Revisited (Redemption Series) (2 page)

Peter

Age:
Ageless

Occupation:
Archangel

Relationship Status:
No significant other

Last known location:
Reading, England

Physical description:
Tall, thin with messy brown hair and bright blue eyes, appears to be in his late twenties

Rebecca “Becca” Swift

Age:
31 years old

Occupation:
Special agent with the FBI

Relationship Status:
Previously in a committed relationship with Abe North, but had embarked on a new one with Ian Holt before they were separated

Last known location:
Reading, England

Physical description:
Tall with curves in all the right places, blue eyes, and auburn hair

Renee

Age:
25 years old

Occupation:
Bar owner

Relationship Status:
No significant other

Last known location:
Reading, England

Physical description:
Petite, green eyes, and strawberry blond hair

Ryan Edwards

Age:
Over 130 years old

Occupation:
An angel of death

Relationship Status:
Married to Lily Edwards

Last known location:
Reading, England

Physical description:
Tall and lean, jet-black, collar length hair, and blue eyes, appears to be in his mid-thirties

Sam Fleming

Age:
Unknown

Occupation:
Angel and President of the Boston Branch of The Manchester Group

Relationship Status:
Once had a relationship with Anne Swift which produced Becca

Last known location:
Reading, England

Physical description:
Tall and lean, salt and pepper hair cropped short above his ears, and eyes that have a small rim of blue around his enlarged, black pupils, appears to be in his mid-forties

The disheveled young man awoke with a start, realizing he was in his bedroom of his New York mansion. Sweat dripped from his temples as his heart pounded against his breastbone and his lungs attempted to expand. He tore the sheets back before setting his bare feet down on the cold hardwood floor.

    He neglected to grab his robe and raced down the hall toward his study, gooseflesh rising across the expanse of his skin. Clad in just his boxer shorts, he entered his sanctuary and dove for the book he needed.

“Come on. Where is it?” he muttered, flipping through the pages while searching for the confirmation he desperately needed.

He settled at his desk as his eyes roamed over each page. His nightmare had brought visions of demons in their truest form. He seldom had visions while dreaming, but when he did, he knew they were the most important ones. This particular demon was one who taunted him for years, yet evaded him at every turn. If he could find the demon, it might very well force him back into the ranks several were so desperate for him to rejoin.

“Finally.” He settled on the entry he had read several times before.
Gideon: the destroyer. Source of power embedded in his forearm.

He sat back in his leather desk chair and expelled a shaky breath. He’d just experienced a vision of Gideon with Becca and another man. Then he saw Gideon transferring his essence into another body, his hand and forearm melding into the new body. Watching and unable to stop the scene had been terrifying.

“Fuck!” He swept the papers violently from his desk.

It had been years since Gideon placed a black mark on Nathaniel’s soul and determined to make his life a living hell. Day after day, night after night, he lived just that—a never ending cycle of pain and suffering.

“If I could just . . .” He grasped at the remaining traces of the visions.

In his mind, he saw Gideon walking with a dark haired man into a cave. He saw their flesh and bone become one as the molten lava vibrated its blistering light off the cave walls. He saw the body he had feared for a decade thrown into the fire, but could not make out the new vessel’s face.

He knew who he needed to call, the one man who might make sense of it all, and the only one in authority who might listen. He took the receiver from the cradle before dialing the number he knew by heart. After three rings, he heard a click on the line. 

“Yes?” a strong female voice answered.

“Give me Eli Manchester now, please.”

Another soft click and then a faint whirring sound followed. “Voice identified. Nathaniel Archer. Your call will now be completed as directed.”

He released the breath he had held. He hadn’t used the number in the last three years and was fearful he might not attain access to the only man who could help him.

“Eli Manchester. Go,” the stern voice of his mentor answered.

“It’s Nathaniel.”

“Boy, what are you calling me for at this hour? It’s three in the morning where you are.” The edge of concern dripped from each word.

“I’ve had visions of Becca and . . .” Nathaniel took a deep, shaky breath. “Of Becca and Gideon. Gideon has moved on to a new vessel. I’m not sure of the new identity other than some physical features like his build and hair color, but I am positive it was Gideon.” He gulped and waited for a reply.

“Get to JFK as fast as you can. I’ll have a jet fueled and waiting.” The tremor in Eli’s voice was well hidden, but not well enough from his own flesh and blood.

“Uncle, what am I missing?”

“The girls need you now. Pack for a long stay and don’t forget your umbrella. It’s been raining for days.”

“I won’t forget.” Nathaniel chuckled at the idea of an umbrella being of any real importance. “Are they okay?”

“They’ll be better once you’re here. Safe travels, my boy.” 

The line went dead.

Nathaniel Archer sat in his late father’s chair in his ancestral home. He hadn’t left it in over three years. He knew the mess he was about to get involved with might never bring him home again, but for them, he would do it. Lily and Becca had risked their existence for him. It was time for him to return the favor.

Lily opened her eyes when she heard the floorboards creak as Ryan walked into their room at Leatherby Manor.

    “For you.” Ryan held out a large mug of her favorite crimson liquid.

“Thanks.” Lily sat up and accepted his offering while he sat down next to her on what they had now dubbed “their” bed.

“Feeling any better today?” Ryan threaded his fingers through hers before bringing them to his lips.

“I’m still in a fog.” She sipped from her mug. The taste was a combination of things, along with something she had not expected. “What’s in this?”

Ryan gave her a sheepish smile. “Human blood. At Sam’s suggestion, Jefferson made you a concoction to wean you off it. Sam thought a gradual withdrawal was the best course. You still have quite a bit of Becca’s blood in your system.”

The fact she had willingly given up her existence for Becca, her adoptive daughter, and in return her daughter had given life back to her, made Lily uncomfortable. It was still a little too much for her to take in while she was still in such a weakened state. “I know. The real stuff has some interesting effects on me since I don’t drink it often.” Lily sat the mug on her nightstand, no longer thirsty. 

“What’s the matter? Is there something wrong?”

“Yes.” She sighed. “I can’t explain why I’m still here, or what’s happening. So many thoughts are racing through my brain, but my body is moving like sludge stuck in a drainpipe. I’m not sure how to adjust.”

“I have an idea.” Ryan retrieved a box from underneath the bed. “Open it.”

Lily tugged on the lavender bow before removing the buttercup yellow paper from the rectangular box. She pulled the lid off to find a leather-bound book with gold lettering along the edges, accompanied by a black fountain pen.

“I’m not sure where you’ve purchased your journals in the past, but this looks similar to the one I saw at the cabin. I thought writing things down might give you a little perspective.”

Lily looked at him, then back down to the journal. It was exactly what she needed. If she hadn’t believed it before, in that moment she was positive. Ryan was her other half in every possible way. “I love you, Mr. Edwards.”

“And I love and adore you, Mrs. Edwards, even though some of your decisions, as of late, might have been better received if they’d been discussed beforehand.” He gave her a stern look before he leaned in to kiss her. “You write and drink. You need your strength for what comes next.”

“What’s next?” She wondered if he knew something she didn’t.

“I have no idea, but I plan on finding out.” Another kiss and he was out the door.

Lily removed the journal from the box and picked up the pen. With the book open and the pen uncapped, she began to let what the current year had brought bleed onto the pages in front of her.

January

The year started better than many in my recent past. I spent my birthday with friends in the town that had become another home in Iceland. Then the next morning, everything changed.

I found Erik after he had died of a massive heart attack. Renee, his daughter, was devastated, and I did everything I could to keep it together for her. All the while, I wondered about the angel of death sent to carry Erik to the other side.

That was when the Archangel, and pain in my ass, Peter, showed up. He’d been my friend, and even my mentor, for many years, but that didn’t mean he’d always be on my good side. His visit left me with more questions than answers, but soon I knew my life would never be the same.

Oh, how right I was!

After Erik’s funeral, I just needed to let loose for a while. I ran to the lake as I had many times before and sat in my favorite spot. That was when Ryan found me. My love, my life, my husband. He was right there in front of me. Everything I had done for over a hundred years was so I could be with him again. It was like forever and no time at all had passed. We were still the same young spirits who married on a beautiful spring morning all those years ago, but with so much more appreciation for every moment we could now spend together.

It took no time at all to embark on a second honeymoon in Rome. We reunited as husband and wife, somehow thinking the other shoe wouldn’t drop.