kingdom of ours, she loved it too, as if she were born here. That’s why, I think, she wanted you to meet her. But she knew you wouldn’t while she was here.” Turning back the Royal Mother met the eyes of her Royal Son. “So Philip, I honor her in the only way I know how; I’m giving her the last and only request she ever made of us.”
Philip didn’t know what to feel, he was shaking like a child. “What request is that?” he whispered, not really wanting to hear the answer, the answer he had known before this discussion had even begun.
“Your happiness, for you to have the best. You wouldn’t know this, but it has come to our attention that she called the Princess before she left.” He was about to interrupt, but his mother held up her hand and continued, “She even left a letter with Victor to be given to her upon her arrival.” she finished.
“What?” he asked incredulously, then he said with a slight painful laugh, “What is it with her and letters?”
“Don’t you understand Philip? We didn’t invite the Princess here, she did.”
That took his breath away as he slumped into the thickly cushioned chair. With his head in his hands he wept.
“Will you honor her then, Philip?” asked his father.
Minutes ticked before he gave his answer, the only answer that could be given.
“I will.”


____________________________


I was to be their chaperone. It felt as though I had a rock permanently lodged in my throat as I gazed upon them. We were in the same grand library, on the same royal grounds that Hadassah and I had marveled at. The very same one in which her love for Philip had been born.
With elegance Princess Sophie sat, in her hands were a sealed letter. The seal was the image of a lily, a lily of the valley-Hadassah’s favorite. Sophie’s hands were trembling.
Philip sat across from her, only a cream marble coffee table separating them. A range of emotions flashed across his face as he eyed the letter.
“I’m sorry for your loss.” she began
He just nodded his head in acknowledgement.
“When she called, I didn’t realize who she was, but-” she paused and drew in a sharp breath, “-when she spoke I knew she loved you. I said I would not come.”
Philip’s brows arched, but he remained silent.
“Then, she said she had to leave, she didn’t explain where. She asked if I would come and oversee her charity. Perhaps become her partner at Nobody’s Child Outreach. Hadassah seemed to know that from afar I had admired her work, even mimicked it in my own country-though not with the same passion as she did here.”
Once more she paused as she looked to the white double doors, as if she longed to stop speaking and leave. But she didn’t.
“Still, I said no.” A tear slipped down her face, she tucked a strand of her chestnut colored hair behind her ear. “Hadassah persisted, but my answer remained the same, and in conclusion she let it go.”
Philip’s eyes locked on hers as if he wanted to know her thoughts.
“Why then, are you here?” he said through clenched teeth.
I flinched at the chill his tone carried.
“To honor her. When she died, she saved many. It seems saving the forgotten is a passion for her. When news reached me of her-death-well she saved this forgotten Princess from a life that held no life. She ignited something in me Philip.” Her voice was filled with a passionate conviction. “And I don’t want her legacy to die. But please understand, I’m not here to replace her, I’m not here for you.”
Abruptly Philip stood and the Princess also rose, striding to him, and before he could turn to leave she placed a delicate hand on his shoulder, at which he tensed.
Sophie withdrew her hand, “Philip, I thought you might want to read this with me?” It was not a statement, it was a timid question. In her tone there was a familiar emotion I had felt with Hadassah. So it seemed these women had a lot in common, insecurity being one of them.
“No.” said Philip.
Sophie nodded.
“Please,” he whispered, “I mean no disrespect. I just need some time.”
“I understand. I’ll remain here for the time being,” she said, then added as an afterthought, “though you may refuse this now, but, I would like to