“Why do I feel so guilty then?” Eveline whispered, her eyes full of sorrow.
“Can you bare to hear the truth?” Jophiel asked carefully. Eveline looked at Jophiel and nodded her head. “I only knew Galean for a few hours, I stood with my friends and prayed for you, but I observed him as Gabriel healed your body, he was engulfed in grief, it was plain for everyone to see how in love he was with you,” Jophiel began, “he is so very different from Theodore, who is elegant and refined a far cry from the strong and warrior like Galean, who to be honest looks like a Viking king rather than an angel.”
“I always thought of him as a Viking warrior, he scared men with his overwhelming strength,” smiled Eveline.
“I can imagine he did,” teased Jophiel, “the point is that I believe you must also have loved him in some manner, and so you are divided.”
“I thought he loved me, but my grandfather told me that he ordered Galean to win my heart, that we were bound by fate,” Eveline stated blandly, “among other things.”
“And so you believe he was only acting out of duty to his King?” Jophiel replied.
“How else can I explain his actions?” frowned Eveline.
“He did not look to me like a man who had no feelings towards you, he could barely look at Theodore before he left to find Belle,” Jophiel stated darkly.
“It does not matter now, he is gone,” sobbed Eveline, “and now Theodore has exiled himself for me and William is oblivious to it all,” she choked.
“But you love Theodore? Don’t you?” Jophiel asked seriously.
“Yes off course,” smiled Eveline, “really from the first moment I saw him, maybe..,” she began, “I love them both, Theodore and Galean in different ways. With Galean I felt in line with him, he understood a deep and often distant part of my being, Theodore on the other hand,” she sighed, “he is like a breath of fresh air, and he wraps me up in this blanket of safety.”
“It seems to me that Galean understands the real you, the you before you became Eveline, the you that lies hidden beneath that veil of normality that you like to wear,” Jophiel answered, “ Galean makes you feel uncomfortable, he pushed you onwards. Theodore keeps you still, he moves you in a lighter way, he doesn’t make you uncomfortable, and he doesn’t make you fear the unknown.”
“Is it wrong to want to not fear the unknown?” whispered Eveline.
“No, I don’t think it is, Eveline, you are in essence two people, separated by time and heritage, you have been brought up in a different world, by different people, that is the Eveline in you and the Eveline in you loves Theodore, but…,” Jophiel sighed, “There is the Celestine in you, the child of Heiden’s only daughter, an heir to two kingdoms. Celestine is a greater being than Eveline, she wields power and greatness that no human could imagine wielding. Galean understood that, he saw the real person beneath Eveline.”
“Eveline wants to stay here, bound to Theodore, living a simple and normal life,” Eveline frowned, “but after witnessing my parents first meeting, my mother pregnant with me, their deaths and what is happening to my people, Celestine cannot stay here.”
“That is a decision you will have to make, Theodore will not be able to travel through time with you. If you choose to go, you will have to leave him behind,” Jophiel said quietly.
“That I cannot do, look what has given up for me, I cannot leave him, I love him, it is like a cruel joke,” cried Eveline, looking into the dying fire, “ fate has given me no alternative; I stay and my people die, I leave, Theodore is left behind. Whatever I do, someone will suffer.”
“It is true, they will suffer, whoever it is you leave behind,” Jophiel agreed, “ what you have to ask yourself is who will suffer more?”
“That should be simple, my people,” argued Eveline, “but I do not know my people, I do not know the world that I was born too, but I know of this world, and I know what would happen to Theodore if I left him here.”
“Eveline, the universe is at war, every shadow, demon and enemy of heaven now knows where you are; you are the only hope that your people have, if you stay here, they will find you and Theodore will not be able to protect you from them,” Jophiel argued. “I fear that whatever decision you make, dark and terrible consequences will follow.”
Eveline listened to Jophiels warning, rubbing the star shaped jewel at her chest.
“What would you do?”
“Me?” sighed Jophiel, her eyebrows furrowed together. “I would not want my people to suffer, not if I had the power to prevent it, but then I have never been in love and they say it blinds you.”
“My grandfather took me to Caci, my city, I saw him, my half-brother,” Eveline whispered. “I thought I knew cruelty, but I was proved wrong. He is darker than darkness itself, crueller than any cruel man on this earth. He killed children, women and good men,” she cried, “and I could do nothing, nothing! When I woke up I had a plan; I would go and help my people despite not knowing how, I would bring Theodore and Galean,” she breathed in deeply, “but Galean is gone and Theodore cannot come and all the while my people go on dying.”
“Time Eveline, you must give yourself time to understand the decision before you, to contemplate the path you must walk,” urged Jophiel. “You cannot save your people, thin and frail as you are and you must grow in strength. I believe Theodore can be of use to you, he can tell you about your heritage, your people and he can give you insight,” she smiled weakly, “and I, and I can show you how to harness your powers for good, if you will let me?”
“How can you? I have none,” Eveline replied slightly confused.
“You do, they are waiting to be unravelled, and it is wise that I help you to do this, to train you to harness power but not to allow it to have control over you.”
“You would do that for me?” Eveline smiled.
“Yes, you are my King’s granddaughter, it is my duty to guide you and help you, and you are my friend,” answered Jophiel her heart warming.
“Then you are a good friend, you do not indulge me, you are honest and wise. Thank you for bringing me out of the darkness I have lately found myself in,” Eveline replied seriously.
“You have trying times ahead you, you will need to be strong no matter what path you decide upon,” Jophiel said softly, getting up from her seat and offering Eveline her arm. “Come, you need to rest and get stronger before we start unravelling who you truly are.”
Chapter XIV
February 1942
Eveline had spent nearly four weeks in recuperation, listening and talking with Jophiel. Now as she grew stronger, she was ready to undertake Jophiels training.
“I want you to imagine that the cup before you can levitate in the air, do not try too hard, just let your mind relax as you think about it,” ordered Jophiel, standing beside a neatly dressed Eveline, who was now back to her normal, prim and proper self. The pair of them stood quietly in the study, in front of Jophiels desk stacked with books and papers, looking at the empty cup, sitting in the centre.
“Alright,” replied Eveline nervously.
“Just relax,” soothed Jophiel stepping away and giving Eveline some space. Eveline closed her eyes and let her body relax, taking in a deep breathe she imagined the cup rising from its plate, willing it to levitate. When she opened her eyes she sighed in disappointment, it still sat upon the plate, unmoving and undeterred.
“It didn’t work,” she moaned aloud, looking across at Jophiel, who was standing with her arms folded across her chest, her spectacles on the end of her nose.
“You need to concentrate,” Jophiel answered flatly, “feel the cup rise, I know that sounds silly but you can do it,” she encouraged. Eveline took in another deep breath and closed her eyes again waiting a few moments before trying to imagine the cup rising. A strange almost warm sensation flowed within her as she imagined the cup levitating before her. Keeping her eyes closed she heard a slight chatter of china. “You’ve done it!” screeched Jophiel, jumping up and down on the s
pot, “incredible!” she cried, “truly incredible.”
“Do I open my eyes now?” Eveline giggled nervously.
“Yes, you can open them, it will only fall if you will it too,” laughed Jophiel, coming closer to the cup, her eyes wide and round as if she had never seen a flying cup before. Nervously Eveline let her eyes open and gasped as she saw the fine, china saucer levitating above the plate.
“Oh my goodness, how have I never done that before?” she laughed, not moving her body in case the cup fell, as silly as that thought was.
“You never knew you possessed the ability to make a cup fly,” Jophiel replied happily, coming to Eveline’s side and patting her on the shoulder, “but my you are a quick learner.”
“It feels strange, almost like a flow of warm water is gushing around your body,” laughed Eveline, her golden eyes sparkling. Life was strangely enough becoming a little bit more bearable. In the time she had been at Rose House, Eveline had changed from the thin, helpless and lifeless being, not eating and barely sleeping to a revived Eveline, stronger and more determined. Now she spent her days walking, reading and talking, she off course couldn’t help but cry at night, for she still grieved terribly for Galean and Estelle, but her talks with Jophiel helped her to understand better the choice that lay before her. Theodore had not been to the house, and selfishly it had been nice to have space from the intensity that seeing Theodore would bring. Instead they wrote to one another, writing about their feelings and the complications that lay before them and more importantly her heritage.
Theodore had written in length about Calhuni, the Southern Kingdom and of Meerin, the Northern Kingdom. Eveline had found herself becoming emerged in the history of her land and her people. Calhuni was divided into three kingdoms, all with an incredible history. The people of Calhuni and Meerin were descendants of angel’s that choose to leave Heaven during the civil war and make home elsewhere. For a long period of time they lived in peace, but as with any society, problems arose. Civil wars broke out, religion evolved and changed dividing communities, hierarches emerged and enemies were created. In some lands, magic had died out and was replaced by the sword, in the North magic evolved, making the Meerin people the most powerful people of the two kingdoms. In the west the once great and democratic kingdom of Taer had fallen prey to a dictatorship, their Queen being murdered and in her place a King, who encouraged the oppression of magic and hoarding of wealth. However, much to Eveline’s surprise it seemed the new King of Taer disliked King Islaer immensely, which may as Theodore suggested prove useful.
To the east, the kingdom of Ruarr, known for its great warriors, halls and Gods, was invaded by Islaer and his forces. Theodore had highlighted to Eveline through his letters, that though the people of Ruarr worshipped different Gods, they were peaceful and often aided the rebels of Taer in claiming back land. Now Ruarrian soldiers were sworn to obey their new King, now on the throne for fifty years. Under Islaer’s rule, the younger generation of men had been indoctrinated and now sought to bring down their forefathers. Finally the kingdom of Calhuni, the High seat of Caci had been overthrown by Heidan, Eveline’s half-brother. Theodore had insisted that Heidan was still vulnerable, the Cacian people would not back down easily.
The more Eveline read about her real home, the more she understood her need to go back. It was impossible to convey these feelings to Theodore, who knew it wouldn’t be possible for him to time travel with her.
“Eveline? Shall we take tea?” Jophiel asked, looking at her oddly.
“Oh, yes sure,” replied a dazed Eveline, “I always thought that magicians had to use incantations as part of the magic?”
“Well, for humans who have the ability, which is rare, yes they need words to control magic, but we angels are just gifted with it, we need no words, it is a part of us,” explained Jophiel opening the study door and letting Eveline out, closing it behind her.
“It just feels so off balance, I mean are their limitations to what I can do?” quizzed Eveline, following Jophiel into the morning room and sitting down to tea, laid out by Bettie.
“Yes, we do have limitations, according to our strengths,” Jophiel answered seriously, sitting back against her chair and gazing up at the small, golden clock sitting atop the fireplace.
“Hmm, so I suppose because I have only really acquired the gift of magic, my strength in the field is poor?” asked Eveline, listening to the tick tock of the clock whilst sipping her china tea.
“Yes in a way you are right, but you will get stronger as time goes on, it isn’t as simple as just imagining the magic happening, you have to be strong enough to do it,” Jophiel began, “You will notice the difference in a few weeks to be sure, but what we also need to work on is control. Magic is like another being inside of us, if it gets too much space it will become controlling, you will want to use it more and it may alter how you see things.”
“How is that possible?” quizzed Eveline, her cheeks warming by the fire.
“Well it is like controlling our addictions, magic can be like an addiction if it isn’t controlled in the proper way, when used in the right way it can only be a positive influence, but,” she breathed in deeply, “if you overindulge in the magic, like for example we angel’s cannot kill human’s only shadows, but if we were to kill an innocent, the magic within us would darken, we would want to do unexplainable things with our gifts, do you understand?”
“To a degree yes, so I can only kill shadows with magic, no one else even if they are bad?” frowned Eveline deep in thought.
“Yes, we were born to be good, to create peace, not to kill innocent beings, even if those beings are bad, to do so would only inflict a terrible darkness upon us, no,” Jophiel looked up from her tea, “if you are to kill a bad being, it must only be through physical strength, like a sword for instance, not magic, never magic.”
“Well that’s useful to know,” smiled Eveline, “have you ever used magic against shadows?”
Jophiel lowered her gaze, letting her eyes take in the patterned carpet, trying to keep the images of that night out of her mind.
“Once,” she whispered, setting her hands on her lap, folding them.
“Go!” she heard his voice call painfully, an image of his face creeping up before her, causing an instant sickness to pain her stomach.
“Jophiel? Are you alright? I do not mean to cause you pain, please forget I asked,” Eveline urged watching Jophiels body tense.
“No, it is just, I never thought that he would die,” Jophiel muttered.
“He?” Eveline asked curiously, the rays of the afternoon sun, shining through the Georgian windows and bouncing off her fiery locks.
“Galean,” replied Jophiel letting her eyes lift to find Eveline’s own pained gaze.
“Galean?”
“When you came to Westminster, Galean left to find Belle and I followed,” Jophiel began, “Gabriel ordered me too.”
“I never thought to ask how it happened,” whispered Eveline a deep sadness rising within, all happiness cast into the darkness.
“He was so brave, so courageous, I had heard of his greatness, to be fighting beside him was an honour.” Jophiel began. “I was so sure we would both come out alive, but I was wrong. He gave me his dagger, I have it still,” she smiled weakly. “I was to stun the weaker shadows, kill Dantel and Belem and try to take Belle away to safety. I did, I have never killed before, it is not an experience I shall ever forget, and the very act made me feel dark and unalike myself.”
Eveline watched as Jophiel re visited that dark night, her face contorted and pained by the memories. In that moment Eveline watched as the sun’s rays died, and the room stood still and grey.
“I came back for him thinking he would be waiting for me, and he was, but not in the way that I thought he would be,” she sighed, “Lagmar, the demon prince that killed Theodore’s friends, he had Galean floored, beaten and bloody, his sword to Galean’s throat.” Eveline closed her eyes in despair. “He saw me,
I wanted to help him, to do something, this strong, brave warrior made small and weak at the mercy of a mad demon, he told me to run, to leave, and to save Belle.”
“Did you see it happen?” Eveline asked her breathing short and sharp, her chest rising and falling quickly as she imagined Galean, at the mercy of a demon, hopeless.
“No, I ran before it happened,” Jophiel replied quietly, gulping down the bead of emotion that arose within her throat.
“I see,” murmured Eveline.
“I realised after that night, what a burden it must be for great warriors like Galean and Theodore, to have to carry the weight of the dead upon their shoulders, despite them being demons or shadows,” choked Jophiel. “I realised what a sacrifice they make to ensure we have peace and that we are safe.”
“He was as you say a brave man, courageous and,” Eveline swallowed, “brave.”
“Even great warriors have to die,” muttered Jophiel.
“Yes,” sighed Eveline getting up from her chair. “I think I might take a walk in the park if that is alright with you?” she asked flatly barely looking at Jophiel. It was so disorientating how the mood had changed from excitement to despair in such a short space of time.
“Please take as long as you need, just be sure to keep your eyes open,” smiled Jophiel not rising to guide her out.
“I will,” promised Eveline opening the door and exiting, leaving Jophiel to her thoughts. As Eveline tightly pinned her hat to her head, she looked up and let the sun warm her face, before turning to close the black door behind her, stepping out onto the street, crossing the busy road and entering the private park. Within the trees she could hear birds chirping happily as a rush of cold wind burned her nose and cheeks. Stuffing her hands into her pockets, Eveline walked slowly under the budding trees and blue skies. As she walked she observed some young children playing with their mothers and nannies and was reminded of her time with Belle, the long walks they had shared together, the dancing, the music and Galean. Either the wind was very cold or she was hurting, but somehow as she walked through the park a single tear drop fell from her golden eyes, hidden from view by her hat. Stopping, Eveline wiped the water away and made to a nearby bench, letting herself sit down. Time passed as did couples and families who wandered by as the sun began to set. Eveline watched the leaves bustle about on the ground, spied a red squirrel climb up a tree and gazed at an elderly couple walk by hand in hand, causing her to stiffen with pain. If Eveline was allowing herself to be honest, she would, she thought to herself admit that her heart absolutely ached to see Galean one last time, an image of their kiss causing her to smile as she remembered his touch, his warmth and all of him in that moment before she fainted, in that moment before her world fell away. He would forever be her true love she realised as she watched the elderly man kiss his wife on the cheek.
One Crown & Two Thrones: The Guardians Page 32