“It sounds like major renovations going on out there,” I said opening my eyes to what sounded like an army of people running around my house.
Amara had come up with the idea of having a party, a celebration of all the good things, to balance all the bad. Also, it put to good use the endless string of nice days we were having. No one argued with her, we all needed something to take the edge off. Besides, Sariel and the twins were scheduled to show up and what better reason to celebrate. I didn’t know about Amara but I was nervous and excited about meeting our older sisters. Lucius had explained that they could be…intense. That’s how he said it, with a pause at the end. Thoughts of Samiel filled my mind’s eye; he was the most intense person I knew. Either way, they were my sisters and I was ready for our family to grow by two.
“They started showing up three hours ago,” Lucius said.
I looked at the clock, it was a little after nine in the morning. “You’re kidding. How could I have possibly slept through the noise since six?”
“No…I threatened to throw everyone out if I heard a peep before eight.”
I had no idea what on earth needed to be done that early, but I was curious on how they had pulled it off without making sound. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, ready to go inspect Amara’s handy work, or at least her instructions.
“Amara asked that we come to Ruth’s after you woke.”
Lucius kissed me before getting off the bed. He went to the bathroom to turn on the shower. Dressed in one of the beautiful gowns I’d adopted wearing since I’d arrived, I went downstairs and saw that Amara had gone all out; caterers, florist, there was even instruments laying around. No detailed had been overlooked. Large arrangements seemed to cover every surface. There were enough people in the kitchen that it was obvious they’d worked together before or they’d be bumping into each other. The house already smelled of wonderfully delicious food and my mouth watered as I watch a loaf of bread being taken from the oven. Didn’t bread take all day to make?
Lucius was holding out a light jacket for me while I plotted on how to get to the fresh baked bread. No one would have stopped me but I walked over to my waiting angel and put my arms in the jacket and followed Amara’s instructions.
I was shocked when Samiel opened my mother’s door. He was the lead on her protection detail but he’d never answered the door before. He nodded and stepped out of the doorway. Amara, Sarah and Mom were the scaled down version of what was going on in my house.
“Breakfast’s in the formal dining room,” Sarah called out without looking up from the board she was chopping on.
Mom looked up only after Sarah addressed us. She and Amara hadn’t heard us come in or were too busy to care who it was. They both wiped their hands on their aprons after looking up. They took turns kissing both my cheeks, the unanimously voted and universal new greeting for me, as I was now too delicate to hug. I still had to stop myself from rolling my eyes.
“Go eat, we’ll join you in a minute,” My mom instructed. It was food; she didn’t have to tell me twice. Sam escorted us to the dining room. I was seated and eating by the time they joined us.
“Amara, if this morning’s preparations are any indication to tonight’s event, I think it will be a spectacular party,” Lucius said.
“Thanks, I certainly hope so. It’s been so much fun planning.”
I put my fork down. I looked at Amara, then mom and finally at Sam. He stood behind her chair with his hand on the back of it. I couldn’t see it but if it matched the rest of his body I imagined the wood was about to splinter. Every muscle in Sam’s body looked bow tight. He wasn’t looking at us; he was looking at the top of my mother’s head. Even with half his face exposed I could see the scowl.
“What’s going on?” I asked, but really though –What now?
“We have a request,” the dark angel said.
Samiel voice was low, not soft or quiet—low. He didn’t whisper the words. His voice was deep and velvety. It would have been a great singing voice.
“Ruth and I would like to marry.” Sam was looking at Lucius.
I went to my mom. She stood so I could give her a congratulatory hug. She had been alone for so long. It had taken Emily to make me see it. She’d become my guardian the day after her nineteenth birthday. Had never married or dated. I couldn’t wait to find out just how the relationship started.
“This is wonderful,” I said, releasing her, and my happiness changed to concern and confusion when I saw the look on her face. The same look was mirrored on everyone’s face. “What am I missing here?”
“Angels are forbidden to marry human women,” Amara answered.
Flabbergasted, I looked at each of them. I waited for someone to tell me that it was some sort of sick joke.
“There is a way,” Sam said.
“No.”
My mother’s adamant refusal of Samiel’s unheard solution confused me further. Sam touched her shoulder to comfort her before kneeling next to her chair.
“Ruth, it is my decision to make.”
I looked around feeling like an outsider. What was Sam talking about and why did Maalik have a look of complete disbelief and awe on his face. I looked at my angel for an explanation but he looked pained. I was about to ask what the hell was going on, when Lucius raised his hand and saluted their love. Maalik and Amara followed suit. Whatever was going on was enough to pay homage to.
Still the odd man out, I asked again, “Will someone please explain to me what is going on.”
“Queen Mother, I would like you to take my wings so that I may be allowed to marry Ruth.”
What?...Wait…No!”
The love deserved tribute. Sam was willing to sacrifice his wings, his place as a heavenly angel, so he could marry my mother. I thought my heart would break. Sadness swept through me with a force that left me light headed, dizzy and short of breath. Lucius was at my side in seconds and took me in his arms. Maalik, bless his heart, looked sick, having felt my despair through the bond that he now shared. I felt sorry for him and wanted to apologize but I couldn’t speak. He stood brought me a chair so I could sit next to my mother.
“There must be another way,” I finally said.
“It is forbidden. It was the reason for the return,” Lucius said softly, as if whispering the words would make it better. It didn’t.
“No.”
I turned to the sound of my mother’s voice. I knew the tone and the look. She had made up her mind and nothing was going to change it. I felt sorry for Sam on a whole other level. For my mom too. I was seconds away from tears. My mom turned to me. She pleaded with her eyes for my help. I didn’t know if I could offer her aid. I was holding it together with Lucius emotional help.
“Not too long ago you made the first declaration as Queen as far as I’m concerned. You refused to be separated from your true love, even if it meant defying me. I know I am nothing—”
“Don’t ever say that,” Amara and I said together.
How could she say such a thing? Or even think it? She was everything to me and had become that for Amara. She stopped further interruptions by raising her hand.
“I know that I am nothing but a human woman, asked and honored to have kept you safe but I see the sadness you and Amara feel for us; Emily, Fredrick and I. It lingers behind your eyes and haunts your very soul. You see it only as a sacrifice but it was out of love that we did it, the love that only parents can have for their children. You two understand how that feels now.” She looked at Lucius and me and we could only nod.
“Even having said this, I know that your heart is still heavy. I cannot ask Samiel to give up his wings. Even in love. The sacrifice is too great.” Her voice was firm.
I don’t know how I missed it but the obvious was a beacon in front of me. Samiel and my mom were perfectly matched. Both strong and determine to a point that they were unmovable. I didn’t know Samiel well, he hardly ever spoke and people generally steered clear of him, but as I looked at
him, his face told me my mom had met her match. Sam moved quickly. I didn’t see him rise at all. One second he was kneeling at my mom’s side, the next, towering over her.
“So help me Ruth, I will rip them from my body myself!”
His voice was a boom that filled the room like thunder. The sound of a thousand birds taking flight filled the room. My hair blew back from my face as a strong gust of wind passed me. Samiel wings were larger than Lucius’s, whose wings were the largest I’d ever seen. We all stared, in horror, at the thought of them being torn from him. They didn’t lay flat against his body, or even stand out behind or beside him. They were spread out, filling the room. His face held the look I’d seen no less than a couple of thousand times on the face of the angel standing next to me. I raised my hand to yell for him to stop when a voice came from behind me.
“That won’t be necessary Angel.”
We all turned in the direction of the voice or voices; I wasn’t too sure. In the doorway was a pair of identical twins. Sariel was standing slightly behind them. We all stood at once. Amara and I look at each other and then slowly made our way to our sisters.
Amara stopped in front of Enid and I went to Amala. Amala was the first to move forward; she reached out and touched my face, running her hand and fingers along my face. She tilted her head a little, “Wila.” It was a statement that needed no answer. She turned slightly and Amara stepped forward allowing her to do the same. “Amara.”
“And where is Sveva?” Enid asked.
Amara and I look at each other wondering who would be the one to tell them that Amara had been separated from her twin.
“We don’t know,” I said.
“She’s in the house, call to her,” they instructed us. Before I have a chance to speak, Amala said, “There she is.” We all looked in the direction but the only people behind her are Sariel and Sarah.
Sarah changed before our eyes. She was no longer the old woman we had come to know and love but a girl the same age as Amara. Amara passed between Enid and Amala going to her mate. Neither of them cried, as Amara and I had when we first met. They looked much like Amala had moments before, discovering each other through touch. Amara ran her hand down her twin’s hair while Sveva touched her twin’s face.
We all sat at the dining table, Lucius at its head with the oldest twins on his left and me on his right. As pleased as we were to have Enid and Amala, it was Sveva’s sudden appearance that had us all stunned. She had been with us the whole time.
“Why didn’t you say anything,” Amara asked.
“I didn’t know. When Enid and Amala came passed the kitchen, I knew them instantly. I didn’t know why until Amala called my name. And then I saw you and I remembered everything.”
“Your concern is that your union will bring a nephilim child into the world and therefore cast you among the fallen.” The twins said together.
“Ruth can still bear children.” Samiel said, neither confirming nor denying the statement.
Sam’s words shocked me and I looked at my mother with wide eyes and my mouth open. I thought this was about them getting married no one had said anything about children. My mom was only thirty six, still within child bearing age for certain. I would have smiled at the thought of a brother or sister but worry was still stamped across Mom’s face. It made my heart break. After all this time, she’d finally found someone and now this. It was almost too much. Stupid Watcher angels.
“Wila, you are going to have to make far more difficult decision than this and while it saddens us to think that true love would be denied any creature, you must rise above your human emotions.”
I could feel Lucius’ anger building. I looked at him and took his hand. They were right. It was good that they reminded me that I couldn’t be an emotional wreck every time something happened.
“I won’t hold that against you. You are still my favorite,” Amala said to Lucius. I’m confused by the statement but Mom spoke before I could question it.
“This is new to her. She was not raised to know her place in this world.”
Completely ignoring my mother, they continued with their explanation of why Samiel and she could marry. “There is no punishment for unions that are created in love.”
“What?” Samiel, Lucius and Sariel all said together and all three leaned forward at the same time.
“True love was revered on that day, and from that love came absolution; for the angels whose unions were of love and for their children.”
“Impossible.” Samiel looked between Amala and Enid. “I saw the water rise to cleanse the earth.”
“You saw only what you were meant to see and nothing more.” Enid and Amala said together.
Our party had now changed to an impromptu wedding. We had four hours to get everything in place.
“Man you Freeland women sure do marry quick,” Amara said, as we went through her closet looking for a black dress.
We were in an extra bedroom, the one she had taken over when it was the house assigned to Lucius. It seemed as if we’d been flipping through the hundreds of dresses that Amara had in her “closet” for the last hour. Amara had given last minute instructions to some of the women that were helping with the original party. They were now at the great tree making the necessary changes to accommodate a wedding.
“Found it!” Sveva yelled from the very back of the converted bedroom.
“Thank goodness. Who needs so many clothes,” I said, collapsing on an ottoman that was in the center of the room.
“Hey, you should be happy, where else was she going to get a gown for a wedding on such short notice,” Amara said in mocked offense.
Sveva brought the dress out that she’d found in the actual closet of the room. It was a one shouldered. The skirt of the dress was made up of layer upon layer of delicate ruffles. We all kissed each other goodbye. Mom was stopping next door to get a few of her things before getting ready at my house. Lucius, Samiel and Sariel were standing in front of Mom’s house. Samiel broke from the pack and came to her in the same determined stride Lucius did when he’s been away from me more than two seconds. He took her hand and brought it to his lips. She placed her free hand on his face. I quickly went to Lucius and Sariel feeling like an intruder on such an intimate moment.
“It’s good to see him this happy,” Sariel said.
“It certainly is,” Lucius said.
The words of the angels made me turn. The gentle touches Sam gave my mom, how she looked at him with complete adoration. I knew how everyone must have felt when Lucius and I were together. I’d not been on the outside, it was wonderful and I did make me want to love more for it. We left Sariel and Sam. Lucius and Maalik escorted us home and Lucius left us to get dressed in a spare room. It was the first time I’d been alone with my mom since Sam’s announcement.
We looked at each other for a moment not really knowing where to start. Our relationship had changed and for some reason I felt like we were saying good-bye.
“The night we left our families there was another decision that I had to make; whether to raise you as my sister or my daughter. It took me days before I decided.”
I didn’t speak, I don’t think I could, she was letting me go as her daughter and I didn’t know how I felt about it.
“In the end I think I choose to be your mother out of selfishness.”
I went to speak but she silenced me by putting a finger to my lips.
“I was selfish. I didn’t dare trust anyone for fear of them bringing you harm. But how long would it be before you were safe? How long before I would have to say good-bye?” She rubbed my hair and laid her hand on my cheek for a moment before continuing. “I couldn’t fail my parents or the world; but most importantly, I could not fail your mother, who made the greatest sacrifice of all. If she could bear to live her life, even for a moment, never knowing if she would be reunited with her children, then I owed it to her to live mine making sure her sacrifice was not in vain.”
/> I cried for Ruth, even with the words of Enid and Amala in my head. But these were not tears of weakness. I loved this woman and owed her the moment and the tears of gratefulness and reverence.
Ruth allowed me to speak, “I am honored to have been able to call you my mother. Thank you Ruth for everything you’ve done for me. There is no one more deserving of the love that Samiel has for you.”
The wedding went off without a hitch. Thank goodness. There were no surprise announcements or excitement other than the joining of two extraordinary souls that left us all in awe. Emily had scheduled a trip and was pleasantly surprised to find herself at a wedding. Amala and Sveva were inseparable. They wore matching gowns in different colors. They were fraternal twins but they moved like one being. They finished each other’s sentences and talked together, or over each other, in their excitement. Both had the same extravagant and animated hand gestures.
But it was Samiel and Ruth that stole the show. They received their guests standing side by side, with Samiel’s hand always placed on Ruth’s back. The smile of pure happiness never left her lips and Samiel’s expression, slightly less stoic, was proof of his happiness.
“What is it with that look?” I wondered aloud. I was in my angel’s arms, enjoying the mood of the crowd.
“What do you mean my love?” he whispered.
“You and Sariel said it was good to see Sam this happy, but how would you know?” I turned to face Lucius and wrapped my arms around his waist. “He looks the same to me. You’re only slightly better. Why is it that he doesn’t laugh or smile.”
“I’ve known happiness longer than Samiel. Give him time.” Lucius answered before giving me a quick peck on the tip of my nose.
“But he looks older than you?”
Guessing and angel’s age was like trying to figure out if it really only took God three days to create the world. Was it literal or does time work differently. I knew angels were not all created at the same time but Samiel wasn’t “young” looking like Lucius, he was actually the oldest looking angel in our group. Lucius laughed lightly and our daughter’s heart fluttered. She liked the sound of her father’s laughter as much as I did. We both put our hands on my belly.
“That’s not what I mean. We were all created for a purpose. We were not meant to love. I’ve known happiness longer because I’ve been in love longer.”
“That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“And dangerous.”
Amala and Enid spoke from behind me in the spooky way that only they did. I felt Lucius’ arms tightened around me. I didn’t comment as I turned to face my sisters.
“Dangerous?”
“Powerful love can be a dangerous thing.”
I didn’t say anything and neither did Lucius. The twins were obviously finished on the topic because they didn’t continue. Enid and Amala shared the same expression as the rest of the angels. They would fit right in when they were in heaven.
“Yes, I suppose it is.” I finally said and hugged Lucius closer to me. I really didn’t want to know what it meant, even if it did feel like some type of warning. I wanted the day for Ruth to be perfect, and my memory of it the same. I would let Enid and Amala keep the meaning of their cryptic comment. I was happy and content and wanted to stay that way for the rest of the evening.
“Very well, Queen Mother,” they acknowledged my unspoken wish.
Chapter 13: The Reunion
Found Page 25
