Where All My Hope Is

Temptation

Ezra's POV:

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He sat in the dank, dark cave... alone.

He heard a faint foot step behind him and spun around. There stood a man with crimson red eyes and a cruel grin.

"Why did you come after me? Mibali na yo balobaki naza libre ya kokende."

Lucifer's face filled with mock sympathy, "My child, you have pleased me greatly. I have chosen you to be my servant and helper."

"Why would I ever serve you?" He murmured disheartenedly.

"Follow me, and I will give you everything you could ever want! You could be the richest man on the earth, together, you will become more powerful than you have ever imagined." Lucifer's voice was dripping with honey, but his eyes burned with hate.

"The only thing you could have ever given me is gone, you killed her! Tika ngai kaka na pola!"Lucifer made no sign as to whether he could understand my words or not as tears were now streaming down Ezra's face, "There is nothing you could ever do to convince me to join you."

"You could have the world, Ezra Killian! And you are passing it up for what? A dark cave!" In this moment Lucifer truly did seem confused, why would any one pass up such an opportunity?

Ezra's tears had morphed into anger, "I had the world!" He screamed with a hoarse voice, "I had everything I could ever want! I was happy, I was loved, But you! You took everything from me." The tears had come back, he was now sobbing, "I don't want to live in a world without Fae."

Lucifer now understood, He circled Ezra with a sly grin on his face, "I could give you that too. "

"Don't you dare," Ezra said, shaking with rage, "She is gone, Your own men said so, nothing can change that."

"What if I told you she was still alive, join me and you will be reunited with her. Join me and I will make sure she never has to see the fate I have planned for her." Lucifer enticed. "I will protect her for you, just say the words Ezra Killian, and she will live"

"No!" Ezra yelled, "The only thing that Fae needed protection from was you, you killed her." His voice broke in denial.

"That's not true," Lucifer purred, "There are plenty of things that could kill Fae Cahira. But for now, she is still alive. Pledge yourself to me, and I will make sure that it stays that way."

Ezra covered his face and began to sob, "Tika lokuta! Svp bokende kaka mosika."

"Ezra." Another voice called. Ezra looked up. He saw a man in a white cloak. He smiled at Ezra, kindly. Lucifer had disappeared.

"Who are you?" Ezra asked nervously.

"I am Immanuel. I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will walk in the light of life. You are my son, Ezra." He didn't stop walking until he was standing in front of him.

Ezra looked away, "I don't deserve to be your son. I've made too many mistakes."

Immanuel smiled, "Your mistakes mean nothing to me, I've already forgiven you." Ezra glanced down at Immanuel's hands and saw the deep marks. Immanuel continued, "You need to go back to Fae."

Ezra's face crumpled, "But she's dead, and it's my fault!"

Immanuel smiled and said, "What Lucifer said was true, even though he is the prince of lies. Fae lives and she has forgiven you."

A smile played with Ezra's features but he then instantly smothered it with a frown. "I can't go back to her, not after what I've done."

Immanuel held out his hand, "How long have you been running Ezra?"

"What?"

"How long have you been running from your mistakes?"

Ezra took a deep breath, "A long time, I guess. Everything I do usually ends in a mess. I promised Fae's father to bring her to him, and I even failed to do that," To himself he muttered, "I've always been a failure."

Immanuel shook his head, "You are not a failure. The only reason why you feel this way is because you're trying to decide if you will follow the path of light, or the path of darkness."

Ezra stared at his feet, "I remember when I first believed in Adonai, it was wonderful and I was at peace. But," he paused and looked down, "Then dad started doing bad things and I ran away. When I found the Adrielan's Guard I guess I just started going through the motions. Fae's dad started talking to me privately and asked if I could bring Fae him. I knew it was a bad deal but the money was good so I agreed. I wanted the money so that we could bring Asher here. But in the end Asher traveled here himself so I found myself less motivated to do the job. And," Ezra's cheeks flushed, and continued in a soft voice, "Fae became my friend." Immanuel nodded and listened to Ezra's entire story. Ezra's voice rose again and he finished, "I can't go back to the people I betrayed."

Immanuel said, "If you keep running then your problems will only haunt you harder. If you face them then you will stand stronger. I will help you, but only if you really want it."

Ezra thought about it for a minute. Images of his family flashed through his mind. He missed them terribly. Then he thought about Fae and the last look that she gave him. The look of betrayal, "You said Fae forgives me. Is that true?"

Immanuel nodded, "She wants you to come home."

Ezra shuddered as the darkness that was sitting on his shoulder shouted repeatedly for him to say no, but he forced himself to look at Immanuel's face and say, "Okay."

Immanuel smiled and put his hands on Ezra's shoulders, instantly the shadow released its grip and retreated back to the darkness. Ezra took a deep breath, his chest felt unlocked and free. He glanced up at Immanuel's eyes and saw love, "You have refused the Evil One's temptation. Now, I want you to go back home. The darkness is working hard to crush the light, and for you to stand strong is to stand together. Will you do this for me?"

"Yes, Immanuel. I will do what you ask, my Lord," Ezra answered.