Angel Incarnate: Second Sight (26 page)

Chapter 41

Aura felt her muscles
tense as she closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath.
 

“What is it?” her
father asked.

“A Dark Wing is close.”

A blood-curdling scream
came from one of the children.
Gertie…
Aura
turned to run and tripped over Charlotte’s body trying to get to the children.
Crawling on her knees, she stumbled to the door; falling down the wooden steps,
and landing face first in the dirt.

Paul and Father Patrick
followed her outside, where they found the children huddled together on the
lawn, Gertie crying hysterically. Bren and Tracy surrounded the kids –
Gabriel’s sword was clasped tightly in Bren’s hands, and Tracy already had an
arrow notched in the bow that fell from Heaven.

As Aura scanned the property,
she caught a glimpse of a tall, blonde stranger a few hundred feet from the
farmhouse. His back was turned, so she couldn’t see his face, but Gertie
apparently recognized him.

Aura picked herself up
and pulled the little girl into a tight embrace. Seeing a wooden glider on the
porch, she sat and began to rock the child, hoping to calm her.

“He wasn’t supposed to
find us,” Gertie cried. “You promised we would be safe. Now, he’ll bring
Mortriel back, and they’ll take us away again,” she sobbed. She snuggled
closer, burying her face into Aura’s neck.

“Shh --no one is taking
you anywhere,” Aura whispered.

“I told her he couldn’t
get through Mommy’s shield,” Bren said, “and if he tries we’ll use the swords
and put the dog down.”

Paul came over and knelt
beside Gertie, placing his hand on the small of her back. “Do you know his
name?”

She shook her head.
“His name is Samhael. He killed my mommy, and took me to that awful place.”

Samhael…
 
“Are you certain?”

“That’s his name,” one
of the other girls said. “He killed my mommy and took me too.”

Paul stared at the
bracelet in his hand.
 
Did you come back for this?
 
“Listen to me. Bren and Aura are right. No one
is going to take you away. Do you remember what we told you?”

“Yes – you said we
don’t have to leave; we can stay forever,” Gertie whimpered.

Paul patted the top of
her head. “That’s right. Now, Aura is going to take you home, and I don’t want
you to worry about Samhael. He will never come close to you – I swear it.”

Gertie wrapped her legs
around Aura’s waist, and then forced a weak smile. “Yeah – cause Bren will kick
his butt, right?”

“Yep –
me
and Tracy don’t take crap from any dark wings,” Bren said
proudly.

“That’s right. We no
take their crap either,” Gracie added, and the rest of the kids, including
Gertie, started laughing.

Aura walked the
children down the steps and waited for them to form a circle. With their hands
firmly grasped, she used the portal to take them home.

“This Samhael – do you
think he has something to do with the bracelet?” Father Patrick asked.

I doubt he was here for the girls.
“Let’s get these bodies in the
ground. There should be a shovel in the shed out back,” Paul said ignoring the
priest’s question.

Father Patrick followed
him to the tool shed. When the priest picked up one of the shovels, Paul took
it out of his hand. “This will go faster if I do it.”

After the shallow
graves were dug, Paul placed each of the bodies in the ground and used the
excess dirt to cover them. He refused to put a marker or head stone to identify
the graves. “This will have to do.
 
I
want you to take the car back to the church; better yet, perhaps I should
drive.”

“My hands are fine
now,” Father Patrick insisted.

Paul snorted. “Please
forgive my brutal honesty, but it’s not your hands I’m concerned about. I’ve
seen you drive.
 
After you are safe and
sound, I’ll find Adam, and then we’ll come back to the farm and have another
look around. We may find something else to connect the Chastain’s to Lucifer.”

“In twenty years, I
never knew they were linked to the fallen angel.”

“None of us did,
Father. Lucifer is a master at keeping his mortal disciples well-hidden.”

Paul used the outside
hose to wash the dirt from his hands. Afterwards, Father Patrick offered him
the keys to the sedan.
 
“When Adam and I
have finished sweeping the property, we’ll make arrangements for the farm to be
given to a needy family. At least some good
will come
from the Chastain’s deaths.”

Father Patrick buckled
his seatbelt. “Do you think Samhael will be back?”

“No – he knows we will
be watching. He won’t be careless enough to risk a confrontation with the
Guild. I think we should do some more research on the Chastain’s children. Both
seemed to have died very young. That may have something to do with the pact
they made with Lucifer.”

“We can check out the
archives in the library. I’ve heard them speak about their son, but in all the
years I’ve known them, they never once mentioned their daughter. I imagine they
did not part ways under the best of circumstances.”

“Yes, I remember a conversation
with them. Apparently the daughter became pregnant and they disowned her.
Still, when I return, I’ll search for pictures of the children.”

Paul put the car in
gear, backed out of the driveway, and followed the dirt road until he came to
the interstate. “The church is only a few miles from here. I’ll have you back
in a jiffy.”

Father Patrick closed
his eyes and leaned his head against the headrest. He was ashamed for not
noticing the intentions of the Chastains, and now began to doubt the sincerity
of the other mortal families who had become parishioners. He didn’t want to be
distrustful, but he promised to look out for the children. Hopefully, Paul was
right, and Samhael wouldn’t return, though he doubted it.

First thing Monday morning, I’ll check out the death
registries. Maybe they will include a picture of the Chastain’s siblings.

After making sure that
Father Patrick was safely delivered to the church, Paul used a portal to take
him to Aura’s house. He suspected Adam would be there.

He found the little
ones chomping down on Chinese food, some trying, without much success, to use
chopsticks. There was more rice on their clothing then in their mouth, but he
watched the determination in their eyes. If Bren and Tracy could do it; they
could do it too.

“What are you doing
here?” Rita asked. “I thought you would be at the mortuary with Adam.”

“I’m sure Aura told you
we buried the Chastains in their back yard.”

Rita’s eyebrows
squished together. “I’m talking about Gregory Godwin. Didn’t you hear –he was
poisoned this morning? He collapsed in my arms just outside the Academy.”

Another death; is it possible they’re related?
 
“Is Adam still at the funeral hall?”

“Yes – he’s waiting for
you.”

“Did Gregory say
anything before he died?”

“He was trying to tell
us something, but all I could make out was “rich.” You don’t think he was
talking about Richard Fairbourne, do you?”

“I know you don’t care
for Henry’s son, but let’s not jump to any conclusions. Adam and I have to
convey some information to the Council. When we return, we’ll go to Utopia and
advise Henry about Gregory’s death.”

“Jessica and I want to
come with you,” Rita said. “I’m curious to find out if Richard was MIA for any
period of time this morning. We’ll stop in New York first and pick up Willow
and Matt. I think Andromeda probably wants some time alone to mourn. Do you
know when the funeral is planned?”

“Your mother and Angie
will arrange the hall so we can have the service tomorrow. That will give us
time to notify Gregory’s friends.”

“From what Willow says
-- Matt’s dad didn’t have a lot of friends. It will probably just be us and the
family.”

“I’m sure Henry will
pay his respects. Well, I’d better be off. I have a busy afternoon ahead of
me.”

He gazed at Aura, who
had remained unusually quiet during the conversation, and then pointed his
finger at the little ones. “You may want to put them in the bath when they’ve
finished eating.”

“I’ll take care of
them.” Aura walked her father to the door and kissed him goodbye. “Please, be
careful. There have been three deaths today already.”

Paul kissed her
forehead. “You worry too much. Why didn’t you mention the bracelet to Rita?”

Aura shrugged her
shoulders. “When she told me about Gregory, it didn’t seem important.”

“Charlotte and Pierre
were marked with the pentagon. Remember what Michael told you about Lucifer
starting separate conflicts in Heaven. He may be trying to do the same thing to
get us off our game.”

“He’s messing with the
wrong family if he comes after us.”

“It’s our mortal
friends that concern me.”

“Do you think Michael
will give me permission to exchange blood with Ryan now?”

Paul cupped her chin
with his hand. “I’m sorry, but the Council has made their decision. I doubt
they will change their minds.”

Aura nodded. “We’ll just
have to keep a closer eye on him. He meets several times a week with his
support group. Maybe, I should get to know the girls a little better.”

“It couldn’t hurt. Stay
close to the house until you hear from me. I should be back in an hour or two.”
He gave her one last hug before walking outside and disappearing.

Aura lifted her head to
Heaven.
Please Father -- guide him with
your light
.

She closed the door and
stared at the mural on the wall. Angie had added the names of the six little
ones to their family tree.
I will keep my
promise to all of you. If need be, we will fight to the death to protect
you.
 

Paul arrived at the
mortuary a few seconds later.
 
Located a
few miles south of the valley, the funeral hall sat atop a small rise,
overlooking a still-green pasture.
 
Huge,
round, white pillars flanked the entry to the single-story, classical
Grecian-style structure.

Built by Paul and Adam
a few years earlier, it was used to hold memorial services for family and
friends of the Guild. Long, feathery cushions covered each of the maple pews,
and lilies were placed in planters along the walls. Near the front of the hall,
a bronze casket with a gold satin lining, held Gregory’s body.
 

Adam greeted him as
soon as he passed the entrance.
 
Paul
then proceeded to tell him about the Chastain’s deaths, the pentagon marks he
found on their bodies, and Samhael’s appearance.
 

Then, Adam told him
about Rita’s suspicions. “She thinks Gregory was trying to speak Richard’s
name.”

“Or maybe he thought
Richard was in trouble too.” Paul reached into his pocket and pulled out the
bracelet. “This was found next to Charlotte’s body.”

Adam’s face paled as he
took the jewel in his hand to examine it. “Is this what I think it is?”

“Yes – it’s Laelah’s
wristlet. Take note of the eyes – they’re black now. This must have been in
Lucifer’s possession when he was banished. The question is who lost it when
they killed the mortal couple.”

“So the Chastains were
in cahoots with the fallen angels? Do you think they informed Lucifer about
Aura?”

“It would make sense.
Father Patrick is going to do some digging into their background.
 
They had two children – a son, and a daughter
– both died in their teens. There were pictures of the boy throughout the
house, but none of the girl. Apparently, she was disowned when she became
pregnant.”

“Do we know what
happened to her child?”

“Not yet, but we may be
able to find some of the girl’s friends -- if they’re still around. They would
be in their nineties now, so it’s a bit of a crap shoot.”

“None of this makes
sense. First Lucifer shows up in Aeden -- then, we learn about the deaths of
the angel-bloods and capture of their children, and now, Gregory and the
Chastains are dead. This can’t be a mere coincidence.”

“I agree. We’ll stop in
Savannah to notify the other members of the Guild, and then we’ll meet with the
Council. I’m sure my father will be curious to see the bracelet. Eve and Angie
can finish the preparations for Gregory’s funeral. We’ll plan to have a small
service tomorrow. Father Patrick has agreed to preside over the ceremony.”

“You realize we’ll have
to go to Utopia and notify Henry. Some of the students live in his colony. If
Gregory was killed just outside the school grounds, their parents may demand
they return home.”