Fall from Grace (Book 2: An Angelblood Novel) (40 page)

The little ones made sure the family knew Aura
accepted Avriels ring, but she and Aidan weren’t
getting married.It wouldn’t hurt for them to know she
intended to keep the ring if for no other reason than it
allowed her to communicate with Alorrah.
Aura was
convinced Jeziel would not be happy about the news,
but she took her threats to Aidan in stride.
She had
other things to think about; like rescuing her daughter
from Hell.

That afternoon, Aura told Rita she needed to
return to the valley with the boys.
When they arrived
she told them to go to bed early. “You’ll be leaving for
Utopia at three in the morning.”

“Why so early?” Jessica moaned.
“Because it will be nine o’clock there and you
have to be in Utopia for the hearing,” Aura said. After
Rita informed Jessica the reason they needed to be in
attendance she stopped complaining.
If there was a
way to get back at Richard, she would give up her bed
for a week.
“Arian will be coming with you.
He and Jade
will stay at the sanctuary until they are needed at the
Hall of Justice,” Aura said.
“Do you think Natalie will show up?”Jessica
asked.
“I doubt it. Richard won’t risk her being there
for a hearing to have his brother declared dead,” Rita
replied.
Jessica sounded disappointed.“Is that what the
hearing is about?
I thought they were going to try
Richard for Virgil’s death.”
“Aura has something else planned. I’ll tell you
about it later,” Rita assured her.
Paul already met with Aura and told her the
others were ready.
“So now all we have to do is enjoy dinner,”
Aura said.
“Alannah was excited about the weddings, but
prayed her mother would not consent to marry Aidan.
Jeziel was all kinds of bad news and knowing she
would be at the wedding was cause for her concern.
Aidan looked down in the dumps. Alannah had
never acted so cold towards him before.
Part of him
blamed Aura for turning his daughter against him.
He
was so naïve, he had no clue that the girls had witness
hisopen display of affection with Jeziel, in Aura’s
backyard.
He
was
no
longer
optimistic
about
his
relationship with Aura.
He knew that she felt that he
deceived her by giving her Avriel’s ring, but that
wasn’t the case. He wanted to speak to her more about
it, but she was too upset after hearing Alorrah’s voice
for the first time.
He
wondered
if
Jeziel
would
make
her
presence known again tonight. He told her he didn’t
want her there, but when did she ever listen to him.
Aura was becoming more relaxed with the ring.
Aidan could hear her conversing with Alorrah and
trying to describe what was happening.“I can see it too
Mommy,” Alorrah reminded her. Aura would laugh. “I
forget that you’re a seer too sometimes.”
Aidan asked her what the prison looked like,
but she was reluctant to answer him. He knew she was
still angry and he wasn’t sure she would ever forgive
him.
Somehow Aura thought Jeziel had something to
do with the timing of his gift to her.
When she finally did tell him, he could hear the
hurtin her voice. “It’s a prison Aidan; not one of the
bedrooms we have here.
From what I saw, there is a
small cot and they apparently bring her food.
She said
there is one girl she almost trusts, but she doesn’t have
anything to do with the others.”
“Has she mentioned Alexis or Fionn?”
“Alexis is fine; as fine as anyone in her
situation can be and she says she tries to protect Fionn.
She knows they hurt him and when they do, she hurts
one of Lucifer’s own. That’s how Samhael got burned.
He was hurting Fionn and trying to send a message to
Alorrah.
Even though he was a good distance away,
she burned his hand.”
“When Lucifer realized how far her angel-fire
could travel, he left them alone for a while.
She said
Mortriel is the worst of all. He pretends to be nice, but
she hears him beating the other prisoners.”
“There are more of them?”
“Some of them were deceived into following
one of Lucifer’s “children.”
Alorrah says they treat
them the worst because they were once mortal.”
“I don’t think I want to know anything else,”
Aidan said miserably.“I don’t envy your gift.”
“I’m sure that’s why the gift is only given to a
few.
Some of the things I see are disgusting.
I try to
turn off my mind when the visions are too gruesome.
Sometimes I wonder if Lucifer has a way of getting into
my thoughts.”
“I’m sure you have protections to prevent that
from happening.”
They weren’t talking together as they did
before, but at least they were talking.
she would try for her daughter’s sake.
hand, she was determined to show Aidan that he was
not forgiven. It would be a long time before he would
have that kind of trust from her again.
Keeping his friendship with Jeziel wasn’t going
to help matters. They could leave their differences
behind, at least until Jasmine was married. Aura didn’t
Aura promised
On the other
want to hurt her feelings, so she agreed to be in the
wedding.
At least she didn’t have to cook that night. The
rehearsal dinner was held at one of the local hotels.
Howard made
sure
everything
was
perfect.
They
would be celebrating another angel-blood marriage on
New Year’s Eve.
That was only one day away.
But
first she would deal with Richard.
Aura hurried to get the little ones bathed and in
bed. Tomorrow would be a busy day.
Paul and Adam finished two of the houses on
an adjoining street for the families Mahlyssa brought
with her. They would reside next to Alice Malloy and
her family, who had just recently accepted the blood of
the angels.
The other little ones stayed in their own homes
that night, but Rita and Jessica stayed at Aura’s house
with Will and Joshua.
Arian had been there since he
returned with Mahlyssa and of course Jade wasn’t
about to leave his side.
“Are you sure this is going to go down the way
you saw it?” Rita asked her sister.
“Absolutely just remember to take Jayden’s
knife with you,” Aura insisted.
“Why do I need that when I can call for the
swords of Heaven?”
“You’ll understand the reason in due time.
I
can’t explain it yet, but you’re supposed to have that
knife.”
“Alright, if you insist.It’s almost one o’clock I
think we should try to sleep for a couple of hours.”
“What time are we getting up again?” Jessica
asked.
“Oh dark thirty,” Rita laughed.
“That’s what I thought. I’m turning in too.
Wake me up if I oversleep.”
“Don’t worry. Aura will make sure we’re
awake.She has a built in alarm clock,” Will chuckled.
“Remind me after we get married that I’m
going to sleep for a whole day,” Jessica said.
“I’ll remind you, but you might change your
mind when you see where I’m
taking you on our
honeymoon,” Joshua laughed.
“Are the four of you planning to honeymoon
together?” Aura asked.
“I think that’s the plan,” Will said.
“You try separating these two girls,” Joshua
added.
They
all
laughed before
saying
goodnight.
Aura knew it was going to be a long day tomorrow.
She fixed small snacks for the girls, who were already
fast asleep.
Aura put them in the refrigerator in case
they woke up hungry.
She said goodnight to Aidan who had been in
his room while she was confirming her plans with the
others.
She had no trouble falling asleep that night.
Jeziel had not come to visit.
Aura woke around two thirty and went to make
sure Rita and Jessica were awake. She was surprised to
find the four of them already at the kitchen table eating
breakfast.“What’s this about?”
“Trying out our domestic side,” Rita laughed.
“Did you wake up Arian?” Aura asked.
“He’ll be down in a minute,” Will said.
“Apparently he doesn’t do mornings.”
“Neither do I, but I’m here,” Jessica scowled.
Joshua put his arm around her. “Relax you’ll
probably have time for a nap when we get back.”
“I hope so.
I want to look my best for the
wedding,” Jessica said.
“You always look your best,” Joshua smiled.
“And there you have it,” Arian said, as he
walked into the kitchen. “Some of us need our beauty
sleep,” he reminded Joshua.
Aura fixed Arian and Jade a cup of tea. “Would
you like some fresh eggs?”
“”Do we have time?”
“It will only take a minute.”
Aidan soon joined the others in the kitchen
“Why are you all up so early? Is something
happening?”
“Aura can explain everything after we leave,”
Rita said.
“Since you’re already up, why don’t you have
some breakfast,” Aura said, as she put another platter of
eggs on the table.
Aidan looked suspiciously at her, but decided
he was hungry so he started fixing a plate for himself.
“I think it’s time for us to go,” Will said.
“Yeah -we don’t want to be late for this party,”
Joshua laughed.
“What party are they talking about? Isn’t it a
little early in the morning to start celebrating?” Aidan
asked.
“It’s not that kind of party,” Aura said.
Jade told Arian she knew where they were
going, so they could finish their breakfast.
Aura
walked
the
others
to
the
door.
“Remember what I told you. It will happen exactly that
way. You can communicate with me if you need to.”
She
kissed them
all
goodbye
and returned to the
kitchen.
By the time she got back, Arian and Jade were
ready to go too. “Go to the sanctuary. I’ll tell you
exactly when to arrive at the Hall of Justice. Don’t
leave before then, it might change the outcome,” she
warned them. She then hugged both of them. “I’ll see
you all back here in a few hours.”
When she returned to the kitchen Aidan asked,
“What was that all about?”
“They have something to take care of in
Utopia?”
“What could possibly take them away at this
time of the morning?”
“It’s almost nine o’clock in the morning there
Aidan.Have you forgotten about the time change?”
“Are you going to tell me what this is about? I
know you’re still upset with me Aura, but I think as
your guardian I should still be informed about some
things.”
Aura sat down and began drinking her tea.
“Meredith and Richard have decided to ask the
Commission to have Caspian declared legally dead.”
“I didn’t hear about any other deaths.”
“That’s because he’s not dead. He’s been
working under cover for the Guard.
My father has
always known his whereabouts, but he couldn’t tell
anyone else. We didn’t know who we could trust and
he didn’t want to put his or Axels’ life in danger. This
morning Richard thinks he’s going to offer support to
Desiree, Caspian’s wife. He doesn’t know we plan to
expose him for abducting Arian and killing the angelblood.”
“Wasn’t it Mahlyssa who was actually keeping
Arian?”
“She was responsible for saving his life. Arian
was half dead from the creatures when Richard brought
him to her.
He could have died several times, but
Mahlyssa
kept
him
alive. She
kept
Arian there
to
protect him; not to appease Richard.”
“Couldn’t it be conceived as an act of kindness
that Richard took Arian to Mahlyssa’s?”
“He can’t excuse the fact he murdered Will’s
parents and the others.
When Desiree has concluded
with her testimony, the Commission will ask if anyone
else has anything to add.That’s when Caspian’s going
to walk in.
A fight will ensue and Richard will try to
kill Caspian.Rita is going to kill Richard.”
“Does she know that?”
“Not yet, but she’ll find out soon enough.
I
insisted sheuse Jayden’s dagger instead of one of the
sacred swords.
No one will understand why he has to
die by that blade but me. And I am not prepared to tell
anyone the reason, because it could prevent me from
rescuing my daughter.”
“You know how to bring Alorrah home?”
“I’ll know more in a week; maybe two. I’m
trusting you not to repeat any of this to Jeziel.
Your
slip of the tongue made Richard aware Mahlyssa was
here with us.”
“What do you mean Aura?
I would never
betray your trust.”
“Jeziel has a way of getting information from
you without
your
knowledge. As long as you’re
keeping company with her, I won’t be telling you any
secrets.”
“I swear I won’t say anything Aura.”
“I’ve probably already said too much. I won’t
jeopardize bringing my daughter home, whether it hurts
your feelings or not; I’m sorry.”
Aidan stood up and walked in to the living
room. He stared at Aura’s Christmas gift to him. He
was sitting with Aura; Bren, Tracy, Alorrah, Alannah
and Alexis were at their feet.
They were all together.
Aidan lifted his head to Heaven once more and prayed.
“Please father if you could free them from their prison,
I swear I will never stray from your path. I don’t ask
for myself, but for them and their mother who loves
them more than her life.”
Aura heardAidan’s prayer and it touched her
heart; at least part of it. She still wasn’t going to trust
him, regardless of how many times he prayed to the
Almighty Father.
She walked in to the living room and stood
beside him. “There is always hope Aidan; never forget
that.”
She decided to be more pleasant towards him,
but he was far from being forgiven. His friendship with
Jeziel was a contention she couldn’t overlook.
Aidan knew now how Fionn felt. Even though
he did everything he could to make Esra happy, there
was always something missing.
Rusty was the first to come downstairs.
He
went into the living room after pouring a cup of tea. A
few minutes later the little ones came down.“What are
you two doing?” Bren asked.
“Waiting for you,” Rusty said, as he picked the
three of them up and started tickling them.
They were laughing and Aura heard Alannah
say, “Stop Rusty, I’m gonna pee.”
“What? You’re gonna pee?”
Alannah was still laughing when she said, “I
mean it Rusty. You have to stop or we’re both gonna
get wet.” Rusty threw her in the air and said, “I’ve
been wet before. Come on, we don’t want to mess up
your Mommy’s clean floors.”
He grabbed Bren and Tracy and carried the
three of them back to their bedroom so they could
“pee.”
Aidan was almost jealous of Rusty. He should
have been playing with the little ones; instead he could
do nothing but stand and watch.
He wondered if the
girls were angry with him too.
Whenever he tried to
get close to Alannah she backed away.
Was Aura
responsible for turning his daughter against him?
He
would have another conversation with her later.