by Summer Lee
As he talked, she felt protected. “I’d like that.”
He stroked her cheek. “We’ll buy you a new tunic as well.”
Rachael felt his love in his touch. She believed his love for her was deep—deep as the ocean. She did not consider herself to be deceived. Rather, she felt she was possibly in a hypnotic state and enjoyed it.
When the watercraft rocked to a halt, the sun was setting. Orange and pink clouds hovered over the distant ocean. The wind had settled to a gentle breeze. The night air was chilled and seemed bewitched as well. Does it really matter in the end, Rachael wondered, whether Sammael has me under a spell or not?
*
It was while sitting under the sheepskin roof of an outdoor eatery that Rachael opened up and told her husband about her father, Asher. “I love and respect that man so much.”
“So, you must have been rivals with Tyro for his attention.”
“No. It was never like that. Tyro had a different father, you know?”
“I know. A fallen angel.”
“But Tyro was not like that. He was never one to go after evil pleasure. Rather, he pursued righteousness. He still does.”
A small smile curled his upper lip. “You mean, he’s not like me.”
“That isn’t what I meant. Tyro is just different than one would expect from someone begotten by a fallen angel.”
“Why do you think he is like that?”
“It is because he was raised by King Asher, my father.”
“Maybe it can be attributed to the good blood of your mother.”
She thought for a while. “You may have a point, but I love my father.”
“You should.”
“He has earned my respect.”
“I want to earn your respect, as well.”
A bull horn sounded, and they returned to the ship.
Chapter Fifteen
Back on the ship, the honeymooners found their bunk a little lackluster. The only excitement was that which they created themselves on their cot when they went to bed. Rachael wanted to get up and dance. But that was impossible. A cyclone had arrived. She could hear the wind howling above. There was a lot of noise as things were being thrown around throughout the night. She was not quite sure when she fell asleep.
Morning arrived with a brilliant light. The wind was gone; the sea was still. Rachael saw that her prince was already up and dressed. “How are you today, my dear?” he asked.
“I’m well, my husband,” she replied, but Rachael wanted something more exciting than she had so far. “What can we do that is fun today?”
“Breakfast is about as exciting as it can get right now,” he said. “Hungry?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go eat together this morning.”
She dressed and followed him up on the top deck. She was surprised to see what a horrible disarray the storm had wrought. Some people had been injured severely. Some were thanking Sammael. Soon, he was surrounded by the grateful people. Rachael was confused. He told her to go ahead to break the fast on her own.
“No! I will wait for you. I’ve spent enough time alone.”
He excused himself from the people after telling them that he was glad they were happy.
“What are they talking about?”
“I couldn’t sleep, so I came out here and helped the poor people tie down their belongings. Otherwise, everything would have blown away.”
“Oh. I just wondered.”
“Actually, several people were blown overboard.”
She gasped. “Oh, no.” She thought for a moment. “Couldn’t you save them?”
“I was not allowed to save them.”
She shook her head in disbelief, trying to understand an angel who was not allowed to save drowning people. She was bewildered by his failure to use his power for goodness and mercy.
Sailors busily performed their morning tasks. Inside the kitchen, there was a bevy of movement, yet the deck was missing many people. Several passengers were still hiding in their bunks; others had died. Rachael was sad for their kin.
“How can I help?” she asked Sammael.
“You can take bread to the injured. That way, they will get something to eat. In general, they have to bring their own aboard or go without.”
She asked the cook for a basket of bread. She ate a piece herself before passing out the rest. When she returned to the galley for more, she saw Captain Cruz. “Thanks for helping,” he said.
“It was the least I could do.”
“Where is your man?”
“I don’t know.” She looked around. “Maybe he went back to sleep. He helped people all night, kept some of them from going into the sea.” And yet, others, she thought, he let them drown.
“In that case,” he said, kissing her hand gently. “Please come and share a jar of wine with me.”
“I don’t know what my husband, Sammael, would say about that.” Her words were muffled as she felt his lips on hers.
“Just come. Please.” He whispered the fervent words against her lips.
Shocked at his kiss, she thought about it for a moment. Buck could be entertaining. It would not hurt anything to have a little excitement, as long as Sammael was asleep. She wouldn’t let Buck go too far.
“Sure. I could use a little wine.” She paused. “We’ll go in there casually, one at a time, so people won’t gossip.”
“Certainly. Smart girl.”
She was surprised to see how clean the cabin was when she went inside. The captain was close behind her. He barred the door behind him. “How have you been?” he asked, standing close to her.
“Good.” Rachael looked around the cabin. “Are you expecting company? This place is clean.”
“Yes, dear heart, I have been expecting someone—you.” He moved closer to her, placed his hands on her face and looked her in the eye. “I want to get to know you better.”
“How much better?”
“We’ll see.”
“I can’t do this thing that you want.” Her eyes moistened. “I have a man.”
“He’s not a man.” He tweaked her cheeks, so as to pucker her lips. “You know you want to spend time with me.”
When he tried to kiss her lips, she turned her face to accept it on her cheek. He followed her lips with his, and this time, she received the kiss. She felt blood rush through her veins. It felt like water to her thirsty soul. “I am a brand-new bride.”
“A new bride should be satisfied. But you’re not. You came to my cabin, so obviously, you want something from me!”
“Please let me go, Buck. Or I will scream and bring down not just my husband on you, but all of the angels.”
He hurriedly unbarred the door and she ran belowdecks to an empty cot and wept into the pillow.
Interlude – The Watcher
Out of sight, Sammael sat on the top of the mast, watching the sail swell in the now nearly imperceptible wind. He saw a large fish jump from the waves. Looking down, he saw that Rachael had glimpsed the fish as well. He had never expected he would fall so deeply in love with a woman.
How could Sammael have known that Rachael would settle into his heart so quickly? How could he have known the love that she had in her heart for him? He watched Rachael as she was sitting with another passenger, talking and playing a patting-hands game with a small child on the woman’s lap.
He was aware that she did not want to continue their marriage unless she had his full commitment. She had said it was too unstable. “She is right about that,” he said aloud. Sammael’s face was tired now. He rubbed his temples to help circulate the blood.
What he had assumed would flicker and die after the newness wore off was still burning and living in his heart. How far was she willing to go with him down this uncertain path? A number of fallen angels were now serving a sentence under the Euphrates. But Sammael was not like them.
He often had a good heart. That was why his love for Rachael was so solid. When he had first presented t
he idea to her, she had responded immediately. He knew his magic could not have been that moment her prince came upon her. He was sure that there was no chance that she would walk away now.
Since Sammael did not yet know when his disobedience would appear for judgment before the God of the universe, he decided to take life one day at a time.
Watching Rachael caused an ache in his heart. Suddenly, the passenger hugged her. Then the captain came over and did the same. She returned the hug as she would a lover’s. The captain raised her chin toward his face and kissed her on the lips. He returned to his cabin, and Rachael followed. She went inside.
Jealousy instantly filled his soul.
“I’ll kill him!”
Chapter Sixteen
She lay on the cot alone, her face tearstained, listening to the ocean waves crashing against the side of the sailing barge.
The setting sun seemed to apologize for Rachael’s headache that evening. She only saw Sammael momentarily, and he had treated her coldly. What is his problem now?
Rather than be alone, she went to the cook and asked for something to drink—perhaps wine. He gave her a hunk of bread and a slice of cheese with her drink. She then peered into the captain’s cabin. Cruz was seated there, both eyes puffy, nose bandaged with cloth, and his hair wildly disheveled. Rachael glanced curiously at him. “You look like a man who has been in the midst of a cattle stampede.”
With a grave chuckle, he agreed. “I know.”
“Were you in a fight?”
“I know I got punched in the nose. It’s hard to remember what came after that.”
She ran to him and put her hand on his cheek. “Who did this?”
“An angel-prince.”
“No! Not Sammael.” She felt fear. “What did you tell him to make him do that?”
“That you are gorgeous.”
“You should not do that.” She sighed. “You know angels have super strength.”
“I know,” he said, “but I am not afraid of him.”
“Nor am I,” she said with a snicker.
“I told him that I could tell what he is,” said Buck. “That I know that he is a supernatural being.”
She gasped. “He doesn’t want the people to know.”
“I understand.” He took a gulp of ale. “But some have told me they think he leaves the ship and then returns later. That he flies away and back.”
Rachael frowned. “Like an angel?”
“No one has accused him of that yet.”
“Is that why he punched you?”
“No, he did that because he saw me kiss you.”
The tillerman opened the door. “Your turn at the tiller, sir,” he said.
“Meet Tillerman Style,” said the captain.
She nodded to the tillerman. He passed a liver-spotted hand over his graying beard. “Greetings, madam.”
“I must go to my husband. I hope he is waiting for me and that he is not furious with me, too.” She clasped Buck’s hand and made eye contact. “I am so sorry about your face. It looks like you’re getting a black eye—or two.”
She quietly resumed her circuit, and then went down the steps back to the cot where she expected to find Sammael. Perhaps after punching Buck, he had a punch left for her nose. Not here.
Her thoughts strayed to her wedding ceremony and the beautiful music of that day. She was truly sorry that she had hurt her parents. They did not deserve that kind of treatment. In her right mind, she would never have deceived them in such a way. It was the spells that Sammael put on her that had changed her personality. She had mostly been walking around in a trance since meeting him. If she was not bewitched, there was no way she would have let Buck kiss her.
With the wind gone, the stillness of the afternoon was hot. Her body felt sticky and Rachael desperately needed a bath. But there was no place to bathe on the sea vessel. Salt water was not what she wanted to soak in.
By mid-morning, the dew on the rails had dried off. There was no shade on the top deck, and the sun beat down on Rachael. She needed to find out where Sammael was. He could be asleep in the special corner or just plain missing for all she knew. She sighed and hugged herself. Maybe she had had enough of life on a boat for now.
They were so far out to sea that she could not see the shoreline. A lonely feeling rose up inside her. She saw the fish jumping, but they were boring. She saw something huge leap out of the water. Rachael wanted to show Sammael, but she would not find him in time. Her face dropped and she sadly sat down. What good was it to see something astonishing leap from the sea, yet have no one to tell?
*
Sitting in the sun, she blew her nose and swallowed hard. Sammael instantly appeared behind her, and then stepped around in front of her. “Are you sad?”
“Scared.”
“What’s the matter?”
“I didn’t know where you were. And you were angry.”
“Oh, Rachael, my love,” he whispered soothingly, stroking her hair. Tears glazed his eyes as he apologized. “I had to fight off an evil demon for you. He would not leave when I told him to.”
“He hurt you.” She felt sorry for him.
He choked up. Now, resting her head on his chest, he caught the tears that ran down her cheeks onto his cloak. “I love you unconditionally.”
“It wasn’t a demon you fought. It was Captain Cruz.”
“How do you know?”
“I saw what you did to his face,” she said. “Being the wife of Sammael could drive a woman into another man’s arms. I am not myself. Forgive me.”
“I do forgive you.”
She had felt so insecure. Now Rachael was proud of her new husband. She wished she could give her heart fully to her angel-prince—holding nothing back, but she did not know how to do it unless she could trust him to put her before the spirits in the sky. But now, he had fought for her honor. They sat together and she began spreading the soothing salve on his open cuts. “Thank you,” she said again. “Is this better?”
“I heal quickly,” he said.
“That is more important than anything. You are alive, and the evil spirits are gone.” Rachael gave him a squeeze.
“And that was because of you, my friend,” said a voice behind Sammael. It belonged to Captain Cruz, and there were tears in his eyes. “You are perhaps the greatest warrior I have ever seen. We all owe you our lives for clearing out the evil spirits.”
Rachael studied his face and scratched her head. “But who hit you, captain?”
“Your husband.”
“I thought that was what you said.” Rachael glared at Sammael. “Why?”
“He kissed you,” said Sammael.
Rachael opened her eyes wide. “It was a friendly kiss. My mother does it all of the time.”
Sammael clenched his teeth. “Your mother does not qualify as an example.”
There seemed to be no competitive spirit in the captain.
“Trust me, Prince Sammael. I won’t dishonor your wife,” Buck said as he bowed to Sammael. Rachael admired him for that. She clasped his hand and thanked him. Rachael watched as Sammael attempted to control his anger.
Sammael clasped her elbow. “We will rest together. Come to bed with me.”
They walked hand-in-hand to their area below. He lay down on the cot and patted the place beside him. Making room for her, he reached out and pulled her onto their bunk. His magical touch caused her to forget the frustration. She was content in his loving arms—once again.
Chapter Seventeen
The sun shone brightly the next morning. Rachael moaned. She was already turning pink. Another day of blazing sun would mean she would be even darker. That would not bother her unless she began to burn.
Birds hovered high above, screeching hungrily as if there was another dead body aboard. Rachael sadly looked at the deck, thinking about those who had lost their lives there in the storm. Feeling sick to her stomach, Rachael cowered.
Rachael felt the blood drain from her face.
She could not find Sammael. He was capable of disappearing too easily. Why did he go so often? Emptiness filled her heart. Did he have a secret love life on the other planet? Did he lie to Rachael? If not, where was he?
She was confused. Her face was hot and sore.
Suddenly, two strong hands covered her eyes, and she screamed. “It’s just me,” said Buck.
“Oh, hello.”
“Alone again, I see.”
“Maybe.” She rolled her eyes. “It is confusing.”
“You made a bad choice to marry an angel.” Buck’s lower lip jutted out. “You should have used your common sense, girl. This angel-prince of yours has been around for decades. He has a past that you know nothing about.”
Did Buck know something that Rachael needed to know? “Tell me more. Just what do you know that I need to know?”
“I only know about the women who have been on this ship before. That is, the ones who have been with angels from the spirit realm.” He just stopped talking there.
“Well, tell me more.”
“They tell me what they went through against their will.”
“You mean they were raped?”
“That’s right. The blond, slender, blue-eyed beauties like you are tempting to fallen angels, as well as to humans.”
“But I married Sammael of my own free will.”
“What about his magic dust? Are you not swayed by it?”
“But why would angels do that?”
“They see a girl like you as a prime breeder.”
“For what reason?”
“To overthrow God. They want to build their own super race.”
“You are joking.”
“I wish I were.” Buck nodded. “Remember this. Sammael has been around a long time, and I’m sure he has a past he wants to bury. He has lots of secrets, doesn’t he?”
Rachael sat in silence, slowly shaking her head. Buck picked up her hand and kissed it. She did not move as he embraced her. “Come to the captain’s quarters with me and have a drink.”
“I don’t want to talk anymore about this subject.”
“You won’t have to. We’ll play a board game.”
“What is that?”
“I will show you.”
