A great fall had begun in Nevaeh. Everyone was blinded by the darkness flooding through them and Lucifer's deception - all but one: Jose. 

 .................................................................................................................

    Olive made her way to the Walters' home, pebbles crunching softly under her footsteps. It had been a while since she'd seen Adriel. Ever since their new guest, Adrianus, took refuge in her friend's home, Adriel hadn't come out to see her as she used to every day. 

Olive knocked on the back door of the Walters' home. It was Jose that greeted her.

"Why, hello, Olive," He said with a smile.

"Hello," She replied, grinning. "Is Adriel here by any chance?"

"Of course. Shall I get her for you?"

"Yes please."

A few moments later, Jose returned with Adriel by his side.

"Olive," Adriel said quietly and reached out to hug her. There was something different about Olive's friend, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She was more...silent. Sad.

"I haven't seen you in such a long time," Olive said, squeezing her friend. 

"Shall we take a walk in the forest together?" Adriel asked.

"Let's go," Olive replied, grinning, and took her friend's hand.

Jose smiled and watched them leave, leaning against the door frame.

...........................................................................................................

"Are you all right, Adriel?" Olive asked, brushing a strand of blonde hair that had fallen from Adriel's braid. They had walked leisurely for some time in silence and Olive couldn't keep her unspoken questions inside anymore.

Adriel swallowed and stayed silent for a long moment. 

"If you're about to say 'I'm fine' I know you're lying," Olive said, attempting to make Adriel smile. 

Adriel remained silent, biting her lip nervously.

"What's wrong?"

Adriel shook her head. "I don't even know."

"Why?" Olive stopped and turned to Adriel. Her friend bowed her head, her long lashes hiding her eyes. 

"Something's changed in me," Adriel said so faintly Olive had to lean closer to hear. "And I don't know what to do about it."

"What do you mean 'something's changed in you?'"

"Ugh...I don't know. But I'm so afraid all the time. I never used to be. I don't feel like...a Warrior - who I've been trained to be."

Not knowing what to say, Olive could only wrap her arm around Adriel and continue walking. 

The two girls made their way to a stream that flowed into the great river and took off their shoes to dip their feet in the cool, fresh, water. 

"Why don't you come out to see me anymore?" Olive inquired.

Adriel shrugged. "I haven't really thought of it."

"Oh." Olive knew that Adriel used to never miss a day seeing her. It was out of her character to just...stop. She felt a surge of anger but swallowed it down. She was known for her temper, but always practiced controlling it. Perhaps she was just being melodramatic, her temper making things seem worse than they actually were.

    After a few awkward minutes of silence, sitting on the banks of Nevaeh's river and strained dialogue here and there, Adriel said she needed to help her mother prepare dinner for the household, and left, walking slowly towards her home. Olive remained at the creek, staring into the sparkling water. She remembered the time she ran after "gold" in the water and nearly drowned. She turned away, disturbed by the memory. There was an enemy working in Neveah, and someone had to do something - soon. Troubled, Olive hastily walked back to the Walters' home, determined to bring everyone together to form an army against...this darkness. She wasn't sure if any of the Warriors would help because everyone was so blind, and who would listen to 'Neveah's gossip'. Which was exactly who Olive was. But not anymore. She was going to move and serve the King as she should have done in her many years of 'lazy work'. Olive entered the Walters' kitchen, not bothering to knock and cleared her throat to make herself known. Four faces turned to her. Adriel, Mrs. Walter, Phineas, and Jose. She looked to Jose who seemed to have already known why she was standing there. His face remained straight, but she saw a hint of a smile in His eyes. That encouraged her to speak.

"I...I uh - need to tell you all something..." She began - rather pathetically in her opinion. Mrs. Walter, always ready to listen and speak kind words, took a step toward Olive, and said, "What is it, my dear?"

"Um...I need everyone gathered together. I need your whole family - and Jose...and Victor as well to hear me." She didn't mention Adrianus. For some odd reason, she felt as though he was still a stranger, a foreigner, and not a friend that so many had now considered him to be.

Mrs. Walter nodded. "Very well, Olive. Shall we meet somewhere? Is this awfully important?"

For a moment, Olive felt dumb and strange, but she shook off the feeling and nodded her head. 

"Yes. I believe this is very important." Oh, she hoped they would believe her. "Can we meet near the creek? Now?"

Mrs. Walter nodded and spun around to face everyone else in the room. 

"Adriel, fetch your brothers and father."

Adriel stood silently from where she sat, peeling carrots at the kitchen table and walked by Olive to the door.

"I will look for Victor," Jose offered.

"Oh, thank you," Mrs. Walter said, smiling her warm smile.

As Jose passed Olive, he nodded at her, a boost of courage. 

......................................................................................................................

    When everyone had gathered, and Olive had explained her new-found "knowledge" of what was happening in Nevaeh, there was a silence that seemed to hurt her ears. It was Mrs. Walter who first stepped up and lay a gentle hand on Olive's shoulder.

"My dear, if what you say is true," She looked behind her at the others and when she looked back at Olive, she lowered her voice to a whisper, "Then why hasn't Jose done anything? He came to rescue us, and He has...the Evil One is gone."

"It's true," A firm voice came from the small crowd. Jose. He stepped forward and looked at Mrs. Walter. It was clear He heard everything. "I've known this all along. But what would happen if I just fought for all of you and you all didn't have to worry about the evil one entering this little village? You are called warriors for a reason! I have been waiting for one of you to see what is going on and build up the courage to speak up." Jose turned his eyes to Olive and smiled very faintly. "The Evil One is desperate to drag you all down. But you must fight!"

"How?" Adriel asked, shaking her head. "We have weapons and we are certainly skilled Warriors, but...Lucifer...he's greater than any of us and with just the cunningness of his brain, he could wipe us all out!"

Jose walked over to her and lay a strong hand on her shoulder. "Why do you not see?" He asked.

Adriel blinked at him, seemingly baffled at what he said.

"Don't you know my Father is greater than Lucifer? He's greater than anything we could ever imagine! Why are you all so full of fear?" He turned to the small assembly, their eyes plastered on Him.  "Surely that's a sign of the Lucifer's affliction on you already!"

"Jose is right," Phineas said. Everyone was surprised that Phineas had spoken out. He hardly ever did so, always quiet and observant. "We all know the King is good - right?"

Phineas was met with everyone's heads nodding in response.

"Then surely He would not leave us powerless against the Evil One. Yes, the Evil One may appear that he has greater and more numerous weapons than we, but our weapon is the King himself. Our daggers are merely daggers, and our swords merely swords, but we have all good things inside of us - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - the great qualities of the King Himself. With them, we can overcome all evil."

"But...how?" Barak asked. Once again, another surprise. Barak hardly asked any questions or even admitted he had them. But now...his honest vulnerability was greatly revealed.

"Believe," Jose said, softly.

Olive could hardly understand what she was hearing. She had brought this small assembly here to discuss the Evil One's schemes and perhaps a logical battle plan. She hadn't expected Phineas to say such things...and even more so, hadn't expected Jose to agree with him. How were they supposed to truly fight against the Evil One with the virtues? What Phineas had called their "weapons" and potential battle plan, was not what Olive had in mind.

"Where's Adrianus? Maybe he could help us fight," Adriel blurted. There was a numbing silence and Jose was the first to speak.

"Adriel...why do you doubt the spiritual weapons the King has already given us?"

Adriel blinked, surprised. "I-I wasn't, I just...wondered if...Adrianus wanted to...know about these weapons and how to use them."

Jose smiled softly, his eyes so sad, it took Olive aback. That sadness she had never seen before. It was so sorrowful. She realized that Adriel had noticed it too, as she bowed her head, fingers fidgeting. 

"Don't doubt my Father," Jose said so quietly that it was nearly a whisper. "Be alert, Adriel - all of you." His voice grew louder as he addressed them all. "The thief comes at night when everyone is asleep. Be alert. If you are wise, you will be alert in the darkness."

.................................................................................................................

    Lucifer slipped away, like a serpent, slithering among the moss and leaves, unheard and unnoticeable. He had just been listening intently to the Warrior's conversation from a safe distance and he was outraged. Listening to Phineas' words and then Joses' despicable words aroused the hatred that was always simmering inside of him. He was keen. He was clever. But the King was furiously "good" and "wise" that none of his schemes could outwit Him. Jose hadn't given Lucifer's identity away, which gave him more time to plan and scheme how he would navigate the Warrior's questions and come up with other ways to deceive the Warriors and ultimately get them where they were before - unquestioning and calmly trusting Nevaeh's security and most of all - Lucifer's mask, "Adrianus."

    He still had his chance to keep them from slipping out of his grip. But a nagging fear kept stirring inside of him. He tried to ignore it. The King ruled over all - including him, but that didn't mean Lucifer couldn't rule over the hearts of the Warriors. He still had a chance...as long as they kept believing in his deception and turning their ears from the words of Jose.