Divine Hope

by Jo O'Neil

  Chapter Twenty Four

  The Healing

  I was spinning. My ears were full of pressure from the great gusts of wind that surrounded me. The explosion of air uncomfortably whipped my hair around my face and sent my cloak, which I had involuntarily changed back into, into a frenzied struggle with my body. So much so my magenta robe couldn’t decipher whether it wanted to mummify me or strangle me as it fitfully rotated from embalming me to tearing upwards where it replicated a hangman’s noose.

  For the first time since I was awarded honorary angelic status I was cold; freezing in fact. I tried to shut my eyes to protect them from the rage of the airstream, but my eyelids were frozen wide open. I was unaware of time as my torment sent me in and out of consciousness. As I prayed for death Archangel Azrael came for me.

  I lay motionless in Archangel Azrael’s arms. His white aura flooded my own and brought with it a sense of peace from the fear which had threatened to consume me. I now felt nothing other than gratitude; although I couldn’t express this emotion as the ability to speak had abandoned me as soon as I entered the chasm. Even my eyes had lost their skill of communication as they remained unnaturally still, wide, and emotionless.

  Very tenderly, Archangel Azrael placed me on a soft surface, so soft in fact I couldn’t help remember the last time I had been blessed to feel such luxuriousness. On that occasion I had been preparing to enter the Karmic Board’s Temple. As I lay, bathed in Archangel Azrael’s light, I wondered if the same fate awaited me now I was back in the room of feathers.

  I heard voices; voices I recognised talking about me, not to me.

  ‘I’ve done all I can. As you know God did not gift me with healing, Archangel Michael. I retrieve the dead and console the bereaved. Serena is thankfully, as of yet, neither.’

  ‘Thank you, Archangel Azrael. I can take it from here,’ A.M. said as his cobalt aura began to replace the white. With it a sense of healing occurred somewhere deep within me.

  ‘She is very weak,’ Archangel Azrael commented on his assessment of me.

  ‘Yes, I believe I am going to need the expertise of Archangel Raphael, and probably Jesus too.’

  A lump formed in my throat as the magnitude of the problem became apparent; if Jesus was being called upon, I must be in a bad way. But my body, still rigid from the extreme cold, refused to move so the lump was stuck. For how long for I didn’t know; although I prayed it wouldn’t be too long as the obstruction it caused was making it difficult for me to breath.

  I heard A.M. greet Archangel Raphael, and there was a third voice. A voice which was so familiar to me, yet I knew with certainty it wasn’t from any earthly memory. As this voice spoke of my treatment, a wave of calm washed over me.

  ‘We need God to perform this healing, for only His mercy can free Serena from the binds of the abyss.’

  ‘Will He, Jesus? Will He forgive her for breaking the ancient ruling that He Himself imposed, for no one is ever meant to come out of the abyss?’ Archangel Raphael asked.

  ‘Of course He will, Archangel Raphael. However, it will be up to Serena whether she accepts His mercy,’ the familiar voice of Jesus answered.

  ‘She will. I am confident she will,’ A.M. spoke. He added, ‘She must for mankind needs Serena Olivia Unity Lewis more than she dare realise.’

  ‘This is so, Archangel Michael, but whether or not Serena Olivia Unity Lewis fulfills her prophecy is a choice for her soul, and not even God Himself can make that decision for her,’ Jesus offered.

  ‘I AM so proud of you, My Son. You always speak the truth even when kinder words can bring much more artificial comfort. For it is written in My ancient text that honesty will set the soul free, if the soul will only listen and have faith.’

  ‘Thank you, Father. As You can see, Your daughter is in a coma of sorts, the kind that can only be inflicted by the abyss. Archangel Michael is confident she will receive Your mercy and recover. I will pray that she does indeed accept the glory of Your Divine Love.’

  ‘I will pray also, for no one has ever fallen into the abyss before so this is unchartered territory,’ God informed the shocked three.

  ‘Haven’t they?’ the three chorused.

  ‘No. Serena is the first, and I must say I do very much hope she is the last.’

  Silence fell. I was aware someone held my right hand. It felt warm and sent embers of heat slowly up my arm. Steadily the warmth intensified and began to circulate throughout my entire being. Unhurriedly at first, but little by little it began to build momentum and speed.

  I then became aware of flashes of colour; gold predominately interspersed with blue and green. The sparks electrified my body and jump started my heart making me feel somewhat human again, as opposed to a frozen statue with a heart of stone. The lump in my throat was obliterated once the rays of healing light reached it, which left the way clear to my head. As my brain was fed God’s Divine Light, my intentions became insightful; I, Serena Olivia Unity Lewis had been given a task to complete and no abyss was going to stop me. I would save mankind even if mankind didn’t want to be saved. But to do that, I had to get my body to agree with my brain and work just as efficiently.

  I willed the healing to my extremities. This completed the circuit leaving my entire body and soul buzzing with exhilaration. As my eyes focused properly for the first time since I had left Molly in Mr. Harper’s study, I found A.M. standing to my left side.

  ‘Serena, you are back with us,’ A.M. smiled.

  ‘Hello, A.M. Hello, God,’ I said as I my eyes flickered to my right. ‘Thank you for my healing.’

  I started to sit up and saw Archangel Raphael who had been grounding me with healing energy directed at my feet.

  ‘It’s lovely to see you again, Archangel Raphael. Thank you also for blessing me with your healing abilities.’

  Lastly, I focused on a smiling face which had been standing behind me, but was now moving to stand beside God. I hadn’t encountered this face last time I was present in heaven. Nevertheless, it was as recognisable to me as my own face, so without hesitation I said, ‘Hello, Jesus. I am so very grateful to you.’

  God spoke first, ‘Serena, My child, we are all so very pleased you have decided to join us,’ He said with his hand still firmly wrapped around my own.

  ‘We are,’ Archangel Raphael echoed.

  ‘I am honoured to officially meet you, Serena,’ Jesus said as he bent low into a bow.

  ‘And I’m blessed to finally meet you, Jesus,’ I said as I returned Jesus’s courtesy by tilting my head a fraction. But even though I was only propped up on to my elbows, the movement made me dizzy, so I quickly had to lay my head back down on to the feathers before I fell down.

  ‘You have had some very powerful healing, Serena. It is natural that you feel light-headed,’ God reassured me. ‘You must rest. When you wake I will be here for you.’

  ‘Wait! I have a million questions.’

  I frantically tried to haul myself back up on to my elbows, but exhaustion overcame me and I barely manage to lift my head.

  ‘Hush now,’ God said as he gently helped me to lay my head back down. ‘I know you have many questions for Me, but you must rest first.’

  ‘I thought one didn’t have to sleep when in heaven, God.’

  ‘One does not normally, but no one has ever fallen into the abyss before. Such an excursion made the healing the four of us bestowed on you imperative, and now sleep must follow.’

  God’s wondrous smile, a smile which could easily light up the entire Universe, was the last vision I saw before sleep stole me.

  Enchanting trumpeters with glass instruments filled my dream state with heavenly fanfares which seamlessly merged. The peace my personal angelic concert installed in me was a harsh contrast to the fear the abyss held. The only parallel I could draw from my two experiences was time took on a different guise. Just as I was unaware how long I was captive in the abyss, I was also obliviou
s to how long I was asleep, and there was little point enquiring when I woke due to heavens time being disproportionate to the earthly scale. What was apparent to me though was as soon as the music stopped I woke up; although I admit it may have happened vice-versa. As promised, when I opened my eyes God was by my side.

  ‘Thank you, Father,’ I sang out as I noted my voice sounded normal and strong, if not stronger than its natural pitch. ‘Thank you once again for mercifully freeing me from the abyss and being instrumental in my healing.’

  ‘You are most welcome, Serena. However, you put too much emphasis on your perception that I did all the work when in fact it was you who freed yourself from the abyss.’

  ‘I did! How did I manage that?’ I asked in astonishment.

  ‘Why, with your faith, of course. You prayed. You may have prayed for death, but that is by far a more favourable outcome over an eternity in the abyss.’

  ‘So am I now dead? Does that mean I won’t be going home and I won’t get to choose my soul mate?’

  ‘Do not fear, Serena. You will complete your assignment and then you will return home. I AM very pleased with your progress so far, notwithstanding the rule breaking which led to your exile.’

  ‘I think my brain must still be numb from the abyss because I don’t understand, God; what rule did I break?’

  ‘It is easier if I just show you,’ God said as He raised His right hand and waved it from left to right in one long slow stroke, conjuring images of the two of us some time earlier discussing my assignment in the life review room.

  ‘We are here in My life review room so I can show you events that will aid you. Before we continue I need to appeal to your soul so it understands all we communicate here is holy and secret, for if you utter the slightest hint to another all may be lost.’ God had narrated to me before I embarked on my mission.

  In response, I placed my right hand over my heart and replied, ‘I promise to keep safe all You reveal to me in my position as Your honorary angel, Father.’

  Recognition dawned as I shook my head as if to rid myself of my mistake as I acknowledged, ‘I can’t believe I forgot. Evidently I did. I broke my pledge,’ I said with a voice that tailed off with defeatism. I bowed my head and brought my hands to my aching temples. ‘I told Molly, thus breaking my vow to keep all You imparted to me secret. No wonder I ended up in the abyss,’ I finished with frustration as I looked directly to God with sorrowful eyes.

  ‘I completely understand you have a very strong connection to Molly which overrode the sensible approach you deployed when you applied caution during your liaisons with Hope and Ryan. With that said, the consequences of your breach are serious,’ God informed me as He magically waved His hand in the opposite direction to clear the scene.

  ‘How much more serious than being consumed by the void can it get?’ I nervously asked.

  ‘At the moment you confided in Molly a holy secret which was only ever meant to be revealed to a named few, a chain of events was set in motion to reflect the seriousness of the situation.’

  I held my breath as I waited for God to tell me what catastrophic occurrences I had unintentionally unleashed.

  ‘Your parents had been quite intent on keeping your ashes safely stored in an ornamental urn on their mantelpiece. This was necessary given you will be returning to your life. Circumstances changed when you broke My holy secret, for you unwittingly instigated events to blow your existence into oblivion, which is why you ended up in the abyss. You see at the precise time you fell into the abyss, your parents scattered your ashes.’

  The lump returned to my throat. I swallowed to clear it before saying, ‘Oh, Lord, that does sound serious,’ I worryingly stated.

  ‘It is. By the Universal Laws, a counter balance to your rule breaking which befitted your actions had to occur. Using the very laws I sanctioned, My Universe moved time and space to remove you from My Cosmos. That meant your ashes had to go as well.’

  ‘So am I doomed?’ I was trying to stay upbeat, but given the seriousness of the circumstance my voice betrayed me as it faltered to barely a whisper.

  God had said I would return home. Given the multitude of my crime, was that to live an existence damned forever?

  I didn’t possess the same knowledge of God’s jurisdiction as I did earthly law, however, I did feel my act warranted punishment. The worse sentence would be to deprive me of my soul mate, a fact I knew God would be well aware of. As I considered this and my observation that God had worryingly failed to mention my soul mate when He assured me I would return home, I had to conclude my analysis was accurate and I would be fated to have the promise of my soul mate revoked.

  ‘My dear Child, of course you are not doomed. I sent My angels to recover your ashes, and as we speak they are storing them somewhere safe.’

  As I heard God’s words, I shook my head unsure whether I could trust my ears.

  ‘My ashes are safe?’

  ‘Perfectly.’

  ‘I can return home and still have my pick of eligible men?’

  ‘Absolutely. But a word to the wise, if I may. More often than not it is so that the soul has already chosen its mate, so for you to return to life and choose your soul mate is an injustice to your soul. It would be far more advantageous to allow the soul to seek its chosen one.’

  ‘OK,’ I answered somewhat stunned on how lightly I had gotten away with my unholy deed.

  ‘Although your “crime”, as you class it, does NOT warrant punishment, there are consequences, Serena.’

  I sighed knowing there had to be a catch.

  ‘There is no catch, Serena. Your words cannot be erased and nor can Molly’s memory. The only course of action now is for you to confess your indiscretion to Hope and Ryan, and ask not only for their forgiveness, but also for their belated consent, for it is their secrets you imparted to another.’

  ‘What if they don’t forgive me, or they do but they fail to give me their consent?’

  ‘Then you may end up back in the abyss, so it is in your best interest to make your case convincing.’

  I caught my breath. I wasn’t worried about persuading Ryan. Hope on the other hand might be tricky.

  Molly and Hope had never been friends, partly because Molly was my friend, and when Hope stole Rupert, Molly faithfully ignored her. However, since my death they’d had reason to communicate, and on the times I had borne witness to their discussions I thought, all considering, they were civil to each other so that gave me cause to feel positive.

  I exhaled and tiresomely stated, ‘It doesn’t sound like I have a choice.’

  ‘There is always a choice, Serena. Now, before I send you back there is one more thing.’

  ‘Yes?’ I asked more enthusiastically.

  ‘You may recall the raised voices outside the study window?’

  I thought back before my brain had been pulverised by the abyss and replied, ‘Yes, I do remember. Ryan’s voice was among them.’

  ‘Precisely. The other voices you heard were MI6.’

  ‘The Hart brothers have returned? Is Ryan OK? I asked with genuine concern.

  ‘The Hart brothers are flying back at this very moment. The MI6 voices you heard are acting on Fagan Hart’s instruction, and I AM sure you have already guessed that Fagan Hart is being manipulated by Lucifer through his grandfather.’

  ‘I get the feeling somewhere deep down Fagan Hart is a good guy.’

  ‘You think correctly, Serena. But what you must remember is Fagan Hart has free will to access the side of him which leans towards My light. Equally, he can remain along the dark and loner path he currently stands on and continue to worship the Devil.’

  ‘I haven’t made my mind up about his brothers.’

  ‘Cain and Caldwell can also turn to My light, even though they have favoured the dark longer than their younger brother, and being the older boys more is expected of them from their grandfather who has a strong influence on them.
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br />   ‘When you return, Serena, leave Molly to take care of Hope’s father while you go to Ryan’s rescue. MI6 will capture him without your intervention.’

  ‘How am I supposed to do that?’ I asked feeling the pressure mounting.

  ‘All will become clear.’

  ‘Then where are we supposed to go, and what about Hope?’

  ‘All will become clear.’

  I took a deep breath to allow the mounting frustration to wave over me.

  ‘God, why didn’t you tell me about the prophecy you wrote naming me as the Daughter of Eve, and about Ryan’s family being my protectors?’

  ‘You were not ready to hear that truth, Serena.’

  ‘I wasn’t ready to hear it from Caldwell Hart, but I didn’t have any option.’

  ‘Please believe Me, Serena, when I tell you there may never have been a time when the circumstances were such that you would have readily accepted the news. Hearing it as you did after you had some ‘field’ experience made it easier for you to deal with than if I had told you at the start of your training.’

  ‘Why me? There is nothing special about me. Why choose me as the heroine to your prophecy?’

  ‘Every soul is special, Serena, including yours, so why not you?’

  ‘I can’t even hold on to the gifts You bestow on me. I was freezing in the abyss when before that catastrophe the cold didn’t affect me.’

  ‘Anyone would have struggled to hold on to their faculties when torn from their existence to face the never ending hole of the abyss, Serena.’

  ‘God, why did I change back into my cloak?’

  ‘I hoped it may help you remember who you are.’

  ‘It nearly strangled me.’

  ‘It wrapped around you and gave you protection also.’

  ‘Really! I would have hated to have entered the void without it then. That really would have been hell. Talking of which; as the Daughter of Eve you prophesied, what am I supposed to do?’

  ‘You are doing precisely what you are supposed to be doing.’

  ‘I am? The Hart brothers said I’m supposed to defeat Lucifer, but I haven’t even met him and I’m not sure I really want to as he sounds so mean. And there was no mention of the Devil in the assignment you set me so are the Harts mistaken?’

  ‘Serena, do not be concerned, for all will be revealed at the right time.’

  ‘It will?’

  ‘Yes of course. Archangel Raziel and Archangel Michael have both told you, My Timing is exact, and this is precisely the right time for your return. I AM so very proud of you, My Angelic Secret Agent Number 444.’