Fall from Grace (Book 2: An Angelblood Novel) (19 page)

“I know father. You’ve only told me a hundred
times already.”

 

“I’ll talk to you soon,” and Richard hung up the
phone.

Natalie looked at her ring.
She purchased a gold
chain two days before.
She took the ring and put it on the
chain then tucked it under her blouse. Natalie looked herself
over one last time before walking out the door.
Today she
was going to have some fun.
Fooling the Guild would give
her great satisfaction.

Chapter 20

Aura was awakened throughout the night with some
disturbing visions.
She needed to speak to her father the
next morning before they went to church.
She sent her
mother a message asking him to meet her at the house. Aura
could tell from the conversation, Eve hadn’t seen the same
vision. She decided to keep her news to herself for now; not
knowing how the others would react.

Aidan was waiting in the kitchen when she went
downstairs. The house was too quiet for Aura’s liking. The
girls were only gone for a few hours, but it was the first time
she didn’t wake up with Alannah next to her. Of course it
was better they didn’t stay with her last night. She doubted
she could have explained why she had to suddenly leave in
the middle of the night.

She didn’t say anything to her family about
her visit
to Utopia; it wasn’t necessary. She was there and back
before anyone noticed she was gone.
She smiled when she
thought how easy it was to find what she was looking for. It
was left in plain sight. “He will not take this,” she thought.

She started fixing breakfast and was grateful when
her father arrived. “Your mother told me you needed to
speak with me this morning.”

Aura smiled at her father.“It can wait until after
breakfast. Are you hungry?”

“Aren’t you joining us
at the diner after service?”
“I didn’t have to get the girls ready this morning, so
I thought I would cook.
While the rest of you are having
breakfast,it will give me time to set up for the party.”

She poured each of them a cup of tea and started to
set the table.
As she placed the food out, her father made
small talk with Aidan; who seemed to be in a good mood.
Aura was surprised when Aidan brought up the subject of
Jeziels visit.

“Jeziel was here last night.”

 

Paul looked at Aidan and then to Aura. “Did she
agree to meet with the Council?”

“No
- she said she was still too afraid she would be
punished for abandoning him.
She still insists he was alive
when she left him.”

“And she didn’t see who started the fire? What
about Samhael’s appearance?”

“She said she told him to
leave her alone. I have no
reason to doubt her. I’m sure she was being truthful or I
would have known.”

“Did she say why she didn’t notify us Elijah was in
trouble?”

“She didn’t say anything except she was afraid. I
tried to convince her to go to the Guild, but she refused. I
know you’re disappointed.I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your job to police other angels. That’s
better left to the experience of the Guild.
I intend to
question her, but I won’t have you do our job for us.”

“I’m sure she’ll be back. Hopefully she’ll change
her mind and you’ll learn what happened.”

 

“I’m sure we’ll all know what happenedvery soon,”
Aura said.

 

“Have you had another vision?” Her father asked.

“Nothing I want to discuss now, but I would like to
talk privately with you this morning before you leave.”
Aidan looked pitifully at Aura. He was certain he would not
be included in the conversation. She was still angry with him
and there was that kiss. It didn’t mean anything to him, but
he doubted he could convince her of that.

He
tried
to
speak
with
her
last
night
after
it
happened, but she didn’t acknowledge his knock on her
bedroom door.
He wanted desperately to talk to her, but he
would have to wait until she was less annoyed.
Aidan
wasn’t used to Aura being angry; unless the little ones were
threatened. Surely she didn’t view Jeziel as a threat?

“I need to talk to my father alone. You can go check
on the girls if you’d like. We shouldn’t be too long.”
Paul looked at her.“Shouldn’t Aidan be included in
our discussion?”

 

“I’m sure he’ll find out in due time.”

Aidan excused himself and walked to the living
room to grab his coat. He hadn’t spent any time with the
little ones yesterday and he missed them terribly.

When Aura was sure she was alone with her father
she said, “I need you to build a house on Hespa’s property as
soon as possible.”

“Why is it necessary for me to build another house?”
“I can’t explain, but I need a sanctuary for some
guests. The ground is hallowed and they will be safe there.”
“I’m not sure Hespa would approve.”

“Hespa will understand completely when she
realizes the truth. If she doesn’t like the house, we’ll take it
down later. She isn’t planning to return anytime soon.
My
visions have confirmed she will be remaining in Heaven a
while longer.”

“What aren’t you telling me Aura?”

“I can’t tell you right now Dad. You are going to
have to trust me about this, but I need the house built before
we
go
to
church this morning. We’re planning an
engagement party this afternoon. I’ll be providing the
entertainment,” she smiled.

“I’ll ask Adam to help me. Are you sure there isn’t
anything else you want to tell me first?”

“Nothing yet, please trust me about this. I’ll answer
a great many questions today and we may finally be able to
bring Richard to justice.”

Paul raised his brow and looked curiously at his
daughter.“What does Richard have to do with this?”
“You’ll find out after church. Now can you please
do what I ask?”

 

“Very well, Adam and I will meet you at church.
How many bedrooms will you need?”

“Eight will probably be enough. She looked at her
father and smiled.“Thank you for not pressuring me to give
you any more information. It means a lot having your trust.”

“I have always trusted you; it’s some of the others I
am concerned about.” He walked to the door and Aura
kissed him goodbye going back to the kitchen to clean the
dishes.

“They will know a great deal more today,” she said
to herself.

 

Richardcalled Mahlyssa, to make sure she hadn’t
disappeared. “I’m so glad you’re still at home,” he said.
“Are you planning to visit me again Richard?”
“Unfortunately I have other business to attend to. I
trust you are enjoying your new freedom?”

“Immensely
, as I’m sure your daughter is.”
“Yes,I’m sure she is. Well I will be in touch.”
“I look forward to it,” Mahlyssa whispered silently.

Aura arrived
at the
church moments before her
father and Adam. “Is it finished?” she asked.

 

Paul nodded.“I’m sure you’ll be pleased with the
results.”

 

“I should have told you one of the guests is a five
year old.”

 

“The house will accommodate several small
children. I think you’ll be pleased with the results.”

Aura hugged her father and thanked him “Thi
s
means a lot. You’ll understand why I couldn’t be more
forthcoming with the information later today.”

Aura walked into the church and took her seat next
to the little ones. There were two other male strangers in the
room who Aura didn’t recognize. Their chestnut brown hair
hung in a single braid down their back.
It was the length
that drew her attention because it was almost as long as hers.
Aura thought it odd that it was so long. Even the Guild kept
their hair shoulder length.

The men were sitting with Iris and it was obvious
that they knew each other.
Aura looked around for the
young girl who she found sitting by herself.

After the service, the young girl approached them
and Father Patrick introduced her as Natasha Justice.
She
moved to the area recently from London. Her parents died a
few months ago and she was staying with friends there. She
became restless and decided she needed a change of scenery.

After
the
introduction,
Jayden
arrived
late
with
Acadia.
Aura watched closely as Natasha stared at the two
of them. Aura could have sworn she saw the girls eyes turn
black; just for a second.
While Aura acted cordial towards
her, she was more interested in the identity of the two young
men who were speaking to Iris.

Rita asked, “Why don’t you come to my sister’s
house this afternoon, we’re having a party to celebrate my
engagement.”

Natalie
remembered
what
her
father
said,
but
decided to ignore him this once. She didn’t like the way
Jayden was looking at the servant girl Acadia.
He certainly
wasn’t acting like someone who was married until a couple
of days ago.

“You have to control yourself,” she thought
silently.“You can’t let them discover your true identity.”
“I don’t know my way around, perhaps one of you
could show me the way?” she said in her best British accent.

“We’re easy to find,” Aura spoke up. She took a
pen and
notebook from
her purse and
wrote down the
directions. Aura would remind her mother to keep her shield
down for the party.

“What time should I arrive?” Natasha asked.

“Noon will be fine. I should have everything ready
by then,” Aura smiled. “Of course you’ll bring your friends
too,” she said to Iris.

Aidan didn’t like the way Aura was smi
ling at the
two
young men,
but he
was reluctant to
say anything;
especially in church.

“Why don’t you join us for breakfast?” Jessica
asked.
Natalie thought about it for a minute.
She knew
Jayden would be joining them there as well, so she agreed.

Aura asked her mother to keep an eye on the girls
until they returned home.
Eve thought it was an unusual
request, considering Aidan was there, but she agreed.

Frank and Aida Malloy attended church with their
daughter Alice.
Bren saw it as a perfect opportunity to talk
with them about accepting the angel’s blood. “I know you
have refused it in the past,” her little sister said. “But things
have changed a lot since then.”

“We’ve had enough death in the valley already, and
we don’t want to add your names to the list,” Tracy said
sincerely.

“Won’t you please change your mind?” Alice
begged her parents. “I don’t want to grow up without you.”

She must have been convincing because Frank and
Aida agreed to the exchange. Bren immediately went to tell
her father and the others.
It was decided Logan and John
Kelly
would
use
their
blood,
since
their
mother
Myra
already gave hers to Alice.

“Now you’ll be like me,” Alice said smiling. The
Malloy’s joined the rest of the family for breakfast. They
would have plenty to talk about.

Aidan followed Aura out of the church. “Would
you like me to come home with you now?”

 

“No thank you. I have some things to take care of.”

“Aura, I know you’re angry with me, but that’s no
reason to be foolish.
Mortriel could return at any time.
It
would be safer if I stayed with you.”

“Why don’t you stay with Alannah and the girls?”
She hurried to her car without waiting for a response.
“Why does your sister have to be so stubborn?”
Aidan mumbled unhappily to Bren.

Since the restaurant wasn’t far from church, Natasha
made the excuse she wanted to walk and would meet them
there.
No one tried to persuade her to go with them.
It
would be wise to allow her some space until they knew her
better.

Natalie had to get used to being called Natasha. She
decided Jeziel could still call her by her real name, as long as
they were alone. Judging from Aura’s behavior that
morning, she had to assume she and Aidan had a falling out
of some kind. She couldn’t wait to tell Jeziel how miserable
Aidan looked.
She suspected the news would please her
friend.

As
she watched
Jayden he looked
anything but
unhappy. Natalie couldn’t help noticing how much he
enjoyed Acadia’s company. “I will pay him back; the same
way I did his brother,” she thought. “Soon he will be
begging for my forgiveness.”

Aura knew she would have to be careful, if she was
going to follow through with her plan.
She never had
dealings with Richard personally, but from what they said he
could be dangerous.
She would be reluctant to use her gifts
in front of him, for fear Lucifer would find out.

She already made arrangements to have the food
catered for the engagement party; except for the few things
her sister wanted
her to make.
Aura did most of the
preparation last night after Aidan was asleep.
She knew she
would have at least a couple of hours to leave and then come
back; without having to explain to anyone what she was
doing.
If she was lucky she would not even meet Richard
today, but she would be prepared just the same.

When she arrived home, she looked to Heaven.
“Please father, I do not ask this for myself; but for my sister.
I know you are both kind and loving.
If you could please
guide me on this journey
I promise to
right a terrible
wrong.” The cold air suddenly turned warm and the sun was
as bright as Aura had ever seen it before. “He heard me,”
she smiled.

As they were preparing to enter the restaurant Rita
looked at Jessica.“Did you do this?” she asked, unable to
hide her smile.

“No
- I swear I had nothing to do with it.
She
looked at her father Adam who shook his head no. I wonder
who caused the change,” Jessica asked.

“It was Mommy,” Alannah smiled.
“Aura can change the weather too?” Rita asked.
“Mommy can do lots of things,” Alannah said.

Jessica and Rita looked at each other.“I wonder
what else she can do.”

 

“I’m beginning to think she has all of the gifts we
have,” Jessica declared.