The Celestial Rose BoxSet

by Annalee Adams

  I screamed in joy, laughed, cried, and shook my head. Was this real? “Look mate, she’s giggling!” Joey cooed.

  “Oh my, oh wow,” Eliza said. “I didn’t see that coming!”

  I fell to my knees beside Joey as he handed my daughter to me. Her face grimaced as I pulled her in tight. She was alive. A phoenix rising from the ashes. She’d shed her skin and come back to me, always alive in my mind until I couldn’t see her any more.

  “How?” I sobbed.

  “I, I don’t know,” Eliza said. “What happened, Joey?”

  “Mate, I was trying to tell you. When you broke her, the bits started falling off. Then light came out of where that their finger was meant to be. She fell apart and well, ‘ere she is.”

  “She wasn’t dead after all!” I exclaimed.

  “Oh, she was mate. She stunk... the flies were feeding on her, man.”

  “Damn, Joey!” I said, if she wasn’t alive, I’d have put him in an early grave.

  “Then how?”

  Eliza sat beside us, touched my daughter’s hand as she clasped her tiny fist around Eliza’s finger. “You said she was always alive to you.” I nodded. “Then I’d say she was always in there somewhere. Her body had gone into a state of starvation and died, but her light lived on. When her shell broke, she was able to reach out and be reborn again.”

  “But Taylor said she could only do that when she tapped into the Celestial Rose, but she had to be near it.”

  “Maybe your daughter can tap into it from anywhere.”

  I smiled. “She is the most amazing little girl in the universe, of course she can do that,” I said, grinning and standing her up on her feet. She couldn’t bare weight on her legs yet, but she was getting there.

  “I’d watch out, though.”

  “Err, why?”

  “She’ll be crawling in no time, then you’re in for a whole world of trouble!”

  I laughed. She giggled, and we all laughed in unison.

  CHAPTER 105: ADAM

  “So, what’s the plan?”

  “Nope, no idea,” Harland said.

  “Send down some of the celestial guard, sire. We can go look for the others you took down there,” he said, motioning towards Gabriel.

  “Hmm, yes, that sounds like a start.” I waved them away. “Report back with any news.”

  “Will do, sire,” he said as he left the table and ushered the other guards to follow him. That left Charmeine and I, Gabriel, Taylor’s father and Caleb, Elisha, and Harland. We were all that was left and the only team that had any chance of solving the issue of how to break into Hell.

  “Shit. Do you have anything to drink around here?” Harland asked. I motioned over to the cabinet at the end of the room. He nodded, fetching six different bottles of spirits from our last travels to Earth, before all the bloodshed, of course. It wouldn’t be right to travel through the world on a booze cruise while the whole of humanity was wiped out.

  “I could do with one!” Caleb said, putting up his hand.

  “You’re not old enough.” His father scorned.

  “Dad, I’m dead, I’m never going to be old enough!”

  I laughed. “Give the lad a drink. Heck, we could all do with one right now.”

  Harland dished out the glasses, filled them up with some variety of whisky, and three drinks later I was slurring.

  “Nope, I still haven’t got the foggiest of how to get into that damned place!”

  “We’re screwed,” Harland said.

  “Harland, if your mother heard you cursing that way she’d have slapped the mouth you cursed from,” Elisha said, then laughed.

  “Yeah, she was a good one, that mother of mine.”

  “What happened to her?” Caleb asked.

  “She died... like every other person in the world.”

  “Sorry,” he said.

  “Neh, that’s what bought me and your big sister close. We shared the same grief.”

  He nodded, wallowing in his own loss. “One day, we will see them again.”

  “We will, kid,” Harland said, ruffling his hair.

  “Oh, cheery subject girls,” Elisha said, sprawled over Harland’s left arm. “Let’s play a game.”

  “A what?” I asked. “I highly doubt this is the right time for a game.”

  “Oh, hush Adam,” Charmeine said, laughing. “We could all do with a little fun right now.”

  I smiled. She was right.

  “Never have I ever...” Elisha said. Harland groaned.

  “Really, how old are we, Elisha?” he asked, she slapped him.

  “Shush, Harland, I’m going first,” she slurred. “Never have I ever drank Absinth.” She smirked.

  “What! Really?” Harland asked, guzzling down a shot of whisky. Taylor’s dad followed suit, as did Gabriel. She nodded. “Oh, we’ll have to change that!” He grinned.

  “Okay, my turn,” Harland said, “Never have I ever died...” He laughed. “Go on boys, drink up!” Caleb downed a shot, his father, too. Gabriel and Charmeine laughed, both downing a double, and Elisha smirked tapping me on the shoulder. “What?”

  “Technically... your human body died when Lilith changed you.”

  “Argh, shit,” he said, gulping down another bourbon whisky.

  I sat silently, smirking and watching them down shot after shot. “It must be my turn by now,” I said smiling. They fell silent, intrigued. “Never have I ever plotted to break INTO Hell.” Everyone laughed as every single one of us downed a shot. There was something in that. Never had we ever thought we would ever want to be anywhere near the vortex of Hell, let alone break into it!

  CHAPTER 106: JULIAN

  The shrill winds of Aesteriah’s gritted at my skin. Lucky for me, my skin was built to withstand the bullet from a double-barreled shotgun. Lilith had given me some perks. She’d always favoured me, and heck, I favoured her too. It wasn’t like her, the misery and the pain, it came from somewhere and I knew the truth. I knew her. She still had light left inside of her. She’d saved me, saved us all. But all they saw was the mutations she’d turned us into. But if it weren’t for our frail mortal figures, we’d have died in the first place.

  Heck, I missed the place. Artic temperatures reigned over the planet. This part of the world was encased by the blizzard of winter’s reign. I didn’t mind, though, another benefit of being an Ice Demon... I happened to like the cold.

  Magdalena must have been there somewhere. She’d have contacted me if she had sought solace in another place. Magdalena was the first of her kind, and the most powerful witch out there. We were good friends, she and I. She’d saved me from a fair number of scrapes in my time and, in return, I’d saved her from her own. As powerful as she was, she owed me her life. If it wasn’t for my bond with Lilith, she’d have hunted and slaughtered Magdalena down by now. Instead, I’d smuggled her through the portal, given her the chance to live again.

  Aesteriah was a planet like Earth. It shared the same ecological system but lay dormant, untouched by Eve’s humanity. And by the looks of it, it was faring better because of that. I’d heard of tribes of creatures back over to the North, but for now, they weren’t my main priority. If I knew Magdalena, she would search for the highest point of the planet, a place she could call home. She’d sit on her ivory throne, keeping an eye out for Lilith’s minions. Heck, I bet she knew I was already here. She’d have spies planted throughout the whole damn world. But until she found me, I knew I needed to head deeper in, past the ice mountains and over the glazed ocean, into the warmer climate, where the Heaione mountain lay, the largest mountain range of all. If she was anywhere, she’d be there.

  CHAPTER 107: LUCIAN

  As a phoenix from the ashes, she rose; bright, bubbly, and full of light. My daughter was just how I'd seen her to be. Eliza said my connection ran deep, that even as her body withered, her mind was still in synch with my own. I could see her as she should be, as she wanted to be, and as she was. My beautiful baby girl was safe and sou
nd and back in my arms again.

  As I kissed the top of her nose, she scrunched up her face, wriggling in my arms. She had grown so much as she pushed forward with her arms, ready to crawl. Rocking back and forth, she lunged, falling in the process. Tears filled her eyes as I sat her back upright. "Keep trying, you'll get there." I smiled.

  Eliza walked in. She'd been gone for a while, searching through Lawrence's books in the library for any sign of a prophecy of a child rising from the ashes. "Did you find anything?" I asked, as I smiled at Joey’s comical attempts at showing my daughter how to crawl.

  "No, nothing. It strange. There's no sign of anything to do with the children of the future...and what's stranger is, I didn't see this coming!" She seemed alert, afraid, almost.

  "What's wrong?" I asked. I knew the look.

  "If I didn't see it, then it shouldn't have happened."

  "Why?"

  "I see everything, Lucian, you know that. I'm only second to the one great Seer of our land."

  "Yes, I know, but even she didn't see it coming."

  "No, she wouldn't."

  "Why?"

  "She's dead."

  "What! When?"

  "Esmary died in the first battle, before the children were born."

  "Why didn't you say?"

  "You never asked."

  "But what good is a seer that can't prevent her own death?"

  "You cannot change fate, Lucian. You know that." She scratched her head "Well, I didn't think you could, but then this little beauty changed all that." She said, bending down and picking my daughter up. I smiled. Eliza inspected her, eyed up her freckles, her porcelain skin. "Have you seen her eyes, Lucian?"

  "Err, yes... why?"

  "They are changing, look," she said, waving me over.

  Staring into my giggling daughter’s eyes was a mesmerising performance. The irises flowed with the tranquil waves of the sea; marine blue to cobalt and cerulean. A collection of hues only the maker could blend together. Earthy tones of the land matched the sea as life took flight in her eyes. The cobalt blue merged with Winsor lemon, giving bloom to green grass and wild roses. Earthy browns pooled over with sienna, mixing with the teetering of indigo violet. I had never seen such an array of colours swirled into one harmonious tone. Her eyes were alive with the light of life. The world could be seen through every colour she saw. To look upon my daughter, to gaze into her eyes, brought peace to my heart. I knew that with her, there would always be a today, and forever a tomorrow.

  Time passed quickly, the day waned, and my child began to cry. "What's wrong, baby girl?"

  She responded with a wide-eyed look of despair. Something was wrong. Her screams grew louder, high pitched wails burst through my eardrums.

  "She's hungry, Lucian. Remember, you do have to feed her."

  Of course, I knew that. Damn it.

  "Can you watch her?" I asked as I stood up in search of food. Eliza and Joey nodded as they both continued to try to ease her discomfort.

  Walking through to the kitchen, the smell of burnt firewood drifted through the open window. Eliza had done a good job at keeping the place protected, but she couldn't keep out the stench of burning timber or rotting bodies.

  Now what do babies eat? I remembered Taylor talking about milk. Was our girl past the milk stage already? She was sitting up, using more energy; perhaps she needed something more substantial. What about a sandwich? Taylor always liked the ham ones with a salad and a dash of garlic on the side. That sounded good, and so I got to work.

  I could hear the wails of hunger pains replaced by the giggles of my girl’s chirpy laugh as I served up her lunch.

  Eliza laughed. "What's that, Lucian?" She asked.

  "Mmm, mate, that looks good!"

  "Hands off, its hers."

  "Whose?" She asked, laughing. I stood silent. Had I missed something. "She can't eat that, Lucian!"

  "Why not?"

  "Look," she said, pointing at her tiny human mouth. "Where's her teeth?"

  Shit. Damn it. "Well, what can she eat?"

  "Pureed or soft food." She smiled. "The bread’s alright," she said as she broke off a small piece and handed it to her.

  My baby girl snatched it up, shoveling it in her mouth all at once. "Hey, slow down," Eliza said as she rubbed her back. "Lucian, have a look upstairs and see if Elisha put together a pack for you."

  "I didn't know she had brought anything."

  "Mate, that Elisha is nuts with organising."

  Running up the stairs, I headed past the old Victorian portrait. I remembered that day; the respectable clothes, the mannequin expressions. Those were the simpler times; lonelier but easier. The tragic events of both World Wars made a bloodbath of the mortally wounded. Dinnertime was an array of easy pickings served on a platter of sin and suffering. Going to fight in, the second World War was a barrel full of laughs. Man against man, human against human... and they said we were the monsters.

  Although, I had to say that the time in the trenches was amongst one of the most decrepit times I'd spent on this land. It had stunk of stale piss and vomit most of the time, with a dashing of shit and rotting flesh added to the mix. I had hardly eaten for weeks back then. I didn't even fancy feeding on the living. None of it was sterile, and even I feared what I might catch.

  Lips curled, I grinned. Those were the days!

  Walking into the room I'd once shared with Taylor gave me heavy heart. Damn, I missed her. I frowned.

  Elisha really had gone all out. The cot in the corner was the perfect size for my daughter. It saddened me, though, that the cot next to hers would remain empty until we brought my son home.

  Picking up a selection of items, I headed back downstairs. Elisha had thought of everything; nappies, jars of baby food, tiny blankets with jagged plastic edges... I didn't quite see the point to them, but the clothes and white fluffy bunny looked appealing. All neutral colours, too, which added to the appeal.

  "Elisha, will these do?" I asked as I entered the room.

  "Perfect," she exclaimed, picking out a simple white vest and cream floral dress and lace-edged socks. "Will you go heat up the food?" She asked, passing me a jar of puree. I nodded, heading into the kitchen and following the instructions on the back.

  "Oi mate, you really suck at this," Joey said, smirking. Taking the jar off me, he heated it up in a pan of boiled water, served it in a plastic bowl, and headed back in to feed my daughter.

  I followed him in, watching in awe. "Since when did you know about babies?"

  "Since I 'ad one, mate."

  "Huh?" Joey... neh, he couldn't have had a child... could he?

  He nodded, smiling.

  "Since when?"

  "Since the dark ages, mate. I introduced you to 'em."

  I was puzzled. How did I not remember meeting 'them'? I shrugged.

  "Ah yeah, that makes sense, Luci. You went missing back then."

  "Huh, what do you mean?"

  "I dunno, you disappeared an' when you came back, you'd changed."

  I frowned. "I don't remember that."

  "Meh, I know. You said the same thing back then. It must have been a wild party." He laughed. "You'd gone for years mate."

  "I've no idea."

  "Last I 'erd, you'd gone to see Lilith." He said as he lent down and began to spoon feed my child.

  "So, where's your children now?" I asked.

  "They died, so probably living in peace in Elysium by now."

  "Oh, I'm sorry!"

  "Why? I'm not. They're better off there while Lilith’s out on the rampage." I nodded. He was right, but it was still disheartening that his children were all dead.

  "Did you ever consider turning them?"

  "Yes, mate, course I did, but she wouldn't let me..." He winced. "An' I was in no place to piss off the boss."

  "Who? Lilith?"

  "Shit, no. My wife, man. She was a damn sight scarier than Lilith, if you crossed her." I laughed. I'd never thought I'd seen the day Joey Luchaze
y was a family man, settled down with a wife and two kids.

  "What are you two up to?" Eliza asked as she came over.

  "Argh nothing, just fond memories of Esmeralda."

  "Oh, your wife," she said.

  "How did she know, and I didn't?" I asked, wanting to stamp my foot.

  "Err... you did. You forgot!"

  "Yeah," Eliza said, "and... I'm a seer," She exclaimed. “It kinda goes with the territory.” She had a point, too.

  CHAPTER 108: TAYLOR

  From the frozen flames of an existence bare, came the warbled disillusionment of a child so fair. With her crackled smile and darkened soul, she rampaged the Earth with her fated role.

  Lilith, my sister, my kin... What had happened to her? What had turned her to sin? A frightened child cast out alone, she fought back like a dog with a bone.

  My sister, how she wandered the Earth, in search of something to ease her birth. No matter what path she takes, the innocent die within her wake.

  To bring peace to the land, her life must end, in an endless chorus she cannot not defend. With all my might, with all my sorrow, I’ll cast her down today and tomorrow.

  But isn’t that the reason she turned to the night? Would it not be the reason her pain will bite? For the best way to handle her is to love and behold. Perhaps the final answer is the truth yet to be told.

  Then I awoke.

  The cavern was cold. I lay still, silent, and alone, dying again on the alter like a sacrifice to God, my father. He left me to rot, soaked in stale urine and infected tissue. If my sense of smell hadn’t stopped working, I’d have gagged at my own existence.

  At the back of the cavern, my mother was hanging, her life force dwindling as she twitched and moaned. Her death was painstaking and there was nothing more I could do about it. Not only was I gutted like a fish, I’d been bound to the slab like meat on a grinder. It wasn’t pretty and there was no way I was getting out without help.

  How long had it been, though? How long had I remained a slave to my sister, and a sacrifice for my father? Even thinking that sounded wrong. It felt like something you’d see on one of those real-life TV shows; the ones with the shouting, the rampage, and anger. The ones where a certain celebrity would find out the truth behind the family. I could imagine it, the tag line reading... “My sister gutted me, my father murdered me. Can this family ever love each other again?” Well, no, Mr. Kyle, not while my mother was hanging upside down on a crucifix. I couldn’t exactly see the answer to that question being a positive one. I laughed, well, murmured really... it was hard to laugh when your stomach muscles weren’t there to support it.