Again, the elements moved, but still too many locations to search out.
“I don’t know what else to try,” Frankie said, letting go of Serena’s hand and giving in to her frustration. She backed up until the back of her legs hit the only chair in the room. She flopped down with a heavy breath and shook her head.
“Do not worry,” Azerial told her. “This is good. There is much more goodness and light in the world than even I anticipated. Perhaps I could go home for a moment and ask a few questions. Maybe the Oracle can help us.”
“Wait,” Serena said, “You mean to tell me there is an Oracle in Heaven and you didn’t think to ask it before now?”
Azerial chuckled. “Yes there is and yes I thought about it. The Oracle isn’t an it, she is a she. And she is usually not very helpful. She is adamant that the Earth must go about its path without interference from the divine. I hope that I can change her mind.”
“Well? What are you still doing here?” Frankie asked her. “Go! Ask. Be very persuasive. I don’t know how long Michael can stay in Limbo and I don’t know how long Jade can survive without him here.”
Azerial nodded and closed her eyes. From one heartbeat to the next, she was gone.
***
Jade picked at her acoustic guitar by Michael’s bedside. She sang softly to him, even though in her heart she knew he couldn’t hear her. It didn’t stop her from singing the words to one of her favorite songs, I’m With You.
As her fingers moved over the fret board, she felt her heart lighten ever so slightly. Music was something she had been born with an affinity for. Her father had taught her from a very young age to appreciate and to play. Hell, even Michael’s mother, Kelly, had given her lessons when she was very young. It seemed that she and Michael had always known one another, even if they didn’t speak very often.
Kelly. Man, she would be pissed if she knew the condition her son was in. They had delayed telling the vampire what was going on for the time being. Telling his mother would be like calling in the family for a dying man. There was no need to worry her if they could fix it. Jade hoped with all her heart they could fix it.
She could feel her strength waning, but Jade ignored it. She couldn’t bring herself to take more than a few sips of bottled blood and she refused to take from Michael until he was well. His wing was still broken and showed no sign of healing. It was almost as if his body was stuck in some kind of weird suspended animation shit. She knew she couldn’t take blood, especially if she didn’t know that he could regenerate what she took. No, he needed every drop he had.
As her fingers led to the chorus once again, Jade found herself praying instead of singing the lyrics to the song she knew as well as she knew her own name.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Azerial straightened her blouse as she walked briskly down the long corridor. She couldn’t remember the last time she had gone to see the Oracle. The woman was more than three thousand years old and had never been anything that could be considered friendly.
As she approached the massive white doors that would lead her to the Oracle, Azerial steeled her breath. She hoped the Oracle would help. She had to. They had no other options. She pushed through the door.
At first, the amount of light in the room was blinding, even for a heavenly being like Azerial. She shielded her eyes with her hand and waited for them to adjust.
“You have spent too much time away from home if the light bothers you,” a lilting, sing-song voice filled the room. Azerial felt the familiar shivers that the voice caused running down her spine. It was musical, beautiful, and ethereal. As her eyes adjusted, Azerial could see the form of the woman. She was dressed in a white robe that was every bit as bright as the light, causing her to look almost invisible against the pure white backdrop. If not for her black as coal hair, she would have been. “Azerial, how nice to see you,” the Oracle said, stepping closer to her and opening her arms.
Azerial didn’t hesitate before stepping into her sister’s arms and embracing her. “Hello, Sister,” she said softly.
Azerial had not told her family that the Oracle was her sister. They had been created at the same time, but for different purposes. The Oracle was proficient in time; past, present, and future. She often spoke in riddles and never gave information that could affect free will. Azerial hoped that she would make an exception. Just this once.
“Come, sit and talk with me,” Oracle said. “I want to hear all about that man of yours.” Her pale blue eyes twinkled with mischief.
“I wish I could,” Azerial said, holding her sister’s hands and stepping back to look at her. “You look well,” she commented. “Beautiful as always.”
“So what brings you here, if not to catch up?” Oracle asked her.
Azerial rolled her eyes. “You know exactly why I have come. I need your help. My family needs your help.”
“You know I cannot help you,” Oracle said softly. “You must find your path.”
“Isn’t there anything you can tell me?” Azerial pleaded.
Oracle sighed. “The ancient prophecy, one long forgotten, has come to pass. The events are in place. The souls have been chosen, their path in destiny.”
“Um, yeah,” Azerial said, “That’s helps a lot.”
Oracle laughed. “You sound like that little vampire woman.”
Azerial shrugged. “Jade’s a good girl. She deserves peace and happiness. We have to help her and we have to help her mate. I need an item so full of good and love that it can undo a powerfully evil spell on her mate. I was hoping you could at least tell me what it is that we are looking for.”
“I can’t do that, Sister. All I can tell you is that what you seek will not be easy to find. You must find it in two days’ time before the spell becomes permanent and Michael’s soul will forever remain trapped in its prison.”
“Damn it,” Azerial cursed. Then she covered her mouth with her hand in surprise. “I mean, dang it.”
Oracle laughed again. “I see the vampires have had more of an influence on you than I thought. Tell me; are you happy with your life?”
Azerial nodded. “I am. Or at least I was until all this happened.”
Oracle stood and straightened her robe. “I think I need coffee. I’m going to go and get some. You stay here for a minute. Do not touch any of my things while I’m gone; especially not the looking pool. Do not ask it for the answer you seek. Do not touch my things,” Oracle said, her eyes conveying to Azerial that she meant the exact opposite. “I will be gone for at least ten minutes. You should not be here when I get back because time is your enemy.”
Azerial watched her sister float out of the room and the doors close behind her. Azerial was torn. Her eyes automatically sought out the looking pool her sister spoke of. It was forbidden for anyone to use it other than the Oracle. Was it worth it to break a rule? Azerial had broken rules in the past, but this was different. She had broken rules on Earth, but she was in Heaven. Did she dare to break a rule in the Heavens, where her actions would be known as soon as she committed them?
Azerial started to the door. She would let herself out. She couldn’t break the rules. Not in Heaven. As she turned her back on the pool, her sister’s pointed look raced through her mind again. Azerial looked at the pool again. Her feet itched to go to it. Her internal struggle was costing her precious time and finally, Azerial made use of the gift God gave her. Free will.
She ran to the pool and dropped to her knees in front of it. She peered over the edge into the pristine clear water. Before she lost her nerve, she dipped her finger into the pure water and said, “Looking pool please, show me what I seek.”
The waters swirled and an image of a man, an angel, so beautiful and majestic that the human mind would never be able to behold it appeared. Lucifer. His wings were spread wide and pride emanated from his core. This had been Lucifer’s sin. Pride, vanity, he thought he was better than God. Just as Azerial knew it would happen, she watched as God cast Lucifer from Heaven. She wa
tched as his wings were taken away and he was sent to the depths of Hell, sentenced to oversee tortured souls in the form of an ugly beast for all eternity.
The image dissipated and Azerial was confused. She had no idea what this had to do with Michael, but it was something. She heard footsteps approaching and knew her time was up. She stood from the pool and willed herself back home to her family on Earth.
***
Oracle stomped loudly to alert her sister of her return and smiled when she felt Azerial leave the Heavens. She could not show her sister what she needed to know, but she had no control over what her goddess sister did when she wasn’t around. She knew Azerial looked into the pool, and she hoped her sister got the message.
***
Azerial found Jade in the same place where she had been for days. She was sitting in a chair by Michael’s bedside, but her body was slumped over so that her head lay on her arms, which were situated next to his head. She had fallen asleep beside her mate. Azerial’s heart broke for her. She couldn’t imagine her own mate, Samuel, being in so much danger. She didn’t know how Jade kept her cool or how she dealt with it every second of every day.
Jade had refused to leave Michael’s side, just in case a miracle happened. Her color was once again turning paler than what was normal, but what could they do?
As if she could hear Azerial’s thoughts, which she probably could, Jade picked up her head. “Hey,” she croaked out. Azerial went quickly to the bathroom and filled a glass with water. She brought it back and handed it to Jade.
“Thanks,” she said, taking the water and drinking it down. “What did you find out?” Jade asked, going straight to the point.
“I’m not sure,” Azerial told her. She relayed the events of her trip to the Heavens and Jade listened quietly until she was finished.
“Your sister?” Jade asked with a knowing smile.
Azerial had left that piece of information out but Jade had always had an affinity for picking thoughts out of people’s heads. “Yes, my sister.”
“Well, let’s get everyone in here so we can figure this out,” Jade said softly. “We don’t have much time.”
Of course, Azerial had already relayed the information to her mate, who in turn, told everyone else. He let her know through their mental link that the men were going out to do some research. They were looking for any kind of information they could get their hands on; starting with the local Catholic Church.
“What do you think it means?” Frankie asked Azerial after hearing the whole story. “What does Lucifer losing his wings have to do with Michael?”
“We thought that Stephan was behind this,” Serena muttered. “He is Lucifer’s son. After seeing him, and getting a read on the kind of power that he’s packing, knowing Lucifer is nowhere to be found, I have no doubt that he has killed his father.”
“Why was he cast out of Heaven again?” Brea asked. She knew the story, but her bible knowledge was rusty at best.
“He thought he was better than God,” Azerial answered. “He was so beautiful and vain. It was his pride and his vanity that got him into trouble. Eventually, when he tried to take over because he thought no one could compare to him, Father cast him out and took his wings. Taking his wings took away his majestic beauty and it took his freedom of flight. Lucifer’s punishment for betraying God was to oversee the tortured souls in Hell, cursed in his own prison, without freedom and forced to take the shape of an ugly beast.”
“If he was a beast, then why do all the pictures show him as very handsome?” Brea asked.
“He has enough magic still to make himself appear beautiful. But the wings were a gift from our father and he couldn’t reproduce that,” Azerial told her.
“Wait,” Jade interjected. “If his wings were a gift, wouldn’t that mean that they were made with God’s love?”
“Yes,” Azerial nodded.
“And if they were made with love,” Frankie mused, “They would be very powerful.”
“But what happened to them after God took them away from him?” Serena asked.
Azerial thought for a moment. “Oh!” she exclaimed standing and beginning to pace the room. “I read in one of the ancient scrolls that God took his wings and hid them in the Garden of Eden!”
“Oh, that’s freaking fantastic. So let me see if I got this straight,” Jade said, “The thing we need are angel wings, taken from Lucifer and hidden in the Garden of Eden. A place that only exists in the bible?”
“It’s a real place, I assure you,” Azerial said. “We just have to find it.”
Jade rolled her eyes. “And here I thought we were making progress,” she muttered. “No one knows where this place is, if it even still exists.”
“It exists,” Azerial explained. When no one said anything, only looked at her with expectant faces, she continued. “The Garden of Eden was located in ancient Persia. It would be located somewhere in modern day Iran.”
“Well, what are we waiting for?” Jade asked, standing up and stretching her arms over her head.
“Are you planning on going there?” Serena asked, stunned that Jade would leave Michael’s side.
Jade laughed when she heard the thought. “Of course I’m going. And we are taking Michael with us.”
“How will we do that?” Brea asked.
Jade shook her head. “I’m sorry, Mom, but you are not included in this we. You are staying here.”
Brea opened her mouth to protest, but Serena stepped in. “You are human. You need to stay here where you will be safe. Angel would never forgive us if anything happened to you.”
“No, I won’t be allowing anything that might put you in more danger,” Angel agreed. He leveled his stare at his wife.
Brea wanted to object, but she knew it was true. She wouldn’t be going to another country to look for an ancient set of wings that may or may not even exist. Angel would never go for it and would do everything in his power to see that she stayed right where she was.
“We are going to need to search during the daytime,” Azerial thought out loud. “We will take Serena, Jade, Rebel, and Leigh.”
“Hey,” Antonio said, appearing out of thin air, “I’m going too. The only way these guys are gonna let their mates go on this journey is if there is some serious protection going with them.”
“How long have you been hanging out?” Jade asked, shooting him a knowing glare.
“Long enough to know that you need me.”
“You are so full of yourself,” Jade snarked playfully.
Antonio shrugged. “The guys didn’t find anything and are on their way home. This is all we got. And if we are looking for a place with divine power, Azerial and I will be able to feel it when we get close. I can protect you and I can take Michael there without causing him more harm. I win.”
“I hate it when you’re right,” Jade said, smacking him on his arm gently.
“You should be used to it by now,” Antonio grinned.
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
Jade held hands with Azerial and Michael. Antonio placed his hand on Michael’s shoulder and grasped Leigh’s hand, who was also holding Rebel. Rebel was holding Frankie’s hand and she held Serena. Serena joined hands with Azerial, completing the circle.
“Can’t we just fly?” Jade whined. She knew her family could transport this way, but she was not fond of it at all.
“You know in your heart he is watching us, even now,” Frankie told her. “This way, if we teleport from inside the house, the wards will protect us. He won’t know that we have left. Besides, how would we explain transporting an unconscious firebird to the security at the airport?”
Jade slumped her shoulders in defeat.
“Besides, Sebastian made our reservations for a nice hotel on some island. Supposed to be the best accommodations available there.” Serena offered her a smile.
“Let’s just get it over with,” Jade muttered.
With the power of their grace, Antonio and Azerial willed the group acr
oss the ocean to Iran.
***
Stephan felt a surge of white magic coming from the vampires’ home. He knew they were working hard to reverse the spell he had put on the firebird. Still, it wasn’t enough. They would never find what they needed. Not in time. He had minions in place, watching them around the clock. After the witch fortified her spell to keep prying eyes out of the house, Stephan settled for waiting for them to leave. After all, they wouldn’t find his father’s feathers inside their home. They would have to leave. When they did, he would be ready.
***
Jade felt the world slip out from under her feet. She was floating on nothing, yet she could easily feel the hands in her own. She knew they were safe as long as they were with Azerial. She couldn’t imagine the knots Samuel must have been tied up in, letting his mate go without him. But they knew they would have to search during the daytime as well as at night. They didn’t have time to spare.
When the earth was once again firmly under her feet, Jade opened her eyes. Strange music filled the air, so very different from the music she was used to hearing at home, but beautiful at the same time. She looked around and realized they were in an alley.
“What the hell?” she asked when she saw her mate lying on the dirty ground.
“Just until we get checked into the hotel,” Antonio assured her. “Once the room is secure, I will bring him in. We’re supposed to have the penthouse suite.”
“I’m going now,” Azerial announced, and Frankie and Serena followed her with their bags. Leigh and Rebel were off to the end of the alley to play lookout for Jade and Michael.
“Is this going to be all right?” Jade asked Antonio after the other women were out of sight.
Antonio took a deep breath. “I would like to say yes, but you have always had an incredible bullshit meter. You have always known everything. Don’t you know this?”
Jade shook her head. “I wish I did. It would seem that anything to do with me and Michael is a blank to me. No matter how hard I concentrate, no matter how hard I try to see an outcome, I just can’t. Azerial says it’s because he is my mate and this must be done the hard way.”
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