An Angel's Ascent (28 page)

Without this, any spots we had left we would have to search for the right people, now we could just go among the ones here and see who would work best. I didn’t want any criminals, bums, or people who were sick or elderly, and I realized how cruel that could sound. Every spot was needed, and I couldn’t afford a waste. We would be stretched to our limit I could tell.

“
This is amazing,” I told them.

“
Look at how much has been donated so far.”

It was two times more than what I would make in a year.

“
Frank and Arch have the animals, clothes, and medical supplies worked out. They will be on a ship headed there in a week.”

I nodded and asked about other things.

Switch showed them an online 3D blueprint of the finished island.

I gasped. It was exactly like what I had envisioned. The hotel was built out of the same material and attached to the monastery, making it appear gothic, almost like an ancient castle. The huts were plus shaped with each end as a room. There were quite a few of them.

“
Which hut do you want?”

“
You get first pick Angel,” Aries said.

“
I don’t know.”

“
Can I suggest something?” Switch asked seeing me struggle.

I nodded.

“
This one here has a view of the ocean on one side, the jungle on another, is close to the hotel and monastery, and the meeting hall. All the huts, by the way, are three stories. I have spoken to Frank and the others. We decided that the band and I would share one. There are five rooms in each hut. Frank and his family would occupy one, and so on. Michael can bunk with us if he wishes, but from what I gather he and Raven are dating. She sent us an email for you. Here it is.”

Switch opened another tab and up flashed a purple and black email.

“
Angel, Michael and I are good. The shops nearly empty and I have three potential buyers, the one I have in mind has offered quite a bit for it, more than we expected and wishes to finalize everything in three days. All profits have been deposited at the bank, and a bank summary is attached at the bottom. Your stuff upstairs has been taken; they came a few days ago, and it is on its way to the island. All the stuff you wanted to get rid of is at the Goodwill now. I had to pay next month’s electric because after cleaning and everything the bill will be due.

“
A man came by as well and said you had bought some books from him weeks ago. I had them shipped to the island as well. Switch says you are good and have mastered quite a bit. He thinks you, Michael, and me will show up around the same time. I’ll send another email before we leave, take care, and Michael says Hi. Oh, Bella stopped in. I told her the public reason for all of this. She says she wants to come see you. I told her that if she and her sister want, that they could move over there in a month or two. She said great and had to check with her sister. They heard from their aunt that their mom died. They don’t know how. See You Soon Babe! Later Aries!”

My heart went out to Bella and her sister. I knew how it was to lose a parent, but I really could not remember my mother and she could.

I glanced at the bank statement and was surprised to see how much was in there. I wouldn’t be making an insurance payment so the total was several hundred thousand. It would be over a mill when the shop sold.

We discussed the blueprints more. I was surprised by how the huts would have two levels below ground, as well. There would be room for maybe another hundred at this rate. Just enough after everyone was accounted for. Worry I didn’t know I still carried was lifted off my shoulders, and I sighed with relief.

“
If everything goes well the first five huts will be ready in days. They have so many workers that they are moving faster than normal. They work in shifts, from an hour before dawn and an hour after. The hotel will be complete within a week of that. They estimate ten huts a week from there on out, having the last done in eight to ten weeks. We should be fully up and running in three months. Give or take a week,” Switch informed us smiling.

I was mystified by the speed and success. We had a goddess on our side, though, so I had to expect great things. We finished chatting, and Sen retired to bed.

Switch told us about the guys and how they were. One had a girlfriend. Arch, he was dating a Lykan. Frank wasn’t happy about it, but gave his blessing shortly after seeing them together. Thorn was trying to convince a nun to join him. Good luck with that was all I said.

The guys seemed to be looking in all the wrong places to me. Cross was infatuated with the pilot, who was a female of course, and also friend to Frank. I wasn’t sure if she was a Lykan, but either way I was sure Frank was fuming, three down two to go. I was sure Bella would interest Madness, but who knows. Near five, I headed back to bed for a short nap. Aries stayed up with Switch a while longer and ended up talking to Sen who had awakened right after dawn. I couldn’t see how Sen did it, but at dawn every morning he was wide awake ready to go.

It must have been ten am or so when the smell of food woke me. Aries stood beside the bed with a tray of food and a dark red, purplish rose. I would have said burgundy, but it was purple.

It was fresh fruit and toast. Of course, he threw in an energy drink. I was down to one a day now. I shoveled it in, with Aries feeding me bits of fruit.

“
Angel, will you do me a favor?” Aries whispered planting little kisses on my face.

“
Hmmm....”

“
Marry me?”

“
Mmmmmm....” I mumbled, not sure how to answer. I had never thought about it.

“
If we are going to do all this, I want to make it official. Can we?” He asked looking nervous.

I stopped eating when he proposed. I finished my mouthful, giving me time to think.

“
I know it’s scary but... We could hold the ceremony there but pick up a license here.”

“
Yes, I will,” I told him. Unsure up until the words flew out of my mouth.

“
I love you Angel. I’ll do everything in my power to show you that. I can’t promise I won’t leave, some things are beyond my power, but you will enjoy what time we have and not regret one moment.”

“
I love you too.”

He kissed me and then let me go. I had some thinking to do.

That day I planned to use my powers until I was so exhausted that I couldn’t move. It even started out good. While doing this, I could run ideas through my head.

Somewhere near two I began with earth and accidentally toppled a tree. From there it went downhill. I tried making balls of water at the nearby lake and ended up soaking Aries, who grumbled but didn’t complain. Sen laughed at us but stayed way back. I finally managed a weak rainstorm and made some boulders relocate. Wind was a lot harder, but I managed to blow clouds in for my storm. Aries was kind of scared there for a bit. Kali congratulated me at the end.

Near six, I dropped and gave up. I was pale as flour. Aries had to carry me home.

When Switch woke and found me on the couch, he laughed.

“
What no aftershocks?”

He left for town toting the laptop and my reply for Raven. Aries made me dinner and cleaned up. Afterwards, I begged for sleep; it was time to catch up I thought. I might be turning into something god-like, but at this painful moment, I was still a weak little human.

I slept from eight pm to two am and was awake when Switch came in. He looked tired to me, but I figured it was from not drinking. He had said there wasn’t much to hunt for out here but deer. I had a sneaky suspicion he had a girlfriend, someone in town.

“
Things are still good. The plane has a half a load tomorrow night, which will include Michael and Raven of course. She finished with the shop today, and all their stuff is currently headed to the island. She wanted me to tell you that everything is in the bank, and all the people contacted that do business with you.”

“
That’s good. I can’t wait to get this over in some ways, and I dread it in others,” I said to the others.

“
I don’t have anything else to do tonight other than pack and hunt one last time here. Blood will be scarce for me on the island.”

“
I’m not used to vampires and witches, but before I let anyone go hungry I will offer myself if you cannot find other. My blood will taste bland but would make you stronger,” Sen told him.

“
Thank you. That’s a very generous offer. I’ll use you as a last resort no offense; I hope to find someone special that doesn’t mind letting me feed,” Switch replied. His feelings spiked erratically for a moment before he was once more in control.

“
Switch could you call my friend Bella for me after you hunt, ask her to meet us at the plane. If you have to, have someone bring her. Maybe she can use Michael’s car to come back home in.”

“
I will ask, and if need be I’ll get her myself or stay and make sure she gets home.”

“
I wish to say hi. I don’t know when I will see her again.”

Aries looked at me funny but didn’t respond.

“
Can I tell them Angel?” Aries asked me gently, almost afraid that I may have changed my mind.

“
Yeah,” I replied, smiling.

“
Angel agreed to marry me. We’ll go pick up the license tomorrow.”

“
That’s awesome dude; we’ll have to celebrate when we get there,” Switch said.

“
Congratulations my daughter,” Sen said.

“
If we have the actual wedding would you give me away Master?”

“
Of course child but please, call me Sen, we are on equal footing here. We need some happiness in this dark hour, and you two deserve each other,” Sen replied.

We relaxed that night while Switch was out. We’d be busy from when we arrived until forever.

I fell asleep on the couch in Aries arms before Sen went to bed.

Aries and I went to get the license when we woke around nine am. I picked out a simple dress and shoes before we found a judge last minute. It took a few hours even though we let the judge perform a simple ceremony. I never had second thoughts. I was nervous I might blow up something, but otherwise I did not freak.

Afterwards, we took our time getting back and then stayed outside walking around the lake.

We had been so busy that we really hadn’t gotten to know each other very well since we met several weeks ago. Aries asked me questions about myself then in turn I asked him questions.

Near dusk, we hurried back to the cabin and packed everything. As soon as it was dark enough we’d leave.

Switch was awake and already packed.

Finally, the last ray disappeared.

I missed my car already. I had taken everything out that I wanted to keep before I gave Raven permission to sell it. I cried that night for an hour.

It didn’t take long to reach the plane. Raven, Michael, and Bella had already arrived. They were standing next to the plane talking excitedly.

I didn’t think Bella was Switches type, but even if she weren’t Madness would be there.

She had already met Madness by the time we got there, because she was chatting away. They seemed engrossed in each other. I was right to ask her to come.

Bella seemed like a totally different person to me now. She was a lot calmer for one, laidback, and didn’t come off as ditzy as usual or as opinionated.

“
So this was your idea the whole time?” Aries whispered to me.

“
I figured one of them would find her fascinating. I just wasn’t sure which one, or if at all, they don’t seem each other’s types. If things work out then Bella could come earlier, and those two would be getting their own place.”

“
Oh Switch said that all the hotel rooms were set up as one bedroom apartments. So I guess any couples could take those. We know we’ll be having a baby, but we could share with Raven and Michael if you want. That’s only three rooms.”

“
Sure I’ll ask her on the plane.”

I hugged Raven and Michael, and by then Bella was returning to normal. I hugged her and told her I was sorry about the way things happened with her mom. I told her if she wanted she could come live on the island with me if she could convince her sister. She said yeah, that as soon as she got back she would convince her to go, at least for a visit.

I then told Raven and Bella I was Mrs. Aries Hunter. We grouped hugged, and Raven said she knew it was coming. Bella seemed occupied, staring at Madness.

Before I knew it, it was time to go. I told Bella bye, and we boarded. I was glad Raven and Michael was coming or I’d have cried. Nanna I heard would be waiting for me when I arrived.

“
Oh your hut should be ready in a day or so. With all the help, they are ahead of schedule and have yours about done. A night or two in the hotel, then you guys can move in,” Switch told me.

“
That’ll be cool. Speaking of hut, I was going to suggest Raven and Michael share with us, either separate or um, sharing their own room. There are five rooms, that still left one. Aries and me in one, Kali, Raven, and then if Michael chose to have his own.”

They agreed that would work, but never said if they needed one or two rooms. I didn’t pry. Their relationship was still new.