by Amy Lignor
***
They moved as a group. Martha and Anthony followed close behind as Charles took the lead. He headed for a large stone structure in the back of the mansion. “There’s an old tunnel under this well house that leads to the pub by the church.”
No one made a sound when he opened the wrought iron gate and walked down the damp stone staircase into the dark tunnel below.
“Why not leave by the street?” Faith whispered.
Charles stared at her. “This is worse than I think you realize, luv. My father started mobilizing the minute he sensed something was wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“Faith, I can’t explain. Something’s about to happen, I can feel it. But, without Liz…” He stared at the comatose body flung over Jason’s shoulder. “Well, frankly, I don’t think we have much of a chance.”
“Without Liz?” Faith’s voice echoed in the small enclosure. “What’s about to happen? Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?”
Daniel snorted behind her. “Darlin’, less noise, more walking.”
“Don’t darlin’ me, Daniel. I’m not moving until someone tells me what the hell is going on!”
Charles bent over and kissed her soundly on the lips. “Please forgive me.”
“Forgive you for what?”
Charles reached up and quickly tore a sleeve off her dress. Tightening it around her mouth, he gagged her before throwing her over his shoulder.
Daniel laughed. “You’ll be paying for that for the rest of your life.”
“Tell me about it,” Charles groaned.
They raced under the city streets until the sound of carriages finally gave way to lilting Irish music and drunken voices. Charles pushed against a grate and the old, rusted hinges creaked open. Stepping out of the damp tunnel into the starry night, they found themselves in a field about thirty feet away from the back of the pub. “The horses are around front,” Charles said quietly.
Jason set Liz down on the grass.
Martha turned and looked into Anthony’s eyes. “I love you.”
He smiled back at her. “If we die tonight, on this very spot, at least we’ll die free.”
Jason’s eyes filled with tears, listening to the words of love flowing from his parents.
“Please wake up,” Charles stared down at Liz’s rigid body. “We need you.”
“She’ll be just fine.”
“Why do you keep saying that? You don’t know anything thing about her!” Charles and Jason screamed simultaneously at Daniel.
“I know more about her than you could ever imagine, so let her be! She needs to come back on her own. Rush it, and you could kill the girl you claim to love.” His voice grew sad. “The girl who loves you…this time.”
Daniel pushed the angry men aside and sat down beside Liz. Closing his eyes, he placed his hands on both sides of her face. Sparks seemed to fly off their skin upon contact. The contours of Liz’s face suddenly began to relax as blood rushed back into her cheeks.
It was time.
***
The cold air of life rushed into her lungs. Liz opened her eyes and saw Daniel staring down at her with a smile. “Faith? It’s so dark. I can’t see. Where are you?” she cried.
“I’m here, love,” Faith replied, rubbing her sore mouth. “We’re behind the pub—right back where we started. We went through an underground tunnel. It was all very exciting. You should’ve smelled the putrid stench that Charles found for us—much like his own.” Faith’s angry eyes looked up at her guilt-ridden husband.
Liz sat up quickly. “Charles, you need to leave right now. Get Faith on Angel and get her out of here. Daniel, find horses for you, Angela, Martha and Anthony—steal them if you have to—and meet us down by the city gates. Ride until morning. Don’t stop or look back. And whatever you do, do not come back to Dublin. You’ve all done what you came to do, now forget this place ever existed,” Liz said as she barked out orders.
Daniel studied her face. “You mean?”
“It’s done. Go!”
“This is ridiculous!” Charles yelled. “You’re coming with us.”
“No,” she said, vehemently shaking her head. “I have somewhere else I have to be. Please try to understand.”
“What’re you talking about? Your plans are our plans, Liz,” Charles said, gripping her elbows as worry lines marred his handsome face.
She smiled. “I’m afraid those plans have changed Charles—at least for the time being. I need to go somewhere with Jason.”
Faith sighed. “Why didn’t you just say so? You’re as cryptic as a snowstorm in the summertime.” She took her husband’s hand. “Come on. I’ve had enough of high society for one lifetime.”
Charles looked suspiciously at Liz. “You and Jason will follow?”
She smiled up at him. “I would never let anything happen to him, you know that. But I think there’s something Jason wants me to see before we leave.”
Charles hugged her hard. “We’ll ride to Nampstadt and wait for you there.”
Liz turned to Daniel. “See that Angela and Jason’s parents get out of here safely.” She added in a whisper, “Ride like there’s an army of warriors behind you.”
“Please don’t do this without me.” His bright blue eyes emerged as Liz glimpsed the man she was truly meant to be with.
“More than anything—no matter what we’ve said to each other—I want you to be happy, and…make it out alive this time. I love you enough to let you go,” Liz whispered. “Please understand why I have to do this. You’re the only one who can.”
“Is this your destiny this time out…Emily?” He smiled.
Her real name sounded so comforting coming from his lips. “I’m going to get the one thing I asked for…Matt. I finally get to save him.”
“Then I suppose I love you enough to let you go—this time.” Her partner sighed and turned away to address the group. “Let’s go. Our friends need some time alone.”
Jason hugged his parents and patted Charles on the back. “We’ll see you soon.” He turned to Liz. “Where are we going?”
She shrugged. “You tell me. You said that while we were here you needed to show me something. I think it’s time that you did.”
“You remembered?” Jason laughed.
“I always keep my promises.”
They walked cautiously around the corner of the pub, and Knight suddenly appeared before them. “We should be there in no time,” Jason said.
“I’m in no hurry.”
Emily was determined to enjoy her remaining hours in the company of the soul she was willing to die for.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Her heart was light. She remembered a wise man once saying that if she could live one truly blissful moment, then all the rest was worth it. She smiled now that she was able to fully comprehend the truth encompassed in his words.
She began to realize how very fortunate she was, in this, her first time around. Late night conversations with Daniel…Faith’s laughter…the men and women of her small village who’d stood beside her, asking for nothing more than to be part of her life.
The fear of loneliness was driven away by the joy of being with the love of her life—finally knowing who he was and that he’d existed all along. Human life was so full of gifts. It provided such amazing feelings of elation and exasperation—often at the same time. She’d never understood why there was so much darkness and pain in humanity, but now she did. Every dream had its nightmare, just like every human had his or her mate. It was all about balance.
Knight stopped at the gate of the old cemetery. A variety of stones were placed side-by-side, forming a multi-colored fence that surrounded the quiet resting place. She lifted her chin in the air to breathe in the lavender.
When she opened her eyes, Liz saw her. A queen of marble and rock with her arms open wide, she looked like she was offering the whole world a hug. Her head was bowed toward the grass, and she wore a mysterious smi
le. It looked like she was laughing at the forest creatures scampering around her marble feet. Like some fairy from an Irish folk tale, her wings stretched out behind her, threatening to lift her off her marble perch—back to the home she loved. Her long, graceful fingers reached out to them, as she and Jason walked toward her from across the field. It was as if she were offering them safe passage into the world above.
Liz swallowed hard. A grown-up…that’s what she felt like as she stared up at the marble face. In fact, for that moment, she felt quite human. And she knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she was no longer the person Jason thought she was.
“She took my breath away the moment I saw her.”
“When was that?” Liz asked, using the same reverent tone.
“I was twelve. Up until then I was okay. I know this sounds silly, but I used to believe that I had an angel on my shoulder when I was younger. I used to see her sometimes in my dreams. But one day I couldn’t see her anymore, and things got worse. That’s the first time I ran away. I just couldn’t take it anymore. I missed my angel. Then I saw this.” He paused staring up at the quiet statue. “When the sun came up, I swear she smiled at me.” He laughed. “Childish dreams, I suppose.”
“I don’t think so,” Liz said. “I think you were lucky to have found each other. She was probably…lonely.”
Jason cleared his throat; tears glistened in his eyes. “The thing is, I never thought in my wildest imagination that she could be real. And asking to take an angel from God seemed too much to hope for. Besides, it would be completely against an angel’s nature to like humans, I suppose. I mean…I know we can be impossible to live with. I’m pretty sure an angel’s heart would break, if she saw how people down here use and discard each other so easily.”
Liz stared at the ground; her eyes began to water.
“It would be awful. She’d most likely beg God to take her back up. But I’ll tell you what, I never felt as safe as I did in her arms. She always consoled me; she never judged me for the horrible person I thought I was.” He took a deep breath. “I never thought for one second that I would be lucky enough to meet a real one down here. And I know, it would be rude to ask her to stay here…just for me.”
He walked slowly around the statue; his long fingers caressing the cold stone. “She always listened to me. Of course, being an inanimate object tended to help.”
“What then?” Liz choked on her words. “You grew up and stopped talking to her?”
Jason shrugged. “Life changed, and my conversations with her grew worse and worse. I used to love the fact that she was quiet and listened, but then I got angry. I wanted her to explain things to me. The problems she had solved for a thirteen-year-old boy became much harder as I grew up. Angela used to come here sometimes, too. And Charles would bring her flowers.”
Liz lifted an eyebrow.
Jason laughed. “I asked him why once. He told me that if I could carry on conversations with her—he could certainly bring her some bloody flowers if he very well wanted to.”
“Sounds like Charles.”
“Yeah, he was always a flirt. Until he found Faith, of course.”
“Of course,” Liz said with a grin. “Although, when it really sinks in that he gagged her, Charles is going to need all the angelic help he can get.”
“I need to ask you a question,” Jason whispered. His tone turned serious, as he leaned against the side of the statue. “Is it hard?”
Liz turned her eyes to the ground. “I’m no savior, Jason. I’m not just a statue in a garden that a boy once loved. I’ve messed up. I’ve made mistakes. I’m scared most of the time. I doubt almost everything that I’m told, and I can’t sleep without getting bruised.”
Taking a deep breath to revive her courage, she walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I love you, but I need you to understand something. There’s absolutely nothing I can tell you about myself that you don’t already know…or suspect. I may think certain things about myself, but there’s no way that I have the ego to tell you that I’m like this statue standing here.” He leaned his body back against hers, as she continued, “You believe I’m perfect, and I thank you for that. To make someone feel safe and happy, contented and joyful—that’s just about the highest compliment any girl could receive. I can tell you of dreams and of memories that will eventually bore you to death, but I’m more full of questions now than answers. I guess that makes me…human.”
Burying her face in his back, she imprinted his scent on her soul. “You’re my angel. You make me feel safe. In your arms, I’m at peace with the world and that is a miracle.”
Liz could barely breathe as a cool breeze washed over her skin. “Someday…I promise…”
Taking her hand, he kissed her smooth skin rubbing it against his warm cheek. “I need you.”
Her legs gave out beneath her, as he eased her onto the soft grass.
“I’ll never love anyone but you,” Liz vowed, staring into the soul that held her future.
A moment of true bliss—a moment few people are ever granted—was upon her. She reveled in the gift, as the quiet marble angel bore witness to the creation of an unbreakable and everlasting bond.
***
Jason’s body and mind were adrift in a peaceful repose. Opening his eyes, he searched the ever-brightening sky. Above him, the marble hands reached out. The angel smiled sweetly, reminding him of the exquisite night he had just experienced. The reality of true love had spawned new hope…new goals…new dreams that he couldn’t wait to experience. He rolled over on the dew-covered grass and looked around him. “Beth?” Surveying the cemetery and the orchard below, he called out again, “Elizabeth?”
A strange ache appeared in the pit of his stomach. He hated the desperate feeling of waking up without her by his side. Getting to his feet, he threw on his clothes and walked toward Knight who was grazing at the bottom of the hill. He noticed a red satchel hanging from the saddle; the sight of the red velvet material that she’d worn the night before made the passion reappear inside his soul. But as he moved closer, Jason noticed a small piece of parchment tied to the bundle. His name was written on the outside.
He reached for it, but his hand shook so badly that he stopped in midair. He stared at the letter knowing, in the depth of his soul, that he didn’t want to read what it said. His mind played tricks on him. Maybe the others had come back to get them, fearing the worst. Or, maybe someone needed her help and she had to leave, but was already making her way back to him. He looked to the road and prayed for her to run into his arms and make this horrible feeling of dread disappear. But she wasn’t there.
Beads of sweat ran down his spine like a waterfall of fear. Untying the letter from the satchel, he fell to the ground as his heart exploded in his chest.
Jason,
He’s coming to kill you—all of you. Faith once asked me to keep Charles safe. I will not fail in that request, or the promise I made to myself to make sure that nothing ever happens to you. Nobody on earth is more important to me…you are my miracle.
Please understand that Charles needs you. He can’t continue on his path without you and Faith by his side, and the ‘paths’ that you all have are necessary. I have the ability to stop this. The evil that’s after all of you can’t be allowed to win. Deep down, I know you understand.
I was offered an exquisite moment last night and I took it—thankfully and without regret. You’re going to do great things, Jason. You’re going to change the world and I’ll be with you every step of the way. We will continue. So until then…until next time…always remember that I love you.
Pain swirled inside his soul. Jason tried to breathe, but it was impossible. The veil of darkness fell, and he passed out in the fragrant field of lavender.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
“I know you?” Donald Faire asked as he paced the room like a caged animal, circling the Oriental carpet where she stood.
“Think very hard,” she said, calmly. �
�It’ll come to you.”
The man sneered. “Know this, I’ll get my son along with his cohorts. There’s no place they’ll be able to hide and there’s absolutely nothing you can do to stop me.”
“You’re wrong about that.” She felt her face contort into a smooth white mask, and she aimed her black marble eyes at the man who was suddenly shaking behind his desk. “I think you should call your wife now.”
He laughed suddenly—a short, quick gasp of air—as his alcohol-induced stupor lifted long enough for him to finally recognize the lady in red. “I think you should change back into your gown from last night and take her place.”
Her blood boiled at the sickening man. He was like a plague, infecting everyone in his path. She burned with hatred for what he’d unleashed on Jason and his family. She wanted it finished, but the voices inside instructed her to wait. The demon had to recognize the eyes of his accuser before justice could be served. And, above all, sinners must be offered one last chance at forgiveness.
She could hear the voices of the men outside the closed door of the study, getting ready for the hunt. They were the posse chosen to run her friends down and wipe them from the face of the earth.
Her cheeks burned when the gates of hell appeared and swung open behind the loathsome man, waiting to take him to the place where he truly belonged. On the other side of the room behind her, the tunnel to peace stood open. Everything was in place for the soul to make its final choice.
Her voice came out steady and clear. “Donald Faire, you are guilty. You are an abomination. I, as God’s servant, stand before you to deliver you to your creator; as I come to do all that is fair and just in His eyes.”
Upon completing her requisite speech, she felt the human side of her rise up, enraged. “However, I will risk having everything stripped from me to ensure that you’re denied passage into my beloved world.”
Donald sat down behind his desk and smiled. “Have you been drinking from my cabinet, girl?” he asked, wiping the line of sweat from his brow.
He couldn’t see the exits in the room. He wouldn’t be able to, not until his soul decided which path to take. But she knew that he could feel their power.