Book: and Then They Were

The novel 'And Then They Were' is a fascinating tale woven from the truths of the Universe. Join the many readers who simply couldn't put this book down.

Synopsis:

The world has changed. Serenity seems to be a thing of the past, but whose? And what does the future hold? Why do we live the lives we do, and do we even choose them?

Julien is a spirit guide who helps the humans he is assigned to. With his fellow guides, Julien becomes aware of all that being human entails, but unlike the other guides he has never lived life as a human being. He has only known life in the comfort and protection of The All. When he is assigned to the infant Abby's troubled mother, Sophie, he must ensure that her baby girl is afforded every opportunity to overcome her adversity because the baby just may be the key to shepherding a major global shift.

But a truly evil force in a human form known as The Leader is determined to wreak havoc on everything good and pure, thereby ensuring that all that Abby represents is shattered in the mass bombings he has planned. And Julien and the spirit guides are powerless to interfere because of High Council edicts that for eons have determined the interactions between Heaven and Earth.

Will Julien be able to help his humans before time runs out?

This soulful novel by first-time novelist Beth McCain combines a well-woven story with actual answers to questions mankind has pondered on forever. And Then They Were joins the hand of man with the world from which we came in a nonstop tale of life and the search for meaning that we all share.

Book excerpt:

Julien guided her gingerly to the sleeping baby's crib. "This is why you are here. This is your purpose right now." He put his hand on her shoulder but she didn't feel a thing. He had been trying different ways to get through to Sophie and he would never give up. He couldn't and didn't want to. It was his job to be there for her throughout her whole physical life. He began calling upon anyone who was around to come and help and the familiar white glow materialized into many. Each connecting to the next, they formed a circle around Sophie and her baby, cradling both of them in the white glow.

"It's working," he uttered to the others, hopeful. The group raised their heads to the heavens as they continued to send light to Sophie and her newborn baby girl. "Keep it up. I think we're getting through."

Julien prayed this would be the day. Sophie began to relax and felt as if there was something different in the air; as if she was being lifted up and supported. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she just felt better for a moment.

Sophie was a survivor. Abusive parents, foster homes, homelessness, and now a baby. She was able to avoid the drug scene but life didn't come easy for her and she wanted to just end it all. No one cared about her. Whatever was beyond this life she knew had to be better than what she had now: a crappy apartment, no family, a new baby to feed, and no job or any prospects of one at all. Maybe she was cracking up but for now she was going to bask in these new feelings of security wherever they happened to be coming from.

She slumped into the chair next to the crib where her newborn daughter lay fast asleep. Sophie reached down to caress the baby's tiny little body and she smiled when the baby's fingers curled around her mother's pinkie. I love you, baby, was all Sophie could say before she slumped back into the chair from exhaustion and quickly drifted off to sleep. It was the first good sleep that Sophie had over the past few weeks.

Julien stayed with Sophie as he always did. All the others had gone on to other jobs and the remaining guides were observing the work to be done.

"If they only knew," Laurel sighed.

"Knew what, Laurel?" Julien asked.

"Knew that they are all perfectly fine. That we are always with them."

Julien passed her a fleeting glance, not wanting to take his attention off of Sophie and the baby.

"I know what you mean. They fight, they struggle, they deny any kind of truth, yet they are just like us." Julien managed a smile. "Except with skin and human minds that keep us cloaked."

Laurel stood and walked over to the little newborn girl. "I'm so glad I've been assigned this one." She reached into the tattered crib and stroked the baby's golden duck fuzz on her head. The baby smiled in her sleep, obviously recognizing the source of the sweet caresses. "She's my best friend, you know." Laurel said. "We agreed that I'd keep an eye on her while she was here experiencing human life." Laurel looked over her shoulder at Julien. "Julien, why can't they remember us? Wouldn't it just be easier if they remembered it all before they got here?"

"You know that's not how it works. If they knew it all, and remembered it all, we'd be out of a job." Julien patted Laurel's shoulder. "Glad you've come to be with her. She'll need you for quite awhile."

Julien and Laurel were old pals by now. They had been assigned to many different humans that were part of the same earthly family. Laurel had once been a guide for Sophie's grandma and Julien had done duty over Sophie's great-great grandfather. They were familiar with all of the nuances and what each member of the family was about. It seemed they knew more about them than the ones being watched.

Sophie was a difficult case from the beginning. Born a preemie, her parents were unable to care for themselves let alone a small baby with so many problems. Julien remembered the day they brought Sophie home and just let her cry for hours. Julien took care of Sophie in those days. When she was wet or hungry he would sooth her with his singing. It wasn't the same as human contact but it was pure love nonetheless. He never understood why anyone would want to become human. You have your connection to the All, yet have to search to find it the whole time you're human. That's if you ever do.

Julian thought back to a colleague of his, Harry, who was an excellent guide for hundreds and hundreds of years. Julien loved going to the temples with Harry to hear him speak about helping with the human race. One day Harry decided he wanted to try humanity yet again; he wanted to try what he called the ultimate third dimensional experience and Julian tried to stop him.

"You'll forget us all, Harry. You do so much good here; you don't want to go there."

"But Julien, old friend. If I have the experience myself, I can help so many more." How could Julien argue with that? So he watched as Harry went through the training to become human, and Julien promised that he would check in on Harry from time to time just to see how he was doing. Harry was assigned his guide and they plotted out what he wanted to learn and experience during his stay on Earth. He was ready, willing, and able. When Julien did check in on him from time to time he saw how Harry had a hard time being human but his need to experience and learn about what humans go through was apparent enough.

He started out with a wonderful family and lost them all in a fire. Julien watched as Harry struggled and grasped with the loss of what he thought was the only family he ever had. The incident turned Harry―who was now the human Paul―into turning his back on the All, or God as they called him on Earth. Harry separated himself from God and became bitter. Julien thought for sure that Harry would remember and see the truth but when you become human all that changes. It was a part of the experience. When Harry finally left his human body to come back home, Julien was right there waiting. It had seemed like a blink of an eye.

"Harry! It's so good to see you!" Harry was still disoriented.

"Hey... Julian? JULIAN! I'm so glad to see you!" Harry had just been through review and had seen how many times Julien had tried to get through to him on Earth.

"Thanks Julian. As you can imagine, it's quite an experience. I managed to achieve a couple of things on the ol' outline, and I'd do it again. I experienced so much. There's nothing like it. Seemed like forever, but coming back, as usual I see it was just an instant."

"You had a rough time this go 'round, Harry." Julien said quietly.

"I did, my friend; that I did. But you know what? It was incredible and I'll never forget the taste of a baked potato with sour cream and butter!" Julien smiled. Each guide who had the chance to become human never regretted it. They each said it was the best experience ever, even when it was a struggle from the moment of birth to their physical death.

Most of the guides had experienced humanity but there were a few, like Julian, who passed on the opportunity even though they always heard the same mantra from the others: There is nothing like really experiencing being human to help along with guiding others. Julien really wasn't interested in being human. He enjoyed the thrill of guiding the spirit of each human he was assigned. There was nothing like being able to guide each human to the true spirit and to help them achieve what they wanted to learn and experience.

It seemed like each and every human needed to hear the same words whispered: You are loved. You are safe. Listen within and find the answers. But the human ego always got in the way. The ever-fearing always-struggling ego that seemed to be fighting with their very spirit would make its presence known and eclipse whatever the plan was.

"What an adventure," each spirit would say as they shed their human form and returned. "What an adventure." But Julien didn't see it as any adventure. He witnessed too much pain and struggle and not enough humans truly seeing what life was really about. He loved his humans yet he knew that being human was not his adventure.

At that moment Julien heard the familiar chime within his thoughts. The angels were passing through. He felt them coming and was in awe of their very presence. The angels were in a class all their own. Unlike guides who experienced firsthand the many frustrations of helping their humans, the angels were formed of pure love and energy. They inspired Julien to bow his head in reverence. They were like no other entity in the universe. They possessed true oneness and were the closest to the purity of the universe itself.

Julien affected a deep silence as they passed gently through his aura, singing a song that defined the very core of who Julien was. Their pure love was overwhelming him yet he welcomed these precious feelings that they emitted. When angels passed through an area they always left each being stronger, purer, and more focused on why they do the work they do. The angels were pure love. To be an angel would be amazing, Julien thought. Julien loved being a spirit guide but at times it seemed as if his work was taken advantage of, and always cajoling humans to listen or to ask for help.

He remembered the day he was told of what he could and couldn't do. Angels and highly evolved entities taught the school of spirit guides. If they ask we can help, but when they don't ask we can't infringe upon their free will, they said. That didn't seem so hard at the time until being given charge of a spirit within a physical vessel and knowing that you can't interfere. That was frustrating.

Sure, there were some humans who understood how to ask for help from the world they came from but most seemed to wander endlessly looking for something without knowing what they want. This was the part of the job that was the greatest challenge. "If they would just listen," Laurel said to Julien after a particularly tough day with one of her humans. Julien understood how she felt but the High Council told them if the humans listened and asked from the very beginning then they wouldn't experience and learn half of what they do.

"Part of the job of a human being is to experience and evolve through those experiences. You must guide them ever so gently. There is no failure. Keep trying. Don't lose heart. And above all, always wield your guidance through love," The Proctor emphasized.

Spirit guides have been around as long as angels, yet there are big differences between the two. Each and every entity has an individual personality yet the spirit guides resemble a cross between human and angel. The angels, on the other hand, are truly otherworldly. Angels send thoughts of love, healing, and abundance wherever needed. Each human is assigned two spirit guides and as many personal angels deemed necessary for their particular physical journey.

Julien could hear his human waking and felt he should be right there when she did. Sophie's purpose was to keep and care for the infant and it would mean everything to the world if all went as planned. He was going to do his best to see that it happened.