Angel Incarnate: Second Sight (30 page)

Chapter 46

Once again Samhael and
Mortriel maneuvered through the catacombs of Hell, until they came to Lucifer’s
private chambers.

A red-haired girl in
her mid-teens, whom they didn’t recognize, answered the door. Lucifer whispered
something in her ear; she giggled, and then skipped out of his chambers.

“While the cat is away,
the mouse will play -- a new playmate Father? What would your wife Mehri say?”
Mortriel asked.

Lucifer took a seat in
one of the high-backed chairs and motioned for them to sit. He picked up a
porcelain cup. “This is a new tea. Made with juniper berries and just a hint of
belladonna; I find it soothing. Perhaps you should try some. As to the girl;
the only monogamous relationship I ever had was with your mother. Now, why are
you both here?”

While Mortriel sat on
the leather sofa looking bored, Samhael told Lucifer about the Chastain’s
deaths, and loss of the bracelets. “I think we should send Mehri back. With the
relic in Paul’s possession, it won’t take long for him to figure out the
connection between her and her parents,” he said.

Lucifer laughed. “No –
Mehri is more valuable to me where she is. Those mortal girls have already
accepted her into their click. She can get information from them and the
priest, which Stella cannot. I’ve enjoyed my time with Mehri, but she is
disposable. If something should happen, then…”

Mortriel was chuckling
in the background.
I wonder if Mehri knows
how little you think of her.

 
“Now, tell me about the Abyvirs,” Lucifer
said.

“They are secure in
Purgatory,” Samhael replied.

He took another sip of
the tea and leaned back in the chair. “Good -- for now, you’ll do nothing until
the beasts are completely under control. The angel-bloods are planning a party
soon. Mehri and her new friends will be there. The timing couldn’t be more
perfect for us to attack Utopia on the same night.” A smug smile crossed his
lips. “The Guild can’t be in both places, now can they?”

“Should we look for
more men for your special guard?”

“Not yet – let’s see
how these brothers do before we waste our time. After the attack, the Utopian
angel-bloods will be running scared, and some may lose favor with the Guild.
Divide and conquer; we can pick them off more easily then.”

Mortriel leaned closer
to his father. “Richard thinks we may be able to turn some of the angel-bloods.
We will build an army and bring the Guild to their knees.”

Lucifer slammed his
teacup on the side table. “Do not underestimate their power!
 
We must be patient and methodical. Bree and
Tercia have already demonstrated their abilities. We have yet to see what Aura
is capable of. Once her sight develops…”

“I believe they go by
the name of Bren and Tracy now,” Samhael commented. “We still have Alorrah and
Alexis. Aura won’t jeopardize their safety.”

“Yes – they are still
sleeping in their room. Eventually, Alexis will go for food for the young girl
and her uncle. Pytha will capture her, and then we will wait.”

Samhael’s jaw dropped.
“Are you certain you can trust the snake; after all, it is Kaelariel’s whip?
You don’t know what will happen once the child comes in contact with it.”

“Alexis won’t do
anything which could cause the destruction of the sacred gift, and Alorrah
won’t negotiate; she’s far too smart.”

“But, if Aura’s visions
show her Alexis is being restricted by a snake, and she senses the child is in
trouble; she may attempt a rescue.”

Lucifer smiled. “Aura
won’t be able to withstand watching the torture of any child. Once we have her
in Hell, the second sight will finally be mine, and then nothing can stop us.
We will rule Heaven and Earth.”

Mortriel shook his
head. “Avriel died rather than turn her back on Heaven. What makes you think
Aura won’t do the same? Once her powers develop, Alorrah will be able to
communicate with her mother. She’ll know we are setting a trap.”

“Sometimes, I can’t
believe you are my son. I’m not expecting Aura to walk through the gates of Hell.
I have something else in mind for getting her here. Now, if you’ve finished, I
have work to do.”
 

Lucifer walked over to
the door and opened it.

“Stay away from Aeden,”
he warned Mortriel as he was leaving. “I want to know as soon as the Abyvir are
ready. For now, you should take a short respite; perhaps a trip to St.
Petersburg, or Prague.”

Mortriel couldn’t help
thinking it was more a command than a suggestion. The Abyvir wouldn’t be ready
for another ten days. Maybe he should take a little vacation. Samhael could
handle things until he returned.
I wonder
if the raven-haired girl is still there. What was her name?

He said goodbye to
Samhael at the gates. “I’m going to follow Father’s advice. You know where to
reach me when the beasts are ready to attack.”

Samhael smirked. “Going
back again, huh? Didn’t Olga try to kill you the last time you saw her?”

“Olga – that’s right.
Well, you know what they say – third time’s a charm.” He winked, and then
vanished in a black cloud, leaving Samhael shaking his head.

I hope he doesn’t get into trouble again.

Chapter 47

After Paul and Adam
left the woods, they went to find Caspian and Axel and deliver the news of
Gregory Godwin’s death.
 
The guards were
still in Florida, trying to convince one of the families to leave their home
and come under the protection of the Guild.

As they approached the
door, they could hear Caspian arguing with the mother.

“Please, you don’t
understand how serious this is. Lucifer’s son is hunting down those who have
turned their backs on their heritage. You and your daughters are sitting
ducks.”

Paul knocked on the
door to the tiny, one-story, beige stucco house. When the woman answered, her
mouth opened, and though she tried to speak, no words escaped her lips. She
held her hand to her chest, taking a step backwards.
 
This was the first time she had actually been
in the presence of a pure-blood angel.

“Who is it, Momma?” her
four-year-old daughter asked.

Feeling she was about
to faint, Adam put his arm around her waist, steadying the woman, and then led
her to a small wicker couch.

“We’re friends,” Paul
said.

“My name is Alli, and
that’s my little sister Ava,” the child said, pointing to a two-year-old hiding
behind Axel; her arms tightly gripping his legs.

Paul stared at the
barefoot little girl who wore a simple cotton sundress, which had seen better
days. The room, sparse of furniture, was neat, but it didn’t take a genius to
figure out this woman was struggling.

He took a seat next to
the mother, Audria. “Caspian has explained the danger you and your daughters
are in. Where is your husband?”

“The no good letch
abandoned us six months ago. He said he was going to find a job somewhere out
west.”
 
Her chin trembled as she fought
back the tears. “But he never came back. I’ve been doing some odd jobs, but as
you can see money is tight.”

“If you agree to come
with us to Aeden, I promise the children will be well cared for, and you will
have an easier life. Your children should be around others of their own kind. I
have daughters the same age as Alli and Ava. I’m certain they will become good
friends.”

Alli crossed the room
and placed her hands on her mother’s cheeks. “Can we go – please, Momma? There
isn’t anything for us here, and I’d like to have some new friends. All of the
other kids make fun of us because we’re poor.”

“I go too?” Ava said,
finally letting go of Axel and toddling to her mother.

A single tear slipped
down Audria’s face. “I never meant to make things so hard for them,” she
sobbed. “My husband, Graham, said it would be better for all of us if we lived
among the mortals. Now, he’s gone, doing who knows what. I should have insisted
he allow me and the children to embrace our heritage, but...” She looked at her
wide-eyed girls who waited patiently for their mother’s response.

“Not all mortals can
handle free will. I’m afraid Lucifer preys on those who are weak.” His gaze
fell upon the young children. “You owe it to them,” Paul whispered.

Audria nodded. “You’re
right; they deserve better than this.”

“Don’t worry about money.
The Guild will provide everything you need.
 
We have several furnished houses in the valley, and my family will
welcome you with open arms.”

“I don’t mind working,
but I haven’t many marketable skills.”

Paul chuckled. “The
angel-bloods in Aeden don’t work. There is more than enough to do watching over
the children. Is there anything you want to take with you?”

Audria looked around
the room, and shook her head.
 

“Did you hear that?”
Alli said to her little sister. “We’re moving to a new house, and we’ll have
new friends. Nobody will make fun of us again.”

Ava hugged her sister,
and then ran to Axel with her arms extended.
 
He picked her up, and she wrapped her tiny arms around his neck.
 

“My wife, Eve will have
clothing waiting for you,” Paul said. “While we prepare your house, you’ll stay
with my daughter Aura. She has plenty of room, and the girls might like the
company. I don’t know if Caspian and Axel explained, but some of the children
who lost their parents will be staying there as well.”

Alli slipped one hand
inside of Paul’s; the other in her mother’s. Axel and Caspian held onto Ava and
when everyone was ready, they used the portal to take them to Aura’s front
yard.

The girls’ eyes widened
when they saw the enormity of the house. “Is this where we’re going to
live?”
 
Alli asked.

“For the time being,
yes, but then you’ll have your own house over there.” Paul pointed to a
two-story brick home. “There are four bedrooms and bathrooms, a large kitchen,
a nice backyard, and great neighbors.”

Ava put her hand over
her mouth and started snickering.

“I like this new
place,” Alli said to her mother. “This feels like home.”

As they walked up the
steps, Aura opened the door. Bren, Tracy and the girls ran past her, grabbing
the hands of their new friends, dragging them into the house.

Aura shook her head and
started laughing. “I have snacks waiting in the dining room. If you follow me,
I’ll show you how to get there.”
 

After they were seated,
Paul introduced everyone. Eve took a chair next to Audria, and soon, they were
chatting about the children.

Aura leaned into her
father. “Have you told Caspian about Gregory yet?”

“Once they’re settled,
I’ll take him and Axel into the library. There are some other matters I want to
discuss with them. Where is Andromeda?”

“She’s still in New
York. Mom said she’ll bring her back right before the funeral. Did you know
most of the students are gone? I guess news of Gregory’s death scared their
parents.”

“We expect once word
gets to the other colony, all of them will return home. They are safer there,
but when people panic, they don’t think clearly.”

Aura nodded. She stared
at Audria and her daughters. The soft sound of Eve’s voice had removed all fear
and doubt from their minds.
Another of
Mom’s god-given powers we’re grateful for
.

She listened to Bren
and Tracy telling the little ones about their rescue operation in Purgatory.
Before Aura knew what was happening, her mother had projected the vision on the
dining room wall. Eve wanted to emphasize what the children had endured at the
hands of Mortriel and his disciples while in captivity.

Audria’s face paled as
she looked from the young girls back to the projection. “I’m so glad your
husband convinced me to bring my daughters here,” she whispered.

Clutching her hand, Eve
cleared her throat before speaking. “There is something else you need to know.
Your husband has befriended Lucifer’s son, Mortriel. Graham was sent to find
some of the other angel-blood families. Eventually, he would have come back,
but not to renew your relationship. You would have become another victim, and
your daughters would have been taken to Purgatory.” She squeezed Audria’s hand
gently. “As long as you are with us, no harm will come to you, or your
children.”

“Great – not only do we
have to contend with Mortriel and Samhael, now they have a mortal helping
them?” Axel muttered. He turned to Audria. “In case our paths cross, what does
your husband look like?”

Eve pulled up another
vision. Audria’s husband, Graham, was having a conversation with Mortriel. To
ensure his loyalty, the dark prince made him swear a blood oath. The mark of
the pentagon was burned into his chest.

Audria felt like she
was going to vomit. She knew her husband wasn’t a great choice, but to enter
into a lifelong contract with the devil’s son – that was too much to take.

“So if anyone bears
that mark; that means they’re bad?” Alli asked.

“No – not all mortals
make a blood oath. Those who do try to conceal their marks,” Paul said,
thinking back to the Chastains.
They were
mortal, but none of us suspected them of dealing with Lucifer.

“
Ebony-colored
eyes are a tell-tale sign someone has been tempted by darkness. It means they
have lost the light which surrounds their soul. Be wary of them.”
 

He stood and excused himself.
“Please forgive us, but Adam and I need to have a word with Caspian and
Axel.”
 
The four men walked to the
library where many private discussions were debated.

A huge bay window and
skylight illuminated the large, sound-proof room, known as the library.
 
Aged maple gingerbread wood covered the floor
and was used for the tall bookshelves which were filled with ancient texts and
decorated each of the four walls.

In the center of the
room, the furniture – a long brown leather sofa, four over-sized chairs, two
end tables displaying stained glass lamps, and a solid cherry desk with
high-backed adjustable seat, were placed atop a hand-woven tapestry rug.

Axel and Caspian sat on
the sofa, while Adam perched on the corner of the desk, and Paul remained standing.

“We didn’t want to
speak of this in front of Audria and the girls, but there has been another
angel-blood death yesterday morning,” Paul said. “While he was returning from a
visit to Utopia, Gregory Godwin was poisoned.
 
He died on the grounds to the Academy.”

All of the color
drained from Caspian’s face as his thoughts drifted to Andromeda, and the grief
she must be feeling. “I should go to New York and offer my condolences,” he
said.

“I’m afraid that won’t
be possible. We know Graham is working with Mortriel now. You and Axel must
find the other angel-bloods before him. I’m certain Andromeda will understand
your absence, given the severity of this situation.”

“He’s right,” Axel
said. “The other families are defenseless. Andromeda would feel terrible if
anything happened to their children.”

Paul then told them
about the fire. “None of the Utopians are missing, but we’re confident we know
for the reason for the blaze.”

Adam pulled the glass
vial out of his pocket and handed it to Caspian to smell. After taking a whiff
from the bottle, Caspian’s eyes started to water. “What is that putrid odor?”

He passed the open vial
to Axel, whose reaction was the same.

“This is far worse than
we imagined,” Paul continued. “What we are about to tell you cannot leave this
room.”

Caspian and Axel both
nodded.

“Many years ago,
Lucifer had this brainstorm that if he gave hell-hound’s blood to – how should
I say this – mortals of unscrupulous character – he could make an army that
would be untouchable. As their numbers grew, the attacks on the angel-bloods
would increase.”

“Fortunately, only two
of the creatures known as Abyvir survived the process, and they were destroyed
many years ago,” Adam said. “We have reason to believe Lucifer is experimenting
again. Thus, the unmistakable odor, and the reason for using hell-fire to
destroy the bodies of those killed during the process. Now you understand why
it is imperative to find the other angel-bloods and bring them to Aeden.”

“We know very little
about the beasts, except they are controlled by the one who made them,” Paul
added. “My daughter, Rita seems to think your brother, Richard, is somehow
involved in all of this, though I have to admit she has no proof.”

Axel’s gaze shifted
from Caspian back to Paul. “How dangerous are these Abyvir?”

“They killed hundreds
before we were able to destroy them the first time,” Paul sighed. “If they are
set free – the damage could be extreme. They can’t cross the barriers here and
shouldn’t be able to penetrate the wards in Utopia, unless…

“Unless Richard is
involved,” Caspian completed Paul’s sentence. “Then, he could find a way to
bring them into Utopia and the people there would be instant targets. Does my
father know about this?”

“No – before we cause a
panic, we want to make sure of what we’re dealing with. Adam and I will summon
the other members of the Guild, and then we’ll speak to the High Council about
our suspicions. You and Axel will be going to Virginia. We’ve been told there
are four families of angel-bloods living there. The sooner we bring them here,
the safer they will be.”

“How many families do
you think are out there alone?”

“If our calculations
are correct, there are almost two hundred.”

“It will take months to
track all of them down,” Axel sighed.

“I’m sorry,” Paul said.
“I know we have taken you from your home, but you can understand the urgency of
your mission.”

“I’ve never trusted
Richard, but to think he would be in involved in something so vile, even I have
my doubts,” Caspian said.

“Rita is determined to
prove your brother’s guilt. Once her mind is set, I’m afraid there will be
little anyone can do to change it. Joshua and Will have offered to help.
They’ll keep an eye of Richard and report any suspicious activity.”