The Forsaken(53)

Izzy lowered her head, and forced a calming breath. None of it worked. Everything is about sacrifice. The Mistress outlined her terms to Nathanael and Izzy knew his faith, like hers, was being tested. When is it enough? It was a dark thought, and she immediately purged it from her mind.

Izzy sought another approach, careful indeed how she spoke. “He is Seraphim, a warrior of faith, needed in the upcoming battle.”

“A Seraphim warrior he longs to be. As of yet, he is not. The choice is his. Do you accept the terms?”

What choice do I have? Keeping her head bowed, Izzy swallowed the rush of tears and nodded.

“So it is witnessed by thee blessed path of light.”

A flash of light momentarily blinded her. When next she had use of her eyes, the sight before her broke her heart in two.

What faith tested a warrior like this?

“You were tested and survived.”

The Mistress’s words crashed through Izzy, a powerful reminder that she had agreed to the terms.

In the exact position Isabella had been Nathanael, wearing the starchy white penance robe, lay on the Septuagint Council floor. His father loomed over him; his booted gladiator sandals looked exactly the same. He didn’t look remotely upset at the task the Mistress appointed him. How could he not be affected?

When Raphael grasped his son’s right wing and brought it up taut, Izzy felt her entire body stiffen, a surge of bile rising up through her. She didn’t dare look away. Through the haze of pain, she felt Nathanael’s eyes on her. Steel-colored eyes filled with anguished strength and determination. Unflinching, his eyes shuddered close the second the sharp sword of the Kita severed his wing. With swift movement, his father yanked up his son’s second wing. A choked gasp overpowered Nathanael. Isabella fell to her knees, knowing the torment of birthing pain his body gripped to. He did not scream. His eyes steady, he opened them to stare straight at her. With precision, Raphael severed his son’s second wing. Not a word spoken. He walked away, leaving his son to the Hellish pain his body had no choice but to accept.

Isabella rushed forward, uncaring of the warning from the Mistress. She could not leave him alone, not when she knew firsthand how much agony his body suffered.

“You should not have accepted the terms.” Her tears fell to the hard, unforgiving Council floor.

He gasped again.

“Do not speak. I know the torment you are going through.”

Nathanael attempted to crouch to his knees. Isabella immediately moved to him. He flinched from her touch.

“I am sorry, Nathanael. I truly am sorry. I begged the Mistress not to ask this of you. Why, why did you agree to the terms?”

Squatting, his body still racked with tremors, he looked at her. “I made this sacrifice willingly because I am honored to be your chosen one. I love you, Isabella.”

“And I you, Nathanael.” The confession, in the midst of his gripping pain, felt somehow hollow. Slowly, Isabella moved within reach of him. When he attempted to draw her close, it was Izzy who wrapped her arms tenderly, with caution, around him. She cradled his head to hers, offering the healing of her voice. The ancient healing chant eased his sore body, and for that, she offered thanks to the Mistress. When his gray eyes looked at her with gratitude, she felt like her heart and soul saw him for the first time. He is my chosen. There is no other. I am honored to be his.

Another blinding light surrounded them. Izzy looked up. They were in the exact spot they had been when the blessing ceremony started. She looked at Nathanael and he looked at her, clearly surprised. She could tell by his stance his body wasn’t in pain.

How can that be?

“The Almighty is pleased with your willing sacrifice, Nathanael. Isabella, you are Cherub born and warrior ready to the task thou hast been appointed to.”

“But?” asked Nathanael.

“You passed the test, Nathanael, and are Sera now, a true Seraphim warrior angel.”

The Mistress placed a white-gloved hand on Nathanael’s shoulder. A shudder went through his body and then miraculously his beautiful white wings unfurled from a slit at the back of his robe. Shock and awe filled his face.

When the Mistress moved to Isabella hope flared briefly in her.

“Heavenly wings thou hast earned, Isabella, but to take them, you must willingly accept the terms.”

Izzy expected that. “I am honored, Mistress, you find me a mere Cherub worthy of wings, but I will keep to thy terms as agreed.”

“So it is to be.”

The Mistress backed away. “Kneel.”

Izzy dropped to her knees, feeling Nathanael do the same. The scripture words sailed through the room filling Isabella with love.

“Bring me the candle.”

With her head bowed, Izzy wondered who had been appointed to approach the Mistress. Not daring to look up, she forced her curiosity to heel.

“I bring forth light to signify thy darkness purged from your souls. Together, thou walk the righteous path of the light. One thou art until dust do thy make. Celebrate your journey with hearts and soul pure. You have the Almighty’s blessings.”

When she ordered Isabella to stand and bow her head, Izzy expected her to place the necklace around her neck. Instead, Nathanael stood and then moved to cover her head.

“The journey the Almighty has asked of you, Nathanael and Isabella, will test your faith. That thee willingly suffered, sacrificed, shows thee pure of strength. With this blessing, I grant you each a Kita to help purge this realm of darkness. Work with mankind to show them the path of light. Lead the human-born angels, as was foretold.”