Chapter One from "The Purpose". The second book in The Chronicles of Malachai series.

The second book in The Chronicles of Malachai called, "The Purpose" is almost to the point of being printed and available online and in stores.

As promised for those anxiously awaiting to get your hands on a copy in order to find out where Malachai's journey takes him next, I am posting Chapter One of "The Purpose", to build your anticipation even more. Hope you enjoy this small taste of what's to come.

Chapter ONE from

THE PURPOSE 

by Daniel Sweetnam

Chapter One

“The spiritual world exists all around you Malachai. Many people feel or experience the strange and supernatural events this world offers, but since they don’t understand it, they don’t believe it’s real and become confused about what they feel. However, those that do believe often desire more.

The trouble is when it comes to being responsible for what they see or feel they no longer want to listen, they only want the experience and nothing more. Most people choose not to help others with what they learn; they only want to feel powerful and important for themselves. Most will not choose to do what is right but only what makes them feel content. What will you do Malachai?” the angel spoke to me.

I knew this angel well and also knew just how much he cared for me. Many times in my past he had visited both in my dreams and while I was awake. But he always challenged me with thoughts I wasn’t sure I wanted to consider. This time, we were standing in a tall grassy field, on the edge of a lake, and even though I knew I was dreaming, the angel’s radiance lit up everything around us and brought warmth upon my body. However, the words he spoke cut deep into my very soul.

“I want to do what’s right, but I’m scared. The things I see don’t seem very incredible or miraculous. They are more from a dark, sinister side of the spiritual world.” I replied.

Gently, the angel answered, “There are incredible miracles happening all around you, but your fear of the darkness is blinding you from the greater world which you also exist in. You’re not alone Malachai.”

“Then why do I feel so alone all the time?” I answered, resignedly.

            “Just because you don’t always see or feel us, know we are still watching over you. God would never leave you alone, you are very important to Him and He is always with you even when you forget He is there. Sometimes life just becomes hard and the good is overshadowed by the bad. Yet there is always light amidst the darkness if we choose to look for it. Perhaps you need to be the light yourself.” The angel finished. Then I woke up.

The next day I took some time to contemplate where my life was going and everything the angel had said in my dream. So as I sat alone on the edge of a cliff that was hanging off the side of a large mountain, I questioned why I was cursed with this responsibility to see these demons and into the hearts of others. Since I was little all I saw were how the demons and angels fought over people to either rule them or set them free. Yet as much as some believed I was given an incredible gift by God, to me it was just too heavy of a burden to bear.

This weekend was supposed to be fun as some new friends I had made from my College program invited several of us up for an end of term party that weekend. However, as much fun as the party was for everyone else, all I felt was my own sorrow and the true pain they hid within their hearts as well. So that morning when our hosts offered to take us on a hike up the mountainside by their house, I was happy to go just to get away from everyone else and spend some time alone.

It didn’t take me long to separate myself from the rest of the group as I often went hiking or mountain climbing at home and at camp. Of course the fact that the rest were also still groggy from being up so late with the party definitely slowed them down with hiking. I let them know I wanted to take some time by myself and then went ahead in order to be alone with my thoughts and God.

I'd forgotten how simple it could all really be. So much has happened since that horrible dream in the old saloon with the demon General named Midnight. I had made my choice to fight him and serve God, but I didn’t realize then just how much Midnight would make me suffer for it. He hasn’t appeared to me for almost a year, yet the dream is still as vivid in my mind as if it had happen only last night. I know he is still watching me and I often feel his presence around me and in my dreams, but he no longer shows himself.

What Midnight promised about the real war beginning was true though. For months I felt bombarded by his attacks. At home, camp, work or even with friends, his minions seemed to show up to make their presence known. Often they took pride with knowing I could see them whispering into the ears of those around me so I could watch how much influence they had.

I did all I could to pray and make them leave people alone, but it seemed like the people would rather have the demons telling them lies then hear the truths God wants them to know. They would rather have power, influence and importance instead of doing what was right. The problem is that I am starting to agree with them again.

All I see and feel is people’s anguish, pain, suffering and selfishness; I’m finding it hard to see what is good with life and God's creation. I knew so much truth about why people, the spirits and even myself chose to do all we did, that sorrow and helplessness has taken control over my own thoughts and emotions; I was forgetting who I really was. I was losing hope.

A veil of darkness had begun to overshadow my own heart and depression consumed my hope. I was beginning to understand what Midnight was trying to tell me when he asked why I was trying so hard to watch over people when they didn’t really want me to. I was only taking away their fun by reminding them of the truths I thought God wanted them to know. Whether at camp, church or home I found very few that really wanted to seek the truths of God, most just wanted the experience of God and what He had to offer; nothing more.

The more I fought against the demons, the stronger their attack came against those I cared for. Several people I deeply cared for had passed away; many friends and family were going through hard times; and I felt helpless to do anything about it. In fact I was beginning to feel it was my fault for not giving in to Midnight’s demands and now his darkness was taking over all I knew with no doorway left for any of us to escape.

I hid as much sorrow and despair as I could behind my mask of humor so others wouldn’t see just how desperate I had become. I had also learned how to shut off my abilities in order to protect myself from seeing more of the demons and peoples hearts as well. Whenever I did open my heart up to help others, I simply became like a sponge that absorbed their pain, anger and sorrow, but I had no way of dealing with their emotions on top of my own pain; so absorbing theirs only broke my own spirit further. My hope was leaving and bitterness began filling the emptiness.

As I sat on the cliff overlooking a lake pondering all that the angel said to me, I thought about how hopeless I felt and how much I wished for this all to end. I didn’t want to be a warrior for God anymore. I didn’t want to see the truth. I didn’t want to have to care about other people anymore. I just wanted to be normal. I wanted to be like everyone else who just got to take care of themselves and do what they wanted. If I couldn’t have it, then I no longer wanted to live, because I just hurt too much.

I looked around the peaceful lake and saw the birds cheerfully flying around singing as they flew. I could see the geese across from me on a beach playing and having fun. Even the fish were jumping and almost skipping across the surface of the water. I used to feel so much peace and joy, but now all I felt was loneliness. The animals all knew where they belonged and found joy in what they did, but it seems that I only exist to serve others and help them find peace and joy. Yet, for some reason it was as if I didn’t deserve the same peace and joy for myself.

With tears rolling down my cheek I let out a heavy sigh, and then I rested my head on my knees and prayed.

"Please God, I'm so tired and need your help. I need you to show me why I'm here once again and what you want me to do. I want to give up constantly. I just don’t want to be here anymore. I need you to give me hope again or to take me home before I do it myself. Please." I desperately prayed.

Suddenly an overwhelming feeling flooded the entire area and flowed through my spirit itself. A breeze came off the lake and swept up the mountainside and across my body causing the grass and brush around me to sway backwards. I could hear the wind continue to flow up the mountain behind me blowing through the tall trees causing them to shake, whistle and crackle then it circled back towards me once more and calmed down. As the trees and grass around me settled them selves, I heard a voice speak.

"You asked for wisdom and I have been teaching you how to be wise Malachai; but it doesn't come easily." A gentle, yet strong voice spoke.

"Simply having knowledge does not make a person wise. Understanding how that knowledge impacts the greater purpose makes you wise with how you use it. All the knowledge you have gained has brought you only sorrow because you have not yet learned how to use this knowledge for the greater purposes it was designed for. Knowledge gives you the ability to understand how everything exists and works. Understanding gives you the ability to know why everything should exist and work. But wisdom only comes when you know and understand that everything does exist and work, whether or not you know how or understand why; and that you exist with it all too." The voice finished.

"Then teach me more. If this knowledge is only bringing me sorrow because I don't understand why it's happening, then show me why so I can learn what is really going on and know that there is hope for us all in the end." I pleaded.

"You must learn to see deeper into my purposes Malachai, when there is so much sorrow and despair happening within this world, do you not believe that I would have a purpose to bring hope somehow through it all?" He asked.

"I know you must always have a purpose somehow, but how do I see it and understand something so much greater than me?" I responded.

Gently The Voice answered, "Malachai, remember when the little bird sat beside you in your backyard and you were filled with peace? It was then that you understood how within the simplest of things I exist. Now you are learning that within the most complicated moments, I also exist. What does this mean to you Malachai?"

I took a moment to ponder it then said, "I guess it would mean that no matter what is happening whether good or bad, calm or chaotic, you are always there and maybe I need to trust you. Perhaps instead of thinking only about what is happening, I should be looking towards you to understand the purpose of why it is happening."

"Now you are gaining wisdom Malachai. Seek out the greater purpose and you will find hope once more." The voice finished.

As the overwhelming feeling of peace faded slowly away a small bird flew down and sat in front of me. It sang a joyous song and kept its gaze upon me. I lost all sense of time as I simply sat and enjoyed this incredible moment. The last time God sent a bird to me was to bring me hope as I cried out to Him in my backyard. This time the message the little bird brought me was one filled with joy as well.

With one last chirp the little bird finished its song, hopped towards me, then stopped by my feet and looked into my eyes. It passed on a strong sense of peace and joy as it looked at me. All I could do was sit and bask in the incredible feeling the bird gave. Finally, the little bird leaped into the air, opened its wings and circled around me before it flew off towards the lake and out of my sight.

I still felt very confused with exactly what I was to do with my life, but I had found a renewed sense of direction after that weekend. I needed to seek out why events were happening in people’s lives, not just try to solve what was immediately happening to them.

I was beginning to realize if a person chose to listen to the demons whispers that brought negative consequences to their lives, perhaps I should stop focusing on what that person was doing wrong and start figuring out why the demon was choosing to influence them in the first place. If the demons were spending so much energy to keep me from understanding my true purpose, then maybe they were doing the same with others. So since I could see the demons then my job should be to stop them.

Chapter One from "The Gift", the first book in The Chronicles of Malachai Series.

While the final preparations are being made for the release of the second book in the Chronicles of Malachai series called, "The Purpose", I've decided to share a bit of the background about Malachai and what his Gift is by sharing Chapter One from "The Gift" which is book one of the series. Throughout the first book Malachai encounters many different spirits and quickly learns within the first few chapters to be careful which ones he should trust as many don't take kindly to his interference within their realm. 

"The Purpose", continues the next phase of this spiritual war that Malachai becomes a part of and attempts to portray a glimpse as to how intense this war can be. For those who are following these posts and are as anxious for "The Purpose" to come out as I am, I will be releasing Chapter One from "The Purpose" as a preview, within the next couple of weeks.

Thanks again for your continued support and for those who have not read "The Gift", I hope you get a sense as to what more the series is all about by reading this first Chapter from "The Gift". As well, if you are looking for a place to purchase the full book, I have some quick link tabs on the side of this blog for your convenience. 

Chapter One from "The Gift", by Daniel Sweetnam

      "Why won't you trust me, Malachai? I am the only one who truly understands you and I've always cared. When others judged and criticized you, it was me who offered to help and protect you. I have always believed in what you can become and I'm the only one who can give you the freedom you seek. Yet, you still doubt and fight me. Why?" spoke the shadowy figure.

      I looked around the room I was standing in, the walls were made of wood, faded and old; the air felt dark and thick like a heavy black fog; and the people all around me were filled with incredible pain and sorrow.

      "Freedom? What Freedom! Nobody in this place looks free to me. How can I trust you when you still haven't told me the truth of who you really are and why you want me? What exactly do you want in return?" I answered.

      The shadowy figure leaned across the wooden table between us, giving me the first real glimpse of his pale, white face and spoke, "Because I need you Malachi. I need your unique abilities, your gift. But without me, you will have no one else to teach and guide you. Without me, you will be alone."

      Immediately after he spoke, his figure dissipated into a black misty cloud; and he was gone. I found myself lying in my bed; alone and frightened. Was it just another horrible nightmare or was I really there? All I knew for sure is I wanted them to stop.

As a child, I could feel peoples hurt and sorrow which created a deep desire in me to help them and bring them hope. I also saw other figures and spirits around them speaking to them, but I didn’t understand what they were. When I tried to tell people what I saw or felt they didn't believe me and said it was just my imagination, after all, I was only a child. I felt very lonely and I wished, even prayed for someone that would listen, understand and spend time with me; and my wish came true.

When I was nine, the presences and spirits I saw around people began taking notice of me. They would come to spend time, listen and encouraged me, just when I needed them. When I was sad, frustrated or lonely, they would offer words of comfort, peace and hope. They would tell me stories about other people, places and a glorious city with amazing beings that lived there; filling my heart with an incredible hope.

It didn't take long to realize not all of my new friends were the same though; some seemed very wise and old, others were more human. These more human spirits would tell me personal stories about the people in my life and sometimes even strangers. They shared people's secrets, their private hurts, past and pain, not to scare me or hurt them; but so I could help and bring them hope. At times they would even ask me to deliver these people a message of comfort, just like they brought me.

"It will help those you care about find the peace and hope they need, Malachai. Please tell them what we say. They don't have the same ability you do. We try to talk to them, but they don't believe and won't listen to us." These spirit friends said.

However, I quickly learned that telling others what these friends were saying, was not a good idea. People were more concerned with how I knew things about them, especially their secrets, than being comforted by the words of hope. No matter how good my intentions were they would just get annoyed or angry with me. I wasn't helping anyone find hope or peace; I was just making them more upset.

"I don't want to deliver anymore messages to people, I'm hurting them and what they say back is hurting me. Please can't you tell them or get someone else?" I told these spirit friends.

"Please don't give up Malachai. The truth is hard for people to receive, but it doesn't mean they don't hear your words. Those who receive and hear will find the hope and peace they desire. But if you give up, who will be left to tell them the truth. We need you Malachai." They answered.

There was one of the more human spirits that I grew very close to; she was always interested in hearing about my life and was willing to listen. She told me she was my Grandma and shared many stories with me about my mother's childhood.

"Your mom was a lot like you Malachai, she could feel others hurt and tried to help everyone around her feel better. But because I was sick and she couldn't help me, it often made her feel very lonely and hurt inside too. I love your mom very much; please tell her what I say and how much she did help me, so she can remember the happier times and find hope once more." my Grandma said.

When I told my mom what Grandma said, she acted very surprised, almost with disbelief and then answered, "How can she tell you? She died when I was young."

Even my Great Grandfather started to visit me and began sharing personal stories from the past that would mean something only to my mom. He would give me messages to tell her that I couldn't possibly have known about to help her believe; and it worked.

"I don't understand how these people who have died are speaking to you Malachai, but I know they can, because at times I have felt them too." My mom told me.

      I started to think that maybe I wasn't so strange after all. If my mom could sense and feel people’s hearts, maybe others could too and perhaps I wasn't so different.

I was seeing these spirits everywhere, at school, in malls, even at church, often when people were praying. They would appear beside the person and speak words of hope and encouragement. On a few occasions I did ask the person afterwards what the spirit told them, but they always reacted confused, as if I was just making it up.

"Can't you make them see you?" I asked one spirit.

"We told you before Malachai, most people only believe in what they can control, see with their eyes and touch with their hands. Those who do choose to believe in what they cannot see or control, are few and often children like you. But your gift to see truth is different from others Malachai. You will see more than most because of your special set of eyes and must see the world around you differently." He answered.

I interrupted him and asked, "Why do I need to see things so differently? Why do I have to be different?"

Patiently he put his arm around my shoulder, and said, "One day you will understand Malachai, but for now I pray you never forget what we are teaching you and I hope you can simply trust that we are here and love you."

Somehow I could feel his spirit and knew that all he said was truth; but I still longed for someone else to see them too. However, I had only experienced one part of this gift, there was much more still to be revealed.

I began seeing new kinds of these spirits and the feeling I got from them, even the look on their faces made my skin crawl. These beings were very different from my other friends.

"Who are you?" I asked one. But he didn't answer. He seemed too busy whispering into some stranger's ear and didn't care to be bothered by me.

"Why won't you answer me? Can't you hear me?" I asked.

He turned his head to look at me and gave an irritated glare from his hollow, blackened eyes; then without saying a word, he turned back to the stranger and continued speaking to him. I certainly didn't get the feeling of hope and peace from this being, which made me question who or what he really was.

"Malachai we worry about you, be careful, not every being is like us. Some will try to mislead you and make you forget us. They don't truly care about you, just what you can do for them." One of the peaceful spirits spoke.

"I don't like how they look at me. They make me feel scared. I just wish someone else could see what I see too. You say I'm special, but what I see makes me feel crazy." I answered.

"Please don't give up Malachai; keep trusting what we have told you and remember what you see is not just for you. One day you will understand why, but until then, please trust us and be careful what you believe about yourself and others." He replied.

What I was seeing began to scare me deeply. These new beings were everywhere, at school, the mall, church, even in my dreams; and the more I saw them, the more they seemed to notice me.

They appeared half human and half something else; they were shadowy, beastly creatures. They always stood in the shadows, keeping their faces mostly covered, except their eyes; which bothered me the most. They had a dim, faint glow to them; yet almost hollow, black and empty inside. There was no feeling of peace in them, just a strong sense of power, control and anger; not at me though, but someone else.

Somehow they knew everything about me; what I saw, my other spirit friends and how lonely I felt. They wanted to help me and even offered their friendship and protection.

"Let us help you Malachai. We know the real truth about people; if you'll trust us we can tell you more stories and secrets than any of your other friends can. We can teach you how to stop others from judging and hurting you too." One spoke to me.

"But I don't want to hurt people; I'm supposed to help them with my gift." I replied.

"How can you help them if you don't know the whole truth as to why they do things? If you really knew how cruel, hateful and selfish they are, would you still believe they deserved your help or even wanted it? We know you see what's inside of people Malachai; you know how much they lie. Your gift is meant for something greater and you need to learn how to use it properly. Let us show you." He answered.

"What is the truth then? I know there's another side to people, but my other friends say I'm supposed to help them anyways. If people don't deserve hope because they're so cruel, then should they just be punished?" I asked the creature.

"Your other friends are keeping part of the truth from you Malachai. People can be good, but they can also be selfish, hurtful and cruel. They all desire their own way and pleasures. Those who do good things and help others deserve hope; and those who do not, deserve to be punished. We can teach you how to use your gift to give people what they really deserve." the creature replied.

The thought of people getting what they deserved made me feel better somehow inside. My peaceful friends only showed me the good side of people and taught me to offer them hope. But those people often rejected that hope and treated others, including me, cruelly. However, these creatures believed hope was for those who deserved it, not for those who abused it; which made sense. Perhaps these creatures were telling me more of the truth and understood more about people too.

"They're just looking for the same love, acceptance and hope we've offered you. All people have the potential for doing what is right; however, their hurt and anger stops them from believing and they lose hope. We need you to remind them of the good within them and what to hope for once again." The peaceful spirit said.

"But they don't deserve it! Look how they treat each other and how they treat me. I chose to listen to you and receive your help. But I've seen how when you try to help them, they push you aside and don't want to listen. I want you; they don't, why shouldn't they be punished for that?" I answered.

"Because God loves all of us Malachai even those who don't deserve it. When you needed hope, He sent us and you chose to listen. Imagine how you would have felt if we never came. But they will not listen to us, which is why we need you to deliver our message; at least until they listen once again. Have faith and trust us Malachai, in time you will understand. For now we are with you and we don't want to lose you." He said.

His answers didn't satisfy me though; I needed to know what the whole truth was. As my desire to help people became less, my desire for justice, power and control grew. It seemed the creatures always showed up at the right time, often in my dreams, to teach me more.

"Why should people be allowed to get away with their lies, cruelty and hypocrisy; and why should I have to offer them hope when all they are doing is taking mine?" I asked one creature.

"You're right Malachai, that's why we were given our special abilities; to bring justice. Let us show you how we can influence people and encourage them to do what they should be doing, or what we need them to do. We'll even teach you how to stop others from hurting you or anyone you care about. We simply bring justice to those that deserve it and with your unique abilities, you could too." the creature replied.

Surprised by his offer, I asked, "How can I do this?"

Without hesitation he answered, "We understand everything about humans and how you think and act. We have existed for many years and even know God, Himself. We were there when mankind was created. We have watched and even helped your race grow. We can teach you everything we know about people. That is, if you are willing to trust and learn from us."

I was becoming closer to these creatures and could see them everywhere. However, I noticed there were different kinds of these spirits too, not all of them were friendly and welcoming.

These unfriendly spirits were often inside of people and when I saw them, I watched as the person's face would transform, growing darker and shadowed, then a second face or figure would appear over the first. Their skin would become rippled and aged as if they had been dead for years. Then their eyes would turn pale and become an empty, blackness. Their stare seemed to penetrate straight through to my very soul and all I could feel was a sense of irritation and anger from them.

I decided it was best to stay far away from these spirits. I didn't like the sense they gave off or how they seemed to control the people they were inside of. I felt safe around the other creatures and my peaceful friends; so for now at least, I didn't need to know who these angry ones were and I certainly didn't want them to know me.