by Lynn Landes
“Of course I love you,” she says raining kisses over his face.
“Say you’ll never let me go again, Simeon!” She demands pushing back to look into his chocolate eyes.
“I’ll never let you go again, Elsbeth.” His mouth takes hers in a searing kiss and for the first time they touch without shame, fear, worry or regret. Only love.
Chapter 38
A baby’s cry fills the morning and Varena hurries to her daughter.
“Okay little one,” she coos as she lifts her tiny body and pulls her close shushing her gently. “Everything is going to be okay, Alexandria, mommy is here.”
Varena looks out the window while the baby nurses and wonders what the future holds. Hunter brought her back to his home with him and Alex. Polly returned with them to her home and Ruby and Ronnie have gone back to their ranch, with a promise to all get together at their house in the spring.
Hunter stands in the doorway watching her and the baby.
“Isn’t it odd, Hunter how things change so quickly?” she asks him.
“Yes, change is part of life. More change is coming I am sure. Once human’s and angels created only destruction and evil. Yet look at Alexandria.” He says in wonder walking closer to look at her. “She is not evil, she is proof that change is inevitable.”
Varena reaches out and takes his hand. “You are amazing, Hunter. How is it you can love another person’s child as your own?”
“You make it easy, Varena and I know of another man who raised a child that was not his own, so it is not totally unheard of. When I look at her, all I see is hope. Hope that we are worthy of love. She is a reward to the faithful, a reward to your strength, and determination to survive.”
Elina watches from the shadows with Malach and she sighs.
“Raphaim was more than an angel, he was a child of a Keeper and Archangel. He was pure evil. I have seen what her future holds and it is not pretty. She will need blood to grow strong and healthy. Will Hunter be able to raise her knowing that? Will Alex be able to live with her once they realize it? Is it even fair to ask them too?”
“Who better to raise her than a Gunskaliski and two Keepers? They will need to be trained and I am sure we can make sure they are?” Malach reminds her.
“It would be safer to take care of it now?” She says looking back at the child. She does not see the infant, but the girl ripping the heart from her brother and raining blood over a crowd of hungry fallen. Her eyes begin to glow and her hand itches as she grasps the hilt of her sword.
“So many questions, but not the right ones.” Malach says running a hand over her soft white wings. Chills erupt at his touch and she spins around in his arms.
“I have a question for you, why don’t we let our Father guide us and try not to out-think him.”
A soft smile curves her lips, “Yes, that may be sound advice considering what happened last time I second guessed my maker.” Her smile fades as the babies crying echoes out once more.
“I don’t know why she’s so fussy tonight, Hunter. I have fed her, but it seems like she can’t get enough. You don’t think she’s getting sick do you?” Varena asks in a worried voice.
“Let me see,” he lifts her up and kisses her chubby cheek before settling her on his shoulder. Her crying changes to a hiccup and she calms quickly, soothed by his touch.
“No more crying, little angel. Everything’s going to be fine,” Hunter promises and walks to the window to look outside.
“Everything’s going to be fine.” He says to the angels outside the glass.
Elina sighs, “Time to go home, Malach.”
Chapter 39
They fly to the farm, just as the sun rises in the fields, casting a golden glow across the land. She is nervous, she does not know how they will react. They have been her parents and lovingly raised her. They have fought with her, prayed for her, and loved her. Malach takes her hand and smiles at her.
“You worry too much. They love you like a daughter, Elina.”
“Oh, I’m not worried for me, but for you, husband.” She turns with a sassy smile and heads to the barn.
He is moving slower these days, spreading fresh hay inside the stalls. The horses whinny and prance inside watching her as she moves softly inside the outbuilding.
“Hi, Dad.” Elina calls out softly.
He stands slowly and turns around tossing the last of the hay down.
“Elina?” he whispers with shock.
“Elina!” he roars and runs forward before skidding to a stop. He has only just noticed her wings. Seeing them from a distance and up close are two very different things.
Ruby walks in with two cups of coffee and stops in her tracks with her mouth open. She drops the cups and runs to her daughter, “Elina!” she sobs wrapping her arms around her daughter.
“It’s okay, Mom, I’m okay.” She says returning the hug.
“I thought we’d never see you again.” Her mother weeps and turns to Ronnie. “But you’ve come home. She came home, Ronnie.”
“For how long, Elina?” he asks. Malach steps into the barn behind her and Ronnie’s eyes snap to his.
“You made me a promise, Angel!” Ronnie growls at him.
“Dad…” Elina tries to soothe him, but Malach raises his hand to stop her. Ruby turns with a smile at Elina and releases her daughter.
“Ronnie, now is not the time for this, we need to celebrate with our daughter!” Ruby wipes her eyes and turns to Malach.
“Thank you, for bringing her home to us.”
“Mom…” she tries to say, but Ronnie interrupts.
“He didn’t bring her home to us, Ruby. He brought her to say good-bye. Didn’t you?” Ronnie asks.
The pain radiating from the older man beats at Malach, and he realizes he is in over his head. He looks at Elina and sees the tears radiating in her beautiful eyes.
“Yes. I won’t lie to you.” Malach says as he takes Elina’s hand and pulls her to his side where she belongs.
“How long will we have?” Ronnie asks as Ruby starts to weep. He pulls his wife to his side and she buries her face in his neck. He wraps his arms around her and holds her close.
Elina watches and their pain hits her in waves. “I didn’t mean to hurt you by coming. I thought selfishly of my need to see you both. Forgive me. I will go. Malach?” she turns to him and wraps her arms around his waist.
“Humans are so hard to understand!” Malach snaps out. “Your daughter is not lost to you, Keepers. You know that! She is here, now! Celebrate this gift you are given and the time you had together. You will be together again soon enough.”
Ronnie looks at the large angel and feels ashamed. “He’s right, Ruby. Forgive us old humans. We let our feelings rule us. Sometimes they are stronger than we are.”
Elina laughs and looks at her dad. Wiping her eyes, “We know how that is don’t we, husband?” she says looking at Malach with love.
“Husband?” Ruby asks loudly. “You got married without us!”
“Uh-oh.” Ronnie says, stepping back with a chuckle.
There is nothing funnier in the world, than watching two Archangels step back away from a small human female.
“You married my only daughter without her family?” Ruby advances on them and pokes Malach in the chest.
“Well, it was a spur of the moment…” he stutters and Elina steps forward to protect Malach only to have Ruby snap at her.
“Oh, how could you?” Ruby cries at her daughter and turns storming from the barn.
“Mom!” Elina turns to her father and finds him staring at her wings.
“You are truly married?” he asks.
“Yes, Dad. I won’t say I’m sorry, but I…” Elina starts to say but her father interrupts her.
He reaches out a hand to shake Malach’s hand. “Sorry? I don’t want you to be sorry. You know I love you daughter, I want your happiness. I didn’t think it was allowed for humans and angels?” he asks with a question in his eyes.<
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“Malach, will explain Dad. I need to talk to Mom.” She turns and quickly moves towards the house.
Elina walks the well-worn path leading from the barn to the house. She knows where to go, Ruby always cleans when she is upset. The sounds of water running and dishes slamming echoes outside and she sighs.
Ruby stands scrubbing a pot in hot water and muttering under her breath. Elina smiles softly and notices the drop of her shoulders as though the weight of the world rests on them.
“Mom?” Elina calls out softly. Ruby turns off the water and turns to look at her.
“I waited a lifetime for a daughter, Elina. Trusting in our father and just when I had accepted my fate, he came,” she says gesturing to Malach outside. “He told us of a little girl who had lost everything and everyone she loved, and in the deepest part of my soul, I was thankful!”
Elina smiles and waits.
“Am I being punished because of it, Elina?” Ruby wonders.
“No, Mom. You are not being punished. You loved me as though I was yours, your patience taught me patience, and your faith strengthened my own. I am proud to call you, Mother. I will always need you, Mom.”
“I know I am selfish, I wanted to grow old, and play with grandchildren and die first! Not outlive my only child!”
“Well, you taught me to bloom where I am planted and I know of some children who will need your guidance. Some of the children we saved have no family left to claim them. They will need what you gave me. If you are willing and when you are ready, you will have that gift.”
Ruby sighs stepping close to her daughter. Looking into Elina’s eyes she whispers, “I am so proud of you, Elina. They will not replace you daughter, but they will ease the pain. I will have to talk to your father about it.”
Elina feels her mother’s pain beating at her as Malach and Ronnie step into the kitchen. Ronnie pulls Ruby close and Elina feels Malach step behind her.
“I can ease her pain, Elina. Shall we show her what a heavenly wedding looks like?”
Joy erupts and Elina smiles, “Mom, Dad, give me your hands.” She takes their hands in hers and Malach rests his hands on Elina’s shoulders. The images flow from Malach to Elina, and into Ruby and Ronnie.
A chorus of heavenly angels sing and Elina rises from the dust to shake her new wings out. They watch Malach and Elina holding hands and speaking the heavenly vows and all of heaven rejoices.
When Elina opens her eyes, her parents are staring at her with wonder. They felt the emotion, the joy, and the rapture as Elina becomes the Archangel she was destined to be.
“Thank you.” Ruby whispers.
Ronnie laughs out loud, “There’s something you don’t see every day!”
Epilogue
Polly moves slowly through the silent house with an emptiness in her soul that can’t be filled. He is gone and she feels the solitude pulling at her like a hollow abyss.
Nameed was always near, protecting and watching over her, and now all she feels is… nothing. Her feet move slower, her body feels older, and her spirit is seeps with sorrow.
Alex knocks on the door and pushes it open, “Polly?” he calls out and hurries into the living room.
“Alex?” she calls out as she moves into the living room. Her smile lights her face, the weight lifts and the load lightens.
“What brings you here? Not that you need a reason, you are always welcome.”
He smiles at her, “I need to talk to you, Polly about Nameed.”
She sits heavily in a chair near the fireplace and looks into the red jumping flames.
“I know he’s gone, Alex. I felt it the moment he was called home.”
“Oh. Are you okay?” he asks softly, sitting next to her.
“I have to be, don’t I? I am not the first to lose someone I love.” Her wise eyes look into his young ones. “You carry that burden too, don’t you?”
Alex drops his head, “I don’t understand, Polly. Why did Nameed have to die?”
“Alex, I won’t pretend to understand everything, because I don’t. But I do know that God’s purpose for our lives is perfect. He does not give us more that we can handle.”
“I don’t know if I believe that, Polly. I am afraid that I am not worthy to carry this task, like Elina did.” Alex whispers.
“That’s because you are not, Elina. Alex you will carry it as only you can, and only by the grace of God, will you survive it.”
For the first time in weeks, Polly feels her soul spark with new life. Teach him.
“Alex, do you know what a Covenant is?” his eyes lift to hers and she smiles when he shakes his head.
“I have heard the term but I don’t really understand it.”
“A covenant is a promise. God’s promise to humanity was Jesus. It is by grace we were saved, through faith, not because we deserved it, Alex, but because Christ came and paid the price of our sins with his own blood, to purchase our salvation.”
Excited now Polly jumps up, “Alex do you know what Grace is?”
“No.” Alex leans forward and listens intently.
“Grace is an honor or favor. It is a kindness from God given to the faithful. You see there is nothing you could ever do, no act amazing enough, to ever deserve God’s grace. It is a gift. When Jesus took our sins as his own, he paid the price for us.”
Alex stands up and begins pacing. “So you are saying that Elina did not earn her way by her deeds, but because of her faith?”
“Yes, Alex. It was the Blood of the Covenant, the promise of God’s son that washed our sins away.”
Alex thinks about all Polly has told him and he feels a sense of relief.
“In essence, we are all offered God’s grace, but we must be willing to take God into our hearts.”
“Yes! God wants to bless us with all the riches of heaven and I have been so blessed. Sometimes even the wisest forget to count our blessings Alex.”
“I am blessed to have you in my life, to guide me now that Nameed is gone.”
Polly smiles through her tears, “Oh, child you don’t know how badly I needed to hear that today.”
The sound of a dog barking is heard and car doors slamming outside and Polly looks at Alex with a question. “I forgot, Dad and Varena are bringing dinner over. We missed you.”
A quick knock on the door and Hunter pushes it open with the family invading after.
Laughter, Love and Light fill the empty halls, and later as Polly rocks the baby to sleep a soft, “Thank you,” finds its way to Heaven.
Lynn Landes is the author and independent publisher of The Covenant Series. Her stories span the spectrum of Romantic Fiction from Paranormal, Romantic Suspense to Christian Fantasy. If you like fantasy, temptation, and adventure be sure to check Lynn’s blog for upcoming titles.
www.followlynnsthread.wordpress.com
