"Welcome to the headquarters of the Nephilim Knights where Nephilims are trained for the purpose of protecting humans from the creatures of the underworld." Father Guzman says in a Spanish accent gesturing to the large building filled with lots of half-angel, half-human hybrids.
Father Guzman is a tall man in his early fifties. He has brown hair, deep blue eyes and a neat beard on his face.
He hasn't stopped smiling since Angelo saw him and Angelo knows he's not smiling because of him and the man just loves to smile.
Angelo looks around and is in awe. He always thought of the possibility that aliens might exist and the government has a headquarters where aliens are being experimented on. Not this, not half angel, half human hybrids.
But Angelo is a bit confused because he knows what Nephilims are, he read about them in the bible.
"I thought Nephilims were supposed to be giants," Angelo says as they stand close to the railing watching two nephilims train by fighting each other. They're not actually going to hurt each other they're just training and preparing for when next they're going to be seeing a demon.
"Yes, our ancestors used to be giants and they also used to be vicious toward humans. They'd probably never think their descendants would be protecting humans." Father Guzman says while still looking at the two nephilims training. Angelo is looking at him because he feels a story coming on. "Around the early times of the earth when humans could see supernatural creatures all the time. A bunch of lustful angels thought it be a good idea to come down from heaven to have sexual intercourse with humans.
Some only came down to earth to have sex with them and some did fall in love in the process, but that didn't stop them from having sex with human women. And that is when the nephilims were born, half-human, angel beings that came out as big and strong, children who had angelic abilities but also had human-like vulnerabilities.
When the sons and daughters of the fallen angels saw that they were more powerful than the average human they did what anyone who had power would do best and that was to cause havoc.
God, heard the cries of the humans who were being bullied by these gigantic creatures and he sent his arch angels to warn them that if they did not stop their wicked ways there would be hell to pay. But of course, they didn't listen, so God sent a flood that destroyed not only the nephilims but the wicked humans that roamed the earth." Angelo is still listening, picturing everything that went down in his head.
He has heard this story a gazillion times, but something in him feels there's more to the story than what he's been hearing and reading all his life.
"There were a few that survived and were ready to change from their ways. But there was one of them who stood out and wanted to make a change. His name was Mahway, and he made a covenant with God to make sure that his children's children's children would protect humans from harm. So for centuries, nephilims have protected humans from demons and evil spirits.
As for us looking more human and less gigantic, as the years went by we began to look more human. We're still fast and we have super strength and good reflexes. The difference between us and Angels is that we age but it takes a long time for us to die
The oldest nephilim is three hundred years and as for angels they're immortal."
It hits Angelo right in the head and his eyes widen.
"Are you saying I'm… immortal now?"
"Yes, but you're not going to be immortal until you turn thirty. God created angels in a way that makes them go from infancy to adulthood. They don't grow old like humans and nephilims do. Age thirty is where they stop ageing and that's going to be the same for you."
Angelo nods and he begins to think of looking hot and tall at that age forever. He was getting scared because he thought he was going to be immortal at the age of sixteen, that would have been a hard thing for him to do and people would question him.
"Follow me." Father Guzman walks ahead and Angelo follows him.
Angelo finds himself following Father Guzman to a large room filled with magical-looking weapons, the kind of weapons Chris, JJ and Wendy used to attack the dybbuk. White-like weapons that glow in the dark.
There are loads of them in this room.
"Holy shit!" Angelo exclaims looking at the weapons in awe.
Father Guzman clears his throat.
"Sorry," Angelo says, he has forgotten that he's standing next to a man of God. "Why are these weapons glowing?"
"That's because they're not made by man, they were made by angels for guardian angels and the nephilims.
Normal weapons can't kill demons but these celestial weapons can."
Angelo looks at the weapons. Two glowing daggers catch his eyes, he tries to pick one up but they don't budge. These weapons are strong and it looks like they don't want to be picked. Angelo gives up and he turns to Father Guzman who has been watching him with a smile on his face.
"You don't choose the weapons, the weapons choose you." He simply says.
"What? Why?"
"Angel Michael designed these weapons in such a way that only the righteous can hold them. So the weapons are the ones who decide if you're righteous enough. And the weapon you have reflects on your personality."
Angelo looks at the shiny glowy weapons and it kind of makes sense. This would mean JJ and Wendy even Chris are righteous and are worthy of the weapons that they have.
Wendy has her bow and arrows, JJ has his shotgun and Chris has his sword.
Angelo wonders what his weapon or weapons will be. He doesn't get to choose, the weapons choose him.
But what if he's not righteous enough?
"What do I have to do to be good enough for the weapons to pick me?" Angelo asks in all seriousness. And he's afraid that the weapons won't choose him because he's gay. He doesn't believe that being gay is a sin because how can it be? He's not harming anyone with his sexuality, so why is it a sin and why would God make him gay then send him to hell?
You're a demon!
"All you have to do is be brave, protect humans from demons and do it selflessly and with love."
Angelo nods his head, he's relieved that Father Guzman did not mention that if he's homosexual then the weapons won't choose him. But what if that's the case, what if he won't get chosen because he's gay and Father Guzman forgot that minor detail?
"But right now we have to focus on protecting you. You're being looked for by the halo thief right now as we speak."
That makes Angelo swallow, because how does one just go to heaven and steal angelic halos? What is this person planning? It has to be something huge if he has to risk it all by stealing God's creation for their agenda.
"Come along let me show you around."
Father Guzman walks out the door and Angelo follows him. He takes one last look at the angelic weapons and he walks out of the room.
Father Guzman shows him the dining hall where they eat their meals, he shows him the library, and there's a music room and a grand piano in the middle of it.
"Yes!" Angelo walks over to the large musical instruments and plays a few songs and that earns applause from Father Guzman.
"You play, finally, no one plays the instruments around here. Thank God you're here to liven up the place."
"Really? No one here likes music?"
"They do, but they don't play the instruments."
"Oh," Angelo says standing up. He's going to be spending more time here than anywhere else in this building filled with dozens of nephilims and an angel.
They walk out of the room and Angelo continues following Father Guzman. He still has more questions.
"So no human knows about this place or that there are half-angel, half-human beings protecting them?"
"A few do most especially prominent religious leaders," he confirms.
"And there's just one headquarters here in California?"
"Our headquarters are all over America, they're all over the world. It's part of the covenant made with God, all Nephilims must protect humans. If they are caught killing a human then they will be punished."
"What if that human is a vile individual?"
"It doesn't matter. No Nephilim should take a human life, it's in the law. Just like angels aren't allowed to take human life unless ordered by God."
They find themselves in a study filled with books and JJ, Wendy and Chris are here.
Chris sits on the table with his arms folded. Wendy and JJ are playing with the globe on the table.
"Children" Father Guzman says to the three of Angelo's saviours.
"Hey, Angelo!" Wendy waves and Angelo waves back.
"Hey, Wendy."
"Hey, man you loving the headquarters?" JJ asks.
"This place is so cool. I love it!"
JJ nods in approval. And Angelo believes he has found his new home. Sure they're filled with religious people but they seem nice. He looks at Chris but Chris doesn't look his way. He's so mysterious.
"I'm glad you love the place." Father Guzman says. "Children, I have called you here to tell you about your next mission you—"
"Ah, I can't wait to bust some demon heads." JJ throws his fist in the air. And Chris puts on a small smile and that's his way of being excited that he's going on a mission.
"Calm down James." Father Guzman says. "This mission is quite different from the ones you have."
"Really?" Wendy says with furrowed brows. "What could the mission be father?"
"You three will be going to high school," he says in excitement and Angelo expects them to be excited but they're not. Their faces which were filled with light are blank and there's quiet in the room. Angelo stands there awkwardly.
The three of them look at each other confused.
"But we already finished with high school."
"Yes, I know but it's a part of your mission. You will accompany Angelo to high school. Make sure he's safe."
"I don't understand." Says Wendy.
"But the high school is in the headquarters. Why does he need protecting?" Chris asks and Angelo has a feeling Chris doesn't like him. But why? Everyone loves him.
"Not the high school in the headquarters. You all will be going to Sunnyville High."
The three nephilims look at each other.
"What?" They all yell in unison including Angelo.
"Sunnyville high. In Beverly Hills? No, I can't go there." Says Angelo. "That place is filled with pretentious rich people."
"Why does he have to go to a school outside of the headquarters anyway" Asks Chris and Angelo has to admit that is a good question.
"He has his reasons." Father Guzman looks up and Angelo furrows his brows.
Who has his reasons? God?
"And when he wants something done do you question it?" He asks the three of them.
It takes them a while but they all answer. "No."
"Good, so it's settled. You follow Angelo to Sunnyville High with no questions that is a part of your mission." they don't argue and Angelo is still confused. What does God have to do with all this? Did he know that a halo was going to be plunged into his chest that would bring him back to life? Of course he did, he's God.
Angelo has tried to remember what happened after he died before he was pulled away from death. Was he in heaven or hell? He doesn't want to think too much about it, all he knows is that he's alive. He got a second chance at life, as an angel for that matter.
"Okay, you show Angelo to Mother Evangeline I have a lot of work to do." Father Guzman walks over to his desk. Wendy and JJ leave his desk and move toward Angelo.
"Guess we're stuck with each other," JJ says with a small smile. Angelo doesn't think he's happy about this arrangement and honestly, he doesn't blame them for being pissed. They graduated high school years ago and now they're being told they have to go back. To a public school for that matter.
Chris hesitates but he leaves the desk and joins them. They escort him to the dorms. It's quiet at first until Wendy breaks the silence.
"I think it's going to be fun. I watched the movie clueless and high school looks like a blast."
"Yeah." JJ agrees. "There are cheerleaders there." he waggles his eyebrows.
"You love girls too much JJ." Wendy laughs.
"They're all so beautiful."
Angelo's focus is on Chris who doesn't want to say anything. He wonders what Chris could be thinking. What's in that head of his? He's so pretty it hurts. A mean boy like this is not supposed to be this pretty. Angelo was cursed with being boy crazy so he's stuck this way.
It'll take the grace of God to make him not like men at all.
They reach a corridor filled with doors, room doors. And a dark-skinned woman dressed in a nun outfit walks toward them.
This doesn't look like any other nun outfit. She looks like the head nun or something. A reverend Mother. Her face is in a frown and she walks so majestically with her head held high. Angelo shivers because he doesn't think he's going to want to cross her.
"Good evening, I'm mother Evangeline and I will be showing you to your room. Welcome," she says with a small smile. You'll never catch this woman showing her teeth and you'll never catch Angelo making this woman angry.