Angel Incarnate: Second Sight (4 page)

“There are very few
others, and this one reminds me of Laelah when she was a young angel.”

“Humph -- why do you
even think about my mother? She failed all of us.”

Lucifer’s skin turned
such a dark scarlet color, it was almost black. The band that was holding his
chestnut locks snapped.

His voice deepened, and
his body tripled in size until he towered over his son. Sharp claws extended
from his fingertips, and black, leather-like wings protruded from his back.

 
“Do not ever speak ill of your mother to me,”
he raged. “She did not fail us; we failed her. I should never have left her
alone to be killed by her brother.”

Mortriel knew he had
crossed the line.

“Paul will pay for what
he’s done; I swear it.”

The change was
instantaneous. Lucifer’s appearance returned to normal, and his voice was once
again soothing.

“You will stay away
from the child,” he warned. “I want her to think of me as a father. She is to
be my companion, and will spend time with the Eternal Children. You will move
the uncle into their room, and stop torturing him.”

Mortriel started
chuckling. “Why would I want to do that? Punishing him is one of the few
pleasures I have.”

“You will do so,
because I command it.”

“Do you think the girl
will gain any information from the children? They may be small, but they are
wise beyond their years.”

“Perhaps a different
approach will help me to gain favor with them,” Lucifer admitted. “Nothing else
had worked.”

The conversation was
interrupted by another knock at the door.

When Lucifer’s female
companion walked in, he could see she had a blood-soaked towel wrapped around
her right arm.

He stared at his son,
who smiled, and then shrugged his shoulders.

“Forgive me, but I was
asked to come to you when I returned from Purgatory,” Samhael said.

Regarded as the Dark Lord’s
right arm, Samhael hesitated before speaking. The scowl on Lucifer’s face,
confirmed Mortriel had crossed the line yet again.

“Perhaps I should come
back when it’s more convenient.”

“There is wine on the
table. Pour yourself a glass, and then take a seat. I have a great deal to
discuss with you,” Lucifer said.

Walking over to Mehri,
Lucifer removed the wrap to reveal a two-inch-deep gash in her right arm. He
turned to face his son.

“You have been warned
never to touch what is mine! This is just another example of why I can’t trust
you,” he spat.

One of Lucifer’s
regrets was that he no longer had the ability to heal others. Though she still
considered herself a lowly servant, Mehri was in fact his second wife. Lithe in
stature, he loved her long golden hair, and bright blue eyes. Even though she
was still mortal, he trusted her.

Mehri insisted that she
felt no pain, but the crocodile tears sliding down her cheeks told a different
story. Lucifer brought her arm up to his mouth and placed a gentle kiss upon
it.

Mehri was a naive
seventeen year-old, when she made a pact with Lucifer to save her infant son.
She had no regrets. Baby Byron was taken to a wealthy baroness who was unable
to conceive, and Mehri came to Hell, becoming Lucifer’s companion, and later
his wife. He had never been unkind to her, but his son, Mortriel was a
different story.

 
After taking a fresh towel from the bathroom,
Lucifer wrapped the cloth around her arm.

He walked over to his
desk and pushed a red button beneath the center drawer. A few seconds later, a
pair of tall, burly males rushed into the room.

“You called for us, My
Lord?”

“Take Mehri to the
infirmary, and see to it she is looked at by the physicians.”

Most of Lucifer’s
healers had once been doctors in the mortal world and their expertise often
came in handy.

Without saying a word,
the males gently took the woman by her left hand and led her towards the door.

“Send for some of the
other girls, and have them bring our dinner,” Lucifer commanded. “Mehri will be
hungry when she returns.”

The door closed and
Lucifer remained calm as he walked over to Mortriel.

Placing his hands
around his son’s throat, he choked him so hard, Mortriel was unable to speak.
“If you ever touch one of my possessions again – son or not – I will cut off
your hand,” Lucifer warned.

Before he released his
grip, he threw Mortriel across the room. His body slammed into a tall bookcase
in the corner. As he lifted his head from the floor, a dark bruise in the shape
of a handprint became visible around his neck. Mortriel stared incredulously at
his father.

Lucifer returned to his
chair behind the desk, but refused to even look at his son. Mortriel knew his
father was furious because there was no anger in his voice -- just calm -- dead
calm. “You can get out of my sight now, you weak little fool,” he said.

Not wanting to incur
any more of his father’s rage, Mortriel stumbled to the door, and ran out of
the chambers.

 
“
It was
bad enough that Father punished me, but to do it in front of Samhael. How am I
to have the respect of my subordinates if he continues to embarrass me?”

Mortriel slowed his
pace, and then walked back towards the gate.

I’ll see how my new friend is doing in Purgatory. Father told
me not to touch the child, but he said nothing about her little sister
.

“Your son sometimes
forgets himself,” Samhael said in defense of Mortriel.

“He has a lot to learn.
I do not have the patience or desire to babysit my only male heir. Let him run
back to Purgatory and act like a fool. Purgatory – a befitting name for his
little island paradise; once there, no one ever escapes. I have no doubt that
is where we will find the sister of my new friend. Mortriel can do as he
pleases with her, as long as he doesn’t touch Hope.”

Lucifer sighed as he
refilled his goblet, and then returned to his desk.

“Sometimes, I think I
brought the wrong sibling with me. My daughter, Jeziel, was always obedient.”

“Perhaps, but she was
only nine years of age when the war broke out. You had no choice but to leave
her behind. It was the only way to guarantee her safety.”

“There are always
choices, but I thought we would win the war. How safe can Jeziel be with the
archangels? Do you think she has not been shunned because she is my
daughter?
 
I’m sure her life has not been
an easy one.”

“According to our
friends in the Elite Guard, she has not been punished.”

“Perhaps not, but I am
certain they have not welcomed her with open arms either. I summoned you
because I have good news to share. I’ve just returned from Aeden. It seems Bree
and Tercia have been reincarnated as angel-blood, and are living in the valley
with the Guild. Though I didn’t see Avriel, I’m certain she is there too.”

“Forgive me Father, but
is it possible the children merely look like Bree and Tercia? I was there when
Mortriel took their lives. I’ve never known of any angel who has returned from
death.”

 
“There can be no mistake. One of the special
guardians was keeping watch.” “What of the prisoners? Have you sensed any
changes in their behavior?”

“My time with them is
limited. They remain locked in their glass cage in the deepest, darkest caverns
of Hell. We don’t want any more accidents.”

Samhael stared at his
right hand. He had gotten off easy.

When the children
realized they had been betrayed, they tried to escape. At least a dozen of
Lucifer’s disciples were turned to ash when they touched the young seers.

One of the children,
Alorrah, had burned him with angel-fire when he got too close to her. Like
Lucifer, he now kept his distance from the small angel.

The dark lord had
intended to keep the girls separated, but Alexis always found her way back to
her cousin, Alorrah. Eventually, Lucifer realized there was no way to keep them
apart, so he stopped trying.

“Mortriel captured a
young girl of seven years today. I intend to allow her to befriend our
prisoners. I have also instructed the guards to move their Uncle Fionn, into
their room. My son has been warned not to torture him any longer. The girls
have been reluctant to use their second sight to guide me to the location of
the broken bow of Bodhi.
 
Perhaps if I
show them some kindness, they may reconsider their position,” Lucifer sighed.

“Shall I go to Aeden
and capture the guardians?”

“No – they are part
mortal now, allowing them free will. They have retained all of their powers and
even have some new gifts. I want no mistakes. We will have to think this
through,” Lucifer warned.

“Most of the Guild’s
members reside in Savannah; only Paul and Adam live in Aeden. If Avriel is
there, she will share Esra’s powers. Even if her visions are undeveloped, by
the time she reaches her seventeenth birthday, her second sight will mature,”
Samhael said.

“If my calculations are
correct, we may still have a few weeks before Avriel’s powers return.
 
Esra will not interfere; she is bound by her
ridiculous covenant, but she will remain close to the girl because Avriel was
her twin sister.”
 

A smug smile formed at
the corners of Lucifer’s mouth. “I want you to meet with some of our human
acquaintances. I need to know if Avriel is alive and who she associates
with.
 
Do not mention this to Mortriel. I
have waited too long for the opportunity to possess Avriel’s ring. It may lead
me to the bow, and then I can restore the whip and the dagger.”

“The Guild will keep a
constant vigil over their offspring, but there are other angel-bloods who have
turned their backs on their heritage. Mortriel and I have successfully captured
a dozen of the half-mortal children after killing their parents. They had no
idea they were born with the blood of the angels and lack the protection
afforded the descendents of the archangels. The others are scattered, but we
shouldn’t have any trouble finding them. Killing the weakest will send a clear
message to the Guild.”

“I will think on this.
Maybe it’s time to make more of my special pets. If we are going to attack the
angel-bloods, the creatures will be invaluable to us. I’m sure you have some
mortal acquaintances of questionable character.”

“In order to make a
pair of the creatures, we may need to administer the hell-hounds blood to
hundreds,” Samhael said. “It’s been a thousand years since we had any success
with those experiments.
 
It will be
difficult to keep our activities a secret if the Guild happens upon the dead
bodies.

“It’s time for a change
in luck. I want you to go to Purgatory for a few days. Mortriel will likely
remain in a foul mood. Perhaps your presence will calm him. Say nothing of our
conversation,” Lucifer warned.

“You have my word,
Father.”

“I can always count on
you. You are more of a son to me than my own flesh and blood. One day, I will
reward you for your loyalty.”

“Thank you, Father. It
is my honor to serve you.” As Samhael stood, he heard the outer door open and
close. “I think Mehri is back. I’ll take my leave while you entertain her.”

“Keep me informed of
any problems,” Lucifer said as he walked him to the door.

Samhael began to
chuckle. “Your son won’t give me any trouble. I’m one of the few friends he
has.”
 
He pulled one of the grapes from a
silver tray and plopped it in his mouth before exiting the chambers.
 

I hope there won’t be any trouble. Mortriel can be
pig-headed, but he is wise enough not to anger his father again. Lucifer may be
seen as pure evil, but he does show compassion to those he cares about, even if
they are servants
.
Mortriel would do well not to harm another
of his father’s pets
.

After maneuvering through the
catacombs and passing the gatekeeper, Samhael used a portal to take him to
Purgatory. Hopefully, Mortriel’s anger would be under control, and he wouldn’t kill
any of their fallen friends before Samhael arrived.

Chapter 4

While Esra was meeting
with their Father, Michael called a summit with the other members of the High
Council to discuss Lucifer’s presence in Aeden.
 
As head of the council, it was his responsibility to keep the archangels
informed about issues involving the angel-bloods.

Constructed years ago,
the assembly hall served as a place for the archangels to meet with their
children who resided on earth.
 

Situated just beyond
the fiery mountain of Etna, in Italy, many believed that was where Lucifer was
cast into hell. It was one of the most active volcanoes on record, known as a
popular mortal tourist spot.

Of course, Michael
would neither agree, nor deny the notion.
 
Some things were better left unsaid.

There were six members
of the Council – Michael, who served as their leader, was joined by Uriel,
Gabriel, Ariel, Raphael and Metatron. Though each had an equal voice, they
often relied on Michael’s guidance.

Since their sons served
on the Guild, who watched over the angel-bloods, most of the meetings were
informal. But Lucifer’s presence in Aeden was a problem which needed to be
discussed, and a plan needed to be forthcoming in order to protect their
half-mortal descendants.

Later, when the meeting
adjourned, the Council would meet with their children, allowing them to openly
voice any concerns.

Most knew that Avriel,
Bree and Tercia were reincarnated, but they were also under the impression the
girls had no knowledge of their past lives as angels. Bren was the exception,
and the highest authority in Heaven, forbade Michael and Gabriel from telling
Aura and Tracy who they once were.

As Michael took his
seat in the center of the long, stone table, the others waited for him to
begin. Once everyone was settled, the meeting began.
 

“There has been a new
development,” he sighed. “Lucifer came to Aeden today. We suspect he was there
to verify that Avriel has been reincarnated.
 
He did not see Aura, but unfortunately, he knows Bren and Tracy are
alive.”

“How could he know
about their reincarnation?” Ariel asked. “We have taken great care to keep them
a secret. Someone must have told him they were there.” Her eyes scanned those
of her brothers.
 

Surely they would not endanger their grandchildren. Someone
else must have betrayed them, but who would do such a thing?

Adam’s mother, Ariel,
was the only female archangel to sit on the council. She had the ability to
alter weather, and could also change darkness to light.

 
“Some of us believe Lucifer still has contacts
in Heaven,” Michael replied. “There have been complaints about some of the
members of the Elite Guard – Malakiel and Caeus in particular.”

“We should summon them
immediately, and determine once and for all whose side they are on,” Ariel
said. “If the rumors are true – Malakiel has been in contact with Mortriel. He
has made it known he hates the angel-bloods. He feels they are a sin against
Heaven, and will do everything in his power to exterminate them.”

“The Elite Guardians
have no jurisdiction over the halflings. Perhaps they should be reminded of
their vows,” Michael said.

“Ha – vows mean nothing
to Malakiel and Caeus. How many innocents have perished by their hands? They
have grown too powerful over the years. It is time we held them accountable for
their actions,” Ariel argued.

“We have had this
discussion before. Our father still believes the good they do outweighs the
bad.”

Ariel slammed her fist
into the table.

“Their methods are
barbaric. Any loss of an innocent life, regardless of the excuse, is a direct
violation of the very laws they are sworn to protect.
 
Perhaps we should question Hespa. I’m certain
she suspects they were involved in her mortal husband’s death.”

“There has never been
any proof to those allegations. For now – they will continue to operate as they
see fit. I agree with you, but unless we have hard evidence, there is nothing
to be done. After we meet with the Guild, we will bring some of the guardians
in for questioning. My son will share any concerns with us.”

“Dahnael was raised by
Caeus and his wife. He is more loyal to him, than he is to you.”

Seeing the pained
expression on Michael’s face, Ariel quickly apologized. “I mean no harm,
Brother. I know it was not your choice to separate your twin sons.”

“No offense taken.
 
Esra has gone to our father to ask for
guidance. We will know more when she returns.”

“We should table this
conversation for another time, and deal with the matter at hand,” Uriel said. “I
am not afraid for Aura and the little ones, but they have mortal friends. My
granddaughter is very close to a young priest named Ryan.
 
He knows nothing about her heritage, and
while Lucifer can’t touch her physically, there are other ways she can be hurt.”

Uriel, the judge and
executioner of Heaven, was Paul’s father, and Aura’s grandfather. He was
probably the most laidback of all the angels, speaking in a soft voice barely
above a whisper.

Paul had his father’s
never-aging good looks – the same honey-blonde hair, and pale blue eyes. They
also shared the same disposition; rarely allowing their anger or frustration to
show.
 
Perhaps that was because they had
been tasked with delivering death sentences to those angels who blatantly
defied the laws of Heaven.

“I agree with Uriel,”
Raphael said. “Lucifer will not jeopardize losing what he believes to be an
advantage. He has as much to lose as we do, should any harm befall Aura, Bren
or Tracy. The girls have been training since they learned to walk. Not only can
they recognize the dark wings, they are prepared to deal with them. The bow is
still lost, so Lucifer cannot restore the other weapons.”

“Esra believes Lucifer
is growing impatient. Alorrah and Alexis have been imprisoned since he was
banished; anyone who has attempted to rescue them has been killed, except
Fionn. Even though Mortriel tortures their uncle routinely, they are still
resistant to assist him by using their second sight,” Michael said.

“Are you forgetting
that Aura also has second sight?” Uriel asked.

“Her visions are still
erratic, but that is due partly to Esra blocking her sight. It may be time to
stop interfering and allow Aura to realize her past,” Michael said. “We will
speak to Paul, and ask his opinion. We may want to consider sending some
guardians to earth. I know Alannah would like to see her mother again.”

Ariel’s brow furrowed.
“Surely you aren’t going to send Alannah? We can’t risk Lucifer capturing her
too. With the three girls together, he will intensify his search for the bow,
and then he will declare war on Heaven again. I am opposed to this plan.”

“Nothing has been
decided yet. The Guild will be here soon. By the time our meeting concludes,
Esra should have news from Father. Regardless of our feelings; we will honor
his decision.”

Each of the others nodded in
agreement.

For now, there was nothing to do but
wait for Esra to return with news from their Father.