Angel Incarnate: Second Sight

by Linda Creel

  “We will speak with the huntress after I inform Aidan and Dahnael of our decision. Hespa will not defy a direct command from Father. I’m sure he has his own reasons for allowing Jeziel to leave Heaven. Perhaps he is planning to test her loyalty.”

  “We’ll see – but I intend to watch her too. If she even thinks about threatening Bren or Tracy, Jeziel will deal with me,” Gabriel vowed. “I mean no offense, Brother, but are you certain we can trust Dahnael. His bond to Caeus and his brother, Malakiel, is strong. In lieu of the rumors we’ve heard, I don’t think we should tell them our plans.”

  “Dahnael may have been raised by Caeus, but he is still my son,” Michael said. “Since he is already on earth, there shouldn’t be a problem with him keeping us informed of any problems. As far as Jeziel is concerned, she may be Lucifer’s daughter, but I doubt her strengths can compete with those of our children. If Bren and Tracy could take out six of Mortriel’s best guards, they won’t have any problem controlling her. This doesn’t have to be a permanent situation, but we need to know we can trust her in the event Lucifer threatens to eliminate the angel-bloods.”

  All of a sudden the room began to shake violently, and a loud rumbling sound was heard.

  Michael chuckled. “Mount Etna is erupting; I suppose Lucifer has just found out about the rescue mission. Soon, the mountain will be covered in molten lava. I hope the tourists take appropriate measures, and no one ventures too close.”

  “What of the other angel-bloods who were captured. Are we to leave them in Purgatory?” Gabriel asked.

  “They will be freed very soon,” Esra said. “Mortriel has moved them into the village, where they can be guarded at all times. I’m afraid we can’t risk a second rescue attempt yet; it would be far too dangerous. Bren and Tracy were fortunate the youngest were in their dormitory. Battling with a few guards was no problem, but taking on a thousand may be more than they could handle.”

  “What will happen to those left behind?” Gabriel asked.

  “For now they are safe,” Esra replied. “It is nearing winter. During the next few weeks circumstances will change, and then Aura will free the children.”

  “You are sending Aura instead of Bren and Tracy? She knows nothing about her past life. Surely you won’t risk having her captured. That will play right into Lucifer’s plans,” Gabriel said.

  Esra laughed. “Before she goes to Purgatory, her memory will return and she will begin to use some of the powers which have been dormant since her birth. There will be a series of tragedies, and Aura will want to send Mortriel a personal message. Regrettably, I am forbidden from giving you the details, but suffice it to say, she will succeed.”

  The other archangels listened, but remained silent.

  “If there is nothing else to discuss, Michael needs to meet with his sons and inform them of our plans,” Esra said.

  “What does Paul think about sending Aidan to guard Aura? She won’t know him, or Alannah. It will be painful for them to be so close, and not be able to discuss their relationship,” Gabriel sighed.

  “Paul would never refuse a second set of eyes on his children. As to Aura’s memory, I have been blocking most of her visions. I think it’s time to allow her second sight to develop, so she can learn the truth. As soon as her visions mature, she will be able to call upon the other weapons Father gave her when he removed her veil. I know you want to remain close to Bren and Tracy, but Father has warned us to keep our distance. The children have to handle Mortriel and Samhael using their own powers.”

  “Mortriel is worse than his father, and will want to avenge the deaths of his disciples. I’m not as concerned about our children, but they have mortal friends who will be in extreme danger,” Uriel said.

  “There is little we can do for them. Father has refused to give permission for the angel-bloods to exchange blood with their mortal friends, especially Aura. She is already bound to Aidan and their children,” Esra replied.

  “Father allowed Howard and Rusty to receive the blood,” Gabriel stated.

  “Those were special circumstances. Both were loyal and trusting. Father may change his mind, but I wouldn’t count on it. With any war, there will be casualties, but we are forbidden from altering fate,” Esra reminded him. “For now, we will trust our sons to watch over their children, and mortal friends, and hope there will not be another bloodbath.”

  “So, you do believe Lucifer is planning a second war?”

  “Yes – but he will first try to exterminate most of the angel-bloods, and then use the special powers of those who survive.”

  “None of our descendants would give him the satisfaction of using their gifts against Heaven; they would die before they helped him.”

  Michael patted Gabriel on the shoulder. “Let’s pray it doesn’t come to that.”

  While Esra and the other archangels dispersed and headed home, Gabriel exited the hall, but remained on the mountain top. He couldn’t get Bren and Tracy out of his mind. He lifted his head, and his eyes searched the sky.

  Please Father; don’t take them from me again. They have already sacrificed their lives once and deserve to live. If war is coming, their powers will be needed to defeat Lucifer’s minions.

  He then turned, and disappeared, leaving a clear glittery mist in his stead.

  Chapter 13

  When Aura awoke the next morning, she noticed her mother and Angie weren’t in the room. As she stretched her arms, four little eyes stared back at her and smiled.

  “Would you like to help me fix breakfast?” she whispered.

  The girls nodded. Aura slid out of the bed being careful not to disturb the other children who were still sleeping. .

  The little refugees clung to her as she tip-toed down the stairs and made her way into the kitchen. Aura sat them on wooden stools next to the counter.

  The granite island was fifteen feet in length and four feet wide with double sinks on both sides. Cabinets beneath the sink, on the side closest to the stove, held an array of pots and pans. On the opposite side – six wicker stools were arranged.

  The glass-top stove had six burners; a double oven allowed for cooking large casseroles or roasts. An electric griddle could be used for French toast and pancakes.

  While she started making pancakes and French toast, the girls started kneading the biscuit dough, laughing, as they covered each other in flour.

  “Don’t worry – we can give you another bath after breakfast,” Aura said.

  Just as she was pulling a pan of biscuits out of the oven, the front door opened and closed.

  Angie and Eve walked into the kitchen carrying dozens of packages which contained new clothing for the children. They also remembered three gallons of milk and several bottles of chocolate syrup.

  “What’s all this?” Aura asked.

  “The children needed some clothing and toys,” Eve admitted.

  “We thought they would enjoy chocolate milk with their breakfast,” Angie said. “Heaven knows what they were fed in Purgatory.”

  The women carried the bags into the family room to be handed out after breakfast.

  Aura wasn’t concerned about protecting the children, but she was worried about her mortal friends, especially her best friend Ryan. Only the High Council could give permission for a mortal to receive the blood of the angels, and the last time Aura asked, her request was denied.

  As soon as the biscuits were browned, Bren, Tracy and the other girls came skipping down the stairs.

  “Why don’t you take them into the dining room,” Aura suggested. “I’ll bring cups of milk, and you can show them how to add the chocolate. Breakfast is almost ready.”

  Bren didn’t question her sister. She paraded the little ones to the dining room table. “We’re going to need some booster seats,” she yelled to Aura.

  Eve and Angie hustled to a walk-in closet just beyond the dining room. When they returned, each of them was carrying three wooden booster seats.

  As soon as the children
were settled, Eve and Angie brought out the cups of milk and three bottles of chocolate syrup.

  “Watch me and Tracy, and then you can try it,” Bren instructed them.

  The girls waited patiently for their turn to hold the bottle, some knowing how to make the chocolate drink. Aura laughed as one of the three year olds licked her fingers when some of the syrup dripped onto them.

  “Don’t worry – if we make a mess – Mommy will clean it up,” Bren insisted.

  Half way through the meal, Gracie asked about her sister. “Are you going to bring Hope home too?”

  “Your sister was taken to Hell,” Eve said, “but she is safe.”

  Eve told the girls the story of the Great War, including the capture of Alorrah and Alexis, and theft of the whip and dagger. Though they were young, keeping important news from them was never an option.

  Her husband Paul still believed if they had warned the youngest angels before Lucifer’s attack, some of them may have survived. He vowed never to make that mistake again. So, even when the news was terrible, he always shared it with the children.

  “Hope is with Alorrah and Alexis. No one can touch her. You’ll see her again – I swear it. Now, let’s finish breakfast so you can have another bubble bath, and then we’ll get you dressed. You won’t be able to leave the valley, but Mortriel can’t hurt you here,” Eve promised.

  “We can still play in the yard,” Bren insisted. “The dark wings won’t dare come that close.”

  Tracy nodded. She always agreed with Bren.

  “Why should we have to change our way of life to accommodate the fallen angels?” Aura demanded. “If we hide in fear, they will have succeeded in making us afraid. I’m not saying we should put the children in danger, but there is no reason to keep them locked away either. They have already been imprisoned and abused. If Bren’s shield could protect them in Purgatory, surely it will shelter them in Aeden.”

  “I agree the children should have some freedom, but we want to exercise caution too,” Eve said. “Lucifer was able to penetrate the shield. I’m certain if Mortriel wanted to come to the valley, there is little we could do to keep him away.”

  “I’m not afraid of Lucifer’s son,” Aura said.

  “You should be – he was responsible for a great many deaths. He may not be able to touch you, but what about Ryan, or his sister, Ella? They are mortal. Even though Ella lives with Jane and her sons, their powers can’t compete to those of Lucifer or his disciples,” Eve warned.

  “You saw what he did to these children, Aura. What will happen if he gets his hands on your friends – they do not have the protection of the angel’s blood?” Angie asked.

  She’s right; Ryan knows nothing about us. How am I going to protect him from the dark wings? Maybe the Council will change their mind and allow me to exchange blood with him.”

  “Mortriel has already captured a bunch of mortals,” Bren said. “He has them working in some of the shops. They have been tortured and wear the scars to prove it.”

  “Bren thinks they went to Purgatory willingly,” Tracy added.

  “Mortriel is bad,” one of the four year olds said. “When he hurt us, he laughed.”

  “Samhael is bad too,” another added. “He said no one would come for us and we would live there forever. What will happen to our sisters? Can you rescue them from Purgatory?”

  “We need time to make a plan, but I swear you’ll see them again,” Aura promised. “Finish your breakfast, and then we’ll go play in the park.”

  As soon as breakfast was over, Eve and Angie led the girls into the living room and began to hand out the packages. Some of the little ones teared up when they opened the bags to find several sets of clothes, shoes and even dolls with accessories.

  “This should last a few days, and then we’ll get some more things,” Eve said before turning to Aura. “Should we assign rooms for them, or do you think it might be better to leave them in the dormitory?”

  “We’ll see what they want to do. Until they feel safe, it might be better to allow them to stay together. Once they’re comfortable, I’ll put them in some of the spare rooms next to mine. Do you think there is any chance we can find some of their relatives?”

  “Most of their parents were killed. If they’ve kept their heritage a secret, they may have broken all ties with their family. Don’t worry -- if you don’t want them to stay here, Angie and I can take them home with us.”

  “I don’t have a problem keeping them with me. I just don’t want to shuffle them from one house to the next and make them feel unwanted. For now, they’ll stay here.”

  “I expected as much, but if it becomes too much of a burden, Angie and I will help.”

  Aura started to laugh. “Taking care of the little ones has never been a burden to me, Mom. The more, the merrier. I’ll keep them safe until we can figure out what to do with them.”

  “I spoke to your father and he suggested we send some of the girls to the institute in New York. Of course, we don’t have to make that decision yet. Let’s see how things play out. Mortriel will likely seek retribution against your sister.”

  Eve turned to the children. “Who wants to help me put your things away?”

  The girls gathered as much as they could carry and followed Eve to their dormitory. There were a dozen large armoires to hang the dresses in, and another dozen chests of drawers arranged around the large room.

  The girls didn’t mind sharing. This was the most space any of them had since being captured. Most of them weren’t even given a spare change of clothes.

  Sometimes, even the most basic human needs were denied while they were in Purgatory, but as long as they were under Aura’s roof, they would never feel hungry or do without. She would treat them like family, because now, most of them were.

  Chapter 14

  After they left Lucifer’s private chambers, Samhael left for Utopia to meet with Richard, while Mortriel traveled to Savannah to see if the angel-bloods were hiding under the protection of the Guild.

  Arriving in the city limits, Mortriel started mumbling to himself.

  This is a waste of my time. I suspect the brats are in Aeden under the watchful eyes of Paul and Adam. The Guild wouldn’t be foolish enough to risk them being captured a second time. The idiots think Gideon’s shield will protect the angel-bloods, but they’re wrong.

  Mortriel began to walk towards Eve’s plantation. She hadn’t lived there in years, but the property was still protected.

  Coming down the dirt path, he noticed a lone Elite guardian standing outside the fence, and his body tensed. The angel was clothed in the trademark purple cloak worn by all of the Elite guardians. Since he was standing sideways, and the hood obscured his face, Mortriel wasn’t able to identify the angel.

  Surely Josiah wouldn’t have come here alone to search for his daughter. I’m certain my powers are strong enough to destroy him, but Father would be angry if half of the Elite Guard sought revenge for the death of one of their own. Perhaps I should turn around before he confronts me.

  “You should not have come,” the guardian warned. “This ground is hallowed.”

  Recognizing his voice as Malakiel, one of the few guardians Lucifer trusted, the tension left Mortriel’s body and he inched closer to the white picket fence. “I have walked on sacred ground before, and am still here to talk about it,” he said.

  “This land is unlike any other. It is the resting place of the first angel-blood, Gideon’s wife, Alice. If you doubt me, then by all means step onto the property.”

  Mortriel considered Malakiel’s warning. There was nothing to be gained by entering the plantation.

  “I wasn’t expecting to find you here. Usually, the guardians don’t involve themselves in the Guild’s business,” Mortriel said.

  “Josiah has already spoken to the Council about your activities. The Guild knows you and Samhael have been killing angel-bloods and taking their young daughters to Purgatory. You were foolish to kill Josiah’s w
ife, and capture his children.”

  “How was I to know those brats were his children?” Mortriel argued.

  “What’s done is done, but you should be wary of Josiah. He may have stepped down from his position as our leader, but he still carries a great deal of influence amongst the other guardians. My brother and I have some control over them, but Josiah is still well-respected. He will stop at nothing to free his other daughter from Hell. Many of the guards will support his decision to attempt a rescue and they will make life difficult for you and Samhael. I have spoken to my brother, Caeus. We are willing to assist you.”

  “No one can penetrate the gates of Hell. I assure you, the child is perfectly safe. I am curious – why would you and Caeus want to involve yourselves in our business?”

  “We despise the angel-bloods as much as you,” Malakiel admitted.

  “So you’ve heard -- Bree and Tercia rescued the angel-bloods from Purgatory? I suspect they are in Aeden now.

  “Bree and Tercia are dead,” Malakiel said. “Whoever told you they were alive must have them confused with someone else. It’s not unusual for the angel-bloods to resemble their ancestors. Perhaps your friend was mistaken.”

  “My Father was in Aeden and saw the girls up close. He is positive about their identities. He is certain Avriel has been reincarnated too, and goes by the name Aura now. The archangels are keeping a close watch over the girls; regrettably, they are untouchable for the moment.”

  “What can we do to help?” Malakiel asked.

  “My Father has a plan, but it will take time to put things in motion. We would be obliged if you could keep Josiah and his friends from interfering until we are ready to proceed. For now, Josiah’s eldest daughter is locked away with the Eternal children. We tried to lure her out of the glass cage, but our efforts were fruitless.