The Power of Faith: Science Fiction Faith Ferguson Series Book 3

by Andrea M. White

  “She was there, but we didn’t need her. If I had needed her to defeat Erebus, believe me, she would have made herself known.”

  “How come Phthonus gave you more trouble?” Ed asked.

  “All gods are not created equal, and I might have been able to defeat him, without her, but when Elise sensed me struggling, she added her power to my own, and we sent him so far into Hades, he’ll never be heard from again.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Faith arrived at Finley’s first thing in the morning, to sweep for any other hexes or mystical threats. After walking through the entire establishment with incense and incantations and searching every nook and cranny from the basement to the roof, she, decreed, “You’re clean, and protected.”

  “Thanks,” Finn said, “Why don’t we try another dinner tonight?”

  “Definitely, we can celebrate ending the threat to our kind.”

  “And humanity. They wouldn’t fare too well with An Dubh running roughshod,” Finn said.

  Hearing her phone’s tone, Faith pulled it out of her bag, and said, “It’s from Ed, he’s checking to see if everything’s okay here.”

  “You picked a good one.”

  “I don’t know why, but I kind of think it was fate. I mean, with him being Buidseach, as well.”

  “It was an odd coincidence, I’ll give you that,” Finn said.

  Faith texted back about the do-over dinner, and Ed asked if he could invite Paul and Karen. Passing the request along to their host, Finn pulled out his own phone and texted back, “Don’t you think that you should fucking ask me?” Then adding, “Of course, love to have them.”

  “I told him, yes,” he said to Faith showing her his phone.

  She laughed and said, “You know, I don’t want to sound like a grannie, but you really should clean up your language.”

  “Never going to happen.”

  “Well, not until you grow up, anyway,” Padraig said entering Finn’s office.

  ******

  That evening, the entire family reconvened at Finley’s. The private dining room looked in perfect order and, this evening, Faith was in attendance, as well.

  Arriving at the restaurant, there was a special surprise in store for all of the family in the persons of Faith parents, Hope and St John Ferguson.

  Finn escorted his family back to the same room where disaster had struck the night before.

  As they were heading in that direction, Padraig said, “Same room?”

  “Don’t worry, I swept it,” Faith said. “We should survive the night.”

  Opening the door, Faith’s face lit up when she saw her parents seated at the table.

  “Mom, Dad,” She said walking quickly over to embrace them.

  After the usual hugging and greeting, Faith looked at Finn and asked, “Will Elise be joining us?”

  “No,” Finn said without further explanation.

  “Who’s Elise?” Faith’s father asked.

  “She’s dia, who lives in the other realm and, she’s Finn’s girlfriend,” Faith said.

  Faith had a twinkle in her eye as she looked at her cousin, thinking that she’d finally caught him in a tryst. She was about to be surprised, however, at the depth of his response.

  “If you must know, she’s my soulmate. We are one for all eternity.”

  “How are you feeling?” Duncan asked Faith.

  “Still a little under the weather,” and glancing at Ed, she added. “We’re pregnant.”

  “And we’re happy?” Finn asked looking Ed straight in the eye.

  Tears streamed down Faith’s face as she said, “We are.”

  “We really are,” Ed said looking back at Finn.

  Faith’s mother got up from the table, walked over to her, and took Faith’s hand. Thinking that she just wanted a hug, Faith got up and put her arms around her mother, who, happily reciprocated. That, however, was not what Hope had intended. When they ended their embrace, Hope put her hands out on either side of her daughter and formed what looked somewhat like a halo around her. The light began to swirl and as it did it formed a small white bird with bright blue eyes.

  “I’m very proud of you, and the gift of life is the highest gift that I can bestow,” Hope said.

  “You’re lovely,” Faith said, and instinctively put her hand out to form a perch. The baby bird landed and made the most melodic chirping sound.

  “Now what do we do with you?” Faith asked touching the tiny creatures soft white feathers.

  “He’ll be yours forever if you want him,” Hope said. Otherwise, Dad and I will take him home.

  “God, no, I’ll never part with him. I just hope my cat doesn’t mind,” she said giving Ed a small wink.

  “I promise not to eat him,” Ed said.

  “How did you do that?” Faith asked her mother

  “Angeals can create life, not human life, of course, and the creatures can only be created, if their spirits are willing, and they always choose their human. No one knows how or why, they just do,” Faith’s father, St John said. “It’s an honor.”

  “Feels like one. I’ll call you Amar.”

  “Amar?” Duncan asked.

  “Means love in Latin,” Faith replied.

  “Nice to see that you’re getting some use out of your high-priced degrees,” St John said.

  “You cannot have birds in my restaurant,” Finn said entering with an army of servers.

  Beth put her hand out, and Amar landed on it. Giving Finn a look of annoyance that few could imitate, she walked out of the room, left through the side door, and into the alley. Once there she transported to Faith’s condo and after giving him a few pats, put him gently on Faith’s kitchen counter.

  Returning to the restaurant in less than five minutes Beth said, “Amar is all set at your place.”

  “I’ll have to get something to feed him,” Faith said having an oddly practical thought.

  “I have everything in our rental car,” Hope said.

  “You planned this?” Faith asked. “But I thought it was because …”

  “You think I didn’t know?” Hope asked.

  “Oh, of course, my mother the clairvoyant.”

  At this point, Paul and Karen arrived and were introduced to the members of the Ferguson clan that they’d yet to meet.

  “Thank you, for including us,” Karen said.

  She’d just been clued into the family secret, that afternoon, and like her husband had taken the news in stride.

  As their meal was set before them, the group was engaged in a lively conversation about recent events, and Finn was becoming mildly irritated because, thus far, no one had yet commented on the exquisite meal.

  “And?” Finn said, standing at the end of the table looking resplendent in his chef’s whites.

  “Outstanding,” Duncan said after taking his first bite. “But it always is. I try to eat at one of Finn’s places at least once a month.”

  “Well now we will, too,” Faith said.

  “Once a month?” Finn said to Faith. “It’s not like I’m charging you. I want you here at least once a week. I need you to keep an eye on the place.”

  “You shouldn’t be so rude to your cousin,” Padraig said to his son, “I heard that Faith saved your bacon during your battle with Phthonus.”

  “She did,” Finn said to everyone’s surprise. “That fucking god blindsided me and peeled me like a grape.”

  “Scare you?” Padraig asked his son.

  “It did. I generally feel invincible, but as I went down, I thought I was cooked.”

  “How’d you take him down?” Padraig asked.

  “Well, I am dia, and I had him down, but I might not have made it back without Elise. No entity other than the Divine can beat the two of us.”

  “She doesn’t live here?” Ted asked, as if this was all quite common place.

  “No, I hear Finn’s the only one who does that,” Faith said.

  “Yes, I like it here.”

  “A
nd some of us wouldn’t want to go on without you,” Padraig said.

  “Could you have taken him down alone?” Beth asked Faith. “You really had him on the ropes.”

  “Maybe,” Faith said.

  Finn looked at her.

  “Sorry, don’t want to bruise your ego, but I had him down.”

  “I understand …” Finn said giving her a knowing look.

  “You know?”

  “Of course.”

  “Oh, cool,” Faith said.

  “All right,” Paul said. “Don’t be holding out on us. We can handle it.”

  “That’s the truth,” Ed said. He barely skipped a beat when I told him. And Karen, well, we just told her today, and she was amazing.”

  Karen just smiled and said, “We’re Catholics. We believe in all that spiritual stuff already, so what’s the big deal.”

  “Well, you’ll have to wait for this little tidbit,” Faith said. “It’s just a bit too personal.”

  “All right,” Karen said seriously, “We really don’t want to intrude. I’m just so glad that you told me. We’re your friends, and we’ll always be here for you.”

  “Yes,” Faith’s mother, Hope, said. “I know you will.”

  “Mom’s a psychic,” Faith said casually.

  “Neat,” Karen said.

  “See,” Faith said laughing, “You can’t shake her. Anyway, before I start taking on demi-gods, I need a bit more knowledge. Besides, I’m pregnant, and I need to take good care of little Gemma.

  “Gemma’s pretty,” Ed said.

  “Yes, she is,” Faith said winking at Finn.