Angel's Messiah (18 page)

“What did you talk about?” I asked, suspicious of her motives for visiting him.

I hoped she hadn’t told Drake I loved him. I’d hurt him enough over the years without giving him false hope that things may one day be different.

She shrugged her shoulders. “Things.”

“What things?” I demanded.

“You’d better tell her, Gina, she won’t let it rest until she knows,” Danny said.

Did he know? Had she already discussed this with him?

“We talked of what it was to be a vampire. Uncle Drake was very forthright and honest with me.”

“Why do you call him
Uncle Drake?
” I asked.

“He is the closest thing to an uncle on your side of the family that I have.” She rolled her eyes. “Father has too many brothers and sisters. If I tried to meet them all I’d never get anything accomplished.”

There’s a thought. Keep her busy meeting every angel in the known universe.

“Little Mother, that’s the most
boring
thing you’ve thought of yet.”

Ah, shit, she really can read my mind,
I thought.

“Only sometimes,” she said, smiling.

“What else did you talk about?” I asked.

“Love, from a vampire’s point of view. Hate, rage, jealously, lust, greed — we ran the entire gamut of emotions. It was very interesting. There is a depth to them I would not have guessed.”

“You do understand you’re only hearing Drake’s point of view. I don’t think all vampires would agree with him on a number of things.”

“Yes, Little Mother, I know. But if he can change, there is hope for all, is there not?”

“I guess so,” I conceded. “Why is it important to learn about vampires anyway?”

“A vampire helped make you what you are today. It is important I learn of all our Father’s creations if I can, even those the fallen had a hand in.”

In my relationship with Gina, I questioned who was the teacher and who was the student. Too many times the lines seemed blurred. One moment I would be lecturing her and the next she’d be lecturing me.

“How
long
did you spend with Drake, Gina?”

“Perhaps four hours. He was very accommodating.”

I’ll bet he was.

“I have promised to return to him tonight, Little Mother. Would you like to come with me?”

He can’t have her!

“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “Someone needs to keep an eye on him.”

“And you, Father, will you come as well?”

Danny chuckled. “No, I’ll leave Drake to his fate. It will be nice to have some time to myself. You women are enough to drive a man insane.”

I gave his arm a whack and Gina laughed. She loved the
teasing
involved in our relationship.

15.
Happy Families

Each night the sunset was a slightly different colour. If it rained in Eden I never saw it. Perhaps it happened while I slept. I still needed almost as much sleep post-pregnancy as I did when I was pregnant. Was it possible that I was pregnant again? I didn’t have the insatiable hunger for food though, like I’d had with Gina — the other hunger I still had.

Every pregnancy is different.

“What time did you want to go and visit
Uncle Drake?
” I asked.

“Later, in the early hours of the morning. Sleep, Little Mother and I will knock on your door when it’s time.”

Gina kissed us both and left. Danny made to leave and I held his hand to stop him from rising.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Is it possible,” I began. “Do you think …?”

“What, Helena?”

“Could I fall pregnant again?” I blurted out.

“I honestly don’t know. We’ve been blessed with one miracle, why not two?” Danny studied my face for a reaction. “Does the thought trouble you?”

“Yes and no.”

“What do you mean?”

“What if all I am is an incubator,” I muttered. “Would all of our children be taken away from us on some mission of God’s?”

“Is that such a bad thing?”

“It is to me,” I grumbled, “particularly if they don’t get to have a real childhood. If they have to grow up too fast, like Gina … it’s not fair, that’s all.”

Danny nodded his head thoughtfully. Service to God was all he’d had for aeons. It hadn’t occurred to him that an angel, even an earth-bound one, might not want
that
life, or might want something more.

“I don’t mind being used by Him, so to speak, I just don’t want Him to use our children. They’re far too precious for that. If Gina is a gift, why take her away?”

“I’m sure He does not desire to use any children we may have as you’d think. If there is a way for them to return to us, He will make it happen.”

I leaned in to hug Danny and looked inwards, to see if there was a spark of life, and found nothing. I wasn’t sure if I was disappointed or not.

“Are you going to get some sleep, or did you have other things in mind?” Danny asked.

“Other things,” I said, and Danny laughed.

I looked towards Gina’s tiny home. She was not at the window watching us. I hoped she was already asleep.

“Let’s stay out here,” I said. “It’s such a nice night.”

Gina made a lot of noise when it was time to go, allowing me to dress quickly and save us all from a small measure of embarrassment. Danny gathered up the sheet I’d summoned for him and wrapped it about his waist. He kissed us both on the cheek and rubbed my arm lovingly.

“Have fun, but go easy on Drake. He’s
only
a man after all.”

Gina laughed and I scowled. What did he think we were going to get up to?

“Shall I, Little Mother?” Gina asked as she held out her hand.

“By all means,” I said, slipping my hand in hers.

She travelled like me, it seemed, though her flight was accompanied by what sounded like bells. I looked at her questioningly.

“I like to let people know I’m coming,” she said with delight.

The cheeky thing was providing her own fanfare. Why hadn’t I thought of that?

“You can’t do that in the mortal world,” I said, and regretted my words immediately. I shouldn’t be giving her any help if it meant she’d leave Eden sooner.

“Why not?” she asked.

“It’s not something mortals do. They don’t transport like this either.”

“But you have.”

“Yes, but you have to be careful that no one sees you. Mortals fear what they don’t understand. Above everything else you
must
remember that.”

“I will, Little Mother.”

Drake was waiting for us in a very large room — a sitting room — on the ground floor. Even though we required no light a fire was blazing and hundreds of candles were lit. It created a welcoming atmosphere, which is just as he’d intended. He stood to greet us.

“Gina, Helena,” he nodded to each of us. “Welcome.”

“Uncle Drake,” Gina squealed and ran to his open arms.

I clenched my teeth and felt the muscles in my neck and shoulders tense.

“Aren’t you going to hug Uncle Drake, Little Mother?”

“Little Mother,” he laughed, “what a delightful name.”

“Shut up,” I said through my teeth.

Gina waved me forward and Drake pulled me close, whispering into my ear, “Welcome to Gorema, Helena. You’ve been sorely missed.”

Gina pulled both Drake and I by the arm to the couch and sat us down. She promptly sat on Drake’s other side, so he was firmly wedged between us. If he was as uncomfortable by our closeness as I was he didn’t let on.

“Uncle Drake was not happy when I took you away, Little Mother.”

“I was concerned,” he said, “as was Danizriel.”

“Why don’t you call him Danny, as Little Mother does?”

“We’re not
quite
as close,” Drake replied.

“You mean you haven’t had sex?” she asked.

I don’t know which one of us was more stunned by that question. She must have thought everyone had sex with everyone else. If she only had my memories to go by, it was no wonder. After the initial shock I ended up laughing until my sides hurt. The thought of Danny and Drake having that sort of a relationship was too funny. My wicked little mind worked overtime.

Maybe they’d be interested in a threesome,
I thought to myself.

I looked at Drake’s face. I’d never seen him look so
upset
.

Hmm, maybe not. What was I thinking anyway?

I thought Gina had probably wounded his manly ego, unintentional though it was. She was still a child after all, and had a lot to learn.

“Angels are
not
to my liking, Gina,” he said.

“But you’ve had sex with Little Mother. She’s an angel.”

I groaned. Next she would be telling him I
loved
him.

Drake looked at me and grinned wickedly. The conversation had turned more to one of his liking.

“Exactly how much have you told her, Helena? Do tell.”

I rolled my eyes. “I haven’t told her a thing. It seems she’s inherited my memories.”

“Ah!” he said.

“Mmm,” Gina agreed. “Little Mother’s memories are very interesting. Father won’t share any new memories with me. He says they’re personal.”

She giggled, as if she knew what the memories would be anyway.

“Would you share your memories with me, Uncle Drake?”

“
No,
” we both yelled at the same time.

Gina giggled again. She knew she was making us uncomfortable and was enjoying it.

“How am I supposed to learn if everyone keeps refusing to share their memories with me?” she asked.

“The old-fashioned way,” I said, “by experiencing things first hand.”

“Will you have sex with me, Uncle Drake?”

If it was possible for me to die from shock I would have dropped dead on the spot. As it was the blood drained from my face and I thought I’d start hyperventilating again. If it came down to it I’d fight him to keep Gina safe from his clutches.

He shook his head. “I don’t think
Little Mother
would be happy about that.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re too young,” I snapped.

“But I’m much older than you were when you first had sex.”

“You’re not emotionally ready,” I said, “and besides, you shouldn’t have sex with your family.”

“But you —”

“Don’t go there, Gina” I warned her. “They were
not
my family, and …” I sighed. How could I explain what I’d done? “Just leave it be.”

“Have I missed something?” Drake asked.

“Nothing you need to know. Nothing that matters,” I said dryly.

“But it is important —”

“
I said don’t go there, Gina
. If you want to keep visiting Uncle Drake, all talk of sex is to cease, do you understand?”

“Yes, Little Mother.”

She sounded upset, but there were things I didn’t want her to talk about in front of other people.

“We can discuss it later, just you and me. I’ll try to be as open and honest with you as I can. I promise not to get upset.”

She pouted and nodded her head.

“What are you expected to
do
when you walk amongst the mortals?” Drake asked.

I didn’t want to know. The prospect was too scary, although I was glad the topic of sex was over with.

“I’m expected to bring peace, joy and happiness to all,” she said.

“And what exactly does that entail?” I asked.

“I must spread the word,” she said.

“Listen, someone had that job already and failed miserably. People aren’t going to buy what you’re selling. They’ve lost their faith in God.”

“I’m not going there to sell them our Father. I’m going there to sell them me.”

Was she going to prostitute herself in some way?

“Does your father know about this?” I asked, shocked.

“Both my fathers know,” she said.

“And you were going to tell me when?” I asked angrily.

Drake touched my arm gently. “Calm down, Helena, she’s only a child.”

“And she’s going to be grounded for life if she doesn’t
explain
herself,” I said.

“Do you really think you could ground her?” he laughed.

He had a point.

“No, but at least I’d feel like I’d tried
something.
”

“I love you, Little Mother. You’re
so
funny.”