Relic (The Brethren Series) (16 page)

“Take me to her.” As she picked up her bag and stood, Raphael could see the attraction she commanded. A beautiful, older woman, Monica had bronzed skin and long, straight black hair tinged with white every now and again, almond-shaped eyes colored a stormy gray, and a quiet disposition that spoke of age and wisdom.

Raphael led her down the hall, and when he opened the door to Serena’s bedroom, she entered, going immediately to her. Raphael made to leave but Monica stopped him. “You may stay. In fact maybe you should. Already I sense a deep connection here between you two and I may not be able to do this alone.”

“I don’t know what I’ll be able to do.” He looked at her, filled with shame. “I’m a healer, Monica, but I’m broken.”

“You’re not as broken as you think, Raphael. Now sit over there, on the chair in the corner, and be quiet until I need you.” She turned her attention to Serena, who lay like a corpse on the bed. “Serena.” She gently, rubbed her two hands together quickly. “Serena, I am here, child. Let me in so I can help you.”

Monica placed both of her hands on Serena’s forehead and closed her own eyes. She stayed that way for a good five minutes, her body becoming rigid, tears streaming down her face. Suddenly, she lifted her hands off of Serena and yelped as though she had been burned. Raphael jumped to his feet and raced to her side.

“I’m okay, I’m okay,” she answered with a weak but reassuring smile. “But she is most definitely not. There’s a veritable war going on inside her. There’s something besides her despair at play here. I’m sensing another personality inside her, a very old, or rather ancient soul. When she comes out of this, we will need to do a past life regression to get to the bottom of things.” She wiped her face with trembling hands and shook them out as though to shake off the bad energy.

Raphael acknowledged nothing, yet inside, his guts were twisting.
Is Sirona’s soul doing this to Serena
?
Has she led her to Bull and caused her to seek revenge
?
It’s hard for me to believe that
. Sirona hadn’t been that kind of woman; at least he didn’t think so.

Monica reached down into her bag and brought out a bottle of small pellets, and he gave her a puzzled look.

“Pulsatilla Nigricans. It’s for healing women deep in despair. I’ll put three pellets under her tongue, and as they dissolve, they’ll do their magic. We’ll give it to her twice more over the next few hours. By the third dosage, I expect her to be responsive and communicative. Then, we’ll talk. As for you, my friend, come out to the living room with me. Let me see what I can do for you.”

They walked out of Serena’s room together, quietly closing her door. Monica bade him to sit beside her on the couch by the fireplace. He sat down tentatively, unsure of what to think. She placed her hands on the base of his neck and his forehead and closed her eyes. A smile crept across her face immediately.

“I knew it! I knew your kind existed here on earth!” She shook involuntarily as her expression changed to one of anguish and pain. Tears flowed yet again down her cheeks. She slowly let go of him, took a cleansing breath, and opened her eyes.

Concern flowed through his entire being. Nobody had ever seen through the human veneer to the angel inside without his disclosure first. There could be dire consequences if this information leaked out to the public.

“Don’t be so worried, Raphael.” She chuckled and patted his hands. “I have no intention of sharing what I know with anyone. Who would believe me anyway? They’d sooner put me in the loony bin than believe the word of a crazy healer. You know, you and I are not all that different in what we do. We could be of great help to each other in the future. How could I reveal the true identity of such an important group of people such as the Brethren? Why, that would be downright evil.” She laughed and continued with her assessment. “Now, on to more important matters. The remedy for your problem is a rather simple one, but it’s all up to you how long it will take to work.”

“What do you mean it’s simple?”

“Well, you see, Raphael, in order to begin the healing, you must forgive yourself and let go of the old guilt you’ve carried around with you for centuries as well as the fresh guilt you’ve acquired recently. You are misguided and must get back on the right path.”

“You’re kidding me, right?” He laughed mockingly. “You’ve seen into my mind, my past. You know what happened. How can I ever forgive myself for not being there to save my wife from her brutal slaying?” He could sit no longer, as pent up anger made a frenzied path throughout his body. He paced the room like a soldier. “How do I get past being unable to save Seraphiel and Emma? I can’t! My wife and Seraphiel’s death, Emma’s resistance to heal are all marks on me, ones that I must bear for eternity!”

“Oh, don’t be childish, Raphael!” she admonished. “You know as well as anyone how hard you tried to save them all. If you had stopped to think rationally for a moment, you would have remembered the golden rule. There’s always a plan whether we know it or not. You were not meant to save them! Not Seraphiel, Emma, or even your wife. If you let yourself understand and accept that fact, you can work your way to forgiveness and wash away the guilt. Until then, you’re right. You’re blocked and your boss
should
put you out to pasture. But I saw all that you’ve accomplished. If you ask me, I think it’d be a crying shame to let that happen.”

She sat across from him with a smug look on her face, playing with the handle of her bag. It took a few moments before Raphael spoke through gritted teeth. “I think it’s time for Serena’s next dose. Why don’t you stick to healing her?”

I cannot believe she just scolded me like a child
.

She ignored his remark and stood up, looking imperious. “By the way, I won’t say a word to anyone about Bull either, the worthless piece of refuse. Have you told Serena you suspect your dead wife’s soul has come to live within her?”

He glared at Monica and simply walked out of the room.

I’m being childish
?
Damn it
!
Who the hell does she think she is, presuming to tell me what I am and what I should do
? Raphael fumed as he stormed out of the house to beat up the poor cactus he’d whipped to death the other day.
Okay, maybe now I’m being a little childish. But if I couldn’t even save my own wife, what kind of Savior am I
?
I’m no Savior at all
!

Raphael moved on from the pummeled saguaro to the mannequin planted in the ground for martial arts training purposes.
How can I tell Serena about my wife and my suspicions? She’ll think I’ve only been interested in her because of the connection. She’ll think I’m some depraved guy looking to replace his long lost wife. And that is depraved! But that’s not who I am! That’s not why I feel the way I do about her! Well, not anymore anyway.
By the time he finished, the mannequin had died ten times over. And he felt dead, too. He’d poured his emotions out with every kick and punch until all that remained was an empty, depressed shell of a man.

He moved inside to the kitchen where he threw himself a party, a pity party, and toasted himself with a tall glass of water.
Here’s to you loser
! He looked at the now empty glass and thought,
just like my life
. He impulsively threw the glass against the kitchen wall and watched it shatter into a million pieces.
Just like my life, some more
, he mused ruefully.
No
!
That glass can never be put back together, but my life certainly can
!
But can I do it
?
Do I have the courage to forgive and let go the guilt
?
I’m not sure. But I am sure I can sweep up the mess I’ve made. And that’s a start
.

Monica popped her head into the kitchen “If you’re done with your temper tantrum, I’m going to give Serena her last dose. I’m sure you’ll want to be there when she comes out of this stupor of hers.” She turned back toward Serena’s bedroom.

Raphael threw away the remnants of his frustration, ran to take a quick shower, and hustled to Serena’s room. Monica sat beside her and looked up as he walked into the room. He nodded awkwardly at her, and with that nod acknowledged his tentative acceptance of her and everything she had told him. She gave a quick nod back, and turned her attention to Serena.

“I’m giving her the last dose right now. You want this to work, yes?”

“Of course. That’s why I called you.”

“Do what I ask without question. Show yourself, angel. Hold her in your arms and enclose her in your wings so all she can see when she comes around is you. Then, you tell her. You tell her right away that she is completely healed. The rest will fall into place on its own. Let me know when all is well. I’ll be waiting out in the living room.” She placed the last three pellets under Serena’s tongue, and without another word, slipped out of the room, leaving him to finish what she started.

He took off his shirt and released his wings. Embracing Serena within them, he waited and waited, and waited some more. He stroked and nuzzled her hair, and when he thought he could take no more, she finally stirred. She blinked a few times and whispered just one word.

“Raphael.”

The most joyous word he’d ever heard! He quickly responded, “It’s okay, Serena. I’m here. I’ve got you.” He gently feathered kisses over her face and showed her his broadest smile. Her reaction, however, proved less than enthusiastic.

Enjoying his warmth and his strength, but believing she deserved neither, she spoke. “Raphael, I’ve done a dreadful thing. I’m so ashamed. I don’t know what came over me, I…I…” she stammered. Agitated, she tried to find the right words to explain, but Raphael held her strongly and quickly chimed in.

“Shh, shh, Serena, you must stay calm. Never mind all that now; we can talk about it later, if you wish. But it’s important for you to listen to me, please.” His fingers gently caressed her cheek, and she looked at him with shame-filled eyes. “You’ve been healed. Do you understand what I’m saying? Emma healed
all
of you. Not only your ribs, kidneys, and spleen, but everything that needed healing
has been healed
. Serena, you
can
have children.”

She looked at him, searching his eyes for confirmation that what she’d heard was indeed true.

“Yes, it’s true. Physically, you are in perfect health.”

She closed her eyes and let herself sink into his soothing embrace as she let out a sigh of relief and joy. With her head pressed gently against his chest, she muttered a prayer of thanks.

He heard and held her a little bit tighter. “There’s something else.”

“What’s that?”

“Because you’ve been healed completely, we may very well have created a child, our child.” Her body tensed in his arms. Memories of their torrid sexcapade in the hallway came flooding back to her.

“Oh, oh my.” Her face instantly flushed. She pulled back, immediately missing his touch but needing to put some distance between them. She raked her hands shakily through her hair. “Wow. A child. You and I may have created a child… huh.” She paused, completely stunned by the news, and looked him square in the eyes. “How exactly do you feel about that?”

“Listen, I know I’ve got you at an unfair advantage. You’ve just found out, where I’ve had a little time to process this whole thing.” He took both of her hands and after kissing the palms of each, laid them against his cheeks. “I never got the chance to have children, so for me the prospect is actually quite thrilling. And as for you, my sweet Serena, well, I haven’t felt this way about anyone in centuries. You are bewitching. You’ve got me under your spell, and I am your slave. So the question now turns to you,” he countered, with eyes that pierced straight through the heart of her. “How do you feel about having my child?”

Chapter Nineteen

Ecstatic
!
Phenomenal
! But something held Serena back from saying so.
How can I be a mother when I’m not even in my right mind
? “How do I feel? I feel like we shouldn’t put the cart before the horse. I feel like we should find out for sure whether I’m pregnant or not.”

“Shall I get Monica in here? She’s waiting right in the living room. She’s been here for some time now, taking care of you.”

“Oh yes, please!” Serena cried out, sitting up in bed and fussing with the blankets.

“Okay, wait here. I’ll be right back.”

She looked around her as he left. Mortification set in as she remembered everything that had occurred, all of the things she had said and done. Her thoughts were interrupted by Monica breezing into her room.

“Well, hello! Welcome back to the living, my dear,” Monica cooed as she sat beside her. “We’ve got a lot to talk about, haven’t we?”

“Yes, we do. Thank you first for coming out and helping me. It’s been a difficult time to say the least. You know, Jared is dead.” Serena’s eyes threatened to unleash a floodgate of tears, but she held them back through sheer might.

“Yes, yes, I heard. Such dreadfully sad news. I’m so terribly sorry for your loss. But now you know, and there’s no more worrying or wondering. What’s done is done. From this point on you think of the wonderful times the two of you shared and keep those memories close to your heart. I also know that there is a chance you might be with child. I can tell you for certain right now, if you so wish.”

“I guess finding out now would be the prudent thing to do. Wouldn’t you agree, Raphael?” she asked.

“I would think the sooner we know the better.”

“All right, Serena, lay all the way down for me, dear, and I shall take a look.” She began rubbing her hands together furiously. She laid her hands upon Serena’s belly, closed her eyes, and breathed deeply. Both could see her eyes darting about under her lids. It seemed as though she looked for something.

Slowly, Monica’s eyes fluttered open. She lifted her hands from Serena’s belly and spoke with an unwavering voice. “There is no child in the womb. You’re not pregnant.”