The Angel Side (24 page)

“Tell me about the children.”
Father scanned the throne room
.

“The kids?
They’re wonderful. You should see them. They’re so full of hope and promise. I truly believe they will bring peace with them.”

“I have seen them
,
and I believe you are right. They hold the promise of better days for us all. Take Etta home, my son. I will see what I can do about repairing her soul.”

A Demon
didn’t
have
the ability to
pray
,
but somehow mine had been answered
.
Father simply telling me to take her home didn’t mean I had the
cap
ability to do so.

“Home, Father? She’s barely alive. I don’t know if she’s going to make it.” I contested.

“Yes.
Home.
Trust me. If Etta were going to die, she would have already. Her spirit has been through quite the shock. She simply needs rest and to wake up where she feels safe.”

“But
we
have no home, Father.”

“If you think about it long enough, you will see where your true home
has
been all along.” Father smiled then left.

I had been surprised by Father’s visit but even more surprised by his willingness to help a Demon and
a
Wraith. The thought of Father distracting me while the Arch
e
s disposed of Etta fluttered in my head. I flashed to the infirmary where Etta laid on a gurney sleeping.

“How is she?” I asked Zepar, who sat watching her.

“All vitals are stable. Her breathing is steady
,
but I can’t seem to break her from the coma
.
I’ve tried everything.” Zepar flew
to attention. Standing over her, I stroked her hair back.

“I’ll take it from here. You’re dismissed.” I said. “Oh, Zepar…Thank you. I know I have wronged you in the past. I
appreciate you seeing beyond my transgressions and helping her.” I continued.

“Don’t thank me. Had my dear brother
,
Nicor
,
not told me of what
is
at stake, I would have driven my spear through her head simply to watch you suffer as you once made me
suffer.
” Zepar snipped then flashed.

Petting Etta as she laid sleeping, I wondered where I would be able to take her, when it hit me. Scooping her in
to
my arms, I took off for the place I knew
she would feel safe
no matter what
. Materializing in John’s living room, I placed Etta on the couch
.
R
ushed footsteps bolting down the stairs caught my attention.

“I come with good intentions.” prepared for an attack, I declared as John,
René
,
Gabriel
,
and Amy rounded the banister.

“We know. We talked to Father. He told us everything. I’ll admit I didn’t understand it at first but after talking to Him and what I witnessed you do in Hell, I get it.” John patted my back.

“So can we stay? At least until Father can figure out if he can fix her.”

“Absolutely.
What do you think we were all doing upstairs? We were getting the rooms ready for you, Etta
,
and the kids when they come to visit.”
René
said
,
pushing John aside, embracing me in a bear hug.

Fluttering my eyes open,
I saw the ceiling of my room.
It must have been a dream.
Sitting up in bed
,
still half asleep,
I release
d a deep, drawn out yawn as I stretched my arms and back. Inspecting my body, I realized it hadn’t been a dream. My legs still faded into a black fog where my feet should have been.

I half expected to find Ra or my dad sitting in the wicker chair by
the
desk but found myself alone. Rubbing my eyes, I got up from
the
bed
.
T
he sound of little voices
and
laugh
ter
came from downstairs. Puzzled, I shot from the room and down the stairs, ripping a red carnation garland off the banister.

“I thought you might be waking up soon. Did you sleep
well
?”
a voice
called out from the kitchen as I ran to the backdoor.

“Who are you?” I asked
in my sleepy stupor
, stepping back from the
door, nudging
toward the dining table
.

“Oh snap. Is this better?” Ra said as he dropped his illusion.
I should have been happy to see him
,
but his red eyes, horns
,
and fanged teeth reminded me of
all
he had done for me.

“It really
hadn’t been
a dream.” I said under my breath.

“No. But the nightmare is
finally
over
,
Etta. How are you feeling?” Ra rubbed my shoulders.

“Surprisingly, I feel great. How are you holding up?”
I asked
,
searching for any sign of regret

“I’m great. Father wants to talk to you. Did Lilith teach you how to put on illusion?”

“You know about that?”

“Yes. She told Father how she helped you and how I paid your debt. She said thank you
,
by
the
way, for giving her a new toy. C’mon.”

“You talked to her? When?
I thought Lucifer—
?”

“
You can’t destroy what you did not create. Lilith has live
d
a long time without part of her soul
;
I doubt she’ll miss it now.”

“How long was I out?” I asked as I wrapped my arms around Ra’s waist and snuggled my head into his belly.

I had forgotten just how big he
was
as a Demon. At a towering eight
feet
tall, Ra hunched over, kissing the top of my head.

“
You were out for two weeks. I was beginning to think you weren’t ever going to wake up
,
but
you started stirring this morning and talking in your sleep. A lot of people are waiting outside to see you
,
but Amy’s parents are here
,
so we can’t go out like this.” Ra answered as he put on illusion.

Remembering what Lilith told me, I imagined the appearance I wanted to take on. Having seen the illusion Ra put on, I imagine
d
a woman best suited for him.

“Perfect.” Ra grabbed my hand and led me out into the backyard.

In the center of the yard, two rows of chairs sat in front of an archway decorated in the same red carnations as the banister inside.
A
t a picnic table sat my dad and
René
with a
couple
closely resembling Ra and I
doting over three small
human
children. My best guess, the happy family
was
my mom, Nicor
,
and the kids. Over at another table a suited Gabriel piled food a mile high on a paper plate
,
while Amy and her parents look on in horror
at
his insatiable appetite. A group of six guys stood joking around and laughing. I
could
pinpoint the motley crew of Arch
e
s anywhere.

Near a table
,
with a radio and speakers, sat two men and a woman I’d never seen before. Base
d
off their stiff, erect posture and lack of socializing, it had to be Father, the Son
,
and the Spirit.

The last I checked, Father wanted me dead for fear of what I’d be capable of. A lump
rose
in my throat.
Had Ra been leading me to my death?
As I contest
ed
walking any further into the yard
,
my attention
was
diverted.

“Mommy!” three kids cried in unison as they flung their arms around my legs. I thought I’d go my whole existence without ever properly meeting or touching my kids. Kneeling down, I hugged each of them,
kissing them on their foreheads generously.

“Look what daddy taught me.” Uphir shrieked as he attempted to rub his head and belly in opposite directions.

“It’s not as cool as what he taught me. Look, mommy.” Botis shoved Uphir
aside
as he conjured a fireball in his palm.

“Botis, remember what daddy said…not with humans around.” Annahail rolled her eyes as she extinguished the flame in her brother’s hand.

“Daddy?
I smiled, looking up at Ra.

“Okay
,
guys. Mommy needs to talk to great grandpa real quick
,
and then you guys can show her everything you’ve been learning.” Ra patted the children as they ran back to their table.

“They were unable to say Rahovart and
didn’t approve of Ra. So we figured
since I am their
father for all practical purposes
,
daddy was a more suitable name.” Ra smiled as he clutched my hand.

Seeing Demons, Angels and half
-
breeds had been too overwhelming. Used to worlds divided
,
I’d been unable to imagine this being anything other than
a
cruel hallucination.

“What’s going on, Ra?” I stopped, taking my hand from his.
Panic swept over me.

“A wedding reception.”
Ra answered, cupping my chin.

“A wedding?”
I asked
,
perplexed
and
on the borderline of hyperventilation
.

“Gabriel and Amy’s.
Listen. Before you talk to Father I want you to know, no matter what you decide, I’ll take care of the kids
,
and we will always be here for you. Make the choice
which is right for you, Etta
,
and whatever happens, we’ll figure out how to make it work.” Ra asserted as he led me to the table with the woman and two men.

I wanted to pull away, snatch my babies
,
and run. As if sensing my escape plan,
F
ather
,
in the appearance of an indigent
elderly man
,
put his arm around
me
as
I
readied to
bolt
from
the party. Expecting Him to strike me down where I stood, I flinched at His touch.

“Etta!
All is well.
How are you?”
Father asked
,
squeezing me tighter into him as he walked me toward the table where the Spirit and the Son sat.

“I’m fine
.
And you?” I reluctantly replied as He led me past their table to the rear fence.

Looking over my shoulder at Ra, he blew me a kiss then turned to the table the children sat at.

“My child, I know this is a lot to take in especially after what you have been through
,
but I thought it best to get it over with. I have a present for you.” Father said, revealing a small blue box from his pocket.

Opening the box, I gasped. Staring at the ruby inside, I had been at a loss for words. I’d gotten my essence back. I would be able to take on my
a
ngelic
shape
and no longer worry about hurting those around me.

“Oh, thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” I shrieked, unable to contain my joy, I threw myself around Father.

“It is yours to do
with
what you wish. If you choose to use it, you will be welcomed in Heaven.” He said, hugging me back.

Letting go
,
I jumped up and down in excitement. As I turned to show Ra, I noticed him in the grass on his knees tickling Botis. Coming to their brother’s defense, Annahail and Uphir jumped on Ra’s back, trying to find a ticklish spot
.
Ra yanked them over his shoulder, poking them in return.

Ra had done more than step up to the plate with my children. Watching him now, I saw he not only accepted them but
had grown
to love them. Hearing their laughter and seeing them so happy
was
all the more reason to be exhilarated
,
but
a crushing thought came to me. The ones I loved most were damned.

Belonging to the choir of Seraphims, I’d never see my children, Ra
,
or my mother again. Only Arch
e
s, their troops
,
and High Knight Templars were allowed entrance to Hell. Sure, my
dad would keep me posted on their progress and news
,
but a secondhand message would never replace seeing
them grow with my own eyes
.

“And what of my family?”
I inquired.

“Well, you’ll be able to visit your children, Persephone
,
and Ra in a designated area when logistically feasible. Also, under the agreement John and I made, he will monitor all visits here.”

“When logistically feasible?”

I didn’t like the sound of Father’s answers. I didn’t want to plan visits with my family as if I were being forced to obey some ridiculous court order.

“Yes. The designated area will need to be surveyed
,
and a protection detail will have to be assembled for your protection.”

“I don’t need protection against my own
family!
”
I shouted
.

“Etta, my dear, half
-
breeds can be extremely volatile and unpredictable. I mean no disrespect, but in the past their kind has been a scourge to our worlds
,
and I must take it into consideration. I cannot send one of my children beyond the safety of the gates with no protection.” Father chided.

It took an immense amount of self-control
on my part to hold my tongue as H
e spoke about my children with great disdain. No matter the case, I had to keep my calm to prove I would be no threat. Remembering what Lilith taught me, I focused on my happy place to keep from attacking Father.

“And if I don’t use it? What then?” I asked, lowering my eyes.

“Then you remain a Wraith. You will be under close surveillance and not be allowed in the Wastelands or the near my gates. You may visit your family in Hell, but veer from the path to their gates or cause an incident here on Earth and you will be deemed a threat. I do not believe I need to tell you what it would mean.”

Both options came with strict guidelines putting all I loved at risk. Resentment toward Father for not trusting us swirled within
,
but now would not be the time to argue. If I lost my temper now, I’d face being eradicated in front of my children. If
they were to ascend to the throne and bring diplomacy to our worlds, I’d have to ensure they would never have a reason to despise the Heavens or Father.