CHAPTER 8 (Smile in the mirror)
I have always read the news, it’s more of an inbred habit, my Daddy used to read the paper every morning. Today, I am shocked at the obituary, this morning. “Abigail Mary Marshall, burnt to death in house.” The story elaborated on her being blind, and alone. Must have been an accident, assumed the fire chief.
I know that was no accident, not that I looked. I am trying to live a good life, I am eight months pregnant, and I want to give my son the best life I can. I now heal, and grow herbs, for every day ailments. So no more cards and crystals, nope that trip to hell, sent me straight to church. No I do not think I am superior to any one, on the contrary, I am humbled, and I watch my tongue, I re-hired Uncle James, with one stipulation, he had to go to church, and he does. I am no saint, and neither have I applied for sainthood, I just don’t want to go to Hell. Oh I am a believer. As for my son. He will be raised with an iron fist, I wonder where Hunter is, I thought he would be here, but never mind that now. I got my life in order, I am not sorry about Abigail’s passing, she really lost the plot in the end. I do what I can, do unto others, and all that. I am super excited to be a Mommy, I never thought it would happen to me, and my son is special, his Daddy, is a bona fide Angel, I was there when he received his glory, saw it with my very own eyes. These conversations I have with my new cat, Star. He is the only one I can tell. The world would lock me up, and throw away the key, and I will never see my son, so Star, is my best, and only friend, yeah I had to learn that lesson the hard way. “Rest in peace, now Abigail, and I do pray, you go to a better place. All is forgiven.”
I had to hire a lady to help me around the house. Hunter had provided more than enough for me and the baby, my home is very dear to me, it’s the home I grew up in. it very big, but I have never really been scared here, only when I created my own demons, well…. That’s not something I want to think about. Tessa is young, she had learning difficulties at school, so when I noticed her working as a packer, at the store, I went and asked her Mum, if I could take her, literally, move her into my home, and teach her to help me with the baby, and I would pay her well, they would never suffer again.
Well Tessa, started packing before her Mum said yes, but I guess an alcoholic Dad, and a grouch of a Mum, would have had me packing as well. So Tessa has been with me seven months now, and I love the child, she has blossomed here, she really has her own intellect, it might not be, book smart, but she is sassy, and witty, and naturally funny, and she can learn, damn fast, I made a good decision. I never knew how good, until that day, no not today, you all will find out in time.
So we are preparing the nursery when she asked me if I had thought of a name for the baby. “I have, and for some reason, Sam keeps coming to mind.”
“I like it, it’s a strong name, and I think it will suit the baby.” Tessa smiled as we hung the curtains. Well that’s good enough for me. The room was perfect, however Sam will sleep in my room, until I could part with him, I feel extra protective, and a little paranoid, but those things I did to myself. I closed the door, after I hung the picture of Archangel Michael above the crib. Now I was ready, I packed my bag. And went down for tea, I knew I would carry big, but I was enormous. I can’t see my feet, I need to take it one step at a time.
“Are you hungry?” asked Tessa. “Yeah, I am always hungry.” She smile, and slice a big slice of apple-pie for me. I was tired, and my feet were killing me. “I will have supper in my room Tessa, I don’t think I will get down those stairs again today.”
“Have a bath, and I will come rub your feet, miss.” Tessa, never called me by my name, I insisted, but she called me Miss or miss L. and that is as far as that went. Oh the bath was heavenly. My bed even better, and once Tessa rubbed my feet, I fell off to sleep. She woke me for supper. I ate, and watched a movie. I don’t really know what Tessa does at night, I know she only goes home to give her Mum money, she has no friends, nor a boy in her life. I do hope she is happy here, I am too afraid to ask her at times. She came in late to fetch my plate. “Sleep well Miss.”
The first contractions started around three a.m. At first I thought I had indigestion, then I had another. I called out to Tessa, and she bolted through the door. She timed my contractions. She has been to every one of my Lamaze-classes. “I need to call an ambulance, the contractions are too close.” I panicked, the contractions were coming fast, and very painful. The paramedics were really kind, they timed me, and asked me if I wanted to birth at home, I could, if I was fully dilated. “No, I want to go to hospital.” Tessa rode in the back with me, helping me breath through each contraction. Doctor Sebastian assured me all was well with the baby, he was ready to be born. I was shocked when I saw him. Yes, I totally expected my son to be darker, but he was fair, and had a head full of black hair, and stunning blue eyes. “You have a handsome son, Lydiana.” Doctor Sebastian handed the baby to me. I stared at the wonder in my arms. “Yes, doctor, he really is a handsome boy.” The nurse took him to be bathed. “Miss, what is his name?” she asked at the door.
“His name is Samuel Hunter Collins, Sam.” She smiled and left. I was in my room when Tessa came in with a huge teddy-bear for Sam. “I saw him Miss L, he is the most beautiful baby on earth, that I will swear to.”
The pride in me made me weep. “I know, oh Tessa, thank you, and never leave me, help me raise Sam, I need you in our lives.” She embraced me. “I ain’t going nowhere, Miss L, I love the baby, and I love you, you gave me a castle to live in, you never judged me, you treat me just fine miss L, and for that you and Sam can have my life.” I sobbed, I was so happy. I didn’t stay in hospital long, only two days, and I could take Sam home. Doctor Sebastian said the boy was fit, strong and perfect. Tessa had called a cab, even the cab driver asked to have a look at my boy. “Mrs, he is a mighty fine boy.” Pride and tears welled up in me, I wish Hunter was here, I needed Hunter to see Sam, to see I had done well, I just needed Hunter, period.
Tessa took Sam to my room, Star followed her up the stairs. It took me longer to get to my room. Disappointment flooded my being, I really had hoped Hunter would be here, or a card, even a teddy would have been perfect. Tessa never asked about the Daddy, and I never divulged anything. I had to bottle feed Sam. He was too big. I have to admit I was relieved, my son was so big, I was a little wary around him. Thank God for Tessa, she took on to being a surrogate like fish to water. I loved my son. But what I knew, I wasn’t sure what to do with that knowledge. Then the decision was made for me, when my new born sprout tiny wings in the bath tub. “Miss L, can you please come in here.” I ran into the baby room. Tessa held Sam in the tub. His eyes were so blue, his wings as white as fresh snow. “Mm.” Tessa looked at me. I was speechless. “Miss, you had an Angel baby?”
“Yes, Tessa, I had an Angel’s baby. I was married to his Daddy, but I did so many bad things, that he left, and I didn’t know I was expecting. And yes, when Angels show joy, or emotion, they open their wings.” Tears streamed down her face. “You are a special one, Sammy. God is your real Daddy. I pray that no harm or illness will ever find you, our Sammy, our special boy.” I cried for a long time, Tessa, is special, and kind and accepting, above all else she is pure, in mind, body and soul. I was scared for our appointment with doctor Sebastian, I wouldn’t know how to explain wings to a doctor, I mean who would? Right?
When Sam turned two months old, I had him baptized, but this time we had to tie down his wings, the older and the happier he got, the more his wings would pop out. And my son is a very happy baby. I don’t really know who loves who more but there is an inseparable bond between, Star and Sam. I often find Star playing with Sam’s wings, he has not scratched the baby, it’s as if he knows. They can play like that for hours. Star will sit in his crib while he sleeps. I have even found Star in the tub with Sam, their bond is unworldly, their understanding too high for my brain, but they literally understand each other.
Sam never cries, when he is hungry he will make a sound, but I have never heard my baby cry. The baptism when well to a point one wing had escaped, and it was sticking out of his jacket. Tessa was holding him, and she turned him the other way, and tucked his wing back in. I am proud of him, exceptionally so.
We arrived home before dusk. I went to my room to change, while Tessa fed Sam in the den. I recognised the man, or shall I say the being in my room, instantly. “Oh my God, please tell me it is not so.” The same blue eyes looked back at me. “Nope, not God, I don’t know why you humans always get it wrong. And yes. He is mine. That time you spent, at my house, well to you it felt like a few hours, or seconds, well, in Hell, time is a little none existent, so I have no clue how long I was your host. You see Lydiana, Hunter would not purge, so I did what I had to, to secure the sixth key, and look at what a fine boy he is, well done, and thank you. No-no, I am not here to take the boy from you, no, not at all, raise him well, he has a destiny to fulfil. For now he is yours. I have left enough money, and other things my son will need. For now, I will let you be, but in six years-time, I will be back.
I swear I will not take the boy from you, but if you try and contact your heavenly friends, or if you try and run, well then we will have problems, so enjoy the next six-years. No demon will trouble you, they know Sam is mine. So be well, be happy, six years is a long time in human years.”
I ran down the stairs to the den, and I told Tessa. “Oh my God.”
“Tessa, I thought….” What the hell did I think, when my son was born as white as snow? Tessa handed him to me, and he smiled. “Oh Sam, no, my baby, no. Please don’t become a monster, just stay this sweet innocent baby.” Sam smiled at me, his eyes were so blue I had to look away, just as I had when I looked into his Father’s eyes. Tessa handed me a brandy, I drank it all in one go, the burn was needed. She sipped hers. “Miss, what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know, Tessa, not run, that is for sure, I can’t out run what has already happened. We need to raise him right, maybe if we teach him about God? Would that change his destiny?” Yes I know I am grasping at straws in a colossal hay stack. However, this is half my son, I had to fight for his soul.
Sam walked when he was a year old, and he talked fluently when he was two years old, we took him to church, and to Sunday-school. I prayed over and for him daily. It’s has been too long since I have seen, Hunter or the other Angels, I expected an Angel to be watching over my son since his birth, or did they know? Ryan passed by me one day unannounced, Tessa had opened the door, thinking it was uncle James. I walked slowly down the stairs. When Ryan looked at the boy, the questions flickered in his wise old eyes. “Ryan.”
“Lydiana.” Sam stared at Ryan. “Hello, I am Sam, and you are a friend of mine, right uncle? You will not hurt my Mommy, or my Tessa?” Ryan looked down at Sam. “No, Samuel, I will not hurt them, and I am your friend.” Sam took Ryan’s hand and led him into the den. They spoke, I was really shocked at how well Ryan accepted Sam. Sam touched him where only he could see, I have seen Ryan’s true form, yet my son was unfazed, I was rattled to my core. “What brings you here, Ryan?”
“To be honest, there is talk about the boy, and I was hoping that for once the talk was all wrong, but here we are.” Star sat on Ryan’s lap. I guess those that don’t need to fear Death, have no problem with it being in their living room. Ryan and I spoke, sporadically. “Have you seen or heard from Hunter, or the other Angels?”
“No, not in years, I know they went home, and that was that, until talk of the boy reached my ears.”
“Ryan, what will he do with my son, when the time comes?” Ryan shrugged. “I think, will I hope, he will do as he said he would, allow the boy to fulfil his destiny, then leave you all to your lives.”
“What is this destiny? Is it still the six-keys?” Ryan nodded. I scratched my head. “Ryan I don’t understand, if he could impregnate me, and bring me literally back to life, why can’t he just climb out of Hell, and let us be?”
“The prophesies are too numerous, the reasons behind them, all linked to the six, if he could get out without the help of this boy, he would have, but you know the lore behind the birth of sons, goes back thousands of years, a son for each, a son to rule, a son to fight, and lead an army. We cannot change which is fated, look at me, I was the first big bang theory proven to mankind and they never even realised it. Humans do not ask the right questions, that’s why they never receive the right answers.
You ask the right questions, Lydiana, but I shall advise you, to stay mute, when his Father comes to call, there are some things that are too big for a human mind to comprehend, so protect yourself. Protect Sam, he is an innocent in this horrible pissing competition. No son born, has truly asked to be born, its fate.” I nodded, “Thank you Ryan, and please, do not stay away, I need all the backup I can get right now, you are my friend, and I can see that you are no threat to Sam.” Ryan hugged Sam. “Take care of your Mommy, boy, all the great ones, honoured their Mothers.” Sam kissed his cheek, I walked Ryan to the door. Hunter was about to knock. Oh bloody hell, it doesn’t effing rain, now does it…?”
Samuel, Thomas and Michaelus followed Hunter into the house. Ryan turned around and picked up Sam. I fetched a bottle, and a few tumblers. Samuel frowned at Ryan. “Honestly, do you think we could harm a babe?” Ryan nodded. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I can, just ask the Pharaoh.”
“We are not here to harm the babe, old friend, we are here to protect him”, retorted Samuel. Sam wiggled out of Ryan’s arms, he stood in front of Hunter, and he opened his wings. Automatically they followed suit, the glory in the room, blinded me. Tessa dropped her tumbler. Sam looked at them then at me. “Mama, why am I not the same?” My heart shattered. Samuel picked up, Sam and sat down. “Sam do you know who I am?” Sam nodded. “And these men, do you know who they are?” Samuel pointed to the others. “Yes. They were the Fallen, like you, they followed my Daddy.” Samuel nodded. “You are right, son, we all followed your Daddy, and the reason we did that, is because we are all brothers, all of us, and that makes you, our brother, we are not different, you are not different, Sam, you are what you chose to be.”
Samuel looked at me. “I am glad to see you Lydiana, we have been watching over you, but when Mr. Death arrived we got a little nervous, so here we are. You have a fine son.”
“Thank you, Samuel. I wish I could save him.”
“You have.” I knew that was the apex of this conversation, that Samuel had given me a cryptic answer. It was so good to see Hunter, we spoke as old friends, Tessa, finally got a grip of the situation, and she prepared supper for all of us. Sam spoke to the Angels, they spoke about God, creation, and Hell. I sat mute, not by choice, by the sheer magnitude of the knowledge my son had. We ate, and he fell asleep in Hunter’s arms. I was about to take Sam. “No, point me in the right direction.”
“He still shares my bedroom.” Hunter nodded and walked up the stairs. I helped Tessa, pack the dish washer, we made coffee, and when we entered the den, they were gone. “Oh dear God, no.” I threw the tray on the floor, and I ran up the stairs. “Tessa, they took him, they took Sam.”
We whirled around at the sound of a voice. “Well, now we have a problem.”
“I didn’t know. Tessa and I didn’t know what they had planned, I swear it to you.” Tessa nodded. He showed no emotion. “So, it is normal for a Reaper to visit your house?”
“Yes, actually it is.” He thought about that, then I could feel him look into my mind. He nodded. “Alright, I believe you. I will look for my son, but I have a feeling, they took him to where cell reception can’t reach, if so, I guess you will have to give me another son, but this time, he is mine.”167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOh1m59nlh
