If I Fall...: Will You Forgive Me? (Angelore Saga Book 2)

by Jennifer Christy

  JD hoped the police were giving chase, but she didn’t see anyone in the wake of Matthew’s escape. Matthew was tearing through the woods at a fast clip, grunting and huffing with exertion. She looked over her shoulder to see where they were headed, but all she could see were more trees. Then she heard a shout from behind them. Cringing, she pushed herself up against Matthew’s shoulders to get a better look behind them. She saw a flash of color, and then, to her astonishment, saw Nathan and Roy blazing toward them.

  “Nathan!” she screamed for help, knowing it would unnerve Matthew. It worked. She felt Matthew tense beneath her. She started to struggle and kick, pushing away from his shoulder. Matthew grasped her ankle and with a resounding crack that shot up her leg, broke it. She howled.

  “Hold still,” he panted, “or your leg is next.”

  JD choked down the bile in her throat. Her ankle burned and throbbed. She looked up to see if Nathan and Roy were still pursuing. She heard Roy call out to Matthew to stop. Matthew paid them no mind as he plunged ahead and out of the forest. She glanced around Matthew and saw a valley open before them just beyond the edge of a cliff.

  Matthew didn’t slow down. He jumped and she screamed. Time slowed down as the wind rushed up to meet them. JD craned her head back to look at the cliff’s edge. She wanted to see Nathan’s face and burn his image in her mind, so when she hit the rocks below, she would die with his.

  Nathan and Roy appeared at the same time on the precipice of the cliff, but Nathan didn’t stop. She stared in horror as Nathan leapt and dived straight for them. The fact that he might be an angel without wings troubled her, but gave her some degree of hope. Could Nathan really save her? Her heart nearly burst with hope and longing that he could somehow save her even though in her mind, she was screaming in terror.

  Nathan hurtled toward them, his visage grim and determined, but, before JD understood what was going to happen next, Nathan slammed into Matthew’s back, knocking her out of his grasp. She heard Matthew grunt as she fell backward and watched with mixed horror and fascination as the two men locked in deadly combat as they spun wildly out of control. She shut her eyes, waiting for impact, her heart racing and her breath coming in ragged, short gasps.

  Something rocketed past her, causing her to spin out of control, and then, just as quickly, she felt strong arms catch her. Her eyes snapped open to see Nathan’s face. He gave her a concerned look, as he set her on her feet at the bottom of the canyon, and took off. JD quickly crumpled to the ground as the pain in her ankle lanced up her leg. She turned her head to see where Nathan had gone and saw that Matthew landed on his feet, like a cat, not too far from her. Matthew cast her a fierce look, before he spun around and took off like a bullet through the foliage at the bottom of the cliffs. Nathan was already in pursuit.

  A shower of rocks sounded behind her. She jerked around and saw Roy leaping down the side of the cliff from one outcropping to the next at an inhumanly fast pace, without any sort of gear. When he landed next to her, he gave her a look that made her feel like shriveling up and hiding under a rock.

  “You all right?” he asked gruffly.

  “My ankle is broken,” she told him, and then with awe in her voice, asked, “Are you an angel, too?”

  Roy sighed and shook his head. “This isn’t good.”

  Chapter 10

  JD found herself sitting at Meagan’s dining table, her ankle wrapped, packed in ice, and propped on a chair in front of her. Meagan placed a cup of hot cocoa in her hands as JD stared fixedly at Roy.

  “You are all angels?” JD asked. There was a long, awkward moment of silence before Meagan’s gentle laugh lightened the mood.

  “No, we’re not exactly Angels. I certainly am not, but Nathan and Matthew are, and Roy is half.”

  Roy turned away, clearly uncomfortable with Meagan’s abrupt revelation. “I don’t think we need to tell her everything, Meagan,” he said as he went to the fridge to grab a drink.

  Meagan looked at him with a serious expression. “Well, she’s very much involved now, don’t you think? How else are you going to explain what just happened to her? She has a right to know.”

  Coming back to the table with a can of iced tea, Roy noticed the wide-eyed looks of the gathered children and nudged Meagan. With a sigh, she gathered them up and herded them off to another part of the house. Before they left the room, however, Raphael, the dark-haired second son, turned back and rushed toward JD. He laid his palm against her ankle for a moment and then ran off. Meagan appeared stunned, but said nothing and left the room with the children.

  “What was that about?” she asked Roy, even though he stood off a ways, glowering at her.

  He was slow to respond, but after a moment, he came forward and knelt before her. He unwrapped her ankle, and to JD’s surprise she saw that her ankle was no longer swollen or discolored.

  “Can you move it?” he asked.

  She rotated it a couple of times in both directions before she looked at him in surprise. “Did Raphael just fix my ankle?”

  Roy nodded. “Some of my sons were born with special abilities, like true Angels,” he said reluctantly as Meagan returned then and took the bandages from him to put away. “Raphael has the ability to heal,” Meagan added as she returned. JD leaned forward to look closer at her ankle, touching it, marveling.

  “We never ask the children to use their gifts as we believe the gifts should be used voluntarily. I’m pleased Raphael felt inspired to render you aid,” Meagan said as she came over to see JD’s ankle for herself. Meagan looked over to where Roy stood, leaning against the counter, arms folded across his chest apparently deep in thought.

  “Where is Nathan?” Meagan asked.

  Roy glanced at her. “Gone after Matthew. He…” Roy then looked at JD and fixed her a measuring look, “has definitely gone rogue.”

  Meagan took a moment to absorb what Roy had said and interpret his look at JD, before she returned her attention to JD with an expression mixed with curiosity and concern. “Roy? Do you think Nathan can handle Matthew on his own?”

  “Maybe,” Roy said slowly.

  “I have a feeling…” Megan began.

  “Say no more, Love,” Roy said quickly, then cursed as if he was irritated that he hadn’t thought of whatever Meagan had felt. JD watched in rapt awe as the air around Roy shimmered and a split second later, vanished as if into thin air. The soft bang of the front door indicated that he had gone through it.

  JD’s jaw dropped. Meagan smiled grimly at her and took a chair next to her at the table, pulling it out and facing it towards her before she sat. “I’m sorry about all this. What a mess.”

  “I’m just not used to…” JD began and then shook her head as she changed the subject. “What is Nathan going to do to Matthew?”

  “Probably deal his own brand of justice on Matthew for going rogue and then get himself in trouble with the Host if Roy doesn’t get to them in time.”

  “Host?” JD asked, confused.

  Meagan sighed, looking worn out and very tired. “Oh, Julia. I’m sorry. You are practically in the dark about all of this. I just assumed that since you had figured out what Nathan was, you knew the rest, too, but I don’t suppose you do, do you?”

  Julia shook her head slowly.

  “Nathan, Matthew, and Roy aren’t allowed to divulge information that would reveal what they are. Strict codes, you know?” Meagan began to explain.

  JD began to nod, then shook her head – still confused. “Meagan, I have no idea what is going on.”

  Meagan looked thoughtful for a moment and then said, “Matthew and Nathan are Angels of the order of Powers. It’s their job to hunt down Fallens who have violated Universal Law, mostly the kind that are causing a lot of havoc for Mortals.” Meagan smiled hopefully at JD, waiting for her reaction.

  “Ok. That’s really interesting,” JD said slowly and gave Meagan a look to continue.

  “Apparently, Matthew betrayed the Host and broke the Law.”


  “What did he do?” JD asked with growing apprehension.

  “He set a False One free from the prison hidden in the Schoolhouse,” Meagan said softly.

  Meagan’s words were like a punch to her gut. JD felt it reverberate through her mind and body, not to mention her heart. He lied to her.

  “The box? It was a prison? What is a False One?” JD nearly stuttered trying to wrap her head around what Meagan was sharing.

  “Yes, the box was a prison. False Ones are very powerful Fallens who proclaim themselves gods. There aren’t very many of them, but they do tend to cause a lot of problems for the Mortals and the Host. This particular Fallen was imprisoned in a Box and hidden until it could be moved, which Matthew and Nathan were in the process of doing while the schoolhouse was being renovated,” Megan said.

  “Oh,” JD said, “OK. I can appreciate that as I don’t think my client would have liked having a Fallen hiding inside the walls of his Bed and Breakfast.”

  Megan laughed lightly, “No, I’m sure he wouldn’t.”

  “What did Roy mean, when he said Matthew went rogue?” JD asked in all seriousness.

  “To go rogue, means that Matthew has broken the codes of honor and is now considered a Fallen – and a menace to Mortals after what he did to you.” JD’s stomach turned and she felt the tears burn her throat. Her heart was going to shatter. She had loved him.

  “What will happen to Nathan if he hurts Matthew?” JD’s voice trembled.

  “It is against the Code of Conduct in the Host for Angels to mete out punishment. Angel’s do not have that authority – only God. Nathan would lose his ranking and be imprisoned for who knows how long.”

  “I hope Roy finds him soon,” JD said unnecessarily and sighed heavily.

  “You’re tired,” Meagan said. “We have a guest room. You should sleep, okay?” JD agreed and got up attentively to follow Meagan to the guest bedroom off the family room.

  Chapter 11

  JD didn’t think she could fall asleep, but once she settled into the bed, she slept soundly. When she awoke, it was dark outside. The bedroom window and the house seemed very quiet. She sat up, still feeling weary, but curious to know if Nathan had returned and what Matthew’s fate was. It still cut her to the core to think that Matthew had treated her so badly. It was hard to believe, and yet, she wanted to see him, to ask him herself why. Was everything that passed between them over the summer all just a lie?

  She stepped out into the short hallway off the family room and hearing soft conversation in the kitchen proceeded in that direction. Meagan and Roy both looked up as soon as she entered. JD’s heart sank a little when she didn’t see Nathan.

  “Did you get a good nap?” Meagan asked as she retrieved a mug from the cupboard and poured some tea for JD.

  “Yes, and thank you for loaning me the bed,” JD answered, taking the warm cup in her hands.

  Roy stood then, holding his hand out to Meagan. “We’ll leave you two alone then,” he said. JD looked at him curiously as Meagan took his hand, and together they left the room. It wasn’t until she turned around that she spotted Nathan sitting in the overstuffed chair in the corner, staring off into the fire.

  “Oh,” she said. “I didn’t see you there.”

  Nathan looked over at her, his expression somewhere between apprehension and shock. JD sat down on the sofa, closest to him. She didn’t like the look on Nathan’s face and burned to know what happened to Matthew. As if reading her mind, Nathan said slowly, “He got away.”

  Startled, JD stared at him. “You can read thoughts?”

  Nathan shook his head. “No. It’s written all over your face,” he said hoarsely.

  “Are you angry with me?” she asked impartially.

  “No,” he said after a moment. Nathan stood then, shoved his hands into his pockets, and stared into the fire. “I just have to know something.” He turned slightly to look at her with eyes that pierced her to her soul, demanding her complete honesty.

  “What?” she invited, drawing in a pensive breath.

  “Was it you? Did you sleep with him?” he asked bluntly, looking as if he already knew the answer.

  Her breath escaped. “Why would you think that I did? What would it matter to you anyway?”

  “Because,” Nathan said and then reached up and rubbed his eyes. “The Box can only be opened by an Innocent or by someone possessing the light of Innocence that was freely given. You were his obvious choice,” Nathan said evenly.

  “Then why bother asking me if you already know?” she retorted. Nathan looked away, the anguish on his face struck her to the core. He opened his mouth to say something, but changed his mind. Instead, he vanished.

  JD didn’t know what to do. Something caught her attention out the windows, and she turned and saw that it was lightly snowing. She wondered where Matthew was and what she would do if she ever saw him again. Her feelings were confused and her mind in a whir. Couldn’t she just go back to California and forget all this? She needed answers and she had just offended the one man who had the right to give them to her.

  A few minutes later, Meagan returned. She didn’t seem surprised that Nathan was gone already as she went over and gave JD a hug. “He’ll be back shortly. Come over to the kitchen. I saved you some dinner.”

  JD followed Meagan and sat down at the kitchen counter as Meagan retrieved a plastic wrapped plate of food from the refrigerator and stuck it in the microwave to reheat.

  “I think I said the wrong thing to him,” JD said. “He’s really upset with me.”

  Meagan offered a sympathetic smile. “Don’t beat yourself up about it. It’s not like you knew what was going on,” Megan said.

  “Well, according to Nathan, it’s because of me that this False One was freed,” JD replied.

  Meagan frowned. “Is that what he said?”

  “Not exactly. But he did say that Matthew freed the False One and apparently I helped him somehow with giving him the light of Innocence, whatever that is, but I just don’t remember…” JD’s voice trailed away and she absently rubbed her head where the scar from the attack at the school house hid just behind her hair line.

  “Oh,” Meagan responded as understanding lit her face, but before she could say anything else, the microwave chimed. Meagan used a hand towel to pull out the plate and set it before JD. JD’s mouth watered as she breathed in the scent of roasted beef surrounded by steamed vegetables. She hadn’t eaten all day and she felt famished.

  “You eat and I’ll try to explain what Nathan meant by what he said,” Meagan said, and then glanced upward. “Heaven help me, if I’m breaking some kind of rule.” She took a deep breath and then stated, “In the beginning there was only God.”

  JD glanced up at Meagan with a confused look and saw Meagan was smiling, “I’m just kidding,” the older woman said. “Just trying to lighten the mood – it’s better for the digestion system,” she explained and patted her own tummy and winked at her.

  “Oh,” JD had to chuckle a little. “Got it.”

  “Anyway,” Megan said, still smiling, “So the light of Innocence is a very powerful thing that we as humans are all born with. It’s a protection, a shield that keeps the darkness at bay as we grow and develop. It protects our souls from evil. It’s not until about the age of Eight years that we begin to understand the difference between right and wrong and we start to slowly lose that Innocence. As we grow older, the light of Innocence we are born with dims, forcing us to develop our own light of knowledge and wisdom through life’s experiences.”

  Meagan paused to let that sink in for JD. “Ok. I can accept that,” JD said, because it felt right to her for some reason that she couldn’t explain.

  Meagan continued. “Naturally, as we grow we learn about love, we seek for a mate to share and experience love with. The Light of Innocence continues until that love between a man and a woman is realized with the union of their bodies, the ultimate expression of love. Love is Light and when the union has
taken place, Innocence is lost, or rather, not needed anymore because the love between a man and a woman replaces it and a new Light of protection is created between them for each other. The Light of Protection continues to grow and envelope them as their love for each other matures and grows.” Meagan stopped and again looked at JD to see if she were absorbing and understanding.

  “And I gave away my Light of Innocence when I…slept with Matthew.” JD said.

  “He stole it from you, JD.” Meagan said. “He was false with you and you are not to be blamed. You loved him and you thought he loved you too.”

  JD suddenly felt tears brim and her heart constricted. “I don’t want to talk about Matthew right now,” she said, looking down and quickly wiping away a tear.

  “I understand,” Meagan said softly.

  After several moments of silence, JD finally spoke, her voice wavering slightly. “Just tell me about the box and why it was even in the schoolhouse in the first place.”

  “All right, well, normally, False One’s are apprehended and taken to the Host city of Enosha to await Judgement Day, but this False One is different. I don’t know why or the details of the capture, but I do know that the Box was put there in the Schoolhouse because it was the safest place to contain the prison and its prisoner. The building served multiple purposes other than a schoolhouse. It was also a church. During the week, the building was used a schoolhouse where children gathered. And as you probably have noticed, children emit huge vibrations of love, joy, and happiness which are a powerful antithesis against evil. The churchgoers, with the singing and sermons, added another layer of security for the prison. But, overtime, the building fell into disuse. The Box’s layers of security were slowly eroding away and its influence was permeating the area, drawing other Fallens. When word came that the Schoolhouse was to be renovated into a Bed and Breakfast, the Host sent Matthew and Nathan to relocate the prison.”