by Linda Creel
Katie came at Ryan so fast, she almost knocked him over. “Great – we’ll tell Shanna.” She gave him a quick peck on the cheek, leaving Ryan red-faced, and Sophia laughing.
After putting the tins back in the shopping bags, Ryan and Sophia carried them to his car.
Katie found Shanna sitting on a bench staring curiously at the statue of the Archangel Gabriel. Black mascara spilled down her cheeks, and her eyes were red and puffy from crying. Looking up when she saw her friend; she managed a weak smile. “Do you think they’re real?” she asked.
“Who – the angels?”
“Yeah – sometimes I feel like they’re watching us; other times, I think we’re alone,” Shanna sighed.
Katie pulled a tissue from her pocket and wiped the make-up from her friend’s face. “I know what you mean. Look -- I’m really sorry about your Mom, but none of that was your fault. Father Patrick says we are accountable for our own actions, but other people have to make their own choices. Even if we don’t agree with them, there is nothing we can do.”
“You’re right, but I can’t help thinking how different my life would be if my father didn’t die.”
“You may not want to hear this, but I think your mother was always looking for an excuse to go crazy. That guy, Larry – gave it to her.”
“Why weren’t we friends before? I mean, we grew up in the same neighborhood and went to the same high school.
“I guess we traveled in different circles back then. If it makes you feel any better, my parents weren’t all that great either. My dad left my mom for a younger woman who was only a few years older than me. After the divorce, I never saw him again.”
“Yeah, but at least your mother didn’t run off with the first loser she met in a bar.”
“No – she locked herself in her bedroom and ate a bottle of anti-depressants. They were followed by a glass of whiskey. When I found her the next morning – she was blue and ice cold.”
“You never told me your mother committed suicide. I thought she died of a long-term illness.”
Katie shook her head. “My older brother was in college at UCLA, so my grandmother moved in to take care of me. After a few weeks, I understood why my mom got pregnant and ran away from home when she was sixteen. My brother didn’t even come home for the funeral. He graduated from college and got a job at Lionsgate as a film editor.”
“Didn’t he ever call to check up on you?”
She rolled her eyes, and there was an ugly twist to her mouth. “What do you think? He had a new girlfriend and a new life – he couldn’t be bothered with a little sister.”
“Father Ryan said we can borrow his car to take the leftovers home and then do some shopping.” She shoved five -$100 bills in Shanna’s hand.
“Where did this come from? You didn’t take money from the church, did you?”
“Look – I may have been a clepto in the past, but that was because my parents barely kept a roof over my head, or food in my belly. Father Ryan said this came from a secret benefactor. He wouldn’t tell me who, but I suspect it was Aura. We don’t have to return the car until tomorrow, so he suggested we do some shopping and then take in a movie. We can have a girls’ night out. So – are you in?” Katie asked.
Shanna stuffed the money into her jeans pocket, and then used her fingers to wipe her eyes.
“Uh – I think you might want to wash your face and put on some fresh make-up. I can’t be seen walking around with a skank like you,” Katie teased.
With the tension gone, the girls both started laughing. “Alright, Pinkie; I’ll clean up after we get home.
“That’s my girl.” She pulled Shanna up by the arm. “C’mon – Sophia has the car packed. We should be on our way before the food spoils.”
When they got to the car, Shanna yelled, “I call shotgun.”
“Yeah – whatever,” Sophia said. “As long as you don’t distract your girlfriend; I don’t want to run into anybody…literally.”
“Hey --I didn’t go to Father Patrick’s driving school,” Katie replied.
The three girls hugged Ryan and sped out of the parking lot. The priest watched and lifted his eyes to Heaven. Please watch over them and my car.
After they cleared the parking lot, Stella glared at Mehri. “Why did you wait so long to tell me about the bracelet?”
“I didn’t know it was gone until my sleeve slid up my arm. We need to go back to the farm. The bracelet was a gift. Lucifer will be angry when he finds out its gone.”
“You probably lost it when you strangled your mother. We can’t go back to you parent’s home. By now, someone may know about their deaths. Hell – the police may already be there. It’s just a piece of jewelry. I know a great jeweler; we’ll replace it.”
“You don’t understand,” Mehri sighed. “We can’t just leave it. It’s one of the ancient relics Lucifer brought with him when he was exiled. He told me it belonged to his first wife, Laelah. The stones are made of blue diamonds, and apparently, there isn’t another one like it. How will he ever trust me again?”
“Look – if anyone does find the bracelet, they’ll think it belonged to Charlotte. There’s no way they will know it came from Lucifer. We’ll go back to the cottage and wait for my father. He’ll know what to do.”
Mehri was fidgeting in her seat, having a hard time sitting still; she tapped her foot furiously against the floorboard.
Stella placed her hand firmly on Mehri’s leg. “That’s not going to help.”
“Lucifer sent me to gather information about Aura. What if I’ve ruined his plans because I was careless?”
Stella chuckled. “Stop worrying; no one can link you to your parents’ deaths. As far as anyone knows, you and your brother have been dead for years. There were no witnesses.”
Mehri felt the tension leave her body. “You’re right – I didn’t see any other cars on the road leading to the farmhouse.”
“Exactly – so let’s sit back and relax.” She turned on the radio and Mehri leaned her head against the window. Neither spoke on the ride home.
I hope Stella is right. I need to concentrate on the priest and learn everything I can about Aura. Knowledge is power – Lucifer taught me that.
Listening to Stella hum along to a familiar song, Mehri smiled, and then closed her eyes. Soon –I will avenge my son’s death.
When they pulled into the gravel drive, Mehri was the first one out of the car. If Samhael was waiting inside the cottage, she wanted to explain her actions before Stella told him about the Chastain’s deaths. She threw open the door, and breathed a sigh of relief when she found the cottage empty.
Stella instinctively surveyed the outside of the property -- searching for uninvited guests -- before following Mehri into the house.
She tossed her handbag on the sofa. “Fix us some wine while I use the bathroom; then, we’ll talk.”
Mehri walked into the kitchen. After placing a flask of red wine and two glasses on a silver tray, she carried them into the living room. As she poured the wine, Stella returned and took a seat in one of the wing-backed chairs.
“Are you upset with me? You hardly said two words during the drive home,” Mehri said as she handed her a glass of wine.
Stella shrugged. “Why would I be angry? I understand why you killed Charlotte and so will Lucifer. I think we should put this behind us, and move forward.”
She kicked off her shoes and rested her feet on the ottoman. After gulping down the wine, Stella wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and then placed the empty glass on the end table.
“It seems the girls have already accepted you into their little group,” she said. “You should spend as much time with them as possible.”
Mehri glanced at Stella like she just grew a third head. “I thought I was supposed to spend time with the priest gathering information about Aura?”
Stella shook her head and laughed. “Silly girl – do you think those runaways don’t know all about Ryan’s best friend?
I’m sure he spends hours talking about Aura to them.”
“So – you’re saying they know her almost as well as he does?”
“Those girls are closer than sisters. Each of them has a sad story to tell. Who do you think their benefactor was? I’ve known Aura for fifteen years. Her family is extremely wealthy. The younger angel-bloods can’t bear to see anyone do without, especially children. According to Father Patrick, Bren and Tracy are even more generous than their older sisters.”
“So, you think I should get close to Aura and her family?” she asked incredulously.
“No – we may see them in church, but you won’t be spending any time alone with them.”
Mehri nearly dropped he wine glass. “Surely, you don’t expect me to attend mass with the people who killed my son?”
“I promised my father I would stay close, so leaving you alone is out of the question. I can’t stay home; I’ve been going to sermon every week for the last fifteen years. If I fail to show up, Father Patrick may come to check on me. Do you want to risk him coming here – unannounced-- to find my father in the living room? No – we will both attend the nine o’clock mass on Sunday. Afterwards, the girls can show you their dormitory.”
“What if Aura wants to join us?”
“Paul and Adam always take their family to a small diner after the services. Aura won’t break tradition. Besides, there’s no rush for her to spend time with you. I’m sure your paths will cross at the meetings.”
“What about the party Father Ryan mentioned?”
Stella chuckled. “Everyone will be dressed up. We’ll make sure you don’t stand out from the other girls. In fact, maybe you could ask them for costume suggestions when we meet on Sunday. With the right disguise, no one will recognize you.”
Stella leaned forward and poured a second glass of wine. When she tried to top off Mehri’s glass; she covered it with her hand. “I don’t want to be drunk when I tell Samhael what happened to my parents.”
“Suit yourself; I really don’t see any problem. She refilled her glass, and walked over to turn on the television.”
“What are you doing?” Mehri asked.
“I’m turning on the news. I want to know if the bodies have been found.”
Chapter 35
After visiting four other elderly families, Father Patrick pulled alongside the Buick in the driveway of Charlotte and Pierre Chastain. He had met the couple twenty years ago when he was first approached by Paul to head his family’s church.
Though the congregation was initially limited to angel-bloods, after a few short months, some of the locals were welcomed. They knew nothing about the descendants of the archangels; that was a secret the priest vowed to keep.
As he walked up the wooden steps, he noticed the door was ajar. Placing the basket of tomatoes on the porch, he called their names. How odd – they usually keep the door bolted shut even during daylight hours.”
He did a quick scan of the yard, but didn’t see, or hear anyone outside. Using his foot to widen the opening in the front door, he called their names again – this time a little louder.
The television was blaring and no one came to greet him. He chuckled. No wonder they can’t hear me.
Picking up the basket, he walked slowly into the house. As soon as he got to the living room, he saw Pierre Chastain’s flaccid body. Taking a step closer, he could see the poor man’s windpipe had been crushed. A line of blood, still wet, streamed from his mouth, staining the beige carpet.
Who would have done such a thing? As his eyes flitted around the room, he noted Charlotte’s body slumped in a corner near the entrance to the kitchen. He couldn’t tell if she was alive or dead, so he moved closer.
He didn’t find an open wound, but he did notice a deep bruise around her throat.
Handprints – someone strangled the old woman, but why? He was about to reach for the phone, when his eyes were drawn to something shimmering next to Charlotte’s body – a bracelet.
Bending down to take a closer look, he could see the profile of an angel, intricately imprinted onto the precious metal. Embedded in the center was a large cerulean-colored eye, made from a blue diamond – the gem of Heaven.
Father Patrick recognized the rare stone immediately; he had seen the same precious jewel on the rings and pendants worn by the Guild’s wives and daughters.
Whoever designed this piece was a master at his craft.
As soon as the bracelet touched his hand, he felt a slow, burning sensation creep up his arm. He quickly tossed the bracelet on the floor, and stared in horror as his fingers began to turn black.
There is something evil about this jewel. Why would it be in Charlotte’s possession, unless…? No – she has always been loyal to the church; her attacker must have lost it during the struggle.
Determined to examine the relic further, he walked into the kitchen in search of a tool which would allow him to handle the bracelet safely.
After finding a small pair of tongs in one of the drawers, he retrieved the trinket and set it on the small round kitchen table. The sunlight filtering through the window would allow him to see more clearly.
Being careful not to allow the bracelet to touch his skin again, he slowly turned it over and found an odd inscription engraved into the platinum band. Though some of the words were written in Latin, a language he was familiar with, he couldn’t decipher the rest of the writing, or the strange symbols.
Father Patrick’s first instinct was to call the police, but after finding such a rare treasure, he decided to call Paul instead.
If this is an old artifact, Paul may be able to identify it. He told me someone was killing angel-bloods, but Charlotte and Pierre were mortal. Why would a fallen angel be interested in them?
He thought it was strange the Chastains portrayed themselves as good Christians, yet there was no crucifix, or pictures of angels, despite the many other pictures displayed. He couldn’t even find a bible in the house.
Maybe they keep it in a safe place. I wouldn’t feel right about going through their belongings. I’ll wait for Paul to come.
Reaching for the phone, he dialed his friends’ number, but before the call went through, he hung up. No – he’ll probably be at Aura’s house. He dialed her phone, and waited for someone to answer.
Aura had just come through the door carrying a bag of Chinese food, when she heard the telephone ringing. Where is everybody? The girls could have answered the phone.
Placing the brown bag on the kitchen table, she hurried to answer before the caller hung up.
“Aura, its Father Patrick. Is your father there?”
“He left this morning and hasn’t returned yet. Is there a problem; I can get a message to him.”
“No – that won’t do. I need to speak with him urgently. I’m afraid something has happened,” he sighed. “Charlotte Chastain and her husband have been murdered, and I found a strange bracelet next to her body. I recognized the blue diamond and thought your father may know where it came from.”
A vision popped into Aura’s head as she witnessed the deaths of Charlotte and Pierre. She couldn’t make out the attackers because their backs were turned, but she knew they were female. “Let me ask my mother to watch the kids and I’ll be right over.”
After she hung up, Bren and Tracy came running into the kitchen with the rest of the little ones. “We’re going with you,” Bren said.
“Were you eavesdropping on my conversation? I’ve told you -- that’s rude.”
Bren didn’t want to tell Aura she had seen the same vision, so she gave a half-hearted shrug. “Sorry – I couldn’t help it. So, are we going or not?”
Aura looked at the girls, who were huddled together, holding hands. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to take them along. Father Patrick says there has been another murder.”
“Look –they aren’t going to see anything they haven’t seen before. Purgatory was more horrible than you can imagine.” Bren’s eyes squinted and she
crossed her arms over her tiny chest. “Besides, Mom isn’t here, and you don’t want to leave me and Tracy alone with them, do you?”
The six little ones stared at Aura, nodding along with Bren’s every word, their big doe-eyes pleading. They wanted to go on an adventure too, though Aura was pretty sure this wasn’t what they had in mind.
Aura saw the twinkling in her sister’s eyes, and knew if she refused to take her and the girls, Bren would make her pay later – one way or another.
She tipped her head skyward and whispered a silent prayer. “Alright, you can bring them, but I don’t want the girls inside the house. I don’t know what we’re walking into.”
Bren made the sign of the cross over her chest. “We’ll be so good you won’t even know we’re there – I promise.”
Aura chuckled. I’ll believe that when I see it. “Fine – hold hands and we’ll leave now.”
“Do you know where we’re going?” Bren asked as she moved next to Tracy.
“The vision was pretty clear. It’s actually not far from here. We should be there in a few seconds.” The girls formed a circle and with Aura at the center, they departed Aeden.
Aura watched the girl’s body language after the portal took them to the farm. They didn’t seem to be the least bit afraid, but then, Bren and Tracy were with them, and they had already witnessed their powers.
“It’s a really pretty house,” Gracie said. “It reminds me of home.”
Seeing the heartbreaking expression on her face, Aura suspected the four-year-old was remembering her mother’s death and wondering about her older sister, Hope, who was still imprisoned in Hell.
Bren must have realized the same thing. She grabbed the little one’s hands and spoke softly. “We’ll bring Hope home – I promise. Right now, she is with Alorrah and Alexis. Lucifer and his disciples can’t touch her.”
Aura stared curiously at her little sister. How can she possibly know what’s happening to Hope, unless…?
She pushed the thought out of her mind. We have other issues to deal with now, but I’ll make it a point to ask Mom if she has spoken to Bren.
