Malcolm (Book 1, The Redemption Series) (23 page)

He smiles at me when our eyes meet, and I feel thankful to see a friendly face.

Jered’s eyes take in my outfit in one sweeping glance.

“It looks good on you,” he compliments. “Like you were born to wear it.”

Before I can even respond, Malcolm asks gruffly, “Did you bring the horses and the other things I asked for?”

Jered lowers the hood of his black cloak.

“Yes, everything is outside.”

“There’s fish cooking on the fire,” Malcolm tells him brusquely. “You and Anna should eat before we leave.”

Malcolm doesn’t say another word before he walks out the door, slamming it rather harshly behind him.

Jered returns his gaze to me and looks troubled.

“What happened?” he asks.

“Maybe I should tell you everything while we eat,” I say. “I get the feeling Malcolm’s in a hurry to leave.”

I go on to tell Jered everything about what happened the night before. I also tell him something I haven’t had time to even tell Malcolm.

“Lucifer came here last night after the hellhound attack.”

Jered stops eating and leans the skewer his half eaten fish is still on against the side of the fireplace.

“What did he say to you?”

“Not much. From what little he
did
say though, I know he's my biological father, even if he didn't exactly admit to it.”

Jered’s eyes slide to the floor before meeting mine again.

“I’m sorry you had to find out like that.”

“Is that why Malcolm sent me away when I was born?” I ask. “Because I’m the child of the devil himself?”

“Malcolm and Lucifer have hated each other for eons, Anna. That part of it has nothing to do with you. When your mother fell in love with Lucifer, it broke something inside Malcolm. He felt like he completely failed in his mission to keep the line of descendants safe. I think he’s only now realizing that it was all part of God’s plan. It was an important piece of the puzzle none of us understood until after you took Amon’s seal from him.”

“When I told Levi I killed Amon,” I say, “he didn’t believe me. He said even my real father couldn’t kill an archangel. Do you know how I was able to do it? Have all the descendants been able to kill archangels?”

“No, they haven’t. You’re the only person, besides God himself, who has ever been able to destroy an archangel. I’ve been thinking about that since Amon’s death though,” Jered admits. “The only logical explanation I can come up with is the fact that you are the only child of Lucifer and you are a descendant of Michael.”

“Michael?” I ask, thinking over what I knew of the Bible and what my father taught me. “Archangel Michael?”

“He was Lilly’s father,” Jered says. “You are one of his descendants too. A connection between what Michael passed on to Lilly and Caylin and what Lucifer passed on to you must have been made when you were conceived. I don’t think I’m over exaggerating when I say you are the most powerful angel and/or human to ever be born, Anna. You’re stronger than any angel I know of and most definitely stronger than any human who has ever existed.”

“What does that make me?” I ask, suddenly feeling like I’m having an identity crisis. “I’m not completely human, and I’m not completely an angel.”

Jered shrugs his shoulders. “You’re something unique. There’s nothing wrong with being different.”

“God said that my mission to retrieve the seals is also meant to help me accomplish something no one else has been able to do yet. Do you know what he was talking about?”

Jered pauses to think on what I just said before answering, “No. I can’t say that I do. Did he give you any other hint?”

“No. That’s all he said.”

Jered sighs. “Our father has never been very forthcoming when it comes to giving us helpful information. I suppose you’ve figured that much out on your own by now.”

“Yes, I did. But, I don’t think he means for it to be as aggravating as it is.”

Jered laughs.

“No, I don’t think so either, but it always tends to feel that way.”

Jered’s laughter dies and his expression turns serious.

“I know what Malcolm said in the dream must have hurt you,” he tells me. “But, I think you’re smart enough to understand he said those things because he’s trying to push you away. I think he’s holding onto his memories of Lilly so hard, especially now, because he’s rebelling against the idea that he can care for someone else just as much as or even more than her. Don’t give up on him, Anna. He needs you more than he realizes or is willing to admit to himself.”

“I have every intention of fighting for him,” I tell Jered. “God made him for me, at least that’s what he said, and I know it wasn’t a lie. Malcolm is mine, and I’m his.”

Jered smiles at me and nods his head. “Good. Just keep that in mind when he tries to push you away next time. I have no doubt he’ll keep trying. I just hope he comes to his senses before you get tired of forcing him to face his feelings.”

We hear the front door open and know that Malcolm has returned. The sound of hard soled shoes walking across the floorboards gets louder as he approaches. I turn my head to see Malcolm walk around the corner and into the room.

He’s wearing a sleeveless, hooded, long black duster coat. On each arm he has black leather bracers with silver bindings. Underneath the coat, he’s bare chested but wearing black leather pants with silver striped accents across the thighs and a silver buckled belt cinched across his waist. The boots were a matching black leather with thick, heavy soles.

With the hood of the cloak pulled over his head, Malcolm looks the part of an overlord.

“We should get going,” Malcolm says to us. “We have a long way to travel today.”

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“I need to visit a friend near New Orleans and pick up a package I left with them,” Malcolm says. “We can’t use a public teleporter. Levi would have to be an idiot not to have people watching all of the teleporters in this part of the country after our escape.”

“Are we going to ride horses all the way to New Orleans?” I ask, mentally calculating where we are versus where I know New Orleans is located.

“No, that would take too much time,” Malcolm tells me. “But, there are always people willing to do things for a price.”

“I really don’t like doing business with that man,” Jered says, standing to his feet and offering me a hand up.

“What man?” I ask, accepting his assistance in standing.

“He’s a black marketer we do business with on occasion,” Jered tells me. “His name is Bartholomew, and he’s about as trust worthy as a snake.”

“He can get us to New Orleans today instead of a week from now,” Malcolm argues. “And we need to move the package I stashed before Levi finds it.”

“What’s in this package that’s so important?” I ask.

“You don’t need to concern yourself with it,” Malcolm says dismissively. “As soon as I finish helping you retrieve the seals, you and I will be parting ways, and I have no intention of ever seeing you again, Anna. The package will be of no consequence to you after that.”

Malcolm turns his back to me and heads toward the door without waiting to make sure we’re following him outside.

I hear Jered sigh beside me, and I turn to look at him.

“That man is too stubborn for his own good sometimes,” he mutters.

I look back the way Malcolm disappeared and say, “Don’t worry, Jered. Everything will work out the way it's meant to.”

“You sound confident.”

I look back at Jered. “I am confident.”

“Why?”

“Because I know in my heart that we're meant to be together. He just needs to stop fighting what he feels for me.”

“What if he doesn't?”

“Then I'll let him go.”

Jered tilts his head like he's confused by what I just said. “Why would you do that?”

“Because I love him, and I want him to be happy. If his memories of Lilly make him happier than I can, then I don't deserve him. But, I won't let go unless there's no hope, and I don't think I've reached that point yet.”

“Now I know the bloody fool doesn’t deserve you,” Jered grumbles. “You're far too good for him, Anna.”

“Malcolm does deserve me,” I say. “He just has to accept the fact that he's earned the right to be happy. I think that's hard for him to believe. He's been so hard on himself for so many years until the mere thought of a happy ending with someone who loves him the way I do has become a foreign concept, an intangible wish he never thought possible.”

“You're right,” Jered admits with a sigh. “I think Malcolm gave up on finding someone who could even compare to Lilly a long time ago.”

“I don't want to replace her in his life. She's too important to who he is. I understand that now. I also think his heart is big enough to love us both equally, if not me just a smidge more.”

Jered smiles. “I think you could make him love you more than just a smidge.”

“But, that's just it, Jered. I don't want to
make
him love me.” I look back at where Malcolm disappeared. “I want him to give me his heart all on his own.”

CHAPTER eighteen

I just stand and stare dumbfounded at the horse I’ve been assigned. It’s huge. Gargantuan in size in fact. I feel totally intimidated by it because I know underneath its black and white coat beats the heart of a living creature with a mind of its own. The only other real animals I’ve ever seen were the hellhounds, and they seemed far less formidable than the horse pawing at the earth with one of its giant, hairy front legs and snorting at me. At least I knew where I stood with the hellhounds, kill them or die. Apparently, I'm expected to entrust the creature in front of me with my life to provide me safe passage to wherever it is we are going today.

“Do these things come in a smaller size?” I ask hopefully, looking to Malcolm for an answer as he stands beside his own jet black behemoth, tightening the cinch of its saddle.

Malcolm looks over at me, and I see one corner of his mouth lift in a reluctant half smile, like what I just said amused him in spite of himself.

“Just get on,” Malcolm says walking over to me. “She might look formidable, but she’s actually very docile. She’s been trained to just follow behind my horse. You shouldn’t actually have to do anything but stay in the saddle.”

I look back at the horse and realize I can’t even reach the pommel of the saddle to lift myself into the seat.

“Can you at least help me get on?” I ask Malcolm.

Malcolm walks behind me, placing his hands on either side of my waist, easily lifting me with both of his hands by the waist.

“Put your left foot into the stirrup,” he instructs.

I do as he says and feel his right hand slide from my side to underneath my bottom as he supports me there to help give me a little added push as I swing my leg around to the other side. The stirrups end up being too long and Malcolm takes a little time to shorten the straps so I can rest my feet against them. He gently places my left foot into its stirrup and then walks around to place my right one in the stirrup on that side. I feel his hand linger on my calf a little longer than it needs to, like maybe he doesn’t want to stop touching me. But, the moment is fleeting and he walks away without saying a word. I involuntarily sigh my disappointment as I watch him leave my side.

My discontent must be obvious. When I look over at Jered standing by his own horse, he winks at me, silently giving me some encouragement.

As we leave the little cottage by the beach, I suddenly have mixed feelings about abandoning it. I want to get started on the mission God sent me to Earth to accomplish. Yet, so much happened inside the little home in such a short period of time. I met Will, my best friend while I was in Heaven and my guardian angel here on Earth. I discovered who my biological father is. And, I met God. How many people get to claim they met the Lord and the devil himself within a few hours of each other?

I also learned so much about Malcolm when I was inside his dream world. Things I'm glad to know and not glad to know. As my father used to tell me, knowledge is power. I just hope something that I saw in his dreams will help me find a way to make him finally open up to me.

During the ride, we keep to the forest for the most part. It makes the ride a bit slower, but I suppose the cover provided by the trees keeps us safe from prying eyes and surveillance drones. Malcolm and Jered ride ahead of me quietly speaking to one another for the most part, leaving me to follow behind them. I don’t mind the solitude. It gives me time to think and consider things.

Like how in the world I’m going to break down the wall Malcolm has built around his heart.

Not to sound completely immodest, but I know I’m beautiful. Physically, I have all the attributes a man would find attractive. Yet, it doesn’t seem to be enough for Malcolm. He’s probably been living on Earth so long physical beauty doesn’t impress him anymore. I’m smart, but so is he. I wrack my brain for almost an hour trying to think of some way to make him face the connection we share but a solution doesn't readily present itself.

While I'm lost in my own thoughts, I don't notice Malcolm bring his horse to a halt, jump off and storm towards me, looking completely furious, until it's too late.

He wraps an arm around my waist and unceremoniously yanks me out of my saddle with little effort, practically slamming my back against the nearest tree trunk.

“Why didn't you tell me you saw Lucifer last night?” he demands, his face so close to mine his warm breath mingles with my own.

“Considering everything else that happened last night,” I say, trying to catch my breath from the unexpected attack, “it kind of slipped my mind.”

“You should have told me first, not Jered,” Malcolm says, hitting his fist above my head in aggravation, causing the trunk of the tree to tremble behind me.

“Yes, I should have,” I agree. “I just forgot, Malcolm. I didn't mean any disrespect by it.”

Malcolm pushes back from me and turns to walk a couple of steps away.

“What exactly did he say to you?” Malcolm asks, turning around to face me again. “Why was he even there last night?”

“He said he came to see how much I looked like my mother,” I say. “He’s the one who told me to use my sword to seal your wounds, and he also said the curse you're under can be cured but that the person who can lift it probably wouldn't do it even if you asked.”

Malcolm shakes his head as he looks at me in disappointment. “And here I thought you were smart.”

I bristle at the remark, but it doesn't take me long to understand why he made it.

“It's his curse, isn't it? Lucifer is the one who can take your pain away.”

“And yet another gold star for the empress,” Malcolm says scathingly. “You're just racking them up today, Anna.”

“Malcolm,” Jered says almost like a reprimand, coming to stand with us, “there's no need to be rude to her just because you're in a bad mood. All of this is new to Anna. You can't expect her to understand every single little thing in a day. We've lived with it for centuries. Cut her some slack.”

When I look back at Malcolm, I can see Jered's words have sunk into his thick skull, somewhat at least.

“Then maybe you should educate her,” Malcolm grumbles. “It’s not like we have anything else better to do on the ride to Bartholomew’s place.”

Malcolm walks back over to his horse and settles himself in his saddle, waiting on us.

“Come on,” Jered says, holding his hand out to me. “I'll help you back on your horse and tell you all you need to know about your family history while we ride.”

For the rest of the day, Jered and I ride side by side as he explains everything important about my family. I sit in amazement at the stories he weaves about them all. All I can think while I’m listening is that I hope I can live up to the high standards they have set for me. I don't want to be the one member of my family who fails in her mission from God. I don't want to disappoint all those who laid the groundwork before me and not accomplish the important task God thinks only I can achieve, even if I’m not sure what all that encompasses.

Near nightfall, I feel like I understand things a lot better. I have a clearer image of what needs to be done.

“So, when will we be going to the other Watchers so I can take the seals from the princes?” I ask.

“As soon as possible,” Malcolm grumbles, still riding ahead of us but apparently listening in on our conversation. He hasn't said a word since the earlier altercation but, to be honest, I was so enthralled with the tales Jered told I didn't pay him too much mind until now.

“We'll get to them,” Jered promises me, ignoring Malcolm completely. “The princes are safely hidden where each of the other Watchers put them.”

“So, how did Amon escape?” I ask. “He was hidden by papa, right?”

“Yes,” Jered says. “We assume Levi probably blackmailed Andre into giving up his location somehow. Odds are it was part of the deal to release you from prison. But, Andre wouldn’t have had any doubts that you would kill Amon. It was the one thing we knew would happen at some point. You were never in any real danger from him. It was just a part of your destiny.”

“How many Watchers are still here on Earth?” I ask.

“Just the ones put in charge of keeping one of the princes safe. All of the others either found their soul mates and lived their lives out as humans or died.”

“Papa never found his soul mate?” I ask.

Jered smiles. “After you were born, Andre said he couldn't imagine ever feeling more love for anyone else. On your first birthday, he asked God to make him human because he just couldn't bear the thought of outliving you. Over the years, we've had to watch all of the people we’ve loved die, but the thought of enduring your death just wasn't something Andre could see himself doing. I think that's when I finally understood how sure Andre was that you were the one we had been waiting for. That's when I started to believe he was right.”

“God said papa was safe,” I tell them, realizing this was something else I forgot to mention. “But he wouldn't tell me where he was. He said he didn't like to interfere with the natural progression of events.”

“Typical,” Malcolm mumbles in irritation, keeping his back to us as we continue to ride through the forest.

I look over at Jered.

“So what do you normally do about that,” I say nodding my head in Malcolm's direction, “when it happens?”

It takes Jered a minute to understand what I'm really asking, but then he smiles as realization dawns.

“Sometimes it's just better to let grumpy bears lie until they can learn to be
civil
,” Jered tells me, not bothering to lower his voice and actually raising it. “We've learned over the years that it likes to growl but surprisingly enough it rarely bites.”

“If you're trying to hide the fact that you're talking about me by using a metaphor,” Malcolm grouses, “you're doing a piss poor job of it.”

“I don't believe I was trying to hide that fact at all,” Jered says completely unapologetic. “In fact, I hope it makes you realize what a total ass you're being to Anna.”

Malcolm doesn't make a reply, just keeps riding on ahead like Jered didn't even speak.

I look over at Jered and see him scrunch up his face like a grouchy old man. I instantly know he's doing his best imitation of Malcolm and can't help but giggle.

Jered looks over at me and smiles.

“That's better.” He leans slightly towards me in his saddle and whispers. “And don't worry about the grumpy old bear. He'll come around eventually.”

I nod my head letting Jered know I heard what he said and silently hope that he’s right. I also steel myself for the real possibility that I’ll have to do what I said to Jered and let Malcolm go some day. I pray it doesn’t come to that point, but if it does, if I can’t make him loosen his grip on Lilly’s memory just a bit, I'll leave him alone. I won’t have a choice because my heart can’t take much more of this.

I try to keep in mind how he was the night I phased to his room when I was drawn to him because I felt the pain of his soul. He had been so tender and almost loving then. I held onto that memory because there had to be some part of him that cared for me, possibly even loved me.

Near nightfall, we come upon a ramshackle cabin in the middle of the woods. If you didn’t know its exact location, I seriously doubted you would just stumble across it by accident. An elderly man is sitting in a rocking chair whittling on a small piece of wood. The felt top hat on his head is tattered looking, and the wool coat he wears must have been black at one time but is now worn to a faded gray. I know he had to have noticed our approach, but he never looks up, just keeps working on his project.

Malcolm brings his horse to a complete stop in front of the house and dismounts. He saunters over to the set of steps leading up to the small porch and rests the sole of his right boot on the bottom step.

“Evening, Harvey,” Malcolm says to the man.

Harvey holds up the piece of wood he is working on and surveys his craftsmanship from different angles. Even from where I sit, I can tell he’s carved the piece of wood into the shape of a rabbit.

“Evening, Overlord Devereaux,” Harvey says, finally tearing his eyes away from his handy work to look at Malcolm. “Can I help ya?”

“My companions and I need to see Bartholomew,” Malcolm says.

Harvey turns his gaze directly to me. “Well, I’ll be damned. You do actually have her.”

Harvey stands but immediately kneels on the creaky floorboards of the cabin’s porch and bows his head in my direction.

“Empress Annalisse,” Harvey says reverently. “Welcome to the down-world.”

I swing my right leg over the horn of my saddle and hop off my horse.

I walk up the few steps to the porch and stand in front of the man.

“Please stand, Harvey. There’s no need to kneel in front of me.”

I can tell age is making it hard for Harvey to get to his feet easily. So, I place my hands on his forearms and gently help him rise.

“Thank you, Empress Annalisse,” Harvey says, keeping his head bowed and not meeting my gaze.

I slip the tip of my index finger underneath his wrinkled chin and tilt his face up until he’s looking me in the eyes.