Angel Incarnate: Second Sight (12 page)

Chapter
17

Early the next morning,
Paul brought his two-year-old daughter, Reaghan back from Savannah. After
Lucifer’s visit, he wanted her home where Gideon’s shield was strongest.

The rest of the Guild’s
children remained in Georgia with their parents, except Willow, who insisted on
going to Caspian’s wedding with Rita.

Reaghan had no problem
fitting in with the new additions to the family. Her lovable personality was
infectious, and her sweet, sing-song voice made the little ones feel at ease.

As long as chocolate
was around, Reaghan was happy. Poor kid believed each day had to begin and end
with chocolate, and if someone forgot to stock up, she would wail like a
banshee.

Aura learned a long
time ago to keep plenty of sweets on hand, in case her little sister showed up
unannounced. In the valley, the children could come and go as they pleased, but
after Lucifer’s visit, Aura wondered if that would change.

Like the other kids,
Reaghan looked up to Bren and Tracy, especially when she learned what happened
in Purgatory. Though they tried to downplay their heroics, Aura could tell the
girls stood a little taller since the rescue.

After breakfast Eve and
Angie dressed the girls in white, sleeveless, tea-length dresses made of
taffeta with silk underskirts, and a large gold organza bow that tied at the
waist. White stockings and gold ballerina slippers adorned their feet, and a
crown of fresh flowers covered their hair, which was woven into intricate
braids.

When Aura first saw the
little ones, she teared up. They looked like cherubs, not orphans who had just
been rescued from the clutches of Lucifer’s son and his disciples.

Because of the time
difference, it would be two o’clock when they arrived in Utopia. The ceremony
was scheduled for three, so Paul and Adam would have time to speak to the
governor about the deaths of the angel-bloods and capture of their children.
Those in the colony should be protected by the barriers, but there was no
reason to be careless.

The rest of the family
arrived at Aura’s just before ten.

Rita and Jessica, whose
normal attire was jeans and combat boots, were dressed in long, taupe-colored
gauze gowns with nude stockings and matching open--toed sandals. Their hair was
cascaded in loose curls down their back.

Tracy checked to make
sure the special pendant Bren gave her was still around her neck. The gift
allowed her to communicate silently with Bren and Alorrah without anyone else
listening.
 

“
Wonder who they’re trying to impress,
” Bren said.

“
Maybe it’s Caspian’s younger brother, and his friend Will
.”

“
Nah – I can’t see either of them with boyfriends
.”

Both of the girls
started giggling, but stopped when they saw the scowl on Rita’s face.

Bren opened the living
room closet and started throwing coats and sweaters across the floor, muttering
something that only Tracy, who was still snickering, understood.

As quickly as she was
pulling them off the hanger, Eve was trying to put them back.
 

Crossing her tiny arms
over her chest, Bren’s eyes squinted and her nose wrinkled as she gave her
mother a scornful look.

“It’s cold in Utopia;
the kids need something warm to cover their dresses.”

Eve smiled at her
daughter’s protectiveness. “Adam has assured us the weather will be comfortable
with plenty of sunshine.”

Bren’s arms dropped to
her side, and her face softened into a grin. Without any regards for the mess
she made, she stepped over the pile of coats, and joined the little ones in the
middle of the room.

Aura leaned down and
scooped up the jackets and wraps, and then helped her mother organize them on
hangers while apologizing for her little sister.
 

“Don’t be angry with
her; she just wants to take care of them.”

“I know – she and Tracy
are like little mother hens now. Hopefully, they will have a good time in
Utopia. It will be an interesting afternoon.”

“Have you seen
something in your visions?”

Eve smiled, but didn’t
elaborate.

I’ve seen a great many things, but there is no reason to
spoil the surprise.
This will be a wedding to remember
.

She grabbed her purse
off the coffee table and waited for everyone to go outside before she closed
the door. When they were all huddled in a circle in the middle of the street,
Paul instructed them to hold hands and instantly, they disappeared in a cloud
of white smoke.

Even though the
Utopians had indoor plumbing and electricity, most of the older women still
cooked on wood-burning stoves. Inside the village, there were no asphalt roads
or concrete pavements, and no automobiles.

For those who lived
outside the city limits, their primary means of transportation were horses and
carriages. In town, the sidewalks and streets were paved with cobblestone.
Occasionally, a bicycle was seen leaning against one of the brick townhomes in
the square, but they were used by the older children.

The servants had been
up since the crack of dawn readying the governor’s yard for the wedding.

Bakers and chefs
proudly displayed silver trays of delicacies, pastries and unique culinary
creations on long tables near the entrance to the house. Whole pigs and sides
of beef were roasting, and bottles of champagne were being iced in glass
buckets.

Fresh flowers were used
as centerpieces for each of the tables. Hand-carved wooden doves were painted
white and arranged with satin ribbons on all of the trees.

A wooden dance floor
was installed to the right side of the yard behind a stage large enough for a
small orchestra.
 

If it weren’t his
wedding, Caspian may have appreciated all the details that went into the
preparations. No expense was spared for the marriage of the governor’s middle
son.

A knock on the bedroom
door interrupted Caspian’s thoughts. His mother had sent Joshua with a message.
“Since most of the guests are here, Mother wants to start the ceremony now.”

“Have Axel and Analie
arrived?”

“No and neither has the
Guild and their families. Mother says I can stand in since your best man isn’t
here.”

“We’ll see about that.
I need to speak to Father.”

Caspian hurried out of
the room, slamming the door behind him.
 
Making his way down the spiral staircase, he arrived at his father’s
study. When he opened the French doors, the governor was sitting behind a large
cherry desk going through a stack of papers. Caspian plopped on one of the
leather chairs and allowed his legs to dangle over the arm.

Henry Fairbourne was a
gentle man; a trait his wife viewed as a sign of weakness. He had succeeded his
father as Governor of Utopia, after his death, nearly thirty years ago. A touch
of grey around his temples gave him a distinguished look, but it was his
kindness towards the residents that made him so well-loved.

 
“I thought you would be outside greeting your
guests,” Henry said.

“Some of them haven’t
arrived yet. Were you aware Mother wants to change the time of the ceremony? I
don’t know what kind of game she’s playing, but I have no intention of marrying
that woman until Axel is here to bear witness.”

“From what Joshua tells
me, Axel and Analie are on their way. I know you and your mother don’t always
see eye to eye, but I assure you, her intentions are honorable,” Henry sighed.
“This is our stormy season; you don’t want anyone to get caught in the rain.”

“Adam has assured me
the weather will not be a problem. Don’t you trust him?”

“Of course I trust him;
he’s a member of the Guild. Have you changed your mind about the marriage?”

“No – I’ll honor my
agreement, though I dare say my brother would rather I didn’t.”

Henry chuckled. “You’re
not listening to those rumors about Richard and Desiree? When you’ve been alive
as long as I have you’ll realize most women are prone to gossip. You need to
ignore them. Desiree is a fine young lady. If she had wanted to marry Richard,
she wouldn’t have accepted your proposal.”

“It wasn’t really much
of a proposal. I told her Mother thought we should marry, and she agreed.”

Henry patted his son
affectionately on the shoulder. “I know you still care for Andromeda, but she
is married to Gregory, and they have their own family now. You need to move
forward with your life.”

“That ship sailed a
long time ago.”

“We received word last
night Andromeda and Gregory will be here for the wedding,” Henry said.

Caspian planted his
feet on the ground, and stood to face his father. There was an air of
excitement in his voice. “I thought they were going to Australia.”

 
“Apparently, Gregory changed his mind, or
Andromeda changed it for him. Why don’t you go down to the garden? I’m sure
your sister has arrived by now. You can have a quick chat before we begin the
service. I’ll be down as soon as I sort through this mess on my desk.”

Henry walked Caspian
out, and watched him exit through the front door. He shook his head.
I have only ever wanted my children’s
happiness. I hope this marriage isn’t a mistake
.

 
“There he is now,” Joshua said, as Caspian
walked down the outside steps to join them.

Analie grasped her
brother’s hands. “I know you’re only doing this for Mother.
 
If I allowed her to plan my future, I would
never have married Axel. She’s never forgiven me for defying her.”

He pulled her into an
embrace. “You made the right choice.”

Analie started to
laugh. “I’m sure it’s killing Mother knowing Axel will be your best man.”

“She didn’t want either
of you here, but I went to Father and told him in so many words that if you and
Axel weren’t at the wedding, I wouldn’t be either.”

She gave his hand a
gentle squeeze. “I’ll always be here for you.”

“I appreciate that more
than you know.”

The group began their
walk towards one of the tables close to the trellis. Joshua, his best friend
Will, Will’s brother, Arian, and Analie’s daughter, Jade were already seated.
As he scanned the guests, Caspian noticed the Guild still hadn’t arrived.

“You could wait for
them,” Analie suggested.

“Mother would be livid
if I postponed the service. I apologize for seating you so close to her table,
but I had no choice. Everyone of prominence is sitting in the front row. At
least you’ll have a table for the bridal party separating you from Mother. I assume
Axel will be sitting with you?”

“You’ll forgive me if I
want to keep my distance from your mother. She still thinks I have taken the
same dark path as my father, but I assure you nothing is further from the
truth,” Axel said.

“You don’t have to
convince me; I’ve never doubted your loyalty. It looks like the cleric is here;
I should speak to him before the ceremony. See you afterwards?” he said to
Analie.

“I’ll be here.”

After kissing his
sister on the cheek, Caspian and Axel walked towards the make-shift altar.
Though Meredith wanted a huge wedding party, Caspian insisted on a small
informal service.

Desiree’s mother,
Charisse, arrived from Paris the day before to help her daughter dress for the
wedding.
 

Aside from the bride
and groom, there would only be two others at the altar – Axel, and Richard’s
daughter, Nathali, who would serve as the bride’s maid of honor.

The service was brief,
lasting only fifteen minutes. Just as the clergyman pronounced the bride and
groom husband and wife, Caspian turned his eyes to the sky when he heard the
crowd gasp.

Led by Bren and Tracy,
the orphaned girls extended their wings, and hovered over the newly married
couple.

“Are we too late to
object to the marriage?” Bren asked.

“I’m afraid the
ceremony is over,” the cleric said. “The groom was just about to kiss his
bride.”

Bren and Tracy were the
first to land on the grass in front of the trellis. When they concealed their
wings; the other girls followed suit.

 
“
Guess
we’ll have to go to plan “B,”
Bren said silently to Tracy.

“
What’s plan B?
”

“
You’ll see; just watch.”
”

Before the
congratulatory cheers, the residents heard Meredith shouting at one of the
smaller children. Reaghan had spotted the trays of treats and a few of the
girls followed her to the table.

She grabbed a handful
of petit fours, but before she could pass them to the other children, Meredith
slapped her fingers causing the crowd to go silent as the cakes fell to the
ground.
 
“Get away from there,” she
shrieked.