by S. A. Carter
She shifts her gaze from Uncle Jo to me and a fire burns within her stare. Normally she wouldn’t let Uncle Jo get away with speaking to her like that, but under the circumstances she’s letting this one slide. Good call.
She takes a measured breath before responding.
‘The Elders received word of strange sightings of creatures, mythical creatures, roaming the planet. This in itself isn’t unheard of, but it’s as if they were being more brazen in showing themselves. This was unusual, seeing as these creatures haven’t been seen in these numbers for a very long time.’
Julian’s hand tenses within mine and I know that what Ama just said coincides with what Cassius told him as well.
‘I’m sorry, but who saw them?’ Sam asks, his voice a little unsure.
The fact that he can see Ama, let alone speak to her, must be a bit of a shock. It’s not every day you get to speak to the dead.
Ama’s expression softens. ‘Angels, dear.’
Sam’s eyes widen. ‘Oh.’ He turns his head to look at me and I give him a reassuring smile. ‘Okay.’
Uncle Jo walks over to the lounge and sits back down, his mood still simmering with frustration. ‘Are you telling us that angels really do exist?’
She sighs. ‘Yes, Josiah, they exist.’
‘Well then why didn’t they do something before now? Aren’t they supposed to be higher up in the universal food chain?’
She purses her lips together, her face showing irritation. ‘I’ve already explained this to you. They do not interfere in our lives here on Earth. That is, unless they have a direct order from the top.’
Julian speaks up. ‘The top? As in God?’
Ama’s eye twitches before she answers him. She hasn’t been able to look at him directly yet without breaking out in a tic of some sort. I can’t say I blame her. Julian represents all the Venators who have walked before him, and every single one has Cole blood on their hands.
‘Yes, Julian. That is one of their names. They also go by the name of mother and father, and the universal Godhead.’
Julian scoffs, the loss of his parents rippling off him in waves.
Her eyes narrow. ‘You don’t believe in God?’
He takes a breath before responding. ‘Not if we’re talking about a guy in the sky who watches the horrors going on down here with indifference. No, I don’t.’
I can understand Julian’s position. I was there once. After Mum died I hated the world. I refused to believe that there was a higher power out there just sitting by and watching bad things happen to good people.
A lot has happened since then though, and I now believe that many different forces are at work in the universe. Some we see and others we don’t.
‘Then you might want to find some faith soon. You’re about to go into a battle that isn’t fought in the physical world alone.’
Those words hit him. I feel it.
Ama puts her hand up. ‘Listen, I know this is all a bit much to take in right now, but for time’s sake can we all just assume that if you’ve heard of it then it exists. Maybe not on this realm, but then we do know that parallel universes are real now, don’t we?’
She lifts an eyebrow and puckers her lips, looking like a schoolmarm berating her class of imbecile students. I press my lips together, resisting the urge to smile.
‘Right, now then, back to what we were talking about. The Elders, upon investigation, were told that Erebus himself had been sending out his cronies, or as you would know them, the Vaga. The Elders knew they were looking for something, but couldn’t determine what that was. However, there was one who was able to find out the truth. He was the one who was able to find out that your mother had been taken. His name…is Remiel.’
Her breath quickens as she says his name, and if I wasn’t mistaken I would think she was…blushing?
‘Who the hell is Remiel?’ Uncle Jo demands.
She turns a hard stare on him. ‘Josiah, please don’t use that tone with me.’
Uncle Jo blinks in surprise and Ama regains the upper hand once again.
‘Remiel,’ she touches her throat unconsciously, ‘is an angel—a guardian angel of souls in the Midst. He was the one who was able to track your mother’s soul. He is the reason I am here with you now.’
Uncle Jo throws me a dark look, and I know he is having just as hard a time as I am in taking all this in.
‘Souls in the Midst?’ Julian says.
‘Yes. The Midst is a region of the underworld, a place where lost and confused souls go. Remiel resides over them, making sure they are looked after and protected from evil, helping them to cross over to The Other Side when they are ready.’
‘If he’s in the underworld then he’s in the same vicinity as Erebus, and you’re telling me he did nothing!?’ Uncle Jo exclaims.
‘Josiah, mind what you say about Remiel.’ Her voice lowers and electricity crackles the air around us. ‘He is just and good. There are millions of souls roaming the realms. This is not something you know about, nor should you, but trust me when I say it is not as easy as you think. Tracking a lost soul is like trying to find a needle in a giant haystack—it’s precarious at best and dangerous at worst. There are rules angels must follow, laws of the nether realms. Remiel risked his own safety to track Evelyn’s soul. He could not have gotten to her without being detected. If it wasn’t for his courage we wouldn’t know that Erebus had her at all, so I suggest you show some respect instead of finding someone to blame.’
Her eyes blaze in defence of Remiel and it takes me a second to recognise the look on her face. It’s one that I’ve seen before, but never on Ama. It’s the same look that Phoebe gives Sam, and it’s the same look that Uncle Jo gives Aunt Lily. It’s now probably the same look I give Julian. It’s the look of love.
Is Ama in love with the angel?
Before I can respond, Julian’s fingers release mine and he pulls out his vibrating phone from his pocket, the letter C glowing against the black screen. He stands up abruptly.
‘Excuse me, but I need to take this call.’
He doesn’t wait for a response, quickly leaving the room and heading towards the kitchen.
A spark of energy still lingers where his hand was holding mine. I close my fist, trying to keep the sensation for as long as I can and wondering what Cassius is telling him now.
I hear the back door open and close and then turn my attention back to Ama.
‘Do you even know how far-fetched this all sounds?” I ask. ‘I wake from a nightmare and then all of a sudden you’re telling us that Mum has been captured, the Other Side knows about Erebus, and now an angel is on board and helping us?’ I shake my head, pushing my hair away from my face. ‘What do you want us to do with all this?’
Her eyes harden. ‘I want you to be smart. I want you to understand that Erebus intends to wage war for possession of the light. The light which you will carry.’ She nods to my stomach. ‘I know this is all a lot to take in, but the war is coming, Shem. And to see it through you’re going to need all the help you can get.’
Isis sends a jolt of current through me, telling me that what Ama says is true. I swallow the lump in my throat, my hand automatically resting on my stomach.
The war. Every time I hear those words it sends shock waves through me. If I can’t find a way to stop Erebus, and if the Vaga succeed in capturing me, then I could potentially be responsible for bringing about the apocalypse. A child of mine walking the earth wreaking death and destruction is not an option. I can’t let that happen. I won’t.
‘Remiel is willing to help us, and for the most part so are the Elders. But for now they cannot intervene. It would alert the attention of Erebus and who-knows-what-else. Right now we need to keep this as quiet as possible.’
Uncle Jo pulls back his frustration for a moment. ‘So what you’re saying is that we have a small window of opportunity if we want to get Evie out?’
She nods. ‘Yes. Remiel seems to think she hasn’t been there lon
g, as her essence was still strong, but there isn’t much time.’
‘Can Remiel help us to get to her?’
‘You think it’s just a matter of walking into Erebus’ domain and releasing your sister? Don’t be so naive, Josiah. If it was that easy I would have attempted it myself,’ Ama responds, her tone clipped with annoyance.
‘Then what is it that we need to do?’
‘I know you were planning to go back to the farm, but I think we need to move past that for now and consider another alternative, one where the element of surprise is still on our side.’ The corner of her lip rises ever so slightly.
What is she up to?
Sam smiles, mischief lighting up his tanned features. ‘I like the sound of that.’
Ama smiles, pointing her finger at him. ‘I like him. Why didn’t you pick that one, Shem?’
Heat rushes into my face as Sam bursts into laughter.
‘Ama!’
She shrugs. ‘What?’
‘Can we just stick to what you were about to say?’ I groan, shaking my head at her lack of shame.
Ama passes Sam a wink and I can’t help but smirk, knowing her flirting skills are still firing even after all these years.
‘By the look on your face I assume you already have a plan?’ Uncle Jo queries, ignoring the light banter as if it would prick him like a thorn.
Ama sighs. ‘Ever heard the phrase “life is for the living”, Josiah?’
He nods, his expression unchanging. ‘I’ve heard of it.’
She flips her hand in the air. ‘You always were a little too serious. Even as a young boy—’
‘Ama?!’ we both shout in unison.
‘Fine, fine. Keep your knickers on. Now where was I?’ She taps her chin. ‘Oh, yes, the element of surprise. There is a way you can access the underworld, but it comes with many dangers. Only someone as powerful as Remiel can get you in. If you can get to the dungeon you can free your mother and kill Erebus at the same time. He would never suspect the attack to come from his own domain. Now this may be harder than you think. No human has ever been down there before. That is…until now.’
As her eyes fall to me the feeling of being in the dungeon returns. I can smell the fear of all those people, their hands reaching through the bars, begging me to help them. Could Mum have been one of them? My stomach lurches at the thought.
‘The dungeon?’
‘Yes, Shem. You’ve been in his world. You know the layout. You’ve got the best chance of finding your Mum, with Remiel’s help of course.’
‘I know you want to find your mum, but this is too dangerous.’ Uncle Jo’s eyes harden. ‘Erebus wants you. He’s already got the Vaga on your tail as we speak, and now you want to walk straight into his arms? No. It’s not happening.’
I feel my magic surge. ‘You don’t get to tell me what to do. This is my mum we’re talking about. I will not leave her to him. Who knows what he’s already done to her?’
‘You can’t go down there. As much as I want to save Evie, it’s just too dangerous,’ Uncle Jo says. ‘Is there another way that I can just go, Amaris?’
I stand up, my magic slowly bubbling away inside me, my fists clenching at my sides. Magi takes up a protective stance beside me. ‘Listen to what I’m saying. I will not leave Mum down there in that hellhole with Erebus. If Remiel can get me in, then I’m going to do what it takes to get her out, understand? I do not want to hear you telling me what I should or shouldn’t do from here on in. And if you don’t like it, then that’s just too bloody bad!’
Ama intervenes. ‘Ellie’s right. You’ve got to stop making decisions for her. She’s not a child anymore, Josiah. Look at her.’ Ama nods her head in my direction.
I release my building frustration, grateful for her support and her comfort. It gives me strength at a time when I feel so helpless.
Uncle Jo raises his weary face and he lets out a sigh. ‘You two are going to be the death of me.’
Ama clasps her hands together, her smile spreading across her face, highlighting her beauty. ‘Then it’s done. I’ll let the Elders know of our plans.’ She moves towards me on a wisp of air and kisses me gently on the cheek before disappearing.
A range of emotions pick up speed within me as I try and grasp the magnitude of what we face. Angels, gods and goddesses, apocalyptic prophecies? How do I save Mum and protect myself at the same time? Where do I even start?
The back door swings open and shut and Julian stalks into the room. ‘We have another problem.’
Uncle Jo and Sam stand at the same time, their tall frames making the room smaller.
‘What is it?’
The look he gives sends icy shards of dread through me.
‘The Puritans know you’re alive.’
The war has begun.
Thank you for taking the time to read The Vaga, the second book in The Kuthun series.
If you enjoyed it then please do me a favour and write a review on Amazon and Goodreads. Reviews are so valuable to independent authors like myself, and I would greatly appreciate your kindness and support.
To be updated on the release of book three, The New Coming, please visit www.sa-carter.com
Acknowledgements
Writing is such a joy for me, and I love every single minute of it, but I don’t walk this path alone.
Endless gratitude to my family, for all the love and support you give me and for reminding me what’s important. I couldn’t do this without you. I love you all, thank you.
To Paramita, my book cover designer. Thank you for putting up with me and for taking my ideas and turning them into beautiful covers. My endless emails and changes would be enough to send anybody running but you stay with me until the end and I am so grateful.
To my beta readers, Jill and Lindsey, you are amazing! Thank you for your support, suggestions, and enthusiasm. The Vaga is all the more special because you were a part of it.
And lastly, thank you to my readers. Your enthusiasm for The Kuthun series warms my heart and humbles me beyond words. I love sharing this journey with you.
About the Author
S. A. Carter is the author of The Kuthun series. Her spellbinding novels are based on her loves in life - family, magic, humour, and adventure.
She was born and raised in Australia and still lives there today with her wonderful, dynamic, crazy family.
If you want to know more about S. A. Carter please visit her at www.sa-carter.com