Angel Incarnate: Second Sight

by Linda Creel

  Verah huddled into a circle with the other girls. Being imprisoned had taken its toll on most of them. They were half-starved and their once beautiful bodies were scarred with burns.

  Emaciated and fragile, they were still expected to do the work of a dozen men, even though some of the children were barely six years of age. If they complained, they were sent to bed hungry, not that they weren’t always hungry.

  At least the rescue of the youngest prisoners had given them hope. Maybe, just maybe, the angels would return and free Verah and the others.

  For now, she would bide her time and try not to anger her captors. They were not above making an example of the angel-bloods, and had been known to burn one now and then in the middle of the square.

  There were no beds in the carriage house, only bales of hay. The only source of light came from the cracked beams in the roof and the few lanterns the guards hung from their chairs.

  The fallen angels didn’t want to be there anymore than the angel-bloods, but they wouldn’t dare complain for fear of what Mortriel would do to them.

  The door to the carriage house opened and Oliver entered with his apprentice Garrett. As the chef of one of the finest restaurants on the island, the fallen angel was used to cooking for Mortriel and Samhael.

  Because they both shared the same sandy blonde hair and blue eyes, there were rumors Oliver and Garrett were father and son; a truth Oliver vehemently denied.

  Verah looked to Heaven and said a silent prayer.

  “I hope you don’t think your God is going to help you,” one of the guards chuckled. “You’ll be with us until the day you die, and if your little friends return, they will join you. I’m sure Mortriel will plan something special for them.”

  Verah ignored him and continued with her prayer.

  “Please, Father, I do not ask for myself, but for them. They have already suffered ten-fold. If you could find a way to free them, I will be forever in your debt.”

  For dinner, the angel-bloods were given stale bread and water. Most had almost forgotten what a homemade meal tasted like.

  As much as Verah despised the fallen angels, there were some who did not agree with the treatment of the young girls. Unfortunately, their fear of Mortriel and Samhael kept them from providing more help.

  There were times when Lucifer’s son and Samhael were away for extended periods. On those occasions, some of the fallen would take pity on the girls, and sneak fresh fruit and pastries to them, but those times were few and far between. Thankfully, this was one of those occasions.

  Oliver was loyal, but he wasn’t a cruel angel. Seeing the filthy cups and stale bread given to the girls, he challenged the guards. “Were you not instructed by Mortriel that these children were not to be harmed? We’ll be relieving you for the night; you’re free to go.”

  “I doubt they’ll give you any trouble,” one of the guards chuckled. “We worked their fingers to the bone today.”

  “How do you expect them to work tomorrow if you starve them tonight?”

  “Why are you defending them? Have you forgotten what the Guild did to you and your wife?”

  Oliver ran his hand over the scar on his neck. “I forget nothing,” he stated firmly. “But these children are here for a purpose, and if you kill them, you’ll deal with Mortriel’s wrath.”

  He whispered something in Garrett’s ear, and the young man ran out of the carriage house. When the guards were gone, Oliver helped Verah cover some of the hay bales with tablecloths.

  When Garrett returned he had a large tray full of fresh fruit, roasted chicken, vegetables and pastries. There was enough for everyone to have their fill. After they ate, Verah helped arrange the bales of hay so they could sleep next to each other.

  As soon as the sun went down, they prepared for bed. There was little privacy, so they took turns standing in front of one another until they were in night clothes. Most of the gowns were torn and ragged, but it was better than not wearing anything at all.

  At least the other guards were gone. It was hard to imagine some of them were once messengers of Heaven.

  Verah was used to their crude comments, but she could sense it still hurt the young girls to be treated so unjustly. Their only crime was being born with the blood of the angels; a fact they weren’t even aware of until they were brought to Purgatory.

  Verah didn’t want to remember how each night the men had come into her room and taken advantage of her. Thankfully, she knew enough about mixing potions from the herbs and plants which grew on the island that she didn’t bare them any children.

  What would her husband think of her now? She was no longer the virtuous woman he married; surviving in Purgatory had stolen all of her dignity. Still, she did what she could to keep the other girls out of harm's way, often accepting more punishments so they would be safe.

  The children were worn out from the amount of chores they had done, so with their bellies full, they wrapped their arms around each other and fell fast asleep as soon as their heads hit the hay.

  After thanking Oliver for his kindness, Verah turned towards the children and finally succumbed to a restless sleep. Tonight, she felt almost safe. Oliver and Garrett would not abuse her or the children.

  As she tossed and turned, tears stained her once rosy cheeks. Heaven only knew what tomorrow would bring, especially when Mortriel returned.

  Chapter 19

  Mortriel and Samhael both returned to Hell at the same time. After passing the gatekeeper, they made their way to Lucifer’s chambers to inform him of their meetings.

  Lucifer was wearing black satin pajama bottoms with a matching smoking jacket.

  With her blonde hair in a single braid, and dressed in a white cotton nightgown, Mehri bolted for the bedroom as soon as Mortriel walked through the door.

  Lucifer grabbed her hand and asked her to stay. “You’re in no danger. We’ll listen to them, and then I have another matter to discuss with you.”

  She nodded, and then took a seat in a chair as far away from Mortriel as possible. Mehri wasn’t afraid of Samhael, but Lucifer’s son was volatile, and even though his father had warned him about hurting her, she still didn’t trust him.

  Samhael told Lucifer that Richard was on board with their plans; Mortriel conveyed Malakiel would also be willing to help them eliminate the angel-bloods.

  “I don’t know why we don’t just go to Aeden and capture Aura now. There is no reason to wait,” Mortriel insisted.

  “You will stay away from Aeden. We don’t even know if Aura is there. Bren is well aware of your involvement in the deaths of the angel-bloods. Need I remind you about what happened in Purgatory?” Lucifer asked.

  Mortriel removed a few grapes from the bowl on the coffee table, and tossed them into his mouth before plopping on the couch.”

  “Umm,” Samhael cleared his throat, trying to get his friends attention.

  Mortriel looked up, and seeing his father’s frown because his dirty boots were again resting on the soft leather, he sat upright and stretched his legs. “All the more reason we should strike now.”

  “I’ve decided Samhael will take Mehri to Aeden. My sources tell me Aura’s best friend, Ryan, is involved with a small group of troubled teenagers. I’m certain with the right type of clothing; she won’t have any trouble fitting in.”

  “You want me to leave?” Mehri gasped.

  “There is something I have been keeping from you. Regrettably, your son Byron is dead; he was killed by Paul and Adam forty years ago.”

  “Why did they kill him?”

  “They believed he murdered my sister. It was a ridiculous notion; Loralei was a powerful angel, and Byron did not have the means to kill her. Samhael and Mortriel were responsible for her death.”

  “Why didn’t my son come here?”

  “The Guild used angel-fire to kill him, and his body turned to ash. There was nothing I could do for him. That’s one of the reasons I have chosen you to go to Aeden. I’m sure you will want to aven
ge Byron’s death.”

  Mehri’s eyes widened. What are you thinking? If anyone discovers I am your wife, there will be a target on my head. “I have no special powers,” she argued. “What if the angel-bloods try to kill me too?”

  Lucifer caressed her cheek. “Do not fear; I will make sure you are well protected before I allow you to leave.”

  His words offered her little comfort. She had not been on earth in years and knew nothing would be as it was. She stared at Mortriel. In Hell, Lucifer could protect her from him. What would happen once she left his sanctuary?

  Lucifer kissed her lightly on the forehead before turning his attention to Samhael. “Does your daughter still work for the priest?”

  “Daughter – I wasn’t aware you had any children?” Mortriel said.

  “I have done my best to keep her identity a secret. She lives in a small cottage just outside the boundaries of Aeden. The information she has gathered for us has been invaluable. From what I understand, she is already acquainted with Aura’s priest friend.”

  “Excellent – Mehri can stay with her. I’ll expect you to be available while she adapts to her new surroundings.”

  “As you wish,” Samhael said, “though I doubt I’ll be needed. Stella is aware of our plans. She’ll take every precaution to ensure Mehri’s safety.”

  “Why do you always choose him over me?” Mortriel demanded.

  “You allow your emotions to get in the way of your judgment. Samhael is more level-headed. I can’t risk the Guild discovering Mehri’s identity. You may choose to return to Purgatory, stay here, or go to earth and recruit more mortals for our special guard. You have my permission to promise them anything -- most of them won’t survive the process. Any who live, will be given wealth and power beyond their wildest dreams.”

  “I’m meeting with Richard tomorrow. He knows a pair of brothers who may be eager to help us. It’s possible they have friends,” Samhael said.

  “I want you to be discreet,” Lucifer warned. “If the Guild catches on to our plans, they will kill the Abyvir before they draw first blood.”

  “The cabin I have chosen is a few miles beyond the Utopian city limits. It is surrounded by hundreds of acres of woods, and should be an ideal place to hide them. I doubt the Guild will bother to look there. They tend to allow Richard’s father to govern his own people.”

  “Do not underestimate Paul and his friends. I made that mistake a long time ago, and am still paying the price. There is no need to accelerate our plans; we will take our time. If we are fortunate, and the Abyvir survive, we’ll schedule their first attack in a week’s time. They should be under your control by then.”

  “Richard has asked that his sister and her family be the first victims. Then, he wants his brother, Caspian, out of the way. If the other angel-bloods in Utopia don’t conform to his wishes, they too will be eliminated.”

  “I’ll leave the details to you. This will send a strong message to the Guild. We may not be able to hurt them, or their children, but we can destroy their friends and create chaos in the colonies.”

  He patted Samhael on the back.

  “You can come for Mehri in the morning after you’ve met with Richard. The vials of blood will be waiting for you. Once she is settled, you can begin to administer the hound’s blood to our volunteers. Most of them will perish immediately, but those who survive will need to be watched closely. I’m certain my son can make arrangements with some of his friends from Purgatory.”

  “I’ll do whatever you ask of me,” Mortriel said. He hadn’t seen his father smile in a long time; it was a sincere gesture. One way or another, Mortriel was determined to earn Lucifer’s respect.

  “I’ll walk you out,” Lucifer said.

  They shook Lucifer’s hand and maneuvered their way through the catacombs until they were at the main gate.

  “Are you angry with me?” Samhael asked, as soon as they were clear of Lucifer’s chambers.

  Mortriel placed his hand affectionately on his friend’s shoulder. “Not at all; you follow orders just like the rest of us.”

  “Speaking of the cabin, it will need a thorough cleaning,” Samhael said.

  “Don’t concern yourself with that; I still have a good friend in Utopia. I’m sure Grendel will be more than happy to spruce up the place.”

  “I wasn’t aware you were still in contact with her. Has she forgiven you for turning her into a hideous monster?”

  Mortriel chuckled. “Grendel was a powerful angel before I cursed her. I promised her one day I would remove the curse, so she won’t do anything to upset me until that happens. I know you trust Richard, but it doesn’t hurt to have another set of eyes and ears in the colony.”

  “I’ll deliver the message if you like. I’m headed that way.”

  “Surely you aren’t going to crash Caspian’s wedding -- not with the Guild there?”

  “By the time I arrive, the reception should be over. I want to get Richard motivated as soon as possible. I don’t like depending on someone else, regardless of how much I trust them.”

  “I may join you, and then go to Purgatory. My father said to stay away from Aeden, but he said nothing about going to Utopia.”

  “That isn’t a good idea. Aura may not recognize you, but if Paul is still there and sees you, he’ll know you have friends in Utopia, and that could hurt our future plans. Don’t forget Eve is Esra’s granddaughter; she is a powerful seer too.”

  “Aren’t you worried Paul will see you?”

  “I was in Utopia yesterday. Dressed as I am, the governor and his family will think I’ve come to congratulate the bride and groom. If the Guild is still there, I’ll wait with Grendel until it’s safe to leave. Should I plan to meet you in Purgatory?”

  “No – I’ll only be there long enough to check on the prisoners. I’ll take Father’s suggestion and begin to search for more volunteers for our special guard. We can plan to meet back here in the morning to collect the hound’s blood. By the time you have Mehri settled, Richard should have an answer from the two brothers.”

  Before they passed through the gate, Mortriel stopped and placed his hand on his friend’s arm. “Just be careful. If you see anything suspicious, get out of there. You don’t have the powers to take on the Guild, and their children.”

  “Understood – you’ll find I am a patient man.”

  “If everything goes as planned, the angel-bloods will soon be nothing more than a bad memory.”

  “Not soon enough, “Samhael said.

  They embraced, and then walked through the gates -- Mortriel going in one direction, and Samhael in another.

  Chapter 20

  One of the servants followed Meredith into her bedchambers, but the governor’s wife quickly dismissed the young girl. She expected Henry to accompany her into the house, and when he stayed in the garden, she was beyond livid.

  How dare he defend that horrid woman after what she did to me; I’m his wife. Just because Eve is married to Paul, is no reason for her to receive special privileges. One way or another, she will regret embarrassing me in front of the entire colony. I’ll speak to Richard; he’ll know what to do.

  After she wriggled out of the wet gown, Meredith deposited it into one of the trash cans. She walked to her closet and found a long, sleeveless, black crepe dress.

  She placed the tiara on her dresser; it would go to the jewelers in the morning to be repaired. There was no sense in looking for the missing stone; someone had probably already stuffed it into their pocket.

  Meredith removed the pins from her hair, as she stepped into the shower, damning the Guild and their children.

  My mother was the evil one; she was responsible for my father’s death. One day, I will clear his name. Richard will inform me about what happened when I left the reception. I see no reason to go back.

  The warm water began to work its magic, and Meredith allowed all of the tension to leave her body.

  I’ll deal with Eve and her brats another d
ay. Later, I’ll demand an apology from Henry. After forty years of marriage, I know how to get what I want from him; tonight will be no different.

  She turned off the water and reached for a towel. When her robe was secure, Meredith stretched out on the bed, and then called for the servants to bring her a flask of wine.

  As soon as Desiree entered the guest room she shared with her mother, she started ripping off the wet gown. Most angel-bloods didn’t wear make-up, but she never went without it. Looking into the mirror, the mascara -- which was supposed to be water-proof -- left black streaks on both cheeks. “Look at me, Mother; I’m hideous,” she cried.

  Charisse sat on the bed and glared at her daughter.

  “You have humiliated me in front of everyone. What were you thinking calling for Richard? Did you think no one would notice? I realize you never wanted this marriage, but you could have refused Caspian’s proposal. Now, the entire colony will be convinced you are having an affair with your husband’s brother. No one will trust you again.”

  Grabbing a handful of tissues from the dresser, Desiree began to erase the mascara. “I don’t care what they think. I only agreed to this wedding because Meredith pressured me. Richard loves me, and I love him, but his mother has convinced him to marry Renatta because her family is rich.”

  “Do you think she didn’t want Caspian to marry you for the same reason? Meredith used to be my best friend, but she changed after she gave birth to Richard. Frankly, I don’t trust either of them.”

  Desiree’s mouth dropped as she turned to face her mother. “How can you think such a thing? Richard has been nothing but kind to you.”

  “Are you going to change, and join your husband at the wedding celebration?”

  “No – he needs to apologize to me.” She dropped the tissues into a wastebasket and sashayed into one of the blue wing chairs next to the bed.

  “How can I be expected to see those people again, and act as if nothing happened, after Caspian pushed me into the fountain? We agreed there were to be no children. How could he go behind my back and allow those brats to ruin my wedding?”