Darkness Wanes

by Susan Illene

  “Thank you.” I gave the other archangels a respectful nod and returned to the bench. Lucas had a glint in his eyes when I met his gaze. Unable to help myself, I leaned down and kissed him on the lips. “Best of luck, honey.”

  “If only you meant that,” he said, taking my place on the floor.

  Knowing we might be coming to the courthouse today, he’d dressed well for the occasion. He’d donned dark slacks, a blue button-up shirt, and shiny black loafers. I envied him the fact he’d thought ahead and put a spell on his clothes to prevent our trek through the ocean from damaging them. I’d worn a blouse and slacks, but they hadn’t held up as well during our trip through Purgatory.

  Lucas stood in approximately the same place I had while addressing the council. “I will attempt to keep this brief. Everything my mate has said is true, and I would not choose to refute her. In my early years, Yerik acted as a mentor and did his best to guide my brother and me. Having said that, I would ask that you wait to free him for at least another year.”

  “Why?” Gabriel cocked his head.

  “Melena has a burning desire to free Ariel. As we understand it, the only way this can be accomplished is with Yerik’s assistance. Should you free him, she will use him to gain access to Hell and quite possibly get herself killed while there. As much as I believe Yerik should be with his family, I cannot risk my mate dying no matter how just the cause.”

  Azrael narrowed her eyes. “Are you saying you could not stop her?”

  “I could,” Lucas conceded. “But not without resorting to methods that would likely make her hate me for years to come. If you know anything about Melena, then you know she does not take being controlled lightly. It is one of the reasons I love and respect her as much as I do, but it also means she is not easy to protect.”

  Lucas might be trying to thwart me by speaking against my petition to the council, but he did it with the best of intentions. I’d spent months in Purgatory thinking about our relationship and where we’d often gone wrong. Intentions counted for a lot. We’d spent far too much time fighting each other in the past because we refused to see the other’s side of things. Perhaps he’d used the time apart to think as well.

  Rather than resorting to force or coercion that would ultimately push me away, he chose a more palatable route where the issue would be left up to the archangels to decide—not us. It didn’t mean I was happy about his lack of support or intention to subvert my plans, but I couldn’t really be angry with him. He was only trying to protect me. If he were planning to invade Hell and leave me behind, I’d probably be doing the same thing as him. Of course, it could all be a moot point if the archangels decided not to free Yerik. We had no way of knowing the outcome. All we could do was give our sides of the argument and hope for the best.

  “The decision to punish Ariel was not undertaken lightly,” Zadkiel said, a hint of sorrow in his voice. “There are those among us who would have preferred an alternative, but with archangels our options are limited. Consigning her to Hell was the only method we had to remove her from her position.”

  “She could not be demoted?” Lucas asked in confusion.

  “No.” Remiel’s shoulders slumped, and a wave of grief poured out of him. “There is no way to strip that level of power without also sending her to Hell. It is a complicated process.”

  About a thousand questions ran through my mind in that moment. I started to stand up, but Gabriel shot me a stern look and gestured for me to sit back down. Gritting my teeth, I settled on the bench. I’d have to wait and see where this conversation was going.

  Lucas shot me a warning glance, and then returned his attention to the council. “If by some miracle Melena manages to free Ariel soon, would she regain her full powers?”

  “Not exactly.” Remiel’s jaw ticked. “The amount of time she’s spent there now is enough that she could never resume any type of role as an angel, but it is not so long that her soul has been corrupted yet. If she were to be saved soon, she could go on to live a life similar to that of a nephilim.”

  “Which is the real reason you took Melena and Yerik off-world where they could not interfere,” Lucas said, his golden eyes glowing with anger. “They are the only two individuals who could pull off a rescue, and you sent them away, regardless of the families they left behind.”

  “We did what we believed was necessary,” Gabriel said, rising from his seat. “It is not for you to question.”

  “And if you choose to free Yerik now, there is no doubt in my mind that you’re feeling guilty about your decision and using my mate and my good friend as a way to rectify the situation,” Lucas spoke angrily, his voice thundering across the room. “You know very well Melena will literally walk through Hell for those she cares about.”

  Lorna squeezed my arm and whispered. “Is this true?”

  “I hadn’t actually decided for sure yet.” Until Yerik was freed and I could talk to him, it seemed a little early to make such a big decision. I just knew I wanted the option.

  “He’d go along with it, you know.” Her lips trembled. “Ariel visited us many times over the years, and I saw her kindness. I wouldn’t have the heart to stop him or you from saving her. She doesn’t deserve that sort of fate.”

  Hearing Lorna speak on the matter only made my decision that much harder. Now I was damned whether I saved the former archangel or not, assuming I got the opportunity. Leaving Ariel there to suffer would tear me up, but I’d also feel guilty if I risked Yerik’s life by using him. Who knew what would happen to someone like him if our invasion into Hell didn’t go as planned? I wasn’t only risking myself. The decision would affect all of our loved ones.

  “We’ve heard enough, Lucas of Pistiros. You may take your seat,” Remiel commanded.

  Lucas stood there for a moment, staring the council down. Finally, he turned on his heels and came back to sit beside me. Under his breath he muttered, “The fools are going to let you risk your life, wait and see.”

  It surprised me that he seemed that confident in the outcome of this petition. “You don’t think I can pull it off if I do choose to go.”

  “Not precisely.” He looked at me with apprehension in his eyes. “I do not know, but I have little desire to find out.”

  “Lorna, it is your turn to speak,” Remiel said, beckoning her forward.

  She walked with grace and pride toward the council, stopping a few feet from their table and holding her hands in front of her. “I admit I’m rather shocked over what I’ve heard today. Until a few months ago, Ariel was the only archangel I’d met. She was always good and kind to me. I never imagined the lot of you could be any other way.”

  Lorna raised her voice, her subtle Scottish accent coming through. “Perhaps Ariel did break a few rules and go behind your backs, but she did not act alone—as you very well know. Hundreds of us, including nephilim, vampires, werewolves, witches, and other races participated in bringing supernaturals out because we believed in the cause. Melena made an excellent point that you’re out of touch with the world. More than any of you, Ariel understood humans and supernaturals well enough that she believed we could not continue living the same way anymore. The world needed the truth, and the nerou deserved to be free. Neither she—nor my Yerik—should have been punished so severely for doing the right thing.”

  I wanted to add that Ariel wasn’t the only angel who’d supported us, but to mention that would risk implicating them if they hadn’t been caught. The one thing I did know was Remiel hadn’t referred to any other angels in the conspiracy, making me think they might still be safe.

  As for the rest of the races, I could only be thankful the angels left them alone for the most part. They’d only sought punishment for me, Ariel, Yerik, and the nephilim involved—basically, anyone with angel blood in them. It may have helped that when supernaturals did come out, they were under strict orders not to hurt humans. The few idiots who failed to listen were executed by the archangels, ridding us of the bad ones we didn’t car
e about anyway.

  Lorna continued. “I can’t say for certain what my mate may do if he is released. Perhaps he’ll assist Melena in rescuing Ariel, perhaps not. That’s their decision to make. All I ask is that you reconsider his punishment and let him live in peace with his family. My son and I need him home where he belongs.”

  “Thank you.” Remiel dipped his head. “You may take a seat.”

  She walked back to the bench with watery eyes and a defeated expression on her face. After she sat back down, I pulled her into a hug and whispered in her ear, “We did the best we could. No matter what they decide, at least we know we tried.”

  “I know,” she sniffled.

  Just a couple of years ago I’d been in a similar situation to Lorna. The archangels sentenced Lucas to sixty years in Purgatory, and I’d had no hope of freeing him. It had been Ariel who assisted me in finding a way to get him out and helped me to keep him from being sent back. If nothing else, I owed her for that.

  Lorna and I winced as a slight buzzing hit our senses. The archangels were speaking to each other telepathically so that we couldn’t overhear them. It went on for several minutes with one or another of them occasionally frowning or nodding. When the buzzing died down, and they turned toward us, I stiffened. What had they decided?

  Remiel stood. “We have reached a decision, but in light of the wedding nuptials to begin shortly, we believe it is best to wait before giving you our decision. You can expect to hear from me exactly three days from now with the final verdict.”

  Another three days? They sure were fond of that number lately. Lucas and I exchanged confused glances, neither of us certain what the delay meant. The only thing I could guess was they didn’t want us at odds with each other before we married. Too bad it would leave us in suspense for the time being.

  “Fine.” I got off the bench. “Let’s get this over with so we can get out of here.”

  Remiel smiled. “Not quite yet, Melena Sanders. The guests have not arrived.”

  “Guests?” I asked, confused. I’d thought it would be a quick and simple ceremony.

  “Of course.”

  A moment later, an angel appeared in the room, gripping Cori by the arm. My friend held a large garment bag to her chest. Her mouth dropped, and she spun around, gaping at the place. “Wow, this is…even whiter than I expected.”

  I took a few steps toward her. “What are you doing here?”

  Cori gave me an amused look. “Are you kidding? There was no way I was missing the only chance I’d ever get to see Heaven.”

  Remiel went into a suspicious fit of coughing.

  “Okay.” I took in her appearance and the violet sheath dress she wore. “So they invited you?”

  “Well, yeah. They told Emily and me about the wedding earlier today. We had to scramble to get you a decent gown in time, which I hope fits okay. I tried it on since we’re about the same size.” Cori held up the large bag. “Emily will be here soon too, but it was important I bring this to you right away.”

  “If you follow me, I can show you where you may change,” Azrael said, gesturing toward the front corridor.

  I took one last glance at Lucas, who appeared about as befuddled as me. Neither of us had expected the archangels to make this anything elaborate or to allow friends to attend. Somehow, that made it a lot easier to go through with it. I gave him a reassuring smile. Little did he know his own guests had just arrived nearby.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Lucas

  Lucas made his way to an antechamber at the far end of the front corridor—opposite the direction Melena went. Remiel had instructed him to prepare for the wedding there. What he was supposed to do while in an empty room he did not know, but the archangel had insisted. Lucas did not like being manipulated. Why couldn’t Remiel explain things in a clear and concise manner without cloaking his true intentions?

  He ground his teeth as he neared the end of the corridor and found a heavy wooden door. What was going to be behind it? He seriously doubted the archangels had acquired a proper suit for him to wear or anything else useful. More likely, they’d wanted him out of the way for some other purpose. He would not put anything past them.

  As much as the prospect of marrying Melena pleased Lucas, he did not care for the way the angels moved them around like pieces on a chessboard. This was the reason he avoided dealing with them as much as possible. First, they failed to share their verdict on Melena’s petition, and now they orchestrated a mysterious wedding for them, going so far as to bring Cori and Emily here as guests. He couldn’t begin to imagine what possessed them to carry out such a far-fetched plan.

  Lucas pulled open the door, noting it moved on silent hinges. His first glimpse of the room revealed a white marble floor and walls bathed in golden light. There were high windows on this side of the building, giving the chamber a warmer feel than the inner courtroom. Other than a few benches, though, he saw no furniture.

  He stepped inside and found Micah and Kerbasi waiting for him. They’d been just beyond his purview before, but now he couldn’t miss them. Both men wore black suits and ridiculous grins on their faces.

  “What are you two doing here?” Lucas frowned at them. Not that he was upset to have his brother at his wedding, but he hadn’t expected it. For that matter, there were a lot of details about this day he had not foreseen where others apparently had.

  “You can’t get married without a best man, right?” Micah asked, coming forward to embrace him. Even after seeing Cori’s arrival, Lucas hadn’t expected anyone to come for him as well.

  “And you?” he asked, pulling away from his brother to address Kerbasi.

  The guardian held up a garment bag. “I brought your suit, which I assisted Micah in selecting—he has dreadful taste by the way—so you may thank me later. Also, I wouldn’t dare miss a wedding hosted by the archangels.”

  “This is why you two left the training facility early? You knew about this before I did?” He was still trying to wrap his head around this latest turn of events. A man his age could only take so many surprises at once and Melena usually managed to fill his quota without any outside assistance.

  “Yes, they swore us to secrecy, but they thought it important that we obtain the basic items you would need for the ceremony,” Kerbasi replied. He seemed very proud of the fact he’d been included.

  Lucas shook his head. “How could they have been certain Melena would agree?”

  “You’re joking, right?” Micah lifted a brow. “Of course she’d say yes. Oh, and I brought the rings you purchased a couple of months ago.” He held up two small, black boxes.

  “Good. Hold onto them for now.” He was relieved his brother had thought of it. Lucas and Melena had been in such a hurry they’d hardly had time to change clothes, much less consider what they might need to bring with them for the wedding ceremony.

  Kerbasi unzipped the garment bag. “You should get dressed. Archangels can be rather impatient, and they will not want to be kept waiting.”

  Lucas stood there, unmoving. He could have sworn his heart pounded hard enough that it would leap from his chest at any moment. This was not exactly how he’d planned to marry Melena. He’d wanted to give her plenty of time to consider his proposal and plan the way she wanted her wedding.

  “I know this feels rushed,” Micah said, giving him a sympathetic look. “But you can’t ask for a better place to do the ceremony, and at least it’s free. Look at all the money you’ll be saving and you don’t have to worry about guest lists.”

  “True enough, brother.” Lucas pushed past his uncertainty. If Melena did not want this, she never would have agreed to it. Micah also had a point—at least the ceremony would be memorable.

  Lucas stripped off his clothes and donned the black tuxedo with satin lining Kerbasi handed him. He’d never admit it aloud, but the guardian did have better taste than Micah, and he had chosen the correct size. Of course, it was possible he’d used magic to alter the clothing. Lucas might
not be particularly keen on having Kerbasi at his wedding, but at least the guardian was being useful.

  After he finished dressing, Micah handed him a small mirror and comb. Lucas had groomed himself before leaving the house, but he found a few stray hairs that had fallen out of place. He made a mental note to get a trim as soon as he had some free time. His hair had grown far too long for his liking. It was Micah’s job to look like the ruffian between the two of them.

  Remiel entered the room. “Are you ready?”

  “Is Melena?” Lucas asked. He would have guessed the women needed more time to prepare.

  “They are almost finished. That human, Cori, is surprisingly efficient,” the archangel said, sounding impressed.

  Lucas took a deep breath and let it out. “Then let’s go.”

  They headed toward the courtroom where they found the rest of the archangels waiting. In the short time since he’d left, they’d completely decorated the place. There were three-foot tall white pedestals creating a path toward the opposite end of the room. The bench where they’d sat earlier was gone, and in its place stood an arch, adorned with daisies and violets. Remiel moved to stand under the arch where Lucas assumed he would preside over the wedding. The other archangels took their positions off to the right side of the room. Lorna stood with them, appearing more than a little nervous.

  “I’ll wait here for Melena,” Kerbasi said, stopping at the entryway.

  Lucas scowled at him. “What for?”

  “Someone must walk her down the aisle. Would you prefer one of the archangels did it?” the guardian asked.

  Micah grunted. “Let him do it. I’m certain it will inspire Melena to walk that much faster to reach you.”

  His brother had an uncanny way of seeing the bright side of things sometimes. “Very well.”

  They took their positions next to the flowery archway. Remiel looked at Lucas, a hint of amusement in his gaze. “Are you ready?”

  “I still cannot believe you orchestrated this,” he replied. Nothing about this situation seemed real.