by E. S. Mercer
“She’s not like that,” Raphael assured. “She will do what needs to be done with mercy and forgiveness.”
As they continued to banter about what they assumed I would do, one of the soldiers came in and alerted them of Samiel’s arrival.
“Please,” Raphael begged. “I am asking you to let him in. He may think he has the leverage, but with him here we will have the upper hand.”
Renu started to give his answer when Elaina waived him silent.
“And you trust him?” she asked. “I didn’t say that,” Raphael replied. “But as they say, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend.' We need his alliance in order to obtain the one thing we are looking for and to keep her out of the hands of her father.”
He turned and looked at Gabriel, laying on the table in the other room. “My brother needs her more than ever now.” Elaina looked over at Renu and gave her approval. The Premier hesitated however, because he wasn’t sure why he needed to listen to his ex-wife; it left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“Because you still love me and you value my opinion,” she said, reading his mind. “Just let the man in.” “Fine,” he said, watching Allstair’s reaction out of the corner of his eye. It was completely off topic, but he wanted to see how Allstair would react to her comment. Of course, Allstair knew what Renu was doing and desperately tried not to give any indication that her comment affected him.
Raphael, who felt extremely uncomfortable in their presence, caught the glances between Renu and Allstair and shook his head as he went into the other room to greet his father. “Our downfall will be our inability to avoid petty behavior,” he muttered as he watched the Praesidion guards place my original and calcified body on the table next to Gabriel.
“And yet, even the most holy of us fall prey to its attractive nature,” Samiel offered, coming up beside his eldest son. “There is something euphoric about winning an argument built off petty urges.”
“Which is why we’re in this mess, I fear,” Raphael interjected. “Nothing about this war between you two suggests otherwise.”
Samiel chuckled at the wise words coming out of his son’s mouth. He realized at that moment that whomever his children had become had nothing to do with him. He had been so caught up with his hatred for Hyperion that he had no idea who his children really were.
“You sound as sensible as your mother once was,” Samiel said, patting Raphael on the back. “You speak with the same witty tongue and acumen.”
“Well, she was the one that raised me,” Raphael shot back. “She’s the one who made sure I turned out nothing like you.” Raphael’s words shocked Samiel, his knees buckled from the sharpness of his comment. “But she loved me,” Samiel replied, swallowing hard. “She loved me!”
“Very much,” Raphael assured. “But she was not in love with what you had become over the years. She watched you succumb to your jealousy and hatred, and didn’t want that to shape who I was. She was the light to your darkness and the reason we all can see past this mess you two have made.”
He grasped his father’s arm firmly. “She loved you very much and she knew one day that you would find your way back again,” he said, sighing at the thought of a harmonious relationship with his father. “I just hope she was right.”
“I am here, aren’t I?” Samiel asked, brushing off the despair. “I told you she wanted me to come.” “But why are you here?” Raphael replied. “She isn’t here to tell you to do things, you do it on your own.”
“No, no, I assure you, she is right here,” Samiel announced. “She’s looking right at you.”
“It’s best not to argue,” Lilith interrupted, whispering in Raphael’s ear. “He really believes she’s there.”
“So, I see,” Raphael acknowledged, finding himself distracted by loud yelling in the other room. He then left his brother in the hands of his father and a doting Uriel as he made his way to the source of the yelling; and there he found Allstair and Renu in each other’s faces, shouting incoherently.
“I have no idea what started this,” Elaina warned, stopping Raphael at the door. “One minute we are all talking and the next, they are arguing over me.”
“Which is so uncharacteristically unlike either of them,” Ryan added. “Although they are both excitable, neither of them are much into flippant behavior.”
The moment Ryan said something, Raphael could have sworn he saw his mother walk right passed them with a smirk on her face. “Did you see that?” he asked Elaina. “Did you just see her?”
“Who?” Elaina asked. “I just see them fighting.”
“My mother,” he replied, trying to locate her. “I swear I just saw my mother.” Then it dawned on him. Maybe his father really did see her. When she died, she vanished, unlike anyone before or after her. The way her body disintegrated, everyone just assumed she was gone. But maybe, Hyperion conjured her to get back at his brother. Was she the one driving his father to such madness all this time? Had Hyperion used his petty nature against him in the form of the one woman he loved?
He was so deep in thought that he jumped when Lilith popped out of nowhere, smacking him on the back. “Not only are the realms merging, but now the Praetorians have invaded the city,” she announced, shoving him out of the way.
“Gods, you are crazy,” Raphael barked, startled by her immediate presence. “You just appear in random places.”
She smiled, glancing over at the arguing men. “As entertaining as this is for me, you might want to break it up so they can help us come up with a plan.”
“Coming up with a plan is what started all of this,” Elaina announced. “Nah,” Lilith replied, chuckling. “I’m pretty sure that you had something to do with this.” She walked up to Renu and grabbed him by his ear, dragging him away from Allstair.
“Wow, if you aren’t Uriel’s twin,” Raphael cried, grabbing Renu from her. “You don’t just grab the Premier like that!”
“Well, they stopped, didn’t they?” she asked, cracking up.
Raphael glared at her and growled as he sat Renu in the closest chair. Elaina grabbed her husband and sat him on the other side of the room.
“The fighting is just a distraction,” Ryan offered, looking at both men. “All of this is to keep us from seeing what is really going on.”
“Meaning what?” Raphael asked, walking over to him. “You see something that I am missing?”
“It’s just a feeling. Someone is trying to keep us preoccupied,” Ryan replied. “They are forcing our attention away from something else.”
“Like finding Anessa?” Ramiel asked, joining the conversation.
“No, I mean yes, maybe,” Ryan said. “Or something even bigger.
Raphael looked over at his brother, realizing how right they both were. “Find Michael and meet me in the Council room,” he demanded, motioning to Renu and Allstair. “You two, shake it off and follow me. We all need to figure this out now.”
“Figure what out?” Elaina asked, following behind him.
“A way to get to Anessa and bring her back,” he replied. “Then we need to figure out what it is that Hyperion is trying to do.”
“I’ll go get her while you figure that out,” Ramiel offered.
“As will I,” Michael announced, coming into the room. “My face is the one she needs to see if she wakes up.” Ryan, looking a bit deflated and irritated by Michael’s hero complex, chose to omit what he was really feeling from his response. “I will join you,” Ryan interjected. “Strength in numbers.”
“Why?” Michael snarked. “You took yourself out of this a while ago. You walked away from her more than once.”
“Maybe, but I need to say goodbye,” Ryan said, under her breath. “I never got to say goodbye.”
***** Meanwhile, I was propped up in my chair, staring at the magazine my mother had given me. There on the cover, standing in boy band fashion, was me, The Fallen and Abraxas.
The headline read, “Who are the heroes of Heaven City? And Why We Should Than
k them.”
“Good question,” I muttered out loud.
“Oh yeah, wait until you get a load of that bullshit,” Leviathan said, sitting down across from me.
“What does it say?” I asked. “Can you give me the cliff notes version?” He shook his head as he insisted that I read the lies myself. “I’ll wait,” he said, leaning back.
So, I flipped to the page and started reading the most incredible propaganda I had ever read in my life, with every other line either making me gasp, whelp or laugh hysterically.
“We fought the terrorists and won?” I asked my brother. “Samiel is a terrorist?” “Oh yes,” he chuckled, sitting back up. “However, what the article doesn’t tell you is the bargain you supposedly struck with father to save the mortals."
I flipped the pages back and forth in awe.
“What bargain?” I asked.
“Apparently, he forced your hand,” he responded. “And you backed down, allowing him to rule openly as long as he saved everyone!”
“What were the conditions?” I asked, intrigued. “That you hand over Samiel, allow your powers to be bound indefinitely and stay out of Father’s way.” he replied, looking up at our mother who was coming to join the conversation. “Father manipulated their memories so that Samiel became a terrorist and you guys were the secret militia who thwarted the infidel’s evil plans.”
“And I am supposed to believe I would give in to him like that?” I asked, adjusting myself in my chair. He pulled the chair closer and grabbed my hands. “Would you believe that they are trying to convince me that Father is requesting I become his second-in-command?”
“Really now?” I chuckled. “And what am I supposed to be? Secretary of Defense?”
“Oh, no darling,” my mother said, sitting on the side of my chair. “You are the face of the Devine Order. When you speak, everyone listens to you.”
“Great, I am a propaganda piece,” I muttered.
“No,” she replied. “You saved us all.” I rolled my eyes at my brother and then looked up at her with clear intent to speak my mind. “I’m really not buying this Mother. If Father is listening, please tell him I’m fully aware that all of this is bullshit and I would like to wake up now.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” she said, jumping off the chair and walking away. “I don’t know why you keep saying stuff like that.” I got up out of the chair, feeling the heaviness of my pregnant belly and the rage that began bubble up inside me. “Because it isn’t!” I cried, waddling after her. “None of this is real and I refuse to believe otherwise!”
I turned and pointed to Leviathan. “Even he doesn’t believe this is real!”
“Then we will have to fix that,” my mother said, in my father’s voice as she grabbed ahold of my face. The next thing I know everything went black.
*****
“Maybe just being pregnant and happy isn’t enough,” Noita offered, chasing after the King. “She hasn’t developed enough of a connection with the brothers' yet to grasp the idea of happiness with them.
“But she is very attached to Gabriel,” Hyperion argued.
“She was,” Noita reminded him. “But you are messing with the mind of a girl who just figured out who she was.” “So, then what are you suggesting?” Hyperion asked, showing a little frustration. “You seem to think you have a better understanding of her.” “The children,” Noita replied. “She needs to be with her children. Make them feel real and she will give in.”
“What about Levi and Seraphine?” the King asked. “It’s working on them!” Noita hesitated for a moment, wondering why the King hadn’t seen the lack of connection on Leviathan’s part. Maybe, he was so focused on Evangeline that he missed it. So he let it go, knowing that Leviathan would be his ticket to helping me out of this mess.
“They have both been very easy to manipulate,” he replied.
Hyperion noticed the hesitation, but didn’t let on that he knew Noita was lying. “Good,” he said, walking over to my body. “then make the children old enough for her to bond with them. Give her a purpose and more believable life.”
“As you wish,” Noita said, sitting down to get back to work. *****
“Roan, Renada, stay out of your mother’s room!” Seraphine cried, running after four-year-old twins. “You need to let her rest!”
“Too late!” Roan chimed, jumping up on the bed to shake me with his blonde hair, levitating above him a for a moment and then slamming down on his skull seconds after he landed.
“Mommy, wake up!” Renada said, joining her brother.
Without even a slight hesitation, I rolled over and grabbed them and started kissing them both. “I’m up! I promise I’m up!” “I’m so sorry,” my mother said, trying to pull them off. “I know you had a long night with your father. I should have been more careful.” “It’s fine,” I replied, sitting up. “I’m not upset.” But then I stopped, cocking my head to the side as I tried to repeat the last few words in my mind.
“Are you ok?” my mother asked. “Yes, I just…” I started to say. I was struggling with a burning feeling something was off, and yet, everything felt so normal. “I’m fine. Just tired.”
“Well, don’t forget you have to go into the City today to meet with the Annunaki and the Conclave,” she said, lifting Renada into her arms.
“I don’t think so, not today,” I replied, reaching out for my daughter. “I need a day with the twins.”
“But your father has requested your presence,” she warned.
“And he’ll get over it,” I challenged, getting up out of the bed. “I want a day with my family.” She walked towards the bedroom door, looking back at me with a worried look on her face. “I will let them know. I just hope he respects it.” “He doesn’t really have a choice,” I said, putting my robe on and following her out into the kitchen. “He wants me to be part of his little charade, he has to do it on my terms.”
She grabbed ahold of Roan, who came racing passed us and nearly running into a side table. “But don’t forget, Ryan already left for the City a few hours ago. He will be expecting you.”
“Ryan? What does Ryan have to do with it?” I asked, genuinely having no clue. She looked over at me with a confused look on her face. “Because he is your husband,” she replied.
“I thought I was married to Gabriel,” I blurted, losing myself for a moment.
“Oh no,” she sighed, pulling me to the closest chair and forcing me to sit down as her voice softened. “Gabriel and Michael were killed during the rebellion four years ago,” she announced. “Remember? They died, protecting you and the babies.”
“What? What rebellion?” I begged. “There was an uprising, shortly before the babies were born,” she answered, as if she had done this one hundred times already. “Ksenia and the Gypsies led a march on the Capitol, to speak out against the Devine Order. She and Zara tried kidnapping you, which forced you into an early labor and got the brothers killed.”
She paused as she saw the blank look of confusion on my face. “You really don’t remember, do you?” she asked.
“No, I don’t,” I replied. “Oh honey,” she whispered, brushing the hair out of my face. “I really thought we were past this.”
“Past what?” I asked, looking through her, to the sitting room. I could feel something was missing as I looked at the bookshelf on the far wall and the words coming out of her mouth started to fade as I racked my brain trying to figure out just what that was.
“Wait,” I said, standing up and interrupting her. “Wasn’t there a door there?”
“Door where?” she asked, turning to look at the direction I was pointing. “There, next to the bookshelf,” I said, gently pushing her out of the way. I walked over to where I thought the door should have been, but there was nothing but a brick wall. “I swear there was a door there when I went to sleep last night.”
“Maybe you dreamt it,” she offered.
I kept slapping the wall, as if to fi
nd something that wasn’t there. “No, I saw it there. It was after dinner with Leviathan and Sabine.”
“Oh sweetheart!” she cried, deeply concerned. “You haven’t seen your brother in years! He is the one that help plan the rebellion!”
“No,” I said quietly, giving up my search as I began to cry. “That doesn’t sound right.”
“What’s wrong mommy?” Renada asked, batting her green eyes as she ran up and hugged my leg. “Why are you sad?”
“I’m not,” I replied, wiping my tears as I ran my fingers through her curly red hair. “Mommy just got confused is all.”
“Oh,” she said, walking away. “Ok.”
“Take the day with the children,” Seraphine offered, picking up the phone. “You obviously need the rest.” So, as she called in my absence, I promised the children a walk and a picnic in the woods by the lake. They squealed with glee, quickly putting their jackets and shoes on and jumping up and down by the door as I desperately tried to get ready fast enough to appease them.
“Ok, ok, I am coming,” I said, putting on my shoes as I stumbled towards the picnic basket.
“But not fast enough!” Renada cried, shaking the door handle. “I want to go!”
I looked over at my mother, who was washing the dishes. “Please come with me,” I begged. “I’m not sure I know how to handle them!” “Exactly,” she said, turning on the faucet. “Which is why you need to spend some alone time with them. It’s been awhile and they can be a little overwhelming.”
“Come on mom!” Roan said, opening the front door. “Let’s go!” “I’m coming,” I announced, as I grabbed the basket and followed the twins out the door, shielding my eyes from the bright sun that greeted us. The twins ran a few feet ahead and then back to me, chanting “mommy” the whole way to the lake. It was overwhelming, just like my mother said, but not for the reason she said it. I felt as if I was meeting my children for the very first time. But as the afternoon went on, I found myself quickly getting acclimated to the idea of being a mother. The laughter and energy coming from the beautiful tiny creatures, coupled with the warmth of their hugs and kisses drew me in quickly. Soon I got lost in the magic of the moment dancing around and laughing with them.
