Angel Incarnate: Second Sight

by Linda Creel

If it were up to Stella, she would have captured Aura and delivered her to Samhael who would have sent her to Purgatory. But Lucifer demanded that the young seer not be touched.

  Apparently, he was waiting for some old relic to be returned to the angel-blood, and if they captured Aura before the ring was back in her possession; he would never have another opportunity to acquire the second sight.

  Lucifer was convinced the ring would allow him to win the next war, so convinced, he was willing to be patient. He waited this long; a few more months wouldn’t make any difference, especially if the end justified the means.

  As they were approaching the rear access to the angel-blood’s playground, Stella laughed when she saw statues of Uriel and Gabriel, standing guard at the entrance. Are they supposed to ward off fallen angels? My father goes where he pleases.

  She spotted Father Ryan, but unfortunately, he wasn’t alone; Shanna was with him.

  When Mehri saw the runaway friend, she shouted her name. Both girls were dressed like tavern wenches, but Shanna’s skirt was electric blue, like her hair, and Mehri’s was a deep crimson color. Stella’s gaze was ping-ponging between Ryan and Shanna. I’ll have to take care of the girl first.

  “Where’s your car?” Ryan asked. Stella pointed to the black sedan parked a hundred feet away. “Well – I’m no mechanic, but I can take a quick peek, if you’d like?”

  Shanna grasped Mehri’s hand as they followed Stella and Ryan to the car. She was telling her about Aura’s Halloween food. She especially loved the hotdogs which looked like dead fingers. Both girls started cackling.

  After popping the hood and handing Ryan the keys, Stella walked back and opened the trunk. When she was sure no one could see her, she uncapped one of the pens.

  The girls were holding their flashlights as Ryan checked methodically for loose wires. Stella came back and squeezed between the girls.

  “Ouch,” Shanna cried. “I think something bit me in the back of my arm.”

  Mehri aimed the flashlight at her friend’s sleeve. She saw a small puncture hole and a drop of blood. Her eyes met Stella’s and a shiver ran down the back of her legs. What have you done?

  Shanna stumbled backward. “I don’t feel very well. Whatever bit me is making me sick.”

  Ryan rapped his head on the hood of the car, as he turned to see Shanna collapse in Mehri’s arms.

  Stella came up behind him and jammed the tip of the pen into his hand. When he looked down, he saw a speck of blood.

  “What the…”

  “RUN!” Mehri yelled. She picked up Shanna and grabbed Ryan by the sleeve of his tunic. “I’ll find someone to help you,” Mehri promised.

  Before they could make the entrance, Stella was standing in front of them. Her eyes had darkened and she was laughing -- a throaty, guttural laugh that made the hairs stand up on Mehri’s arms.

  “Even if you did make it back to Aura’s house, you’ll be dead from the poison in a matter of minutes,” Stella sneered.

  “This was not part of the plan!” Mehri screamed.

  Stella shrugged. “What can I say – plans change? Lucifer no longer has a need for the priest. As far as your friend – I have nothing against her. She just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

  Shanna started coughing so hard, it was difficult for her to catch her breath. Her lips and nail-beds were turning blue. “Please, put me down,” she whispered.

  The tears streamed down Mehri’s face as she cradled her best friend. The poison hadn’t affected Ryan yet. His eyes widened at the mention of Lucifer’s name. “Who are you?”

  “She is Lucifer’s wife,” Stella answered, “And I am Nephylim,” she said proudly. “My father, Samhael, is a fallen angel and Lucifer’s right hand.”

  “They really do exist?” Shanna asked.

  Mehri felt so guilty, she could barely look into her friend’s eyes. She turned away and nodded. That was when she saw the shadow of a man coming towards them – Samhael.

  “Well – it seems to be your lucky day,” Stella said to Ryan. “This is my father…Samhael.”

  Shanna’s breathing had all but stopped, but she did manage to take a quick peek at the fallen angel. His hair was meticulous, his clothes expensive and tailored. He carried himself like royalty.

  “I’d love to stay and chat, but Aura is on her way,” Samhael warned. “Come Stella, it isn’t safe for you to stay here any longer. We’re going to Purgatory.”

  “What about Mehri?”

  “Leave her for the Guild. Lucifer no longer cares what happens to her.”

  “Shouldn’t we kill her? She could tell the Guild about our plans?” Stella argued.

  Samhael considered what his daughter was saying, but then he saw Aura running through the trees. “There isn’t time; we have to leave now.” He grabbed her hand, and they vanished in a cloud of black smoke, but not before Aura caught a glimpse of them.

  Aura hastened her pace as a familiar odor filled her nostrils. It was the same pungent stench she smelled at Caspian’s wedding.

  Because of the dim lighting, and the fact he didn’t turn around, Aura couldn’t identify the man. Still, she suspected he was the same dark wing who was seen leaving the Enchantor’s village.

  The dark wings hand was clasped tightly around Stella’ arm. Why would he take Stella instead of killing her?

  The sound of Mehri’s sobs filled the air. No, she wasn’t sobbing, she was wailing. It sounded much like Reaghan if there was no chocolate syrup in the house to start her morning.

  Seeing Ryan choking and gasping for breath, Aura thought back to what Rita said about Gregory Godwin. He had died the same way. Her sister suspected Richard of Gregory’s death, but Aura knew he was in Utopia. Could Rita have been wrong about the governor’s son?

  Lying on the ground between Ryan and Shanna, were what looked like two ballpoint pens. This must be the weapons they used to deliver the poison.

  Aura didn’t see Shanna’s chest rise and fall, and assumed she was already dead, but Ryan was still thrashing around on the ground. She looked to Heaven. “Raphael, please -- he’s alive, and I could really use your help.”

  As Aura clutched Ryan in her arms, tears dripped in a slow, steady stream down her cheeks. She called again for the archangel; if anyone could heal her best friend, it would be Raphael.

  Eve and Paul showed up on the dirt road with all the rest of their Utopian friends. Richard and Analie were absent. Adam had been sent to Aura’s house to check on the little ones.

  When the group approached, Mehri’s sobs grew louder as she rocked Shanna back and forth. “Why did you have to die? I loved you.”

  “I’m a fraid she can’t hear you,” Eve said softly.

  A loud crack parted the sky. With their brilliant white wings extended, the angel-bloods watched Gabriel, Uriel and Raphael descend. They were wearing white ceremonial robes trimmed in gold.

  Another angel, who no one recognized, was with them. He wore blue jeans and a white, short-sleeved pullover which amplified his toned biceps.

  “Please – can you help him?” Aura begged Raphael.

  The healer walked over to the priest and knelt down beside him. Ryan’s hands were clutched tightly around the wooden cross hanging from the girdle of his costume. He was barely alive. His breaths were slow and shallow, and his face was twisted in pain. Aura sensed he was suffering.

  Ryan’s eyes were still open, but he grimaced every few seconds. “Who did this to you?” she asked between sobs.

  Before he could reply, Mehri answered. “It was Stella,” she whimpered.

  Jessica, who had been standing silently with Rita and their Utopian friends, gasped when she heard the name. “Why would Stella want to hurt Ryan or Shanna?”

  Ryan had stopped moving; he felt like ice against Aura’s bare chest. His pale skin, lips and fingertips turned a dusky blue color. When he closed his eyes, Aura moved closer, allowing her left ear to graze the corners of his mouth. He was trying to tell h
er something, but his voice was so weak, she couldn’t make out the words.

  Eve knew the answer, but she was bound by a covenant which prevented her from interfering. Even though she wanted to ease her daughter’s pain, she would never break her vows. She stood quietly, knowing Aura would soon lose her best friend.

  Raphael looked at Paul and shook his head. “I’m sorry – there is nothing I can do. The poison has already taken its toll.”

  Aura began to shake Ryan, hoping he would open his eyes. His face was still distorted with pain, while Shanna’s looked so peaceful. Why did you have to suffer? You have always been faithful to Heaven.

  Still wrapping her arms around him, Aura fell backwards, allowing Ryan’s head to rest against her chest. She stared at the stars, trying to digest Raphael’s bad news.

  Bren, Tracy and the rest of the party guests appeared out of nowhere. Sophia and Katie had to shield their eyes from the bright light radiating from the archangels. Aura was cradling Ryan against her chest, and Shanna…

  Dropping the pumpkin flashlights on the ground, Katie and Sophia ran to their friend, who was lying motionless on the ground. Mehri’s arms had a vice-like grip around her dead friend, and she had no intention of letting go.

  The color of Shanna’s skin was almost the same as her electric blue hair. Her eyes were closed, but there appeared to be a faint smile at the corners of her mouth. She looked so peaceful, as if she was having a pleasant dream. But this was no dream – Shanna was dead.

  “Why did you bring them here?” Paul asked as he pointed to the mortal girls.

  “Shanna was their friend. They have a right to know what happened to her,” Bren said.

  Before Paul could respond, the unidentified angel bent down to look at the girl in Mehri’s arms. “May I?” he asked.

  Mehri tightened her grip until Eve patted her on the shoulder. “It’s alright; this is Shanna’s father, Stuart. He’s come to take her home.”

  Glancing from Stuart to Shanna, Mehri could see the family resemblance. They shared the same blue eyes, and Mehri suspected Shanna once had chestnut hair like her father. He was a young man, looking no older than thirty years.

  Katie and Sophia were at a loss for words. As the angel moved closer, they took a step backwards, unsure about what was going to happen next.

  Stuart extended his hand, which Shanna accepted. She pulled herself up and wrapped her arms around his neck, “Papa?” she whispered.

  “Yes – sweetheart; everything will be fine now because we’re together.”

  “Will somebody tell me what’s happening?” Katie cried. “I’m freaking out over here. If Shanna is dead, how can she walk and talk?”

  “Shanna isn’t mortal,” Bren said nonchalantly.

  “Wh -- what do you mean she isn’t mortal?” Katie’s voice was trembling. She grabbed hold of Sophia’s hand and squeezed until she realized maybe Sophia wasn’t mortal either. “If she wasn’t mortal than what was she?”

  “We have to tell them,” Bren said to her grandfather. She gazed at Uriel, who gave a silent nod.

  “Before we start this discussion, we have to take care of Ryan,” Aura said. A sense of dread washed over her. She pushed aside the sour taste in her mouth and tightness in her stomach. “Oh, God – I have to tell Ella her brother is dead. Does anyone know where she is?”

  Eve’s hand brushed Aura’s cheek, wiping away her tears. “Jasper took Ella to New Orleans this morning. They are expected to return later this evening, Eve said. “Don’t worry about telling her; I’ll take care of it.”

  Stuart extended his soft, white wings as he clutched Shanna to his chest. The sight was too much for Katie who fainted and slipped to the ground. Sophia wasn’t in much better shape. While she was still conscious, her hands and lips were trembling.

  Tracy and the little ones surrounded Katie, gently shaking her until she opened her eyes. At first, she thought it was just a dream, but then she saw the angel with his wings extended, and realized this was really happening.

  “Shanna is – was an angel-blood,” Bren said. “She thought her father died in a mysterious accident, but the truth is, he reached one hundred and twenty five years of life, and Heaven called him home.”

  “I – I don’t understand,” Katie said.

  “Angel-bloods are half-mortal and half-angel. We are the descendants of angels who are loyal to Heaven. You may have heard stories about Nephylim. They are the children of fallen angels, who were denied Heaven’s blessing. After the Great Flood, there aren’t many of them left.”

  “Except, Stella; I’d bet money she is Nephylim,” Tracy said.

  ‘She is Samhael’s daughter,” Mehri whimpered.

  “How do you know that?” Aura asked.

  “I am Lucifer’s wife; I know a great many things. I’m not proud of whom I am, but I made a pact with him, so I could save my newborn son.”

  “We’ll talk about this when we get back to the house,” Eve said.

  “Anyway, most angel-bloods go home in the same body they occupied while they lived on earth,” Bren said casually.

  “Unless they’re killed by hell-fire,” Tracy added. “Then, there isn’t anything to send back, except their soul, as long as it wasn’t compromised.”

  Katie and Sophia stared at each other. “Is – is it possible that Sophia and I are angel-bloods too?” Katie asked.

  “It’s very possible,” Paul said. “We can perform a small test to determine if you were born with the blood of the angels.”

  Katie’s eyes widened and beads of sweat appeared on her upper lip and forehead as she tried to mask her fear.

  “Don’t worry – the tests are painless.” Paul walked over to where Aura was sitting with Ryan. At first, she was reluctant to let go of her friend, but she knew his body needed to be prepared. Eve and Angie would take care of the arrangements.

  Paul picked up the young priest, carefully positioning him over his shoulder. “We’ll have the funeral tomorrow, after the Crestwell’s memorial service.”

  “Where are you taking Father Ryan?” Katie asked.

  “We have a mortuary not far from here where we bury our mortal friends. Since Ryan does not have the angel’s blood, Father Patrick will perform a small, informal service, and he will be laid to rest with our other mortal friends in the graveyard behind the mortuary.”

  “Father Patrick knows about you?”

  Paul smiled. “He has been our priest since the children were born. He has been informed about our heritage, but he has kept our secret these last twenty years. We have no reason to distrust him; he’s become a member of our family.”

  “After the funeral, we can go to Savannah, and go trick or treating,” Bren said.

  When everyone stared at her like she had three heads, she crossed her tiny arms over her chest. “What – it’s not like we’re doing anything else. The kids have been looking forward to this. Besides, Savannah is safe and we can’t do anything for our friends now. Changing the way we live is only giving in to the dark wings. Is anybody else prepared to do that?”

  She looked from one to the next; each of the angel-bloods shook their head. “Good, then it’s settled. We’re going to Savannah tomorrow.”

  “The High Council needs to speak with Mehri,” Uriel said. “Her answers will determine her fate.”

  “Before you make any decisions, there is something she needs to see,” Eve said. “It’s only right that she knows the truth.”

  Uriel nodded his head and Eve pulled up a vision.

  “You might want to have a seat,” Bren said to Katie and Sophia. “What you’re about to see is going to be pretty messed up.”

  “Before you begin, I’ll take Ryan to the funeral hall. Father Patrick is waiting,” Paul said.

  Aura kissed her friend goodbye, and then watched her father disappear.

  Chapter 57

  Katie and Sophia’s eyes popped as they stared at the shadowy white mist. Bren started giggling. “We’ve got a lot to
talk about when we get home. Don’t worry; it will all make sense. Daddy just used a portal to take Ryan to the funeral hall. It’s another way angels and their children can travel.”

  “Yeah – it’s a lot faster than driving,” Tracy said.

  The little ones, with Bren and Tracy in the center, formed a circle around the two mortal girls, offering what little support they could. They had no idea what Eve was about to show them, but knew it wouldn’t be good.

  The year was 1929 and the stock market had just crashed. People, including the Chastains, were out of work and desperate – a perfect opportunity for Lucifer.

  The scene began outside a tenement in New York. A woman was sitting on the stoop of her brownstone. Beneath the felt hat and long wool coat, Mehri recognized her mother. She was holding an infant in her arms and crying when Lucifer appeared and offered her a better life.

  That was the first of many visits the fallen angel made to Charlotte Chastain and her husband. Mehri stared incredulously as a sudden coldness consumed her body. She watched as her mother quickly agreed to a pact.

  Through Eve’s visions, Mehri also saw it was Lucifer who made her son, Byron, appear sickly. After convincing Mehri to join him in Hell, the infant was left on the doorstep of a childless angel-blood couple.

  Mehri was horrified at the influence Lucifer had over Bryon, changing him into a monster that not only killed his adoptive parents, but later helped Samhael and Mortriel kill his wife – Lucifer’s sister, Loralei.

  Eventually, the Guild caught up with Byron, and Paul took his life. Unfortunately, ten-year-old Meredith was there when it happened, and believed her father’s death was unjust.

  “Lucifer tricked me,” Mehri cried. “He promised my son would lead a happy life, but he lied.”

  “Your parents knew what they were getting into,” Eve said. “Unfortunately, you did not. You were sincere and thought Lucifer would save your son. The truth was; he only wanted someone he could control. He paved the way for Byron to marry Loralei, so he would have another male heir. But Loralie gave birth to a daughter instead.”

  “My mother – Meredith,” Joshua said.