Heather and snow, p.15
Sentinels of Creation: A Scion of Amber Light, page 15
“The monstrance? Yes, but not like this, Highlander,” He pointed. “Normally, those little metal starbursts surrounding the glass don’t actually shoot beams of violet energy all over the place. If they did, I assure you, Meghan and I would have paid a lot more attention in Mass.”
Aside from the angels, the chapel was empty except for two women seated in the first pew. Both sat quietly, but close enough that it was clear they were together. A moment later, the woman on the right rose, and turned toward the door. Her eyes were red with spent tears. She saw Kellan and Shannon standing toward the back and paused. The woman appeared to be in her middle years. She wiped at one cheek, then walked toward them.
Kellan stepped aside to allow her to leave, but as she started to pass, he touched her shoulder. “Excuse me, ma’am, I don’t mean to intrude, but is there anything we can do to help you or your friend?”
The woman smiled. “It’s Susan, and thank you. She’s my niece, but no, I appreciate the offer. We’ll be okay. I just need a breath of air is all.” Kellan nodded and the woman brushed past, then paused. She turned and said, “Actually, there is one thing you could do. Since I assume you came here for the same reasons we did, would you mind sitting near my niece? I’d rather her not be alone, even for a few minutes.”
“Of course,” replied Shannon, “we’d be happy to.”
Susan smiled, “Thank you. You have such a lovely accent. I always wanted to go to Scotland. Anyway, I’ll just be a few minutes…thank you both.”
The door clicked shut and Kellan made his way down the narrow aisle to the first pew. The angels never moved. “Do they know we’re here?” whispered Shannon. “Why aren’t they looking at us?”
Kellan slipped into the first pew and projected his reply, Shan, I have no idea. Maybe they have more important things to think about than us. The young woman looked up as Kellan slid near her. “Hi, your Aunt asked us to keep you company for a few minutes. Is that all right?”
The young woman smiled. “That’s very nice of you. Aunt Susan knows I hate being alone. It’s silly, I know.” She brightened slightly, then asked, “Are you here to pray for someone?”
Kellan smiled, but shook his head. “No, I’m afraid my prayers don’t seem to get through.”
She laughed softly, “Of course they do, but if you feel that way, why did you come?”
The Sentinel glanced around the room and noted how the seventh angel had shifted its attention to him. “Uh, well, it’s complicated. Why don’t you tell me why you’re here, instead?”
The young woman nodded. “I have diabetes, the bad kind.” She gestured to her waist. “I have a pump, but it’s not working as well as it should.”
Kellan nodded as his thoughts turned to Henry Muir, who had accepted the Mantel of Thor. “I knew someone else who had the same condition. Things got better for him. Hopefully they will for you too. Is that what you’re praying for...to get better?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m here for my mom. She’s always so worried for me. I know she checks on me in the middle of the night to make sure I’m ok. She’s so tired. I just want her to get some peace. That’s what I’m praying for—” she broke off. “I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”
“Kellan, my name is Kellan, and this is my wife Shannon.” The Soulborn leaned forward and gave the girl an encouraging smile.
The young woman extended her hand, “Well, it’s nice to meet you Kellan. I’m Grace.”
The Sentinel stared at her a moment in silence. “Your name is Grace?” She nodded and he smiled. “Of course it is.” Kellan looked toward the altar and saw the one angel’s eyes narrow slightly in his direction. He seemed disapproving, but, Kellan reasoned, that was par for the course given his angelic interactions. He accepted Grace’s hand in his, bent time, and closed his eyes.
Nurisha sat crosswise on her rock, pupiless eyes burning into Kellan as he stood on the far bank. She spoke, and despite the apparent distance, her words seemed to come from just in front of him.
“You can do this thing, my Sentinel,” she said.
“But you are going to tell me how reckless and stupid it is, right?” he asked.
She sighed. “I have learned such efforts are a waste of breath, assuming I had breath to waste. However, I will say, if you take this upon yourself, it is no small thing. It will not be as it was when you took on Meghan Daugherty’s wounds. Wounds heal. This will linger in you, my Sentinel. Such is the nature of sacrifice. Such is the essence of agape.” He nodded and she gave him a knowing smile. It seemed equal part sad and accepting. Nurisha rose to stand upon her rock. She raised her arms and emerald power twisted up from the river to flow into her hands.
“Go, then, my young and foolish Sentinel. Channel me to your purpose, and by your will, I make it so!”
Kellan opened his eyes and felt Shannon tense as Ordered power coursed into Grace. She stiffened and tried to pull back her hand, but Kellan maintained his grip. He felt the power course back into him. He completed the circuit twice, then three times. Finally, after the fourth time, his power returned without the slightest trace of the dreaded disease. He released Grace’s hand. Her eyes fluttered, then closed. She slumped against the pew’s side rest, and Kellan felt his own fear rise up.
“Peace be with you, Sentinel of Order. She only sleeps.”
“Holy Shite,” gasped Shannon, then covered her mouth.
The angel glanced disapprovingly at her, then returned his focus to the Sentinel. He shook his head. “I have heard of you Kellan Thorne, but never thought to see your foolishness first hand.”
“Yeah, well, now you can tell all your mates you've experienced it first…first…oh, man, I feel really bad.”
“Do know who I am?” asked the angel.
Kellan swallowed and tried to catch his breath. “No, but I’m sure you are about to tell me. I assume you aren’t like the six statue angels over there, are you?”
“No, I am for Grace, and you have presumed a great deal.”
“Why are you here?” Kellan asked, head swimming, “Was she going to—” He broke off, stared at the sleeping girl, then tried again. “Was she going to die?”
“You are all going to die,” said the angel without a trace of humor. “This human has epitomized the quality defined by her very name. It has been my honor and duty to ensure she was never alone in this valley of tears. You have taken from her a crucible not unlike your own Crucible of Order. You have disrupted her path, as you have disrupted so many things, Sentinel of Order.”
Kellan began to shiver and Shannon pulled him close. “I did warn Micah that I was a bad choice. I do stupid stuff some times, but this isn’t one of those times. So, let me invite you to shove that crucible of diabetes straight up your angelic—” Kellan coughed, then double over.
Shannon looked up and saw the faintest smile trace across the angel’s face. He nodded, then turned and opened the monstrance. The guardian removed the host and held it in both hands. As he did so, all six angels shifted their gaze to follow it. “I have heard Raphael complain about your reckless choices on more than one occasion. I have heard Michael complain about them on nearly every occasion. However, on this occasion, your foolish propensity to leap without regard for consequence, has kept open the narrow path conceived by our Father.”
The guardian angel extended his hands toward Kellan. “Only in this place, at this time, could I give to you that which will be required. Seek the Eternal Soldier and bathe your hands in his penitential blood. Once done, take this blessed sacrament and place it within a bellows that roars. It will breathe life to stone and the heart of Chaos will become ripe for redemption.”
Kellan's eyes widened in alarm at the angel’s final words. The same words he’d first read in the gospel of Judas over three years ago. The same words he spoke within Creation’s workroom earlier that very day. Kellan’s mind drank them in again, this time directly from an angel’s lips. He frowned, still not understanding their meaning any more than when he first read them. Kellan extended a shaky hand. The guardian angel reverently placed the host into a silver pyx, clicked it shut, and closed the Sentinel's fingers around it.
“Agape is the essence of sacrifice,” intoned the six angels together.
“Sacrifice is the essence of love,” whispered the guardian, then inclined his head. “Raphael was not wrong to choose you, Sentinel of Order. You are who is needed as Destruction nears. Do not stray from the narrow path.”
The chapel filled with a blinding white light and when it faded, only Grace’s guardian remained.
Shannon took the silver case from Kellan’s shaking hand. He groaned, then pitched forward. “We’re getting you home, you beautiful, daft, insufferable man.” She slipped an arm around his waist and hoisted him into a standing position.
“I don’t feel so good,” he moaned.
“Man or Sentinel, you are all babies when ill,” Shannon grumbled, then stopped as Grace’s aunt opened the chapel door.
“Oh…oh, are you all right?” Susan asked, concerned.
Kellan’s face was slick with sweat and he tried to smile, but his constant shivers made it look more like a grimace. “I’m great,” he groaned, “never better. Just some bad salmon mousse, I think.”
“Salmon what?” asked Susan.
“Never mind him," said Shannon. "I'll see he gets into a warm bed. You go tend to Grace.”
Susan looked past the two and watched as Grace turned to face her. The young woman rose and a strange look crossed her face. Susan hastened to her niece and asked, “Are you okay?”
Kellan smiled through the pain even though he couldn’t hear Grace’s response. The door clicked shut behind him, and Shannon quickly looked around. She lashed out her hand. The portal rotated into view and Kellan sighed at the sight of his bedroom beyond.
“Come on now,” said Shannon as she half carried him through the portal. “Let’s get you into bed.”
Chapter 16
A Doctor for Shannon
Shannon looked up as Juliet quietly slipped into her bedroom. “Thanks for coming over, Juliet,” said the Soulborn.
“No problem,” replied Juliet. She noted the worry in Shannon’s eyes and said, “I’m sure he’ll be fine.” Shannon didn’t look up, but continued to gently run her fingers through Kellan’s hair as he slept. Juliet tried a different approach. “In fact, I’ve seen him a lot worse than that. So have you, Shannon.”
The Soulborn lay beside Kellan on their bed. She propped herself up with one arm then used the other to slide back the covers from his chest. “I’ve not seen this before, little sister.”
Juliet leaned close, and her eyes widened. “What’s that?” she asked.
Shannon slipped her fingers over the black and purple bruise that ran along Kellan’s side. She gently pressed just above where it disappeared into the waistband of his boxers. He groaned and a milky brown liquid seeped between her fingers.
Juliet covered her nose and mouth. “That’s what I smelled! What is that?”
Shannon shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Could it be a ghoul?” Juliet asked in alarm. “It looks like what you said happens if someone is infected with ghoul death bile. Remember, Oren-Merlin got bit and Kellan—” The young woman broke off as Shannon’s eyes fixed on hers.
“I was there, Juliet. I do recall it.” The Soulborn unconsciously touched her lips, then whispered, “It was the first time he kissed me.”
Juliet shook her head. “Okay, I don’t know what other…firsts might have been involved with that particular timey wimey adventure, but please do your remembering when I’m not around.”
“It was just a kiss,” huffed Shannon, “and I was just as pure of heart at twenty as you are now.”
“I wager a fair bit less so,” muttered Juliet under her breath.
Shannon smirked. “Wager all you want, little sister. I’ll even make a wager of my own. Young master Glen is just waiting for a crack in your resolve, then whoosh in he’ll go in for the conquest.”
“He’s not like that,” sniffed Juliet.
“He is if he’s a man,” replied Shannon.
“Glen’s had plenty of opportunities to try and whoosh, Shannon. He’s never—”
“Glenn whooshed,” murmured Kellan and both women froze. Juliet made a pinched face at Shannon. The Soulborn stroked Kellan’s hair and whispered for him to go back to sleep.
Once his breathing deepened, the Soulborn sighed and said, “It’s not ghoul death bile. The daft man healed someone and…” she gestured to his wound, “this is the result.” Shannon gently wiped the area with a tissue, then put the sheets back in place.
Juliet shook her head in confusion. “I don’t get it. He’s healed people before.”
Shannon shrugged. “Apparently, this was some kind of chronic condition. Dia Beasties, I think. I’ve never heard of a beastie called that, and don’t know what it does to someone, but it sounds horrible.”
“Diabetes,” corrected Juliet, then looked at Kellan. “It’s when your body can’t regulate its sugar levels.” She noticed the frustrated look on Shannon’s face and moved to sit next to her on the bed. “It’s ok Shan,” said Juliet. “You can’t know everything that the twenty-first century has figured out. I mean, it’s not like diabetes comes up in every-day conversations. Back in your time, they thought it was a kidney problem because it made urine taste sweet.”
Shannon looked up sharply, “The sweet sickness. Everyone dies from that.” She glared at Kellan. “You are so stupid sometimes, and I’m twice as stupid for loving someone who is just so stupid.”
Juliet rested a hand on Shannon’s shoulder. “I think he’ll be fine, Shan. That thing around his side is not a symptom of diabetes. You know how this empathic healing of his works. It’s some kind of celestial give and take.” She pointed toward Kellan’s waist. “That’s where someone would have an insulin pump installed. I think Kellan’s wound there is just the Universe’s way of balancing things out.”
Shannon sighed. “Well the Universe can just—”
A door slammed in the distance. Cara had been dozing beside the bed, but leaped to his feet at the sound. He sniffed the air, then made a happy warbling sound. The dire wolf shot Shannon a quick look, then ran headlong toward the bedroom door. He phased through it and disappeared.
“You expecting someone?” asked Juliet.
“Yes, and I’m not looking forward to it. It’s Meghan.”
Juliet laughed. “You two. You realize you love each other, right? You act like two brothers, which is weird. Some day, I expect to see you two competing on who can write their name in snow with the largest letters.”
“It’s not her I’m not looking forward to,” snarked Shannon. “It’s where we are going. She’s taking me to the doctor…the women’s doctor.”
“Ohhhh,” said Juliet with equal parts understanding and compassion, “fertility stuff.”
Shannon nodded but placed a finger on her lips. She gave a pointed glance to Kellan. “Who knows if the man’s magic brain works when he’s sleeping. I can never be sure.”
“You didn’t tell him?” whisper-hissed Juliet. “Shannon, you can’t just—”
The bedroom door opened, interrupting Juliet, and Meghan said, “C’mon Red. Stop mooning over the nerd, he’ll be fine.”
Shannon slid off the bed, glared at the Nephlim, and said, “You have no idea what’s even wrong with him.”
Meghan shrugged. “Don’t have to. He’s not dead, so, he’ll be fine.”
Shannon sighed heavily. “You could have knocked instead of just barging in here.”
Meghan gestured to Kellan. “He hardly ever knocks at my place. Are you ready?”
“Yes I’m ready,” huffed Shannon, “I’ll meet you out front in a minute. Just let me get my shoes.”
Meghan held up a hand. “No, don’t go out that way. My bike’s parked on the side.”
Shannon stopped half way to the closet and turned. “Your bike? You mean that motor bike thing? Kellan says you’re going to kill yourself on it. Why aren’t we going in your car?”
“Because I don’t have a car right now, that’s why,” replied Meghan, “and what’s with the twenty questions? If you must know, I was trying to teach Sera to drive and…things didn’t go so well. Anyway, I don’t have a car right now, okay. You’re the one that said you didn’t want to go alone. Do you want the fucking ride or not?”
“Yes, I want the ride,” replied Shannon in a resigned tone.
“Okay, good,” said Meghan, then put her arm around Shannon. “Red, you’re gonna love it. What was the name of that horse you had?”
“Frasier,” said Shannon wistfully. “He was such a good lad.”
“Right, Fraiser. Just think of my bike as being an Iron-Frasier.” Meghan shook her head at the Soulborn. “Trust me, Red, my bike will be a lot more comfortable than what that doc puts between those highland legs of yours.” Meghan shivered. “Just make sure she warms that shit up first, right Juliet?” The younger woman didn’t reply, but if looks could kill, Meghan would have been dead on the floor.
Juliet rose and gave Shannon a hug. “It’s gonna be fine, Shan. I’m sure it will be, but you really need to tell Kellan what’s going on. He has a right to know.”
The Soulborn disappeared into her closet and Meghan arched an eyebrow at Juliet. “He has a right to know what?”
Juliet shook her head. “You need to talk with her, and not in your normal devil-bitch mode either. She needs a friend to talk to and she won’t start the conversation, so—”
“Hey, I am her friend,” said Meghan defensively.
“I know, but sometimes you two get all caught up in the who’s better thing. I’m telling you, she needs to talk with someone, and she’s not going to talk with me about it. I’m her,” Juliet made air quotes, “little sister. So, it needs to be—”
“Ok I’m ready,” said Shannon. She narrowed her eyes at the two other women. “What were you talking about?”
“Nothing,” they said together. Shannon frowned.
