The Forsaken(39)

Meredith, immediately, as a proper Cherub should, fell to her knees to bow her head in thanks to him. “Nathanael, we are honored thou feel this way. Destiny can be a dark path to travel.”

Izzy remained standing. Nathanael urged Meredith up with a hand, while his eyes moved over Izzy, making her feel unworthy.

Izzy looked at her best friend. “Yeah, that’s right, whatever that means. We did not ask for your help or your diligence.” Izzy knew her tone was tough as steel, but everything about him set her on edge.

“I am Seraphim. You are Cherubs. What you all have endured and continue to endure has affected my beliefs and thinking. Isabella, I wish I could change your destiny but we are tied together.”

What? He doesn’t want me? By the path of light, I did not see that one coming. Izzy set her mouth in a grim line.

Nathanael dropped to his knees, bowed his head to the wooden office floor and started speaking scripture. Meredith froze in place. Isabella rushed over to him, dropped to her own knees and begged him to stop. He didn’t.

“Sh’ulaum b’i? erasum v’eder’at. I’slla cuelum a b’h’lo’avae. Sh’leesm o’doult b’i? erasum v’eder’at. Taim’u. Rl’extera. Q’y ut ? ?.”

By thee Almighty’s blessing, I take thee Isabella, your soul, heart, mind and body. I give freely all my love to thee and only thee. One we are. For eternity. Till dust do us make.

The words, ancient as the heavens, rolled thick off his tongue. The power of angel speak danced like a techno song around Izzy, making her dizzy. The words wrapped around her soul, her heart and mind with bindings as tight as a noose around her neck, and for a second Izzy forgot to breathe. Worse, the power of the words seemed to penetrate the layers of her skin, causing pleasure to rise like a tidal wave through her. The meaning of the words was like a clear neon sign. Tears marred Izzy’s face. Rage caused her shoulders to quake.

Nathanael rose to place a gentle hand on her bowed, quivering head. “It had to be done, Isabella. I am not sorry for claiming our destiny. We will work through this together. I am here to help.

Izzy rose swiftly to her feet, flinching from his touch and concerned eyes. Stepping back she glared at him with all the hatred consuming her. “I don’t want your help.”

“You don’t want anyone’s help but facing demons alone is not useful.”

“Get out!” screeched Izzy.

“I will be back and I’m not sorry for what I’ve done.” He left as quietly as he’d entered.

“You shall be, Sere. You shall be.”

*

Meredith froze in the shadow of the hall, watching as Mike once again approached Shea’s door. Today alone, she suspected he’d tried a dozen times to muster his courage to knock on her door. He knew another sat in the room with her at all times because Meredith had told him. She didn’t have to tell him the why of it. She suspected he had witnessed the jagged scars on Shea’s wrists. From the half-open window, the wild lyrics from the recreational center streamed into their dwelling. She darted a look at the window, wishing she’d shut it earlier. Meredith did not like the music and she missed performing. Routine had become such a strong force that only with it gone did she realize her reliance on it. With routine, there was less time for questioning, less time for the want of what she couldn’t have.

Nathanael had forced Mike to take a blood oath. Meredith discovered that when Isabella muttered how annoying Nathanael had become. Meredith wondered what Mike thought of Nathanael’s golden-colored blood. And that begged the bigger question rattling around in Meredith’s head. Why was Shea’s blood red now? Nathanael had been frank with his explanation. Shea’s stolen soul, which was linked to her heavenly powers, condemned her, made her damned. Meredith wasn’t so certain that was truly the case. Shea had no control over what happened to her and didn’t deserve to feel unworthy. It worried Meredith more than she liked to think.

Moving from the shadow, Meredith approached Mike. “Would you like to go in and see her?”

Mike whirled around, and Meredith didn’t like how his eyes widened with surprise. One would have thought having a house filled with angels would make Mike happy. That was not the case.

“I don’t know.”

“I think she would like that.”

Mike hung his head, and Meredith wanted to weep. In such a short time, a little over two weeks, so much had changed in their lives. Where before, Mike would be joking and laughing with them, he now was guarded and acutely aware of his words and actions. Meredith preferred it the other way. Now, she knew why Izzy had not dared to speak of what they truly were. Angels existing in folklore and biblical stories was one thing. Angels that you helped rescue from the streets was another matter entirely.

Mike raised his eyes and took a deep breath. “I know about you all now.”

“Yes, I know. Do you hate us?”

“Hate you?” Mike flinched. “You’re crazy, Meredith. I couldn’t hate any of you. I think of you like family.”

Meredith bowed her head. “We are honored, Mike. The burden you carry is not an easy one. I should warn you—Shea will never be the same now.”

Mike’s eyes grew haunted, but his voice was strong, even commanding. Meredith welcomed it. “To me, she will always be the same.”