Chapter 60‘Jack is safe,’ kept running through Arabella’s head. She wouldn’t let go of his arm as they waited for the boat. Finding which island was easier than she thought it would be. Having mercenaries on your side helped. While the rescue teams had been searching in the wrong direction, Arabella and her mercenaries chose to go in a different one, following the clues Sybiln gave her. Arabella’s hunch paid off and now here they were. The rescue teams came running when she made the call over the air waves that the lost plane passengers had been found alive.Arabella watched as the medics walked among the passengers. Thank the Gods none of them were more serious injured than what they were. Sure, there were broken bones, scrapes and bruises, but no loss of life. Arabella shuddered at the thought that she could have lost Jack. She was a little angry with Sybil and Mother not helping out directly, although it was Sybil who gave her the clues she needed to find this island. Arabella sigh
Chapter 61Selene was done being Mother. She wanted to get out and live for a while like the other Angels were doing. It had been years, thirty to be exact, sense she had taken the time to get away. The way she felt right now, they could get a new Mother. The realm finally settled down to the rhythm of their existence. Once, Selene enjoyed the ridged rules she expected everyone to abide by. Now, she found it what Sybil called ‘vanilla’. It all seemed washed out and boring. Selene needed to leave this place, for good.It took a few weeks to get her affairs settled in the realm; now it was time to hand the reins over to someone else. For centuries, Ella of the Nomad tribe, waited for the opportunity to run the realm and especially, the gates of hell. She was thrilled when Mother tapped her to take her place. Ella stood back respectfully as Selene paced around the room.“I’ve been wanting to give up this position for a long time, Ella. I truly need to be free of this place and move about
Chapter 62Arabella had Selene as her guest for almost two weeks. It was an interesting time for Arabella. Selena regaled Arabella with stories of the goings on in the Realm. Arabella secretly wondered if Selene should be telling her so much.“I didn’t tell you about Adora and Gabriel, did I?” Mother looked out the corner of her eye at Arabella to gauge her reaction. All she saw was mild curiosity.“No Selene, I have not heard anything of them sense they left earth for the Realm.” Arabella’s reply was slightly interested. “Did something happen to them?”“No, no, nothing like that. Thanks to you and Lucian, they finally admitted how they felt about each other. It can be a hard eternity there if you don’t have someone who loves you. I should know.” Selene’s face became pensive as she uttered the last words under her breath. “They are as one now. Where you find one, you will most likely find the other. In all my centuries, I have not seen a third pair so suited for each other.”“Who was
Chapter 63“Get comfortable, child. This is not a long story but it will take a little while.”Arabella looked at Selene in confusion, but did as she requested. Selene began her story.Selene stood in the cave and looked around with satisfaction. It was the perfect place to create a portal. The cave itself lay along a Ley Line and was pulsating with energy. The other cave she created that was connected to this one lay in Ireland. That would be her next stop. Pleased with herself, Selene raised her hand and twisted the shadows. Stepping through, she disappeared.Arabella started to interrupt but Selene held up her hand, “Please let me tell this story before you start asking questions.” Arabella nodded at Selene’s words.Ireland was absolutely beautiful at that time of the year. Selene walked among the blue heather that grew abundantly on the boggy soil. It was sad that the smell of the heather was over run with the stench of the bog but Selene did not mind though, she loved walking the
Chapter 64Selene knew she couldn’t put it off any longer. The story needed an ending; it was time to finish and let the chips fall where they may. Maybe Arabella would understand when the whole story was told. The night turned chilly early; Arabella built a fire and sat on the sofa waiting for Selene to continue her story. Selene sipped at her hot tea. Remembering was taking its toil on Selene. Memories that had been put on a shelf long ago was being dusted off and light was shone on it all.“Get comfortable, Arabella. There’s not much left to tell but it will take a little bit of time.”Arabella nodded her head and slid deeper into the sofa while she kept a close eye on Selene; the woman looked slightly ill.It was ten months before Selene showed up in the cave on Sugar Loaf mountain. Edmond checked everyday for months and decided this would be the last time he looked for her. Edmond took his shoes and socks off and wiggled his toes in the sand. A feeling of contentment flowed over
Chapter 65Arabella was not much of a drinker. She had cut loose for a short time when Adora stayed with her, but getting pass out drunk was not her thing, at least until now. Arabella slammed down two strong whiskeys before Selene could even take a sip out of her White Russian.Touching the back of Arabella’s hand, Selene showed her concern. “Please, child, you’re going to pass out soon if you keep up this pace. Unless that is the whole point of coming here?”Arabella’s brows were knitted together as she ordered another whiskey, “Off the top shelf if you please, Marvin.” She requested of the bartender then turned to look at Selene. Under Arabella’s eyes, Selene started to squirm.“Did I suddenly grow a mustache?” Selene’s words were slightly clipped as she grew annoyed by Arabella’s silence. “Look, I know you’re upset, but at least try to understand. Your dad loved your mom, sure he did and she loved him. Maeve only knew a little bit of the circumstances of your existence.” Selene cl
Chapter 66“What! What did you say?” It was Arabellas’ turn to be shocked.“I said I came here for you my Bella.” Lucian grinned from ear to ear as he watched the emotions flash across Arabella’s face. Finally, her expression settled down to cautious. “I have been so stupid. I should never waited for you to make up your mind. Whether you like it or not, Arabella Brennan, I came for you and I am not leaving without you.”Before Arabella could reply, her phone started beeping. She glanced down and did not recognize the number so she sent it to voice mail. Once again her phone beeped. It was the same number. Arabella frowned. Maybe it was one of her ex-patients. She picked it up and answered it as she walked out of the kitchen.“What? What do you mean, missing?” Lucian could hear the panic in Arabella’s voice and quickly pushed his chair out so he could go to her side.Arabella watched Lucian come toward her. Her face was paler than it had been before the call started. She still listened
Chapter 67“You are saying that you and Lucas moved in together about two months ago?” Arabella questioned Lauren. It surprised her that Lucas kept this from her. What else might he be hiding?Lauren was nodding her head, “Yes, it’s been about a month now. We met at college but lost sight of each other after graduation. We found each other again about four months ago and the rest, for us, is history I guess you’d say.”“Did you study law with Lucas then?” Lucian asked.“Oh, no. I was pre-med. Lucas was interning with a local Law group. Funny, Mr. Alexander, the name of the firm is the same as yours.Lucians head jerked up, “What? What did you say? Are you sure?“Yes sir, Alexander is in the name of the firm. I didn’t pay a lot of attention as far as the name was concerned. Lucas was happy and for me, that is all that really mattered. He started working there about a six weeks ago. At first, it seemed kind of hush-hush. I don’t know why and it was part of the fight we had. I accused hi
Chapter 101Arabella never called.Arabella lifted her head to the rising sun. She couldn’t remember how many nights she stayed up with one grieving person or another. At times, she wondered if she even helped these people. The Borders people were using her in may ways. One of them being this, midwife. Until now, she had never delivered before. She lost count of how many she had delivered. They were constantly on the move from one village to another.“You look like shit, Ari. Go, get some rest, I’ll clean up here.” Mac had been with Borders for many years and in that time he had been many things. Throwing Ari into it without her realizing the extent of their needs. It didn’t set well with Mac. Arabella was a nice and gentle woman and had a way of putting the patients at ease. Her help was greater than she realized.“It’s okay, Mac. If we both do it we can both get some rest. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you driving yourself half to death.” Arabella replied. “You push yourself too har
Chapter 100Arabella sat in front of the cave one last time before she had to leave for the airport. She felt a great sadness when she gazed at the rubble that was once her place of peace. So much over the years was soaked into the rocks and ground. It was a place where she felt close to her mother and father. She felt a touch of loneliness when her thoughts turned toward Lucian. Too much time was lost to them. The years separated them. Adrian separated them. Arabella stood up and started the hike back to the cabin. It was time to leave.Arabella didn’t rush home. Thorn walked with her and she savored his presence. “I don’t know when I’ll be back. Jack promised to take care of the place and check up on you once in a while.” Thorn cocked his head to the side as he listened to Arabella. He understood more than people knew. He had his own large pack to take care of but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t miss the walks and talking she did with him. Over the years his pack grew to the size it wa
Chapter 99The sound of the rock slide echoed down the canyon until it lost strength and force. Arabella stood in shock as her beloved cave was no more. In the distance she could hear the forlorn howl of Thorn and his pack. The forest itself became silent as though it were waiting for something more than it had already received, Arabella felt as though the world had stopped.The sound of a living forest returned slowly and Thorn’s pack could no longer be heard. Arabella knew it would be a shock to her system but after Ella blocked her abilities before, it showed Arabella that she could handle it. The mental agony could not be avoided but that too would fade as time went on.After the dust settled, Arabella looked around the forest and clearing where the cave once stood. Somehow, it all looked brand new. It was as though she had entered a new world. The shape and color of the leaves and pine needles on the trees took on a whole new meaning to her minds eye. They were sharper and the col
Chapter 98The dog days of summer were upon them. One hundred degrees and more were now the normal. Forest fires were springing up with little chance of rain helping to put them out. Lucian and Arabella kept their days full. Lucian would not reopen his practice until after he had won Arabella’s heart back. He took it on as a full time job to try and romance her and felt Arabella’s heart was finally starting to soften toward him.Lucas and Lauren were back from their honeymoon and ready to open their own practice together. The pair decided to make Boulder their permanent home. Lucas grew up there and was delighted to show Lauren all of the entertainment and fun there was in Colorado. Everyone but Arabella settled down to the rhythm of their lives.“Do you fully understand what you are asking for Arabella?” Selene asked her for what seemed like the hundredth time. “Once done, it cannot be undone.” Frustration was evident in Selene’s voice as she glared at Arabella. “You were given a few
Chapter 97During the wedding set up and the wedding itself, Arabella ran on pure adrenaline. Now that it was finally over, Arabella had nothing else to give. Exhausted, she lay down on one of the benches that lined the pavilion. After much searching, that was where Lucian found her, sound asleep. Gently, Lucian picked up Arabella in his arms to carry her to her room.Arabella stirred slightly but did not awaken as Lucian strode toward the cabin. It felt so good to have her in his arms again, even if it was when she was sleeping. He orginally planned to propose to Arabella that evening, after the wedding. But decided that it was not the right time. This day belonged to Lucas and Lauren alone, Besides, he wanted to make it all special for the woman he loved, for his sweet Bella.Arabella awoke the next morning, still in her wedding outfit and laying on top of her bed with no memory of how she got there. The sun was peeking over the mountain tops as she made her way to the kitchen in se
Chapter 96Life slowly moved forward to normality. Lucian and Arabella’s relationship was put on hold as they prepared for Lucas and Lauren’s wedding. The young ones decided that they did not want to be married on the Island but at home on the mountain side.The wedding itself would take place on the west lawn that was large enough to hold around a thousand people, various tents full of food and drink.One tent would hold a memory lane of Lucas and Lauren as they grew from toddlers to graduate students. Thorn kept his distance as the wedding plans ramped up.Lucian worked with the wedding planner. They mapped out on paper where everything would be placed on the west lawn. There was more than enough room for them to be extravagant. Lucian mapped where he wanted the pavilion for dancing to stand. It backed up to the rose garden near the north side. The smell of the blooms would help create the romantic atmosphere he was aiming for. Lucian wanted to plan it beautifully for it would be the
Chapter 95Mother, Fate and Karma were Ella’s judge and jury. She stood before them in silver chains, insolent, uncaring. Ella lifted her head in arrogance as Mother read out her crimes. The top crime being her kidnapping of a human. One of the biggest no no’s were harming a human in any way to which Ella qualified for by her actions. Arabella stood to one side of the Dias; she was to give evidence against Ella.Arabella was uncomfortable to be in the presence of three such powerful women. She shuffled her feet so much she caught a warning look from Karma. Arabella stood stock still so as to not bring more attention on herself.The proceeding was similar as on earth except Ella was not allowed to defend herself. All of her misdeeds were playing out o the walls surrounding the proceedings. Ella was not the least bit repentant. She did not believe Mother would actually send her to be absorbed. It just was not done anymore. With that thought in mind, a small smile played out on her lips.
Chapter 94Lucian walked back to the veranda to be close to Arabella while she slept. He was not surprised to find Thorn asleep on the porch beside the lounger where Arabella lay. Smiling to himself, Lucian sat down to wait on Arabella.Arabella’s sleep was long and uneventful. Echaustion keep the nightmares away. Slowly, Arabella started to wake up. She groaned a little at the pain from sleeping in one position for a long period of time. Arabella found herself alone on the veranda and started to panic. Just as she was ready to lose it, Lucian walked onto the veranda with hot coffee and finger sandwiches.“Ah, finally, you are awake?” Lucian said with a smile in his voice. “I was hoping you would soon. You must be starving by now.” Lucian set the tray with the coffee and food on the small table in front of Arabella.“Lucian, you’re here,” Arabella breathed whispered before she could stop herself. “Where is Selene? Oh, by the Gods, where is Ella?”Arabella tried to jump up from her cha
Chapter 93Suddenly, Ella realized it was not Arabella, but Selene that stood before her. Quickly, she reached for the shadows, but nothing happened. Running to the mouth of the cave, Ella stopped short. Outdide stood Michael, his sword of rightness was drawn. Ella’s shoulders slumped in defeat.“How did you find her?” Ella was curious as to why her spell didn’t work.“Silly woman,” replied Selene, “You forgot one important element.”Ella was getting impatient and almost stomped her foot in anger. “No need to draw this out Selene.”“Please Ella,” Selene smiled, “Let me finish. You forgot she was half human. That rather voided your magic. Why did you do this, Ella? What did Arabella ever do to you?”“Do to me? You want to know what she ever did to me? She exists, Selene. Do you understand that? She exists. I have spent my life having Arabella shoved down my throat. So much so that I never felt good enough for you. What better way to reach than through your ‘daughter’. Your precious Ara