The Forsaken(19)

I guess I deserved that. “Anya, what happened to you?”

Anya didn’t answer; he hadn’t expected her to. Her eyes were glued to something on the floor. Her hair was the color of filtered rays of sunlight.

“I found her with foster parents who were anything but nice,” stated Isabella, coldly.

Nat’s eyebrows quirked in question.

“Anya was one of five children, living in a small house. The people used the children to get money from the government here, but they didn’t take care of the children.” Izzy leaned closer to him. “In fact, when she was caught praying or helping the other children she was beaten. When I found her, her body was so full of new and old bruises, that had not my faith stopped me I would have killed the humans. They were not demon filled but I wished with all my soul they had been. They were simply evil humans who wanted money for the drugs they bought. They used the children. I made sure to alert the police once I got my sister out of there.”

Nat moved until he was within reach of the pair who were standing together, cuddled in their own safety. Slowly, he sank to his knees. “By the holiest of holy relics, I am sorry for your pain and the suffering you had to endure, Anya. If I could take that pain away from you, I would be honored to do so. Alas, my mere words of comfort and sympathy for your plight and that of your fellow sisters is all I have within my power to offer. I would slay a hundred thousand demons if I could stop your pain. By the path of light, I ask for your forgiveness.”

“My forgiveness?” Anya’s voice was a mere squeak of a whisper. “Why?”

“We failed you when you needed us most. No Cherub, especially not a novice, should have had to endure your pain. Seraphim protect Cherubs but you were, and all are still, here without protection. That will not be the case anymore.”

Isabella huffed in annoyance. “Oh no you don’t, Seraphim. I protect us.”

He looked up into Isabella’s blue eyes. “You did not protect her.”

Just like I failed my own brother, thought Nathanael.

When the demons had stormed through the Prayer Hall he had taken up arms, but in doing so he’d left his younger brother unprotected. Nathanael liked to think his brother should have been safe, but it was he who had left him alone in their sanctuary garden. When Nathanael had returned, minutes before his father did, to discover his brother’s broken dead body, his life had changed. While his father reassured Nathanael that he’d done the right thing by taking up arms, not a day went by when Nathanael did not question that decision. If he’d stayed, his brother would be alive. He might have made the wrong choice then but he would not make the wrong choice again.

“Low blow, even for you, Sere. I told you I couldn’t find her.”

Nat nodded. “What you did, Isabella, still amazes me, but this is not the way of things. I am here now, and it looks like I’ll be staying awhile. I shall bow my head in prayer and ask the Mistress to send more Seraphim to Earth to help guard you.”

“What?” They spoke in unison. One outraged the other with a note of hope.

“We cannot change our destiny, Isabella.”

“And what destiny do you have, Nathanael?” asked Isabella, drawing the blanket even tighter over her damp skin. “Go back to your realm. We have endured and will continue. This is not your fight.”

“My brave heavenly wife. My job is to protect you, and I now pledge my life essence to protecting all your sisters. What is yours is mine and what is mine is yours.”

“Stop that. Not another word.”

“Izzy, let him. Let him pray to the Mistress. I pray every day to her for help,” said Anya.

“You do?” asked Isabella, looking even more astonished.

“Yeah. Don’t you?”

Isabella unhooked her arms from her younger sister and moved toward the door. “It’s been a long night. You need to sleep, Anya. Please go to your room now. And you, Nathanael—I will talk to you tomorrow.”

She dismissed them, he thought, because she didn’t want to answer Anya’s question. It was a tactic Nathanael’s mother often used when the truth hurt to speak aloud. Nathanael waited until Anya left the room before invading Isabella’s space once again. “You do pray, right?”

Her eyes frosted, reminding him of the crystal-clear ponds near his winter residence in the K’lista Mountains.

“Oh, I pray all right, just not like you think.”

He stood still even though he longed to draw her back into his arms. She wouldn’t appreciate that move, so wisely, Nathanael kept his distance. He felt honored she’d told him much of what had happened to them but he knew she kept more close to her heart and soul.

“It is good to pray for the Mistress’s forgiveness. It will ease the soul and help your penance.”

She sputtered and then her voice grew as hard as steel, her tone sharp and deadly. “I pray every day that she burns in Hell.”

This time he got in her face. “Only a fool disrespects the Mistress. We have lots to discuss Isabella. That was made clear to me tonight.”

Then without waiting for her to say anything he stormed out of her bedroom, shutting the door with forced calmness. More than anything he longed to slam something.

Nathanael shook his head, trying to clear the tide of emotions. Everything happened too fast. Why hadn’t his father told him? Shock did not begin to describe how he felt. He raced down the steps only to encounter Meredith.