by S. J. West
I look back at Lucifer ignoring his question and asking one of my own.
“Can you help me get my sister back or not?”
“Perhaps. But, you haven’t told me what I get in return for my help yet.”
I look between Lucifer and Michael and know which of the two can actually offer me a real chance at hope.
I turn to Michael.
“What do I have to do?”
“You have to ask for help.”
“Isn’t that what I’m doing?” I ask, becoming irritated with what sounds like a run around answer.
“I can’t help you but my father can.”
I let out a harsh laugh. “When has God ever helped me with anything?”
“Have you ever asked for his help?”
I realize I haven’t. I’ve never tried to directly speak with God because I didn’t believe in his existence until a few weeks ago.
“Why would He help me? Because of you?”
Michael shakes his head. “No, Jess. He’ll help you because you ask.”
I shake my head in disbelief and look down at the ground. I’m not sure what’s crazier: seeking help from Lucifer or praying to God, someone who’s stayed in the background of my life, never bothering to directly interfere for better or worse.
“Jess,” Mason says, trying to draw my attention.
I turn around to face him.
“Ask for His help,” Mason urges me, obviously understanding the advice Michael is giving me from what I’ve said on my side of the conversation.
“Praying really isn’t my thing,” I admit, not even knowing how to start a prayer.
“There’s no guarantee He’ll answer it anyway,” Lucifer says behind me, casting doubt. “He’s not exactly the most responsive. I’ve been talking to Him for years and haven’t heard a peep.”
“And we’re supposed to be surprised by that?” Mason questions sarcastically. “I would imagine it’s because of what you say.”
Lucifer shrugs.
“Either way,” Lucifer says looking me straight in the eyes, “not a peep. You’re prayer will probably fall on deaf ears too. If Faison was meant to go through the Tear, he won’t interfere with her fate. You, of anyone here, should know that fact. If it’s part of your destiny to suffer by the hands of others or events in your life, He won’t lift a finger to make your life any easier.”
“You aren’t Jess,” Mason tells Lucifer. “He’ll listen to her.”
“How can you be so sure?” I ask, my voice almost a whisper.
Mason takes both of my hands into his and looks at me. “Because I think He’s been waiting for you to talk to Him for a very long time. But, Lucifer is right about one thing. If it’s Faison’s destiny to stay on that alternate Earth, he won’t interfere. The only way you’ll know for sure though is if you ask.”
“How do I do that?” I ask, desperate enough to try anything. “How do I talk to Him so He hears me?”
“Just ask Him for help,” Mason says, making it sound so simple.
“Out loud?”
Mason smiles at me indulgently. “It doesn’t matter. He’ll hear a silent prayer just as well as a voiced one.”
I take a deep breath and squeeze Mason’s hands even tighter.
“Here goes nothing,” I mumble.
I feel sort of stupid so I decide to just talk to God in my head and hope He hears my first attempt at a prayer. I close my eyes.
Dear God,
Jess here. Need your help if you have time.
Not exactly eloquent but surely He knows what’s going on. Isn’t He like omnipotent or something?
Mason lets go of my hands, turns his back to me and kneels on one knee with his head bowed. Out of the corner of my eye, I see my vision of Michael do the same. Lucifer snorts behind me, but I don’t feel any movement telling me he feels compelled to fall to his knees.
I lift my gaze from Mason’s kneeling figure and look straight ahead.
I see a tall bald black man in his forties standing where I left my sword on the sidewalk. He’s dressed all in black from his turtle neck sweater underneath a black leather jacket to his non-descript shoes. Even in the dark, his eyes are piercing, like they could burn a hole in my soul if that’s what he wanted to do.
He leans down and picks my sword up off the ground by the hilt.
“You may want to be more careful where you leave this,” he admonishes lightly, looking from the sword to me.
“I usually leave it on my dresser,” I tell him.
The man nods and twists his wrist making the sword spin in through the air towards the house. I watch as it disappears.
“Then that’s where you’ll find it,” the man tells me.
I see the man’s eyes shift from me to Lucifer who is still standing directly behind me.
“I’ve heard your prayers to me, Lucifer. I’m simply waiting to hear one that isn’t selfish and demanding.”
“What’s the saying the monkeys like to use?” Lucifer says. “Ah, yes. That’ll happen when Hell freezes over.”
“I still have hope for you,” God says, his gaze steady on Lucifer. “It’s not too late.”
Lucifer burst into harsh laughter. “Then who would take care of all the bad little monkey souls? Isn’t that what you made me for? Isn’t that my purpose for existing?”
“You chose your own path, my son,” God says.
“Like I had much of a choice,” Lucifer scoffs. “You’ve always loved them more than us. Jess prays to you once and you give her a visit in person. I’ve prayed to you millions of times and nary a word.”
“If it had been the right prayer,” God says, “I would have answered you.”
“If you’re looking for me to ask for forgiveness, then you have a long wait ahead of you.”
“Like I said, I still have hope for you.”
“Well, while I always love these little heart to heart talks with you, father, I think I’ll be leaving now. You’re really not here to talk to me anyway. Good luck, Jessica,” Lucifer says to me. I turn my head to look at Lucifer. “I hope you get more out of Him than I ever have.”
Lucifer phases and I’m left to face God with my two kneeling angels.
God walks over to Michael first and places his hand on his curly black hair. I faintly wonder how he’s able to touch Michael like he’s real but quickly set such a question aside. He’s God. Of course he can touch a figment of my imagination.
“It’s been a long time, my son,” God says to Michael. “Please stand.”
Michael stands and lifts his gaze to God.
“Thank you for asking me to come here,” Michael tells him. “I was able to hold my daughter for the first time because of Jess’s generosity.”
God nods. “I know. I was watching. Lilly was extremely moved by the visit. She needed to know how much you love her.”
God turns to look at Mason who is still kneeling on one knee.
God walks over and places his hand on Mason’s head.
“Please stand, Mason.”
Mason stands and shifts slightly so he’s not standing in front of me but beside me.
God raises his hand and traces his fingers over Mason’s scar.
“Not as deep as it once was,” God says approvingly, letting his hand drop back to his side. “I’m glad to see that.”
“Meeting Jess has given me hope we can seal the Tear,” Mason tells him.
“And her love is helping you see yourself the way I see you.”
“Yes,” Mason says, taking one of my hands into his. “Her love has helped a great deal. It’s the main reason why I would like to accept the offer you gave us the night the Tear was made, but only after we’ve sealed it.”
“You can have it now if you want,” God says. “Any of you can have it at any time.”
“No, not yet,” Mason says with a definite shake of his head. “I wouldn’t be as effective that way. When it’s sealed and all of this is over, I will ask you to do it.”
&nb
sp; “And I will grant it.”
I have no idea what they’re talking about but it sounds important. I make a mental sticky note to ask Mason about it later.
God turns his full attention to me and it’s almost like we’re the only two people in the world at that moment.
“Would the two of you mind giving me some time alone with Jess?” God asks.
I think Mason feels my nervousness because he squeezes my hand in reassurance.
“I’ll be in the house with JoJo and Chandler,” he tells me, letting me know he’ll only be a few feet away.
I nod, finding strength in his closeness before he phases.
Michael simply disappears back into the recesses of my mind.
I’m left standing in front of God. Alone.
“It’s been a long time since we last spoke,” God says to me.
“Has it?” I ask. “When was the first time because I thought this was it?”
“Of course,” God grins, “you wouldn’t remember the first time. Your soul and I had a lengthy discussion before you melded with Michael’s soul.”
“Oh, that. My father told me about that. I don’t remember it though. Thanks for letting my dad come back, by the way. I needed him that night.”
“Yes, I know.”
I stand there quietly staring at God, not knowing how to ask for what I want.
“Just ask, Jess,” He says to me, like He knows exactly what I’m thinking.
And maybe he does. Hell if I know. This isn’t exactly something I ever thought I would be doing: asking God for a favor while he’s standing in my front yard. Not one of those life moments I ever planned to have.
“Will you help me get Faison back?” I finally ask, holding my breath while I wait for the answer.
“Only she has the power to bring herself back home,” He tells me.
“Then you won’t help me?”
“I didn’t say that. I will help you, but you won’t be able to drag her back here against her will. She has to decide to come back on her own.”
“How are you going to help me then?”
“I will open the Tear to where she went. Only you and Mason will be allowed to travel through it though. You will find her in that world and be able to plead your case to her; but ultimately, it has to be her decision to come back here.”
“Why are you letting Mason go with me?”
“Because I believe he needs to see this particular alternate reality.”
“Why? What’s different there?”
“Everything.”
“Is he there, a different version of Mason?”
“That’s something you and he will have to discover on your own. But I do hope seeing what has happened on this alternate Earth will prove to him he has nothing to feel guilty about anymore.”
“Why does he keep blaming himself for something that happened so long ago?”
“Because he’s a good and honorable man, but I believe you know that already.”
I nod. “Yes. I do. I just wish he understood that about himself.”
“He will in time.”
“Can I ask you to do something else for me?” I question.
“Yes, you can ask.”
“Can Lucifer really send Uncle Dan to the Void?”
God’s gaze never falters and he continues to look at me even at the mention of the man who tormented my childhood.
“Yes, he can.”
“Could you do it? Could you send him there instead of me asking Lucifer to do it? I would rather not owe him a favor.”
“I can do it for you, if that is what you want.”
“Then do it.”
“It’s done.”
I take a deep breath and nod my head. “Thank you.”
“Do you mind me asking why you’ve freed him?”
“I had to. If I didn’t, I would always feel guilty for letting him stay in a place where Lucifer could get to him. It’s more for my peace of mind than for his. Now I can leave what happened with him behind and not look back. I guess you could say it’s my form of closure. I’m closing the door on what happened in my childhood. If I don’t do it now, I can’t move forward with Mason. And I need to move forward. It’s time.”
“I agree.”
“So,” I say, not quite sure how you end a conversation with God, “when do you plan to open the Tear and how do Mason and I go through it together?”
“I will give you an hour to get things together. I suggest you take the sword with you. It might come in handy where you’re going.”
“Should I take the crown?”
“No, it’s not meant to leave this Earth just yet. You’re only allowed to take the sword and Mason.”
“I have a feeling Chandler and JoJo will want to go with me.”
“They need to stay here.”
“And look for the fourth vessel?”
“Not exactly.”
Wow, God really was an obtuse talker, just like Lilly said.
“Ok, I’ll tell them that you said they can’t go. They might not argue about it as much.”
“Let them know I intend to speak with them myself when I come back to open the Tear for you.”
“Ok, I’ll tell them. So you’ll be back in an hour?”
“Yes. I’ll see you then.”
God disappears and I feel my shoulders relax.
When I go back into the house, Chandler and JoJo end up asking me a million questions. I tell them God’s plan and as I suspected they aren’t very happy about it.
“He said he would explain things to the two of you when he comes back,” I tell them. “But right now, I need to get ready to go through the Tear and bring Faison back.”
I pick up the bag with the sheath JoJo made me for my sword, grab Mason’s hand and head to my bedroom.
Once I close the door, I drop the bag and wrap my arms around Mason’s waist, burying my head into his chest and taking in a deep cleansing breath.
“Everything will work out fine,” Mason reassures me, rubbing his hands up and down my back. “He wouldn’t be sending us to Faison if He didn’t think you had a chance of convincing her to come back.”
I lift my head and look into Mason’s eyes. I can see he’s not just telling me this to give me hope. He truly believes it.
“He seems to think this trip will help you in some way,” I say to Mason. “But He didn’t say how.”
Mason smiles. “I’m surprised He told you that much to be honest. I guess we’ll just have to wait and find out the reason for ourselves.”
“I’m scared,” I confess. “I’m scared I won’t be able to convince her to come back with us.”
“She will,” Mason says confidently.
“How do you know that? God doesn’t even know that.”
“Because she loves you. When she sees what you’re willing to do for her, I believe it will break through her grief and make her want to come back home to be with you.”
“I hope you’re right,” I say.
Mason grins. “Trust me.”
I change into my Watcher uniform, plasma pistol and all. I strap the black leather baldric JoJo made me on over my jacket. Strangely enough, the sword isn’t as cumbersome to pull from the sheath on my back as I thought it would be.
“I’m not sure I should take you to this alternate Earth,” Mason says, eyeing me up and down. “You look far too sexy with that pistol strapped to your thigh and the sword peeking out from behind your back.”
I smile. “I’ll have you there to protect my chastity.”
“Hmm, I’m not so sure I’m the best candidate for that job since I’m the one who plans to take it from you one day.”
“Not take,” I correct. “I’ll freely give it to you when the time is right. We just haven’t had the right time.”
Mason sighs. “I knew I shouldn’t have listened to you that night at your mother’s house. I should have snuck in through your window and had my way with you then and there.”
I giggle.
“Incorrigible.”
Mason takes me into his arms and kisses me soundly. “Only where you’re concerned. Now let’s go get your sister. Then maybe we can continue this conversation.”
God comes back exactly an hour later. We’re all waiting for him out on my porch.
“Are you ready?” He asks me, not wasting time.
I nod and Mason takes hold of my hand.
Chandler puts an arm around the shoulders of a distraught JoJo as they watch us walk off the porch to stand in front of God.
“We’ll be waiting for you,” Chandler calls out to me.
Chandler’s statement brings up a good question.
“How will we get back?” I ask God.
“I will open the Tear when it’s time for you to come back home. Don’t worry. I will be watching.”
God lifts his hand and snaps his fingers. The Tear opens showing the same Earth Faison traveled to.
“Why does it look different?” I ask God, still not able to pin point why this other Earth seems so dark.
“It looks different to you because you can see what’s there. Stay close to one another,” God tells us and I hear a warning in his voice.
“How do we go through?” Mason asks.
“Concentrate on your need to find Faison,” He tells us.
I picture my sister’s distraught face just before she went through the Tear. I feel a great pressure on my chest and hold onto Mason’s hand even tighter as we go through the Tear.
I have no idea what awaits us on this alternate Earth. I only know I’m glad to have Mason by my side to face whatever challenges await us.
Even though I only started to believe in Him, I also feel better knowing God will be watching over us. Maybe with His help we’ll all make it back home.
Maybe…
A Note from the Author
I hope you enjoyed the second book in The Watcher Chronicles series.
The third book in the series will be available in March 2013. If you are interested in further updates and an exact date of publication, please visit my blog (http://teefymllems.blogspot.com/) or website (http://sjwest.weebly.com/) or you can follow me on twitter (https://twitter.com/SJWest2013 ; A link to my twitter account can also be found on the author central page on Amazon.com).