CHAPTER 38
My slow gaze took in all the sights outside the upper Crag cave entrance, where Dakarai, Mom, Dad and me stood on the ledge overlooking the land maybe a thousand feet be-low.
Under a clear sky, the distant Shone River meandered through the valley of weeds and flowers. Aspen groves specked the hills and pine forest skirted the mountains. Above the tree line were boulder-pocked inclines and shale slides. Capped with the last remnants of winter snow, the jagged mountain peaks lanced the atmosphere. When I turned my gaze toward the Crags, I spotted a family of longhaired mountain goats that seemed to be stuck to the side of a cliff, white dots on a gray wall. Two baby goats—kids I think they’re called—danced and jumped on the side of the cliff, playing on a sheer ledge thousands of feet above the land.
Earlier, Dakarai had instructed Vyn, Jaydenn and Luca to take the humans out the lower entrance and escort them to the human town under Conall Mountain.
A light breeze flicked the edges of Dakarai’s neck feathers as he stared over the horizon.
This is our time now, his voice in my head. A smaller hawk called above, kee-eee-aar! And Dakarai swiveled his head to me. Ah, our friend says hello.
Pushing my hair back, I asked him, “You know that, that hawk?”
Yes, for a very long time. He has spent a lifetime watching and delivering news of progress. He has also been keeping an eye you, and has come to enjoy your visits over the years. He speaks highly of you.
“What did Dakarai say, honey?” Mom asked, drawing my attention. The thin breeze sent long strands of hair to dance across her face. She held questioning eyes on me while she raked the hair off her cheek, pulled a strand from the corner of her mouth and tucked it behind her ear.
“He said that hawk says hello to us.”
Mom lifted her face to the sky, let out a wondrous breath. “Oh, that’s so nice.” She raised her arm and sent a wave. Her eyes sparkled like blue diamond glints in the sun as the hawk pierced out a long reply, kee-eee-aar!
While I viewed off the ledge, Vyn and the others were hiking through the tall weeds toward the jade-colored river, skipping along as they picked flower buds. The little girl twirled around, dancing. Since she reminded me of my childhood, my flower dancing escapades, I couldn’t help but send her a soft grin. It was obvious, even from high above, that the meadow was full of smiles and laughter. When they made it to the river’s edge, the angels lifted and carried the humans over the river one at a time, setting them gently to the other bank.
We should go now, said Dakarai.
Strands of hair drifted across my face. I raked it away, drew in a high-altitude breath and nodded agreement.
Dakarai fell off the ledge, then spread his massive wingspan and caught the air, swooped down, leveled off to fly.
“Source,” said Mom, “he is absolutely magnificent.”
“I just,” Dad said, “can’t believe that’s Dakarai. Our bronze sentinel. All those years.”
Dakarai pushed his wings, looked back at us, and pierced a call that matched his size, KEE-EEE-AAR! The volume swept over the forest, knifed and echoed through the Crags, sent the hairs on my neck to attention.
Dad let out some sort of impressed chuckle.
“Oh, my,” said Mom.
“I think he wants us to hurry up,” Dad said.
A few steps to the edge, and we fell into thin air … caught up to Dakarai. While we pushed through the sky, those below us yelled out a collective cheer, waving and hollering something. I threw them a full-arm wave, as did Mom and Dad.
Then I noticed in the distance, the unmistakable pink lettering on the side of a hauling truck as it travelled down the two-lane road; an Angel’s Closet delivery was on its way to Boden. The sight reminded me of all the grime on my body, and brought thoughts of a shower and some pretty clothes.
Even as I rubbed at the itchy grit on my arms, craving a bottle of lotion, Dakarai dropped down and below me. When he swiveled an upward glance at me, I realized he wanted me to ride on his back. So I drifted down and sat between his wings, palms flat, hair mussing in the wind, and I could feel a wide smile stretch my face.
To the distant left, just this side of Boden, Quake Lake mirrored the blue sky and surrounding forest, and I could see the dam dropping millions of frothy gallons to the river below as it churned up clouds of mist.
Then the house came into view on the side of Conall Mountain. Home. I’d thought I would never see it again. Wants began to swirl through my mind: A shower, a tall glass of tea, some comfortable clothes, and a fruit salad. Yes, a great big fruit salad. Yummy. I could almost taste it.
Descending on a drift down to the house, Dad zipped in front of us and spun around. He gave us a come-ahead gesture for us to follow.
But, what about home, my bed, tea, fruit. Ugh.
We leveled and drifted behind the house.
A few minutes later, my gaze dropped into a clearing, and there stood an immaculate log home; it was Mr. Stearns house, I figured. Dad had mentioned that Mr. Stearn wanted to see me about something, but c’mon, now? The home had a tall pointed roof, wood shingles and a brick chimney, windowed gables and a redwood balcony with french doors, and a porch deck wrapped around the house. Seeming out of place with the surrounding pines, a huge cottonwood tree stood on the expansive green-sodded back lawn, leaves flipping on a breeze.
My hand slapped over a gasp, eyes widened. A large pink ribbon hung off the balcony, along with a sign that read, Ellie and Angie’s Home.
Dad and Mom set down near the front of the house. Dakarai coasted down with me on his back as I strained to keep from blacking out. He flapped a few landing flaps and settled on the roof peak of my home. My home! My gaze went to Mom and Dad as they stood on the dirt driveway.
Dakarai said to me, It certainly is lovely, little one.
With my hand plastered to my face, I sat frozen on his back, staring at Mom and Dad as they floated a pair of wide smiles up to me.
“Come on down here, Ellie,” Dad called out.
After uncovering my mouth and placing my palms on Dakarai’s back, I replied to myself, “Just, just, just a second.” The image of me blacking out, tumbling down and falling off the roof, hitting the ground in front of them in a puff of dirt came to mind.
Minutes later, I let my wings carry me to the ground.
Hugging Dad, with my cheek to his chest, I said, “I can’t believe it, thank you so much.” There were the tears again, but these were good tears soaking into his shirt while he and Mom rubbed my back and wings.
Dakarai let out an earsplitting call over the forest, drawing our attention as bunches of cawing crows startled from the sound and lifted from the trees. He stood so majestic, perched on my roof.
My roof!
“I think he likes it,” Dad said. “He sure looks perfect up there. Looks like you have your own sentinel, honey. And this one breathes.”
After a moment of viewing Dakarai, my attention slid to Dad. “How did you build the house so, fast? I thought it would take—” I arched a brow. “Is that what all the noise was from?”
Dad grinned. “It’s amazing what two hundred angels can do in a short time. This is one of the reasons we didn’t want you back here, to surprise you. Guess it worked.”
“Well, I’m just— Does Angie know?”
“No honey,” Mom said. “Why don’t you go get her? We’ll give you the tour of your new home.”
My home!
Before anyone could say anything else, I was already off and running to go get Angie. Thoughts whirled in my mind, hysterical shrieks of laughter burst in waves while I hopped and bounded through the forest, losing a shoe along the way. Probably could’ve flown, but, whatever, pretty close to flying anyway.
I burst into Angie’s room:
“Ah!” she squealed and jerked up to a seated position against her headboard, clutching at her heart “Source, you scared me. I was sleeping, Ellie.” Her eyes went wide and bright. “Ellie!” She sprang
off the bed, launched into a hug, released back and held her eyes on mine. “I was so worried about you. What happened?”
My words came out between breaths, “You, have to come. Just, follow me.”
“Um, okay, I have to change clothes first.”
“No. That’s a nice dress, it’s fine, you look great, let’s go.”
“But—” Her eyes skimmed over my body. “You look all …” She glanced down, crinkled up her nose. “Your feet are nasty, Ellie. Where’s your other shoe?”
“Oh, I lost it, now c’mon.” I toed the remaining shoe off, grabbed Angie’s hand, dragged her out the door and down the stairs.
“What’s going on?” Ginelle called out from the living room, causing Angie and I to stop in the foyer. “Is that you, Ellie? You’re okay now?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you. Come with us.”
Angie said, “I can’t believe you lost your shoe, Ellie. Those were your favorite.”
My gaze went to the statue. “That’s a pretty cool hawk, huh? Say hi to the hawk, sis.”
She gave me a funny look, curled up her lip and raised one eyebrow as she said, “What? Um, what’s wrong with you? Did you bump your head or something?”
“Let’s go, Mommy,” Steff’s little voice. “I wanna see what they’re doing. Elle sounds really happy.”
Oh, she had no idea.
Ginelle said, “We’ll be right behind you. Go on ahead. I know where you’re going.”
She knew? Well, maybe about the house, but she’d never seen Dakarai.
“Okay, I’ll see you back there.” I dragged Angie out the door while she hopped on one leg, trying to put on her shoe.
Our new home started to become clear through the trees. Angie ran ahead. Upon exiting the tree line, she started jumping up and down on the driveway, puffs of dirt off her feet, squealing like a wild animal. It startled me so I stopped to watch her while I chuckled into my hand. One of her shoes flew off right at Dad. He caught it with a grin.
“See, that’s where my shoe went,” I said to myself.
Angie’s long hair flailed around, her sundress and wings bouncing like a well-dressed hysterical chicken, showing her butt to the world while she wailed and squealed in joy.
Hey, those are Angel’s Closet underwear.
She finally launched into Dad’s arms. He caught her and swung her around like a happy father with a toddler. Mom had to go sit down on the porch steps, I assumed because she was laughing so hard she couldn’t stand up.
Angie had looked ridiculous, but I knew how she felt, so I sprinted up to them as Dad set her down. Seated on the porch steps, Mom swiped funny tears from her face.
Tell her hello for me, will you, Dakarai’s voice in my head. He clicked his beak.
In all the commotion, Angie hadn’t even noticed him. How, I had no idea. Before I could say anything, Angie stopped and asked, “What was that sound?” She looked up and sucked in the deepest gasp I’d ever heard, her eyes were the size of dinner bowls. “What the flap is that?”
“He wants me to tell you hello, Ang.”
“What?” She couldn’t take her amazed eyes off him.
“Dakarai says hello.”
“What?”
“That’s Dakarai. And he wants me to tell you hello.”
“What?”
Ugh.
“It’s true, Ang.” Dad helped me out.
“But that’s the— in the foyer.” Angie’s confused gaze went to Dad. “Dakarai? No way. No flappin way.” Her brows winged all the way up. “Are you serious, really?”
“Yep, that’s Dakarai, honey, and he’s on our side.”
Her face lifted to Dakarai again. She exhaled the words, “He’s so beautiful.”
Why thank you, Angelica. I missed you. Such a beautiful sight you are.
“He said thank you, sis, and he said he missed you, and you’re beautiful too.
Angie snapped eyes on me. “You, you can hear him?”
“Mommy, Mommy, look at the big bird!” Steff called out behind us.
We turned to see Steff attempting to pull away from her mother’s hand. Ginelle stood at the tree line, looking to the roof with the same gaze Angie had just demonstrated.
Angie drew my attention, “How do you understand Dakarai? And I thought—”
“It’s a long story,” I cut her off. “I have so much to tell you.”
Dad said, “You girls should go on in. Your mother will give you the tour of your new home. Ellie can tell you all about it, Ang. It’s quite a story. We stocked the refrigerator for you both. Your mother and I think we should have a family dinner here tonight. I need to go check on the boys’ progress. They should be here soon.”
“Jaydenn?” Angie questioned.
“Yes,” I replied, “and Vyn, too. He’s okay now. You’re never gonna believe the day we had. Let’s go in.” I raised eyes to Dad. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“Yeah, thank you,” said Angie. “We love you.” She gave him her little grin, tilted her head. “And not because of the house.”
Dad nodded, offered a touched smile. “Anything for my angels. You deserve it, girls. And, Ang, I built a play center out back for Emmelina, and there’s a rope swing on the tree back there.”
Angie started crying and buried her face into her cupped hands. Mom came over and embraced her, rubbing her back and wings with a pursed-lip smile.
Dad looked away. I followed his sight line.
Steff was attempting to rip Ginelle’s arm out of the socket to get away. “C’mon, Mommy. Let’s go see. C’mon!”
Dad called out, “Get over here, cheerleader. He won’t bite!”
CHAPTER 39
The boys had escorted the humans up the mountain and a celebration of friendship had taken place. We had found out that the woman from the cave, Cathyryne, is little Cassie’s mother. The thought of reuniting mother and child brought more warmth to my heart.
That evening, the family had gathered on the porch, relaxing in our new deck chairs. We had sat looking out over the evening forest, listening to the cricket song under the moonlight while a billion stars swept across the sky.
We’d discussed the future plans and such, and we’d come to a mutual decision that we’re going to fix up the Angelic Inn and create a mountain resort, run by all of us. I’d decided to be the event planner. Angie would run the bakery, of course, hopefully with Faye’s help. Mom would be in charge of design and flowers. Jaydenn would run the bar. Ginelle wants to run the restaurant, and she had said she wants Penny to run the pizza kitchen, since Penny has all that energy. We would iron out all the details later. Dakarai had stayed perched above with the occasional word in which I forwarded for him. He had informed us that the hunters are retreating from Boden, due to the discovery of the light serum. We will discuss this tomorrow, Dakarai had said. I have much to reveal about our plans. Relax now, enjoy your celebration.
That day was yesterday, part of the spring I would never forget.
Gazing into the vanity mirror, I sat before my new dressing table. Vyn was behind me on the edge of my bed. My bedroom was a near copy of my mother’s, just as I’d always wished.
Ginelle had chosen for me an appropriate dress for the occasion: Powder blue silken fabric down to my calves. The dress had a low scoopneck, slender spaghetti straps, and a wrap tie around my waist. The most gorgeous dress I’d ever seen. Angel-wing earrings dangled under my hair. A string of pearls wrapped around my neck, which seemed to add ten years to my appearance, though the mirror reflected a pallid bundle of nerves.
While I contemplated my birthday, brushing my hair and fidgeting, my stomach twisted into a knot so I placed a palm over it, concentrating on slow breaths.
Riding on a light breeze, sounds of happy conversation and laughter drifted through the thin lace curtains of the open balcony door, mere feet away from me. Everyone had gathered in the yard, waiting for me to come to the balcony.
“I’m scared, Vyn.” With my palms on
the table surface, I reminded myself: Breathe. Breathe, then said to the mirror, “Oh, Source, please don’t let me pass out, or throw up.”
Vyn snickered, and appeared in the mirror as he stood behind me, dressed in crisp slacks and a white button-up shirt, folded wings primped and dark hair styled off his forehead.
“You’ll be fine,” he said, and then gave me a reflected grin. “Can you believe the last few months? Maybe we should write a book and send it back in time, warn them about the dreks. We wouldn’t have to send the actual book. We could figure out how to channel thoughts to the past, you know, like the dreks do, and find some human to write it. Yeah, I think I’m gonna do some research on that.”
“Have you been smokin sage? I’ll make you a deal, when you discover time travel, or channeling, or whatever you call it, mister brainy scientist, we’ll write a book, deal?” A squinting head tilt at his mirror image. “This is stupid. You’re just distracting me, aren’t you? Thank you.”
After lifting a perfume bottle, I sent a little sprits to my neck—Violets, lovely.
“Wow, that smells nice,” Vyn said, then lifted my hair and bent a kiss to the back of my neck—Shivers, the good kind, and a little warm twinge in my belly.
In the mirror, the fear in my eyes dissipated into the blue and I offered Vyn a reflected smile. Because he calmed my nerves with a bit of distraction, I spun around in my chair, pulled his face to mine, locked into a real kiss, long and full of passion. When Vyn drew back, he stood on wobbly legs, his glassy gaze down at me, cheeks like ripe tomatoes. Blue-tipped wings peaked over his shoulders. My body swam in tingles.
Choo, he sneezed, and again, Choo.
Wow, a double. He hasn’t done that in a while. Choo … A triple! Uh-oh.
As he stood there in a daze, I couldn’t help but glance down at his slacks. Oh, my. I’d better stop this.
“Calm down, Vyn. I have a job to do right now.”
“What? Oh. Yeah. Right. I need to sit.” He barely made it to the edge of the bed and flopped, catching his breath.
Yep, I still got it. I thought while watching him. My Vyn, always my beautiful Vyn.
Wings of Boden Page 28