by Ciara Knight
For the first time, she wanted to ball up her fist and smash a rock to pebbles and scream to the heavens they were unfair and unjust. She tried to dive down and help but her wings seized and wouldn’t move.
“Let me go.” Sammy whimpered but the invisible force didn’t release her. Instead, Grace moved to the side and allowed Sammy to watch the horror unfold.
Everything around her magnified, she saw through the darkness to the far side of the road and the smell of pine burned the inside of her nose.
“Your angel abilities are returning.” Grace reassured her.
“Then I can help.” She struggled but there was no use, she wouldn’t budge.
“It isn’t your time to help, only your time to observe and learn.”
The car catapulted into the air.
Screams, lights, burning rubber.
The green hunk of metal flipped. The impact tore open the passenger side door. With flailing arms and legs, the girl was ejected from the car.
The old vehicle rolled down the side of the highway without her.
Sammy’s stomach lurched. Tears slid down her face as the girl’s body was flung like a rag doll onto the ground. The metallic smell of blood, sound of bones cracking, tendons popping, and an iron taste invaded her senses.
“Why am I being tortured?”
“Sometimes we are forced to stay back and allow others to make mistakes. You fell because you interfered with Heavens will.”
At the sounds of metal crunching and terrifying screams, acid burned her throat. She prayed for the nightmare to end.
“Elianna.” The cry was a foreboding echo through the tall pine trees. The man cradled a woman’s body in his arms, and Sammy knew instinctively it was his wife.
Her heart shattered. The young girl rolled on her side and crawled, dragging one leg, towards the pair.
Sammy’s hands trembled as she struggled against the restraint. “Grace. Please.” She cried, but Grace didn’t respond. “This is my punishment?”
“No. It is a lesson, and not just for you.”
Sammy followed her gaze to a nearby ridge where Alexander fought to stay in the air, but he thudded around like a bird with a broken wing. The pine branches snapped against his body as he crashed to the ground.
Her wings released and she floated down to a rock and collapsed next to Grace.
The ground beneath her feet rumbled, a subtle vibration only an angel could detect it. The hair on her body stood at attention when a brilliant light descended. It lingered for a moment then ripped a reluctant soul from Earth.
It was the woman’s soul. The cries of the loved one’s left behind sent a shiver through her wings and into her body, squeezing her heart.
She clutched her chest and cried out. Hope yanked from between her ribs, leaving an empty space. Memories of a past life invaded her mind. All her senses bombarded with the pain and suffering of her fall.
Wings shredded, fire, ash—she gagged at the odor of burnt feathers.
“What’s happening?”
“You’re remembering.”
“Samantha you have been accused of disobeying angelic law and Alexander for an act unbecoming an angel.” Words as deep as the darkest depths of the ocean boomed in her head. “You were once a great angel. Loved by many.”
Visions of Boon by her side centuries ago shot through her mind and she wanted to grab one but they were gone. “You will be sentenced to banishment.”
White shimmers covered her with a tender caress. She took a deep breath and the snow-colored specks merged into a grey pool of sorrow.
It clamped around her and constricted like a straight jacket of terror.
“Fall!” She managed through gritted teeth. “My fall!” Her cry muffled by the sounds of emergency vehicles.
A warmth seeped in and tugged the fingers of grief loose. “Shh.”
“C-can’t b-breathe.” Bones snapped around her soul and skin burned into them, she slammed against the ground, gasping. With hands wrapped around a jagged rock, she sat on the cold, damp ground heaving. Her lungs expanded but the memory of her great loss remained. She’d woken up only to live another nightmare away from Heaven. She sucked in the scent of fresh pine and peanuts.
“Peanuts?” She blinked. Through blurry vision she discovered Boon kneeling by her side.
“I thought you might need these.” He dropped several into the palm of her hand and brushed the hair from her forehead.
A shutter of light shone through him. She caught a glimpse of his soul and their great love, but couldn’t comprehend it. Only warm happiness remained as evidence.
Grace joined them, kneeling by her other side. “You were right. Both of you.” Sammy clutched both their hands. “I’m not ready to remember everything.
Boon’s gaze grew distant and his reassuring smile drooped.
“But I don’t have to. I trust what I feel.” She brought his hand to her cheek. “And my heart tells me you are something truly special.”
Boon’s lips curled into a wide grin and he lifted her into his arms. Her aura collided with his and an amethyst light glowed around them. He pressed his forehead to hers. Finally, I’m whole again.
Chapter Seven
Grace stepped to the edge of the rocky ridge. “It’s time.”
They floated down to the clearing across from Alexander. Sammy’s sandaled feet crunched into the icy snow. She shivered and leaned into Boon for warmth and listened to the tree’s creak overhead. Boon pressed his lips to hers and she melted against him. Her body warmed to his touch, one of the few pleasurable human reactions. They were connected somehow. There was no way to deny it anymore. She yearned to return to Kemp and discover the rest of the mystery between them. His arms squeezed tight before he let her go.
Sammy tugged him toward Alexander but he resisted. “This is as far as I go for now.”
“Why? Certainly we can—”
“Trust me.” He glanced at Alexander. “He doesn’t need any complications right now. He needs you. I understand now. Alex has a pure heart no matter how misguided he is by his passion. Hatred is a wasted human emotion. No matter his part in your fall from Heaven, I won’t hold a grudge any longer. I see now we will need one another. In time, Alexander will realize this too. Now go, be with Alex. He needs you.”
She clung to his strong yet small frame one more time before she released him. Boon remained in the shadows at a distance. Warmth filled her. He would always be near watching over her and she didn’t mind.
Alex sat with slumped shoulders pounding his fists against his head in the snow. A great devastation surrounded him. He blamed himself. He tried to help them but instead played right into Forras’ plan. She understood now what Alex had meant about Demons being manipulative. Too bad he hadn’t heeded his own warnings.
A husky laugh from Forras gloating sent a wave of heat down her arms and legs. Headlights shone through the woods. The shadow of four horns appeared on the ground near Alexander. Forras’ massive smoke-grey arm and blood orange eyes reflected in the light, before he vanished into the forest.
Alexander’s wings fluttered again, but he remained grounded.
Sammy crossed her arms over her chest. “What did Forras do?”
“Nothing, he’s grounded by guilt. His wings are broken by the weight of his part in all that is around us.” Grace said.
Sammy fell to her knees by his side. His pain pounded at her consciousness but she kept it at a distance. Not allowing it to cripple her.
Forras might not have clipped his wings but there was no doubt that he enjoyed torturing lost souls. It wouldn’t be the last time he caused trouble. She was sure of that. They needed to be smarter when dealing with him. Deep inside, she realized her purpose now. Not even some over-sized minion from hell would get in her way. Those girls back in Kemp needed protection. She’d figure a way to help without starting a war between them.
Sammy pulled Alex’s hands down from his face. There was nothing in his eyes. A vacant body with no visib
le soul. “Why do they keep punishing us?”
Grace patted her head. “It’s not a punishment, dear. Only a reaction to his choices. We are left to live the way we choose. However, there is always a price for our decisions, good or bad.”
The snow stung her bare legs. She released Alex. Bumps covered her skin and she couldn’t stop shaking. “What do we do?”
“Pray.” Grace offered.
“For what?”
“For him not to fall the rest of the way to hell.”
Chapter Eight
The waves lapped, cooling Sammy’s toes as she rested in the crook of Boon’s arm. The sun dipped lower in the horizon. Her human form grew accustomed to the elements and constant stimuli. Even the sand no longer pricked her skin like needles.
Boon raked his fingers through her hair and kissed the top of her head, sending warm shivers down her arms and legs. So much joy from a simple touch, being human wasn’t so bad after all.
She ran her nails down his arm and laced her fingers in his “I remember bits and pieces now of how much I loved you, but I can’t see the specifics.”
“It doesn’t matter. We’re together, at least for the moment. I’ll take any second, no matter how fleeting, with you in my arms.” Boon pressed his lips to the back of her hand.
“When darkness creeps in during the night, I see outlines of you walking away. I cry out, then you’re gone.” Sammy shuddered. “Why did you leave? Did I do something in Heaven and they sent you away or did you want to leave—”
Boon squeezed her tight. “Don’t ever think I’d leave you, for any reason. It took two worlds and a direct order to tear me from your embrace. Even then it was only with a promise that we would be reunited. I’m here now and I’ll never leave you again.”
A growl rumbled deep in his chest - evidence there was something different about him, something not angelic or human. His words frightened her. She’d learned one thing during her short life on Earth, nothing was a guarantee. “We have now.”
He traced her jaw with his lips and kissed her chin. “Yes.”
His soft touch and strong kisses enveloped her in warm bliss. “I heard you tell Grace that this physical contact is pleasing, but nothing like what we once had.”
Boon pulled her away with brows furrowed teasingly. “How do you sneak up on us? Why don’t I hear you?”
“Grace said you’re usually distracted with too many thoughts of me.” A giggle escaped her lips and she pressed her palm to them.
A chill filled the air, warning of a coming storm. One she hoped they were prepared for. “How long do we have?”
“’til what?”
“Until the next…challenge.”
Boon propped up on his elbows and looked out at over the ocean. “You feel it too?”
“Yes. Why does Heaven continue to test us? Am I still being punished?”
“No.” Boon pulled her face up to his. “Heaven isn’t punishing us. We have a purpose here. Don’t ever think otherwise. You were chosen because you’re special.”
“I don’t feel special.” She felt lost and abandoned by a former home she didn’t even remember. “What kind of purpose?”
“I’m not sure. Not yet.”
“Well, I’m going to be a cheerleader next year. Those girls Forras is messing with, I’m going to straighten them out.”
Boon chuckled. “I’m sure you will. You’ll make a great cheerleader.”
“You’re teasing me.”
“Maybe a little. You do have the peppy thing down. It’s one more thing to love.”
He moved his arm with a mock cheer motion and she slugged his shoulder.
“Seriously, we’ll be playing a big part in something. We’ll need to keep faith that we can make a difference.”
“Tell that to my brother. He still can’t fly.” She bowed her head. “I should’ve stopped him.”
Boon clasped her face in the palm of his hand. “You couldn’t have.
She quivered at his thumb’s soft caresses across her cheek.
Tears filled her eyes. “I need to be better.”
“You’re perfect.” Boon brushed the bangs from her forehead. “Besides, that young girl, Gabriella, that was in the car, Alexander, Forras, and her destines are intertwined.”
“How do you know that?”
“Angels still whisper things. As you remember more and regain your angelic powers and strength, you too will hear them.” Boon’s lips brushed her mouth and her body warmed. “Everything is going to be okay.” His tongue swept hers and fire surged through her body, singeing each nerve. She pulled away, breathless.
“You say physical touch is nothing like what we had.” She panted. He pulled her close and lay back on the beach watching the sun dip below the horizon. Only the lights from her house illuminated the beach.
He smiled down at her. “Yes, but I’m not complaining.”
She snuggled into his arm. Their bodies a perfect match. As if God himself had created them as one, but separated into two pieces. Lying in his arms, she felt whole for the first time since landing on Earth.
Boon had been right. They were together—at last.
THE END
CIARA KNIGHT
Ciara Knight always had a passion for storytelling. At an early age, she wrote several short stories and poems, and in college she started work on her first novel. It wasn’t until late 2008 that she returned to her true passion of writing. Over the past few years she has penned five novels and joined several professional writing organizations to better her craft.
When not writing, she enjoys reading all types of fiction. Some great literary influences in her life include Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, Francine Rivers and J K Rowling.
Ciara is happily married and enjoys family time. She has learned to embrace chaos, which is a requirement when raising three boys, and utilizes the insanity to create stories not of this world including, Fantasy, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, and Young Adult Dystopian.
Her first love, besides her family, reading, and writing, is travel. She’s backpacked through Europe, visited orphanages in China, and landed in a helicopter on a glacier in Alaska.
Website: www.ciaraknight.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ciaratknight
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/Ciaraknightwrites
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/ciaratknight
If you enjoyed Ciara Knight’s Love’s Long Shadow,
you might also enjoy these Young Adult authors
published by Turquoise Morning Press:
Gabriel Madison, author of Ariel
Suzi Goode, author of The Lost Wizard
J.W. Keleher, author of Dancing Stones: Cliff Huggins in the American Southwest
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