Chapter 11

 

 

The sound of air rushing into the foyer of Isha’s home had many turning in its direction, just in time to see Ganymede and Alexandria appear. Gaius broke away from the others and immediately strode forward, ready to see for himself that she was alright. Rohan took several steps in their direction, though his own father, Eremiel, softly called him back. Rohan halted in his tracks and settled his hands on his waist, even as his aura reached out to Alex.

Ganymede released his tight hold on her, and Alex blinked while she tried to steady herself. She was still slightly disoriented from the sudden shift, but she clearly felt the auras of many around her. And so she made herself turn away from her father to face her brethren.

But all she initially saw was Gaius, and Alex was swept into his arms before she could take one full step away from Ganymede. She felt Gaius take a deep breath, pulling her scent into his lungs as he held her firmly against his heart. Alex patted his back and kissed his chest through his shirt to reassure him.

“Are you alright?” Gaius asked softly. He nuzzled her, then leaned back so he could see her face. His palms swept across her cheeks and into her hair, and he held her there so their eyes remained focused on one another.

“I am,” Alex answered with a slight nod. “Ganymede helped me quite a bit tonight. And I needed the lesson he shared with me, more than I knew.”

“I know,” he murmured, then pressed his lips to her forehead.

Alex turned away from him and extended a hand to Ganymede. He stepped forward and clasped it, while Alex wrapped her other arm around Gaius’ waist. She looked from one to the other, while she chose her next words carefully.

“Ganymede shared a very important point with me tonight, as we talked of what a Nephilim should and should not do when it comes to justice. He said that, unlike all of you, I’ve not grown up with my angelic father in my life each and every day. Ganymede hasn’t physically been with me, nor has he actively been my parent as I matured.”

“So,” Alex paused and smiled at the angel, “it will take me a while to get the feel of this new life and learn how to control my need to right all the wrongs I encounter. But I’ll get there.”

“We have no doubt that you will, daughter,” Ganymede smiled. “Shall we have dinner now? I know the others are ready to eat.”

“Of course,” Alex chuckled. She leaned towards him to kiss his cheek, and then released his hand as he walked away and into the den to speak with Haniel and Eremiel. She felt Gaius’ fingers trail down the side of her face and she turned her eyes back to his.

Alex mentally connected with him, wanting their words to be heard by only the two of them. “I love you, Gaius. I’ll share the whole story with you when we’re alone in our own room tonight. But know that after my conversation with Ganymede, I really am in a better place than I was when he first came to find me.”

“And I love you, sweetheart,” he privately replied. “Share with me when and if you are ready, not before. Understand?”

“I do,” she chuckled aloud.

“Alright, you two,” Rohan said impatiently. He moved closer and looked from Gaius to Alex and pursed his lips at her. “Come here,” he said and pulled her into his arms without further delay. Alex’s eyebrows rose in surprise over his impromptu embrace, and the worry she felt trialing through his aura.

“I am fine…” she tried to say, but he broke in and cut her off.

“Don’t tell me you’re fine, when you’ve been gone for over three hours. You scared us, Alex. You scared me,” he whispered his last words directly into her ear.

“I’m sorry,” she winced.

Tears flooded her eyes again, and Alex cursed the moisture that seemed never ending for her at the moment. She heard Gaius chuckle and she furrowed her brow as she pulled back from Rohan’s chest to look at her husband in question. Gaius merely tapped his temple to remind her that they were still sharing a mental link and, that he had heard the language she had just privately used.

“What?” Rohan grunted, not willing to be left out.

Gaius shook his head as he clasped a hand on Rohan’s shoulder. “I will only say that my wife is learning from us all. And from your language in particular, brother,” he said as he continued to laugh lightly.

Rohan glanced down at Alex with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “About damn time,” he muttered and winked at her. “Stick with me, and I’ll teach you not to be as uptight as the rest of this lot here.”

“Lord save us,” Elrick mumbled, as he also joined them. “Alex, sweetie, do not take to spouting off the words he’s so fond of. Your parents wouldn’t approve.”

“My parents?” Alex laughed and arched an eyebrow at him. “Have you forgotten that I also grew up with Wallace and Conner? They’ve been reserved around you all, but trust me, when they get annoyed, Rohan’s words pale in comparison.”

“Wallace, I could see. But Conner?” Elrick asked, grateful to have the banter to lighten the mood.

“Oh, yes,” she played back.

“Come, let’s be seated for dinner,” Gaius said in hopes of seeing to her body’s needs. He could clearly hear Alex’s stomach grumbling, and knew from his earlier conversation with Sabina that Alex had skipped lunch. Alex nodded as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and began to walk out of the foyer with her by his side.

 

Throughout the meal, the immortal men’s auras became slightly more pronounced in an effort to soothe the ladies. Alex was greatly comforted by their show of support and the love she felt freely flowing around the room. And when Sabina shed slight tears at the table, Rohan passed her his handkerchief. Little touches offered by family and friends, Alex mused to herself, that made it all more bearable.

Alex felt Jack’s hand lightly pat hers, and she leaned against his arm and then settled her head there. His fingers wrapped around hers and Alex closed her eyes as she took in the comfort he was offering her. It was simple and pure, and just as important to her as the Celestial power wafting from the others within the room.

Gaius glanced over at them and smiled to himself as he lifted his glass to his lips. He was so grateful that Alex and Jack were still finding ways to continue their friendship, and that it was still a relationship Jack wanted. He knew Alex would always want to have him as a friend and brother, and it appeared they were navigating the changing landscape of their bond with grace and ease. All things which Gaius hoped and prayed for.

Haniel touched his shoulder and Gaius smiled at his father, knowing he had heard Gaius’ entire internal dialog. Haniel winked at him, and Gaius inclined his head in silent agreement. Through the good and the bad, it was all working out.

 

“Gaius,” Jack whispered after several minutes had passed. Gaius looked to his left and saw Jack nod towards Alex. She was sound asleep, slumped against Jack’s arm still. “She’s out for the count, I think,” he said with a soft chuckle.

“I think so, too,” Gaius agreed. Gaius bid everyone around him goodnight, and he thanked Ganymede, Haniel, and Eremiel for their support and presence that evening as well. Then he stood and gently gathered Alex in his arms, and headed for their bedroom.

She never once stirred as he traversed the stairs and shouldered his way into the room. He gently placed her on the bed and then went about preparing for the night. When he was ready for rest, Gaius moved to her side of the bed and slipped Alex’s shoes off. She did not stir, so he continued until he had shed Alex of her clothing and slid her under the sheets.

He turned off his bedside lamp and then pulled her into his arms. Alex let out a little sigh, but moved no more. Gaius kissed the top of her head and then let sleep claim him too. He did not know if unpleasant dreams would plague her rest, and he was determined to be there for her if she struggled.

But morning dawned with uninterrupted slumber behind it, and Gaius opened his eyes to find her still against him sleeping peacefully. He smiled and placed a hand behind his head so he could observe her resting for a while before he had to rouse her. After almost twenty minutes though, Alex moved and opened her eyes and saw that he watched her. She smiled back and moved up to kiss his chin and then his cheek, before her lips moved over to his ear.

“Good morning,” she murmured, and then kissed his neck, eliciting a shiver that made her chuckle.

“Good morning to you,” he grinned in return. “No bad dreams?”

“Surprisingly, no,” Alex said, as her eyes became more focused.

“Tell me, if you want to, Alex.”

Gaius reached out to trail his fingers through her hair while he waited to see what, if anything, she might share with him. But Alex surprised him when she shifted up and moved atop his body. He lifted his hands and cupped her face, holding her as she leaned over him and stared directly into his eyes.

He looked on as Alex’s eyes rolled closed and she rested her forehead against his. She exhaled just as she mentally connected with him and began to share the entire memory of the previous day. From the moment Ahadi had spoken of an injured young woman in the clinic, through the healing and care of Aadita’s battered body, to Alex’s decision that she needed to find the man and deal with him herself.

Ganymede’s full conversation played out on the bench, and Alex’s truthful confession that she was wrong to come in search of the perpetrator. For in her anger, she had indeed planned to serve as his judge and jury, ready to let her power run free of restraint and caution. And admitting such to the powerful archangel had brought Alex to her knees within, as he helped her to see the error of her decision.

When at last the memory came to a close, Alex reopened her eyes and found that Gaius was still staring up at her. His eyes looked moist from his emotion, but he slowly nodded his understanding. He slid his palm over her cheek, wiping the tears she had shed away, and then his hand crept up into her hair.

“I am so very proud of you, my love. The choices and lessons you must face are not easy, and they are fraught with heartache and great hurt at times. But you did what was right in the end, and that is all that matters. Know that I love you, so very much,” he whispered vehemently. His jaw clenched slightly, and Gaius narrowed his eyes to reaffirm his vow.

Alex nodded as she lowered her head. She fused her lips to his, and slid her hands up his chest until they rolled over his shoulders. She pulled him closer just he drew her down flush against his body. Gaius gently rolled Alex beneath him and then he began to show her what lay in his heart for her.

With all that Alex had shared and all that she had experienced the day before, she felt an urgency to be held and loved which she could not fully explain. As his lips and hands moved over her skin, Alex closed her eyes and tried to temper her desire to rush the love they were sharing. She threaded her hands into his hair and held to Gaius as he helped her find fulfillment in his arms.

When he moved back to claim her lips with his, Alex was truly breathless. He whispered his love as they became one, and then he rolled over and brought Alex back atop him. Gaius smiled as he held her and watched as they soared together. Alex cried out mentally, sharing each moment of the splendor that came when she gave herself completely over to his care. He too voiced his surrender through their connection, keeping their love private from their brethren’s acute hearing.

Alex collapsed against his body and tried to slow her rapid heartbeat. She felt Gaius’ racing right along with hers, and she nuzzled his chest with her lips just above his heart. He flinched when she lingered over his skin, and Alex chuckled softly at his reaction. Gaius purposely smoothed his hand over a ticklish place on her body, and then it was Alex’s turn to flinch.

“You rascal,” she muttered, and then slid to his side.

“You started that,” he laughed. Gaius turned so he could face her and he cupped Alex’s cheek. His eyes roamed over her countenance, and a slow smile spread across his lips.

“What?” Alex asked, though her smile grew in response to his.

“I love you. And I am very happy; that’s all,” he replied.

“That’s all?” Alex chuckled, and propped her head in her hand. She reached out and began to work her fingers through his thick chestnut hair. “Thank you, Gaius.”

He noted the seriousness in her tone immediately and he searched her eyes carefully. “For?” he prompted her.

“Loving me. Accepting me. Forgiving me, when I misstep.”

“There is nothing to forgive, Alex. I love you, and that means I love you in all of your moments. You were learning how to rein your immense power in yesterday, and it will not be the last time you will be tested so. Know that, Alex. For evil exists around every corner, as Ganymede told you. But so too does goodness, kindness, and beauty.”

“I know,” she said indulgently. “And from my vantage point, there is enough beauty before my eyes at this moment, to eclipse all of the darkness this world or the Fallen could ever throw at us.”

“Oh really?” he asked playfully, so thankful to hear her focusing on the positive side of his remarks.

“Really,” Alex nodded and leaned in to kiss him again.

Gaius ran a hand around her back and pulled her closer once more. And as so often happened, it only took one touch before their desire was rekindled. But it was what they both needed to chase the lingering hurt from Alex’s mind, so they shared in their bond to see them through the storm clouds that gathered.

Alex, Sabina, and Isha returned to the women’s shelter that morning to relieve Ahadi and Tomoko. They found that Aadita had rested well throughout the night with the immortals watching over her. Isha began the process of mending her spirit, by offering Aadita breakfast and a quiet walk through the shelter’s gardens. Alexandria knew that it would take time to help Aadita rebuild her trust and ability to be around men again. But by coming to Isha’s door, Aadita was already in a place where she would receive the care and support her spirit and mind would need as she recovered.

The remainder of the day was spent taking turns guarding over Aadita’s body, so she could sleep with an aura soothing her, and working among the other women who lived at or visited the shelter. Though Alex could tangibly feel the pain and hurt from some of the women’s memories, she also found that her aura gave her the strength she needed to help comfort and nurture them when they needed it the most.

And she, too, began to draw strength from the knowledge that she would always be able to share the immense power within her when an innocent was crying out for relief or healing.

 

Alex fell into a pattern then of rotating her time between the children’s sanctuary, the women’s shelter, and the community centers Gaius and the other men worked in. She was able to see the never-ending resources available to the Nephilim put to fruitful and meaningful purpose day after day, and it further bolstered her spirit. Alex found herself thanking the Lord throughout their visit for giving her a life worth living for all the ages to come.

Jack, Gaius, Rohan, Benen, and Elrick traveled to the children’s sanctuary with the ladies at the beginning of their third week in India, to start resurfacing the structure’s roof. Alex, Sabina, and Ahadi came to the top of the building and worked alongside the men, so the girls would see them interacting companionably together. At one point in their work, Alex glanced over at Jack and thought about his reluctance to be too far off of the ground.

“Jack, how are you managing the height and distance from the ground?” she asked tentatively.

He laughed and Alex saw his dimple appear. “Alex, I assure you, I’m holding my own. But,” he added, and wagged his hammer at her, “if I start to slip, I expect one of you to catch me.”

They all laughed with him, and Elrick reached out to lightly pat Jack’s back.

“I promise you, Jack, we would never let you come to harm under our watch,” Elrick grinned.

“I know,” Jack smiled, then turned his eyes to Alex and offered her a wink.

She winked in return and then refocused on driving the nail she held into the roof.

 

Alex saw many of her young friends below in the back courtyard and gardens throughout the day, and she waved down to them as they waved back. During one of their breaks, they were all sitting on the roof drinking cool water when Alex heard little Inayat’s voice calling out to her from below. Alex smiled and climbed quickly down the ladder. Though she could have easily lifted with the wind, she did not want the girls to see the ability so boldly on display.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, the child raised her arms and Alex lifted her into a loving hug. She kissed her brow and smoothed a hand over Inayat’s long, raven hair.

“How did your morning lessons go, Inayat?” Alex asked. Alex knew that Inayat was still so young that her work mainly consisted of learning her numbers, letters, and basic words that she would hopefully put into written sentences before too long.

Inayat smiled bashfully, and it made Alex’s heart feel so full. “I learned three new words today. Can I spell them for you?”

“Three? You smart girl! Yes, spell them for me,” Alex encouraged the child. She listened intently as Inayat slowly worked her way through each new word. Alex praised her when she heard all three spelled correctly.

“Inayat, would you also spell the words for my husband? He likes to learn new words, too. Only if you want to, though,” Alex added, and watched the child’s expressions closely.

Inayat thought about the idea momentarily, and then nodded her agreement. She slipped her thumb into her mouth and waited.

Alex stepped back and looked up to where Gaius sat on the roof. “Gaius, would you come down for a moment? I want you to hear something remarkable from my young friend,” she called out. She knew that he had heard the entire exchange from the roof, but he played along and came down the ladder without delay.

“Hello, there,” he said gently to Inayat. “I would love to hear what you want to share with me.”

Inayat patted Alex’s cheek absentmindedly while she studied Gaius. He had stopped several meters from where Alex stood holding the child, and he had his hands clasped behind his back as he patiently waited to see what they might say. Alex winked at him, then turned her eyes to Inayat’s.

“Inayat, this is my husband, Gaius,” Alex said, as she introduced the tiny youngster to him.

“Ah, so you are Inayat. My wife, Alexandria, talks about you all the time at our home. It is my great pleasure to finally meet you, young lady,” he said kindly.

Inayat angled her head at Gaius as she continued to study his face, then she looked at Alex. “I remember him,” Inayat said as she slipped her thumb from her mouth.

Alex nodded. “Yes, and you are so smart for remembering. Gaius did come into your classroom with me, the first time you and I met one another. Would you like to share your new words with him?”

Inayat smiled and spelled all three, staring directly into Gaius’ face.

He raised his eyebrows and then looked over at Alex. “Alex, you have a very smart friend, indeed. For one so young to learn and remember the words so well, I can see why you talk often about the clever young girl who you love so at the sanctuary.”

Inayat giggled and laid her head over against Alex’s neck, and the two snuggled each other for a moment. Alex gently patted her back as she smiled up at Gaius.

Isha came over to where they stood then and asked Inayat if she was ready for her nap. And though she looked as though she wanted to resist, Alex praised her for taking her rest as she should. The child agreed, so she would not disappoint Alexandria. Isha took Inayat tenderly into her arms, and Alex smoothed her hair as they began to walk away.

Gaius moved forward a few steps and hugged Alex to his chest as he whispered his love to her. She smiled and patted his back, then looked up into his eyes. A silent understanding passed between the two, and he squeezed Alex before he released her to climb the ladder.

Once they were both back on the roof, their friends grinned and nodded their approval.

“You’ve got a friend for life, don’t you?” Elrick chuckled and wiped the sweat from his brow.

“I do,” Alex grinned.

Jack reached out and held Alex’s hand briefly. She smiled tentatively at him in return, as they both acknowledged the sacrifice she had made to return to immortality. But Alex was making her peace with that sacrifice too, one day at a time. And little souls like Inayat were making it possible.