Stone didn’t notice the other couple next to him, joining him in his grief or even the angel touching his shoulder to offer comfort.
VII
FROM THE ASHES
“What lies behind you and what lies in front of you,
pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
THIRTY
Becca didn’t understand where she was or how she had come to be here. A door shut behind her, leaving her standing in an open meadow. Rich, green grass stretched out seemingly endless to both sides of her and was filled with rows upon rows of chairs. The people sitting there were colorful splotches reminding her of flowers and their chatter was a pleasant hum in the air. Looking up, Becca smiled as the golden morning sun and warm breeze tickled her face. What an odd place this was.
“Number 44 351 in office 8.”
The orderly voice made Becca turn to look for its source. Only then did she notice the front desk a couple of yards away. A sign above the receptionist’s head urged her to take a number.
Oh. Interesting.
Intrigued, Becca approached the counter. “Hello,” she greeted. “I’ve got a question.”
“Of course you do.” The woman’s voice was polite but firm in a teacher’s sort of way. Tapping a machine on top of the counter, she went on, “Please provide your print and I’ll try to help you out.”
Becca did as she was asked and put her thumb on the thing. After another look around, she asked, “This might sound odd but…where am I?”
“Oh, this is the Office. The in between if you want. You’ll wait your turn and then one of our staff will assist you.”
“Assist me?”
The receptionist looked at her over the rim of her half moon glasses. Her eyes held that amused hint that was usually reserved for the mentally challenged. “Whether you go to Heaven or Hell, of course.”
Of course.
Becca’s stomach plummeted and she swallowed dryly. She didn’t want to go to Hell. Another thought suddenly struck. She must have died. The last thing she remembered was waking up in Stone’s arms. What had happened after that? Becca forced herself to remember but came up with a blank.
“Oh.” A soft sound escaped the woman and caught Becca’s attention. She was staring at the papers the printer had spat out, her mouth gaping open.
Her head snapped up. An apologetic smile spread on her face. “Excuse me. Just a second.” File tugged under her arm, she hopped of her chair and hurried to one of the offices on the left. Taking tiny steps as she ran in her pumps, she reminded Becca of a duck.
After opening the milky glass door, she stuck her head through the gap. Becca heard her as she hissed, “She’s here.” The file disappeared through the gap and after a nod the receptionist returned to her desk.
“The Arbitrator is waiting for you in office four.”
“The Arbitrator?” Becca asked, raising an eyebrow in enquiry. “Interesting name.”
The woman leaned forward to whisper, “He’s the boss here.”
“Oh, okay. Well then…”
“Good luck.” The words must have escaped her since the receptionist immediately looked around as if scared her little streak of rebellion had been witnessed. Apparently feeling safe that it had gone unnoticed, she smiled at Becca. It looked odd. The smile was so encouraging that Becca guessed she was already doomed.
Great.
As instructed, she walked down to the office and stepped inside. Confused and studying the bland room, Becca’s gaze took in the Arbitrator in a brief glance before it went to Sli who sat next to him.
“What are you doing here? Why aren’t you home?” Becca realized then that something could have happened to Sli while she was gone. Worried, she was about to ask but Sli’s tongue beat her to the buzzer.
“You asked me the exact same thing before I killed you.”
Becca told herself she must have heard wrong. “You did what?”
“I followed you and Stone, and killed you.” The girl’s voice was eerily calm, blank even. The cold attitude and the way she spoke shocked Becca speechless.
“But…” Becca didn’t understand. She heard what Sli had said, but her mind couldn’t grasp it. “It was you who followed us?”
“Yes.”
“But…why?”
Sli leaned forward. “Because you make us weak. Stone is said to be a formidable Ebony, and look at him now. It was too easy to get the drop on you two. Embarrassingly so. The same went for Arthur.” When Becca just kept on staring at the girl in stunned silence, Sli went on, “I’m an assassin. It’s what I do, it’s who I am.”
Becca looked at the girl in front of her and didn’t recognize her anymore. The face was the same, but not the spirit. It had gone back to hide in the only box it ever really knew.
Finally finding her voice, Becca said, “That’s a shame. I saw much more in you than a weapon to be hired or replaced, depending on the results it brought. I saw a girl that pulled a funny face when she tasted apricot jam for the first time in her life; who blushed whenever Quinn was around. I saw a girl who could have grown up to become a beautiful woman.”
“It’s that kind of attitude that makes you weak.”
The situation was too sad to laugh at. “Attitude? You mean emotions. Love and affection. What you see as a weakness is my greatest treasure.”
“Then how come you’re here?”
This time Becca laughed. “Why are you?”
Sli straightened in her seat but didn’t say a word.
“Enough,” the Arbitrator cut in. He looked slightly put off that he hadn’t turned into the center of attention and seemed of a mind to remedy that. “Please, do sit down.” He gestured to the chair in front of his desk.
“No, thank you.”
The Arbitrator got up, walked around his desk and leaned against it. After checking his tie by running a hand along its length, he looked at her as if dealing with a child. “The truth is, I sent the girl to keep an eye on you. I heard about the rumors spreading and wanted to make sure they were true. Killing you wasn’t part of it.” He looked at Sli then, chastising her with a glance. As if that would impress her, Becca thought. “However, I don’t mind the turn of events. I fully approve to be exact. You are a threat.”
Becca shrugged. “Glad to be considered one.”
His gaze hardened. “You don’t just go around and claim that God wants to change the rules. Rules that have been in place since the very beginning.”
A knock sounded from the door. The Arbitrator glared at it, obviously annoyed at the interruption. “Yes?”
The door opened wide and Arthur walked in. The Arbitrator gasped and started imitating a fish while Becca tried to understand what she was seeing. He looked just like Arthur, even if he was wearing jeans and a shirt.
However, there was something more to him.
She had never seen God but instantly knew the man to be him. Power radiated like a crackle of energy. Not overbearingly so, but softly instead. A resonance. She was glad that Lillian had told her about God’s nifty trick to take on the appearance of what a person imagined Him to look like. She might have had a heart attack otherwise.
“My Lord.” The Arbitrator scrambled to stand up straight, hitting over his pencil holder with one of his hands. Becca bet that if he’d still been in his chair he’d have fallen over backwards. She would have loved to see that.
“I’m disappointed,” God said.
Becca swallowed. She found his presence rather disconcerting. Relief flooded her when his gaze fell on the Arbitrator.
“After centuries you still haven’t learned from your mistakes. Should I have cast you out with Lucifer and his angels after all?”
Looking like a rabbit in front of a snake, the Arbitrator tried for a response. “My Lord, surely you must know of what this witch plans to do. If this were to happen, then the Ivory Lillian that has tempted the angel of mystery would be allowed access into Heaven. The thre
at of corruption…”
“It is not your concern to worry about. Besides, even if the Ivory were to be allowed into Heaven, it has been corrupted long before her. Every creature has good and bad in them, even the heavenly ones. Just remember the angel of the divine plan.” When the Arbitrator was about to open his mouth, God went on, his voice kind and patient like a father’s, “When will you learn that it isn’t your place to do what you think I want you to do?”
“I apologize.”
“You don’t have to. I think you could use a break, boy. Let’s discuss that later. I need to talk with these young ladies first.”
The Arbitrator nodded, his stance relaxing with relief before he went out the door.
God followed him with his eyes and shook his head as the man in a tie left. “That man. Ever since the thing with Lucifer he’s been walking on nuts around me.”
“I think you mean egg shells,” Becca corrected him, and immediately chastised herself for it.
God frowned and cocked his head. “Yes, you’re right.” He flashed her a quick smile which turned his bright blue eyes alive before he grew serious again. “Anyway, we have a couple of things to discuss. You first, young lady.” Facing Sli, he pinned her with his gaze. The girl didn’t show any reaction whatsoever. “You were given a second choice, but unfortunately you didn’t use it in the way I hoped you would.”
“I’m a creature of Hell.”
“Yes, you are. But that doesn’t define you as such. I had wished that surrounding you with people like Becca would make you realize that.” He sighed. “You may go. Sally will show you the way.”
Sli stood and left the office. Without a word, without even the slightest backward glance. It made Becca wonder what she might have said or done to make the girl harden so much.
“Everything happens for a reason. Don’t blame yourself. Everyone has their own journey to travel. What roads they choose and what signs they follow is entirely up to them.”
When His words rang through the otherwise silent room, Becca suddenly realized that she was alone with God. How had that happened?
“Then what about Lillian and Raz? Don’t get me wrong, you seem like a nice guy and all, but…”
Grinning at her, he cocked his head which reminded her so much of the friend she’d lost. “Even now you stand up for your friends instead of trying to bargain with me, fearing I might send you to Hell. Don’t worry. They all came out stronger.” At her questioning gaze he said, “I’ll explain. But how about we sit down? I’ve been on my legs all day.”
“Sure.”
God grabbed the chair that Sli had occupied earlier and sat it down next to hers. After he seemed were comfortable, he went on. “Lillian and Raz learned to bend to their own will and no one else’s. They fought for their love and that’s something that makes both of them whole. And even better fighters than they were before. The same goes for Abby.” He sighed. “Believe me, it’s not always easy to watch you guys and see your suffering. Only the thought that it’s all worth it in the end keeps me going. Unfortunately there are times when things don’t pan out.”
“Like Sli?”
His gaze was wistful and sadness clouded eyes that had seen the beginning of time. “Yes, like Sli. I had hoped…well, in the end it was her choice. Nothing I can do about that.”
“What will happen to her?”
“She’ll return to Hell. I do believe that there’s still hope for her. This issn’t the last crossroads she’ll come upon. But I can’t make any promises, it’s up to the girl. Choices, that’s what it always comes down to.” Raising one bushy eyebrow, he said, “Speaking of choices. Let’s talk about yours.”
“Oh.” His scrutiny made her uncomfortable - to say the least.
“You’ve repeatedly blown my mind. I remember the first time…it was when you stood up to your mother and told her you would take care of Quinn from then on. You were merely a child at the time.”
Stunned that he would know, tears burned at the back of her eyes.
God smiled softly. “Yes, I know. I’ve been there.”
“But…I wasn’t always good.” She forced herself to admit it. “I stole souls.”
“You did. However, the fact that you regret it is written all over your face, your heart and even your soul.”
Did that mean he would not hold it against her? Could that be?
“Even in the wildest storm you would look for a rainbow. You took the magic of the blood, the vilest of all, and turned it into something good. It is magic used to power the self…and you used it to selflessly save others. I find that admirable.”
Becca could hardly believe her ears. Frowning in utter confusion, she shook her head. “You aren’t how I imagined you to be. At all.”
“Aren’t I?”
“No.”
“In a good way, I hope?”
Becca smiled at that. “Yes.”
“Glad to hear it. It’s difficult to keep up with the times. Things change so quickly.”
“Yes.” Thinking of Arthur then, she wondered, “Why do you look like Arthur?”
“I look like what people would imagine me to look like. Arthur was important to you. A father you never knew.”
“True.” Tears threatened to finally escape. “Where is he now?”
“With his family.”
Relief and gratitude flooded her in a wave so strong it felt like she just started to breathe again. “Good. Thank you.”
“Pleasure.”
Becca frowned as she suddenly realized the implications of what he said. “But we didn’t succeed. Satan never agreed to the change of rules.”
“It wasn’t for him to do so. The fact that you all took on this impossible mission showed me enough to come to a decision. Lillian was right. Everyone deserves a chance at Heaven, and it seems my love can reach corners that had been darkened for far too long.”
Had he heard her pray? With an inward smile Becca was quite certain that he had.
He winked at her before he suddenly stood. “Now, I think I’ve used up quite enough of your time, young lady.”
The moment had come.
Becca got up as well, and swallowed. Gathering every ounce of her courage, she finally made herself ask the one question that had been on her mind ever since she’d known about the purpose of the Office. “What will happen to me?” Heaven or Hell? Where would she go?
His gaze softened. “Your heart has lived through difficult times. Has been weighed down by guilt, sucked dry by magic. I think it deserves a loving and peaceful rest.”
So many emotions went through her, but before Becca could pin point one much less say a word, the office disappeared.
His voice rang out in her mind, “Besides, you have a promise to keep.”
White light blinded her. A door slammed shut. And then she fell into darkness.
THIRTY-ONE
Stone briefly glanced at the mirror and shook his head at his ridiculous outfit. Well, he would do anything to see the boy’s smile again. Even dressing up in fishing gear - vest, hat and all. Taking a deep breath for courage, he stepped outside.
Quinn’s jaw dropped before the smile Stone had missed so much finally bloomed on the boy’s face. He scribbled quickly on his notepad. Dude, you look…I can’t even think of a word. Then the boy almost doubled over laughing in the middle of Arthur’s old living room.
Definitely worth it. Stone smiled to himself.
When Quinn finally recovered, Stone ordered, “Glad to amuse. Now, move your butt.”
They went outside, rods and camping chairs in hand. Stone unfolded the seats and, surrendering to a streak of mischief, made sure to give Quinn the one with the tear in the middle.
When they sat down, Stone had to hold back a smile as he waited for a reaction. When it came, Quinn’s face was priceless and Stone gave his grin free reign.
The boy’s eyes went wide as it dawned on him. You…purpose, he mouthed.
“Yip.”
He scribbl
ed furiously. I think my balls went right through. It feels odd.
This time Stone was the one to burst out laughing, glad that they came here.
It had been almost a week since Becca’s death and Stone doubted that Quinn remembered a lot of it, just like him. They’d been cooped up in the house, barely eating or sleeping. When they woke up he told Quinn that things needed to change. Starting with getting them both out of the house and away from all the memories it held.
Coming here to Arthur’s place, a place where he’d been pushed to think for himself, had felt natural. He liked it here and was determined to make it beautiful once more. To make it theirs.
Grabbing his fishing rod, Stone placed it so that he had easy access to the hook. “Mind opening that tub for me?”
Quinn pointed to a bluish one. Stone nodded and leaned down to pick it up. Popping the lid, his eyes went wide and his face grimaced at the sight of the wriggling worms inside.
He chose a tiny bugger and tried to put it on the hook. The second time he managed to poke his finger instead of the bait, Quinn almost choked with laughter.
One bleeding finger in his mouth, Stone scowled at him. “How about you give it a try?”
He leaned over to the side to watch as the boy wrote, No, it’s more fun to watch you. Becca would…
When the boy stopped, Stone encouraged him with a gesture of his chin. “Go on.”
Becca would have been rolling on the floor by now. Seeing you like this.
“Definitely. Then she would go and put the worm on the hook on her first try, and catch a fish - or two - before my worm even hit the water.”
Yip.
Staring out, Stone nodded. “Yeah, she was amazing that way.”
After finally succeeding to bait their hooks, they sat in companionable silence. He thought of Becca, how she mothered the household, and made sure they had showered and eaten a hearty meal before coming out on the deck. Better than the last few days’ lounging around, and a major step forward as far as Stone was concerned. At one point the boy would have to go back to school again, Stone thought, but that was not a topic for today.
Ebony Fight (The Guard Duet Book 2) Page 18