Malcolm (Book 1, The Redemption Series) (28 page)

Lucas’ face is tear-stained, and his little body is shaking uncontrollably. When our eyes meet, he takes a step towards me and wraps his little arms around my neck, burying his face against my chest as if he's trying to hide his eyes from the death surrounding him. I rise to my feet, and as I cradle him in my arms, Malcolm’s coat falls away from Lucas to the ground. I walk over the bodies of the fallen until I’m out of the circle of death. I sit down by the trunk of a large oak and just hold Lucas close to me and let him cry. I suddenly remember the lullaby Millie used to hum to me and begin to sing the tune to Lucas, hoping it calms his fears like it always did mine.

After a while, Lucas lifts his head and looks up at me.

“I was scared,” he tells me like he’s making a confession.

I try to smile at him reassuringly. “You had nothing to be frightened of, Lucas. Your dad and I would never let anything happen to you. I want you to remember that.”

Lucas nods. “I know, Anna. I shouldn’t have let myself get so scared because I already know what will happen.”

“What do you mean?” I ask. “What have you seen?”

“I’ve seen us living in a castle built in the clouds.”

“You have?” I ask, feeling my heart swell with hope for the future.

Lucas nods. “Yep, and we’re all happy. Even the babies.”

“Babies?” I ask, completely taken off guard by the simple use of this word. “Whose babies?”

“The ones you and Dad will have one day,” Lucas says like I should know this already. “Liam and Lilianna. I can’t wait to have a brother and a sister. I promise I’ll be the best big brother ever.”

I sit there stunned into silence.

“Have your visions ever been wrong?” I ask, holding my breath as I wait to hear the answer.

“I’m not sure yet,” Lucas says, shrugging his little shoulders. “I’ve only had visions that have you in them. But, you turned out to be real.”

It isn’t exactly the reassurance I am looking for, but, at this point, I decide to take what I can get.

“Everything all right?”

I look up and see Malcolm standing beside us. His eyes hold a worry for Lucas as he looks down at his son.

Lucas stands up from my lap and walks over to his dad. Malcolm bends down and picks his son up into his arms. Lucas wraps his arms around his dad’s neck, and I watch as Malcolm rests his chin against one of Lucas’s small shoulders, closing his eyes like the embrace is bringing him as much comfort as it is Lucas.

“Sorry I got scared, Dad,” Lucas says to Malcolm.

“You don’t have to be sorry about that,” Malcolm tells him. “There’s no shame in being scared of bad people.”

Lucas pulls back slightly so he can look into Malcolm’s eyes.

“When we go to live in the castle with Anna, will you teach me how to fight with a sword?”

Malcolm’s face scrunches up in bewilderment.

“Live in a castle with Anna?” Malcolm asks.

Lucas nods. “Yeah the one in the clouds that I’ve seen. Will you teach me?”

Malcolm still looks confused and at a loss for words.

I stand up.

“Maybe you’re asking the wrong person,” I say to Lucas. “I’ll teach you how to use a sword when we go. I promise.”

They both look at me. Malcolm in confusion and Lucas with a bright, expectant smile on his face.

“Thanks, Anna.” Lucas’ smile falters some. “When can I just go ahead and start calling you mommy?”

“Mommy?” Malcolm asks, rather loudly. “She is not your mother, Lucas.”

Lucas looks back at Malcolm. “But, she will be, Dad.”

Malcolm is silent for a moment like he’s trying to make sense of what Lucas just said.

Then he asks, “Anna’s the woman you saw in the vision you had?”

Lucas nods his head.

“Why didn’t you ever mention that before?” Malcolm asks. “You’ve seen pictures and holograms of her on the news, but you never said she was the one.”

“I thought she might be made up,” Lucas says. “I didn’t think anyone so pretty could be real. But, now I know she’s real, and she’ll be my mommy one day. I just don’t see why I can’t call her that now.”

“Because she’s not your mother,” Malcolm says a little too harshly.

“But she will be,” Lucas insists again, like it’s a forgone conclusion.

Malcolm begins to open his mouth to say something else but seems to think better of it and closes it again.

Malcolm looks over at me, but apparently, he doesn't know what to say to me either. Finally, he settles on, “Come on. Gladson wants to have a word with you.”

Malcolm walks away with Lucas in his arms to where Gladson and Jered are standing, talking to one another.

Gladson Gray was one of the most sought after lords in Cirrus. His exotic Middle Eastern looks make him stand out in a crowd. His light brown hair has a natural body to it that is envied by many women, and his deep set brown eyes let you see the pureness of his soul. It was easy to understand why Auggie fell in love with him the first time they met. Many a lady had set their sights on Gladson, at least until he turned rebel. He became one of the most vocal proponents on how the citizens of the cloud cities were misusing their power by keeping the down-worlders as indentured servants, as he put it.

When we approach, Gladson turns to me and brings me into his arms.

“I’m so glad you’re safe,” Gladson says to me. “We’ve been looking for you since you disappeared. Anna, can you tell me what's wrong with Auggie? He’s…changed and not for the better. He won’t even see me anymore.”

“It's a long story, Gladson. One I'll tell you about in just a minute. Right now, I need to know how you found us, and how you knew we were going to be attacked.”

Gladson pulls away to explain. “Like I was telling Overlord Devereaux and Emissary Alburn, I have spies everywhere. We learned of your whereabouts when a message was delivered to the emperor this morning telling him you would be traveling this way today. Someone was trying to cash in on the bounty he’s placed on your safe return to Cirrus.”

“Do you know who it was?” I ask.

“Did we
seriously
miss out on all the fun?” A new but familiar voice says behind us.

We all look over and see Barlow Stokes and about ten of his men walk towards us surveying the carnage all around.

Malcolm hands Lucas to Jered and phases over to Barlow, grabbing the other man by the throat and lifting him in the air.

“Are you the one who betrayed us? Did you come to get your reward?” Malcolm demands, throwing Barlow onto the ground roughly.

Barlow chokes out his answer. “I wasn't the one who betrayed you.”

Malcolm looks to me, and I nod that Barlow is telling the truth.

“Then why are you here?” Malcolm demands. “You act like you knew we would be ambushed.”

Barlow stands to his feet, rubbing his now sore neck.

“Obviously, I did know,” he tells us, coughing a little. “We just got word that a deal was made between Celeste and the emperor. What the hell did you do to piss her off enough to betray you to him anyway?”

Malcolm sighs and runs a hand through his hair in agitation.

“That’s none of your business,” Malcolm tells him irritably. “I knew she was mad, but I never thought she would put Lucas’s life in danger like this.”

Barlow looks over at me. “We came as soon as we heard, Anna. I’m sorry we weren’t here in time to help.”

“Well,” I say, an idea forming in my mind, “maybe you can still help me, Barlow.” I turn to Gladson. “Gladson Gray, I would like to introduce you to Barlow Stokes, the best black marketer here in the down-world. I think the two of you might be able to help each other... and me. Maybe by working together we can all change the world for the better.”

We take a few precious minutes to tell them both what's really going on with the emperor. Gladson takes the news hard but keeps himself together because he knows Auggie would want us to avenge his death, not waste time mourning it.

We also discuss what each man has to offer in my plan to rebuild how our society functions, and they both seem eager to do their part. Once the two men I’ve just recruited know their roles in the new world order I see, we decide it’s best to split up and get busy doing what needs to be done.

“So how long will it take you to complete this mysterious mission you’re on?” Gladson asks me before he gets ready to leave.

“I’m not sure,” I tell him. “But I have to do it. It’s what I was born for, and it's the best way I can honor Auggie's memory.”

“Can I help in any way?”

“I’ll let you know if I need your help,” I assure him. “Right now, I just need you to keep your ears and eyes open for any move the emperor plans against me. It's the best thing you can do to help me, for now at least.”

“Then you have it,” Gladson says, bending at the waist to pledge his fealty to me.

“I'm still a little confused about something,” Barlow says. “If the emperor sent his men here, why hasn’t he sent anymore men by now? He has to know exactly where you are.”

“Oh, well, that’s partially my doing,” Gladson says with a sly grin. “I had my people disabled the teleportation system in Cirrus after we teleported here so we didn’t have to deal with any more guards than we had to. We also disabled aerial surveillance in the area, at least for a little while. Things should be coming back on line within 24 hours though.”

I look to Malcolm. “But there was a rebellion angel leading the human guards, right? If he has more angels masquerading as guards, they could just phase in at any time.”

Malcolm nods. “Yes, but Levi probably doesn’t have many under his command. Most of the rebellion angels still follow Lucifer. I think it’s best if we all leave before Levi figures out his ambush didn’t succeed and decides to come down himself.”

“I don’t suppose you have personal teleporters?” Barlow asks Gladson. “Otherwise, my men and I will have a long walk ahead of us.”

Gladson smiles. “We do, but they're offline until the system in Cirrus comes back up. Sorry.”

Barlow sighs. “Then I guess it's a long walk for all of us back home. The nearest teleporter is in New Orleans.”

“My men and I will walk with you,” Gladson says. “But, it would be best for us to not use a public teleporter. We’ll just wait things out in the city until the system is back online in Cirrus so we can go back discreetly.”

Barlow turns to me.

“I really am sorry we weren’t here in time to come to your rescue, Anna. I promise to do better next time. Scout's honor,” Barlow says, holding the three middle fingers of his right hand up into the air.

“I have no idea what that means,” I tell him thinking the pledge odd.

Barlow shrugs. “Old Earth saying,” he explains. “Means you have my promise.”

“Then I gladly accept your scout’s honor.”

“Ready when you are to leave,” Gladson says to Barlow. Gladson turns to me and gives me a brief hug. “I’ll keep an eye on things in Cirrus until you’re able to return.”

“You have my word that we
will
bring Auggie’s killer to justice, Gladson. Please, don’t try to do anything yourself. He’s too strong. I’m the only one who can deal with him.”

“I can't say I completely understand everything you just told me about angels and demons,” Gladson says. “But, I do know I can't wait for the day you make that bastard pay for what he took away from the both of us. Take care of yourself down here, my friend.”

Gladson kisses me on the cheek before turning to follow Barlow's lead out of the forest.

“I don’t think it’s safe for us to go to Rory and Lora’s place now,” Malcolm says to Jered.

“Are they the ones who are supposed to take care of Lucas while we’re dealing with the princes?” I ask.

“Yes,” Malcolm says.

“Why don’t I go to their house alone first to make sure they’re not being watched?” Jered suggests. “You can take Anna and Lucas to the house in Lakewood, and I’ll bring Rory and Lora there if it’s safe.”

Malcolm nods. “Ok. Just be careful, Jered. Celeste knew where we were going. If she made a deal with Levi, I have a feeling Rory and Lora have either been taken in by now for questioning or there’s an ambush planned in case we made it that far.”

Jered nods. “I’ll be careful. I should get there by the end of the day, and then it’ll take us another two days to make it to Lakewood.” Jered turns to me. “I bought you some necessities I thought you might like while I was at the market. They’re in the satchel on my horse.”

I follow Jered to his horse while Malcolm settles Lucas into the saddle of his mount.

Jered pulls the large satchel from his saddle and hands it to me.

“This might give the two of you some much needed private time together,” Jered whispers to me. “Use it wisely, Anna. Make the idiot realize what he’s pushing away.”

I nod. “I’ll try.”

Jered raises his eyebrows at me. “I still think you’re too good for him, just so you know. But, I guess I’m not the one in charge of pairing soul mates.”

I smile. “No, I’m not too good for him. I’m just right.”