by T. R. Hamby
He got a blanket and wrapped it around her. Nora smiled gratefully, and laid her head on his shoulder. They stared into the fire for a while.
“I’m going to slow us down,” Nora finally whispered. “Being like this.”
“Don’t say that,” Michael said soothingly. “You only just….got back. You’re not giving yourself enough credit.”
He paused, and added, “And to be fair, all of us were affected by it. We’re all emotional. You can’t slow us down if we’re all feeling the same way.”
Nora managed a chuckle. “Yeah, I guess not.”
They were quiet. Michael’s dream was still lurking in his mind, and he shivered.
“I had a terrible nightmare,” he said quietly.
He wasn’t sure if Nora was the right person to be telling this to. Mel was probably better. But it was too late now, and she looked at him expectantly.
He shifted, and said, “I had a dream….that I….Created a woman. And then I….I can’t remember all of it….but I hurt her. Grabbed her--pulled her hair….”
He hesitated. Then, “I think I killed her.”
Nora gave a little gasp, staring at him in horror. “Jesus, Michael. Are you okay?”
He nodded vaguely. “Yeah.”
“That’s horrible.”
He shook his head, frowning. “It’s probably from stress, but….it just felt….very real. I don’t dream like that.”
“Well, it can’t be a premonition,” Nora said soothingly. “You would never do such a thing.”
“Yeah….you’re right….”
“It’s just your mind playing tricks on you. Like you said, we’re all stressed.”
And her lips twitched. “We need a vacation.”
Michael smiled, and the dream began to fade. “Where to?”
Nora sighed. “Back to Rome, maybe?”
“Yeah. Rome.”
He took her hand, and was stunned to see the diamond ring still on her finger--the one she had said Roone had given her on their last day together.
But he kept it together. She had been through a lot; he couldn’t judge her for keeping it on.
He looked at her. “How are you?”
She flushed and looked away. Tears filled her eyes, and she blinked rapidly.
She sighed. “I’m a mess.”
“You’re doing great.”
She brushed at her eyes and nodded, as if to herself. “Thanks.”
“You know I’m here. If you need me. Not sure how much help I am, but….”
Nora rolled her eyes, and he chuckled. “Don’t be silly.”
Michael took a deep breath. He was eager to soothe her, to remind her that she was home, and that there were two very angry Angels who were ready, at a moment’s notice, to end Roone Harrison’s miserable Existence.
“When we find him,” he said firmly, “we’ll kill--”
“Not you too!” she exclaimed, and he jumped a little.
Nora hunched over and held her head in her hands.
Michael stared, bewildered. “What do you mean?”
“He doesn’t deserve to die, Michael,” Nora moaned. “I was trying to tell Mel that earlier.”
She straightened, and her expression was fiery. “He’s sick. He’s delusional. He loves me; he thinks God meant for us to be together. He thought he was saving me from you and Mel, like the two of you had some sort of evil hold over me. You see? He’s ill. He needs treatment, not a death sentence.”
Michael was quiet. He hadn’t at all expected Nora to defend her abuser, and in such a fierce way.
He waited for her to take some breaths. He didn’t want to make her angry. He brushed at his hair and thought.
What Nora said, of course, made sense. He couldn’t deny that. Roone was most likely sick, not evil. He hadn’t tortured Nora, hadn’t raped her, hadn’t beaten her. For the most part he had tried to keep her comfortable. That wasn’t the work of a malicious creature.
But it didn’t change what he had done. He had hurt her, had stolen her away from her family. She had begged, had kissed him, had even gotten into bed with him. The knowledge made him sick.
“What are you thinking?” Nora murmured, and he looked at her.
Michael took a deep breath. “I’m thinking of the things he did to you.”
“What he did was wrong. But he’s….just not right. I don’t even think he knows half of what he did was wrong. He’s unwell, Michael. Please,” and she squeezed his hand pleadingly, “please don’t kill him.”
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “What does Mel say?”
“I’m still trying to convince him. But Michael, please--”
“Shh. All right. I promise.”
He didn’t want to hurt her even more. She had already been through enough.
“But promise me,” he said as she sighed with relief, “that we kill him if he tries to take you again--or tries to hurt one of us.”
Nora frowned, but nodded. “Yeah. Of course.”
She studied their hands, a troubled look on her face, and Michael asked, “Do you think he’d try again?”
She shivered, and he tucked the blanket firmly around her. “I don’t know.”
Suddenly her cell phone, which was in her pocket, began to buzz. Nora frowned and took it out.
She snorted. “Unknown number. Great. Just what I need, scam callers.”
“I just block them.”
“You can’t block unknown numbers, can you?”
Her phone buzzed again, and she sighed, declining the call. “Jesus.”
“Just throw it in the fire.”
“Michael,” she chided, her lips twitching.
Her phone rang a third time, and this time Nora answered it, swiping her thumb across the screen and pressing the phone to her ear.
“Hello?”
And her face went white.
Nora
“Nora? It’s me. It’s Roone.”
Nora stared at Michael, feeling the color drain from her face. He immediately tensed, his eyes on hers, and straightened, grasping her hand.
“Nora?” Roone’s voice said, and she shivered.
God. Had he found her? Already?
No. No. If he had, he would have been in there with them, causing Michael unimaginable pain….
“Nora.”
Nora jumped. “Yes,” she breathed.
She felt hot tears slip down her cheeks, and Michael made a noise, clearly uncomfortable seeing her like this, unable to do anything about it. She squeezed his hand hard.
“Nora,” Roone sighed, sounding relieved. “I’m so glad to hear you….I thought maybe….they wouldn’t let you….have they hurt you?”
Nora assumed he meant Michael and Mel, and she felt exasperation break through her fear. She remembered again that Roone wasn’t an evil Angel. He wasn’t the boogeyman; he wasn’t out to kill her. He would steal her at a moment’s notice, yes, but he was still Roone. Bumbling Roone, who was suffering from a dangerous illness.
She sighed. “No, Roone; of course they haven’t.”
Michael shifted, a dark scowl on his face now. He took out his own phone, and Nora could tell he was giving Mel a call.
“I had to ask,” Roone sighed. “How are you?”
He spoke to her tenderly, and she felt both warmed and sickened. Michael murmured into his phone.
She took a deep breath. “Why are you calling me, Roone? You’re putting yourself in danger.”
She almost wanted to tell him to run. Never contact her again, and get out of the country. Go someplace quiet. Find a nice girl, have a family with her. Stay away from Michael and Mel.
But she knew that was pointless. Roone didn’t want anyone but her. She was his soulmate, after all.
Roone paused, and she waited. Beside her Michael was studying her, waiting for a response, for her next words.
Finally Roone said, “Father spoke to me.”
Nora frowned, and her heart dropped.
God had
spoken to Roone. No, that couldn’t be good. What would he want with Roone? It must have something to do with them.
“What did he say?”
She heard footsteps thundering down the stairs, and Mel appeared, nearly wild-eyed. He went to her, held out a hand for the phone, but she shook her head. He swore under his breath, and knelt beside her, leaning on her lap. Together he and Michael watched her like hawks.
“Are they with you?” Roone finally asked.
Nora sighed, exasperated. Her mind was racing, wondering what on earth God had said, and Roone was being slow about it.
“Yes,” she said evenly. “They’re here.”
Both men shifted. Mel was angry, making the temperature shift downward.
Roone’s voice was firm. “Good. Now they’ll know you don’t belong to them.”
Nora took a deep breath. “Go on, Roone.”
“Father spoke to me….he’s never spoken to me before--I didn’t think he ever would,” he said, and his voice became rushed, euphoric. “He said I was right; you and I are meant to be together, that we’re soulmates. He always meant for us to be together. I just let you get away….that was my fault. But he’ll bring us back together--he’s giving us a son, Nora. A boy. I have him in my arms now--he’s--”
But Nora didn’t hear the rest. Her heart dropped, and she stiffened. Her insides froze, and she nearly dropped the phone into her lap.
Sydney. Sydney.
She began to breathe heavily, her lungs trying to keep up with her racing heart. She swayed dizzily, and Mel and Michael drew closer, gripping her arms and murmuring to each other.
“Give me the phone, love,” Mel said soothingly, but Nora shook her head, taking deep breaths.
“Nora?” Roone’s voice asked on the other line. “Did you hear me? Are they doing something to you?”
Nora gripped Mel’s hand. “No….I’m sorry, it’s just….”
She had to keep it together. If Sydney really was there, then she needed to keep him safe. They needed to find him, to save him.
She began to cry, and managed a weepy chuckle. “Are you sure? A boy?”
Roone sounded relieved again. “Yes, Nora, yes. He’s so beautiful. You have to come see him. He’s sleeping now….you have to come hold him, see for yourself….”
“Yes, yes,” Nora replied firmly, while Michael and Mel looked at her bewildered. “Yes….god….Roone, I’m so sorry….I’m sorry for everything….”
“No….it’s all right. I didn’t watch you enough….I let Melkira get his hands on you again. I should’ve been stronger for you.”
And his voice was heavy with guilt.
Nora tried not to sob, the horror of the situation overwhelming her. Michael’s newborn grandson was in the hands of a psychotic Angel, an Angel who had just spent the last three days holding Nora captive. How the fuck were they supposed to fix this?
“Come see us,” Roone said gently. “Just for a day. They can come too….I know they won’t let you go alone….”
Nora was shaking, but she nodded firmly. “I’ll ask them. They won’t say no.”
“Tomorrow, then? Please? Say noon….give you time to rest….to think….”
Nora nodded. “Yeah, yeah. Noon. At the cottage?”
“Yes, of course. Our home.”
Nora nearly gagged at the thought of that beautiful house and that gorgeous mountain. She would never think of Ireland the same way.
They said goodbye--Roone had tried drawing it out, apparently desperate to hear her voice--but the call finally ended, and Nora dropped her phone into her lap.
“Deep breaths,” Mel said soothingly, rubbing her arms.
Nora gave in to her tears, and she laid her head on Mel’s shoulder, quietly sobbing. Mel held her, and Michael squeezed her hand.
After some time her panic faded, and Nora felt calmer. She straightened, brushing at her face, and Michael got her some tissues.
They sat and waited. Nora took some deep breaths, willing her pounding heart to relax. Then she told them everything: God had given Sydney to Roone, tricking him into believing that Nora would return to him, and that they would be a family. In exchange for what, she wasn’t sure--but a deal had certainly been made, that was for sure. This was God, after all. He wouldn’t have given Sydney to Roone without some stipulation.
Michael and Mel were horror-struck. Michael got to his feet, shaking, and began to slowly pace.
He turned to face her. “We have to kill him now, Nora,” he whispered hoarsely. “He has my grandson.”
Nora felt a sharp pang, and she shivered. She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want Roone to die, but she didn’t see what they could do to save Sydney that avoided killing him.
“This is Father’s fault,” Mel breathed. “He’s taking a fool for a ride.”
“Did I not just mention my grandson?” Michael hissed, and Nora knew he was close to losing his head.
Mel got up, grasped his shoulders. “We’ll think of what to do. Right now. We have to have a plan, whether he dies or not. All right?”
Michael stared at him for a long moment, taking deep breaths, before nodding jerkily. “Yeah.”
Mel was firm. “I’m your brother. I’m not letting anything happen to our family.”
Nora would have been touched by this exchange if she wasn’t so emotional herself. She held her head in her hands and took deep breaths. Focus. Focus. This wasn’t the time to break down. Sydney needed them.
What did she know for sure right now? Father had tricked Roone into believing that Nora would return to him, now that he had a child for them to raise together. Father wouldn’t just give Sydney to anyone, which meant that he had ulterior motives….that he had asked Roone for something in return.
She could guess what that was.
She raised her head. “Father wants Roone to kill Gabriel,” she said softly.
Michael and Mel turned to her. Then they looked at each other.
Michael nodded shakily. “That makes sense. He wouldn’t give my--he wouldn’t give Sydney to him for nothing in return.”
Mel nodded too. “So we go to the house. I’ll use my anger to subdue him--”
“His Talent will incapacitate you before you can use yours,” Nora interrupted, shaking her head. “His is instantaneous. He’ll just start to feel the cold by the time you’re on the ground.”
Mel looked disturbed, and he and Michael looked at each other again.
Nora took a steadying breath. “It has to be me.”
“Nora,” Mel breathed, sitting beside her and taking her hands. “You can’t. It’s too dangerous.”
“I’m the only one of us he won’t hurt,” she replied insistently. “He loves me, remember?”
“He’s hurt you before,” Michael reminded her darkly.
“Only as a last resort. He never wanted to do it.”
“Nora--”
“If you can think of a way to get past his Talent, and peacefully get Sydney out of there, tell me.”
There was a silence.
“Gilla,” Michael finally said, but Nora shook her head.
“Not peaceful. He won’t hand over Sydney to anyone except me.”
“What are you going to do then, Nora?” Mel breathed. “Convince him to give up Sydney?”
She nodded slowly. She didn’t know if it was possible--but she was the only person Roone would listen to. She had to try to make him see that God had tricked him, that he shouldn’t kill Gabriel, and that Sydney wasn’t his child. And, hopefully, that he and Nora were not meant to be together.
“Nora,” Michael said, as Mel hung his head, “you’ve already been--you--this is too--”
“I know,” Nora replied gently. “But it’s all we have.”
The two men were anguished, and were quiet for a long time.
Then Mel cleared his throat, brushing at his eyes. “We need to discuss it with the others. Now.”
So they went upstairs. Mel clung to Nora, grasping her ha
nd firmly. Nora felt a sudden surge of desperation, and when Michael had disappeared into his room the two tangled themselves against the wall, kissing roughly and running their hands over each other.
Mel broke away and held her face. “Nora,” he moaned, and she shushed him.
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“I can’t lose you again.”
“You won’t,” she said firmly, gripping his arms. “I promise. If he takes me, I’ll never stop fighting. If he takes me, I’ll kill him.”
Mel nodded slowly, tense beneath her hands.
“Okay?” Nora breathed, brushing at his face. “Believe in me, love. I can do it.”
Her words were firm, but on the inside she faltered. She didn’t know if what she was about to attempt was possible.
“I’m scared for you.”
“I know. I know.”
“We can find another way.”
Nora gave him a gentle look. “No, we can’t. He wants me.”
Gilla was positively irate.
“There has to be another way,” she insisted, so loudly that Michael had to shush her.
Nora was shocked. Gilla was very rarely angry, especially this angry. But Nora could see why….Gilla had been abused in much more horrific ways than Nora had. Of course she would want to do anything to prevent anything further from happening to her best friend.
“I’ll go,” she said firmly, and she stood so straight and powerful that she looked like a fiery goddess. “I’ll make him give me Sydney. I can control his body. If I can get close enough to touch him, I can persuade him.”
“It’s still too dangerous, Gilla,” Nora said pleadingly. “You can’t just manipulate Roone’s body if he’s holding Sydney. What if he drops him? What if a Blade falls on him? It’s too much of a risk.”
“We need Serene here,” Gabriel said firmly.
“Gabriel--” Michael breathed, but he held up a hand.
“We have a lead. She’ll be on our side now. And like I said before, she doesn’t want me dead. And, also, if we don’t include her, she’ll never forgive us.”
The room was quiet. Gilla stood with her arms folded, red patches on her cheeks, clearly still furious that her plan couldn’t work.
