Beyond Life (9 page)

‘You are absolutely right, Claire,’ she decided not to tell her that it could take centuries for some to see what Claire had been able to in such a short time. ‘Let’s watch the rest and we’ll talk again later.’

Gabriella’s comments lacked the usual impatience and Claire sensed a new level of respect toward her. Something was going on here but she decided not to push it and for once, remained silent.

‘Just watch,’ whispered Raphael putting an arm around her waist and pulling her closer to him as the rain took hold and the men in the scene below made their way back up the cliff as fast and as carefully as their weary legs could take them. Claire assumed correctly that Ralph had arranged the rain as a timely deterrent.

The scene changed and it seemed like a different day. The rain had stopped and the explorers were nowhere to be seen. The plants and vegetation were thick and heavy in the area on display and even if the valley hadn’t been flooded, Claire thought there was little or no chance of anyone finding the entrance to the cave. Eventually they were shown the covered entrance and taken inside the dark cave. Claire could see the narrow passages and wet walls that appeared to go on forever, downwards and downwards. Even the most intrepid and talented explorer would find it difficult to survive in this place, never mind overcome it. When she was starting to get bored by the never-ending maze of passageways, one opened out into a large area with a pond at one side. She assumed that this was sometimes drier or bigger depending on the level of rainfall, the season, or whether there had been heavenly intervention.

‘What’s moving?’ she leaned over, trying to get a better look at the high ceiling of the cave, which appeared to be moving of its own volition. Once her eyes adjusted to the dimmer light, she saw small wings upon wings coming and going and realised that the cave was teeming with bats.

‘Yuck.’

On further inspection, Claire could also see that the floor appeared to be moving and when she identified the presence as cockroaches, she was even more disgusted. Gabriella and Raphael or their assistants viewed the cave on a regular basis, so what came as a surprise to Claire was no more than routine to them. They spent the time watching her reactions and both knew that Claire wasn’t going to figure it out.

‘It does look like Hell on Earth, but there’s obviously something I’m not getting here?’ she looked to Gabriella for guidance.

‘The bats are good souls...’ said Raphael.

‘...and the cockroaches are evils...’ this from Gabriella and it reminded Claire of her brothers doing their twin conversation tag. Silence followed until she shook herself back to attention.

‘...We catch them and deposit them in the cave for eternity. They live on the guano produced by the bats.’

Claire looked from one to the other, wondering how angels were selected for the bat jobs.

‘We have a rota for the bats, and most of us have had a stint,’ said Gabriella. ‘Trust me, it’s not that bad unless...oh no,’ she tensed. ‘I’ll be back shortly. Raphael explain please.’ She disappeared with the usual whoosh and Raphael told Claire to keep watching.

After sleeping all day, the bats flew toward the cave’s entrance. ‘They feed mainly on mosquitos,’ said Raphael. ‘Keeping that population down is important to alleviate even more human suffering.

As the bats neared the cave entrance Claire saw something move in the undergrowth. The giant slithering object raised itself to its full size and struck. The first bat to leave the cave was taken completely by surprise as the boa seized its prey in its jaws and wrapped several coils around its victim, constricting until the bat had suffocated. The snake swallowed the bat headfirst. Claire knew this was no ordinary snake when she saw it kill and swallow another two bats in quick succession.

‘I thought they had to digest their prey first and wouldn’t need to eat anything else for a while?’ she’d remembered something from the nature programmes she’d been encouraged to watch as a child.

‘The only snakes that can find their way to the cave are those evils put there by the demons. They create as much havoc as they can and we have to sort it before it gets out of hand. Gabriella has taken a team to save the souls of the bats, but watch.’

A man holding a large knife appeared behind the snake. Claire thought it strange that the snake hadn’t detected his arrival by tremors on the ground and on closer inspection, noticed that the man was Ralph, the one she’d seen the light around earlier.

By the time the snake sensed the movement behind him it was too late and the knife had chopped off his head. The rest of his body slithered, taking a few seconds before messages from the reptile’s brain stopped and the snake was eventually completely still. Taking no chances the man calmly and efficiently chopped the snake into small pieces. Once satisfied that he’d completed his gruesome task, he wiped the knife on some large leaves nearby, returned it to its sheath, and disappeared back into the undergrowth.

‘So what happens if the bats are overcome by snakes and they kill a lot of them? Do the roaches escape and look elsewhere for food?’

‘Claire,’ Raphael’s eyes bored into hers and all trace of fun and warmth had disappeared. ‘When the demons have many evils to do their bidding, war, disease and pestilence are rife.’

‘Has it ever happened?’

Raphael laughed without humour. ‘Look back in history for an answer to that.’

Although safe and warm in his arms, a shiver ran through Claire. She knew she was being educated and trained for a purpose but hoped she’d never have to experience another evil encounter without Raphael by her side.

‘How does it work with the angels on Earth?’ Raphael replied with a kiss and she put her natural curiosity aside to deal with a more immediate need.

Both the first encounter with evils and the latest one to save the souls of the angel bats had left Gabriella feeling drained. She took no comfort from the familiar surroundings of her own wonderful white world. Dealing with evils made her feel unclean both mentally and physically and she vomited until there was nothing left. She then washed in pure water until all traces of evil had been completely purged from her system. Feeling more like her angelic self, she went to rally her troops and to find Ron and Sandy. Looking back to the first encounter Gabriella knew the reason the man was being shadowed by so many evils, what she didn’t know was who he was.

*****

As much as Mary cleaned her teeth and rinsed her mouth, she couldn’t get rid of the foul taste of the man she’d had to pleasure. Besides for this she was pleased he’d believed her about her monthlies and that she’d been able to set the date that she was supposed to lose her virginity, almost a week later. She was quickly learning that they thought with their snakes and not their brains and she would use this to her advantage. Before her
big day
the following week, he wanted to teach her a number of other tricks
and she would have to spend the time in between her lessons planning how to deceive her trainer into thinking she was a virgin.

*****

The lion hunters returned triumphant early the following morning, with a lion that caused awe and amazement amongst all the orphans and staff, and wonder in the villages both near and far afield. Marion nearly vomited when she saw Val practically throw herself at Gary, telling him how brave and fearless he was. Now that she knew that something was going on with Gary and Daniel, Marion noticed the conspiratorial looks between them and wondered how she and Val had missed them in the past.

So Gary and his team of hunters were hailed as heroes and the orphanage population were able to sleep easy that night for the first time since Mary’s disappearance.

Looking at Gary made Val realise how much she cared for him. Not only was he lovely to look at, thoughtful, caring and incredibly macho, he had also risked his own life to save children who hadn’t had a very good start in theirs. Val was certain she could trust him; the only downside to their relationship was the falling out with Marion. She hoped that they could get over that hurdle and be friends again, sooner rather than later. When the adoration had died down, Val leaned up and whispered in Gary’s ear. A lecherous smile spread across his face and he looked down at Val and nodded, kissing her cheek at the same time. The look wasn’t lost on Marion and she guessed what was planned for later that night. When for a moment she locked eyes with Val, she gave a tiny shake of her head. Val shook her own head slowly then gave Gary a long kiss on the lips, answering Marion’s silent question. Marion left the foyer without a single word and made her way upstairs to her bed. She knew without doubt that she’d have to deal with the fallout from Val’s doomed relationship; the only question mark was when that would be.

*****

The man had insisted she perform the disgusting act. Luckily he’d drank a lot as she’d hoped, and hadn’t noticed her trying not to gag as his eyes had been closed for most of the time. Mary made a mental note. She’d have to learn to overcome the disgust and please them so they’d keep coming back. She’d managed to sneak the stuff into his drink as Tamara had instructed. Even with the drink and the drug he had still had full sex with her, although she was sure he wouldn’t be able to remember much about it. He was now sleeping and she’d smeared the blood she’d hidden earlier onto the bed sheet. When he awoke he would naturally assume that he’d taken her virginity. Mary could then relax and bide her time knowing that for every one that forced themselves upon her, the legacy would be a ticking time bomb of disease that they might be able to control but could never diffuse.

*****

‘Where are they?’ Gabriella was surprised that Raphael and Claire hadn’t yet returned to the common room.

‘If you mean Claire and Superman,’ said Ron, ‘don’t know. I haven’t seen Claire so shaken before so I assume she’s still resting.’

Resting was probably the wrong word thought Gabriella but decided to leave them to it. ‘We need to go and find out more about the man being shadowed by the evils,’ she saw the look of terror on Sandy’s face. ‘Don’t worry, we’re taking plenty of back-up with us this time.’

‘But, Gabriella, what if...’

‘You’ll be perfectly safe, Sandy. This time. Sometimes we all have to do things outside our comfort zone. It makes us stronger.’

Ron nearly choked. Maybe running a marathon or climbing a mountain was his idea of doing something outside his comfort zone, not battling with evil, deranged souls whose sole purpose was to take pleasure from inflicting maximum pain for eternity.

‘Ron?’

‘Ready when you are, Gabriella,’ it wouldn’t do Sandy any good to see that he was bricking it as much as she was.

*****

Claire must have fallen asleep. Despite her near hell experience and the revelations that followed it, she woke up feeling completely happy and safe. Opening her eyes she took in her surroundings. Everything was a brilliant white and seemed to ooze sparkle, but without dazzling. The bed was the most comfortable she’d ever laid on and she felt as if she were being softly caressed, without actually being touched. The walls appeared to be covered in soft, large white feathers and when she got up from the bed and ran her hand down the wall, she giggled at the softness beneath her fingers.

‘You’re awake then?’

She turned to see her hero and they smiled at each other. Raphael opened his arms and it was the most natural thing for Claire to enter his embrace. She looked up at him and he leaned down. Their lips touched and Claire thought she would explode with light. She didn’t want that kiss to end but Raphael wanted to be absolutely sure this was the right time. He knew she was vulnerable because of the attack and still stunned having seen hell on earth, but wanted her to be with him because she found him attractive, not because she was in awe of him.

He leaned back and looked down at the lovely spirit in front of him. He loved the springiness of her dark, curly hair. Revelling in the touch of it he didn’t stop as he looked into her beautiful deep grey eyes.

‘Are you absolutely sure, Claire that this is what you want?’

‘I’ve never been so sure of anything,’ was he completely stupid?

Raphael took off his robe and she gasped. Perfectly toned and such a touchable chest. She ran her fingers along his shoulders, chest and down to his boxers, revelling in the silkiness of the hard muscles. Before she could explore further, he stepped back and flexed his wings.

‘Show off.’ Claire laughed and he delighted in it, sweeping her off her feet he carried her to the bed like a knight who’d won his princess.

Much later when Claire had been dazzled by love and brightness and, if she were totally honest with herself, a hefty dose of lust, she forgot about earlier events. She was convinced that she had already reached heaven and didn’t need any other version of eternity.

Chapter 7

When she looked down at the scene unfolding below them and recognised the man, despite the changes, Sandy thought it was some sort of sick joke or test. Ron noticed her distress as she paled considerably.

‘How could you?’ she covered her mouth with a hand and shook her head.

Gabriella was as baffled as Ron. Sandy saw the confused looks on their faces and began to wonder if they actually did know who he was. She tried to compose herself but her voice still shook, such was the impact of seeing the man who’d tormented her in life before ending her earthly existence.

‘You really don’t know?’

It was obvious they hadn’t a clue and now it was Sandy’s turn to be confused. She addressed Gabriella. ‘But I thought you had special powers and knew everything?’

‘We do our best, Sandy. Feel free to share when you’re ready,’ Gabriella couldn’t hide her impatience and didn’t like the fact that Sandy had information that she had somehow missed. Her sarcasm was lost on Sandy who was still upset.

‘That’s Big Ed!’ it was almost a whisper but the words could have been screamed, such was their impact on Ron. He reeled with the information and his initial response was denial. He held back, admitting deep down that Sandy must know for certain as her physical reaction left no room for doubt.