Esra's Prohpecy (Book 3 An Angel-blood Novel)

by Linda L. Creel

  Esra’s Prophecy

  Book 3

  An Angelblood Novel

  Linda L. Creel

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2013 Linda L. Creel About the Author:

  Linda grew up in Maryland, but she has spent the last fifteen years living in Florida with her husband and best friend, Ron.

  Stay tuned for more about the angelblood novels and other books that are coming soon.

  For all of us who believe in angels…

  The Family’s of Aeden

  The Allhearts: Paul(Uriel’s son) and his wife Eve (Granddaughter of Esra and Gideon)

  Their children: Christina, Ruthie, Paul (PJ), Rita, Aura, Bren, Reaghan

  Christina is married to David Kelly, her sister Ruthie is married to Allen Dunn The Dunn’s :

  Adam(Ariel’s son) and his wife Angela (Eve’s best friend) Their children: Mary, Allen, Jessica, Tracy, Molly and Macy (twins) The Kelly’s:

  Martin(Metatron’s son) and his wife Myra

  Their children: John, David, Logan, Dillon, Tobias and Tabitha (twins) John is married to Mary Dunn, they have a daughter Mia The Donnelly’s:Twin son’s of Raphael

  Jack and his wife Jillian

  Their children: Tristan and Tiffany

  Joseph and his wife Gina

  Their children: Willow and Joey

  The Gilman’s: Howard(Aura’s godfather) and his son Rusty

  The Collins: Jane, Jayden, Acadia Dearbourne (Jayden’s friend, once Meredith’s servant)

  The Hunters: Hespa (the Huntress, brings rogue angels before the Council),

  The Archangels of the High Council: Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael, Ariel, Metatron, Raziel

  The Guardians: Gideon (Gabriel’s twin brother, the Shield of Heaven, Aura’s grandfather)

  Aidan (Michael’s son, Avriel’s husband and father to Alannah and Alorrah) Iris: closest to the Almighty, she acts as Aidan’s guide

  Jasmine: Michael’s daughter, engaged to Tristan Donnelly The Eternal Children:

  Alannah and Alorrah (Twin daughters of Aidan and Avriel)

  Alexis: (Identical cousin of Alorrah and Alannah, daughter of Avriel’s brother Alerael and Michael’s sister Meliah)

  The Family’s of Utopia

  The Fairbourne’s: Henry (the Governor) and his wife Meredith (Lucifer’s sister’s daughter) Their children: Richard, Caspian, Analie and Joshua Axel (Analie’s husband), Desiree (Caspian’s wife)

  Natalie (Richard’s daughter), Ambrosia (Analie and Axle’s daughter)

  The Carnegies: Arthur and his daughter Renatta (once Richard’s fiancée, now married to Rusty Godwin) The Allgoods: Thomas, his wife Tess, and their daughter Meaghan The Crestwell’s: The first family killed. Their sons Arian, Will The Whitehall’s:

  August, his daughter’s Winifred (Jane Collins best friend), Andromeda

  Jade (August’s granddaughter, Ambrosia’s best friend and Arian’s girlfriend)

  Matthew (Andromeda’s son) the last surviving member of the Godwin family The Angel’s of the Tier: Kaelariel (Michael’s wife, she was gifted with the sacred whip) Bodhi (Ariel’s husband, he was gifted with the sacred bow) Dionese (Gabriel’s wife, she was gifted with the sacred dagger) Cerci (Metatron’s wife, she was gifted with the sacred bracelet) Astinon (Raphael’s wife, she was gifted with the sacred diadem)

  Avriel (Esra’s twin sister, Aidan’s wife, mother t o Alorrah and Alannah, gifted with the sacred ring) the only Angel of the Tier to die

  The Elite Guard Malakiel: hates all angelbloods

  Caeus: Malakiel’s brother, in charge of the elite guard, shares his brother’s views

  Xavier: member of the guard, doesn’t agree with their methods The Fallen: Lucifer Samhael Mortriel (Lucifer’s son) Bael (married to Iris) Jeziel (Lucifer’s daughter) Isla: Iris’ twin sister

  Prologue

  Aura has just sent her older sister Rita to Utopia to kill the governor’s eldest son, Richard, who is a descendant of Lucifer. Richard was planning to cast out his father and take over the colony. Eventually, he would declare war on the other four colonies of angelbloods. After he gained enough power, he would attack the Guild and their families, achieving his goal of ruling the earth and all its inhabitants.

  But the members of the Guild members are purebloods, and their children are descendants of the Archangels. They have no intentions of going down without a fight.

  Sixteen year old Aura is prepared to lead them. Though she has just recently come of age, her sight has matured and she has become a powerful seer. But sight isn’t Aura’s only strength. Aura was born under the veil of the Almighty. On the day she was born, he removed the veil and transferred unimaginable powers to her, which have remained dormant, until now.

  Desperate to rescue the two eternal children from Hell, Aura once believed that her guardian, Aidan, would help her. But she has seen his relationship with Jeziel grow stronger, and Aura no longer trusts him.

  With or without Aidan, Aura is determined to find a way to bring her family home, and God help anyone who gets in her way, even Aidan.

  Aura may be a seer, but there is another secret that her visions haven’t revealed; a secret known only to her greatgrandmother Esra, the Archangel Michael, her guardian Aidan, and one other.

  And this secret… may very well destroy them all.

  Chapter 1

  Caspian sat in one of the high back chairs near the dais, and stared at the pool of black blood that stained the white marble tiles. There was chattering in the background, but he was too wrapped up in his own thoughts to pay any attention to the others.

  It was hard to believe that his brother Richard was dead. The residents of Utopia would celebrate the news of his death, and why shouldn’t they? Richard had instilled fear in them for as long as he could remember.

  Meredith and Desiree didn’t waste any tim e leaving the Hall of Justice. They would return to Paris, where they would mourn Richard’s death.

  Despite being married to Caspian, Desiree did nothing to deny that she was pregnant. After swearing that the marriage had not been consummated by him, theCommittee granted Caspian’s request to have the marriage annulled.

  Desiree knew that she could be banished for her infidelity, but Caspian wouldn’t force the issue. He was a free man; free to finally make plans for his future with Andromeda.

  Caspian had always loved Andromeda, but circumstances kept them apart. By the time he realized his feelings for her, Andromeda was already married to Gregory Godwin, with a son on the way.

  He agreed to marry Desiree, but he never really cared for her. Deep down, he knew that she loved Richard. Why his mother Meredith insisted on the wedding, was beyond reasoning. But his father, Henry, thought the union would be a good one, so Caspian consented to the marriage.

  During his wedding reception, the Guild had pulled him away. They advised him, and his brother-in-law Axel, that they were needed for an important mission. Paul swore them both to secrecy, and Caspian left without as much as a goodbye kiss to his new bride. If the truth be told, he was grateful for the timing.

  He thought about Desiree. Not that he was an expert on such things, but judging from the size of her protruding belly, the baby would arrive soon. Since Caspian had only been gone little more than three months, he was certain that Richard didn’t wait too long to share his wife’s bed. For all he knew, Richard could have slept with Desi
ree on her wedding night.

  He no longer cared. He would propose to Andromeda within the next few weeks. First, they would deal with Richard’s daughter, Natalie. Richard had some degree of some common sense and could be reasoned with, but Natalie, she was a whole different animal. She was impetuous and irresponsible. That was obvious by the manner in which she killed her husband’s brother, Jasper.

  Soon, she would atone for her sins, but not soon enough for Caspian. He had a feeling that Natalie and her cousin Jeziel would wreak havoc on the residents of Utopia, wanting revenge for Richard’s death. For now, their punishment would be left to the discretion of the Guild.

  Aura assured all of them that Natalie and Jeziel would soon know the justice of Heaven. As much as he was relieved by his brother’s death, he couldn’t discount the trouble that lay ahead.

  But those worries were for another day. It was New Years Eve and they would be celebrating the marriage of Tristan and Jasmine this afternoon.

  Caspian was certain that some of the Archangels would be present. Tristan was Raphael’s grandson, and Jasmine, was Michael’s daughter.

  Caspian smiled as he thought about the reception. He would enjoy every second that he spent dancing with Andromeda. He couldn’t wait to finally be able to show his affection for her openly, without fear of retribution.

  As he stood to join Henry and his sister, one of the servants came stumbling back inside, dropping to the white marble floor in front of them.

  The man was severely injured and was struggling to breathe. Deep cuts appeared on his throat, and his pale blue cotton shirt was shredded, revealing ghastly, open wounds, to his upper torso. There was no doubt that whoever attacked him, had intended to leave him dead.

  Arthur sent a silent message to Paul. They needed a healer there, as soon as possible. Aura was sitting in the kitchen when she got the message from her mother. “Stay here and watch the girls. I’ll be back in a little while.”

  “Where are you going?” Aidan asked. “Someone is hurt. I need to help them.” Aura was still barefoot and wearing a green plaid flannel nightgown, but before Aidan could respond with an argument, she disappeared.

  “Why does she always do that?” Aidan mumbled under his breath. Bren walked into the kitchen, followed by Tracy and Alannah. All three were wearing matching red plaid pajamas and were still half asleep. Bren and Alannah had seen the same vision as Aura, so she decided to give Aidan a brief explanation.

  “Aura went to Utopia because someone was attacked.” “Was it one of our friends?” Aidan asked.

  Bren shook her head. “Do you think we would be standing here if it was? Aura will tell you aboutit when she comes home. We’re going back to bed.” All three of the girls yawned. “Wake us up when breakfast is ready,” Bren said.

  Alannah never acknowledged her father. She and Tracy followed Bren upstairs, without saying a word. When they were inside the bedroom, the girls didn’t go back to sleep. Instead, they sat on the bed, discussing the vision of Richard’s death. Since Tracy didn’t have the sight, Alannah projected the image on the wall, above the white brick fireplace.

  “At least we won’t have to worry about him anymore,” Tracy said. Bren and Alannah stared at each other. Even though Tracy didn’t have the gift of sight, they never kept any secrets from each other.

  Bren, not wanting anyone else to hear, whispered in Tracy’s ear. “How can that be possible?” Tracy asked.

  “It’s the truth,” Alannah said. She projected another image on the wall. Even Rita hadn’t seen this image. “We’re in big trouble,” Tracy said.

  “Don’t worry – Mommy will deal with it,” Alannah assured her.

  “We should go back to sleep until Aura comes home. She’ll wake us up when she gets back,” Bren said. The girls huddled together with Tracy between Bren and Alannah. Once they were nestled snugly beneath the comforter, they held hands before drifting off to sleep.

  It was still early in the morning, but Aidan decided to go for a walk. He walked towards the park at the end of the road, taking a seat on the bench in front of the tree of life. As he looked into the park, he saw a couple of squirrels running through the snow, collecting acorns that had fallen from the large oaks, to the ground.

  A streetlamp illuminated just enough light that Aidan could Aura’s name on one of the branches. Next to hers, the names of Alannah, Alorrah and Alexis appeared, but his name was absent. Aidan was certain that it had been there before.

  Perhaps Jeziel had been right all along. Aura was not Avriel. Aidan had no regrets about giving Avriel’s ring to Aura because it allowed her to communicate with Alorrah. It might be time to take his friends advice, and move forward with his life. He knew that Alannah would never leave. She still believed that Aura was her mother.

  No sooner had they returned to Aeden, a vision came to Rita, that made her and the others turn back to Utopia. Jessica and the boys didn’t question her reason for going back. They had come to trust Rita’s visions, almost as much as her sister Aura’s.

  When Rita arrived at the Hall of Justice, with Jessica and the boys, they saw one of the servants, clutching his hands to his throat. The poor man was trying desperately to stop the steady stream of blood, which was pulsating from his neck, covering the tiles on the floor.

  “Waiting – for– us,” was all that he could manage to whisper. “Who was waiting for you? What did they want?” Henry asked. “Natalie – and - young-girl–took Richard’s-body.”

  Aura arrived a second later. Seeing the condition of the man, she worked quickly to heal the deep wounds. Judging from the crimson pool on the floor, he lost quite a bit of blood. Aura had to work quickly or he would surely die. “Don’t speak. I’ll have you fixed up in no time,” she promised.

  Aura called again for the angelfire. The bright light emerged and she carefully walked her hands from his throat to the rest of his upper torso allowing her gift to heal him. The bleeding stopped and once again he was able to breathe easily.

  “Where is your brother?” Aura asked. Seeing that he was struggling to stand, Rita and Jessica grabbed him from underneath his arms, helping him to his feet. He was still wobbling, and the girls held tight to him. “My brother Wendell is outside. I’m afraid he’s hurt much worse than me.”

  Aura and the others rushed outside, to find a second middle aged man, lying face-down on the gravel road. Rita could see that he was only a breath from death, so she stepped aside allowing her sister access to the dying man.

  Aura knelt beside him. She rolled up the sleeves of her nightgown and once again called for the angelfire, moving her hands rapidly over the unconscious man’s body. It took a little longer for him to respond, but when he opened his eyes; his injuries were almost healed.

  Will and Joshua offered him the support of their bodies and he was soon able to stand.

  “Can you tell us what happened?” Aura asked. “We brought the body out here like we were told. Those two girls were waiting for us.” Aura could tell that he didn’t appear to be one of the original colonists. She recognized a southern inflection in his voice and wondered how he came to be in Utopia.

  “Did you recognize either of them?” she asked. “I’m sure one of them was Natalie; except her friend kept calling her Jeeza or Jeena or something like that.” “Jeziel did she call her Jeziel?” “Yeah that’s it. That’s the one.” “What about the other girl. Did she have a name?”

  “Her name was easy to remember because it’s my daughter’s name Monica.”

  “Thank you. You’ve been very helpful. What are your names?” Aura asked.

  “My name is Warren Carlisle and that there’s my brother Wendell,” he said, pointing to the other servant. “You have done a great service to the citizens of Utopia. We are indebted to you. My father will see that you are rewarded for your efforts.”

  Warren bent his head in shame. “We aren’t asking for any handouts.” Aura walked over and gently lifted his chin. “It’s not a handout. It’s family ta
king care of family. Never forget that,” she said softly. “How is it that you came to live in Utopia? I’m sorry, but you both have a bit of a southern drawl.”

  “We used to live in Savannah, Georgia. We were away from home a while back - almost a year now. Our wives were killed and our daughters were taken away. We tried to find them, but we didn’t know where to look. We took a job here because we thought we might hear news about their whereabouts,” Warren said.

  “I’m sorry for your loss. I promise you that I will do everything in my powers to help you find your daughters.” Aura looked at Arthur. “Please get them cleaned up and fed.” “I’ll see to it immediately.”

  Aura returned her attention to the brothers. “I want you to stay at the sanctuary with Arthur and the others. I’m afraid once Jeziel and Monica realize you’re still alive, they may come after you again. You’ll be safe there. You have my word.”

  Aura stared at the two brothers. The years had not been kind to them. While most angelblood men never looked older than twenty five, these two brothers looked much older. They may have had some angelblood, but their mortal lineage was more dominant.

  Aura wondered if their ancestors shied away from the life style and preferred to live amongst the humans instead. It had happened many times before. Some had turned their backs on their birthright, and after years of mating with humans, they maintained only a fraction of the angel’s blood. Unfortunately, it was more difficult to protect those who had strayed from the colonies.

  Someone had found out about their family. In the back of her mind Aura kept thinking Samhael was involved. She would keep her promise after she dealt with Lucifer’s daughter, Jeziel.

  “Let’s get you both some food, and then we can move you into one of the rooms. We’ve got plenty of space. I promise you’ll be treated like family,” Analie assured them.

  “Thank you ma’am,” Wendell said. “Do you think she might be able to find our daughters?” “If anyone can find them, Aura can. She’s a seer.” Analie and Caspian led the brothers back into the Hall. As they sat at one of the tables, Analie served each of them a plate of food. She knew Aura would want them both cared for.