Page 21 of The Redeemable 4

Chapter Six

We hung around until all of Arcadia’s seven returned home. I hadn’t seen them all in the same room since I told them that she was dead. At Arcadia’s request, I hugged each and every one of them. They all looked haggard. Like attractive zombies. I guess redemption, and the inevitable human frailty that came with it, had its downsides.

Eli, Sam and Tolli arrived home with the two little boys. Orion had been right about them. Adnan, the littlest one, raced around on crutches speaking too fast in his native language and bumping into things. He didn’t look like a kid on death's door literally days ago. He also didn’t speak a scrap of English, but the guys made do with an elaborate game of charades.

“Mac’n’cheese!” He yelled. I lied. He spoke one word of English. I sat on the couch between Luc and Gus, holding Hope in my arms.

The rest of the guys say across from me except Valery, who was making the aforementioned Mac.

“So that’s it? We are out of options?” Tolliver asked, his tone angry.

“Essentially yes.” I was prepared for their wrath. This was my fault.

We’ve tried. They know that.

“That’s unacceptable,” Lux growled. “It is unacceptable that she will never hold her children, or those who love her ever again. There must be another way.”

Arcadia sniffled in my mind.

“What happens now?” Eli asked. He was the only one who didn’t look like he’d run a marathon, because he wasn’t yet redeemed.

“Her soul stays with me until her body dies. When that connection is lost, she will ascend to heaven.”

I don’t want to go to heaven with the likes of Uriel and Azriel. I’d rather stay with you guys.

Luc scoffed. “You know not what you say. You aren’t a fallen. You wouldn’t be in the palace.”

“Why couldn’t she be?” I asked. “You are the Lord of Hell. She can go wherever you send her. She’s as sin free as you can get in the age of Tinder and Hedge Funds.”

Luc gave me a disapproving glance and I resisted the urge to kiss the look from his face. “That is not the agreement. It is not how the division of souls works.”

I looked toward the corner where Nazir watched me intently. I had a feeling he remembered me from that room, and although he hadn’t spoken to me yet, I was interested to see how much he comprehended about what went on down in that blood soaked room.

I stood and walked over to the boy. He watched me with dark eyes that were older than they had any right to be.

“Hey Nazir.”

The boy just slow blinked.

“Do you remember me?” A nod. “Are you afraid of me?”

He paused this time, thinking hard. None of that childish bravery that demanded everyone knew he wasn’t scared of anything. He’d known real fear. Finally, he shook his head.

“That’s good. You have no need to be scared of me. Do you know what we are?”

This time his long lashes lowered as he frowned. “Angels,” he whispered.

Hmm, well kinda. I wouldn’t overwhelm him with the semantics. “I was once. But I will never hurt you, and these guys,” I pointed at the men around the room, “they will care for you and Adnan, and love you if you let them, as long as you need them, or forever. Whichever comes first. Do you understand?” Another nod and I gave him a smile. “Do you want to see my wings?” He cast a look at Luc, who had a kind of scary aura, even when he was trying to be as nonthreatening as possible. “Don’t worry about him. He’s a big pussy cat.” I threw Luc a saucy grin and his raised eyebrow promised retribution. “Okay, ready?”

I spread my soft grey wings wide in the room, thankful for the open plan of the apartment. Nazir’s eyes lit up and he reached out to touch them before stopping himself. “You can touch,” I smiled as Adnan barreled toward me from where he was playing with Oz’s LEGO in the corner. He was going so fast that he tripped on his crutches and I had to catch him with my left wing, curling it gently around his body to cushion his fall.

“Look, Naz, an angel. Her wings are so soft and she’s so pretty. Do you think she’d let me have a feather? Eli said when I get my new leg I’ll be able to run like the wind. Do you think he could get me wings too?” I laughed, and realized I’d switched my speaking to Arabic.

“I’m not sure if you’ll be able to have wings, but there are plenty of other ways to fly.”

“Even with one leg?”

“There is nothing you can’t do, even with one leg,” I replied.

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