Metatron’s wrinkled hand closed around my forearm, and a wave of peace washed over me. He was an Angel of Ministry. I took a deep breath and pulled my arm away.
He looked surprised.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I know you’re trying to help, but I can’t let my senses be dulled. There must be another way.”
We were all quiet for a while. No one had any ideas, least of all me. Cassiel put her hand on my back. “We’ll figure something out.”
I didn’t look at her. I was afraid I’d see deceit in her eyes.
“If there was any way for me to help, please know I would.” Metatron sighed heavily. “Your daughter could be of great value to me personally.”
I folded my arms. “Why?”
Miriam looked like she might cry. “Because she will have the power to destroy angels.”
Cassiel put her hands in her lap and looked away.
“Well, yeah, but why does that matter to you?” I asked.
“Because he wants to die,” Cassiel said.
I sat back in my seat. “So my success is a suicide mission for you?”
Metatron pushed his plate back. “That’s a very harsh way of viewing it, but yes. I’ve lived for thousands of years. I’m tired and I’m old. This body has been worn out for far too long.”
My human nature wanted to judge, but the sadness on his face wouldn’t allow it.
“Do you know why I stay in the Fiery?” he asked.
I didn’t try to guess.
He waved his hand through the air. “It’s dark. It’s easy on my exhausted eyes.”
“How old are you?”
“When the Father brought me to Eden, I was aged three hundred and sixty-five years. No one should live that long.”
“But they were good years,” Miriam argued.
He reached for her hand. “Yes, they were. I have many children, and I would do it all again, just for them.” He offered me a weak smile. “You will find a way, Warren. Never underestimate the power of the connection with a child.”
“Thank you, Metatron. I’m sorry we’ve wasted your time,” I said.
“My boy, time is all I have.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
We left the Fiery a different way than we’d come in. Our exit was on foot through a maze of ramps and stairs. Neither of us spoke. How could we have come all this way to fail?
Metatron’s words were on a loop in my mind. “Never underestimate the power of the connection with a child.”
Maybe he overestimated me. Hell, maybe I overestimated myself.
We ascended another staircase and turned a corner, then daylight pierced the darkness. My face turned up to see blue sky and the Eden suns shining down on us.
How long had we been down there?
The sound of crashing waves and the smell of the sea drifted down the shaft. And when we emerged, we were on a rocky beach. Looking out over the ocean, I breathed in deep the salty air.
Standing beside me, Cassiel’s golden hair blew across her face. “Are you ready to return home?”
“Mind if we walk the beach for a while?”
Nothing waited for us back on the mainland that couldn’t be worried about beside the sound of soothing waves.
Her gaze was fixed on the water. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Why?”
She looked at me. “We’re not far from the Haven.”
My spine went rigid. Cassiel didn’t have to explain. I knew in my bones it was the home of the seraphs.
“I think I’d like to see it.”
“OK.”
We carefully crossed the rocks until we reached the sandy beach. The pearlescent white sand looked even finer than that of my backyard, and it shimmered against the suns. I knelt and scooped up a soft handful.
“It’s crushed moonstone and diamonds,” she said as I let it run through my fingers.
Shaking my head, I dusted off my palms as we walked on. “Diamonds. Who would have guessed sand would be so valuable to humans?”
She smiled. “We regularly get a lot of amusement out of the things valued on Earth.”
I looked up at the sky. “The Father told me in Malab that he had faith in me. That if I could find the Morning Star, he’d help convince the Council.” My eyes fell to the sand again. “I’m starting to think he might have been wrong.”
She laced her fingers with mine. “The Father is a lot of things. Wrong is never one of them.”
“Well, you’re far smarter than me. What am I going to do?”
She had no answer.
We continued on down the beach in silence, rounded a peninsula, and started into an inlet. She stopped walking. I looked up. In the distance was what looked like an old Victorian beach house in the cove.
We were close enough to hear a child laughing somewhere outside.
My throat burned.
“Warren, are you all right?”
It was a beautiful three-story structure with tall windows and a wraparound porch. It had a rounded tower that overlooked the sea and decorative trim that made the whole thing look like a gingerbread house. Or a doll house. Appropriate for a place where children can never grow up.
“Would she have to live here?” I finally asked, the question hitching in my throat.
“No, not at all. Iliana can stay with you and your family like the other children in Eden. The seraphs here have no human families. So other angels from their choirs take care of them.”
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the light-yellow house.
“Warren?” She stepped in front of me to block my view. My eyes connected with hers. They were worried. “We don’t have to do this.”
“I need to.” I was sure my shaky voice didn’t sound too convinced.
“It’s better than you imagine. I promise.” She smiled at me, but her eyes betrayed her doubt.
I took a brave step forward. “Come on. Before I change my mind.”
With each step, my heart filled with dread, something very few could say in Eden. We reached the house far faster than I wanted to.
The front door bells jingled when Cassiel opened it, announcing our arrival to anyone inside. My feet seemed glued to the front stoop. I had just opened my mouth to tell Cassiel I had to leave when a tiny boy ran down the hallway toward us. He had black hair and dark-tan skin.
“Karma! Karma! We have visitors!” he squealed, sliding to a stop in front of Cassiel. “Hello, what’s your name?”
Cassiel knelt in front of him. “My name is Cassiel. We’ve met before.”
“We have?”
“A long time ago. Your name is Ofaniel.”
His chest popped out. “Guardian of the light squire.”
My eyes widened. Ofaniel was so small, but his speech was developed like an adult.
“Have we met too?” he asked, looking up at me.
I knelt down. “No. My name is Warren.”
“Warren, Warren…” He drummed his fingers over his lips. “I’ve heard that name before.”
Suddenly, the boy spun around as if his name had been called. Then another Angel of Protection walked around the corner. She had called his name, only I hadn’t heard it.
“I’m not overwhelming our visitors,” he argued. Then he looked back at me. “Am I?”
I forced a smile. “No.”
But oh, he was. It just wasn’t his fault.
“Cassiel?” The woman smiled as she approached. “We weren’t expecting to see you today.”
Cassiel and I stood. “Hi, Karma. I hope we’re not intruding.”
“Of course not. Visitors are always welcome.” She looked at me. “Hello, I’m Karma.”
I shook her hand. “Warren Parish.”
Her hand froze in mine. “The Archangel.”
“Yes.”
She looked around and behind us. I knew why.
“My daughter isn’t here.”
“Oh.” Karma nodded and put her hand on Ofaniel’s head. “Go f
ind Amaiah, please.”
“Wait.” Ofaniel held up a finger and slowly looked up at me again. “You’re the new girl’s dad? The new girl who’s coming to live with us?”
My insides twisted.
Karma ran her fingers through Ofaniel’s black hair. “You’ve been eavesdropping again.”
The boy scrunched his nose.
Cassiel cast a worried glance at me. Then she knelt back down in front of Ofaniel. “She might not be coming to live here in Lunaris. She has a family.”
“Like Gaelish?” he asked.
I worried I might vomit. “Excuse me,” I choked out.
Without another word, I bolted from the house and didn’t stop walking until I collapsed to my knees in the sand a hundred yards up the beach. Deep and painful sobs bubbled up inside me, and perhaps for the first time in Eden’s history—tears of anguish flowed.
* * *
The flight back to the mainland helped ease my aching heart. Cassiel and I touched down in the front yard of my house. I turned toward her, a little embarrassed of my meltdown earlier.
“I’m sorry I fell apart back there,” I said, looking down at her sandals.
She lifted my chin so our eyes met. “Never apologize for caring so much.”
My mouth smiled, but the rest of me still slumped.
“I’m afraid I must go. I was summoned by the Council when we were in the air.”
“What will you do?”
“I’ll try to convince them to explore other options.”
“You will? Why?”
She thought for a moment. “Because you were right about a few things. The Council is afraid of Iliana coming to power. Afraid of someone raised as a human sitting on the throne. We fear change, but maybe that’s exactly what Eden needs.”
“What else?” I asked, sensing she was holding something back.
She twisted a button on the front of my shirt. “And if Iliana has even a fraction of the heart of her father, I think the benefit of having her on our side outweighs the risk.”
Smiling, I meshed my fingers with hers. “Do you think they’ll listen?”
Her shoulders lifted. “I don’t know, but we are inherently bent toward reason. I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you, Cassiel. For everything.”
“Don’t thank me yet. So far, I feel I’ve just helped make this another shitshow.”
I chuckled and pulled her to me.
She rested her head in the crook of my neck. “Will I find you here when I’m finished?”
“Yeah. I don’t have plans to go anywhere without you.”
When she pulled back, she was smiling, but her eyes were red and glassy. “I like the sound of that.”
With both my hands, I cupped her jaw. Then I kissed her, savoring every sweet detail of the moment. The velvet stroke of her tongue. The pressure of her fingertips into my sides. The needy whimper that escaped her throat.
I pulled away. “You’d better go before I never let you leave.”
“Do you promise?” she whispered, her eyes still closed.
I touched my lips to hers again. “I promise.”
She stepped back. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Then, standing on the beach, I stuffed my fists into my pockets and watched her fly away.
“Looks serious.” Alice’s voice behind me made me jump.
“Geez, don’t do that.” I turned around and saw her standing in the front doorway. “How did you even know we were here?”
Skittles wiggled through her legs and ran across the yard. I knelt and scooped her up into my arms.
“Skittles heard you. She knows her daddy’s voice.”
I froze, and my eyes doubled.
“What the matter with you?” Alice asked.
My hand was suspended over Skittles’ back. She squirmed as if to remind me I was supposed to be petting her.
“Alice, you’re a genius.” I walked to the house and right past her inside.
She followed me. “I know, but why do you say so?”
I didn’t stop until I reached my bedroom. I deposited Skittles on the bed and opened the nightstand drawer. In it, I found my memory stone. I held it in my hand and let the memory spring to life.
My daughter was holding my finger. “I love you so much, Iliana.”
I hadn’t said those words out loud. Yet she heard me, and even though she couldn’t talk, she tried to answer.
I opened my eyes. “My god. That’s it.”
“What’s it?”
Tucking the stone in my pocket, I grabbed Alice and kissed her hard on the forehead. “I must go to the Onyx Tower. You might have just saved us all.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
I flew to the Onyx Tower, landing just outside the main square. Then I raced up the steps and through the market. As I marched toward the large marble doors, someone shouted my name.
My hand was halfway to the door handle. I swore. “Not now.” I slowly turned as Gabriel landed in front of me.
“Thank the Father you’re here,” he said.
Gabriel showing up to deliver a message personally was never a good sign. “Why? What’s the matter?”
Before he could answer, there was a static crackle in my ears. “Warren, where are you?” Samael asked.
“Getting ready to save the world. Can’t talk.”
“You’re in Asheville?”
I paused. “No, I’m at the Onyx Tower. Why? What the heck is going on?” I was asking both him and Gabriel at the same time.
“Ionis just called me from your daughter’s home—” Gabriel started as Samael was talking in my ears.
I held up a finger to pause the messenger, then pressed it to my ear. “Samael, I’m gonna call you back.” I clicked off my ears. “Sorry. What?”
“Ionis is reporting multiple angels crossing on or near the grounds of your daughter’s home.”
My feet were already moving before he finished talking. He hurried to catch up with me. “Is Ionis here now?” I asked.
“No. He’s still there. Said it was an all-hands situation.”
That may have been the most worrisome thing he could have said. Ionis staying for a battle? Unheard of.
“What?” I broke into a run.
Gabriel and I launched into the air toward the gate. I called out to Samael. “I’m on my way.”
Samael was waiting for us when we touched down on the other side of the crowded market a second later. “I’ll come with you,” he said, falling into step beside us.
I didn’t slow as we pushed through the gate. “What happened?”
“I’m not sure, but help is already on the way. Reuel sent for more guardians. Cassiel and another Council member went with them.”
Cassiel. Thank the Father.
Samael and Gabriel were right behind me as we raced down the Eden steps. We entered the breach, and I searched for Iliana. Nothing.
Good.
The closer we got to our target, the more the air hummed, almost buzzing with activity. Whenever angels gathered in mass numbers on Earth, we could feel it in the breach.
War was close.
The three of us landed so hard in the front yard of Echo-5 that it shook the building. It was late evening. The sun was setting in a cloudless sky.
All heads whipped in our direction: the humans and guardians who stood ready to defend the building, and the angels who looked ready to attack.
None of them were demons.
“What’s happening here?” Samael asked, sounding as confused as I felt.
Half the SF-12 team, along with Nathan and Azrael, were armed in front of the building. Reuel and the four guardians that had been with him the last time stood with them. So did Ionis, but I barely saw him hiding behind Reuel.
“Warren, what the hell’s going on?” Nathan called, holding an assault rifle toward the other angels.
I wish I knew.
Facing off with them across the yard were two other guardians: Sagen, wh
o was just at my house, and Barachiel, a good friend of Reuel’s. They were standing in front of Zaphkael and Cassiel.
Her eyes were fixed on me, filled with terror.
“Warren! I didn’t know!” she screamed. Then I saw of a flash of something else in her eyes.
Deceit.
In front of her, Zaphkael had a wicked grin. “So glad you could join us, Warren. How are you feeling?” He started toward us.
“What are you doing near my family?” I shouted.
Gabriel had relaxed. But Samael, like me, had his hand up, ready for a fight.
Zaphkael’s eyes were searching me. Inside and out. Scorching my spirit so that I could physically feel it. He paused midstep, then turned back toward his group. “I thought you said he destroyed the last of the extricated.”
I spoke out of the side of my mouth to Samael. “Extricated?”
“I think he’s talking about the souls released from Nulterra.”
“I knew that.”
Samael was biting back a smile.
“Doesn’t he mean escapees?”
Samael shook his head. “It doesn’t sound like it.”
“I wasn’t lying Zaphkael! He destroyed all three souls from Nulterra. I was with him,” Cassiel cried.
“I know you weren’t lying, witch. But you haven’t told me the whole truth.” Zaphkael extended a hand, and an unseen force gripped her, bending her backward nearly in half. From where we stood, I heard Cassiel’s bones crack and pop. Her painful shrieks sliced through the still mountains.
I blasted Zaphkael’s feet from under him, and he landed hard on his back. Cassiel fell to the ground. I started toward her, but Samael held me back.
“Don’t. Something’s wrong,” he said, his golden eyes searching the angels around Cassiel.
Zaphkael shot me a hateful glare and pulled himself off the ground. Then he stormed toward me, ranting about something being impossible.
Energy sizzled at my fingertips. “Samael, call the Angels of Death. All of them.”
“Yes, sir.”
Zaphkael reached up like he was about to grab my face. Instead, I gripped him around the throat with my power and forced him to his knees. “You should be a vegetable,” he choked out.
I squeezed tighter. “It would really help if I knew what you were talking about.”
The Soul Destroyer: The Soul Summoner Series Book 7 Page 28
