The Celestial Rose BoxSet

by Annalee Adams

  “If I can create humanity, then I can damn well save my family.”

  “Yes, indeed... but I must caution against it. Caleb died tragically, and he still believes he has the Beast within him. When he accepts his death, then he can move on.”

  “What about my dad?”

  “He’s down the corridor, door number 361482. But...” Adam yelled as I ran off to find the door.

  “Eve, wait up!” Gabriel shouted as he caught up. “Where are you off to?”

  “To find my dad.”

  “The almighty? I hope not!”

  “No, jeez this is getting hard... Taylor’s dad!”

  “Ah okay, what numbers he at?”

  “361484, no 3. Err I forgot!”

  “Okay, let’s try them, shall we?”

  We ran further along the corridor. The hygienic white walls blurred beyond recognition. Speed clearly wasn’t something we had to worry about either. It seemed like anything was possible in this place. It felt like time passed by quickly, if time was relative. I’d have guessed hours went by, especially considering how tired my new astral body felt. Did gods and goddesses feel tiredness? Am I a goddess now? Who knew? According to the humans, I was the daughter of a god, but then, what did they know? If only they realised it was me that created their puny lives. Boy, how I’d liked to have extinguished Kerry’s life all those years ago. The mean older girl from two floors down. She was so jealous of my life in the penthouse. She purposely tried to make everything about me a living hell. I’d have squashed her like a bug if only I’d have known I could. But then, what’s that saying? Don’t give a kid matches and not expect her to light a fire?

  CHAPTER 31: TAYLOR

  Slowing down, we followed the numbers.

  “Here,” Gabriel blurted out, as he slowed to a standstill. “361484, be my guest.”

  Stopping beside him, I leant towards the white door with black numbers inscribed in the centre.

  “Go on,” he urged.

  Carefully, my hand drifted towards the round handle. It felt cold in my hand, like the icy gates of a cemetery on a blustery winter's day. Turning it, the door pushed open. Inside the white room a child lay, cowering in the corner. Her young eyes were glazed over, her pale face torn from one too many tears. She laid in the cold void, all alone, with no-one to care for her.

  “Wrong room,” Gabriel said, attempting to close the door.

  “No, wait,” I said, walking over to the motionless child. “Who is she?”

  “Err, I’ll check.” He closed his eyes.

  “Her mortal name was Anna, she was six years old when she died.”

  “What happened to her?”

  “She died in York when her building was crushed by Lilith’s Beast, killing all her family. She was trapped for seven hours before she died due to her internal injuries.”

  “That’s horrible!” I exclaimed. “Why didn’t she move on?”

  “She’s waiting for her mother. She died and is next door, I believe.”

  “Next door?”

  “Yes.”

  “Show me.” I said as Gabriel motioned for me to leave little Anna's room. Next door an older lady in a torn nightgown lay tear struck, frozen in the corner.

  “Is this her mother?” I asked. Gabriel nodded in response. “Why is she still here?”

  “She searches for her daughter. She cannot rest until she finds her.”

  “Why can’t we help them?”

  “How?”

  “Come with me.” I said, taking Gabriel’s hand and pulling him into Anna's room. “Pick her up.”

  “I, but... we aren’t supposed to.”

  “I’m not bothered about your rules. This little girl needs her mummy and that is something we can help with.”

  “Okay, boss.” Gabriel smiled as he walked over to Anna, carefully picking up her little frail body. “Next door, I take it?” he asked. I nodded in response.

  We went into the next room and placed the frozen little girl next to her mother. The room began to warm. Both mother and daughter melted out of existence as they saw one another, screamed blinding tears, cuddled, and then walked on to the next realm hand in hand.

  I turned to see Gabriel smiling. I realised I’d gripped his hand in happiness. I’d caused that, brought them back together. My cheeks blossomed as a Cheshire grin coated my face.

  “We’ve missed you, Eve,” Adam said, walking into the room. “You used to be the one that always saw the obvious, solved the riddle. You could bring happiness into anyone’s life and always found a way to help all the souls find peace once and for all. It’s good to have you back.” He smiled, walking over and placing his hand on my shoulders. I smiled, squirming under my big brother. It was good to be back, from what I could remember of it. “Now let’s find your father, shall we?”

  “Yes, let's.”

  “I believe it was this door you wanted.” 361482 was inscribed in black across the pure white door.

  “Thank you,” I said as I tried the handle, pushed open the door, and saw my frozen father lying on the floor.

  I rushed over to him. His skin felt as cold as snow. His complexion was encased in a scream, his eyes watered by sorrow. He wasn’t at peace, nowhere near it, in fact. There must be something I can do! I sat beside him, picked up his heavy, frosted hand, and as I did, his features began to melt back into existence. His warming, rich tone flushed back through his skin, his sparkling eyes filled with colour, and his lips curled up into a sweet smile when his eyes opened to greet me.

  “Taylor!” he cried, “Where have you been?”

  “I’m here, Daddy!” I cried, leaping in for a big old bear hug. I’d missed him so much.

  “Baby girl!” he exclaimed, holding me close, brushing my hair with his old withered hands.

  “Dad, I’m so sorry.”

  “I know, hunny, it wasn’t your fault, none of it was your fault.”

  “You know about Caleb?” I stuttered.

  “Yes, I was still fighting when they brought you both back. I thought I’d lost you both!”

  “No, I’m still here!”

  “Where are we, Taylor?” Dad asked, “and who are they?” He pointed towards Adam, Gabriel, and Michael.

  Adam smiled stepping forward. “Ah, now that is a story I’m sure your Taylor would want to tell you. Let’s change the scenery, shall we?” He clapped, and we were right back in the living room of our old London penthouse.

  “How?” Dad exclaimed.

  “It’s a long story, but I quite like your idea of perfection.” I said, smiling.

  “This is where we have our best memories, Taylor. How did he bring us here?”

  “Well, that’s Adam. He’s actually my big brother.”

  “Pardon?”

  “No, not like that.” I laughed. “I’m much more than Taylor Lane. My spirit is the same spirit as his sister, Eve, shares.”

  Dad laughed. “Adam and Eve? I’m not sure what you mean. The only Adam and Eve I’ve ever heard of are the ones in the bible.”

  “Yeah, that would be the ones.”

  “So, you’re telling me you’re the first female on Earth?”

  “No, technically Lilith was.”

  “Who?”

  “Exactly! They never remember Lilith.” Gabriel said to Michael, who nodded.

  “And who are these pair? Santa Claus and the tooth fairy?” He laughed harder.

  “Err, no sir. I’m Gabriel and this is Michael. We’re the Angels.”

  Dad was in stitches. I hadn’t heard him laugh so hard since before Mum died.

  Adam smirked, “Gabriel show him your true self.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Adam nodded.

  Gabriel ruffled free his angelic wings, shaking side to side as the magnificent feathered beauties rose up behind him. Light poured out of the tips as his being ignited into pure celestial flame. Rising into the air, he held out his hands as if to say, ‘there you go’.

  Dad fell silent, his
face resembled that of one having been smacked with a wet kipper. “Dad, are you okay?”

  “He’s... he’s an Angel.”

  “Yes, I know.”

  “Am I dead?”

  “Technically, yes, you are.”

  “Bugger!” he exclaimed.

  “Indeed,” Adam said, ushering Gabriel down to the floor.

  “Now, it’s a lot for any mortal to take in, but know this, I am eternally grateful for you protecting my sister. You’ve been the father she always dreamed of having and you have given her the most perfect childhood any infant could ever ask for. Thank you.”

  “She’s my baby girl, always will be.” He said ruffling my hair.

  “Thanks, Dad,” I smiled.

  I could see the cogs whirring in my father’s head.

  “If you’re Eve, then surely that means that the Almighty God is your father?”

  “Sadly, yes, but he isn’t the God depicted in the bible. He turned dark and left the world to rot.”

  “You actually have your daughter to thank for creating humanity.”

  “What? Really?” He paused. “So you created me and your mum, how does that work then?”

  “I have no idea.” I laughed. “It’s good to have you back, Dad.”

  “It’s good to be back, kiddo.”

  CHAPTER 32: TAYLOR

  Living in the afterlife was a journey no-one could have foretold. It was a place of wonder, disillusionment, purity, and peace. I wouldn’t recommend dying to get there but it was relieving to know there was somewhere for my loved ones after they withered and rotted. Having Dad back was worth the pain of death itself, that hadn't exactly been a picnic. But it was good to know Lucian still lived and the world didn’t turn to ice over my hormonal misgivings.

  “I’ll leave you two to talk.” Adam said, smiling and walking out of our old London home with Gabriel and Michael in tow.

  “Taylor, sweetie, are you okay? You look flushed.” Dad said as we sat down on the old couch beside the window. I missed our old home. It was hard not to expect Mum to walk in at any moment. But even with the sorrow of losing her, the brightness of the yellow walls and floral curtains made me smile. This was home, my sunshine home.

  “I’m fine, Dad, just a little worn by everything.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Is there anything you’d like to talk about?” he said as his eyebrows raised with recognition. I nodded, sitting silently. “What happened after I died?”

  “I’m not sure. I don’t know how long you were gone for before I woke up.”

  “How did you get here, though?”

  “I died.” I said. My dad reached for my hand, taking it into his own.

  “I’m sorry. How did it happen?”

  “My powers took over. It wasn’t pretty. The beast took too much from me. I just couldn’t handle the reality of the situation.”

  Dad pulled me close. “It’s okay, Taylor, I’m here now.” He said as my body tremored with raw cheeks stinging and the taste of salt sweeping through my lips. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

  “It’s not your fault, Dad, it’s mine. I stole your life.”

  “I would happily give you my life again if it eased your suffering. You’re my daughter, you and Caleb are everything to me. I’d do anything for either of you.” He smiled, brushing the sodden hair away from my face, and kissing my forehead. “Speaking of Caleb, where is he?” I cried harder. “What’s wrong, angel? Is he here?” He asked with his arm round my shoulders, squeezing me tighter.

  “Yes, I believe so.”

  “Let’s go and see him, we need to be a family again. Your mother must be here somewhere, too.”

  Mum, I never considered the fact. Was she still here? Hiding somewhere in her own perfect place? Or had she moved on, let go, reincarnated with another life to live?

  “I’m not sure how we leave here, though.” The house was silent, perfectly as still as my memory of it. How did we get out? Looking around, the obvious choice was the front door of our beloved home. Brushing myself down, I got up. “Come on, Dad, let’s find Caleb.” I smiled and headed over to the front door.

  I knew Adam said not to, but we had to. We needed peace together, as a family, and that family included my little brother. He needed support. I couldn’t leave my little brother suffering for an eternity. The thought of it was horrible; he’d be stuck in his own personal version of Hell.

  Opening the door, the light in the room faded, shifting my view to a mere glimmer as my sunshine home dissipated around me. Entering the white pristine corridor, I wasn’t sure where to go. Where could he be? If it was anything like the mother and daughter from earlier, he’d be close by. There was only one place to try; next door, the door with no handle.

  Standing before the crisp, white door I puzzled on how to open it. It certainly had a gap around the edge. It looked like a door, complete with the black numbers 361481. It was the room next door to Dad’s, it had to be Caleb’s. Feeling around the edge, there was no prominent gap, no obvious instruction. There had to be a way in.

  “I don’t understand, I can’t see a way in.”

  “What do you mean, kiddo?” Dad said as he stood staring at the blank door before us.

  “It won’t open.”

  “What won’t open?”

  “The door, Dad, the door won’t open.”

  Dad looked over blankly. “There isn’t any door here, Taylor.”

  “What? Of course there is. The numbers are on every door down this corridor.”

  “There isn’t any doors, angel, it’s just a normal corridor.”

  “So why have you let me stand here staring into space?”

  “I don’t know, I thought it was an ‘Eve’ thing. I presumed you were conjuring up a way to Caleb.” He smiled.

  “Dad, I haven’t a clue how to do that. I’m still me, and I’ve no idea how the ‘Eve’ thing works.”

  “Well, I’d say it already working, if you can see doors and I can’t.”

  “True,” I said, “But the door doesn’t have a handle.”

  “What? A door with no handle, that’s silly.”

  “Clearly,” I said, smiling. We weren’t getting anywhere fast.

  “Have you tried pushing it?”

  “Pushing what?”

  “The door, of course.”

  “Err, no,” I said as I stepped forward, placed both palms on the centre of the door, and pushed with all my might. As I did, the door budged, light flooded out, and Dad gasped.

  “Woah, see, it’s an Eve-ism.” He chuckled walking through into the room before us. “Caleb!” He rushed over to my little brother who sat swarmed in darkness, cradled in the corner.

  “Dad! Wait!” I yelled too late.

  Caleb turned in the darkness, half beast, half boy, and screamed in Dad's face just as he reached him. He pulled at his own face, scratching his eyes out. Blood spilled down his cheeks as he screamed for mercy once more. Dad grabbed at him, pleaded with him to stop, and I just froze, standing motionless in fear as my legs refused to operate any further.

  I couldn’t do this again, couldn’t relive the trauma anymore. All I could do was scream, yell as loud as my lungs would allow me, scream for help, for mercy, for anything to ease my brother's suffering. Hell, I’d kill him myself if it’d end the torment he went through. But I knew he’d just end up back there, back in that corner, back to ripping his own insides out on a daily occurrence. Life was unjust, and my eleven-year-old little brother was proof at how messed up the whole system had become.

  “TAYLOR! For god’s sake, HELP!” Dad screamed. His eyes wide with fright.

  Snapping myself back to reality, my body shook. I’d screamed for help, yet no help came. Where was Adam? Where had the Angels gone? What could I do? I didn’t know what to do! I rushed over to Caleb, gripped his hands, pleaded with him to stop. But he wouldn’t. He couldn’t hear me, couldn’t see Dad, either. He was trapped in the circle of his own death, repeating for
ever more.

  My shoulder warmed as a hand gripped it and Adam bent down next to me.

  “I’m sorry, Eve. I didn’t want you to see this again.”

  “Please do something,” my dad pleaded.

  “He has to move on himself, I’m sorry.” Adam replied, as sorrow swept over his eyes.

  “There must be something we can do?” I asked.

  “Talk to him. You were there when he died, he’ll know to expect you there.”

  “But how?”

  “Believe in yourself, Eve, follow your instincts.”

  I shuffled forward, dodging Caleb’s claws, and remembered back to the night of his death, my death, and I cried. This was hard. I wasn’t sure exactly what to do but all I wanted was to hold him, tell him it’d be alright, ruffle his hair again, tuck him in at bedtime. He was my little brother, but after Mum died, we had become closer. It was always funerals and weddings that brought families together. It was a shame it had to be that way. Caleb and I, we never argued anymore. Life was too short for the petty things. Instead, we laughed and joked, told each other about our hopes and dreams, and snuggled at night when either one of us awoke from a scary dream. Life had a funny way of loving you even when you felt you didn’t deserve to be loved back. But now, death. Well, death had a funny way of showing you hatred even when you gave it hope. The continual loop in time was messed up, to say the least. If I died again with what I was about to do, it would be another story to tell, another walk down the tunnel of doom, playing in the ticketed game of infinite disillusionment, until I was back here again trying to come up with a different plan. No matter how many times he killed me, I’d keep coming back. So that’s exactly what I did.

  Edging closer, I pulled Caleb up from the corner, ignoring his ever-slashing razor claws as he shredded my gown, slicing my arm.

  “Caleb, it’s me,” I whispered, lips delicately positioned by his ear. “Caleb, wake up, little brother. You’re safe now." Holding him tightly, cuddling the pain out of him, I kept whispering. I ignored the constant slashes on my back as Dad struggled to grip Caleb’s claws to prevent any more injuries. “Caleb, you’re safe now, it’s not real, he’s gone.” He had to listen, had to hear me, had to believe the pain was gone. He had to believe the Beast had gone. There was always a way. This had to be the way.