Illumine Her (40 page)

When she saw her father’s gravestone buried under a pile of leaves, she dropped the handle and walked over to it. Alana used her hand to brush away the twigs that obscured the marble and read the inscription there. Chosen by her mother, the poem spoke of heaven and hope, a dream and a promise. She closed her eyes and savored his voice, remembered his presence. When she opened them again, the sun was lowering, casting a fiery glow on the stone. Sucking in a breath, she stilled and watched the colors change from bright to dark. It was then that she willed herself to feel everything—the loss, the pain, the heartache. She bore it all and let it go on an exhale of breath, the effect bringing tears to her eyes.
This is the last time, Alana
, she reflected. This was going be the last time she would allow herself to feel this way because now she understood. Now she knew where her father had gone, and it was the most beautiful gift she could have ever received. She got a glimpse of her fate, of every person’s destiny, of
home
. Purging her soul for the last time during sunset, Alana rose and swiped at her eyes. Turning away from the disappearing sun, she walked back to the porch, picked up the broom, and started to sweep again.

Chapter 29

C
hase pranced restlessly outside in the foyer. He knew why he had been summoned. The reward for everything he had worked so hard for was just beyond those solid walls.

“You can go in,” spoke a deep voice to his left.

Chase braced the heavy double doors and pushed them open revealing a grand hall steeped in light, expansive marble floor, and thick pillars that extended to the high ceiling. Hundreds of angels surrounded the space, and their voices hushed like a retreating wave when he entered. His grey wings fit perfectly as he walked through, his steps thudding against the ground and echoing across the room. He took long, sure strides toward the Council who were seated behind a long rectangular table, its rich velvet cloth spilling on the steps that elevated them above the floor. They waited in silence for him to approach, majestic wings expanded behind their own backs, impassive expressions on their faces. Chase’s jaw hardened, fists poised at his sides as he stopped and bowed his head in respect. When he raised his eyes, he leveled his gaze at the seven members, a mix of men and women. They sat regally from their high perch, a mezzanine made of stone raised behind them. Their wings were tinged from light to dark to represent their ages. His were on their way to becoming black if he lived for a few more centuries.

The one with red hair spoke first, long waves spilling around her shoulders, grey eyes sharp and piercing, a thousand years enshrined in those orbs. Her dark inky wings stretched elegantly behind her.

“Chase Malek,” she said in a steady voice. “The Council and I are very pleased with your work.”

A murmur rippled through the room, and he glanced to the right and noticed Eeva standing to the side, her eyes full of warmth and pride. She had always worn her emotions on her face.

Never one to waste time, the Council member continued. “You have proven time and time again your worth, and we want to elevate your rank to that of the Council. Your experiences will benefit us, and your wisdom over the centuries will be invaluable.”

Chase shifted on his feet. He should have felt gratification, but he had made his decision since the cyclone. It descended on him as he stood outside that
fale
. The room was silent as they waited to hear his response.

He swallowed and spoke firmly. “I am grateful for the life that was chosen for me, for the gifts that have been bestowed on me. For four hundred years, I have served my life adamantly but I don’t want immortality anymore. With all due respect, I cannot accept your offer.”

Gasps resonated around him until the woman with red hair raised her hand and it was silent again.

“You do not accept this position?” she asked calmly. Her eyes, however, flickered with disbelief.

Chase gave a curt nod. He was aware of the shock he was causing as this rarely occurred—turning down a strategic position. One that would grant him power and prestige for centuries to come.

“Are we to be afforded an explanation?”

Chase’s voice never wavered. “I want to serve in another way. As a human.”

He heard Eeva gasp while shocked silence cascaded down and filled every space in the room.

The red-headed woman raised her chin. “The repercussions of this choice come with a hefty price, Chase. Are you really willing to pay it?”

“I am,” Chase answered in his deep voice.

The woman raised her chin and spoke with resolve. “It is a choice that, should you pursue, will strip you of your healing abilities. You will be starting over from the beginning, and everything that you have accomplished until now will be taken away from you. It would be as if you never existed because nothing will be recorded in His Book.”

Chase leveled her with a look. “And if I chose to remain? When will I be called back?” he asked in a low voice.

Another member spoke, his voice even. “That is not something we can determine. You know of Whom holds that power, makes those decisions. We serve Him until it is our time to ascend.”

Chase’s jaw hardened. “If I have to start from the beginning, then I will do it willingly because I want to do it with her,” he answered, his eyes measuring those of the Council members’.

“A human woman?”

“Yes.”

They stared back. “Is it worth having your abilities taken away from you?” one asked incredulously. “You will no longer be able to heal, to carry out the very purpose, the very essence of your life.”

Chase answered unwaveringly, “
She
is worth it, yes.”

“What makes her so special that you would give up everything? Give up this rank that we offer you?” spoke one member, her brown eyes boring down into his blue ones.

Chase stared back, unblinking. “I don’t see this as a demotion. If anything, it is another way to live, to serve,” he started. “If you have called me here to bestow a reward in the form of prestige and a place beside you on that table, I cannot accept it. I choose a mortal life. That’s the only reward I want. This woman hasn’t been entrusted with heavenly powers or supernatural abilities. She is not an angel nor is she immortal. She isn’t a perfect being that was created in the heavens like you and me, but born on earth’s dust. She is striving though. She is living her life as close to reaching that goal as possible, and I want to be there with her to help her reach it.”

The Council members sat passively, listening. Their eyes, which were once hardened orbs judging him, had softened slightly.

The woman with the red hair sat up straighter in her chair. “If this is the new path you have chosen, and we cannot convince you otherwise, then you know what must be done,” she said, her steely gaze never leaving his.

He looked back unflinching and nodded once. “It is.”

She sat back coolly and with a flick of her wrist, angels descended from the mezzanine, encircling him and pushing him down on his knees. His back arched, fists knuckled against the marble floor. They wasted no time. Chase closed his eyes as he heard swords unsheathed, the air whipping from the force as they brought them down and tore at his wings, ripping them from his body, the pain more excruciating than anything he had ever experienced before. But no sound escaped his lips. His stance hardened and the muscles in his arms and back tightened with every shred of agony until his head swam and blackness crept in the corners of his eyes. He heard a woman’s ragged scream—Eeva’s—in the distance. The last thing he saw before he hit the ground was a pool of crimson blood and grey feathers floating down and blanketing him on the cold marble floor.

Chapter 30

One month later

A
lana gripped the sides of the cake and used her hip to shut the truck’s door. The family’s dog barked at the noise and rushed towards her. She halted while her heart took off running.
Calm down, girl; he will smell the fear off you
, she coaxed. Glancing at the simple house that was shrouded in a tropical garden, she hoped someone would come out quickly and fend it off her. When she heard a woman’s voice, she sighed in relief.

“
Halu
, Rambo!
Halu
!” she yelled at the dog as she came around the corner,
salu
in hand.

When Alana saw her, she smiled in gratitude, the dog cowering away.

“Hello, my name is Alana,” she introduced, her voice croaky. She coughed to clear it. “I’m a nurse at the National Hospital.”

“Alana!” the woman exclaimed, recognition flashing across her face. “I remember you. My father has talked about you. Please come in.” She gestured warmly.

The woman led the way to the house, and Alana noticed the paint outside peeling away, its furnishings plain and the interior spotlessly clean. She saw the old man sitting on the mat, his face lighting up when he saw her. He had warm and welcoming eyes, the same eyes her father had.

“Alana, my savior!” he laughed.

Alana crouched down and sat cross legged next to him. “It is good to see you again, Mr. Filipo.” She smiled.

He tapped her gently on the back. “How have you been, Alana?” he asked, his voice hoarse with age. “It has been a long time. I see you are still wearing a pretty
sei
.”

Alana placed the cake down on the mat and looked briefly around the open space. Woven mats covered every inch of the floor, a wooden cross hung on the wall, and curtains made from tropical print were tied to the window frames allowing the breeze to come through the open louvers.

Turning to him, she gave him a genuine smile. “I’ve been well. I’m still working as a nurse, but I’m planning to go back to school in the near future to study midwifery. I’ve decided that’s the area I want to focus on.”

Mr. Filipo smiled encouragingly. “Excellent,” he said nodding.

Alana took a deep breath and decided to ask him the question that had been burning inside her. “Mr. Filipo, with all due respect to you, the purpose of this visit was to ask you something.” When he nodded, she continued. “If you allow it, I would love to hear your story when you passed away all those years ago on that hospital bed.” She watched him and when he didn’t say anything, she carried on. “What did you feel? What did you hear? Where did you go?”

Mr. Filipo looked at her and then down at the mat. Alana eyed him closely as emotions flooded his weathered face, the wrinkles around his eyes softening. The way his eyes took on a glazed look, she imagined he was reliving his experience

Silence stretched between them until he cleared his throat and looked up at her with tears glistening in his eyes. “I went home, Alana.”

***

Alana got back in the truck and drove to her house. Going over the conversation she had with Mr. Filipo again and again in her mind, she smiled to herself. Pulling off the main road, she felt serene and uplifted in a way that only two people who shared the same experience could feel. Parking the truck in the driveway, she got out and crossed the yard. While remnants of the debris left from the cyclone had been mostly cleared away and power had returned to the village, her room and the back of the house were still in disarray. Since the roof had been crushed to the floor, she couldn’t go in. Access was blocked, and she wasn’t able to salvage any of her belongings. David was slowly repairing it, and because of the extensive damage caused, she knew it would take a long time before it returned to its original state.

Alana walked up to the porch and could hear him pounding away with the hammer.

She crossed over the threshold and called out to her mother. “I’m home!” She noticed a new pile of dirty laundry in the hamper next to the door. Since the washing machine was destroyed by the cyclone, she was responsible for hand washing their clothes down by the river.

Perlita appeared from behind her carrying lemons from the garden. “Can you believe they’re already growing after the storm?” she asked incredulously, dumping them in the sink. “Come help make lemon juice.” She gestured to Alana.