Descension

by Burgess, B. C.

  As Aedan scanned his dad’s despondent posture, the vast hole in his heart widened. “I’m sorry, dad.”

  Serafin shook his head as he slid his hand to the side of Aedan’s neck. “Don’t apologize, son. We understand, and we’ll keep Layla’s possessions safe until her awaited return.”

  “Thank you,” Aedan replied. “I’ll miss you guys. All of you…” His voice broke as he clutched his throat, willing it to loosen. “My Layla Love,” he choked, tears flooding his strained eyes.

  He dropped his gaze to the jewelry box, thinking it a pitiful gift to leave his daughter. Then he set it aside and raised his head, taking his dad’s shoulder. “If she finds you, make sure she knows how much Rose loved her, how much I love her. And keep her safe once she’s close. Show her all the love she’s going to miss, give her the family she deserves, and make sure she’s happy.” His head fell again. “Please.”

  “We promise,” Serafin vowed. “Our lives are hers.”

  ~ * * * ~

  Aedan watched as Layla’s grandparents shared her throughout the predawn hours, but all too soon it was time for them to leave with Rhosewen’s body, which lay undisturbed in the room she left it. Aedan wouldn’t watch them carry her out. The woman he loved was elsewhere, waiting for him to complete his purpose on earth.

  Each grandparent held their grandbaby one last time, telling her to be safe and happy and asking her to come see them as soon as she could. Then they laid her on the bed so they could say goodbye to Aedan.

  Morrigan embraced him first, wrapping one arm around his waist and touching a hand to his heart. “Thank you for loving our daughter so much, Aedan, and for easing her pain. We’ll always be in your debt for making her life better.”

  “The debt is mine,” he disagreed. “I’m eternally grateful to you for giving my precious Rose life.”

  Morrigan reached up, touching his cheek as moisture slid down her temples. Then she dropped her hand and moved away.

  Caitrin stepped forward, clasping Aedan’s hand and shoulder. “Give Rhosewen our love when you see her. Make sure she knows we’re already missing her.”

  “I will,” Aedan agreed.

  “Good luck, my son. May the Heavens be with you.”

  “Thanks, Caitrin. Give the coven our love and goodbyes.”

  Caitrin nodded as he let go. Then he pulled Morrigan into a hug. As they left the room, they briefly turned back, catching one last glimpse of their sleeping grandbaby.

  Daleen had thrown herself into Aedan’s chest and was weeping uncontrollably.

  “I love you, mom,” he whispered, hugging tightly. “I’m sorry I’m leaving you like this. Please understand.”

  “I do,” she sobbed. Then she took several shaky breaths, attempting to talk clearly. “I love you, Aedan, with my whole broken heart. And I trust your heart… and your beautiful soul. Someday, when my life is through, we’ll be together forever.”

  “I’m counting on it,” he whispered, inhaling her familiar scent.

  She looked up, taking his face in her quivering palms. “Goodbye for now, baby boy.”

  “For now,” he returned, placing his palms over hers.

  She choked on a sob as she pulled away, flashing her gaze to Layla. Then she left the room in tears.

  Aedan sucked in a heavy breath as he turned to his dad, mirroring his mournful expression.

  “Do you have a plan?” Serafin asked.

  “Not a detailed one,” Aedan confessed. “Where’s Agro’s last known location?”

  “He was near Duluth, Minnesota two weeks ago, but he’s cleared the area now. If someone knows where he went, they weren’t telling me. Perhaps you’ll have better luck.”

  “Then I’ll start there,” Aedan decided.

  He looked at Layla, raising a hand to his tormented heart. “I’m going to spend some time with her before I go. It seems unfair… that I get that chance when Rose didn’t…” He closed his eyes, picturing Rhosewen’s smiling face. Then he returned his gaze to their baby. “I won’t leave until I know she’ll be taken care of. I don’t know how long it will take, but it doesn’t matter. There are requirements to fulfill before I go. One of them is relocation. I don’t want her staying in Idaho or anywhere else connected to our family. If you get an itch to find her, and I know you will, don’t bother coming here. And if locating her can’t be done in complete secrecy, don’t do it. At least wait until she’s grown. If she doesn’t find you at that point, safely search her out, but remember, she may not want you to find her. Her lack of knowledge may leave her bitter, and if staying in the dark about her birth family is what she desires, that’s her choice to make.”

  “The temptation will always be there,” Serafin confirmed, “but we play by your rules. Layla’s safety and happiness are what matter most.”

  “I’d die a thousand times to ensure her safety and happiness,” Aedan whispered. But he couldn’t die a thousand times. What he had to give was pitiful. “I’m leaving her all the money I have, including the cash you and Caitrin gave us, so she’ll be financially set. She won’t have a coven to lean on, but she’ll be loved and cared for. I’ll make sure of it.”

  “Good,” Serafin approved. “She deserves the world.”

  Aedan nodded, his jaw and fingers flexing as he looked from his baby to his dad. “Once that’s taken care of, I’ll start searching for Agro and Medea. I don’t know how long it will take, or if I’ll even succeed, but it will be my final gift to my girls to die trying.”

  “If you need me for anything,” Serafin offered, “or if you change your mind, please come home.”

  “I can’t change my mind, and I won’t drag you and mom any further into this mess.”

  He reached up, untying the necklace Rhosewen had given him. Then he pressed his lips to the rose gold, kissing their engraved names. “Put this around Rose’s neck,” he said, handing it over. “I won’t get a proper burial, so I’d like to be considered buried with my Rose. This is the only way I know how to do that. I hope Morrigan and Caitrin will understand.”

  “They will,” Serafin assured, morosely examining the necklace.

  He looked back up, and they both swallowed, staring at each other through salty moisture. Then they tightly embraced.

  “Remember, dad, if Layla finds you…”

  “We’ll take care of her, son. I promise.”

  “Thank you,” Aedan whispered. “For everything.”

  “I love you, Aedan. You’re my life’s most precious achievement.”

  “I love you, too, dad. I am who I am because of you. You and mom.”

  “Goodbye,” they choked in unison, fiercely squeezing. Then Serafin swept from the room.

  Aedan watched him go, and truly understood the word heartbroken. His was shattered, and it hurt like hell.

  He walked to the bed and lay beside Layla, running his gaze from the top of a corkscrew curl to the tip of a teeny toe. The redness from her birth had faded, leaving her skin velvet soft and olive toned, and her jet black hair was clean and dry, lying against her head in the most perfect spirals imaginable. Her petite fists were curled up against her puckered mouth—a mouth like her mother’s. And her round cheeks were naturally rose colored—just as her mother’s had been. As she slept, her long, black eyelashes fluttered, and her pink lips suckled at delicate fingers. She was perfection in the flesh.

  Tears began flowing as Aedan watched her—so beautiful and purely innocent, brought into the world by perfect love, blessed with life by a perfect woman, his perfect Rose. He could only hope that, one day, their angelic Layla Love would know exactly how perfect it had been.

  Chapter 29

  The grandfather clock signaled noon as Layla stretched in Aedan’s arm, awakening him with a panicked jolt. Newborns weren’t supposed to go that long without eating.

  He scanned his daughter, looking for signs of distress, but her healthy body leisurely stretched, and her big, green eyes alertly gazed. She was fine. Better than fine. Her bright
aura sparkled as it swirled around her little body, clearly exuding a sense of calm wonderment.

  “Hello, my Layla Love,” he greeted, his voice strained, but filled with a gentle sweetness and serene adoration that came as naturally as breathing. “You slept for a long time.”

  At his voice, her mouth formed a little o of surprise, and her hand reached for his face. He kissed her palm then lowered his lips to her soft curls, inhaling her sweet scent. Somehow familiar and brand new all at once, her bouquet was perfectly subtle in its potency, yet incredibly powerful in its objective. As it rushed up his nose and down his throat, peace washed over him, lightening his dreadfully heavy heart for a brief and blessed moment. She smelled of roses and lilacs, with a hint of vanilla.

  His heart sighed as he scooped her off the bed and headed for the kitchen, constantly staring at her and talking to her. “You have so many people who love you, baby girl. I hope you’ll get a chance to meet them, once you’re all grown up.”

  She responded, and her coo and gurgle were the sweetest sounds he’d ever heard. “You have a very beautiful voice, my angel. Your mommy sounded like an angel, too. Remember? You’d be kicking like crazy, but then your mom would hum her lullaby and you’d quiet right down.”

  Layla squirmed, letting out a tiny cry that tugged at his heart. “I know you’re hungry, baby. Daddy’s fixing your bottle right now.”

  He looked at the pan of cold water he’d placed on the stove. Then he looked at the empty bottle and the can of formula on the counter. After a moment’s hesitation and a glance around, he waved his empty hand, watching as Layla’s meal prepared itself. When it floated toward him, he held the underside of his wrist out, catching a few drops of warm milk. Then he plucked the bottle from the air.

  “There we go, Layla Love. That’s what we call magic. Maybe someday you’ll get to try out your magic, but it’s okay if you don’t, because you’re perfectly magical without it.”

  As he entered the living room to get comfortable, the front door slowly opened, and Katherine poked her head in.

  Aedan halted, looking up from the tiny toes he’d been counting. “Hi, Katherine.”

  “Hey,” she returned, lingering in the doorway. “I don’t want to intrude. I just need to get some coffee.”

  Aedan walked over, gently nudging her inside and closing the door. “This is your house, Katherine. You can’t intrude on what’s yours.”

  “I know, but I wanted to give you some privacy.”

  “You’ve done a lovely job of respecting our privacy,” he commended, moving to the easy chair. “You’ve been a godsend for my family. I can’t thank you enough.”

  Katherine blushed, but finally relaxed, moving closer to admire the baby. “Hello, little Layla.”

  Aedan set the bottle aside and lifted one of Layla’s hands, giving Katherine a tiny wave. “Say hello to Katherine, my love.”

  Katherine smiled and leaned over. “You are the most precious thing I have ever laid eyes on,” she whispered, brushing a curl from Layla’s forehead. Then she kissed it. “Where are your parents, Chris?”

  “They left this morning,” Aedan answered, following her gaze to the hallway. “They took Sarah with them.”

  “Why didn’t you and Layla go?”

  Aedan scanned Katherine’s shocked expression then sighed. “There are some things I need to tell you. Do you have time to talk?”

  “Sure. I took the day off when I found out Sarah was in labor.”

  Layla gave a tiny cry that stole Aedan’s undivided attention. “I’m sorry, baby,” he soothed, grabbing the bottle as he sat. “You’ve been so patient with your daddy. Here you go.”

  For a while he just rocked and admired his baby, listening to every sound and watching every move. When he wondered what it would have been like to watch her nurse at Rhosewen’s breasts—the way it should have been—a pang pierced his bleeding heart. He fought the moisture blurring his vision. He didn’t want anything obstructing his beautiful view.

  When Layla was ready for a burp, Aedan moved her to his shoulder, patting her back as he looked at Katherine. “We weren’t completely honest with you,” he revealed. “I’m sure you’ve already figured that out. Like I said, you’ve done a lovely job of respecting our privacy. But that doesn’t make our actions right, and I’m sorry we made you feel like you had to keep your questions and opinions to yourself. We generally don’t live that way, and it was never our intention to make you live that way, but it was necessary. Even now there are things I can’t tell you, and I’m sorry for that as well. I hope you can continue to display the understanding you’ve shown so far.”

  He returned Layla to his arm, placing the bottle’s nipple to her eager lips. Then he looked up, finding Katherine confused but listening intently. “We told you our parents live in Florida, but that’s a lie we used to explain their absence. Sarah’s parents really live in Oregon, and she and I had a home there before coming here.” He paused, trying to figure out how to phrase his half-ass confession. “What I’m about to tell you might frighten you, but you’re perfectly safe right now, so try to stay calm.” He searched her face—still confused and curious, but unafraid. “Sarah and I moved to Idaho to hide from a group of… people… who want to take Layla away.”

  “What?” Katherine gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth.

  “It isn’t government authorities,” Aedan quickly elaborated, “or anything like that. These… people, they’re very dangerous and capable. Sarah and I were capable as well. Until she got sick.”

  “I don’t understand,” Katherine objected. “What people?”

  “I can’t go into detail, Katherine. I’m sorry. Just know they’re the worst kind of people, and Layla absolutely cannot get anywhere near them. I know this is confusing, but I beg for your patience and understanding.”

  “But…”

  “Please, Katherine, try to trust me.”

  Her eyebrows furrowed. Then she purposefully smoothed them. “Okay, I’m listening.”

  “Thank you,” Aedan returned, watching Layla eat as he resumed his confession. “We came here because this is one of the last places they would expect us to be. Our plan was for the three of us to hide until it was safe to go home. That’s why our parents stayed away, to keep our location a secret. But the situation has changed. It’s still not safe for Layla to go home—it won’t be for a long time—and now her mom’s gone…”

  His throat tightened as he squeezed his eyes shut on tears, but one escaped, falling to Layla’s rosy cheek. She stopped sucking and stared at him with wide eyes, her hand grasping at thin air. No, not thin air; his aura. He wondered what it must look like to her.

  He tenderly dried her cheek then soberly looked up. “There’s something I have to do, Katherine, somewhere I have to go, and I… I won’t be coming back.” He could tell she was confused, but relaying the whole truth would do more harm than good. “I know this must sound insane, but it truly is my only acceptable option.”

  “I understand if you need to move,” Katherine offered. “I didn’t expect you and Layla to stay in the garage apartment forever. And I have no problem returning the extra rent money.”

  “No,” Aedan refused. “That money’s yours. You’ve earned every penny my mom gave you. Like I said, you’ve been a godsend, and no amount of money can buy that.”

  “I don’t know about all that,” she murmured, cheeks flushing.

  “I do,” Aedan countered. “You’ve been a blessing too many ways to count.”

  “Then why are you moving?” she teased, trying to lighten the mood and divert his attention.

  “Well,” he replied, taking a calming breath, “you’ve misunderstood what I’m trying to tell you.”

  “You’re not leaving?”

  “I am,” he confirmed. Then he cleared his throat, squarely meeting her gaze. “Sarah once told me you can’t carry a baby and that you hope to adopt.” He watched as tumblers began clicking into place. “I know you love Layla,
and I know you loved Sarah.” He paused, pulling in another calming breath. Then he exhaled his heartbreaking request. “So I want you to adopt our baby and treat her as Sarah would have if given the chance.”

  He observed Katherine’s raised eyebrows, gaping mouth, and frozen posture. Then he looked down, pulling the bottle from Layla’s puckered lips. Once she was on his shoulder, he returned his attention to Katherine, who hadn’t moved an inch.

  “I know it’s a big commitment,” he added, “raising a baby by yourself, but I also know you’re capable of making it. You’ll be a fantastic mother. If I didn’t think so, I wouldn’t ask you to keep my Layla Love.”

  A long moment of stunned silence passed before Katherine responded. “I don’t have a problem with the commitment, Chris. I have a problem with taking a baby away from her dad. How can you even consider it? I mean, I can help. You’ll be a single dad, but you won’t be alone. You can live in the apartment, and I can be Layla’s Aunt Katherine.”

  “It’s not about that,” Aedan cut in. “Being a single father is well within my capabilities. There are few things I want more than to stay with Layla forever.”

  “Then stay with her.”

  “I can’t,” he breathed, blinking back tears.

  Katherine shook her head. “I don’t understand, Chris.”

  “I know you don’t,” Aedan conceded.

  “Wouldn’t Sarah want you to stay?” Katherine argued.

  Aedan pulled Layla from his shoulder and examined her serene face—a mini Rhosewen, just colored different. “Sarah knew my plans, and she understood. She loved you, too, Katherine. I know she wanted you to do this for us.”

  Katherine didn’t respond. She merely sat there, staring at the perfect baby in his arms.

  “Katherine,” he whispered, “this is something I have to do. I have no other option. I want you to be Layla’s mom, but if you can’t, I’ll find someone else.”