“I may sound brash as I know you so little, but I am glad you are friends with Theodore, you are a good man Galean and yet to be proved likewise,” Eveline smiled, yawning into her arm.
“And you a good woman,” Galean said. “Now go to sleep and fear not the darkness for I am here to protect you until the sun rises.”
“I see him standing in the shadows sometimes,” Eveline said darkly as she curled under her sheets and closed her eyes. Galean did not answer for she fell instantly into a deep sleep, leaving him to ponder over her words, his eyes upon the shadows of the room. No shadow would enter whilst he drew breathe.
IV
Shadows in the night
5th November 1940
Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make...
Bram Stoker.
Theodore encountered another sleepless night among the many that had already passed since his time in the RAF. He now found that his newly enlightened state had only added to the burdens he already carried. Now fully in receipt of who he was, Theodore digested a fact that greatly troubled him above everything else thus far. He had gone against the oath he had sworn to his master and married the very woman he had promised never to bind himself too. To disobey such an oath meant exile or worse death. Of course he sympathised with his human self, the self that had completely and on purpose blocked out everything in relation to his real self. But as he lay upon his bed he realised, alone and undisturbed that when he had married Eveline, he felt deep within that the very act was wrong. With his blue eyes upon the plastered ceiling above, he drew in a deep breathe. Eveline had married Theodore, the man who was unaware that he was in fact her guardian and an angel, two hundred years older than she. She had willingly, placing all of her trust in him entered into a lie. Would she look at him with those trusting eyes when all would be revealed? Would she bind herself to his true self, Cael? He did not know and it greatly troubled him that he was faced with uncertainty. So much time had passed between their quickly pressed wedding, rushed not by his wife but by himself that he could hardly make out the contours and features of her beautiful face in his mind, most of all her beguiling eyes.
All men who fought in wars always returned altered, Theodore was no different. Before Eveline when he was just an angel living upon the earth, he led a quiet life in London, under the tutorship of Lier. He and those alike including an old friend by the name of Jophiel had willingly given their lives to protect the citizens of London from the shadows that preyed on the vulnerable. Theodore had become a revered angel, known by many and feared by many. It was his dedication and courage that had earned him his first commission under Gabriel, to leave this earth and retrieve the granddaughter of Heiden. It was upon this mission that he had met and befriended Galean. Galean was much younger than he and bore a great many qualities; strength, intelligence and honour among the many. There was however a distinct difference in Galean; Firstly he was only part angel and his home was upon the planet known as Unas. Secondly he was the heir to the northern Kingdom of Meer which was connected to the southern Kingdom of Calnuthe, in which Eveline was also heir. And yet despite this difference they both had lost their mothers and it was this and their love of adventures that had brought them together. Theodore had been present when Galean had married the young Marsalia, a beautiful angel that had been loved by many. Never had he seen his friend so happy and so alive. It pained him to learn that Galean’s wife and daughter had been killed without his knowing. During many of their recent discussions throughout the week, Lier had divulged to Theodore the terrible shadow that had been cast upon Galean which had forced him to return to him homeland spending many years in isolation, unable to stand in the light for the great pain and anger that consumed his being.
“I did not know myself until Galean spoke to me of it when he was here last,” Lier said with saddened eyes. “When his wife and child died, he was not seen or heard of for six years.”
“How did he kill Lagman?” Theodore asked as he sat back into a leather chair, which sat opposite Lier’s mahogany table in his study.
“I had heard rumours, but never thought them possible,” Lier said, puffing on his pipe. “Not even experienced angels like myself could possibly hope to find and kill Lagman.”
“There is a reason why we called him the ‘Ghost’,” Theodore smiled weakly, swirling his whiskey around.
“They say that Lagman was sent to Unas to aid Heidan as he waged war upon the Kingdom of Calnuthe after the death of the High King and his Queen,” Lier began, the sound of British and German aircraft filling the study, causing both men to retreat into themselves privately. Theodore found his body shaking, a part of him fed the urge in him to return to his squadron. With strength his shook his head slightly, placing the lingering urge into a box.
“Go on,” he whispered painfully, his left hand fingers pressing into the arm of the leather chair.
“It is said that Galean travelled south secretly and sought out Lagman, who was stationed east along the border of Ruarr,” Lier went on, the air still and quiet. Theodore opened his eyes once more. “When he found him a great fight took place and the sky it is rumoured darkened above them. Galean filled with vengeance and anger broke his body into two upon the ground before Lagman’s men before setting it alight.” Theodore’s internal fears that had consumed him a moment ago had all but dispersed at Lier’s words. He had never bore witness to Galean’s temper for he had never shown himself to be capable of such rage but the picture that Lier had formed in Theodore’s mind was unpleasant and though Theodore had seen a great many unpleasant things before, this he could not easily place away. How great his agony must have been and how deep his anger.
“I have never seen him angry before,” Theodore said quietly, taking a sip of his whiskey and revelling in the warmth that rushed down his throat and into his chest.
“As I said before, a great shadow had been cast over Galean,” Lier replied darkly. “When news of Lagman’s death had spread, Galean went into hiding in the north living among tribes until such a time as he could show himself again.”
“I understand now why he cannot face Lagmar.”
“Indeed, for not even Galean is strong enough for Lagmar,” Lier said, his eyes sparkling as the candles flickered.
“What made him come around from such darkness?” Theodore asked curiously.
“I believe time amongst his own people and the tribe of his mother helped to heal some of his wounds,” Lier said warmly. “The problems of his own Kingdom gave him something to focus on.”
“Why did he return to earth?”
“He is the heir to Meer and Eveline to Calnuthe, he felt honour bound to make sure she was alive and well,” Lier said with a faint smile. “He has always in some strange way felt akin to her, the hope of Calnuthe rests in her hands if she wishes to reclaim her throne.”
Theodore felt a sting of jealousy course through him at Lier’s words. Galean’s commitment to Eveline should not have affected him so, but underneath his rationale being he felt himself protective of his wife, not wanting to share her with anyone else, even Galean who had himself stated that he had no heart with which to part.
“I believe you are married to Eveline?” Lier asked gently, noticing a wave of distress passing his eyes.
“Yes we married before I was stationed in Kent,” Theodore said with a smile, the memory of that day coming back to him, giving his mind, soul and heart relief.
“She has only ever been a figure shrouded in mystery,” Lier muttered as another group of fighter planes soared over head. “What is she like if I may be so bold as to enquire?”
“She is like anyone of us,” Theodore began, letting his eyelids fall so that he could picture ever more clearly. “She is beautiful to look upon, her eyes a delicate shade of gold and her hair a deep auburn. She is very much like her mother in looks and nature, yet has a great many qualities that mirror her father.”
“Her mother was indeed fair to all those
fortunate enough to lay eyes upon her,” Lier said quietly. “It is sad how unfortunate her life had been.”
“Indeed but she found happiness in the end, despite her cruel death,” Theodore added, the image of Eveline fading away.
“I am afraid that the universe stands upon the brink of war, that we are now taking in a deep breathe before the battle cry rings from every corner, causing even the sun to shudder in response.”
“We have always been at war,” Theodore said quietly.
“That we have,” Lier smiled. “But we have been skirting around the real battle that is to come soon.”
“Have you ever fought in any earthly wars Lier?” Theodore asked his mentor with raised brows.
“Indeed, the last war that I partook in was the second Schleswig War in 1864,” Lier answered, rising from his chair and pacing the room, stopping to look outside his window, his eyes upon the sky filled with a red tinge. “I fought at the battle of Dybbol.”
“Who did you fight for?”
“I fought for the Danish,” Lier said quietly, his back turned to Theodore. He had fought in many wars, but the battle of Dybbol had in his eyes been the worst. Never had death affected him so. For years afterwards, the cries of young men severed, bloodied and alone filled his nights. “Still it haunts my dreams.”
“Galean and I took part in the First World War and I never have truly recovered,” Theodore admitted. “But this war that rages on, touching ever corner of the earth has cut me deeply. That man can so easily do away with human life still pains me.”
“That is a flaw we all bare,” Lier lectured, turning to Theodore who had his head within the palms of his hands. “We each have the capacity to destroy.”
“I have known bloody battles, but instead of sabres and muskets we now have rifles, aeroplanes, tanks and bombs. The capacity to kill outside the limitations of a battle ground has evolved to such an extent that whole cities can be vanquished and destroyed overnight.”
“No matter the strides made in human technology, our own powers possessed by our kin and the fallen will always outwit any human invention,” Lier said with a note of despair. “For our enemies power evolves too in ways that mere humans could not ever imagine.”
“I try to imagine what a universal war will look like and I find I cannot,” Theodore replied, setting his empty glass of whiskey down upon Theodore’s table.
“We must venture through the valley of darkness before the sun rises and gives birth to a new day.”
Theodore lay awake until the sun began to rise over London, its skies filled with black smoke, evidence of the nights raids. The day had finally come for Lier and Theodore to make their way to St Barnes Cemetery which lay to the south east of Oxford, where Lier lived. Theodore had not seen or been in the company of demons for many years and found himself nervous at the prospect. He was well endowed with angelic gifts for which he had in the last ten years been privately getting accustomed too. Still he knew that he was no match for Lagmar and he needed time to re acquaint himself with his real being, Cael, before he re-acquainted himself with his old enemies. After breakfast Theodore was handed a letter from his mother and retired to the study to read its contents. When he had read the letter and placed it within his pocket he made for the living room and found Lier, stooping over a large table filled with weapons.
“I see you have received a letter from you mother, how is she?” Lier asked as he picked up a silver knife, holding it up to the light.
“Mother will be leaving directly for Bath in a weeks’ time,” Theodore replied, his hands skimming the beautiful blades.
“Well that is only one week in which to wait,” Lier said, dropping his glasses from the nook of his nose and looking across at Theodore.
“Yes I suppose your right.”
“And Galean?”
“The letter was written a few days ago, he had not arrived,” Theodore muttered as he picked up a small dagger.
“Good, now I think we need to go over our plan before we leave don’t you?”
Lier and Theodore spent the morning re assessing their plan to eavesdrop on a meeting between Lagmar and his followers in the quiet and undisturbed cemetery.
“If anything should happen, you must get away as quickly as possible,” Lier explained over lunch. “You are not yet strong enough to fight any demon and so you must leave that to me understand?”
“If we should find ourselves in a compromising situation I would rather stay with you and aid you so that we both may come out of it unscathed,” Theodore said with serious eyes.
“I applaud your honourable words, but I am much older and wiser than you young Cael,” Lier replied sitting forward and laying a hand upon Theodore. “If I tell you to flee you do so without hesitation. Promise me.” Theodore looked into Lier’s eyes wanting to rebuff him, but he saw the authority and strength that lay behind his iris and knew that Lier was being serious.
“I promise,” Theodore whispered.
“This is not about being a martyr this is about you being alive in order to protect your wife which is more important than you giving up your life for me,” Lier said quietly, sitting back in his chair.
“Every life counts,” Theodore mumbled.
“I would think you a fool if you believed such folly, the lives of innocent cannot count if Eveline is killed,” Lier said hauntingly. “Therefore to give up my life so that others may live is a cause I support.”
“You shall not die,” Theodore retorted sourly. “We will keep ourselves hidden from view, nothing shall come of our being there.”
“Well then there is nothing more to discuss, we leave at five on the dot, it should take us an hour or so to reach the cemetery,” Lier said evenly, finishing his cup of tea. “Now I am going to have a nap in my study. If you need me then knock on the door before you enter. Oh and Theodore?” Lier turned from the door of the kitchen to face Theodore.
“Yes?”
“You may want to stock up on some weapons,” Lier smiled. “And also maybe stop looking so glum, all things must come to pass.” With that he walked away and left Theodore to his own thoughts. He was worried about Eveline, worried that she was ill and he was not there to offer her the support and love she needed. With a sombre sigh, a mixture of both exhaustion and tension, Theodore rose from the table and made for the living room.
*
Lier and Theodore, both dressed in suits of black that lay under heavy black coats, sat in Lier’s car heading south to St Barnes Cemetery. As they drove through the centre of London they gazed upon the destroyed buildings, many still engulfed in flames.
“I’m sure a part of you yearns to be in the skies,” Lier said as he puffed on his pipe, the smoke escaping through his window which had been turned down slightly. Theodore, his head turned away from Lier smiled.
“I had been living a very different life before Galean re appeared.”
“You must feel burdened by the thought of not being with your squadron.”
“Yes,” Theodore said quietly, his eyes upon a group of soldiers that were among a larger group of volunteers who were clearing up debris from the road.
“You are guarding them from a greater threat than the Germans,” Lier said softly trying to put Theodore’s mind at ease.
“I hope so.”
Lier had been perfectly aware of Theodore’s lack of sleep and less than happy façade. He had tried in vain to council his young angel and to bring him some relief but it seemed to Lier that Theodore’s heart and mind were greatly troubled and he did not have the power in which to tend to his troubles. During the rest of the journey the duo remained silent until they finally stopped before the old cemetery, abandoned and quiet. Lier parked his black Austin Cambridge car away from the cemetery knowing that for all its isolation it would be under strict observation. When eventually they had stopped, both Lier and Theodore waited patiently, their high collars raised to shield their faces and their hats titled down over their eyes.
�
��They will congregate here at preciously mid night,” Lier said as he took a flask of tea from a basket.
“We will enter by the eastern gate,” Theodore added, reiterating their well detailed plan.
“Yes quite,” Lier smiled as he wiped back a lock of greying hair behind his ear. Lier had brought with them papers and books to fill in the time until eventually the sun set and mid night came, with the passing of more German and British planes over head. Quietly both men got out of the car and made their way up the side street until eventually they stood at the corner of the road that separated the cemetery from themselves. “We need to get into position before they arrive,” Lier whispered, the rim of his hat hiding his vivid blue eyes.
“We should cross now when the street is empty,” Theodore added, stepping out onto the road. A firm grasp held him back.
“No that would leave us prey to any shadows that are observing the gates for intruders.”
Theodore nodded and stood back against the wall with Lier until a group of women and men came about, nearing them on the opposite side.
“Cross when that bus passes,” Lier whispered firmly. A London bus passed by quickly, giving Lier and Theodore little time in which to cross the street and join the group of young women and male soldiers. When eventually they joined the group, the stood close by to the young men and women before slipping off through the eastern gate and into the darkly isolated cemetery. When they entered the gate, both men felt a sting upon their skin.
“What was that?” Theodore whispered as they took a turn off the path and into the heavy mass of twisted trees that hung over the heads of graves, broken, bent and aged.
“I don’t know,” Lier said seriously, his mind searching for answers. “Whatever it was, it was magic.”
“Do you think they have put a spell upon the gates warning them of intruders?” Theodore asked they headed deeper into the abyss.
One Crown & Two Thrones: The Prophecy Page 10