Angel Incarnate: Second Sight (16 page)

Chapter 22

Paul asked Adam to wait
for Caspian and Axel, while he accompanied his family back to Aeden. Rita and
Jessica accepted Will and Joshua’s invitation to stay in Utopia a while longer.

Aura wasn’t surprised
they decided to stay, but when Reaghan asked to remain in the city too, she was
stunned. Apparently, the memory of Meredith’s slap was long forgotten.

Most of her siblings
had a best friend, but Reaghan was the youngest, so there was no one else in
the valley close to her age, save Bren and Tracy, who were often doing their
own thing.

Thomas and Tess Allgood
weren’t much older than Rita, but they had married at sixteen and had a
two-year-old daughter who was born on the same day as Reaghan – the fall
equinox.

After meeting the young
couple at the wedding, Tess explained her daughter Meaghan, who they called
Meg, was a shy child who rarely left her mother’s side. They viewed the request
to have Reaghan stay as a positive step toward some independence.

Both little girls
shared pale blonde hair and blue eyes, but that’s where the similarities ended.
The way of life in Utopia was far different than what Reaghan was accustomed
to. In Aeden, even though she was only two years old, Reaghan could still go
unaccompanied from one house to the next, something her little friend would
never be able to do.

Eve knew it was good
for her children to be away from home, so they could see how the other
angel-bloods lived. Though Aura was wary, Joshua swore Meredith wouldn’t be
anywhere near the children.

“It’s not Meredith I’m
worried about,” Aura mumbled.

“I don’t think we’ll
have any more unexpected visitors,” Rita said. “Jess and I are staying at
Will’s house in the country. No one should bother us, but if there is trouble,
we’ll come home. You don’t want to disappoint Reaghan, do you? I think it’s
terrific she finally has a best friend. We’ll make arrangements with her
parents for Meg to come and visit us in Aeden. Tell Dad, Willow is staying with
us too. She doesn’t have to return to Savannah for a few more days. We might as
well make the most of our time.”

Aura shook her head and
laughed. “If there’s trouble, the last thing you and Jessica will do is come
home. Since when do you walk away from a fight?”

Rita smiled. “Never –
and you should be thankful that we always have your back.”

After hugging her
sisters and their friends, Aura joined the rest of the children. As she glanced
over her shoulder, she noticed how comfortable Reaghan was.
My little ones are growing up too fast.
Sometimes, I wish they could stay young forever.

Soon, she would realize
her wish would come true, at least for some of the young ones, but her memory
would have to return before she fully understood the story of Alannah, Alexis
and Alorrah, the three seers who stopped aging when Lucifer attacked Heaven.

As soon as they returned
home, Eve and Angie helped the children out of their dresses and settled them
in for a nap.

Paul left to meet with
Hespa, a former member of the Elite Guard. He wasn’t sure what her response was
going to be when he delivered the news that Jeziel had been chosen as her son
Elijah’s guardian.

Hespa lived on the
outskirts of Aeden, and though Paul tried repeatedly to convince her to move to
the valley, she always refused.

Though Elijah had the
blood of the angels, his father, Frank, was mortal. A good man, Frank knew
nothing about the Heavenly gifts his children were blessed with, so he was
unable to help them develop their powers.

While a member of the
Elite Guard, Hespa’s position often kept her away from home, leaving Elijah,
and his older sister, Ericah, in the care of their father.

After Ericah married
and joined the Guide -- a group, who helped lost mortal souls cross over to the
light -- she moved to their training facility, leaving her younger brother and
father alone for the most part.

After Frank’s death,
Hespa asked to leave the Elite Guard, citing it was better for her to work
alone.

Paul suspected the real
reason was that she no longer trusted the leaders, Caeus and Malakiel, and
blamed them for killing her husband. Without proof, she couldn’t openly accuse
the brothers, but she was determined to find the evidence to convict them. So
determined, she left her son to deal with his sorrow far longer than she should
have.

Ericah adapted to her
father’s death; she had a support system with the other angel-bloods in the
Guide, but Elijah was lost without Frank, albeit he never admitted it. Paul and
Adam promised to watch over him until he could come to terms with his grief.

For a while, Elijah was
a familiar fixture at Aura’s house, but then his visits became less and less
frequent. Hespa’s sixteen-year-old son seemed more comfortable in the company
of animals, than he was with other angel-bloods his own age.

Elijah was nothing like
his mother. Hespa was a huntress, feared by many. Rita and Jessica tried to
take him under their wing, teaching him the basics of protecting himself from
the dark wings, but Elijah wasn’t very good with a sword, or any other weapon
for that matter. Finally, when he showed no interest in the training, the girls
gave up.

As Paul stood in front
of Hespa’s log cabin, he understood why she didn’t want to abandon her home.
The property encompassed almost one hundred acres of wooded farmland,
surrounding a lush green meadow where deer, squirrels, rabbits and the
occasional skunk roamed freely.

Before he could knock
on the back door, Paul saw Elijah in the copse behind the cabin. Chuckling as
he watched the teen feeding a family of deer; Elijah’s blue jeans were ripped
at the knees, there were stains on his t--shirt, and his chestnut hair had
probably not seen a comb in days.
 

Dusting the dirt from
his pants, Elijah waved, and then hurried to greet Paul. “How was the wedding?”

“It was interesting. Is
your mother here?”

“She’s just inside.”

Paul followed him
through the back door leading into the kitchen. Hespa was standing over the
stove, stirring a large pot of stew. When she turned around, she put the ladle
on the counter, and greeted her friend with a hug.

Elijah wasn’t the only
one who changed after Frank’s death. Hespa’s blonde hair was cropped short and
she was wearing blue jeans and a cotton tee.
 
She had always been meticulous about her appearance. Now, she was almost
slovenly.

“I wasn’t expecting you
today; do you have news from the Council?” Hespa asked.

“May I speak freely in
front of Elijah?”

“Of course, I keep no
secrets from my son.”

Hespa knew about the
deaths of the angel-bloods and rescue of their children from Purgatory. It was
the reason she requested a guardian for her son.

Though she was
considered the most efficient huntress, Hespa was so preoccupied with her
mission to destroy Caeus and Malakiel; she was often out of the loop when it
came to the politics of the Guild. Her duties did not permit her to police the
fallen angels. Though she would have liked to avenge the deaths of her brothers
and sisters, Lucifer’s disciples were no longer under the influence of Heaven.

As they sat at the
small wooden table, Paul told her of the discussion he had with Uriel. “I have
spoken to my father and he has selected a guardian to watch over Elijah during
your absence.”

A faint smile crossed
the guardian’s lips. “If the Council has approved him, I’m certain I’ll be
satisfied with their choice. Is it someone I know from the Guard?”

“You’ve known this
guardian for some time, but before you go off the deep end, I want you to hear
me out.”

Hespa cast a curious
gaze at Paul. “Why are you so nervous? Please tell me it’s not Caeus or
Malakiel.”

Paul drew in a deep
breath and shook his head. “Jeziel has been chosen to serve as Elijah’s
guardian.”

Hespa slammed her fist
into the table, shattering the ceramic soup bowls as they landed on the tile
floor. “Absolutely not – I refuse to allow that girl into my home. If Lucifer discovers
his daughter is here, he’ll do everything in his power to re-establish their
relationship. I won’t have my son placed in the middle of a tug of war between
Heaven and Hell.”

Paul’s voice was calm.
“This decision comes from the highest power. I too have reservations, but we
are forbidden from refusing a command from our Father. Jeziel has been faithful
since Lucifer’s exile; we see no reason to doubt her loyalty now.”

Hespa’s posture
stiffened and Paul could see the veins pulsing in her neck.

“I want to speak to the
Council myself. The reason Jeziel has been loyal is because she wasn’t allowed
to leave Heaven. There have been several sets of eyes on her at all times. I
never trusted Lucifer, and I certainly don’t trust his daughter.”

“Perhaps the Council
will reconsider, if you were willing to move into one of the vacant houses in
the valley. There, my family can watch over Elijah.”

“I know what you’re
trying to do, and the answer is No! We’ve been through this before. My son has
given up everything dear to him; I refuse to ask him to give up his home. We
are staying at the cabin.”

“Very well; it’s your
choice. Jeziel won’t be traveling alone. Michael is sending Aidan and Alannah
here too. We aren’t prepared for Aura to meet them yet, so they will be staying
in Savannah with the other members of the Guild for a short time.”

Elijah brought out a
broom and dustpan from the closet, but before he could sweep up the shards of
glass, Hespa took it from his hands. “You sit down. This is my mess; I’ll clean
it up after Paul leaves.”

She placed the broom in
the corner and motioned for Elijah to take his seat at the table.
 
He slumped into his chair and kept his head
down, embarrassed by his mother’s disrespect to their friend.

“Why would Michael risk
sending Alannah to Aeden?
 
Does Aura know
about her past?” Hespa asked.

“No, but Esra thinks if
she sees Alannah her memories will return, and with them, her powers.”

“This will not end
well. Lucifer has promised to reunite the Eternal Children, and then use them
to destroy us. He may threaten your daughter into revealing the whereabouts of
Bodhi’s bow.”

“He may find the bow,
but Avriel’s ring will never grace his finger.”

Hespa laughed, but it
was a derisive laugh. “He won’t need the ring to restore the sacred weapons.
Mark my words, this will end badly. I won’t refuse our Father’s command, but it
should ultimately be my son’s decision.”

Elijah clasped his
mother’s hands. “I recall you telling me Lucifer’s sister, Loralei, stayed true
to Heaven -- so blood shouldn’t matter. You’ve always preached that no child
should be punished for the sins of their father. We should at least give Jeziel
a chance. If it doesn’t work out, Paul can send her home.”

Paul could hear the
love in Hespa’s voice. Cupping Elijah’s chin in her hands, she smiled and
planted a soft kiss on his forehead. “Alright – I’ll agree to this, but if
Jeziel shows any signs of following her father’s path, I want your promise she
will be summoned back to Heaven.”

“You have my word. My
daughters will keep an eye on Elijah too. You know Rita isn’t one to shy away
from trouble.”

Elijah chuckled. “I
think that’s an understatement. Don’t worry, Mother; I’ll be fine.”

“I’ll inform my father
of your consent.” Paul shook Elijah’s hand and hugged Hespa. “You’ll be hearing
from me in a day or two.” They watched him walk out the back door and when he
was in the center of the yard, Paul vanished in a blur of white smoke.

Hespa picked up the
broom and swept the broken dishes into a dustpan, and then ladled the stew. She
listened to her son giving blessings for the meal, while she added her own
silent prayer.

Please keep him safe; he isn’t strong like the Guild’s children. I would
be a fool not to be afraid. My poor innocent son is so much like his father –
kind, but too trusting.

Chapter 23

Michael sent word with
Josiah that Dahnael had been summoned. While Esra was telling Alannah about the
decision to send her to Aeden, he decided to meet with his son, Aidan.

He chose one of the
hollows close to the valley of tombs. In the distance, the sun cast a shadow of
light over the dell, while the song of mockingbirds filled the air with a
festive ease.

Though the other Angels
of the Tier were resting in glass coffins, Avriel’s body was notably absent.
Aidan knew she had been reborn seventeen years ago, but he wasn’t permitted to
make contact with her.

“Alannah is with Esra,
so I wanted to take this opportunity to speak with you before your brother
arrives,” Michael said. “We are depending on you and Dahnael to make this mission
successful. The lives of Aura and the children may depend on it,” he warned. “I
know it has been a long journey, but the end is in sight.”

“I hardly know Dahnael;
he was raised by Caeus and Malakiel. We’ve all heard rumors they may be in
league with Mortriel. I think they should be stripped of their staffs and
brought back to Heaven to be held accountable for their actions.”

“We do not have the
power to make that decision. I realize their methods may be crude, but they are
also effective. They have brought a great many to justice.”

“You believe the end
justifies the means, but surely, there is a better way to accomplish the same
goal. Why doesn’t Josiah take control of the Guard? There were no complaints
when he was in charge?”

 
“Josiah stepped down when he married the
mortal woman and she bore his children. If the others discover his secret, he
could be in danger. You may not agree with this decision, but I’ve often
learned if you give someone enough rope, they will eventually hang themselves.”

“How many innocents
will lose their lives while we wait? Should they not be held to the same
standards as the rest of us? How can you trust Dahnael with such an important
mission?”

“This comes from a
higher power. As long as he knows you are watching -- your brother will not
stray from his path.”

“You are too trusting.
I have never questioned your judgment before, but I want it on record that I am
opposed to this arrangement. Lucifer is planning a second war. He will destroy
the angel-bloods first, and then he will challenge Heaven again.”

“I know you fear for
your family’s safety, but they are more powerful than you realize. Even the
youngest are fearless. You must be patient. Bren and Tracy are already aware of
their past lives; in time, Aura’s memories will return too.”

“Do you think she will
ever love me as she once did?”

Michael patted his
son’s back. “I doubt she ever stopped loving you. She must come to the truth in
her own way; we are forbidden from speaking to her about her past.”

Aidan nodded. It would
kill him to be close to Aura and not share their memories. Still, he would
never disobey his father. When he looked up, a pair of purple cloaks cast a
shadow over the valley. His brother had arrived.

The tension in the air
was so thick; Josiah could have cut it with a knife. He knew Dahnael was taken
from Michael and Kaelariel on the day he was born, but being raised by Caeus
and Malakiel did nothing to help the angel’s disposition.

“Well, I wasn’t
expecting to have the whole family here,” Dahnael sneered. “Oh that’s right,
your wife and daughters are still missing. At least your mother is resting in
her tomb. Tell me, Brother -- to what do I owe this pleasure?”

She is your mother too, or have you forgotten?
“It was not my decision to summon
you,” Aidan responded curtly.
 
“If you’ll
excuse me, I want to have a word with Josiah while you and Father talk.”

Aidan respected
Josiah’s decision not to inform the Elite Guard about his family. Knowing he
wanted information about his daughter’s well-being, he grabbed the guardian by
the arm, and headed towards the tombs. There, they would be out of sight and
earshot of Dahnael.

Taking a seat on the
stone bench, the two angels spoke quietly. “When can I take Gracie home?”
Josiah asked.

“I’m afraid it will be
some time before it is safe for her to leave Aeden. There, she has the
protection of Gideon’s shield. If you move her, and Mortriel finds out where
she is, he will go after her again. She has no value to him alive. He will make
an example of her in front of the other angel-bloods, hoping to keep them in
line. I fear she will suffer an agonizing death.”

Aidan could identify
with the sadness in Josiah’s heart. Josiah had not seen his daughters in a few
days; Aidan had not seen his daughter in thousands of years. Still, he had to
trust that one day they would be united with their mother, and would resume
their once happy life.

“I would be willing to
challenge Lucifer, if it means I could free my daughter from his prison,”
Josiah said.

Aidan laid his hand on
Josiah’s arm trying to offer as much comfort as he could to his friend. His
voice was even and quiet.

“Many others have tried
and failed. Hope is with Alorrah and Alexis. They will not allow any harm to
come to her. For now, we must wait until Lucifer makes another move. It’s been
eons, but we can never give up hope. In my heart, I know I will see my daughter
again, and you will see Hope too.”

Josiah stood and began
pacing. “Why do we sit back and do nothing? Surely we could attack Purgatory
and deplete Lucifer’s army.”

“We can’t risk him
destroying the sacred gifts. Lucifer is cunning, and while he may believe he
will one day restore the dagger and whip, he would take them out of our reach,
if it meant the angels of the tier could never awaken. I do not profess to know
the Almighty’s plans, but he would not have given us a way to right this wrong,
if there was no hope.”

Josiah looked at Aidan
– really looked at him. “You are so much like your father. You and Dahnael look
so much alike, yet you are so different.”

It was true -- Aidan
and Dahnael looked identical, but the similarities between the two brothers
ended there. Aidan was composed and respectful of the other angels; Dahnael was
arrogant and cocky; two traits that did not impress the archangels.

“Rest assured – my father
has a plan. I can’t tell you everything, but I’m asking you to trust him.”

“I have always trusted
Michael. Do you think it might be possible for me to at least see my daughter?
She barely knows me; I haven’t really been involved in her life.”

Aidan smiled. ‘I’m sure
that can be arranged. From what my father tells me, she looks like you. Aura is
always having a party to celebrate something or the other; perhaps, you can be
invited to one of her gatherings. No one needs to know you’re Gracie’s father.”

“Paul and Adam know the
truth.”

“They can introduce you
as one of their friends. You’ll love their family. Though I haven’t met them
personally, I know they welcome all who are loyal to Heaven. My father should
be finished talking to Dahnael. We should get back before they wonder if we are
plotting against them.”

Aidan was right, by the
time they joined Michael and Dahnael their conversation was about over.

‘Tell me, Brother. Why
aren’t you taking on this task? I would think you would be more suited than I.”

“Aidan has another
mission we’re sending him on,” Michael said. “He will still be close if you
need any help. Are you agreeable to my offer?”

“Of course – it will
give me a chance to prove my worth to you,” Dahnael replied.

“There is one thing. No
one else can know about this. I’ll have to ask for your staff and your cloak.
We don’t want Caeus and Malakiel to interfere.”

“I agree the cloak and
staff must be hidden, but I would prefer to keep it with me as long as it’s out
of sight.
 
If there is a problem, I would
rather not be without my weapon.”

Michael thought about
it for a second. “Fine – as long as you promise they will be kept out of sight
at all times.
 
You may return to the
Guard and tell Caeus and Malakiel you have been chosen for a special
assignment. You are not to divulge any of the particulars to them.”

“You have my word. If
they pressure me for more information, Josiah can back me up. How long do you
think I’ll be gone?”

“That will depend on
the other parties involved. I’ll give you time to say goodbye to your friends,
and then you’ll meet me here. There will be clothing waiting for you.”

Dahnael was about to
leave when Michael stopped him.
 
“I can’t
stress this enough. No one is to know about your mission. If all goes well, you
can return to the Guard in a few months. If there is any problem, we will
remove you before then.”

Dahnael was enjoying
the worried look on Aidan’s face. For once, he was the chosen one and would
milk it as long as possible. “I’ll try in earnest not to disappoint you.
Perhaps it’s time I proved myself to my brother. You aren’t worried, are you
Aidan?”

“Why should I be? I’ll
be near enough to keep an eye on you. As long as you stick to the plan,
everything will work out.”

“Maybe this will bring
us closer together.” Aidan knew his brother was being sarcastic, and he wasn’t
the least bit impressed.

I doubt that. We were raised by different fathers. Michael’s
loyalty has never been questioned. I wish I could say the same for Caeus or
Malakiel
.
Still, if Father trusts you, I will give you
the benefit of the doubt. But I swear if you hurt anyone I care about, you and
I will fight to the death.

“
Now
that we’re all on board, when do I leave?” Dahnael asked.

“A few hours should be
sufficient time to say goodbye to your friends. Afterwards, I’ll expect you to
return so we can go over any last minute details. Remember, Caeus and Malakiel
are not to be aware of this conversation.”

“My lips are sealed.
Besides, the Guard has been pretty busy following the recent deaths of some angel-bloods.
They think it may be a rogue angel, and they are hot on his trail. Shall we
go?” he asked Josiah. “The sooner we gather my things, the sooner we can get
started. I’m looking forward to this assignment. It will certainly be more
challenging than anything else I’ve done.”

Michael hugged Josiah,
but Dahnael settled on a handshake. He considered Caeus his real father, even
though they shared different blood. He would try to keep his promise, but if
his friends were in jeopardy, Dahnael would defend them first, and offer an
explanation to the Council later.

As soon as they
departed, Aidan questioned his father’s judgment. “I don’t trust him. He could
destroy everyone I care about. I pray you know what you’re doing.”

“You should go find
Alannah. She needs to prepare for her journey.”

Michael turned and
walked back to the valley of tombs. He stood next to his wife’s glass coffin.
Even though she couldn’t respond, he always felt better after talking to
Kaelariel.

I know Aidan disagrees with this plan, but what am I to do? I
have to follow orders like everyone else. He will never forgive me if this goes
south. This wouldn’t be the first mistake I’ve made. Not protecting the Eternal
children is something I will always have to live with. I pray this won’t cost
the lives of any of the other little ones; I don’t think I could bare the
guilt.

When Michael spoke, he
thought he saw Kaelariel’s finger move. Maybe she was telling him in her own
way everything would work out, and soon, they would all be together again.

As much as he missed
his wife, Michael tried to push the thought of his grandchildren, still
imprisoned in Hell, out of his mind. Maybe Aura will find a way to rescue them,
and Aidan will have his wife and daughters home again.

It was too late to save
the others who had died by the hands of Lucifer and his followers; their names
had been permanently etched into his brain.

Michael wasn’t a seer
or visionary, but it was hard to erase the sight of so many tiny angels lying dead
after Lucifer’s attack. Their golden blood cast a stain over the land that even
the rain could not wash away.

One day we will avenge you – I swear it.