Angel Incarnate: Second Sight (31 page)

Caspian chuckled. “I’m
surprised he left Desiree. I found them together last night when I went to
pack. I have no doubt my brother shared the wedding bed with my wife. When this
is over, I plan to ask for an annulment.”

Now that Andromeda is free, we can finally have a life together.
I’ll finish the mission, and by that time, she should be over her grief for
Gregory.

Paul pulled another
slip of paper from his pocket. “These are the names of the families you’ll find
in Richmond, Virginia.”

Axel grabbed the list.
“Let’s get this over with. The sooner we find them, the sooner we can get back
to our families.”

“Rita and Jessica will
be keeping an eye on Analie and Jade,” Adam said. “I promise no harm will come
to them.”

“I appreciate the extra
protection.
 
I’ll just say goodbye to
Ava, and then we can be on our way.”

Caspian chuckled again.
“The little girl seems fond of you.”

“What can I say,” Axel
joked. “I constantly have women falling at my feet.”

Everyone had a good
laugh, and then followed Paul to the dining room. After saying goodbye to the
girls, Caspian and Axel used the portal to take them to Richmond while the
family prepared for Gregory’s funeral.

Aura stared after them
. I hope they can convince the other
families to come here.
It’s not safe
for them out there alone.
 

“Who wants more
chocolate milk?” she asked the little ones.

Eve showed Audria the
room she would occupy until her new home was ready. There were undergarments,
shoes, a dress and sweater already laid out on the bed.

How odd – they wear white to a funeral.
As she examined the clothing, she
thought of Eve
. I wonder how she knew
what size I wore.
Pushing the thought out of her mind, she jumped into the
shower.
 

Allowing the warm water
to soothe her muscles, Audria turned her head towards Heaven.
Thank you, Father. My girls will never do
without again.

Chapter 48

While Aura dressed the
girls, Eve went to New York to bring Andromeda back to the funeral hall. The
rest of the family, including Andromeda’s son Matthew would meet them there.

Driving was how the others
would travel this afternoon because the mortuary, though hidden, was located so
close to a community of mortals.

As the cars started to
converge in the parking lot, Aura noticed Father Patrick already waiting on the
front steps. Dressed in his vestments, the priest walked out to meet the
angel-bloods.

After they piled into
the building, Bren directed the kids into pews a few rows away from Gregory’s
body.
 
Eve and Angie flanked each side of
Andromeda, while Matt stayed behind with Willow.

Andromeda had already
been told not to expect Caspian because he was taking care of some important
business for the Guild. She approached the glass-covered casket in front of the
room, marveling at how handsome her husband looked.
Whoever prepared his body did a remarkable job
.
 

Gregory wore an
all-white suit and his hands were clasped together just below his chest. She
couldn’t help staring at the ring on his left finger. “Pity his personality
didn’t match his good looks,” she sighed as Matt and Willow came to stand
beside her.

Matt’s face was
expressionless but his mother’s eyes were red and swollen from crying. He
didn’t understand how she could grieve a man who treated her like dirt.

“You know -- usually,
we don’t have a body when an angel-blood dies,” Willow whispered. “They go back
to Heaven just as they are.”

“Maybe now you’ll
believe me when I say my father wasn’t a nice person,” Matt snorted. “Those
kinds of people don’t go to Heaven.”

Willow could hear the
bitterness in his voice and see her friend’s body take on an unnatural
stiffness.
 
Even though he said his
father’s death didn’t bother him, Matt’s posture told a different story. Maybe
it was because his mother was so sad. She patted his arm, and he forced a weak
smile.

Matt stared at his
father’s lifeless body
. What’s taking so
long? I just want to get this over with, so Mom and I can start a new chapter
in our life – one that won’t include him.

Everyone turned when
Henry and his wife entered the building with Richard, Desiree and Nathali.
  
The Guild and their families wore white to
signify the passing of an angel-blood from this life to the next.

Henry and his son wore
black pin-striped suits, Richard’s tie – a bold red color. The three women were
dressed in long evergreen gowns. Eve noticed the tiara was back on Meredith’s
head – the missing diamond replaced with a new stone.

“Look at them,” Bren
said. “I guess they didn’t get the memo that said you wear white to a
funeral.”
 

“Yeah – I may not have
liked Gregory, but that’s a bit disrespectful,” Willow said, watching Desiree
descend down the aisle with Richard so close they were touching.

Willow gave the bride a
blistering stare. “She sure doesn’t seem too upset about Caspian’s absence.”

Bren started giggling.
“I’m sure Richard is keeping her company.”

“Please tell me they’re
not going to Aura’s house after the service?” Tracy asked.

“Who…” The chatter
ceased when Eve turned around and placed her finger over her lips, telling them
it was time to be quiet. Bren shrugged and her eyes faced towards the front,
but there was a still an impish grin on her face.

Father Patrick waited
for the governor and his family to slide into one of the pews opposite the
Guild, before beginning the service. Not knowing the deceased, he kept his
homily short, but respectful.

Afterwards, everyone
piled out of the hall while Paul and Adam stayed behind. “He should have
ascended,” Adam remarked.

Angel-bloods who were
loyal to Heaven, returned there, but Gregory’s body remained in the casket.

“Perhaps he wasn’t as
loyal as he led us to believe. I suppose we’ll have to bury him in one of the
plots behind the mortuary,” Paul sighed.
 

“Let’s get this over
with, so we can meet with the High Council. Did you invite Henry and his family
back to Aura’s house?”

Paul started chuckling.
“Are you kidding? Eve would have my head if I allowed Meredith near Reaghan
again.”

The angels went outside
to say goodbye to their families and inform them that they had a task to finish
before they joined them at Aura’s house. Eve already knew what they were
planning, so she rearranged the passengers in the cars, making sure Andromeda
rode with her and Angie.

Thankfully, Meredith
made some excuse about having to get back to Utopia, so no offer was made for
them to join the family for a late lunch.

When they walked
through Aura’s front door, the caterers had already been there and gone. A
mountain of food covered the dining room table, and Bren made sure the little
one’s plates were full, before she and Tracy sat down to eat.

“I wish you would
reconsider, and stay here with us for a few days,” Eve said to Andromeda.

“I still have a few
students left at the Academy, plus there’s our cook, Mrs. O’Leary to consider.
She’s getting up in age and I don’t want to leave her alone,” Andromeda said.

“We’ll come with you,”
Willow volunteered, looking at Rita for confirmation and smiling when she got
the nod.

“We have to start
planning Father Ryan’s party,” Bren said. “By the way, we’ve changed the date
to October 30
^th
. We want to take the girls to Savannah and trick or
treat in the old neighborhood.”

“I guess Ryan won’t
mind having the party a day early,” Aura said. “I was going to call him later
to see how the new girl is getting along.”

When lunch was over,
Aura fixed a doggie bag with the leftover food for Andromeda to take back with
her. Rita and Jessica packed an overnight bag for themselves and Willow. They
planned to do some shopping the next day to take Andromeda’s mind off Gregory.

After everyone said goodbye,
Bren and Tracy showed Alli and Ava where the playroom was while Aura cleaned up
the dishes.

Eve and Angie spent the
rest of the afternoon with Audria, explaining about Alice, the first
angel-blood, and the powers most of those with the blood of the angels were
gifted with.

“I’m sure some of the
children have abilities which have been dormant,” Eve said. “Tomorrow, Paul and
Adam can begin testing them. You may be surprised to know your daughters have
received special gifts from Heaven. Alli seems to be very intuitive.”

“Do all angel-bloods
have the same special gifts?” Audria asked.

“Our children are
descendants of the archangels, so they have more powerful weapons at their
disposal,” Eve said.

 
“I’ve heard you were a seer?”

“Yes, my grandmother passed
her second sight to me and my daughter Aura.”
Bren has the second sight too, but there’s no reason to tell her about
that. I’m sure it will come out eventually.
As to the other children, we’ll
have to wait and see.”

Alli and Ava decided to
sleep in the dorm room with Aura and the other children. She missed her bed,
but Aura wouldn’t complain, not knowing what the little ones had been through.
After they were bathed and placed in pajamas, she said goodnight to her mother
and Angie, who decided to go home.

When Audria went to
check on the girls, she saw they were sleeping, so she excused herself. A few
minutes after changing into her nightclothes, she was snoring softly.

Aura turned out the
lights and climbed into bed beside Gertie and Gracie.
I hope they have sweet dreams tonight.

Unfortunately, she wouldn’t be so
lucky. Visions of the carnage from the war in Heaven so many years ago kept
disrupting her sleep.

Chapter 49

The next two weeks
Samhael followed Lucifer’s orders and spent most of his time with the Abyvir in
Purgatory, leaving occasionally to check on Mehri and Stella.

As the brothers, Faelan
and Fenryr, who were now accustomed to their new names, were in complete
control of their newfound abilities; Samhael released them from their cage and
set them up in temporary housing in an empty home in the village.

They were allowed to
shop and eat at the restaurants, but both were warned to stay clear of the
dormitory where the young angel-bloods were kept.

Verah had known about
the beasts, so she was allowed to leave the shack to bring food and clothing
for the children. Samhael had warned that if she betrayed him, he would not
burn her arms this time – her face would suffer his wrath.

Even though the girls
were confined to the small house, it was better than having to work all day for
the shop owners. They used the time wisely to regain their strength, talking
among themselves about the possibility of being rescued like the others.

Now that the Abyvir
were walking the streets freely, Verah knew it was only a matter of time before
the children would return to their daily grind.

Oliver and Garrett made
sure they had plenty to eat, often sneaking extra food to the girls when
Samhael was away.

Samhael waited for two
days, and then he met with Richard to advise him that the Abyvir were ready for
the attack. He sent word for Mortriel to return to Purgatory, and as soon as he
arrived, apparently unscathed by his tryst with Olga, they left to inform
Lucifer of their plans.

When they returned to
Purgatory, Richard was informed the attack would happen that night. The date,
October 30
^th
, couldn’t have been more perfect. Aura was planning a
costume party for her priest friend, Ryan, and Mehri and Stella had both agreed
to join the celebration. Richard knew Joshua and
Will
would also be in attendance, so he wouldn’t have to worry about them snooping
around.

The attack on Utopia
would take place in the wee hours of the morning when the residents, including
his sister, Analie, and her daughter,
Jade
, would be asleep.
Because of the time difference, it would be 9 o’clock at night in Aeden and
Aura’s party would be in full swing.

Samhael took the
brothers to the cabin, and told them Richard would advise them when it was time
to attack.
 
Though it was clean and food
had been placed in the kitchen, Fenryr started complaining as soon as he saw
the bungalow.

“You expect us to live
here?” he grunted.

“No one knows about
this place, so it will serve our needs temporarily. The cabin is in close
proximity to the country estates, and that’s where you’ll attack Richard’s
sister and niece. Afterwards, you’ll both be free to return to Purgatory, or
wherever it is you call home,” Samhael said.

“What about our money?”

Samhael reached into
his jacket pocket and threw a bag of gold on the small kitchen table. “As
agreed, you’ll receive the rest after the job is done.”

Faelan opened the pouch
and stared at the coins; a wide grin formed at the corners of his mouth as he
thought about how he would spend his share. No more begging for him. He would
have fine clothes, a big house, fancy car and more women than he could keep up
with.
 

“This will be the
easiest money we’ve ever made,” he said to his brother.

“Don’t leave until you
hear from Richard,” Samhael warned as he walked out the door.

I don’t care what Lucifer says; if they screw this up, I’ll
kill them myself.

After scanning the area
and finding no one in sight, he snapped his fingers and returned to Purgatory. He
and Mortriel had agreed to wait there until they heard from Richard and Stella.

Aura found herself
staring at the calendar in the kitchen. It was already October 30
^th
– the night of Ryan’s party.
 
The last
two weeks had been quiet; there were no other attacks.

Caspian and Axel found
ninety angel-blood families, and thankfully, all of those with young children
agreed to relocate to Aeden, or the Australian colony.

Surprisingly, none of
the families wanted to live in Utopia. Even though they had distanced
themselves from the angel-bloods, word of Richard’s possible involvement with
Lucifer somehow reached the families.
 

Caspian didn’t
elaborate on his brother’s activities. Rita had yet to find the proof she was
looking for to link Richard to the fire, but she was still hopeful.

Not all of the families
wanted to leave their homes. Those with teenage sons and daughters, refused to
give up their mortal life and friends, regardless of the threat of danger. It
was useless to argue with them; their minds were made up.

Paul and Adam spent a
great deal of time evaluating the kids to see what dormant powers they had.
Already they had learned how the dark wings could debilitate them with an
overwhelming sense of sadness, so Bren taught them how to focus on something
happy, like singing a favorite song.

Aura and the older
girls weren’t privy to what her father had discovered about the children, but
Bren and Tracy knew, and they weren’t talking.

“Sometimes it’s better
to keep your abilities a secret,” Bren said. “That way, the dark wings will be
surprised.”

Aura knew not to argue.
Gabriel had taken her little sister under his wing, and who was she to question
him, the Champion of Heaven?

Since it was a costume
party with a Renaissance theme, Bren and the girls thought it would be fun to
dress as Disney princesses.

Aura thought it was
hysterical to think of Bren as a princess; she was a warrior at heart, much
more comfortable in blue jeans and tennis shoes, wielding her Uncle Gabe’s
sword. Still, this was just another sacrifice she was willing to make for her
new sisters.

They had carved a dozen
jack-o’-lanterns and placed them along the walkway leading to the front porch.
The candles would be lit after dark. Inside -- orange and black streamers hung
from the cathedral ceilings; giving Bren and the girls an excuse to use their
wings because they couldn’t reach otherwise.

Life-size witches were
placed strategically around the rooms. One pair was sitting in chairs in the
living room with spell-books in their hands. Two more flanked each side of the
door to greet guests when they arrived.

Skeletons and ghosts
appeared to be dancing in the hallways, and skulls and spiders littered the
tables.

As much as Bren loved
Santa Clause, and Christmas; Tracy loved Halloween. The scarier the props, the
better she liked it. Of course she drew the line when it came to devil
costumes. Some things were verboten, even for them.
  

The Guild wouldn’t be
part of the celebration; they were meeting with the High Council. Eve and Angie
also begged off, claiming they had to work on preparing the houses for the
angel-bloods who were coming to the valley to live.

Aura ordered pizza for
lunch, so she and the kids could prepare all kinds of ghoulish food for the
party, including spooky spiced shrimp, devilish eggs, hotdogs made to look like
fingers and mummy pizza. For the rest of the guests, she made pans of lasagna
and assorted salads. Reaghan insisted she make something with chocolate.

Most of their parties
were formal, but at the insistence of the kids, this was one of the rare
occasions Aura agreed to use Halloween themed paper plates and plastic
tableware and cutlery.

There would be light-up
acrylic glasses next to a bubbling cauldron of witch’s brew, which had smoke
coming off the top for special effects.

Aura spoke to Ryan
early in the afternoon to make sure he didn’t mix up the dates. The truth was,
she was trying to find out what costume he had decided on, but he refused to
tell her.

Since the party wasn’t
going to start until 8 o’clock, Aura insisted the girls take a short nap after
a light dinner.
 

After they climbed into
their beds, she went about setting out their costumes and make-up for the
evening. While they slept, she tidied up the kitchen, before showering and
slipping into her own costume.

Aura felt ridiculous
dressing like a fairy tale character, but given the length of her hair, Bren
insisted Rapunzel would be a perfect choice. After loosening up her braid, she
allowed her hair to flow down her back until it touched her knees.

Staring at herself in
the mirror, she couldn’t help but stifle a giggle. The lavender, long-sleeved
dress with the open neckline suited her, but she was worried her long tresses
would be inconvenient.

Oh well, it’s just for a few hours. Hopefully, there won’t be
any surprises tonight.