Angel Incarnate: Second Sight by Linda Creel

bodies, and they lay motionless on the
ground.
    The shield was already
immobilizing the others, and Bren and Tracy became more determined as the dark
wings became desperate to break through the barrier.
    Despite being
outnumbered, the girls moved swiftly – Bren beheading her opponents, while
Tracy’s arrows took out the rest.    Puddles of thick black ichor -- the blood of the fallen -- stained the
grass.
    Some of the
angel-bloods came to the door to witness the massacre. They didn’t know who
these little warriors were, but prayed they were friends.
    When the last dark wing
fell, the weapons disappeared, and Bren and Tracy ran up the steps and entered
the house.
    Seeing the condition of
the children made them want to cry. Many were dressed in clothing that was
dirty, ragged and worn. Their hair was uncombed, and they were barefoot. Fresh
marks were visible on their arms and legs -- a reminder of the recent beatings
they endured.
    Bren and Tracy quickly
gathered them together, not asking their names. There would be time for that
later. They counted seven, including Gracie; all three and four years of age.
    Alorrah spoke again.
    “ Take the lanterns outside and douse the dead with the kerosene. You’ll
find matches on one of the tables. When you have finished, let the little ones
burn them. Then, have everyone hold hands and take them back to Aeden. Don’t
dally – their friends will come when they see the flames . Tell Gracie her sister is with me, and I
promise to keep her safe .”
    There were a dozen
lanterns on the porch. Bren and Tracy quickly emptied their liquid contents on
the fallen angels. Most of the captives insisted on helping. They were shown
how to safely strike the matches, and then throw them on the bodies. It didn’t
take long before a thick, black cloud of smoke filled the air.
    Bren watched another fallen
approach from the village.   The shield
continued to protect her and the girls, but they were running out of time.
    Staring at her and
Tracy, his eyes widened in shock. He recognized them too, but how – these
angels both died in the war?  
    It wouldn’t be long
before the rest of the dark wings arrived.   “We have to leave, now,” Bren said. She had them form a circle and hold
hands.
    “Hurry, and don’t let go of each
other,” she cautioned.

Chapter 9

 
    Before Paul announced
their presence, Gabriel hurried into the kitchen to see if the girls had
returned. He found Aura standing at the stove, stirring a pot of vegetable
soup.
    “Where are my little
ones?” the archangel asked.
    “They’re probably
upstairs in their room,” Aura said.
    Without waiting for her
to question his sudden appearance, Gabriel climbed the stairs two at a time
until he reached the top landing.
    After finding each of
the rooms empty, he called for Bren and Tracy. When they didn’t rush to greet
him, he knew they weren’t back from Purgatory. Disappointed, he walked down the
steps and returned to the kitchen.
    It wasn’t like Gabriel
to be rude. Aura stirred the soup one last time, and turned off the burner. She
replaced the lid, and then washed her hands, drying them on her apron.
    “Did you find them?”
she asked.
    “No – they weren’t in
any of the rooms.”
      “I suppose we should just wait,” Paul said.
“I’m sure they’ll be back soon.”
    “Back – back from
where?” Aura asked. Bren and Tracy knew never to leave the house without
permission.
    “I’m going to have a
look around the property,” Adam remarked. “I want to make sure we don’t have
any uninvited guests hiding in the park.”
    “That’s not necessary,”
Eve said as she entered the kitchen with Adam’s wife Angie. “Aeden is secure.”
    Unlike her best friend
Eve, whose deep chestnut tresses touched her waist, Angie’s honey-blonde hair
fell just below her shoulders. Both mothers demonstrated kindness in their
turquoise eyes.  
    Eve placed her hand on
Gabriel’s arm. “Bren and Tracy are on their way