Dean was successfully replacing Miranda in the relentless fights against demons. Conall had never had such a great warrior to his possession. In the very beginning he fought only with the power of his own rage, proving himself extremely determined to kill the ghouls and attack demons, also very powerful a soldier. After a dozen of ghouls killed and about twenty demons removed from Alba3 and Alba1, he met Aife who tried to use him for Auria’s purpose to clean the World of Shadows off demons. But Dean wasn’t to be subjected to Auria! He seemed to have plans of his own, fighting those demons in the name of his own justice and that of Conall’s.
The word of him being a beast under human guise spread rapidly. Shadows were swirling around him wrapping his body in a disconcerting turmoil. Soon, Amitiel felt that it was in vain to try and recover Dean from the World of Shadows. He made use of a few tricks but they didn’t work on the proud boy. It seemed that he was found the weak sides and now his strength and feelings were exploited to their maximum potential. He was enjoying the fight even more than Miranda did. He was thirsty for blood and power! Thirsty for revenge for once in his entire life he felt truly superior. It was the gift given in exchange of his services, this fake sentiment of power that he was embracing letting it consume him from within, feeding him on its dejection. He loved the howling and the squeals of ghosts and shadows, the grunts of demons hit where it hurt most, the roars, the cries, the screams. This was everything that Amy could learn from Amitiel, late into the night, when she decided to contact him for details.
- Care for a cup of tea from an ancient witch? Maeve joked chuckling.
- I’d love one, Amy gladly accepted.
- You know, when I was your age my parents died and I got to live with an aunt.
- Back in the Middle Ages?
- Yes. It’s strange how things turned around and somehow repeated the history on my
second chance to live a life in peace.
- What do you mean? Amy asked taking careful sips of the calming potion.
- As I previously said, even shadows are given second chances sometimes, Maeve supplied.
- Yes, but you are an angel, not a shadow, the girl frowned with a curiosity spark in her dark honey-like gold eyes.
- Which made my existence here on Earth even more difficult.
- Why was that? Amy asked.
- Well, it is not easy to know things and have no clue about where you know them until you fully awake then also be forced to keep as secrets. Don’t ask me why but, when my mortal parents the second set of mortal parents, she added were about to die I knew it but couldn’t say a word. And even if I would have said anything it wouldn’t have made the difference. I wanted to prevent them from going on their trip but I just couldn’t stop them. They wouldn’t listen and I couldn’t explain to them where is that I knew that it was going to be the last time we saw each other.
- Tell me more about your second chance, Amy asked with the curiosity of a child.
- Alright. It was the summer of ‘39 when I found my adoption papers locked in the drawer of my father’s personal office at home. He didn’t use to tell lies, ‘was actually a very honest man, telling me the truth about everything except the fact that I was adopted. Why? I don’t know. It wouldn’t have made any difference, I would have loved them the same and probably wouldn’t look more into my past than I was already going to as I was a young woman trained to become a teacher who would be assigned to spend some time with my uncle and his wife, for the sake of gathering experience. My uncle was Mr. Lauren. As Maeve pronounced the last words in her sentence Amy’s jaw fell, her eyes widened with surprise, a new flicker showing.
- Your uncle was The Mr. Lauren?
- Yes, he was, Maeve smiled. He took me in immediately after learning about my parent’s death. I discovered later that my father was the one who helped them elope and live the life they wanted together as a couple and not apart as their families intended to make them live. They were very young back then but neither of them was the adept of extremist thoughts. Besides, the wars and the killing were not started by them or their families. Why should have they subsided under paranoia and hateful thoughts? So, they decided to change everything in their lives: their names, their nationalities, even their faiths.
- A complete change of identities. I was told their story before!
- You were told only what was known of them, what was told of them. There are things true but some others are the product of romantic imagination. People always looked for the heavy sides in any story.
- What do you mean?
- You’ll see what I mean when I get there. She paused shortly. So, I was an orphan at the age of seventeen sent to live with my uncle and his wife who were more than glad to receive me, given the fact that they didn’t have children but wanted them. By that time they’d already taken in a couple of orphans, looking after them, trying to work on the adoption papers which seemed like the hardest thing to do.
- It was you! Amy’s face illuminated. It was you the one who helped him built the orphanage in his wife’s memory!
- Yes it was, quick-brains! Maeve chuckled.
- I’m sorry I interrupted you. I promise I’ll restrain myself from doing this again. Please, go on, Amy said a blush creeping up her neck. Maeve smiled pensively and continued.
- It’s alright. I was young again, she said with wit in her eyes and still had to finish my studies. After summer holidays I went back to boarding-school, visiting my new family only on holidays. They were the nicest couple loving, supporting and always kind to everybody. I couldn’t have asked for more. There wasn’t anything else to ask from life and this world. But our happiness wasn’t going to last for much longer. In the spring of my last year of college my aunt and step-mother fell ill. In less than a year she died leaving my uncle aghast, as he was convinced that she was going to recover and they would start working on the orphanage together. Torn asunder, he engaged into writing his thoughts in his journal and reading hers. His scribbles of the first days spent without her by his side hardly made any sense but the questions regarding the building of an orphanage kept appearing every second to third page. You see, this was their plan as they became rich after investing wisely in stocks that brought them a lot of money. As they had no other family than me, and I being already ensured with a pretty nice fortune, they decided to do something good for the less fortunate and so long waited in their lives: children.
Forlorn and forgotten by the warmth of his love’s smiles, my uncle became more and more dull until I decided to say something. I made him remember his wife’s wish to build an orphanage and offer hope and happiness. He fought me until I told him that I was going to help and so I did. I helped him build and run the orphanage until his death and some time after. I promised to continue doing so. He had also made me promise that I’d find a good man to marry and have children. But you see, I was already awaken and knew exactly where I was coming from and what I had to do. By the age of twenty two I realised I was also endowed with immortality, which made it possible for me to keep the first promise but impossible to have a family. I ran the orphanage for a while after his death then left it in the best hands possible and disappeared. It was getting suspicious that I kept looking like a twenty two years old woman and, no matter how hard I tried not to flaunt my youth in front of everyone, it didn’t matter it was too obvious how years passed on other people, leaving marks, whereas I was looking as young as ever. People were beginning to watch me with doubt. A few stories concocted behind my back got to my ears: I was suddenly a witch again, so, I left and came back sixty years later, as a teacher, having a completely different look. There was change in the faces of the souls inhabiting the village’s houses and there was novelty. Nobody seemed to recognise me so I felt comfortable with exploring the news. People wouldn’t even bother for witchcraft and ghost-stories anymore. It was finally peace. Only a couple of old souls, among which a priest, seemed to remember those days well, but they didn’t make the connection with me: All of a sudden, I was a stranger looking for romantic Victorian stories and I couldn’t feel better about it. Of course, seeing that the orphanage was derelict caused me sadness but there was still hope. There was a long pause after these words spoken allowing thoughts lit their spirits musingly.
- I know that this is a private question, Amy started, and I don’t want to force you into giving an answer, but did you ever fall in love, Maeve?
Maeve was looking into the distant horizons insinuating through the window as if bringing back memories from times that weren’t hers anymore.
- I wouldn’t say that I had fallen in love, she sighed, but I did love somebody very much. Her green eyes pooled with tears as she confessed: I still do. I would have married him if I would have had enough years to live. He was my best friend, know. We grew-up together and spent all our spare time playing games or picking flowers and herbs, sometimes mushrooms. He also loved hunting birds so, our families always had great dinners together. I remember the day I met him as if it were yesterday. I was eight and he was ten: we were both dragged by our parents to a fair we didn’t want to go to because there was nothing interesting for us to do there. The only distractions were for little girls and boys and we were ‘too old’ for those, she chuckled tilting her head with an amused guise. Besides, we were asked to help with the stands, being old enough to make ourselves useful, which was as boring and tiring as reading latin words from the Bible. We were both sent to school by our families. We liked it in there; we were feeling special among the children our age we learned what others had no clue about and gathered knowledge others couldn’t dream of. But reading the Bible was a tedious occupation especially because we couldn’t understand the meaning of the words, that until we actually learned some Latin. Still, we preferred being in school rather than helping with the household at least this way we didn’t have to do the chores. We had great parents! Maeve sighed with a luminous smile brought up on her face. The greatest one could have asked for. They wanted us to be more than just simple peasants. Had dreams, probably big dreams to carry us away from the hard life they lived. She sighed again as she tore up a slice of bread.
Kelvan was a fair-haired strong boy with two ocean-blue sparkling eyes, kind and generous, inspiring healthy happiness but when he was upset the world wouldn’t move at ease around him. I believe that we shared the same curse, I being always told that we were the same kind. No matter how much anyone tried to get us to the track they wanted, they always failed: we were both stubborn and determined to do things our own ways. I remember wanting to go into the woods that day when I first met him; I had planned to pick some plants and look for mushrooms and berries. It was such a relaxing activity! But my parents needed to sell their butter and cheese and hoped to manage to find a buyer for my mother’s embroideries as well. I met Kelvan at our stand my mother had asked me to take her place as she was going to buy some wool from a lady and a new pair of knitting needles. She had plans to start knitting more and sell her work at such fairs. I was bored to death when Kelvan lost a leather ball and jumped on my mother’s stand to catch it, crowding half of the embroideries down to the ground in the finest dust. I remember yelling at him like a harpy, horror turning on to his face as he was listening to every word I was saying with widened eyes, appearing to be completely dazzled. I’m sorry! he quickly dusted himself then stooped to collect all the embroidery tossed into the dust. I was testing our leather balls and lost this one, he said blushing. Here you are! I’m sorry! he put up a crooked smile. I didn’t mean to. I kept looking at him with furious eyes restraining myself from showing to him that I was on the verge of bursting into laughter. It didn’t last for long though, the rage I was exhibiting, as his friendly ways conquered me soon. I’m here with my parents, they kind of dragged me over here, I didn’t want to come, he said. Our stand is over there, he explained pointing to a stand across the path-way made between, the rows to the left. I was assigned the job of selling our leather balls: they come in different sizes, you know? I nodded then sighed. You seem bored! he observed I’m bored too, he went on. Wanna play catch? he asked as he dusted the last embroidery picked from the dust. I shrugged, my fists planted in my hips: Sure. We played like this for a while always keeping an eye on our stands. For the entire stay there we’d sold only a couple of items each. The sun was setting and I hadn’t picked any plant or mushroom my activity planned for the next day had been compromised. I sighed. Kelvan then asked what went wrong. I told him what my plans were and how I wanted to become an expert on herbs and healing and he offered to help me pick the plants and mushrooms I needed. It’s strange a girl your age knows what she wants to do with her life. This is completely different from what your parents do! he said. It’s strange that a boy your age feels more like picking flowers for a girl my age than go out and play with the boys. He laughed a healthy laughter and I joined. The boys can wait, he said, they know nothing but games. I have to be responsible, now. Learn as much as I can. I have to help the family. Besides, I was thinking that you can teach me a little on your herbs. Oh, really? I asked. Yes! I am almost a man, now, he proudly put out a smug face. I have to know everything that can save a life! I’ll be a knight, one day! he bragged. I couldn’t restrain myself from laughing. He pouted and warned: You’ll see! I’ll become the greatest knight this kingdom has ever seen! Sure you will! I taunted.
The next day we were wandering the hills and the forest looking for herbs. We picked a lot of them. I showed him the good mushrooms and taught him a few herbs. He made a fire using a flint and a knife and we roasted a few mushrooms. Then we went for berries. We ate a basket each also picked more for our families. Wanna’ see who gets in town first!? I said later that evening. He accepted the challenge and we competed to our last wind, both stopping at the same time when down into the valley. I won! he said catching his breath! I beg your pardon! I retorted through heavy breathing. I got to the linden first! You didn’t say ‘twas to the linden, you said to the town! The town begins with the cottage, he pointed to a deserted cottage in the middle of a poppies field, ten steps forward from the linden. It does not! It begins with the linden! Everybody knows that! I scowled, my fists prompted into my hips You know what? he said. I believe that we both won and that calls for a reward. What do you have in mind? I asked. Cake! Mother is baking one for my birthday, tomorrow. I’ll bring you some. That’s how it started, the best friendship I ever had with another human. I knew no other real friend.
Her watery eyes were asking for a solemn pause. Amy said nothing, patiently waiting for Maeve to compose and go on with her story-telling.
After a couple of minutes Maeve resumed her story: Kelvan was coming from a renowned family of tanners. They were doing very well on their business and had all his future planned. But Kelvan was looking for adventure. He wanted to become a warrior. At the age of fifteen he secretely entered to the service of a well known knight, taking care of his horses, saddling them, cleaning the saddle and working on new briddles, also learning from his master as much as he could. He had a lot of work to do. Nevertheless, he kept helping me with my herbs collection and mushrooms picking and sorting, learning there too. We kept spending a lot of time together being very happy. But at the age of seventeen he joined the army of King John and was sent to war the Anglo-Norman war had started; young men and healthy boys were sent to the front. It was the year 1202, Maeve added looking straight into Amy’s eyes, causing chills down the young lady’s spine, when I cried my first tears of real sorrow.
The war lasted for two years, Maeve continued telling, a time in which I received no news about him. I was worried sick for him, praying for him all the time, trying to keep my mind busy with the making of medicines out of my plants. I even built a small garden where I kept raising specimens of plants I needed for my medicines. Some people were calling me crazy, others already declared me a witch, many though, coming to me for anyhting that crossed their minds: coughs and sneazes, colds and pneumonia, little bruises and beauty-treats for their skins. A few had even asked me to create love formulas and potions for them, a thing I had no knowledge of. I did my best but offered no guarantee. So, I was very busy all the time, knowing that he might never come back, still hoping that I’d see him again. But when the war was over and he was supposed to return home, nothing of the sort happened. It was as if nobody had ever met him. He simply vanished: no one seemed to have heard of him. It took a while, about five months and a half until a man came to our town and presented himself to Mrs. Nealon, Kelvan’s mother, as a soldier that knew her son. She received the news with a broken heart already: her son wasn’t to come back home again.
I cried for him forever, each night remembering to light a candle and say a prayer for his soul. As grief shrouded my entire being I retired in my home refusing to participate to any fair or feast or other events happpening in the village or in its environs. Some people thought I was becoming a wicked witch and started avoiding me. I was even warned by a couple of people asking me to stop my magic practices: fools! Still, when sickness stroke, many of them came to me, seeking for a cure. I was lucky to have saved some lives. Knowing that I was doing nothing wrong soothed me: what can be so wrong about healing people with the help of plants and praying a little for the healing to happen? I couldn’t understand them, the ones who decided to slander me.
Two more years passed. I was close to my nineteenth anniversary when I lost my parents. That was the worst coup. I was suddenly left alone, a young woman with little education and the wish to completely change the life that’s been planned for her. I had nothing in my town, nothing to care about but the meadows, the woods and hills I once used to roam over while having a lot of fun with Kelvan. But the memories were all painful, now, too painful! I wanted out of there. Forever away from what caused such great amounts of pain.
Feeling suffocated with my memories and the emotions coming to me, I decided to run away and never go back. An aunt of mine received me Ove was her name. She was established in Tajo, Spain. She was also very rich but cupid, sparing a woman who asked me to work for her more than I thought it was possible for one to do. She also had a house in Aneto which I liked a lot. I established there for a little while.
Living into the mountains helped me a lot with my herbs’ research but also got me into trouble once my aunt discovered my so called potions and medicines. She decided to take me to Tajo where I was supposed to work as a seamstress under her vigilent eye. It was tedious a job but I managed to learn quickly and found some time for my old practice of preparing cures. I started helping people there too and this time was for good money. Seeing that I was doing pretty well without her help and getting good amounts on money from the work I did for her, she didn’t insist on changing my ways anymore only warned me on several occasions that what I was doing outside her service was dangerous and that I’d better keep my eyes open wide, be alert. I didn’t quite understand her until she took me to a fair in Madrid. I loved the place so much that I didn’t want to leave. It was there where I made a lot of friends but also, on this run for a better life, I got myself a couple of enemies who turned me to the authorities, accusing me of witchcraft. I was lucky, though; I survived this first time. They released me after a couple of influential people I had helped rescuing their lives with my medicines and advice avowed that I was doing nothing wrong, on the contrary, I had saved their lives with my herbs and my prayers. Nevertheless, I was advised to leave the study of herbs and medicine to professionals, being released four days after having been arrested.
My aunt wasn’t pleased with the rumours created during my trial and after, and denied me the right to show myself at her house again. Alone, confused and tired of being misjudged, I decided to flee Spain. I used the money I had gathered to travel to Sicily and established there. I lived in Sicily for almost a year and loved it. I even thought I’d buy a house there in a few years of hard labour and life-save. But soon I was to change my plans completely, returning to the idea of home: my real home, the place I deserted for feeling all memories too painful to deal with. She smiled with nostalgia glittering in her eyes refracting luminous waves on her perfectly created face and cleared her throat then continued.
Guess what? she changed moods into joy. It is precisely in Sicily where I had the surprise of my life. I was minding my work in the garden of a lady who took me in to be her helper to her bakery-shop. One day, a fair-haired man with ocean-blue eyes entered the bakery asking for a loaf of bread. I was just getting inside the bakery to bring a few aromatic plants and flowers to cheer the place when I saw him: there was Kelvan, in front of me again he was alive and doing well. I couldn’t believe it! I jumped pass the counter and plunged into his arms. Poor thing, he couldn’t believe it either, meeting me in Sicily, precisely four years after the Anglo-Norman war, a time when he was thinking about returning home: he confessed it to me later that day.
He had no clue of the pain and suffering he provoked by not going back home immediately after the war. We hugged and kissed and shared our adventures before planning to go back to our birth-towns and visit his parents. For this we needed more money than we had so we worked together as healers, he also as a tanner to raise the money for the trip. I will never go to another war in my life, he confessed to me one day. It is too brutal, too cruel. The smell of rotting flesh, the fresh blood gushing out the wounds of a comrade, the look in the eyes of someone who’s dying! It’s horrible! Losing a comrade and a friend is the most heart-aching thing in the world! he said. He blushed then paused realising that he let me think he was dead all the time before our fortuitous encounter. ‘Seeing people who die right in front of your eyes’, he went on frowning with horror brought back to him by the cruel memories haunting his mind, ‘still, knowing that you kill for survival but produce so much pain...! it’s awful. I killed many and many were killed in front of me. Some were much younger than me. They were children, Maeve!’ he said eyes widened with horror. ‘Nine years old, some even younger... Their families must have been crushed. I was ashamed, Maeve. I felt so ashamed that I couldn’t think going back and face you and mother! I just couldn’t! Killing another human is not for me! Especially when that young! I still have nightmares about those people I killed and their families. Do you hear me? Can you believe me?’ I can, I answered, glad that he was there, abreast me to tell the story. I don’t even know how I survived that battle! I hear you, I said. And I understand. But not coming back produced a lot of pain to the ones you loved. A soldier came to your mother one day and told her you had died on the front. How did he look like? I don’t know. Fair hair, wearing a moustache, dressed like a soldier...I don’t remember his name. I had a fight once with a soldier, just before the war ended. Maybe it was him: a strange way of getting it on me! You think it was him taking revenge? I don’t know! Many soldiers fit into the description and I had many fights. A couple of soldiers and I tried to escape the army, once, and almost got caught. It was I the one who put us all to the danger of being caught. The two others were brothers. The next day one of them died on the battle field and I had a fight with this comrade, his brother. We were separated by our superior who sent me to fight to the south-front. Five days later the war was over and we were sent back home. Released from my duties I became burdened of the sorrow caused. I received some money for my services but it wasn’t much and I felt miserable and sad. I abandoned the idea of going back home for a promise of a comrade to help me get rich in the South so we left for Provence. I lived there for almost three years until I decided to come to Sicily. All this time! You were so close! I said blushing. I lived in Aneto for a while, you know? Led a peaceful life up in the mountains only me, studying new herbs. I bet you saved many lives, Maeve! I did save a few! I bragged then we laughed. My little medicine genius! he taunted before we decided to put together a serious plan for us to return to our village.
In a few months we had the money we needed for our plans to come true but we didn’t know what had been prepared for us. I was very happy ignoring any danger. The job at the bakery was good, I was well paid, the healing with the aid of plants was starting to go well as many came to me for advice and help and I also found time to either do the cleaning or sew hats and dresses for more money. But what I didn’t know was that I had made a new enemy, a young woman who fancied Kelvan and hated me for being so close to him all the time. We weren’t actually thinking of marrying but she could tell that he preferred my company instead of hers which brought me certain death. She happened to know a few influential people at that time and they confessed against me, accusing me of heresy and witchcraft. Poor Kelvan, he tried to save me, putting himself at risk too but couldn’t prevent my execution. I saw him in the crowd, for the last time, his eyes pooled with tears trying to reach to me, kept in place by two strong men. I yelled back at him through gasping sobs, tears trickling down my face and neck, watching the skies as if I was talking to God, asking to take the money and live a happy life away; reach heavens without me! I yelled. Go back home! I screamed. Make your mother happy! Take all the money and run away, please! As the flames began to reach my flesh, I yelled at God asking for a miracle to happen, for a proof that I was innocent but the skies didn’t answer. I asked for strength. A few clouds gathered for rain long into the distant horisons. It wasn’t going to rain for me that day. At least not before the ordeal.
People thought that I went mad during the torture I was careful not to speak his name publicly, afraid that they might punish him for complicity. I hoped he had heard my words and followed so, after I died I looked for him as well. He wouldn’t touch my share he kept it for a while, safe in a secret place. He eventually returned to our village and tried to make a saint of me. Imagine: Me, a saint! Maeve gasped. I was no saint. I wasn’t a bad witch or an evil-minded human but a saint? No. I did my best to help people but never cared too much. Real saints always care too much and get deceived, disappointed; they sacrifice for their faiths. I never let myself deceived and never sacrificed myself in the name of my belief. At least I think I didn’t. Instead I was sacrificed by the jealousy of a woman who pretended to be a friend to Kelvan and I, but who secretly hated me. This I learned after I died. I wanted to know who did that to me. Who was the one turning me to the authorities of those days? I had to. Maeve raised and poured herself another cup of tea. Then again, Saints forgive. I could never forgive them for what they did! I also took revenge. A short pause followed.
They married, you know? He and that woman, and I couldn’t take revenge on her because that would have caused him a lot of pain. At least that’s how I saw things. She was good, so good at deceiving, lying and cheating. I let them live a happy life for the first ten years but towards the end of my patience, that rage I was telling you about grew in intensity and I felt like punishing her too for her acts of betraying our trust. The first move was to haunt her. Then I made her confess her betrayal. I didn’t want him to kill her, I just wanted him to know the truth. In the beginning I thought they had forgotten about me but, to my surprise, they didn’t. Neither of them. When he learned the truth he rejected her and left. They were never blessed with children, which was a little fault of mine, true I couldn’t see such a horrible creature like her raising children properly. So, I wasn’t a real witch during my human existence but turned into a fierce one after I died. Just to please a lie or two told the right time for a revenge on nature: well, nature has cruel ways of taking back at those who force its hand. Maeve’s eyes were flickering with revengeful sorrow Amy felt her flesh stringed by an invisible chord. She couldn’t move for the first minute after Maeve’s story, her muscles strained with horror. Yes, Maeve could be fearsome.
*
The jaundiced surface of the pine table in the living-room was reluctantly receiving the shadows of the two cups and a tea-pot lying on its surface, invintingly. Maeve poured into the cups the last tea-drops left in the kettle.
- Are you sure that you aren’t a saint?! It looks like a saint-way of punishing someone for their wrong-doing! Amy observed.
- You are such a darling, Maeve smiled then chuckled at a memory. You don’t know about the atrocities I contributed to. Revenge is said to be a weakness not a strength. And saints are said to be kind... and strong.
- Are they?
- Not all of them the same but they all share similar traces of character! she frowned for the price of two seconds then followed: Some don’t seem to be like that, do they Maeve admitted. Perhaps they were just normal people like I was before they sanctified them, Maeve joked.
- I believe that you are too modest! Look at you! You have wings to fly and the capacity of fighting and thrusting demons!
- I learned, Maeve said frowning pensively. Perhaps I am close to them, now. After all the punishment and all the penance, I came to the conclusion that one cannot change the very lost. I once thought I’d end being one of them, the lost, that much rage against injustice! It is terrifying how much I did not care for their suffering! She paused again for a couple of minutes then closed: Well, this is my love-story, if you want to call it this way. There was nothing else but friendship going on between me and Kelvan, although he once asked me if I were considering marriage, whom would I pick. I remember saying that I had no idea of the sort but if I were to marry I’d had marry him because he was the only man I could trust. In fact, he was the only human that ever inspired me trust. We laughed a little, behaving like two kids then kissed. All the rest is history you already know, Maeve smiled bitterly placing her empty cup on the table.
- You would have loved to marry him, Amy decided after reading Maeve’s smile.
- I can’t argue with you on that! Maeve admitted. I still have remnant-chips of resent and sorrow, and I’d still defend the innocent, be the price of me living among shadows like before.
- Before you met Amitiel?
- Yes. It was the mission I joined him for the one that allowed me live in the oasis created for Torsten and Triton...
- Do you think that Menw misses his house?
- He doesn’t care. He has plenty of resources to make the life he wants for himself anywhere he chooses to live. It is I the one with a limited power there... And all that because I couldn’t change the ugliness inside, the one of my own past and make something beautiful of it, like he did. He can change a reality with another, you know?
- Isn’t that an illusion? Amy asked.
- Was that good food and good tea an illusion to you? Maeve asked. Was the place felt
wrong or fake in any way?
- No, Amy admitted.
- There is your answer. He can make good things happen out of bad things. Faked, in the beginning, they eventually become real. I can make good things happen as well only I need them to behold a seed of good. You see, I make better things out of the good inside them... and bad things out of what’s utterly bad.
- I see. I mean, I can understand.
- And I can separate what’s good from what isn’t good.
- It worked for me! Amy paused for a little while then decided to express a thought: Isn’t changing one reality for another a harmful thing? I mean, doesn’t it affect the other reality, the one from which the good thing is taken from?
- Not if both realities live and share the same joys! It’s like the mirror’s reflections. Do you believe in the truth shown in a mirror?
- I don’t know. A mirror is showing a reversed side of who I am on the surface. It takes much more than a simple glance to get out to the surface more of the whole that I am, doesn’t it?
- True, Maeve said. You’re a very profound soul! Let me put it this way: what you see into the mirror is the truth that reflects the life you live. What happens in real life happens on the other side too, with minor singularities.
- I see, Amy mused. I don’t know why but I prefer your ways. Maybe it’s because they seem more possible, more rational. Amy said. Maeve laughed.
- I love those brains of yours, kid! she said raising.
- Miranda! Amy jumped.
There she was, Miranda, standing in the threshold, in front of the two rescuers, prompting her body to the door frame. She was pale and looked as if she had lost a lot of weight which wasn’t exactly making her look good. Amy couldn’t prevent herself from noticing that this beautiful girl had lost her healthy looks which was alarming. So, that’s what happens when you’re possessed by an evil or a revengeful spirit! You... you are eaten alive... dying.
- Thank you, whoever you are and whatever you did, Miranda said addressing to Maeve.
- Warrior-girl! Here you are, in one piece, thanks to my herbs and her soup. She helped a lot, you know?! Maeve said pointing to Amy.
- Thank you, Amy, the brune girl smiled faintly.
- I did only what I had to do as Amitiel’s assistant.
- Where is Amitiel and the rest of the group? Miranda asked.
- We should have supper first and then we’ll contact the rest of the team, Amy said, a
shadow of worry dancing this way and that on her face.
- They are safe for now but we cannot risk any of you get swallowed by a portal and dragged into the World of Shadows. Things down there are already pretty complicated, Maeve clarified. We’ll go to the guest-house tomorrow morning. Until then, you girls have some rest. This is not going to be easy, the sequel, she smiled, a secret wink back at Amy who chuckled.
- We’ll be safe as long as we listen to Maeve! she reassured Miranda.
Mountains were rising haughtily into the distance. Green valleys crossed by rivers were affecting the few small houses bathed in the light of the first sun rays of the day. Above the hills and down the valley’s villages, silence was reigning, the wind only whispering fresh perfumes of the forests around human dwellings. Maeve was hovering over these places, her wings widely spread to carry her with the speed of light to the meeting of her plans. She was looking for a secret mountain plant to help the two girls with more energy. Their muscles had to be strengthened so, Maeve also prepared herself for a hunt, far away from the village. She was hoping for a pheasant or a hair, something that she could easily carry. Not being able to sleep, sorrowed with memories of times long grieved, she thought that making herself more useful would bring back some of her good humours.
The night was young when she made one of her special teas for the girls to pass into the profoundness of slumber then took off. They were planning to go to the guest house, next day, if the girls would feel strong enough so, she decided to look for better food. But Maeve was also looking for something to help her close the great trench portal surrounding the house. She had thought of a bargain that would convince Carrden to return to the World of Shadows. There was nothing for him here, on Earth, anyway! Nothing but the precious Sunday mornings that would allow him to enjoy the real taste of some fresh fruit. She thought he’d love more of the tastes life had to offer and was determined to help him with her magic, lure him into enjoying all the foods he ever loved, all the time, not only apples and peaches each Sunday morning. All in exchange for his services for her and the human world. A deal he could not refuse since it was to bring him more than he lately had, perhaps everything he had hoped for when he decided to work for Auria. But Auria deceived him and he was living a miserable life. With no trust in Auria and her deals, Maeve had her way cleared for a clever move. Something had to be done! The portals couldn’t just open for no reason at all, especially in a place like the guest house on the hills of Broadford! There must have been a logical explanation and the only one Maeve could think of was Carrden. Auria needed him just as much as Earth did. The World of Shadows wanted and needed him but the old man was sly enough, cunningly avoiding to let that be known. He was using his frail appearance to trick everyone into thinking he was of no use to any mission involving demons and shadows Coward! Maeve concluded once the clarifications regarding the identity of Carrden were offered to Miranda. He never was anything but a low creature, a coward running from his duties, a liar and a cheat. He looked for the easy way out of the World of Shadows, thinking himself clever enough but things didn’t work for him the way he imagined. The curse got on him and punished him with the inhability of enjoying what he deceived for. He sounds like an awful creature! Miranda shuddered. He is a chatterbox, a clever prater and a liar but he is harmless. You see, he always avoided a real fight. He was never in his afterlife a true warrior, and never spoke the truth that would bring him trouble. At least not down there, in the World of Shadows, where his help was needed on several occasions.
Cold winds were exchanging their prophetic knowledge on the heights she was attaining. So far so good, Carrden. But you see, Maeve soliloquized as she was flying above valleys and hills, I know what you want now, I know what you crave for! You want to feel alive and soon it won’t matter if you get it here or elsewhere. You are that tired with the situation you’re in and I that clever. You’ll do the right thing, Carrden! I’ll make you do the right thing, so help me God!
She returned with a bird and two stones added to her satchel of herbs which grew three times bigger than it was. Filled to the brim with water and herbs, a jar was kept into the satchel, safe. She carefully pulled it out and placed it on the kitchen table.
- I thought you were sleeping! Amy said rubbing her eyes, showing sleepy.
- Is Miranda up? Maeve took interest.
- When I left the bedroom she was still asleep. Last night she ate like a famished wolf! Amy said her stomach rumbling.
- You’re hungry. Don’t worry, I’ll cook you some breakfast.
- No, I’m okay! I’ll just have a sandwich.
- I brought something for us to cook for lunch! Maeve said pointing to the dead freshly plucked and eviscerated bird. Amy turned around holding her nose in disgust.
- Uh, she uttered. Dead birds are not my specialty!
- They were mine! Maeve chuckled. You know, in times of poverty and wars one would be very happy to have anything good to eat, especially a healthy bird like that!
- Yeah, right! I’d rather eat the eggs of birds and leave their meat to those who can chew it after they plucked and chopped ... and cleaned! the girl turned around so she wouldn’t see the bird. Maeve chuckled.
- I’ll clean and cook it for you girls, don’t worry! You go down to the village and get more vegetables and eggs. After breakfast we’ll climb the hill.
- You mean we’ll go to the guest-house? You want us to go up there?
- Yes.
- You think it’s a good idea? I mean, getting so close to the portal again?
- If you girls listen to me, we might just get into the house and help your friends out before the police started investigating their disappearance!
- I guess you know best! Amy paused for a second then decided. You know what? You’re right, she said feeling a little excited at the thought of being of actual help. She needs us there too. We’ll just have to do as we’re told. She is on our side, Amy kept encouraging herself to think only well of Maeve. But there was something telling her that the woman was unpredictable and dangerous, not to be fully trusted. The proof was standing right in front of her, about an hour before when she left the house for groceries: the bird. Maeve never told them that she was going for a hunt and more herbs. And she never told what was on her mind that made her face contort in such fashion that it changed the colour of its expression to dark greys telling of a secret plan. Amy was sure that Maeve had built a plan but she couldn’t say what was this plan. The only thing that she knew with certainty was that this centuries-old woman, endowed with beauty and immortality, had included her and Miranda into her plans and this could be dangerous, more dangerous than she could foresee. She is an Angel, for crying out loud! Why can’t I trust her? And why do her ways have to be so mysterious!?
This could be a trap to lock them both forever into the World of Shadows, a tiny dwarf was tick-tock-ing whilst moving a wheel, a place where they might be forced to fight for Auria or even Maeve herself. Who could tell if there wasn’t another cruel revenge planned? Or a riot? What if Maeve wanted to fight Auria and take her place! She didn’t seem like the kind but... Who could guess what drove Maeve to be this kind yet, at the same time, so reserved, mysterious and unpredictable. If the mood for a hunt came to her so easily she might be on to something really great. She needs us, that is why she wants to reinforce our strength. But what for? What kind of a bait are we and just how dangerous will this be for us? Amy asked herself. I’m sure her plan is not only to rescue the others from the guest house. Somehow I’m sure that she came here for more! Amy pensively concluded.
*
The guest-house was proudly shining in the light of noon, not giving a hint about what was going on around it. The villagers wouldn’t know, even if they cared for the place. It was Amy’s surprise to observe that nobody could see what she was seeing. It can’t be! she said to herself, it glows as if a million mirrors out, surrounding it! How is that the only one who sees this is me. And Maeve, perhaps, she added to her train of thoughts.
- I wonder if they need anything? Miranda asked looking to have some conversation. She recovered spectacularly with the help of Maeve’s new tinctures becoming the same old Miranda Amy had met in the Hall where she filled in her application for the programme.
- I believe they’re alright, Carrden is helping, Amy answered.
- Who or what exactly is this Carrden? the beautiful woman wanted to know.
- Aparently he is nothing but the shadow of the man he used to be. A parted soul who was granted permission to live as a demi-human for a while.
- Is he a nice guy?
- No. Not really, Amy answered.
- He’s fine for what he is! Maeve dryly said.
The three women were walking confidently towards the hill when the sun raised in full splendour above the village. They were admiring the beauty of nature in solemn silence, not knowing what to say to one another. Maeve was again stern, like the time Amy had met her. Why? That is a reason only she, Maeve, had knowledge of.
- When we get there, Maeve started after minutes of walking, you’re going to follow my instructions. You’re going to stay away from the portal. I will be the only one who will advance and fly above to the guest-house. I’ll bring each of your friends safe to you but you girls musn’t move from where I set your camp unless another portal opens there, putting you thus to danger. Amy, if you happen to need me you can contact me the same way you contacted Amitiel, last night. Amy nodded in sign of approval.
- I hope Dean is doing well, Miranda sighed.
- He is going to be fine, don’t worry, Maeve reassured.
- He did a very brave thing rescuing you, sacrificing his own freedom for you, Amy said laying a comforting hand on Miranda’s shoulder. The young beautiful woman received the words with strange coldness. Amy had hoped for a warmer reception. After all, Dean did prove that he wasn’t such a bad guy!
- You girls need to be prepared for an evening out in collaboration! Maeve said as if for herself. Amy was about to say something when the frightened face of a woman in the village alerted them.
- Run! Run away! It’s the end of the world! Run! You have to run for your lives! Alert the other ones! The earth has split, a chasm was revealed and ghosts, all the ghosts of my friends and family long passed! all of them out, the woman gushed out. They’re coming out of there, she gasped pointing to a house! Do something! Run! The gates of hell opened! they ...they come after us! she stammered, Run! Run for your lives, girls! You’re too young! she said grabbing both Amy’s arms, shaking her.
- Calm down, please! Amy asked with wiedened eyes. She pulled her arms from the womans clench and spoke firmly: You need to calm down, relax and tell us what happened! She helped the woman to a rocker. Maeve gave the woman some water asking her to show them the way to that place where she claimed to have seen a portal gape open.
- This is going to slow us down but we have to help this woman, Maeve said. She quickly pulled out her satchel a thermos and poured tea into the thermos cup then asked her to drink so she’d calm her spirits. Then they went to the woman’s house where the portal was seen. This is strange! Maeve said when they arrived. This is so strange! Are you sure that you didn’t see anyone coming out of that... hole in the ground?
- Yes, I’m sure! Only ghosts. Thousands of faces were trying to grab me and take me down into the ground with them.
- This is bad, Maeve said. It can’t be Amitiel, he knows how to travel and open a portal or find an opened one that wouldn’t meet the presence of a human being alarming or harming them! I bet this is Auria’s work.
- What about Aedan? Amy asked.
- What about him? Maeve’s thunderous eyes stopped on the girl. What do you know about Aedan? Maeve asked suspiciously.
- Not much. He appeared once in the guest-house, down in the basement. He is the one who asked Amitiel to go after Miranda, rescue her.
- I see... Aedan is a very dangerous creature, Maeve said, carefully tucking the woman who dropped her cup falling into slumber. She’s going to be fine, Maeve said pointing to the woman. We need her to feel safe here, in her home. When she’ll wake up she’ll think all this was nothing but a dream, unless another portal opens here again, which is, as we can acknowledge, a possibility. Let’s close this one and move on.
- You can also close portals? Amy gushed out.
- Not all of them. Only the small portals, those opened for personal travels of some of the guardians and angels who live in the World of Shadows. They usualy don’t forget to close them. If one opened and not closed then there must be something out of control happening.
- Wow!
- Can you close the one up on the hill? Miranda asked.
- I’m afraid that one is not the hand of a single angel or guadian but of an army well formed for the mission of gathering all the soldiers needed to chase away demons and ghouls. I do not hold such great powers, Maeve admitted.
- Oh!
- She’s going to help our team out and Amitiel will recover Dean soon, don’t worry! Amy heard herself speaking. She was not fully convinced of her own encouragements and Miranda seemed to care little for Dean. Things were going stranger and stranger. Maeve had secretely went for a hunt and herbs pick, not giving away her secret formulas as Amy expected, then this woman they were stopped by witnessed a portal opening and, to add on top of her worries, Amitiel didn’t answer to her call, last night. The compass-watch was working, she tried to contact Garry and they shared the news but it seems that Amitiel was out of reach. It is true, though, she didn’t insist much on reaching the angel. She was tired and Maeve’s sleeping tea was starting to show its effects. Still, she felt worry like never before. Hadn’t it been for Maeve’s herbs she would have spent another night plagued by nightmares. She fought a little against the effects of the tea until she had no other choice but surrender and have some well deserved rest.
- We’d better get out of here before this woman awakes and sees us here! Maeve advised. Then she’ll know that what she witnessed was the truth and we cannot afford panic among humans too!
They ran into the street and across they found a deserted cottage. They climbed to the attic from where they could see the surroundings. Maeve wanted to take a look from above see if she could spot any creature coming from the World of Shadows.
- I don’t get it, Miranda started. If you can fly, which you can, why wouldn’t you use your super-power now?
- Amy dear, never feel too embarrassed for not looking like a super-model, Maeve tampered with irritation in her voice. My dearest, she addressed Miranda. I prefer not to let people know that there’s a super-natural being in their quiet village. I’m not in the mood for a witch-hunt.
- But there’s nobody around. And you did it anyway last night! Miranda went on.
- During the night people sleep, Maeve grasped. They tend to focus more on their rest than on other things. Besides, I took precautions. A short pause gave her the opportunity to remember a detail she wanted more information on: Aedan. I can see now why Dean and you were such a good catch for Conall! she launched a final rhetorical attack. Miranda didn’t say a word, her flinty expression letting Maeve know that this young woman wasn’t going to feel impressed by anything one might say or think about her. There was a tremendous amount of confidence she was endowed with, a thing to cause nothing but admiration. But Maeve wasn’t the age to feel impressed so easily. She strongly disagreed with humans like Dean and Miranda. Being herself one of the beautiful, she knew about the dangers of falling in love with the Self and never allow anyone think themselves a good match.
- Think of Aedan, Amy, please, and let me know the details of your encounter. Amy started telling the story of their meeting in the basement of the guest-house on the hill, simultaneously watching the village from above in the hope of finding the creature for which the new portal opened.
- It was better when I was just a simple child looking for real friendship and fun! Maeve soliloquized. To Miranda these words didn’t cause any feeling but for Amy they meant a lot. They meant that Maeve was remembering her old happy days, it meant heart-breaks and devotion, it meant regrets and dreams both shattered to mirror the new broken facets of the greater truth. Amy was suddenly feeling sad. They weren’t going to do anything brave, she and Miranda. They were probably going to wait for their friends to come to the deserted cottage after being carried up on the back of this angel-woman who happened to turn into a magical creature one shouldn’t trust completely. They were going to hide away like poor little frightened mice or rabbits, running away from the portals they don’t know how to either close or cross but with the help of angels. They couldn’t help. How could one help an angel?
*
Maeve decided diferently than Amy would expect. She didn’t ask the girls to wait in the cottage for the students trapped in the guest-house. She asked them to follow her and be very careful. The hills were looking friendlier than ever. Down into the forests there were birds singing and deers running freely. Maeve could see them as they always were: wild and free.
- That pheasant was delicious, Miranda lauded in a wailing tone, showing that she was already a little bit hungry. Don’t look at me like that! she scolded noticing Amy’s gaped mouth. It’s almost tea time! I always have something to eat for tea.
Amy could not believe her ears. How could this gorgeus girl eat so much and never get fat? This had to be a joke. Or, perhaps, this was the effect of her fighting deep down into the World of Shadows. Either way, the idea of a super-model like her eating so much was a little disconcerting. They arrived to a large oak on the hill where Maeve asked the two girls to stop and set their camp.
- I still can’t believe that the World of Shadows is sending for actual humans to make warrriors of them! Amy said placing her back-pack in the grass.
- It is a possibility! Maeve corrected. It happened a year before, It might go on like this until Auria decided to put these ideas aside and deal with the demon invasions using only the souls who were supposed to deal with such things: the souls sentenced to live in the World of Shadows. From where they were standing, the guest-house and the portal surrounding the house were easy to keep watch on.
- You girls will wait here for my sign. When this dragon-fly appears, she said pulling out from her satchel an odd dragon-fly made of gold, it means that it is either safe for you to get to the guest-house or necessay. If another portal opens in your proximity, Amy, you know what to do! The compass-watch will help you reach me. Under no other circumstance you move. No matter what you hear or see!
- Right, Miranda said doubtfully.
Amy wasn’t sure about this plan either. Maeve didn’t offer them details on how she had planned to free the rest of the team. Maybe she was going to fly above the portal and bring each student, one by one, out on her back but, in order to save the world of humans from the shadows hunt she had to close that trench portal. One villager already witnessed a gaping. They couldn’t afford more witnesses, the angels of the World! So, what were her plans? What was she actually up for?
- I’ll establish a connection with Garry right now, she said glancing back at Maeve as
if seeking for her approval.
- That is a good idea! Maeve said.
Hm! She doesn’t seem disturbed by my proposal of keeping an eye inside too. Maybe I’m exaggerating! Maybe she is not up for something bigger than the eyes can meet!
*
Up into the guest-house a quarrel started. Garry was asking Carrden to let him help with some logs outside but Carrden wouldn’t hear about it and he wouldn’t go out for some himself either. According to the shadow-man there was a change in the behaviour of the chasm’s white shadows and things were now more dangerous than before.
- But we need those logs! the young man argued. We’ll have to lit a fire tonight, otherwise we’ll freeze in here!
- I doonae care for yer reasons!
- That’s because you’re an insensitive little old man, Lisa retorted obviously disturbed by the indiference shown on Carrden’s face.
- Look, lass, the man continued. True is that ah doonae feel frost or fires, and I can’t taste yer foods a’ymore boot ah can tell when soomething wrong is aboot ta happen and that is close. Anyone who dares ta get too close ta that portal is food for the World of Shadows! Listen ta me! Ah know when soomething is wrong!
Lisa flushed scarlet red wailing:
- I cannot freeze here! What if the portal extends or another one opens right here and we get dragged into the depths of Shadows Land?
- Calm down, Troy asked in disbelief. Nothing is going to happen!
- Let’s not panic, Lisa! Laura feebly attempted to comfort the other girl. After all, it is
summer time. Perhaps tonight won’t be that bad.
- We’ll be alright! Dinah said. Amitiel will soon come back to rescue us! You’ll see!
- Ye’d better pray for that ta happen, Carrden sneered aloofly, spitting on the floor.
- Can you be less disgusting? Lisa finally dared to confront the man. Carrden didn’t feel like going on with the fight. He simply turned around and headed towards the back door.
- Hey, where are you going? Garry asked.
- Ye wanted some logs for the fire! Ah’ll go get some! he answered looking over his shoulder.
The howling and roaring coming from the trench-portal calmed. It was a good time to get out for the logs. But all the silence was eerie, making them foresee horror.
- I don’t like this, Ramon said.
- What? Lisa asked.
- Listen! Troy perked up.
- It’s silent! The roars... the hauling! They’re gone! Laura said.
- Is it possible? Dinah said eyes widened. Is it over?
All of them walked to the windows to take a glance. The portal was still there, intensely glowing with each pulsation. The group was expecting it to close at any minute. Instead, a powerful lightning was both seen and heard in high pitched tones and they walked backwards, some stumbling around. Carrden stormed back in then the uproar began to shake the earth and the walls of the house. Lisa screamed with horror creeping to the dining table under which she found shelter.
- It’s going to fall on us! Laura huddled protecting her head with her arms.
- Girls, go under the table! Garry yelled. Troy, Yuri, you too!
The turmoil tripled. From outside, Garry could hear two voices raised one against the other. He glanced out the window to see a beautiful dark-haired woman and a tall man ready to fight.
- What do you want, Aedan?
- I asked for that girl to be taken back to this world not to have her replaced with another pesky human thirsty for revenge and power.
- So, he got that far! Maeve said in a scoffing tone.
- You will never change!
- I have no reason to. Now let me pass, I have some humans to rescue from the World of Shadows, unless you want them to turn into warriors to fight your demons, Aedan!
- They are my hostages! I’ll set them free once you give away Carrden and the group of fools leaving the World of Shadows without my permission! Also, take that pest, Dean, out of there!
- You really think yourself the true leader of the World of Shadows, don’t you!?
- At least I fight for my grounds! What are you doing? Saving pesky mortals from the inevitable, like Amitiel does?
- You let me pass! she menaced unsheathing her sword. They fought for a while and during their clench Maeve lost her satchel. A box was dropped and the little insect-device got out to warn Amy about the dangers at the guest-house.
Amy couldn’t tell if Maeve was really asking for her help or not but, seeing that the fight between Maeve and Aedan was starting to inflame, she decided to go to the guesthouse.
- Miranda, please, stay here! I don’t think that Maeve managed to purify you completely there was still a connection between you and Conall left, a bridge she couldn’t break and, even if it weren’t so, you’re still a step away from being dragged back there. Besides, someone has to wait here for the team!
- Okay, the other one coldly accepted not willing to get into another adventure. She was a little strange at times, Miranda, but Amy felt that deep down inside her this young woman was a good soul. She descended the hill quickly, climbing the knoll on which the guest-house was reigning with the speed of an athlete.
Maeve was attacking Aedan when Amy arrived.
- Here you are! Maeve launched over the shoulder, jocularly. What took you so long?
- I hope I can be of help! What do you want me to do? Maeve jumped to her satchel and threw it to Amy.
- There’s a little vial with a glowing liquid in it! Drink it!
Amy wanted to ask what it was, the glowing liquid, but feeling that there was no time for explanations she immediately did as told. In a minute she felt something warm taking over her body. Her arms were starting to shine, a warm light from within radiating ,then a couple of wings appeared on her back. Flash-backs with images of the life she had combined with things she couldn’t remember living apeared in front of her eyes. In less than a minute she was high in the sky threatening Aedan.
- You’re in trouble, Maeve smiled smugly. Close this portal and go back from where you came. We’ll do our jobs well without you here.
- So, you are an angel, after all! Aedan spat back at Amy who was ready to attack him with her light sword. I wonder what’s your story, he said raising a sarcastic eyebrow. The girl sternly looked back at him.
- You heard Maeve! she said.
- Okay! Be it the way you want, you are the ladies here but, remember! If you don’t take that human out of the World of Shadows it will be your burden to carry forever!
Aedan disappeared with the portal surrounding the house. Once closed, it took away the roars and squeals of the cold shadows moving inside. Mouths in agape and eyes widened showing dazzlement, Garry and the rest of the group were looking round not knowing what to make of it. They slowly got up on their feet filling out the guest house.
- Is it okay for us to come out now? Garry asked.
- Yes, come out, Amy said victoriously.
Before they exchanged more opinions and feelings a new sun filled the front garden casting a bright light upon the house. From a vertical portal Amitiel appeared.
- Wow, man, I thought you were lost! Garry said.
- How come you got out of a vertical portal, now? Troy asked.
- The dimension in which the World of Shadows resides bent. I don’t have time to explain. Dean is in great danger. He crossed the realms of the World of Shadows ending up in what you guys know as Hell. I need all the help I can get. Maeve, are you ready?
- I never thought I’ll have to go down there again but I’ll do it, Maeve resolutely said.
- Carrden, Amitiel firmly spoke, you’ll come with us. Amy, I know that you want to help and that is why, you and Garry are going to be in charge of our project here.
- We need you here, Angel, Maeve smiled. Take my satchel, you’ll need it. And contact me for anything you need to know!
- Don’t forget about those Monday morning managers meetings! You are my replacement, he said putting a hand on Amy’s shoulder. Seeing dreadful angst in her eyes Amitiel comforted: Don’t worry, Amy! I’ll be alright! We’ll keep in touch! he said to her then smiled at the group launching a Take care!
Amy almost broke into a sob when he waved then disappeared with Maeve and Carrden into the portal that closed behind them. She couldn’t believe that her angel-friends had to go that far and down to save Dean from eternal damnation.
END OF PART I
World of Shadows
Next books, ETERNAL DAMNATION and REDEMPTION can be downloaded from Smashwords.com
Related work may be found on my YouTube Channel where there is some share of free video-poetry as well.