Angel Incarnate: Second Sight (17 page)

Chapter 24

While the girls took an
afternoon nap, Aura began to prepare dinner. They had eaten so much food at the
wedding reception, she decided on a light fare for supper. Soup and salad would
be sufficient, and the chefs had sent a ton of leftovers home with them. There
must have been enough food to feed an army. She decided anything not eaten, would
be sent to the needy.

As Aura was chopping
the tomatoes, the telephone rang; it was Ryan. Though he wouldn’t officially
take his vows for a few more days, the service was merely a formality. Aura and
her family had already started to call her friend, Father Ryan.

“How’s my favorite
girl?” Ryan asked when she answered the phone.

Aura started giggling.
“Oh, so now I’m you favorite girl? What do you need this time?”

“You know me so well.
The truth is I’ve taken my vows early, so now I am officially, Father Ryan.”

“When did all this
happen?” Aura couldn’t hide the disappointment in her voice.

“It happened this
morning. I know you wanted to be there, but you had a wedding to attend. I
didn’t want you to have to make a choice, so I decided to wait and tell you. I
hope you’re not angry with me.”

“I could never stay
angry with you, but I planned your party for the day after you took your vows.”

“We can still have the
party on Halloween.” Ryan cleared his throat and Aura knew he was about to ask
a favor.

“Speaking of parties,
we’re having a small gathering tomorrow afternoon with some of the kids in my
support group. There is a new girl who wants to join. Stella recommended her. I
was wondering if you could prepare a light fare. You know most of the kids are
runaways and would rather starve than ask for anything from their families. I
hate to ask on such short notice, but I can’t even boil water, and there isn’t
enough money in the petty cash account to order take-out.”

“Actually, some of the
chefs sent some leftovers home with us from the wedding. I’m sure there will be
enough to feed them. When do you want me to bring the food over?”

“We’re meeting at noon,
so any time before that will be fine. You’re welcome to stay if you’d like. I
know the girls wouldn’t mind seeing you again.”

“I appreciate the
invitation, but I’m a little busy here. Bren and Tracy have some of their
friends staying with us, and I have to keep an eye on them.”

Ryan laughed. “Always
the little mother – I can’t wait until you have your own children; not that
they would be spoiled or anything.”

Aura sighed. “I don’t
see a wedding in my near future; most of the boys here are like brothers to
me.”

Ryan’s tone became sad.
“You won’t have any trouble finding a husband. If things had been different, I
probably would have proposed myself.”

“Do you regret your
decision to become a priest?”

“Not at all; I love the
work I’m doing. Nobody seems to care that I’m a transgender; they accept me for
who I am.”

Aura wondered if Ryan
was being honest. “I’ll drop off the food tomorrow morning around eleven, and
we can heat it up before the girls arrive.”

“That sounds like a
plan. By the way, would you mind if I invited some of the kids to the Halloween
party?”

“Any friend of yours is
always welcome at my house. Just let me know how many to expect. Oh, and don’t
forget to tell them it’s a costume party. We won’t expect you to dress up.
You’ll be getting used to your collar.”

“Great – well, I have
to go. Father Patrick wants me to deliver the sermon on Sunday and I haven’t
even begun to write it. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“I’ll be there with
bells on. Ryan – please be careful. I know you’re trying to help those kids,
but some of them are unstable.”

“Thanks for the advice,
but I think I’ll be alright. We have a pretty good relationship. They are as
protective of me as I am of them.”

He hung up the phone
and Aura sat in one of the kitchen chairs, worrying about her friend’s safety.

It’s not them I’m worried about, it’s you. I wish I could
tell you about Lucifer’s visit, but I promised to keep it a secret. He can’t
touch me or my family, but if he knows how close I am to you. I pray he won’t
dare harm a man of the cloth, but this is Lucifer, and he has no regrets about
the innocent lives he has taken.

She took a sip of iced
tea while she pondered her dilemma.
Lucifer’s
son, Mortriel, is supposed to be worse than his father. Hopefully, the fallen
will heed the warnings of Michael and Gabriel, and leave us alone.

While she resumed
slicing the tomatoes, tiny footsteps were heard coming down the stairs. After
putting the knife in the sink and then wiping her hands on her apron, she
walked into the living room.
 

The children were
wearing blue jeans, t-shirts and sneakers. Knowing her little sister hated
dressing up almost as much as Rita; Aura suspected Bren had chosen their
outfits.

“We thought we would go
to the park after dinner,” Bren said. “We can’t keep the girls cooped up in the
house all the time. They need to play.”

“I’m not sure it will
be safe in the park, but we can find something to do in the back yard.”

Bren, being Bren,
crossed her tiny arms over her chest and began to pout. “They know about
Lucifer’s visit, and they’re not afraid. Why should we hide from him?”

“We’re not hiding;
we’re just being cautious. These girls still need to recover from their
captivity.”

“Right -- and the best
way to do that, is to do what we normally do – have fun. Tracy and I will be
with them. If Lucifer or any of his friends show up, we’ll make them leave.”

“I know you had no
trouble with the fallen angels in Purgatory, but Lucifer is far more powerful.”

“Nobody is as powerful
as Uncle Gabe. You haven’t seen everything he taught us,” Bren insisted.

Tracy nodded in
agreement. “Bren’s right – we have a few tricks up our sleeve, and Lucifer
won’t know what hit him if he comes near our little sisters.”

Aura smiled at her
choice of words. The little ones were no longer regarded as orphans; they had
been adopted by the family. Which family, was yet to be decided.

“Let’s have dinner, and
then, if there’s still daylight, we can go to the park until the sun goes
down.”

Bren winked at Tracy.
Aura didn’t know it, but because she was Ariel’s granddaughter, Tracy could
change the weather like her father. They would have bright sunshine until the
kids were tired of playing.

“Are you going to heat
up the leftovers from the wedding?” Bren asked.

“Yes, and there is
vegetable soup and salad. It’ll just take a few minutes to warm everything. Why
don’t you and the girls wait in the dining room?”

While the rest of the
little ones followed Bren and Tracy, Gracie and another of the four-year-olds,
Gertie, stayed behind. “Can we help you cook again?”

Aura picked them up and
carried them into the kitchen. After washing their hands, they were placed on
stools while she showed them how to tear the lettuce for the salad. The sound
of them giggling overwhelmed her, and she had to wipe her teary eyes on her
apron.

There is so much goodness in them, how could anyone not see that?

Then she remembered
what Michael told her. The youngest angels were targeted by Lucifer and his
followers during the Great War.

Lucifer is a coward; picking on those who couldn’t defend
themselves. I agree with Bren. I pray he comes back; then, we’ll show him who’s
weak.

She slammed the door to
the microwave so hard; it startled the little ones, who almost fell off their
stools.

“I’m sorry – I didn’t
mean to frighten you. Sometimes I get angry knowing what Mortriel and Samhael
did to you. I swear, I will find a way to bring your sisters’ home, or I will
die trying.”

The girls climbed off
the stools, and threw their arms around her legs. If the rest of the family was
as brave and powerful as Bren and Tracy, they would never have to see Purgatory
again. Soon, they would be reunited with their sisters.

“Can we stay here?”
Gracie asked.

“You can stay as long
as you like. I think my mother and Angie are planning to adopt you legally, so the
furthest you’ll be from each other is next door. For now, you’ll stay with me,
Bren and Tracy. I don’t see them leaving anytime soon.”

“Thank you, Aura.
You’re the best big sister we could ever ask for.”

“I’ll always be here
for you…always. Now, we have some hungry girls waiting for supper, so let’s get
this salad into the bowl. The rest of the food should be warm enough to eat.”

After they hopped back
on the stools and began shredding the rest of the lettuce, Gracie and Gertie
started singing.

“What’s the name of
that song; it sounds familiar?”

“It’s called “Guardian
Angel.” My mommy used to sing it when I was a little girl. Gertie’s mommy sang
it to her too. It’s about an angel who promises to protect you. Bren and Tracy
are our guardian angels, just like you.”

Aura had to turn away
so they couldn’t see the steady stream of tears slipping down her cheeks.

“Are you crying?”
Gertie asked. “We didn’t mean to make you sad.”

“No, it’s just the
onions,” Aura said. “Why don’t you finish your song?”

The more they sang; the
more melancholy Aura became. She was usually able to hide her emotions, but
these little ones were tugging on her heart strings. Despite everything they
had been through, they still had hope.

She wasn’t as concerned
about the girls who were still in Purgatory – they would rescue them, but
Gracie’s sister, Hope, was trapped in Hell. It would take an act of God to free
her.

Aura had faith if nothing else. She
was determined to find a way. She made a promise to the kids, and Aura never
broke a promise.

Chapter 25

When the last guest
left the reception, Caspian went inside his father’s house to pack. He asked
Adam to come with him, but he declined, not wanting to have a war of words with
Meredith.

“I’ll accompany Arian,
Axel and the girls’ home. Should we plan to meet here in say an hour?”

“Make it half an hour.
Paul told us to pack light and I really don’t feel like getting into a debate
with Desiree over my decision to leave tonight.”
                                                 

Arian would have
volunteered to go with Caspian and Axel, but he was just shy of his 18
^th
birthday, and knew the Guard wouldn’t accept him yet. There was still work to
be done to keep Utopia safe, especially after the fallen angel was spotted by
Aura. Like Rita, he believed his visit had something to do with Richard.

Remaining in Utopia was
probably for the best. Meredith had been anything but pleasant to her daughter,
Analie, at the wedding, and didn’t even have the good manners to acknowledge
Jade.

As far as Meredith was
concerned, she had only one granddaughter -- Nathali.
 
Arian wondered what Eve meant when she
referred to Nathali as Lucifer’s daughter. Maybe he would ask Rita later.

The walk to the country
was quiet, save the sound of a pair of owls hooting in the distance. The sun
had long disappeared, giving way to a full moon and a sky filled with a
thousand stars.

The twinkling
reflection illuminated the highway, marking the dim-lit path for the group, who
after a short time, arrived safely at Analie’s home.

Not wanting to keep
Caspian waiting, Axel shoved a change of clothes and some toiletries into a
knapsack. Analie wanted to walk him back to the governor’s house, but he
refused.

Pulling her into an
embrace, he planted a kiss on her cheek, already wet with tears. Though she
understood his reason for leaving, Analie still worried whether she would see
him or her brother again.

“Please don’t be upset.
I’ll stay if you want me to.”

She used her fingertips
to dry her eyes, and drew in a deep breath. Though she was trying to put on a
brave face, her knees were wobbling beneath her gown.

“No – this is
important. What if they came after Jade?
 
I don’t mean to act like a child, but you’ll be dealing with Lucifer’s son.
I’ve heard rumors he is far more vicious than his father.”

“Paul has assured us
we’ll be safe. Someone has to talk to those families about the danger their
children are in.”

“Just promise me you’ll
bring my brother home.”

“We’ll be back before
you know it. Arian will look after Jade, and your father won’t let any harm
come to you while we’re gone.”

“I can take care of
myself. Besides, my mother would love it if I came crawling home. I won’t give
her the satisfaction to see me worried.”

“Meredith will be
occupied with Desiree. I can’t wait to hear her explain why Caspian abandoned
his wife on her wedding night.”

“Humph – he probably
won’t even be missed. I’m sure Richard will take good care of Desiree in
Caspian’s absence. I’ll be keeping my eye on them. I swear, if she is
unfaithful, I’ll have them both brought before the Commission and ask that they
be stripped of their powers and permanently exiled.”

Axel chuckled. “That’s
the spirit. Just be careful; Meredith will take your brother’s side, regardless
of any wrongdoing.”

“Maybe my father will
get rid of my mother too. He can’t keep his blinders on forever; eventually,
he’ll realize she is up to no good.”

After kissing his wife
and daughter goodbye, Axel asked Arian to walk with him to the yard. As soon as
they were out of earshot, he leaned into his daughter’s boyfriend, keeping his
voice barely above a whisper.
 

“I am relying on you to
keep them safe. I trust Joshua, but Meredith has a way of wrapping Henry around
her finger, so be careful around them. We all know where Richard’s interests
lie. Don’t disappoint me?”

“I swear no harm will
come to them. I have a feeling Paul and Adam’s daughters will be making
frequent visits here. Richard and Meredith won’t dare test their powers.”

After shaking hands, Arian
listened to Axel’s laughter as he trekked towards the governor’s home. When he
returned to the house, Arian asked Analie if she would like to join him and
Jade at his parent’s home.

“No, I think I’ll take
a long hot bath and do a little reading before bed.” She kissed her daughter’s
forehead, and then walked up the stairs to her bedroom. This would be the first
night since her own wedding her husband wouldn’t be sleeping beside her.

Analie pulled a cotton
nightgown out of her dresser and laid it on the bed. After stepping out of her
gown, she sauntered into the bathroom, adding lavender and chamomile scented
salts to the garden tub. As she slipped into the warm water, she allowed her
mind to wander.

She closed her eyes,
and leaned her head against an inflatable pillow shaped like a seashell.
I wonder who will be sharing Desiree’s bed
tonight. Richard has made no secret of his affection for her. Would they risk
everything to be together
?
Yes
--
I’ll be watching you, Richard. If you
dare betray our brother, I will destroy you and your mistress
.

Before Caspian entered
his room, he noticed the door slightly ajar. Hearing the sound of raucous
laughter; he recognized the voices as those of Richard and Desiree. The only
light came from a pair of candles on the small round table next to the large
bay window.

 
Using his foot to widen the opening, he
watched Richard sitting in one of the chairs, holding hands with his bride. A
pair of empty champagne bottles littered the floor, while another half--full
bottle chilled in a silver pail.

Caspian paused to
reflect on the scene in front of him.
They
certainly didn’t waste any time. I refuse to get into a pissing contest with
either of them. I’ll just collect my things and be on my way.

After reaching up, he
flipped on the light switch, and kicked the door open with a bang.

Startled, Desiree’s
eyes turned towards her husband, who did nothing to mask the huge grin on his
face.

“So, have you finally
come to apologize for ruining my wedding?” she asked.

Ignoring her, he walked
over to his closet and pulled out an overnight bag. After removing a change of
clothes from his dresser, he slammed the drawers.

Desiree, who wasn’t
used to seeing Caspian lose his temper, jumped up so fast, her champagne flute
tipped over, causing the bubbly liquid to spill onto the wooden table before
landing on the carpet.

“Where do you think
you’re going?” Her words were so slurred, Caspian could barely understand them.
There was no doubt -- she was drunk.

Smiling to himself, he
remained silent.

When Desiree stood, her
legs wobbled, and she had to hold on to the wall for support.

“How dare you treat me
this way?
 
If anyone should be upset, it
should be me. You had no right to invite all of those brats to my wedding, when
I specifically told you I didn’t want any children there.”

Caspian’s fists
clenched and his face hardened. It was all he could do to refrain from slapping
her, and damn the consequences, but instead, he remained silent. Sometimes the
absence of words spoke volumes. He wasn’t afraid of his brother, but he refused
to give either of them the satisfaction of a response.
 

Desiree was ready for a
fight. Richard would never allow Caspian to hurt her, which gave her a newfound
courage. “You ruined my dress and made me a laughing stock in front of the
whole colony.”

A chuckle escaped his
lips.
Fool, you were always the butt of
their jokes. Since when do you give a damn about the residents of Utopia? I
knew this wedding was a mistake, and I can’t thank Paul enough for giving me
the opportunity to leave before consummating the marriage.

Desiree fell to her
knees in front of him, grabbing both of his legs. “Please – don’t do this. I
promise to be a good wife. I’ll do whatever you ask,” she pleaded.

He grabbed her hands,
and shoved her away. After securing the knapsack, Caspian headed towards the
entranceway. Before leaving, he turned off the lights, and then slammed the
door behind him.

Hurrying down the
stairs, he ran out of the house, where Adam and Axel were waiting in the
courtyard.

“Was Desiree upset
about your departure?” Adam asked.

“Not at all; at the
moment she is entertaining my brother. They are currently working on their
third bottle of champagne. Desiree is quite drunk; she’ll either pass out, or
ask Richard to spend the night.”

“I’m so sorry,” Axel
said. “I had hoped things would work out between the two of you.”

“What makes you think
things haven’t worked out?”

Caspian chuckled and
clapped his friend on the back. “When I return, I’ll put an end to this
charade. If Desiree wants Richard, she can have him. Although, I doubt my
mother will allow him to call off his engagement to Renatta. Money is always a
priority with Meredith, and Renatta’s family is loaded.”

“The last I heard, she
hasn’t agreed to the marriage,” Axel said.

“Don’t worry – if my
mother wants it to happen; it will happen -- one way or another. Shall we go?
The sooner I get out of here, the better.”

“You have the names and
addresses of the first group of families on your list,” Adam reminded them.
“There is a hotel reserved in your names in Palm Beach, Florida. The weather
will be warmer than what you’re accustomed to, so shorts may be in order.
 
Do you have any questions?”

“Should we identify
ourselves as members of the guard?” Caspian asked.

“Yes, but be discreet.
These people have turned their backs on their heritage, but as far as we know,
they are still faithful to Heaven. I wish you all the success in the world.”

Adam lifted his eyes to
Heaven. “Father, may your light guide them on their journey.”

 
After shaking hands, a light flashed and the
three men vanished.

Richard grabbed
Desiree’s arms and pulled her from the tapestry floor. She buried her head into
his chest, whimpering softly.
 
“I can’t
believe he left me. What will my mother say? How am I supposed to hold my head
up if everyone knows he abandoned me on our wedding night? What am I going to
do, Richard?”

“Caspian has no doubt
been influenced by the Guild. He will join Axel in his quest to find the
scattered angel-blood families. My father is passed out drunk on the couch and
my mother is probably already asleep in her room. There is no reason for anyone
to know when my brother left.”

After wiping her eyes
on his shirt, she lifted her head. “Yes – you’re right. It can be our secret.”

“Everything will work
out. I have some friends who can guarantee Caspian won’t return from his
journey. We can take this secret to our grave.”

Richard grabbed a towel
from the bathroom and wiped up the spilled wine. He poured each of them another
glass. “I could stay with you tonight,” he said. “No one will know.”

Her voice was unsteady.
“I’d like that, but you’d have to be gone first thing in the morning before the
servants bring breakfast.”

Richard kissed her
fingertips.

You should have been my wife. I’ll agree to marry Renatta,
but she will meet with an unfortunate accident shortly after our wedding. Then,
you and I can be together for all eternity.

“You have my word. I
have a meeting with a friend at sunrise. Now, let’s drink to our good fortune.
It would be a shame to let this champagne go to waste.”