The Forsaken (21 page)

“Of course,” said Nayla, rushing off to complete her task.

Like most of the sisters, Nayla loved a task. In fact routine was still so ingrained in all of them, Meredith suspected to be idle would truly break their spirit. And maybe that was why Izzy formed the band. Maybe she sensed giving them all a purpose, telling them to quite literally sing for their supper, was what they needed to survive in this realm. And just maybe that was why Izzy needed to still fight the demons, even though she wouldn’t let them help her. Meredith recalled a fonder time when the simple pleasure of holding a heavy sword made her smile. Izzy sheltered them on Earth. She feared letting them get hurt, but Meredith realized now she should have pressed more to follow her in arms. Their bond of anguish had united them in their heavenly quest to take up arms, but Izzy didn’t view it as the same here and Meredith needed to change her thinking. The future Meredith was seeing scared her. She highly suspected what was to come had already been set in motion—a human-demon army ready to overthrow the heavenly gates.

Forcing her mind back to the present, Meredith prayed Shea was up to the feast. Shea kept to the shadows more but at least she was now joining them for food. At the moment, the Cherub stood to the side closest to the door. She looked like she could bolt any moment but pride held her in place. She kept fidgeting with the sash she wore around her middle, but formal dress was anything but comforting. Like she knew Meredith was thinking of her, Shea turned her head and attempted a smile. It was fleeting and sad, but the attempt was all that mattered, thought Meredith. What had happened to her she couldn’t even think about, but Shea, like Izzy, donned a mask. Meredith had seen that mask slip, and what she’d glimpsed made her question Shea—something she didn’t like at all.
Maybe this is her coping mechanism.

Immediately, Meredith’s mind went to Gareth.
Of all the times to wonder about him, now is not it.
He hadn’t shown up last night. Highly unusual. Meredith feared for his health. The effects of his withdrawal were lessening but she liked to think, blindly, he had need of her.

When all her sisters joined her, including Shea holding the significant black candle, Meredith addressed them. “You have all done a blessed job. Tonight is a true celebration. Now we must await their presence.”

“No need. I am here.”

Izzy’s voice didn’t sound happy. Meredith wondered about that but before she could approach, Nathanael walked in. Dressed in a purple robe with a red sash draped across his chest, he looked as unhappy as Izzy.

So much for making this night special.

* * *

Nervous, Nathanael tried to push the feeling away. He tried to reason this as fate, but a subtle poke kept returning to nudge him it was now or never. He was young to claim his mate but according to Isabella, the Mistress had agreed to their joining. He might have uttered the binding words to keep Isabella tied to him, but with the Mistress’s blessing, he’d be able to join the Seraphim Warrior Council and become a full-fledged
Sera.

Isabella approached him. Her complexion looked even paler and he delighted in how she fidgeted with her sash around her waist.
She’s as nervous as a newly trained Pegasus.
The thought charged through him. He was Seraphim, his burden to alleviate and wash way her fears.

“I think we should wait.”

Her words, said as low as possible, spoke volumes.

“Too late.”

“Let me petition her again to find you another.”

Nathanael grasped Isabella to him. “Isabella, I want no other. I like everything about you. We will be fine.” He fought the urge to flee. Everything he’d worked hard to achieve would be within reach once the Mistress blessed their union. Isabella would adapt to life in the heavenly realm again. He wasn’t blind to the fact that she’d miss her sisters, but her penance served allowed her to enter the heavenly gates. She had also been the one to deliver the dark angel’s message to the Mistress, so that counted for something.

“Meredith, you may lead the chant,” ordered Nathanael. Dragging along a reluctant Isabella, they moved to the front, knelt down with the other sisters and bowed their heads in prayer. Again, Nat fought to clear his mind and purify his soul. Isabella kept fidgeting and he hoped they didn’t have long to wait for an audience with the Mistress.

“Rise and stand before me Nathanael, First Born of the House of Raphael and Isabella, my Cherub daughter.”

Nat felt Isabella rise. He kept his head bowed hoping Isabella followed proper decorum.

“Thou may look upon me now for this blessed joining honors traditions and pleases the Almighty.”

Nathanael rose to look at the Mistress. He noticed she was covered entirely in white, instead of her usual black. The veil covered even her eyes. Not one speck of flesh as usual could be seen. Around her neck she wore seven separate necklaces, each with a round wooden circle. In his robe pocket, Nathanael held the eighth penance circle, which belonged to Isabella. He’d tried to give it to her when he’d first arrived but she had not accepted it. Tonight, he prayed she did.

“Thou art granted union but Nathanael and Isabella, before you agree to the blessed union, you must willingly agree to the terms.”

Terms?
Nat, pretty certain this did not follow protocol, felt his stomach tighten in dread. He didn’t dare dart a look at Isabella, but felt more than saw her form go rigid.

“You honor us, Mistress.” Nat kept his tone respectful, shoving aside the fear clawing at his insides.

“So be it.”

A blinding, golden light filled the space and when Nathanael blinked, he knew he was back in the heavenly realm. The warm, loving caress of the wind told him home was close by.

“Kneel,
Sere,
and hear thy terms of joining.”

Not one ounce of warmth filled her voice. Nat immediately prostrated himself as instructed, bowed his head and prayed. Without doubt, he knew whatever terms she offered tested his strength in faith. He swallowed, feeling parched and worried of what might be offered to Isabella.
I am Seraphim, warrior-ready to face this test.
He kept chanting that mantra inside his head, even when the Mistress started listing the terms. His heart thundered to a cold stop when the harsh reality of her words penetrated his shivering body.

* * *

“I beg thee, Mistress, do not ask him,” said Isabella. Tears slid unchecked down her cheeks. She didn’t care.

“Thou overstep thy boundaries, Cherub. Careful how thou approaches.”

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.”

A gasp from one of her sisters broke through Izzy’s mind.
Foretold? What is she talking about?

The Mistress leaned closer to Nathanael and Izzy.

“For the greater good thee were taught. A foretelling written at the beginning. Teach the human-born angels to be warriors and be our first line of defense against Lucifer’s growing army. When the time comes for thy battle at the heavenly gates, thou all wilt be welcomed home. So thou art blessed.”

With those words, the Mistress left as quietly as she had arrived. Isabella hadn’t realized she had been holding her breath until Nathanael drew her into an embrace. When his lips claimed hers, inside she cried a mix of fear and joy.

Chapter Seventeen

Ash couldn’t believe his eyes. He’d successfully taken hold of Gareth’s mind, but still the human fought him. Crouched by the side of the recreational center, he could easily see what was taking place inside the room: a joining between a Cherub and Seraphim. They didn’t have time for this. The army his father was ready to unleash was almost ready. Did the Mistress not understand the urgency of his message? Surely not. He’d been quite detailed in what he’d conveyed to the Cherub. It felt like a blasted long time for the formal ceremony to end. When it was finally over, he noticed one Cherub in particular glancing out the window and for a second Ash wondered if she could see him. He almost laughed. No, that would be impossible. The power he’d amassed from Shea was a tangible pulse that continued to grow. And the only thing she’d spy if she did would be Gareth’s human form moving to lounge idly against the building. It was then Ash realized why Gareth struggled so much against his hold. He had feelings for this Cherub and did not wish her harmed. With a smile perfectly balanced on his lips, Ash made Gareth walk into the Cherub’s dwelling. This Cherub would be the one to let the demon enter the sacred Cherub domain.