Fall from Grace (Book 2: An Angelblood Novel) (39 page)

Aura left the Guild to find Aidan.
He was
outside in the yard, standing next to the orange tree she
planted with Alannah.
He looked so sad it almost
broke her heart, but she knew she couldn’t trust him to
tell him her plans. “I have good news for you,” she
said.

“You can bring Jeziel to the wedding.
Jasmine
and Tristan have both consented.”
Aidan looked at her curiously. “So you don’t
want to go to my sister’s wedding with me?”
“I thought you would rather be with Jeziel.
The Guild has decided that there is no evidence to link
her to Elijah’s death. You might wasn’t to share that
information with your friend. For now, she’s off the
hook.You should be pleased about that.”
“I remember the first day Alannah and I arrived
and she picked the oranges for your friends.
I was so
happy for her, because I knew she was home.”
“She is home. I’m not planning on getting rid
of her any time soon.”
“What about me?
You asked to
have
me
dismissed as your guardian.”
“I never felt like I needed a guardian.I’ve told
you that repeatedly Aidan.”
“I’ve always felt this was my home too. Now,
I feel like a stranger living in this house.”
“Perhaps it would be better if you left.
You
can move in with Jeziel.I’m sure she’ll be glad for the
company.”
Aidan looked at Aura with such sadness she
thought she would cry.“Don’t you want me here?”
“You might be happier being with Jeziel.
I
don’t regret knowing you.
You were responsible for
bringing Alannah back to me.”
“Why did you say you no longer wanted me to
be Alannah’s father?”
“What I said was I don’t want Jeziel anywhere
near her.”
“Do you know I have always loved you?”
Aidan wanted to tell Aura the truth, but he wasn’t sure
she would believe him.It wasn’t worth taking the risk.
The Council would be upset with him if he broke his
agreement. Obviously, Aura still hadn’t remembered
her past life as his wife Avriel.
“There are different types of love Aidan.
The
love of a friend is different than the love of a husband
or a wife; or even a child for that matter.I’m sure you
love Jeziel too.”
“I doubt I love Jeziel as much as I pity her.”
“Why would you pity her? She has been given
the same opportunity as the other purebloods. I’m
afraid I’m a half-breed so I have little understanding of
how you think or feel.”
“Please don’t ever refer to yourself like that.
It’s condescending to say the least.”
“Isn’t that what your girlfriend calls me?”
“I’m trying to do the right thing Aura.
I feel
responsible for her.”
“If Jeziel is still faithful to Heaven, she would
benefit from having you as her guardian.”
“You’re still not convinced of her innocence
are you?”
“Why is it so important what I think? If you’re
asking me to make your decisions for you, I’m afraid
you’ll be disappointed.”
“Jeziel thinks you want me to get rid of my
friends.She thinks it’s unfair to make me choose.”
Aura became defensive. “I have never asked
you to make any choices. You should remind your
girlfriend of that.”
“She is my friend, nothing more.
I have never
wanted her to be anything more.”
Aura laughed. “Obviously you haven’t done a
good job of convincing her that you’re just friends.
How many times has she kissed you? I’m sure you
were thinking about me then.”
“Aura please, you don’t understand. I was only
trying to comfort a friend in need. If you would tell me
what you know.”
” “I can’t and even if I could I wouldn’t.”
“Is it because you don’t trust me?”
“Changes are coming. I don’t trust Jeziel.
I
have my reasons. Perhaps you’re the one who doesn’t
trust me.
Have you even considered that Aidan? I’m
not going to sit here and debate the good versus evil of
Jeziel. But don’t worry; she’ll be here in a minute.
You two can have a nice visit together.”
“I wish you nothing but happiness Aidan, I
really do.But I’ve come to realize you may not be my
happily ever after.
I need to concentrate on bringing
Alorrah, Alexis and Fionn home.
I used to think you
would help me, but I know now I’m on my own.
I
don’t want to be angry with you. I hope you believe
me. But you insist on bringing your girlfriend to my
house and kissing her right under my nose, with no
regards for my feelings.
Now you want to stand here
and try to play the victim?”
She turned to walk away. “You’ll have to
excuse me if I don’t want to play this game anymore.
I’m sure Jeziel will be thrilled that you’ll be taking her
to Jasmine’s wedding. I’m done! I don’t want to do
this anymore! Sometimes I wish I never met you! Your
girlfriend is here. I’ll leave the two of you alone.”
Aidan ran after her. “Aura please listen to me. I
need to explain.”
Aura kept on walking. It was all she could do
to fight back the tears. She wasn’t about to let Aidan
know that he was breaking her heart.
“Trouble in paradise?” Jeziel laughed.
Aidan didn’t find it amusing at all.
He was
close to losing Aura forever and that was a regret he
couldn’t live with. “What do you want?”
“I came to check on my friend. Is Aura upset
about something?” she smirked.
“That’s none of your business.
I have asked
you repeatedly not to come here. You have no regards
whatsoever about my family and friends who live in
this house.I want you to leave and not come back!”
“Why are you asking me to leave?”
“Aura doesn’t want you here and honestly
neither do I.”
“This is about her isn’t it?
She hates me and
you’re going to turn your back on me to keep her
happy.”
“Trust me when I tell you neither of us are
happy right now.”
“All the more reason you need a friend,” Jeziel
moved closer to him.
Aidan backed away. “I told you to leave.
I
don’t want you here.
Would you rather I called the
members of the Guild?”
“Would you bring them here now Aidan? Aura
has convinced you I’m guilty.
How can you believe
her?”
“This is about me Jeziel.
Do you understand
that?It’s about me. I have tried to help you, but each
time you refuse.Don’t come back unless you intend to
meet with the Guild.
Your eyes may be brown, but it
doesn’t erase the darkness in your heart!”
“You’ll be sorry for that Aidan!
I promise
you’ll be sorry!”
Jeziel ran out of the yard never
looking back.
Aidan thought he would be upset, but he was
glad she was gone. Now he needed to make peace with
Aura. He prayed she would forgive him, so he could
offer her Avriels ring.
The ring would bring them
closer together, he was sure of it.
“She’s gone,” Aidan said when he came back
into the house.
“She’ll be back,” Aura said coolly.
“It doesn’t matter. Unless she’s here to meet
with the Council I won’t entertain any more visits with
her.”
“It won’t do you any good to lie to yourself
Aidan.Jeziel will walk into the yard and you’ll run to
meet her like you always do. She’s your friend.
I get
that. I’m tired of talking about it, so if you’ll excuse
me I have to finish dinner.”
Aidan quickly ran to his room and opened the
box he kept hidden under his bed.
Inside was the ring
that once belonged to Avriel.
He ran back to the
kitchen to meet with Aura.“Can you stop cooking so I
can talk to you?”
Aura dried her hands on her apron and sat in
one of the kitchen chairs. It wasn’t like she needed to
watch over the meal.
The lasagna was already in the
oven and she was only making a tossed salad.
“I want you to know I intended to give this to
you on your birthday. It was your mother’s idea to
have me wait until your visions were more developed.”
He pulled the ring out of his pocket and placed it on her
left hand. “This once belonged to Avriel.
It is only
right that you wear it now,” he whispered.
Aura looked at the ring. It was exactly like the
pendant that she wore around her neck. Inside the blue
diamond was a sun, moon and star; surrounded by a
pair of white angel wings.
She knew the stone was
considered the gem of Heaven.
It was given to only a
select few. Each of the wives of the Guild wore similar
rings, but none were like this one.
“It’s beautiful. How did you come by it?”
“My father gave it to me before I came here. It
was always meant to be yours.”
“Why are you giving this ring to me now?”
“Because it belonged to Avriel and it will bind
you to her children.
You already share a close bond
with Alannah, but the ring will also bind you to Alorrah
and possibly Alexis too.”
“You mean I will be able to communicate with
Alorrah?”
“Yes, at least that’s what I’ve been told. In the
past Alannah was the only one who could speak to her
sister. I believe this ring will allow you to do the same
thing. I know you’ve been worried about her since
learning about her imprisonment. I thought if you were
able to communicate with her, it might ease some of
your pain.”
“Thank you Aidan. That’s really considerate
of you.”
“Aura you must understand, Alannah has never
told us of the conditions in which Alorrah or Alexis
have been held.
You are a seer.
I hope this will
improve your visions, but I have to warn you, it might
not paint a pretty picture. That’s one of the reasons
your mother asked me to wait before I gave you the
ring.
She felt it would cause you a great deal of
anguish.”
“I am used to unpleasant sights. To be able to
see my daughter; this is perhaps the greatest gift you
could ever give me.”
Just then the little ones came running into the
room, almost out of breath. Alannah came over to Aura
and picked up her left hand. “What have you done?
Did he tell you that the ring will bind you to him?”
Aura
was
shocked. “Alannah, you are
mistaken.
Aidan only gave me the ring so I could
communicate with Alorrah; it means nothing else.”
Alannah
glared
at
her
father. “It was
Mommy’s ring.
It will bind you to us, but it will also
bind you to Aidan.”
Aura looked at Aidan, “Is that true?
Will the
ring bind me to you?”
“Yes, the ring will bind us together.”
“How could you deceive me this way?”
“I wasn’t sure you would accept the ring if I
told you that part,” Aidan sighed.
“What will happen if I give the ring back to
you?”
“The bond between you and your daughters
will be broken.”
“So if I choose not to be bound to you, then I
can’t be bound to them either? I’m their mother.
I
have a right to keep them.”
“I’m sorry Aura. I didn’t make the rules.”
“You knew I couldn’t give it back because it
would break my bond to the children. This is by far the
cruelest thing you could have ever done to me.I won’t
give up my daughter’s, not even for you. I’ll keep the
ring, but our relationship will not be changing!”
She walked over to Alannah and the girls.
“Why don’t you and the others go play, while I talk to
Aidan?”
Bren and Tracy took Alannah’s hands and led
her back to the playroom, where she would be out of
ear shot
of Aura
and Aidan.
Bren suspected the
conversation wouldn’t be a pleasant one and she didn’t
want to upset Alannah anymore.
They all witnessed Aidan with Jeziel in the
backyard. Neither of the three trusted him anymore.
“At least Aura will be able to communicate
with Alorrah now,” Bren said.
“Yes –that’s true. But I don’t want her to
marry Aidan.
He will never give up on Jeziel and we
know how evil she is,” Alannah cried.
“I don’t think you have to worry about that,”
Bren said. “Aura won’t be fooled by Jeziel.
This is
probably just part of the plan. Let’s try not to think
about it for awhile. We have a wedding tomorrow.I’m
sure the High Council will be there. Jeziel won’t start
any crap with them around.”
“Yeah-that’s right,” Alannah said.
The girls
decided to let the matter go for now.
There was no
reason to be upset. Aura wouldn’t let Jeziel anywhere
near them.

Aura sat in one of the kitchen chairs.
“You
have put me in an uncomfortable position.
I never
would have believed you would deceive me like this.
What were you thinking?”

“I was hoping the ring would allow you some
comfort. You will be able to speak with Alorrah now.
Isn’t that what you want?”

“Of course it’s what I want, but you could have
told me the rest.
my own decision.
lose both of my daughter’s. I can’t help thinking this
would be a tactic your friend Jeziel would use!”

Aidan was
full
of regret. “I have never
discussed the
ring
with anyone
else, except
your
mother.I’m sorry you feel that I have deceived you, it
was not my intention to do so.”

Aura walked to the playroom, but stopped as
she entered.
She thought of Alorrah and was shocked
when a child’s voice came into her mind. “Mommy; I
miss you.
I know you’ll come for me soon. Can we
pick out another Christmas tree, when I get home?”

Alannah heard the
conversation too. “See
Mommy, Alorrah says she’s coming home.”
Aura had to excuse herself for a minute.
She
didn’t want the little ones to see her cry.
Aidan
followed her into the room and when he saw how upset
she was, he tried to cover for her until she regained her
composure.
Of course the girls wanted no part of him and
kept their distance; acting like he was invisible.
Seeing that he wasn’t wanted, Aidan walked
out of the room where he found Aura crying. “Are you
alright?” he asked.
“I heard her Aidan. Alorrah spoke to me. She
said she missed me and asked when I was coming to
bring her home?” Aura said, between sniffles.
“I’m sorry Aura. I never meant to hurt you”
“Do you think she knows?”
“Knows what?”
“Do you think she knows of a way for me to
bring her home?”
“She is a powerful seer, like Esra. Perhaps she
knows something you have not yet seen.
Remember
what you told me.There is always hope.”
I should have been allowed to make
Now if I give back the ring, I will
“You’re right. I promised myself I would find
a way to bring her home and I intend to keep that
promise.”
Aidan nodded in agreement.
Even if Aura
refused to accept him, he hoped that she could find a
way to bring the girls out of Hell.
The ring was supposed to bring them closer
together.
Now it had driven a wedge between them;
one that he wasn’t sure could ever be removed.