Angel Incarnate: Second Sight by Linda Creel Page A

with the angel-bloods. I
suggest we have some tea while we wait for them.”
    The archangel nodded,
and then took a seat at the kitchen table while Aura brought a freshly-brewed
kettle of tea and some cups.
    Eve placed a cold Pepsi
in front of Gabriel who reached for one of the leftover brownies, and waited
for Paul to explain Bren and Tracy’s mission.
    “Where are the rest of
the girls?” Paul asked his wife.
    “They decided to spend
the night in New York and are expected home tomorrow. Should I ask them to come
back now?”
    “No -- I don’t think
they are in any danger.”
    Befuddled, Aura looked
at her parents waiting for an explanation. “Will someone please tell me what’s
going on?”
    “We were just informed
some of the angel-bloods who live in the outlying areas have been murdered, and
their young daughters were taken captive,” Paul said.   “According to Esra, this has been going on
for some time now. The most recent victim was the wife of Josiah, a member of
the Elite Guard. Both his daughters were taken – one to Hell – the other to
Purgatory – an island most of the dark wings call home.”
    “What does this have to
do with Bren and Tracy?”
    “They have gone on a
rescue mission.”
    Aura collapsed in one
of the chairs and stared incredulously at her father. She was angry, but more than
that, she was scared.
    “How could you let them
leave? They’re not even five years old. We’ve known full-grown angels who have
died by the hands of the fallen. What if I never see them again?”
    Your sister is much older than five human years, but that is
a discussion we will have another time. “Bren and Tracy are fine,” Eve insisted.
    “How did they know
where to go? Did someone show them the way?”
    Eve didn’t want Aura to
know about Bren’s second sight. She shrugged her shoulders. “When they come
home, you can ask your sister. The angel-bloods will be with them, so I hope
you won’t make them feel uncomfortable.”
    Hearing the front door
slam, Aura ran from the kitchen, with her parents and Gabriel following. Bren
and Tracy had returned with the tiny waifs they had rescued.  
    Paul had no words for
what he saw.
    All of the children
were wounded, some worse than others. The exception was a young girl who was
trying to help those with the nastiest injuries.
    She must be Josiah’s daughter, Gracie. S he
is trying to be so brave, putting her own grief aside to help the others.
    The rest of the group
couldn’t help staring at the horrific marks on the arms and legs of the little
girls. Some of their wounds had begun to heal, while others were still open and
raw. They had to be in pain, yet none of the children complained.
    Eve swallowed the lump
in her throat; Angie had to turn away, trying to choke back the tears that were
streaming quietly down her cheeks.
    Aura wanted to be angry
with Bren and Tracy, but after seeing the condition of the children, she
understood why her sister needed to rescue them.
    Gabriel pulled Bren and
Tracy into a fierce hug, and the dam of flood waters they had been holding back
finally broke loose. “We kicked their ass,” Bren said between sobs.   Gabriel nodded, and pulled them closer.
    Aura sat on the living
room floor and opened her arms, beckoning the children to come closer. At
first, they were apprehensive, but then, they slowly nudged towards her. She
spoke in a soft voice.
    “This is our family.
We’ll take good care of you until we can find your relatives.”
    One of the four year
olds started to cry. “What’s wrong?” Aura asked.
    “Mommy and Daddy are
gone; I don’t have anybody else.”
    “What if they come for
us?” another asked. “I don’t want to go back there again.”
    Eve knelt beside them
and forced a weak smile.
    “You’ll stay here with
us. None of you have to leave if you don’t want to. We have plenty of room, and
our valley is protected, so you don’t have to be afraid. Mortriel will never
touch you again.”
    The