Fall from Grace (Book 2: An Angelblood Novel) (29 page)

“Yes father. I won’t disobey you.”

“I’ve heard that before,” Richard laughed. “I’m
running out of resources Natalie. If you insist on disobeying
me,
I
may
not
be
able
to
keep
you
alive.
Do
you
understand?”

“I understand,” Natalie replied quietly. “Will you
stay with me until my father returns?” She asked Jeziel.
“Of course, but I want to be back before midnight. I
told you I’m planning to meet Aidan again.”

“I doubt it will take more than a few hours,” Richard
said. “Remember to stay inside until I return.” He then
turned and walked out the front door.

“I think that went well considering; don’t you?”
Jeziel asked Natalie.

 

“It could have been a lot worse. Thanks for staying
with me. You’re a good friend.”

 

“Blood calls to blood,” and they both laughed.

Richard immediately went to see Mahlyssa.
He
knocked on the door several times before trying to enter the
residence; only to find the front door locked. “What game
are you playing with me?” he seethed.

After waiting for a response, he decided to open the
door himself; not caring if it would close again.
He looked
around instinctively to make sure he was not being watched
and then he pulled the door off its hinges.

The
house
was
abandoned.
He
became
more
enraged with each step, until he realized
Mahlyssa had
played him for a fool. “How dare you betray me!” he
screamed.

He had a feeling Mahlyssa went to Aeden to search
for her daughter. “You can’t stay hidden forever,” he
thought.

Then he remembered his friends in London.
Why
didn’t he think about them before? They would not betray
him; there was too much at stake.

He smiled to himself.
This was the advantage he
was hoping for. He would take Natalie to Paris until he had
things sorted out.
Perhaps Jeziel would accompany them.
Meredith would be ecstatic to finally meet Lucifer’s
daughter.

Chapter 29

When
the
baths
were
finished,
Aura
brought
everyone into the family room. “I have something to tell
you. We thought it would be a perfect night to go flying.”

The little ones all started to jump and clapped their
hands.
They loved flying, though they didn’t have many
opportunities to spread their wings. “Am I going too?”
Shannon asked hopefully.

“We’re all going,” Bren said. “Even your Mum will
be able to test her wings.”

 

“I don’t know about that. I doubt I could manage
such a thing,” Mahlyssa laughed.

 

“It’s easy,” Bren said. “We’ll teach you.” Alannah
and Tracy nodded in agreement.

 

“Are you sure? Shouldn’t we have some practice
first?” Arian asked.

 

“This is practice,” Bren said. “Stay close to us and
we’ll show you what to do.”

 

Shannon could barely contain her excitement. “I
can’t wait. What time are we going?”

“We’ll wait until it’s completely dark. Then Dad
will take us to a remote location, and we can practice there,”
Aura said.
“You’re gonna love it,” Bren said.

Aura was shocked to learn that the other angelbloods never took the opportunity to spread their wings.
That was another difference between them.
Her father took
them flying whenever he could.
They were after all part
angel.

The little ones took turns climbing on the sofa to
look out the window.
When they were sure it was dark
enough, they ran to tell Aura it was time.

Aura had them follow her outside, and directed them
to stand in a circle. “All you have to do is whisper, “wings”
and they will appear.
When you want them to retract, you
only have to say “hide.”

They all hesitated for a minute, but then nodded that
they understood. Aura didn’t have to speak the words. Like
most of the angels, she only had to think about her wings
and they appeared.
As soon as she spread her wings, the
family stared at her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

 

Bren looked at her big sister. “Your wings are
different.”

 

“What do you mean? They’re the same as they’ve
always been,” Aura laughed.

“No they aren’t,” Aidan concurred. “They are
brighter and each feather has a small golden eye. I don’t
recall seeing them the last time we went flying.”

“I’m sure it has something to do with the light; or
lack thereof.”

 

“I’m telling you they’re different,” Aidan insisted.

“Well as long as I can still get off the
ground, it
doesn’t matter- does it? Now hold hands and make sure the
new angel-bloods take the hands of the more experienced
flyers.”

Aidan loved watching Aura spread her wings. He
wished they could go flying every day.
Perhaps one day,
they would teach their own children to fly.
That is, if she
remembered him, and what they once meant to each other.

Shannon was probably more excited than any of the
others.
Her wings were a brilliant white, with pink and
purple tips.
Instinctively, she wrapped the wings around
herself, smiling all the while. It was as if she had been born
with them.

Within seconds they were airborne.
Shannon was a
natural like Bren and Tracy. Mahlyssa stayed close to Myra.
Aura had never seen her mother’s friend so happy.

Logan was
trying to be protective of Tiffany. “I
want you to be careful.
We have another somebody to
consider now.” Tiffany laughed at him. She loved flying as
much as the little ones.

Bren,
Tracy
and
Alannah
were
trying
to
show
Shannon the exact spot where they saw Santa Clause; to her
amusement. “Next year you can fly with us too,” Bren said,
to their new friend. “Maybe we can see Santa Clause
again,” she said optimistically.

“Santa Clause really loves Bren,” Alannah vowed.
“He went to all that trouble to be here, so he could wish her
a Merry Christmas. I bet he didn’t do that for anybody else.”
Alannah was convinced Bren was one of Santa Clause’s
favorite children.

Aidan stayed close to Aura. She couldn’t get over
how peaceful it was to be flying.
She had no worries at all
when she was off the ground. This was what she loved the
most about all of them.
Taking a few minutes, when there
were no uncertainties, no battles, and no interference from
darkness.
She wished it could go on forever, but knew they
would have to return home soon.

Paul would allow them to enjoy this time as long as
he could.
Aura was definitely in her element.
Her whole
family was together and Paul knew how much it meant to
her.
She would fight to the death to protect each and every
one of them; even the new additions.

Mahlyssa soon got the hang of it.
She was doing
somersaults in the sky with Shannon and Myra.
Martin
stayed close and was laughing hysterically at their antics.
He had never seen Myra act so carefree.
Perhaps it was
spending time with her mother that brought the child out in
her.

They finished their flight without incident and were
disappointed when Paul told them they had to return home.

“We’ll come again soon,” he promised. “Right now,
we need to get the little ones a snack and get them ready for
their bedtime story.”

Though
they
were
saddened,
they
knew
they
couldn’t stay there forever, so they reluctantly agreed to
return to Aura’s house. She would prepare hot cocoa for
those who were staying and would send a carafe home with
those who were leaving.

Even after everything else that happened earlier in
the day, they were still family. This was one of the activities
they allowed themselves to indulge in, when the time was
right. Pity they couldn’t do it every night.

Aura made a promise, she would talk to her father
and they would take more frequent flights.
If for no other
reason, it would clear there head of any worries and give
them a little time to themselves.
There was no conflict, no
arguments, and no hurt feelings here.
There was only the
bond shared by family; a family who would stick together
even in death. Aura was sure of it.

When Richard left Mahlyssa’s home, he returned to
the Devereaux estate to speak to his daughter.
Surprisingly,
Jezielwas still with her. “There has been a change of
plans,” he informed them.

“What do you mean Father? Was the Enchantor not
willing to help us again?” Natalie asked.

“I’m afraid she was not at home. It appears she has
abandoned her home and taken everything of value with
her.”

“She betrayed us? I thought you said she would
remain loyal.”

“Apparently, she has resumed her search for her
daughter. I wish I hadn’t removed the curse. I’m afraid she
can walk about without calling attention to herself now. Not
to worry; I have a backup plan.”

“Am I to live with this scar for all eternity now?”
Natalie cried.

 

“I have friends in London. We’ll go to Paris until I
can figure this out.”

 

“Paris? Won’t the Guild look for me there?”

“You won’t be there long.
Charisse and Desiree
will keep you safe until I return.
If all goes well, we will
give
you a
second
identity.
Mahlyssa
was not
the last
Enchantor.
I
have
other
friends
who
may
be
just
as
powerful.
In any event, I am confident I have something of
value they want.”

“You said we could trust the last Enchantor,” Jeziel
said.

 

“I can’t prove with certainty she has betrayed us.
Perhaps she merely relocated to another area.”

 

“Without her, I am doomed to wear this mark
forever,” Natalie said.

 

“Stay in Paris and await further instructions from
me. I need to make a quick stop in Utopia first.”

“Surely you can’t be serious. Why would you go to
Utopia when they want to bring you to trial? If they see you,
won’t they want to expedite the hearing?”

“The Guild promised me a week.
Unfortunately, I
need to deal with you first.”

“You’re not completely innocent in all of this.”
Jeziel said in defense of Natalie. “It was your idea to send
her to Aeden in the first place,” she reminded him.

“Apparently, Aura is more powerful
than
I
suspected.” Richard admitted.

“She may be a seer, but she is not untouchable.
There is always Aidan. I can assure you he’ll provide a
wealth of information to assist us with our cause,” Jeziel
smiled.

“Aidan is Michael’s son. I doubt he will
turn
against Heaven; even for you.”

“I can be persuasive when I need to be. The closer I
am to him, the further away I can drive Aura. I think we can
agree that she is responsible for most of our troubles; no?”

“Will you be able to go with me to Paris?” Natalie
asked Jeziel. “It’s nearly ten o’clock there now. Because of
the time difference, I’m sure we can have you back in Aeden
before midnight.”

Jeziel considered her cousin’s request. “I can go for
a few hours, but I have to be back to meet Aidan tonight.”
“I would appreciate the support. Besides, I know
my grandmother would love to meet you.”

 

“Alright – I’ll go, but just for a couple of hours.”
“Then it’s decided. We’ll leave in a few minutes,”
Richard said.

 

“You say your daughters are at the Godwin
Academy?” Jeziel asked Phillipe.

“Yes, they enrolled just before Christmas.”
“Are they the only family you have?”
“What’s this about?” Richard asked.

“If you’re going to change Natalie’s appearance a
second time, perhaps you could consider sending her to the
Academy. Since she can’t return to Aeden, she might gather
some information there,” Jeziel said.

“That was my original plan,” Richard said.
“It makes perfect sense. Will and Joshua will be
there. They know what’s going on with the Guild,” Natalie
said.

“Doesn’t your wife have a sister with a daughter?”
Richard asked Phillipe.

“There’s a cousin who is nearly the same age as my
daughters, but they haven’t seen each other since they were
babies.”

“Do you have a picture of this cousin?”

Phillipe went to a cabinet on the far side of the
room.
He opened the drawer and handed the picture to
Richard. “This is Monica.”

“She looks similar to your daughters. You say they
haven’t met?”

 

“My wife hasn’t seen her in years, but they stay in
touchby mail.”

“If we can alter her appearance to look like this girl,
she won’t draw attention to herself. We can introduce her as
your niece.
There is no reason for your daughters to know
the truth.”

Richard looked at his daughter. “I hope you know
thismay be the last chance we have. We’ll be out of options
if this plan doesn’t succeed. You will do exactly as I say or I
will be forced to lock you away somewhere. I am at my wits
end with you. I hope you realize that.”

“I’m sorry. I won’t disobey you again. Can I still
see Jeziel?”

“I don’t see that being unreasonable; provided
you’re discreet. Now gather your things I must get you to
Paris and speak with your grandmother.”

“I don’t have anything with me.”

 

“I still have most of your clothes at the cottage. I’ll
bring them to you in the morning.”

Jeziel looked coldly at Richard. “If your plan fails
this time, I will be asking Samhael for his assistance.
I
won’t allow you to put her in danger again,” she said as a
warning.

Richard was angry, but he knew better than to argue
with Jeziel. Things would not go well for him if he made an
enemy of Lucifer’s daughter.

“You know that I love you dearly,” Richard said to
Natalie. “But if we are going to be successful, I need you to
listen. I realize you are angry about the recent events; so am
I, but we need to control our anger until everything is in
place. Do you understand me?”

“I know Father. I’ll do better this time.” She
walked over and gave her father a hug and kissed him on the
cheek.