Sins of the Father (The Guardians Series 2 Book 4), page 23
“I’ll always be here for you and Sam, no matter what,” Theo replied. “Like Olivia said, we’re family.”
“Theo what’s going on?” Issac asked and moved to Theo’s side.
“I’m trying to detox from whatever crap the Veritas were giving me.” He sighed tiredly. “It’s been a bit rougher than I thought it would be.”
“Why didn’t you call me?” Issac frowned.
“I didn’t know I was supposed to.” Theo’s mouth curved. “Didn’t think you did humans.”
Issac snorted. “Healing’s healing you idiot.” He turned to Olivia. “And you should’ve known better.”
“Sorry, Issac.” She smiled.
“Why don’t you stay and help Scarlett get cleaned up,” Issac told her. “I’ll get Theo back to his room and take a look at him.”
Olivia looked up at Theo.
“It’s okay.” He reached out and ran his hand down her arm comfortingly. “Stay and help Scarlett.”
She nodded again, giving him another kiss. “I’ll check in on you in a little while.”
She stepped back and watched as Issac slung Theo’s arm around his shoulder for support and headed out the door and toward hers and Theo’s bedroom.
“Theo?” She heard Issac’s voice from the hallway. “Can I borrow a pair of pants?”
“Okay.” Olivia blew out an exhausted breath. “I’ll take the baby. Sam, you help Scarlett into the shower. Julien, you can help me deal with the bed.”
It all ran pretty smoothly, and after Scarlett had fed her daughter, Olivia held the sweet slumbering little girl in her arms as Julien not only stripped all the ruined sheets but whisked the mattress away and had a new one in its place in minutes. Olivia marvelled at the speed and convenience of having a sentinel at her disposal who could translocate at will. She didn’t want to know where he’d got the brand-new mattress from or what store he’d probably stolen it from.
She’d promptly handed the baby to him as she got clean sheets and listened to him coo and make sweet little baby noises at her while she made up the bed. Promising her that ‘Uncle Julien’ was going to spoil her rotten.
While Sam got Scarlett settled into the bed, she had Julien help her retrieve one of the twin’s bassinets from the attic. He cleaned it and set it up in with Scarlett while she sorted through Theia’s old baby clothes.
Finally, with the baby freshly bathed, all pink and smelling sweetly of baby powder and wrapped up in a romper suit of her own daughter’s, she bade Sam and Scarlett goodnight and headed into the other bathroom, stripping off her own bloodied clothes.
Stepping under the hot water, she let it cascade over her. She felt drained right down to her bones. Even as a guardian she’d never channeled that much magic before, and it left her feeling hulled out and raw. Even after all this time, she still had moments when she felt like an absolute fraud and wondered, not for the first time, why the hell Infernum had chosen her.
You know why…
The silent voice echoed inside her. Shaking her head, she turned off the cooling water and stepped out, wrapping herself in a towel. Reaching up, she wiped the steam from the mirror and stared at her reflection. Her skin was pale and there were dark circles under her eyes.
A flicker of light danced at the edge of her vision, and as she turned her head, she saw Manny curled up on the counter watching her intently.
“Hey, baby.” She reached out and stroked him lovingly. “You made a new friend tonight, huh?” She studied him carefully. “I wonder who she was? The little girl? I don’t think she was a spirit. An entity of some sort definitely,” she mused to herself. “I’m going to have to ask Scarlett about it tomorrow.” She stifled a yawn. “I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted.”
Dropping her towel into the hamper, she shook out her hair, allowing her magic to pool in her scalp, drying her long hair instantly. Wrapping her robe around her damp body, she clicked off the light and crept into her bedroom. Issac was gone and Theo was sleeping. Beau lifted his head from his usual spot sprawled across Theo’s legs. He thumped his tail against the bed a couple of times as Olivia reached him and stroked his head affectionately.
“Hey, little warrior,” she whispered. “You guarding him again?”
He thumped his tail again, sniffing at her hand and licking her before laying his head back down on Theo’s legs and watching him with dark liquid eyes.
She turned to look at her husband and sighed in relief. Whatever Issac had done had obviously helped. This was the most peaceful she’d seen him sleep in months.
Pulling back the covers, she crawled in beside Theo and curled around him, and closing her eyes, she sank into a deep dreamless slumber.
18
Scarlett smiled as she watched her daughter. She was lying on her side, facing the baby who was only wearing a diaper. She had a wild tuft of pitch black hair like her father’s, and denim blue eyes stared at her as her tiny rosebud mouth opened in a yawn.
Scarlett traced her finger down her delicate nose, then across her cheek as if memorizing every detail of her perfect face. Ten tiny fingers and ten little toes. She just wanted to kiss every single inch of her.
Her heart gave a hopeless lurch and rolled over. She was so in love with her. Her fingers traced over her tiny shoulder to the little stubby wings at her shoulder blades. When she’d first been born the feathers had been wet and dark, but they’d dried out since her bath the night before. They were now a fine, downy bright blue and jade like a peacock, so beautiful and perfect just like her.
“What are we going to call her?” Sam whispered, as fascinated with their daughter as Scarlett was.
Scarlett looked over the top of the baby to where Sam was lying on his side facing them and smiled.
“Maia,” she murmured, turning her attention back to the baby. “Her name is Maia.”
“Maia?” He smiled. “It’s beautiful.”
“It’s Hebrew and means water,” Scarlett muttered, as she ran her fingers lightly over the deep blue of her wings, the soft feathers ruffling under her fingertips.
“I love you.” He laid his hand over hers so their fingers tangled and laid gently on their daughter’s warm skin. “I love you both so much. Last night…” He closed his eyes painfully. “When I thought I was going to lose you both…”
“But you didn’t.” She disentangled her hand from his as she reached over and traced his jaw softly. “We’re both still here.”
“I look at her,” Sam said quietly, “so tiny, so vulnerable and all I keep thinking is what my father would do if he found out about her.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Scarlett said firmly. “We’re going to stop him. We’re going to protect our daughter, no matter what it takes.”
He stared at her for the longest time. “I was lying here watching you both sleep last night,” he said quietly. “And all I kept thinking about was all the mistakes I’ve made, how many times I pushed you away or nearly lost you. About all the times I wasn’t the man you deserved.”
“You were always the man I wanted.” She stroked his face. “Look what’s past is past, we can’t change it. We agreed it was time to let it go. What matters is her.” She glanced at their daughter. “What matters is making sure she’s safe and that Azariel and Thomas can never touch her. What matters is making sure that she grows up with others just like her. So that she never feels alone.”
She watched as he turned and climbed out of bed. Wondering what he was doing, she sat up, scooping the baby into her arms and cradling her against her chest. He picked up his jeans and rummaged in the pocket, retrieving something before he climbed back onto the bed, sitting in front of her.
He held out his open palm, and as she looked down, her lips parted. Nestled in his palm were their wedding rings.
“I thought I’d lost it,” she whispered. “I was…” She frowned in remembrance. “Thomas tore it from my neck and threw it away.”
“Tyrel found it,” Sam replied as Scarlett stared at it. “The first time I gave you this, we were so young, so in love. When we took our vows, I meant every word. I still do. I want to be your husband, Scarlett, only I want to acknowledge it openly. No more hiding, no more secrets. My father no longer has any power over me. We make our own future.”
Scarlett stared at him silently, and for a brief, horrifying moment he thought she would say no, say it was too late, but she didn’t, but instead she held out her hand. Feeling the pressure release in his chest, he slid the delicate ring onto her finger.
He smiled slowly as she took his ring from his palm and slid it onto his finger. Clasping their hands together, he leaned over and pressed his lips to hers. They sank into the kiss, the years falling away until there was nothing but the two of them.
They pulled apart, chuckling as their daughter squirmed between them and let out a small wail of protest.
Scarlett rocked her gently, pressing her lips to Maia’s forehead and breathing in the intoxicating scent of her.
They looked up suddenly at the sound of a commotion in the hallway outside the bedroom door followed by a loud knocking.
“Come in,” Scarlett called out.
The door opened and a veritable circus poured through the door. Beau bounded in with his faithful side kick Manny, and right behind them were Olivia and Theo’s twins, Theia, and Logan. Who came running in excitedly and headed straight for the bed, clambering up clumsily so they could see the baby angel.
“Sorry,” Olivia apologized as she walked in with Theo. “Louisa dropped them off this morning, and they wouldn’t wait. They just seemed to know.”
“That’s okay.” Scarlett smiled as Theia and Logan crawled either side of her kneeling up so they could touch the baby. “Gently,” she told them.
“Pretty.” Logan smiled, stroking the baby’s head so gently and leaning forward to bump his mouth to her forehead in a kiss.
“Butterfly.” Theia stroked the baby’s tiny wings reverently.
“Her name is Maia,” Scarlett told the children softly and watched affectionately as they both tried to pronounce her name.
“My-ah.” Logan grinned as he patted her head and sat down comfortably beside her as if he had no intention of moving.
Beau lifted his front paws onto the side of the bed and leaned in to sniff at the baby experimentally while Manny comfortably clambered up onto Scarlett’s shoulder and sat there looking down at the small infant.
“I’ve never seen him do that with anyone but you,” Theo remarked to Olivia, as he watched Manny sitting on Scarlett’s shoulder.
Scarlett looked up at Theo and studied him carefully. “You look better,” she said after a moment.
“So do you.” He smiled.
“I take it Issac helped?” Scarlett shifted the baby in her arms.
“He did.” Theo nodded. “I’m not back to my old self yet, but he said the drugs have passed out of my system. Now, I have to put on some weight, eat properly, sleep properly, and exercise to get my strength back.”
“Sounds disgustingly wholesome.” Sam grinned.
“That’s what I said,” Theo chuckled. “I’ve got a way to go yet, but I do feel better.”
“Well, speaking of eating better, who wants breakfast?” Olivia asked.
Theia was the first to scramble off the bed. She ran over to her mom, lifting her arms up and making grabby motions with her hands.
Olivia laughed and scooped her daughter up into her arms. “Missed you, jellybean.” She blew a raspberry on her neck, causing Theia to dissolve into helpless giggles and push her face away. “What do you want for breakfast.”
“Porride.” She beamed a toothy smile.
“Porridge,” Olivia corrected her gently. “I think we can do that. It’s Scarlett’s favorite too.”
“It certainly is.” Scarlett winked at Theia. “Count me in.”
“Logan?” Olivia called to her son, who was still firmly planted beside Scarlett.
“My-ah,” he answered simply.
“Yes, Maia is coming too.” She held out her hand and he reluctantly climbed off the bed and crossed the room toward her.
It was a strange sort of day. Quiet for the most part and Olivia couldn’t help but feel it was like the calm before the storm. She was more than grateful that her husband seemed dramatically improved thanks to Issac’s healing skills. Likewise, she was profoundly relieved that Scarlett after a good night’s sleep and some food seemed to be doing well, despite the horrendous birth the night before.
It was a joy to watch her with her daughter, to see how she watched her with such wonder and fascination the way only a new mother can. Sam hovered over the pair of them, doting on them simultaneously, and she couldn’t ever recall a moment when her old friend had seemed so content. Every time Sam had turned up over the years it was usually when something dire was occurring.
But not today. Today they got to be a family. Maia was beautiful, and it was almost inconceivable to her eyes, the tiny little iridescent wings that would flutter slightly, twitching as the slumbering babe dreamed. Her own son was never far away. He seemed absolutely fascinated with her and hovered protectively. Patting her every now and then or dropping a delicate kiss on her forehead.
Theia seemed less impressed, and once the initial novelty had worn off, she’d gone back to playing with the tatty old poppet of Hester’s that was never far from her side or napping with Manny curled around her protectively.
It should have been a peaceful day, one filled with joy at the arrival of Maia, but there was something niggling at Olivia, something in the back of her mind.
Meeting Lucifer the day before had been a surreal experience. She hadn’t been afraid. He was nothing like she’d expected, not that she really knew what she’d expected, but as the guardian, she was well protected by Infernum, and she knew if it came down to it, she could’ve protected Scarlett and Sam too. But she’d sensed Scarlett was right. Lucifer had a hidden agenda, there was no doubting that, but he wasn’t going to hurt his daughter, of that Olivia was certain. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to attempt to use her.
Throughout the day, the prickly feeling of unease grew. By the time she’d tucked her children into their beds and watched them drift into dreams, her skin was crawling. She found herself sitting out on the back stoop watching the streaks of purple and pink stain the sky as the sun lowered on the horizon far beyond her lake.
The hell gate was gone and the water rippled calmly, but the air still reeked of brimstone and burned wood. Much like the woods had the night of the awakening.
She felt a shiver run the length of her spine, and she stood slowly, walking down the steps and out onto the sparse grass that led down to the lake, but it wasn’t the lake that had caught her attention. Instead, she turned, staring into the tree line. There were eyes in the woods, she was certain of it.
“Olivia?” Theo called from the backdoor. “What is it?”
He trotted down the steps with Sam close behind him, and Scarlett having laid Maia down to sleep in her crib, stood in the doorway.
Olivia reached out into the woods with her awareness, but the presence was gone. However, the feeling of unease slammed into her tenfold. Something was very, very wrong. She pushed out further with her consciousness, trying to pinpoint the source of her unease with her magic. Suddenly she felt another tug, only this time it was Infernum trying to tell her something.
Her gaze sharpened on the cliff at the other side of the lake.
The Boatman…
“What is it?” Theo asked in concern, as he reached her.
“It’s Elias.” Olivia turned to Theo. “Something is going to happen at the Boatman tonight. I have to go,” she said urgently, her gaze flickering back to the house behind him, her expression torn.
“Go,” Theo told her. “I’ll stay with the children.”
She swallowed tightly and stepped back.
“Maybe I should go with you,” Sam said, casting a worried glance across the lake.
“No,” Olivia replied flatly. “Don’t ask me why, but everything is telling me you’re needed somewhere else tonight. Something bad is about to happen.”
Suddenly the sky lit up with burst after burst of lightning, the swirling clouds of purple and pink writhed and pulsated with some kind of strange phenomenon she’d never seen before.
“Sam!” Julien and Tyrel suddenly appeared, running across the lawn toward them.
“What?” Sam answered. “What’s going on?”
“It’s your father,” Tyrel panted, leaning forward and bracing his hands on his knees as he breathed heavily. There was a vicious looking cut at his temple oozing blood. “He’s made his move. The council are all dead. It’s war.”
“Has he unleashed the army from the void?” Sam asked urgently.
“We don’t know.” Julien shook his head. “It’s chaos.”
“Sam, you have to go.” Scarlett ran down the steps to his side. “You have to stop your father.”
“I don’t know if I can. We need the book to seal the gateway before he can unleash his army.” Sam shook his head, his eyes wide.
“It may already be too late,” Scarlett told him. “You’re the only one who can stop him. If you kill him, as his heir the command of the sentinels will fall to you, and you can command them to withdraw.”
“I can’t leave you.” He grabbed her, pulling her in close. “It’s not safe.”
“You can’t worry about us right now.” She cradled his face. “You have to do this, Sam, you know you do. There’s no other way. I will protect Maia, but this is how you protect us both. I will do everything in my power to find the book. ~If your father hasn’t already unleashed the army from the void, you have to find a way to stop him or at least slow him down. I will find Caelum, I swear.”
“Damn it, Scarlett,” Sam growled.
“Thomas knows she’s here,” Julien told them reluctantly.
“What?” Scarlett blinked and her heartbeat sped up.
“When Lucifer opened the hell gate last night, he wasn’t subtle about it,” Julien said in disgust. “The fact that he’s your father is no longer a secret. Everyone in heaven heard him calling out to you, including Thomas and Azariel.”
