“I will set them free.”
Alexandra blinked. Was it really just that easy?
“On one condition,” Nebu said as he raised his index finger towards her.
She stammered. “Of… Of course!”
“You don’t feel you have to escort them back to their general,” he said.
Why would she leave Babylon? She tripped over her words trying to get them out. “Not a problem!”
Nebu curled his mouth to the side and said, “Sorry, two conditions. I’d like tomorrow to go as planned, so I will give the order to release them on the day after that. Do we have an agreement? You stay in Babylon and your friends go free.”
She bowed her head. “Thank you, My Lord. You are most gracious.”
“Today is a good day,” he said, beaming.
After informing Benjamin that he was going to be set free, she immediately called General Ryan on the radio.
“Captain Morin here. Go ahead.”
The radio’s speaker crackled as the words came through.
“Zeke? This is Alexandra. Is General Ryan there?”
“Not for a few more hours, Alexandra. What’s your sitrep?”
“Tell the general that Benjamin and his men will be set free in two days,” she said, barely able to contain her excitement.
“That’s good news,” Zeke said. “We’re about two weeks away still.”
“Yeah, I know,” she said. “Once they’re released, I’ll make sure they get the radio. Should make things easier.”
With her chores finished, Alexandra ducked into her room and shed her plain clothes. She washed her body as best she could with her soap and bucket. Then, she pulled the soft, white robe over her shoulders and tied the waistband. The golden shawl was more of a scarf, and she wrapped it around her neck. She paused with the crown, not sure she deserved such a valuable adornment. In the end, she placed it upon her brow and a surge of power rushed through her. Everything fit perfectly and felt comforting against her skin.
She emerged from the tower the next morning in her new robe and crown. The gathered crowd gasped when they saw her and some of them fell to their knees. With Erah in tow, Alexandra made for the stables to fulfill her duty as the official welcoming party to the South Africans. Marco led two horses from the stockades to her and smiled.
“Looks like I’ll be joining you,” he said bowing his head.
At first, she recoiled as memories of his attempted rape surfaced in her mind. Then, she remembered Nebu’s words and Marco’s belief in her. She realized all of the horrible things she remembered of Marco could have been hallucinations. Marco was an important part of Babylon and an ally. How could she have ever hated him?
She smiled and said, “I’m glad to have you.”
After helping her atop her horse, Marco straddled his mare and kicked her into motion. Erah flew overhead as the two galloped towards the docks under the glow of the orange sky. The rain hadn’t started yet, but Alexandra knew it was only a matter of time. It always rained in the morning.
To her surprise, they reached the docks without any precipitation. Baruti jumped from his small boat to welcome them and Alexandra spotted many sails on the water’s horizon.
“Clear morning,” Baruti said. “It is a good sign.”
Many of the people and vehicles from Babylon were already there, waiting to transport everything from the boats back to the city. The number of gathered people surprised her as she hadn’t noticed how much Babylon had grown since her arrival. Now that she thought about it, though, she realized the city had blossomed. Each week brought new faces and this day marked a major influx of people, materials and talent.
She greeted the captain of each boat as it landed. The sick were brought to her for healing and she paced herself so she could stay conscious throughout the day. Somehow, surrounded by all these people who needed her, she was able to perform her unique miracle upon the sick and injured more times than she had ever attempted. As the sky turned dark, the final boat docked and the last batch of new citizens disembarked. Too weary from her day of exertion, she couldn’t heal them all. Erah instructed them to come to the church tomorrow with their most dire cases. Alexandra would see them then.
Erzulie’s singsong voice floated into her ears. “I will carry you home.”
Wait, the voice was Erah’s, not Erzulie’s. It mattered not. Alexandra was once again accompanied by an angel and all was right in her world. She didn’t recall the trip back to the tower, but she awoke in her cot. Her body was sore, but her mind alert.
Did the previous day really fly past her so quickly? She remembered healing dozens of people from the boats, but she couldn’t focus on any of their faces or names. The whole day was a blur.
Splashing some tepid water on her face, she assumed her lapses in memory were caused by her healing efforts. She hadn’t used her power that many times in a day before. Talla watched her as she donned her white robe and she patted his head before opening her door.
Erah waited for her in the hallway and smiled.
“It is good to see you on your feet again,” Erah said as she glided towards her.
Alexandra held her throbbing head. “Did I oversleep?”
“Define oversleep.”
Peering at the angel, she asked, “What time is it?”
The angel smiled. “A more appropriate question for someone in your situation would be: what day is it?”
“Day?”
Erah nodded. “Your miracle at the docks was almost too much for your body to handle. You collapsed and we thought you dead for many long hours. It has been six days since that event.”
“Six days?!”
She immediately sobered, but her head still pounded.
“I can answer all of your questions,” Erah said in a calm manner. “For now, however, you must eat. You have lost even more body weight and I think we both know that’s not good for you.”
“Right,” Alexandra said. “Food.”
“Come with me.”
After gorging on some eggs and bread, Erah answered her questions. The South Africans settled into their new home and have constantly asked when they could see Saint Alexandra again, to thank her for her miracles upon their people. Benjamin and his comrades were set free. They were given the radio so they could make their way back to their general. Shaun had checked on her almost every hour to make sure she was well cared for. In fact, he placed her back in her room once the danger to her had passed and she was recovering normally.
“I guess I missed a lot,” Alexandra said when the storm of information passed.
Erah nodded. “Nebu would like to speak to you, when you are recovered.”
“I feel fine now,” Alexandra said.
They ascended the stairs to the top of the tower. Only Medina and Nebu were in the throne room when she arrived and they both ran to her for an embrace. Alexandra gathered them in her arms.
“I thought we lost you,” Nebu said. “You mustn’t be so reckless with yourself. Even Saint Alexandra has limits.”
Medina buried her head in the crook of Alexandra’s neck and wept softly.
“I’m sorry, My Lord,” Alexandra said. “I cannot recall the events of that day with any accuracy. I remember the boats but not much else.”
“Not to worry,” Nebu said. “You saved many lives that day, and our new neighbors won’t soon forget that. All of Babylon will remember as well. Saint Alexandra has made her mark for certain.”
“You keep calling me that,” she said. “I thought you had to die to become a saint?”
Nebu looked into her eyes and said, “Only for canonization in the official Catholic archives, my dear. The spontaneous naming of a saint by the Church or holy power has long been traditional practice.”
“Oh,” she said. “I didn’t know. Still, I’m no saint.”
“Nonsense. How many people have you saved now? Quite possibly more than any saint who has come before you. Have you done great works to spread the wo
rd of our Lord, God? Well, that can come later. For now, you are the beacon, not those crude silver gates. People now come to Babylon to see Saint Alexandra, trust me on that point.”
Saint Alexandra. Could it be true?
“And furthermore,” Nebu said, “who else could trudge through the Babylonian mud and emerge without a stain on her white robe?”
Medina chuckled and inspected the garment for spots.
“If I didn’t sanctify you for those other reasons, I think I would have been forced to based upon your miraculously clean garment.”
Alexandra joined Medina in laughter.
“Saint Alexandra!”
Someone called from below the tower.
“Saint Alexandra!”
Just then, an angel with his wings close to his body, shot through one of the large windows and rolled onto his feet. It was Zaph.
“Shaun has been injured,” Zaph said.
Nebu’s face darkened. “Is he below?”
The angel nodded and was almost gasping for air. He had been flying hard.
Alexandra stood and made for the door.
“That’ll take too long,” Zaph said as he grabbed her around the waist and shot back through the window.
Like the first drop of a rollercoaster, Alexandra’s stomach sunk as she plummeted towards the ground. The driving rain instantly soaked her hair and robe, both of which clung to her body.
Zaph landed beside a group of people and a gurney. Shaun’s bloody form occupied the gurney and he groaned in pain. A metal pole protruded from his chest.
“What happened?” Alexandra asked as she knelt beside him.
One of the men responded. “We were working on the second story at the forge and he lost his footing in the rain. Fell right on that pole.”
Noticing Alexandra, Shaun turned to her and forced a smile. “I think I would have liked to know you better, Alex… andra.”
Zaph said, “I can get the pole out but he’ll die from blood loss. Can you save him?”
She looked into Shaun’s eyes and saw love there. Though she had only known him for a few weeks, she was certain of her feelings.
“Yes,” she said as a tear rolled down her cheek. “Pull it out. Now!”
Zaph yanked the pole free and Shaun screamed. Wasting no time, Alexandra placed her hands on his chest and concentrated. Blood seeped through her fingers and onto her robe. The rain penetrated her skin and chilled her bones.
Then, the people gasped as the area flooded with white light from her hands. Shaun’s screaming subsided and his chest began to rise and fall normally with each breath. The light dimmed and he opened his eyes.
After a pause everyone erupted in cheers, including Zaph. Only Alexandra and Shaun refrained from celebrating. Their eyes locked and Shaun pulled Alexandra to him and kissed her fiercely. She pressed her body to his and welcomed his passion.
Then, he suddenly pulled away from her and confusion spread across his face. He looked around and stumbled from the gurney.
“Shaun?” she asked.
“Who are you people?!” he yelled as he pulled his torn shirt over his chest.
Alexandra cautiously advanced and said, “You had a bad fall but you’re okay now.”
He scanned her from face to toes and said, “I know you.”
“It’s me, Alexandra.”
His face contorted again and he turned away from her.
“Shaun?”
His voice weak, he said, “I’m sorry.” And he collapsed.
“Zaph,” she said.
Her prompt was extraneous as the angel had already moved to Shaun and scooped him into his arms.
“I’ll meet you inside,” Alexandra said.
Zaph nodded and flew to the top of the tower.
As Alexandra climbed the stairs a hazy memory resurfaced. She once had a dream about a man in a suit who was possessed by Satan. Why was that dream important? What relevance did it have to her current situation?
Shaking her head, she pushed the useless memory aside and quickened her ascent to her love. He needed her.
Chapter 25
The entire city of Babylon was present for the celebration and ceremony. One week had passed since Shaun’s accident and he had fully recovered. Alexandra remained at his side throughout. Though they hadn’t shared another kiss, she grew closer to him with each passing day. Babylon swelled even larger as people flocked to the city at the gates of Eden. News of Alexandra’s miracles spread to the remnants of Europe and beyond.
And today was her day.
Nebu announced an official ceremony to declare Alexandra a saint. From Rome, Pope Victor and the ruling Catholic body sent their unwavering support and eternal gratitude for all Alexandra had done.
They feasted, danced and laughed well into the night. Alexandra sat to the right of Nebu at the head table, Padre Hernon to the left. Her new robe glistened in the torchlight and she accepted many gifts from grateful people wishing to converse with the new saint.
Shaun leaned close to her, sending her pulse racing, and said, “Nebu wishes to retire. I need to discuss some things with him, so I’m going to go. You should stay.”
He kissed her on the cheek and whispered, “But don’t stay out too late. I want to discuss some things with you as well. Meet me in my chambers.”
She returned his smile and said, “I’ll be there.”
As she watched Nebu, Shaun and most of the angels depart she wondered why she waited so long for an invitation. Shaun was everything she could have hoped for in a partner. Wise, caring, handsome and strong.
Only Kir remained nearby, as Saint Alexandra couldn’t be left without a bodyguard. More interested in what awaited her in Shaun’s room than Baruti’s endless chatter about metallurgy, she politely excused herself as soon as she was able.
The tower’s upper windows guided her like a lighthouse on a distant shore. Though the streets were dark at that late hour, Alexandra knew her way. Babylon was her home.
A drop of rain splattered her shoulder and then another on her head. The morning rain was still a few hours away, so she looked to the sky. Movement caught her eye and she realized Kir must be up there, protecting his charge. She reached for the wetness on her shoulder and marveled at the silvery consistency of the rain. As she rolled the liquid between her fingers another distant memory surfaced. This one of a wounded angel in the wasteland – a wounded friend in a silvery pool of angelic blood.
Angel blood!
Kir’s carcass hit the ground with a violent thud and another winged form landed beside her. A clawed hand grasped her arm and pulled her to the side of a building, into the deep shadows. Another clawed hand covered her mouth, muffling her scream.
“Be still, girl,” came a gravelly voice from the wicked, hooded face of a female demon. “It is I, Lilev.”
Lilev? The name was both familiar and alien to her. Should she have known it?
“What happened to you?” the demoness asked.
Alexandra’s knees buckled with fear and she slid down the side of the building, tears bubbling in her eyes. What did this demoness want? Was she going to die? She glanced at Kir’s broken form and his lightless eyes. Was she next? Vomit rushed up her throat and through her mouth.
Lilev yanked her hand away. “Ziel-henel! What’s wrong with you, child?”
Wiping her mouth and gathering her last shred of courage, Alexandra said, “Stay back.”
Lilev’s eyes widened and she said, “Stupid girl, giving half your soul to that fallen angel. His powers shouldn’t work on you, but they did. You are under his spell, aren’t you?”
“Spell?”
She contemplated screaming, but she wasn’t sure she had the strength. The music from the party would have likely drowned her out anyway.
“Do you recall our last conversation?” Lilev said. “I need you to remember!”
Alexandra couldn’t recall ever talking with a demoness. Why would she have? She weakly shook her head.
“S
tupid girl,” Lilev repeated. “Where’s your sword? What are you wearing? Stupid, stupid girl.”
“Stop saying that!” Alexandra yelled, encouraged by the strength in her voice. Perhaps she could release a scream after all.
“I can’t do this here,” Lilev said as she grasped Alexandra again.
This time she was ready and she belted her loudest, shrillest scream. Lilev covered her mouth but hopefully the damage was done.
“Are you crazy, girl?!”
Lilev paused and Alexandra felt the demoness in her mind, rummaging around for memories. The invasion shook her to her core and she almost collapsed again.
Then, Lilev pulled away and whispered, “You must die to reenter Eden. Of course!”
Alexandra opened her mouth to scream again but Lilev was faster this time. The demoness covered her mouth and brought her face close enough where their noses touched. Rancid breath from the demoness’ wicked mouth assaulted Alexandra’s nostrils.
“Now you listen to me, stupid girl. I cannot carry you so you must meet me outside of the city. Three days time, if you remember the last spot we spoke, you will know it. Be there so we can release you from these shackles. You must remember who you are!”
She paused to run a forked tongue across her jagged, yellowed teeth. “And do not return to the tower this night,” Lilev said. “Tonight will become known as The Night of the Daggers, as Gaia’s Claw makes their move. It’s not safe for you there, especially in your current state. Do you understand me?”
Alexandra nodded, though she had no idea what the demoness was babbling about. Gaia’s Claw? Night of the Daggers? Three days outside of town? The creature wasn’t making any sense.
Cocking her head to the side, Lilev frowned and then shot into the sky. Alexandra exhaled and crumpled to the ground. Her tears flowed like the morning rain and she stumbled to Kir’s body. The angel hadn’t moved.
“Alexandra!”
The voice came from above. It was Zaph.
He landed and folded his wings against his back. Sword drawn and smeared with crimson blood, he said, “I need to take you someplace safe.”
Babylon (Eden Saga Book 2) Page 24