An Angel's Ascent (39 page)

There wasn’t much we could do but wait out the next few days. The last ship would be here within minutes, and Aries was on his way to the docks with Switch when he caught the live newsfeed. Switch patted his shoulder and went out the door. Aries followed having no choice but to do so. Michael was already down there. He was the only one on the island not in the monastery. He wouldn’t join us without his parents.

When they arrived there was panic as people were unloading and heading for shelter. They had been warned minutes before. Coastguards had sent out warnings to all to head for land. There was to be no transport until further notice. There were storm clouds on the horizon and Aries was worried about me that it would not get bad here. Switch was trying to calm the crowd and head them towards shelter. I monitored all this from both of their minds. It was affecting my energy level, but it distracted me too.

Aries was helping to unload the supplies and other items as quickly as he could. The darkness was eerie in its way, on the horizon. We knew what magic it held. He looked up to see many Lykan’s pitching in to help. I knew who a few were.

That’s when we noticed Michael stalking off towards the jungle… alone. His parents had not come. He was obviously upset. Aries didn’t know what to do. He felt torn, knowing the supplies were important. They had a couple hours before they felt anything, so he headed for Michael.

“
Go away,” Michael growled.

“
Dude I understand…”

“
Like hell you do, you got your woman and your friends. Your family is here while mine is out there dying. I shouldn’t be here, and you know it. I came hoping I could convince Angel to be mine, but even fate messed that up. You became a god, how could she resist!”

“
We need all the help we can get, so get over your whacked out deal and help.”

“
I helped enough, I think I brought Raven, the only girl who cared about me, closer to your buddy, and helped the woman of my dreams die.”

“
She won’t die,” Aries barked. He did not like when Michael talked like this. The beast inside wanted to hurt Michael.

“
Well, I sure hope so, because my ass can’t take that if it happened. All I can say is if you fuck this up then well… say it should’ve been me.”

“
Fine, be an ass, you know where everyone is. I expect you, as one of the leaders of this island, to continue your job and help us. I didn’t want to make it an order, but I won’t let you sit out here and mope when my wife is going beyond her means to make sure your punk ass lives. You’ve done nothing but cause her worry, and if it wouldn’t upset her I would seriously change your attitude for you.”

Aries went back and helped unload the ship. They had decided that if the ship was close to the island it could do harm as large as it was, so a crew of five would sail it out to sea and then take a dinghy back. They had to have everything inside so the crew could hurry back safely.

Aries pushed himself as far as he dared without alerting the islanders to his difference. He wished he could be himself with them. In time, he thought to himself. An hour later they headed back and down below. Angel seemed worried earlier so he went to check on her, only to find her within his mind.

She was expertly blocking him from her mind so he was unable to rate her pain level.

‘
How are you,’ he asked her, really annoyed that she was once again blocking him out.

‘
I guess I am surviving… you?’ she conveyed.

‘
That word would suffice,’ he replied within their minds.

When he reached her side he held her hand for several hours. He watched her withdraw from their world many times, or fall asleep. He could not fathom how a woman could lay in labor this long. It was not normal for humans he knew. According to Nanna it was because Angel was dilating very slowly, her changing completely was taking a day’s process and freezing it so that everything was happening slow motion. He didn’t understand that, but he believed the old witch.

He listened as others slowly watched their world fall apart from one disaster after another. They said things like the end of times, and Jesus was coming again. Some were angry or crying. He could not comfort them in their time of need as they watched their families be swept away by one natural force or another.

Some people might have been angry with Kali, but it was not her fault. Blame God or themselves because their stupidity or laziness brought this about. His only real question was why seven days? Yeah it took seven to make it but why seven to unmake it? With the things Sen had taught him he’d learn to accept it more, but understand it? No, and he never would.

As the days went by one by one, he went deeper within himself. To the point he was nothing more than a thinking emotional statue. He watched via satellites what was happening to his planet. Then one day it grew dark. He counted the days, and with horror realized it was time.

Angel was writhing in pain and had been for some time. She had been zoned out so much that he had stopped going to her. Nanna was issuing orders, when all of a sudden Lillian went into labor, as well. She was early, and there were not enough hands. The island doctor and nurse attended Lillian, while Nanna and Raven stood by Angel. Bella ran errands for them.

There wasn’t much anyone could do for his life mate. He was full of nothing but fear for her, hate for the reason behind all of this, and desire to protect what was his. His need to make her well and safe was beyond his control. His heart hurt as he knew that her pain was great. He had all this power and yet he could not do a damned thing for his wife who looked as if she was wasting away.

Angel was beyond reasoning; time was lost to her. She floated within her body, instinct wanting to run from all of this. She was barely able to hold on. Something told her it was nearly time for Kali.

Sen pulled Aries away from his mate and reminded him of their jobs. Jobs Angel needed for them to do.

Aries heard Angel’s cry of pain and rushed back in.

“
Find Michael…” was all she said.

He hurried out and up top. He had no idea where Michael’s stupid ass was, but he wasn’t within his sight.

Sen put an arm on Aries.

“
Wait.”

“
For what? Angel said to find him!”

“
He’s not meant to be saved. She knows this but refuses to believe it, hoping Michael will change his mind. I know he will not. He wants peace and will find it one way or another. I say let him be.”

“
Angel is in enough pain, doing this will cause her more. As her father, I would think you would understand that.” When he had learned of this he had been just as angry, but had given Sen the chance to explain, and just now realized that some things really were out of your control sometimes.

“
I do, but I also know that this is what is meant to be. You are god-like, use your powers and listen. Change has come, and we must let be what is meant to be. Come let us go back below. We have done what we can, and the storm has moved nearby. Angel can no longer control the weather and keep it at bay. I’m doing what I can, but even I cannot bend Kali’s will.”

Aries followed the man back below ground sealing them all in. He heard Angel’s cries and nearly rushed back to her. Only Sen’s arm slowed him. Damn this man always stopping him.

“
Remember our jobs. Panic and chaos is about to break out. I have warned all the others, and they are ready at their arranged places.”

Aries wrath fumed wildly for a few moments. Sen tightened his hold; a warning meant to not pacify but to remind who was the stronger. Until he left this world Sen would be unbeatable, except possibly by his own daughter.

With a roar, Aries wrenched his arm free and did as he knew he must.

Angel screamed for her friend Michael. He was standing on the high end of the island on a cliffs edge, staring at natures havoc in the distance. He was merely a moment from his decision. She couldn’t save him, and she refused to believe that. The pain didn’t keep her in the bed. It wasn’t the weakness. It wasn’t just the thought of her baby’s safety; it was more than all three combined. Her subconscious, instincts, and love for her people warred inside her.

She screamed not only for the physical pain but for the emotional, as well.

‘
Michael! No! Don’t leave me! I am so sorry I cannot be what you need me to be. I wish I could be the idea of what I am to you too. That the world wasn’t ending, and we could live normally… Come back to me and I will help you deal with all of this!’

‘
No, Angel. You can’t help me. You never could. I see that now. I know you are the most powerful person here, and I hate that I am causing you pain. Aries words helped me to see the truth. I did as he asked and will stop hurting you. I love you Angel; I wish you, and your baby the best… goodbye…’ with that said he threw himself to the wind and fell hundreds of feet into the churning water and rocks below, nothing but a mutilated carcass thrashed about on the rocks by furious waves.

“
Noooooooo!” Angel screamed and tried to jump from the bed. Nanna, Raven, and a nurse attempted to hold her down without harming her. Nanna screamed for the guys. Angel was just too powerful. She threw Raven across the room and Bella to the floor. Nanna was only saved from brutality because of her age.

‘
Angel! Stop, there is nothing you can do but make this harder on everyone including yourself. Let him go and think of what has to be done. I am so very sorry, so sorry,’ Sen sent to her.

“
Aries get to Angel now I have to stop the chaos here, whatever you do don’t let her get up. She’s about to go into full labor and has to start pushing soon!” Sen shouted to him moving quickly towards the crowd of panicky people. The others were attempting to control everything, but it looked like hell still.

Aries ran towards her room knocking people out of his way.

‘
Love, I am coming, lay down! Please calm down for the baby!’

She was blocking him along with everyone else.

When he got in the room, it was nearly as bad as outside. Lillian was screaming and pushing as well with the doctor next to her, coaching her. But all he had eyes for was his distraught mate who was standing and attempting to get past the women. He charged in and scooped Angel up pushing the others aside all in one movement. He held her to him as she beat at his back and tried to get back down. He only held her tight and tried not to think of how much it hurt him knowing how much she cared for the impotent mortal who continued to madden him, even after he knew he was now dead.

“
Let me go, please! I can save him… no… no…” I cried, giving up finally and falling back limp within his bruised arms. Sobbing heavily, she wanted to give up. It was too late…

He felt another contraction grip her as her body became rigid, and he realized she was wet. He laid her back on the bed as Nanna came up and gently pushed him back, grateful for his interference this time.

Angel was for all purposes dead to the world. She had pulled back into herself and was unaware of the others. She wanted to hide her soul in a dark, quiet place until the pain went away. To soul wander. But now was not the time and Nanna knew this, she had to start pushing.

“
Sen!” Nanna cried knowing he could hear her, even several rooms away.

He was aware of Angel’s condition and already on the way. The vampires and were’s had gotten a semblance of order restored. He gently pushed Aries out of the room into Switch’s capable hands. He then stood near Angel’s head while Nanna ordered the nurse to start an I.V. to rehydrate while they set up to get ready for the baby.

“
Well?” Nanna asked Sen impatiently.

“
She’s gone. I will try to reach her, if I can’t and it seems her, or the baby is in danger start the C-section immediately. I’ll try and get her back.”

Sen sat in an empty chair nearby and out of the way so he could leave his body and find Angel’s soul. He knew her retreat was not just from Michael’s suicide but from everything she had and was now going through. It was simply too much. He knew she was strong enough; she came from him. Angel did not think the same, though. He’d have to remind her and get her to see that the world and her people still needed her. Michael’s death had simply shocked her.

He found her still within her body. She was crouched in a ball deeply within her mind. She appeared almost childlike trembling and crying.

“
Angel?”

No answer. He longed to soothe her and heal the hole in her torn heart. If Michael’s death had done this, he knew Aries would do so much worse. He felt on some deep level that it wasn’t Michael’s death alone that had brought this about. It was fear that she would fail to save them all, anger at the injustice, sadness at the loss of her friend, and exhaustion from carrying such a huge burden. Between the emotional and physical pain, she was shutting down and hiding away from the world.

“
I haven’t been the father either of us has wanted, or in your case needed, but I’m here now and wish to help. I know this is too much for one person to handle, but you’re not just anyone, you are the reincarnation of a goddess, and a witch, and the daughter of a god. Call on your powers, your incarnation, or religion but don’t give up.”

He felt she was listening but nothing else.

He sat next to her and put a hand on her back. The environment she had given herself looked like her bedroom above the shop she had owned. She was trying to pacify her pain. Something he understood greatly.