XIX

As Destiny sleepily made her way to the restroom, she was surprised to see Seven sitting at the kitchen table staring trance like at a mug. As she took care of personal business, curiosity over Seven caused her to become fully awake. It was almost 2am before they had arrived home from Lexi’s deliverance.

“Good morning, Seven,” Destiny greeted as cheerily as she could muster. His eyes were bloodshot and dark circles framed them. Was he drunk? “You’re up early. It’s not even six.”

“I haven’t been to bed.”

“What have you been doing?”

“Thinking, praying.”

“Drinking?” She asked and immediately regretted it.

“Actually, no,” he replied mildly. “For the first time in probably a couple years I’ve gone a whole calendar day without a drink.”

“Good for you.”

“Well,” he chuckled sadly. “It was circumstance, not intention.”

“What do mean?”

“If it wasn’t for that ordeal last night, I would have had my usual nightly nip.”

Destiny nodded. She was disappointed he was still drinking every day. He hadn’t been obviously drunk since his first few days staying with her and Brock. But she also knew he had to be convicted about alcohol himself.

“So what were you thinking and praying about?” Destiny inquired. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

“A lot of things,” he replied with a sigh and a shrug. “My mind has been all over the place. It’s been a mental yin and yang tug of war all night.”

“Can you tell me something specific you’ve been thinking about?”

Seven exhaled, leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and looked at the ceiling. “I need to know.”

Seven continued to gaze at the ceiling. After a minute of silence, Destiny spoke. “You need to know what?”

“Last night was the real deal,” Seven Sallie said as he looked at Destiny. “The only thing that would be more impressive, more awe inspiring, would be seeing Jesus Himself casting out demons.”

“Seven,” Destiny replied with a sweet smile, her eyes filling with light. “You did. Jesus was every bit there last night as when he walked the shores of Galilee two thousand years ago. You just didn’t see Him in a physical body. He was working through us as we prayed. You included, Seven.”

“What about Zella and Devin?”

Destiny frowned and looked at the table as she considered the fortune teller and Dirk’s brooding older brother. A couple of his demon tattoos crossed her mind’s eye. As did the colorful sign that advertised psychic readings outside of Zella’s home. She had seen evidence that God was working with both souls and they were responding according to their individual free will. She recalled in Mark chapter nine when the disciple John told the Savior that one was casting out devils in His name that did follow with them. Jesus replied to not forbid them.

“Are you familiar with C.S. Lewis’s book ‘Mere Christianity’?” Destiny asked.

“Yeah, I read it a long time ago.”

“I don’t know if you remember a part in it where Lewis talks about a person with a pathological horror of cats. And he forces himself to pick up a cat for some reason. He suggests it is quite possible that in God’s eyes he could have shown as much courage as a healthy man going to war.”

Seven frowned. “What’s that have to do with Zella and Devin?”

“We don’t know where they are at on life’s spiritual journey. We don’t know their struggles, influences and hardships. We don’t know their strengths and weaknesses. We can not judge. Only God knows the heart. But something much bigger than ourselves brought each and every one of us to Lexi’s rescue last night.”

“So Zella and Devin both recognized something in you all,” Seven Sallie said as he wiggled an index finger back and forth before it landed on his chin in contemplation. “That they both sought out your help with what was going on with Lexi. You all created this ring of love that drove out this obviously demonic captivity of her being.”

“There you go, ring of love! And God is that Love!” Destiny said with a big smile. “Jesus was the thread running through that circle of love. And you were part of that circle, Seven. Don’t you see?”

“But I tried to flee,” he replied and almost felt like weeping in frustration.

“But you didn’t.”

“So what’s that mean?” Seven asked as he threw up his hands in exasperation.

“It means that Satan is going about as a roaring lion seeking who he might devour,” Destiny explained. “I believe the dark side has seen something in you and they tried to drive you away. Demons don’t attack those that are serving them.”

“The dark side almost succeeded,” Seven admitted. “If it wasn’t for Brock, not me. I would have kept searching for a way out of that room.”

“But you see, your cousin is your brother in Christ,” Destiny said with a gentle smile. Her eyes seemed to shine with divine light and love. “He simply extended to you a lifeline of the strength he has found in Christ.”

“I understand what you’re saying, Dee, and I don’t mean to sound blasphemous or unfaithful or whatever. But I took a lot of comfort in Brock’s brawn.”

“I understand why you feel that way, Seven, and I don’t mean to sound disrespectful of my husband. He is the most physically strong and toughest man I have ever known. But Brock’s physical strength was almost entirely irrelevant last night. Even Brock’s personal strength is no match for spiritual wickedness in high places. I believe if it were me or Amy that came to you last night in your time of need, it could have been the same outcome. Not that there is anything in and of ourselves, but it is Christ living in us. That’s where the greatest power in the universe lies. But the carnal mind is blind to this aspect of strength being made perfect in weakness. Love shown through obedience.”

Seven looked at Destiny in awe. The thought that he had never seen a more beautiful woman in his life crossed his mind. But it had to do with her personality rather than the body her soul was housed in. For the first time in their short relationship, he felt like Destiny was his spiritual sister, even though he floundered in his personal religion.

“I want to ask you about something you just said,” Seven Sallie said. Although his podcast was often more entertainment than information, he felt like he was a journalist at heart. Regardless of his faults, Seven did like to thoroughly get to the bottom of things.

“Of course.”

“In my moment of terror,” Seven Sallie said, and then felt satisfied he was able to acknowledge his fright. This in turn reminded him of the strange thing about humility. The second you think you have it, you lost it. “You said that if you or Amy had been in Brock’s place, it could have been the same outcome; not would have been the same outcome.”

“Right,” Destiny nodded. “The reason I said could instead of would is because the situation had a dual aspect. For Amy, Brock and myself, we have a similar trust in God. That’s why the three of us had the same ability to bring you a lifeline in Christ. But you also had a role to play. You had to take hold of that lifeline. No offence, but like you said, a big aspect of you cleaving to Brock was his physical prowess. When in reality, it was irrelevant. You follow me?”

“Are you saying Brock’s not that strong?”

“Who says I’m not that strong?” Brock asked.

Destiny and Seven both jumped at the sound of Brock’s voice. They saw him standing at the bottom of the stairs, striking a fierce wrestling pose.