Bren, Tracy and Alannah had Gabriel on the dance floor; teaching him some new moves. They could hear the sound of the warrior’s laughter throughout the house.
Since the reception was in full swing, Aura pulled Michael into the library, to have a private conversation. “I understand my son has given you Avriel’s ring. Have you been experiencingany changes since you began wearing it?” Michael knew there was something special about this ring, but he wasn’t prepared to share that news with Aura just yet.
Aura looked at the ring and a smile crossed her face. “I can see, and talk to Alorrah now.”
“Has Alorrah said anything to you about the condition of Alexis and Fionn?” “She said Alexis was safe, but Fionn is beaten on a regular basis. Alorrah tries to protect him as much as possible. She burned Samhael. Did you know that?”
“I wasn’t aware that Alorrah was so powerful. Perhaps her gift was one of the reasons Lucifer wanted her and her sister so badly. Regrettably, Fionn was mortal, so there wasn’t a lot we could do for him.”
“I thought Esra gave Fionn her blood after they were married. Wouldn’t he have some form of protection because of her blood?” “Giving him Esra’s blood, has only prolonged his miserable life. Lucifer will do anything to persuade Alorrah to help him, even if it means hurting her uncle.”
Aura hesitated.“There is something else I wanted to speak to you about.” “I expected you would want to discuss this.” “Does Esra know the truth?” “Yes – but she is sworn to secrecy.
“I’m not sure I understand why you couldn’t tell me. Didn’t you trust me?” Aura asked. “We have always trusted you, but there are others involved, who may not be as trustworthy as we once thought,” Michael said. “Avriel’s ring binds you to Aidan. You must never forget that.”
Michael felt terrible for deceiving Aura, but it was important for her to believe that the ring she wore connected her to the eternal children. He wanted to tell her the whole truth, but his Father had forbidden it. As her memoires returned, she would understand why he was not forthcoming with the truth about Aidan and the ring.
Aura understood his message. “I have no intentions of severing my bond with my daughters. How much time will I have?” “Your sister will marry, but I’m afraid her honeymoon will be cut short.”
“That’s only about eight days. Do you think I’ll be ready?” “We have every confidence in you, Aura. Follow your heart, it will not fail you.”
Aura smiled. “We should get back. The others are probably wondering about us.” As they left the library, Michael kissed her on the forehead. “Never doubt yourself. Now, I promised my daughter another dance,” he said before walking away to find Jasmine.
Aura was left to think about her future. Eight days wasn’t much time. But she would be ready. She had no choice.
Chapter 8
A few minutes after Michael and Raphael left, Aura sensed that Jeziel was approaching. She could smell her from a mile away. She was glad that Aidan was in the back yard.
She pulled Rita and Jessica into the kitchen, out of earshot of the other guests. “Jeziel is coming,” Aura announced quietly. Rita was irate. “Why would you let her in your house after what she’s done?” “Hush -keep your voice down. Jeziel isn’t aware we know that she was in Utopia with Natalie. She thought Wendell and Warren would die before telling us anything. Our original plan was to allow her to come to the wedding with Aidan. You may not agree with me, but remember - we keep our friends close and our enemies closer. We don’t have to trust her. We just need to make her think we trust her.” Aura chuckled. “Put your game face on Rita. You’re gonna need it.”
“I’ll agree to this, only because you’ve asked me. I will try to be civil to her, but don’t expect anything else. Richard tried to kill Arian today, and we still don’t know where Jeziel and Natalie took his body.”
“That’s exactly why we need to be cordial to Jeziel. She may give us some information about Richard.”
“She’s not going to trust you Aura, surely you know that,” Rita said. “She may not trust me, but she trusts Aidan, completely.” Aura wasn’t about to tell Rita her secret yet. She trusted her sister, but she didn’t trust Aidan, and she had no intention of tipping her hand. Her daughter’s life may depend on it. Rita would find out,
in another eight days, after her marriage to Will. Jeziel decided to use the front door, instead of meeting Aidan in the backyard. She couldn’t wait to see the expressions on the Guilds faces when she arrived, uninvited.
She had always enjoyed a friendly relationship with Jasmine in the past, but she was always closer to Aidan. He never treated her as an outcast because Lucifer was her father.
One day, they would be all dance at her wedding. The prospect of watching them all bow to her and her father, made Jeziel smile. Of course, the first ones to die would be the brats. Jeziel hated them most of all; especially Bren and Tracy. She would spare Aura’s life initially; if for no other reason than to have her watch her little ones suffer a slow, painful death. There was so much to look forward to…
As she approached the door, Jeziel decided to knock to announce her arrival. She hoped Aura hadn’t already seen her in one of the visions. She was looking forward to the shocked look on everyone’s faces when they opened the door, to see her standing there.
Mia, suspecting it might be Becca Cohen, quickly ran to answer the door. Tristan promised Jasmine he hadn’t been in contact with Becca in months.He made his father swear he wouldn’t let news of the marriage slip. Jasmine disliked Becca. It had nothing to do with the fact that she was a mortal. It was because Becca was constantly flirting with Tristan. Somehow, Jasmine decided that even though they were married, Becca would continue her pursuit of Tristan. That didn’t sit well with any of the angelbloods; especially Mia, who blamed Becca for always getting her into trouble.
Mia was shocked to find Jeziel standing there. She was wearing a barely-there dress, just as tasteless as the dress she wore to Rusty and Renatta’s wedding. The only difference was that this one was red, instead of black.
Jayden turned away, as soon as he saw Jeziel. She looked too much like Natalie, for him to ever be friendly to her. Even if she was innocent in the deaths of Elijah and his sister, he would never forget her closeness with Natalie. He kept Acadia close to him. He didn’t trust that Jeziel would hurt her, just to spite him.
Mia crossed her tiny arms in front of her chest. She was picture perfect in her knee-length white dress, with a periwinkle sash at the waist. Her silvery blonde hair was piled high in soft ringlets on top of her head, and was adorned by tiny barrettes and ribbons that matched her sash. But Mia was anything but adorable, at that moment. “What you want Jeziel?” She asked, unable to hide the bitterness in her tone.
“I’ve come to offer congratulations to my friend Jasmine on her marriage,” Jeziel said, as sweetly as she could.
Mia looked at Aura before inviting Jeziel to come inside. Aura nodded and Mia said, “You welcome come in.” “Thank you and where might I find the bride and groom?” “Them over there.” Mia pointed to the corner of the living room.
Aidan finally came in from outside and as he made his way through the kitchen to the living room, everyone could see that he was nervous. As Jeziel approached him he asked, “How did you find out about the wedding?”
She laughed, before resting her hand on his arm. “You told me. Surely you couldn’t have forgotten already. So how does it feel knowing your sister is married? Honestly - I expected you to get married first. Has Aura regained her memory yet?”
Before Aidan could respond, Aura walked over to greet Jeziel. “I’m glad you could join us today, but regrettably, the party is almost over.”
“Oh, that’s OK. I won’t be staying long. I just wanted to wish Jasmine and Tristan well on their marriage.” Jeziel smiled, but it was a forced smile, which did not go unnoticed by anyone in the room. Aura sent a silent message to Rita, warning her again to be civil towards their guest.
“If you’re hungry, there’s still food in the dining room. Please make yourself comfortable,” Aura said, before walking away. As soon as Jeziel was out of sight, Aidan approached Aura. “I told her not to come back.” “The Guild decided there is no evidence to convict her for Elijah’s death. I thought you would be happy that she has been welcomed back to the family. At the very least, you owe her a dance. If my memory serves me correctly, you never danced with her atRusty’s wedding. We don’t want a repeat of what happened that night. It won’t be healthy for Jeziel, if she knocks my little ones to the floor a second time.”
They both watched as Jeziel headed back to where Aidan was standing in the living room. “I’ll leave the two of you alone.” Aura laughed, before she walked over to speak to the angel priests.
Jeziel immediately asked Aidan to join her on one of the sofas. “So has anything happened since the last time I saw you?” “Many things have happened, but this really isn’t the time or place to discuss business. You should just enjoy the party,” he said, before joining the little ones.
“Where are you going Aidan? We haven’t had a chance to talk?” Aidan ignored her. He avoided Aura too because he knew she was still far too upset to speak civilly to him. How could she think Jeziel was his girlfriend? He wished her memories would return, so she would remember that she was his wife. He was growing impatient waiting.
Seeing that Jeziel was alone, Paul took a seat next to her. He noticed her eyes were their original color, but it wasn’t enough to convince him or the other members of the Guild of her innocence. Jeziel tried to ask about Richard, but Paul skirted the issue like everyone else in the room. She would not be told anything that could be used against them by Lucifer or Samhael.
Paul wondered if her eyes would change back, once she learned
Aura had Avriels ring. They weren’t engaged, but she would have no way of knowing that. He believed if Aidan told Jeziel, he would probably seal his own fate. Aura would consider it an act of betrayal.
Before he could broach the subject, Eve pulled him away. “Aura doesn’t want Jeziel to know that she has Avriel’s ring.” “What difference would it make for her to know the truth?” “We need to keep Jeziel close until we learn of her plans,” Eve insisted. No one openly mistreated her, but Jeziel couldn’t help thinking they wanted her gone, as soon as possible. When there was another knock at the door, she got up to answer it.
Rita was seething. “How dare she take such liberties in my sister’s house,” she mumbled under her breath.
Jeziel opened the door to find a fairly attractive girl standing there, but this girl wasn’t an angelblood. She was mortal. “Hi my name is Becca, and I’m here to bring some papers to Jack Donnelly for my father. Can you tell me if he’s here?” Jeziel smiled. “Won’t you please come in? Jack’s over there with Tristan.”
As soon as she saw Becca, Mia ran to her. Jack Donnelly worked closely with Ira Cohen, a mortal lawyer. It was common knowledge his daughter Becca had a crush on Tristan, and Mia despised her. Despite her young age, she had several confrontations with Becca, which usually left Mia in trouble.
“What you want Becca Cohen?” Mia asked.
“My father sent me to deliver these papers. Are you having a party?” “We celebrating Tristan wedding to Jasmine.”
Becca couldn’t hide her disappointment. She had plans for Tristan, and they didn’t include anyone else. “I didn’t hear anything
about a wedding. Where is Tristan?”
“Him’s over there, him’s wife.”
Jasmine joined her husband. “What’s she doing here?” She whispered. “I swear I didn’t invite her. Did you say anything Dad?” Jasmine could see the sweat on her husband’s brow. The temperature suddenly climbed fifty degrees; or at least that’s what it felt like to Tristan.
“I never said a word. Why don’t we see why she’s here, before you get too excited?”
Jack walked over to greet her. “Becca, we weren’t planning to see you today. What brings you all the way over here?” “My father asked me to deliver these papers to you.” She handed him a manila envelope. “What’s this I hear about Tristan getting married?”
“Yes - just this afternoon. He asked Jasmine over Christmas, and she said yes. Isn’t that wonderful?” Becca ignored him and pushed her way over to where Tristan was standing with his new bride. “Why didn’t you tell me you were getting married? I thought you and I liked each other?” Becca demanded.
“Why would you think that? You must have misunderstood my intentions. I’ve been in love with Jasmine since we first met,” Tristan argued.
Now Becca’s voice was screeching. Fingernails on a blackboard, wasnothing like the sound coming out of her mouth. “I didn’t misunderstand anything. Does she know we dated? Really Tristan how can you love someone you hardly know?”
Becca was beginning to size up her competition, and came to the conclusion that she was far prettier than Tristan’s new wife. “I don’t know you either. And just for the record, we never dated! I drove you to a party once, nothing more. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my wife!”
Mia walked over. “You leave now, Becca Cohen. You deliver you papers. There no reason you stay.”
Becca turned on her heels and stomped out the front door; slamming it sharply behind her.
Jeziel was smiling. Perhaps she would have a conversation with the mortal girl in the future. Mia climbed on the couch to look out the window, making sure Becca was truly gone. “We not see her again. I no like Becca Cohen. Her make me upset,” she whined.
“You want some chocolate ice cream?” Alannah asked. Mia walked over to her, and grabbed her hand. “I love that Lana.” Together, the girls walked towards the kitchen, and asked Aura to fix them a bowl of ice cream. Alannah, like Mia, never tired of the treat.
A short time later, Tristan and Jasmine announced they were leaving, and said their goodbyes to the family. They kept their distance from Jeziel offering only a wave of their hands. Everyone expected her to leave too, but she remained behind, to speak with Aidan.
“So I take it you and Aura have made up since the last time I saw you?”
“What makes you think we were fighting?”
“She seemed upset the last time I saw you together. I assumed you had a disagreement of some kind. I hope it wasn’t about me.” “I can assure you our bond is unbreakable,” Aidan said. “I’m glad to hear that.” She thought to herself, “It will only be a matter of time before I make sure their bond is broken beyond repair. Then Avriel’s ring will belong to me.”
She looked at Aidan. “Aura doesn’t seem to be spending much time with you. I expected to find you both dancing.”
“I’m sure she’s doing something with the little ones.” It was approaching midnight, and Papa had planned for fireworks in the backyard. Aura had expected Jeziel to be gone by then, but was disappointed that she remained.
Iris poured champagne for the grownups, and handed sparkling cider to the little ones in plastic champagne flutes. Papa then led the group outside.
As soon as they were all assembled next to the orange tree, he looked at his watch and the countdown began. At the stroke of midnight, a burst of colors lit up the moonlit sky.
Everyone hugged and kissed, wishing each other a Happy New Year. Aidan watched, as Aura kissed Dareus and Aureus on the cheek. The family was so busy, they didn’t notice that Aidan’s eyes turned black for a split second. But Aura noticed, and so did Alannah.
Aidan allowed Jeziel to kiss him; after all it was customary. But that was the only kiss he would get. Aura laughed when she saw Jeziel’s smug expression. “Enjoy it while it lasts,” she said quietly.
Aura continued to congratulate her family and friends, carefully avoiding Aidan and Jeziel. “We have a great deal to look forward to this year,” she said. Alannah smiled at her mother. She knew exactly what she meant.
When the fireworks show ended, they all walked back to the house. “
I suppose I should be leaving now. I’m sure we’ll see each other again. Perhaps I’ll see you at Rita’s wedding. I really miss you Aidan. I hate being so alone. Will you consider meeting me again?”
Aura walked up behind her. “Actually, we were planning to go horseback riding in the morning. Maybe you’d like to join us.” “Tomorrow is New Year’s Day. Shouldn’t you wait for some other time?” Aidan asked. “We aren’t planning anything until later in t he day. Normally, we just have dinner with the family. I’m sure Jeziel will be glad for the company.”
“I don’t really have any other plans. I would love to join you,” Jeziel said.
“Then we’re all agreed. We’ll have a riding lesson tomorrow?” Dareus asked. “Is nine o’clock too early?” Bren asked.
Aureus laughed. “Not if we have breakfast by seven thirty.” “I’ll have it on the table when you arrive,” Aura promised. “Do the horses have names?” Alannah asked.
“Not really - we thought we would let you do the honors.” “We get to name the horses too?” she asked excitedly. “Of course you can,” Aureus said.
Alannah and the other little ones clapped their hands. Aidan wasn’t happy about Aura’s sudden closeness to the twins. He would certainly be keeping his eye on them. He was still her guardian whether she wanted him, or not.
“Well I guess I should be going,” Jeziel said. “I’ll see all of you tomorrow.”
Aidan walked her to the front door and she kissed him on the cheek. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” she said.
“Enjoy the rest of your evening.” Aidan closed the door quietly behind her. Aura said goodnight to Aureus and Dareus, and took the girls upstairs for bed. She did not say goodnight to Aidan.
The rest of the family walked to their own homes. No one questioned Aura’s invitation to Jeziel. They had to trust she knew what she was doing.
Esra's Prohpecy (Book 3 An Angel-blood Novel) Page 5