Book One : The Prophecy : VI : Fire from the Sky

VI

Fire from the sky

24^th November 1940

I acquired a hunger for fairy tales in the dark days of blackout and blitz in the Second World War…

A.S.Byatt.

Eveline sat by the window of her hotel room and looked down onto the busy street, filled with people walking along the paths, popping in and out of shops that were heavily protected with large sand bags. With the window open she listened to the busy motor mobiles as they drove by and the conversations that filtered up into her room. It was in her opinion a fine Sunday, the sun was shining and small families mainly made up of women and children were walking home from their Sunday services. Eveline understood from reading the papers that Bristol had become the victim of german bombing in recent months and hoped that during their brief stay, Bristol would be spared any further bombing campaigns. Eveline was alone wishing to stay at the hotel whilst the rest of the group went for an afternoon walk along Castle Street and Castle Park. She had instead resolved to go along to St Peters church which lay within Castle Park for the six o clock evening service.  She had found herself feeling quite outdone and exhausted after the previous events of their journey to Bristol and needed some space and time in which to simply digest all that had taken place within the last two weeks.

The rationale part of her bid her to simply take each day as it came and to not look too deeply into what was currently happening to her, it simply bid her to keep a cool head and to focus on getting to Bath were with hope, life would at last go back to normal. Unfortunately her rationale mind was often under attack by her irrational mind. The irrational mind consumed her with confusion and fear. Her whole world as she had once known it had been turned on its axis and she didn’t quite know how to deal with it, she was after all only one woman. And yet with all that had been revealed to her she found relief in simply knowing that she was right in her understanding that she was different. She had not quite allowed herself to take in the fact that she was of another world and that her husband was in fact an angel but she understood that she was in danger from the dark creatures of the universe despite not quite understanding why it was that she was the focus of their hatred.

Despite all of this, it had been the vision and words of Lagar that harmed and preyed on her the most especially during the night when she lay awake in bed unable to sleep for fear of the shadows that lingered in the corners of her room, not quite real and yet not figments of her imaginations. With a shiver that shot its way up from her tail bone to her head, Eveline closed her eyes and found herself once more within the beautiful and enchanting palace, by the side of the young couple, her eyes looking down into the child’s face, so alike her own it still shook the core of her being. When she found herself standing by the couple she felt in an unexplainable way linked to them as though they were her own flesh and blood. The young Queen, so fair and beautiful was in her likeness and the King, proud and noble also bore a similar resemblance to Eveline, if not in looks then in the determination that lay behind his green eyes, a determination she also carried within herself. She could not explain it even to herself the incredible bond she felt to the child, almost as though she were looking down upon her young self as a babe. The child’s face was round and plump, her eyes filled with love and contentment, she was happy and well loved by her parents a feeling Eveline had never encountered until she was adopted by Estelle.

For as long as she could remember, she was different. She could talk and hold conversation from a very early age, she even on rare occasions had the ability to look into people’s minds and hear their inner most private thoughts. When she was placed into a small school she was instantly made an outcast what with her strange eyes and peculiar abilities, children were almost frightened to be around her and so she was turned away from public education having to be home schooled by her first set of adoptive parents who at the age of nine placed her up for adoption again, unable to handle her peculiar ways and singular nature. When she had settled in to her new life in Keswick she found she was loved instead of ridiculed, encouraged instead of locked away in a room with no toys or company. And then Theodore arrived and her life was complete, finally she had a friend who better yet seemed to share in her strange ways. The darkness eventually turned to light and Eveline evolved and transformed into a young woman, who still was shy and reserved but was loved and acknowledged by those surrounding her.

She had never asked Estelle about her real parents and in many ways she didn’t want too, she found herself constantly afraid that the spell that had been cast upon her in Keswick would break and that she would find herself alone once more in this world that she did not quite consider to be her own. As she grew up she found herself becoming more powerful and struggling on occasions to keep her abilities under control especially when driven by anger. She didn’t want much from life, only that she could be like the other women of Keswick. She wished to lead a normal life, to become a wife and mother and live peacefully in the country near to Estelle. She yearned for a simple life, disregarding a deep and unsettling need to step out of her comfort zone. When she had come to know of Theodore’s feelings for her she found that her prayers had been answered. She did not seek a grand love story for she knew no other man could love her or understand her like Theodore and yet underneath all the layers of yearning for this simple life that she had created and moulded in her mind, a lively, secretive and determined Eveline lay in waiting, angered by her want of a quiet life unperturbed by adventure and risk. This part of her usually exposed itself through her abilities which over time became more risky and adventurous in spite of her quiet ways. She had always known this part of her existed and tried incredibly hard to force it deep inside of her psyche.

Her actions the previous night astounded Eveline, she had transformed in the blink of an eye to a woman she had never before known. She felt as though she had shed her skin and had been renewed into a woman who possessed power and strength, unalike the Eveline she had trained and urged herself to be, normal. Of course she took into consideration the life of Belle, which was in her hands alone. How strange that a child so young could have such an effect on her. Eveline had longed questioned morality, what was right and what was wrong. She was a pacifist much to the annoyance of her husband who was not. She believed there were other ways in which to sort out disputes be them domestic or global. And yet she felt no sting of shame when she plunged her dagger into the shadow, she felt instead relief for she had saved Belle knowing that the shadows would not have spared the child, that they knew nothing of morality and love. As she sat by the window she took in a deep breathe, she had always been a great believer in forgiveness and mercy, everyone shared in equal amounts of light and darkness and so everyone could be saved. But when she looked into the black eyes of the shadow that had nearly killed her she realised that there was no light within and that made her uneasy. Her enemies were past any hopes of redemption and she wondered to herself what could have brought them so low as to willingly serve such a hateful master as Lagar, how did they benefit from such an alliance?

Her world had changed overnight, she had changed overnight. She was now involved in a spiritual war for reasons she wasn’t entirely sure of, she only knew that she was a creature of light like her husband. Yet she had forgotten about the physical war taking place around the world and it had taken her to re visit Bristol to see the destruction that man could wield. If man could do so much damage, how much damage could the spiritual world do? With a shake of her head she arose from her window chair and paced the room, her hand lying gently over the infected bite, which deepened with every new sunrise. Stopping she turned to look at her reflection in the mirror in particular her eyes and found them slightly darker than the day before. She was not ignorant of the fact that the snakes bite had obviously contaminated her and with this realisation she was petrified of how it would affect her in the coming days and weeks. But pride took place and she could not put anymore strain upon those around her, who were trying to keep a straight face, trying like her to acclimatise themselves back into the normal ways of life, knowing in truth that it was futile. Eveline opened her silver pot of powder and lifted her brush sweeping it into the powder before sweeping it across the left hand side of her neck, quite darkened and quite obvious to the naked eye. When she finished re masking her bite she went to her bed and picked up her grey coat and swung it on before finding her hat and placing it upon her auburn curls. It was a fine day so she forwent her gloves and scarf and simply picked up her bag, leaving her room and making for the tea rooms downstairs. She and the rest of the travelling group had arranged to meet within the tea rooms at two for lunch. Quickly she stopped before another mirror and fixed herself before descending the winding marble stairs. When eventually she arrived at the tea rooms she looked about briefly and found Estelle waving at her with elongated arms. With a smile upon her red lips she made her way over to the table.

“How was your walk mother?” she asked bending down to kiss Estelle’s cheek before sitting down beside her, taking off her hat and coat.

“It was lovely, very refreshing was it not Belle?”

“Wordsworth was naughty,” Belle smiled across at Eveline. Eveline looked under the table and spotted the wolfhound, asleep on the ground.

“What did he do this time?” Eveline smiled as Galean poured her a cup of coffee.

“He stole an apple from a corner shop,” Galean replied with a small laugh.

“Gosh!” Eveline said with sparkling eyes unable now to keep her gaze from the angel who sat back in his chair observing her seriously.

“Don’t worry I sorted it all out,” Estelle exclaimed as she buttered a scone.

“How are you feeling today Eveline?” Galean enquired, still leaning back in his chair and observing the young woman, whose eyes had considerably darkened causing him concern.

“Much better after a good night’s sleep,” Eveline said merrily seeing the seriousness in his face, knowing that he was assessing her bite mark and discoloured eyes. “And yourself Mr Edwards?”

“I am very well Mrs Sampson.”

The group became quiet as they sipped on their drinks and ate the plateful of scones before them. After they had finished eating they spent an hour at the table discussing Bristol which brought to them great relief, almost as though nothing had occurred to within the last fortnight to cause them worry. When eventually four o clock was announced by the loud grandfather clock they retired to their rooms giving Eveline time to fix herself up again before heading to St Peters Church for the evening service. As the sun began to set Eveline put on her gloves, hat and scarf before retrieving her small bible and slipping it into her coat pocket along with a pear. Before she departed her room she heard a knock upon the door.

“Yes?”

“Eveline it is Galean, may I come in?”

Eveline looked about the room making sure it was tidy before opening the door and allowing Mr Edwards to enter.

“Mr Edwards it is highly inappropriate for you to be in my room,” Eveline said with accusing eyes.

“I just wanted to make sure that your neck is alright,” Galean asked side stepping the question and stepping forward, looking at her neck with keen eyes.

“Mr Edwards I assure you I am fine now please I must go if I am to make the evening service on time,” Eveline said as she waved away his hand and reprised her bag, exiting her room and standing in the corridor with her hands upon her hips. Galean followed her out and closed the door behind him.

“Eveline this is no laughing matter, I have noticed that your eyes have darkened considerably since yesterday.”

“My eyes darken when I am tired,” Eveline lied, keeping her gaze upon him.

“They were bright and undisturbed after the incident with Lagar,” Galean replied firmly.

“Galean I am perfectly well! You are driving yourself to distraction for no reason,” Eveline turned and began to walk away from Galean, her anger rising at his presumptuous actions.

“Wait!” Galean called out, running to her side.

“Mr Edwards what is it that I can do for you?” Eveline asked with irritated eyes.

“Be safe when you are out walking, do you have your dagger with you?” Galean whispered as a couple passed them by.

“I do.”

“Shadows cannot enter any religious building so if you find yourself under attack keep yourself inside the church and if you do not return by eight then I will come for you.”

Eveline looked into Galean’s worried eyes and felt her heart warm despite her protestations. He was genuinely concerned for her well-being and she revelled in his worry, it was nice to be cared for by another.

“Mr Edwards…”

“Galean if you please.”

“Then Galean, I will be fine. I have my dagger and I will make no detours on my way to and from the church, does that satisfy your worry?”

“A little.”

“Then may I go now?”

Galean sighed and nodded.

“Good, I shall see you later for supper?”

“Yes,” Galean said with defeated eyes. Eveline tuned and smiled deeply, walking away from the deflated Galean, whose eyes burned into her back. She enjoyed the unspoken bond between them, she found herself becoming more outspoken and daring his presence and liked that he had that effect on her even if at times she found herself gazing into his vivid blue eyes a second longer than was appropriate. He was kind, courageous, and dependable and she needed a friend in these uncertain times.

*

The walk through the beautiful Castle Park allowed Eveline the space and time to simply be, to cast off her worries and doubts and simply take in the natural beauty that surrounded her as the last rays of the setting sun fell upon the bare trees that dotted the wide and green park. She looked at her watch upon her wrist and found she had fifteen minutes to spare and so took out her pear and began to eat it, feeling wistful and calm. She observed a few couples sitting on benches, their heads close together and sighed, soon she would be in the arms of her husband, feeling the security of his arms about her. A gentle wind cooled her skin prompting her to close her grey coat about her tall body. With the tip of her hat lowered she saved herself from the constant staring that she was so used too. Finally she came to stand before the beautiful church, tall and graceful. She had a secret passion for architecture with particular interest in old churches and castles, especially in France, Denmark and Austria. She understood that the church building could be traced back to the eleventh century when it was an abbey known as Tewkesbury Abbey. It wasn’t until the fifteenth century that the church began to take shape during and after the English civil war. Behind the grand church was St Peters hospital, a timbered mansion which had stood upon the site since the fourteenth century. Eveline looked up at the beautiful Norman structure and sighed, it had been a long held ambition to one day enter the church to take in the beautiful interior and imagine all of the pairs of feet that stood within.

Eveline waited five minutes before entering once she had finished eating her pear. With a breathe she made her way into the once Norman castle, stopping under the elegant archway, letting her gaze sweep down the nave of the building. Six large circular chandeliers hung on both sides of the nave, all of them alight. The cathedral windows were tall and arched, all glass stained showcasing various scenes from the bible. Near to the middle of the nave, two rose stain glassed windows adorned the wall catching Eveline’s eye for a moment. As she stood observing the ancient church, people began to enter making their way towards the front of the nave near to the altar, taking their seats within the pews. Eveline stepped to the side to let the men and women past, keeping her eyes hidden beneath her hat, not wanting to draw attention to herself before finding a seat near to the back. Carefully she took off her hat and set it down beside her legs, deciding to keep her coat on as the church was cold despite the warmth of the candles that illuminated the beautiful building. There were not many people within the congregation Eveline observed noting only about two dozen or so in attendance. To each side of the altar a small choir of boys began to sing, heralding the beginning of the service. Eveline took out her small bible and held it within her hands gently, closing her eyes briefly as the organ filled the church. It had been such a very long time since Eveline had been to church and considering all that was happening to her she felt it right to be sitting in this beautiful and antiquated building. She had always known God and had a cherished relationship with him, despite her aversions to church life. She greatly believed in a higher being, for the gifts she had been given were proof that a higher being existed. Yet she was an avid reader of philosophy and morality and liked to think beyond the confinements of religion. As she sat in silence, consuming the aura and music she felt the hairs on her arms begin to prick and her eyes begin to water, she felt moved and touched but above all she suddenly felt the weight of the burdens upon her shoulders and found in her solace an inability to control her emotions or to keep herself in check as the music fell upon her like a warm embrace.

Quietly she wiped her eyes and tried in vain to compose herself as she watched the minister take his place at the pulpit, opening his bible and awaiting the choir to finish. As the choir sang on a voice deep within began to chant.

“You are of the light.”

Eveline bent her head in submission to the voice and felt her heart flutter at the thought. Men and women for thousands of years had submitted themselves to God, hoping and waiting in desperation to hear or feel Him and here she was sitting amongst them, an angel of light. Never had she felt more alone and burdened than she did sitting within the enchanting yet haunting cathedral. For she had never spoken or heard God in all her years, she simply observed nature and knew Him to be present. How was it possible that she should be chosen to bare the light of angels and not another being more deserving of the gift? How could she serve those around her when she herself was not a traditional Christian? And why was she prey to the Lord of darkness? Why was she the focus of his attention?

Eveline knew not why she has been gifted or set apart, but as the minister opened the service she simply acknowledged that her quiet life in Keswick was about to change in such a way that she would be forever altered.

“The light and peace of Jesus Christ be with you,” the minister began.

“And also with you,” the congregation replied.

“We have come on this evening in the name of Christ to offer our praise and thanksgiving, to hear and receive God’s holy word, to pray for the needs of the world and to seek the forgiveness of our sin’s, that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may give ourselves to the service of God.”

The choir began to sing again and Eveline found her eyes lifting to the altar in admiration of its beauty. As the congregation sang along to the hymn she heard a distant sound akin to sirens and turned her eyes to the door of the church, to where a man stood gazing out at the night sky above him. All at once a whistling sound rang out in the air about her and the choir stopped. Eveline would never know if time had suddenly stilled as the whistling grew louder but she found herself being flung from her chair and cast to the hard wall of the church a thousand lights and sounds filling her head causing her to fall victim to darkness. There was no light as Eveline lay unconscious, the cathedral crumbling about her, the sound of cries and sirens filling her mind. After what seemed an age she finally found the strength to open her eyes , there gaze upon the night sky, now filled with planes that flew overheard, dropping bombs that whistled through the air, falling and exploding close to the cathedral. The air about her was stiff with debris and dust and she could feel the heat of fire close by. With a dizzy head she moved and sat up, discarding a heavy mass of rumble that had fallen upon her body. Blood trickled down the side of her head as she got to her feet and bent over, her throat filled with debris and dust. Coughing wildly she looked about her and raised her hand to her mouth. The beautiful cathedral which had a moment before stood tall and grand had all but collapsed about her, laying in ruins, the night sky filled with red light. As her hearing came back to her she could hear the cries of those stuck under the rumble and the whistling of more bombs as they fell through the air exploding around her. Without thinking and with great shame Eveline carelessly made her way through the rumble, passing the man that had stood within the archway of the door now lying dead and torn beneath the limestone. Beside him was her hat, torn and dismantled. Eveline coughed loudly as the world came back into focus and made her way out through the doorway which was still standing erect. As she stepped out of the church, other disorientated members of the congregation ran before her in desperation, stopping to take in the utter terror that faced them. Embers fell about Eveline as she took in the scene that played out before her. The park once peaceful and tranquil was ablaze, trees lay torn and ripped from the ground and the once lovely buildings of Wine Street had been blown apart, now raging infernos of fire and death. All about her men, women and children ran in every direction not knowing where to hide or how best to protect themselves.

Eveline looked down at her body and noticed that her coat had been ripped from her body as had her blouse, leaving her arms bare but for her silk chemise and her skirt. She had lost one of her leather patent shoes and her shoeless foot was covered in blood from the splintered glass that had caught itself within her skin. Another explosion sounded from behind her and she felt herself fall once more upon the discarded rumble, winded with the heat and debris that swept by her like a strong gale force wind. With dust upon her face and dishevelled hair Eveline got up and began to run directly towards Wine Street which was being pounded by german bombs that whistled coldly, blowing everything about her into smithereens. She was disorientated and knew not where to go as she followed the crowd of equally disorientated and injured people.

*

Estelle sat by her window watching Belle and Wordsworth as they played on the floor together, a deep smile upon her face, causing the lines around her eyes to crease with envy. It had been comforting to spend the day relaxing and resting, everybody feeling the better for it. Things were coming to rights again and her worries had edged away as she observed the young and happy Belle who now laid her head of golden curls upon the wolfhound’s stomach, closing her eyes as exhaustion came over her. Darkness had fallen and as Belle and Wordsworth snored on the floor Estelle finally opened her large leather bound manuscript and set to work, slipping off her shoes and crisscrossing her legs beneath her, sighing with relief.  If truth be told, Estelle found herself out of her depth. In many ways she was grateful for the arrival of Galean, he had brought with him revelations that helped lay some of her worries to rest. However she soon realised that the worries that had once plagued her for years over the nature of her children faded only to be replaced by new and deeper concerns. She had never been a religious woman, the First World War had cemented her quiet notions that religion was man’s concoction used to ensnare the ignorant and weak into submission and control by those who were greedy for power. But when she listened to Galean’s revelations she was shocked and everything she had once been set in stone had suddenly dismantled before her. She found herself at a loss when enlightened as to why her children had been burdened with gifts only heard of in books and myths. As this new revelation slowly took its toll on her Estelle found herself facing the terrifying prospect of her youngest child being killed by a figure she had once believed fictional and mythological, a creature so dark and powerful who from some unknown reason had unleashed hell upon her daughter. It was this piece of information that weighed heavily on Estelle and though she showed strength and courage on the outside, within she was floundering to the terrors and fears that now seeped into her soul. She had no power with which to protect her child, she was ageing and would be unable to stand in the way of her children’s foes. She turned from her blank page and looked down at Belle and wondered what would happen to her, was it right to keep her with them when danger lurked around every corner?

Estelle groaned and set down her pen, there was no use in trying to write when she could not concentrate. She needed answers and needed them fast. Human she was and without the means to spiritually protect her children and Belle but she would and could not simply stand by and watch hideous and monstrous creatures of the dark harm them, even if it meant putting her life on the line. She had always known right from her very first meeting with the young Eveline, shy and withdrawn that she was special, it was not a feeling that sprung from arrogance or ego it was a simple fact, the child was gifted and with those gifts akin to Theodores, they would be able to do incredible things and she believed herself to be their protector and nurturer until such a time came when they would be strong enough to stand alone, stepping out of her shadow and into the light. It was this very reason that gave her strength and encouragement; she did not abuse her children’s gifts or oppress them, she loved them and urged them to grow, hoping that the principles and love instilled in them would help them to stay grounded, that however powerful they became they would always be kind, fair and just, that they would never abuse their powers or use them to abuse others.

She pondered deeply the prospect of Eveline having to use her gifts to overcome the powers of the shadows and wondered if her daughter was strong enough. She knew that beneath the layers of quiet reservation lay determination and strength for she had been witness to Eveline’s anger and that gave to Estelle hope. Whether Eveline had it within her to stand and face all that Estelle feared was about to happen she could not tell and hoped that the presence of her husband would indeed transform her daughter urging her to bring forth that determination and strength she knew her to have. Estelle understood her daughter to have very real notions and opinions on morality and felt a lingering pain deep within as a mother, knowing that her daughter so very mindful of life and death would one day soon have to face morality head on, that she would be pushed beyond her boundaries, forced to make decisions she thought never to make in her life.

With tense shoulders and a headache Estelle got up from her chair and crossed the room to her bed picking up a thick tartan blanket and laying it across Belle who moved slightly at the feel of the warm wool. On her knees, she stroked the child’s thick, golden curls and felt her heart warm to see such innocence on her face. Studying the sleeping duo Estelle kept still until suddenly she was thrown as the windows imploded, the harsh force causing everything within the room to swirl about in the air, smashing into each other. With a cry and a bark, Belle and Wordsworth awoke from their peaceful slumber, both finding themselves cast against a large mahogany cupboard. Estelle, winded and dizzy opened her eyes wide and gasped, the room which had been a brief moment before, neat and whole was now a mess, glass sprayed across the floor and bed, the window table on its side alongside the chairs and the contents of her luggage haphazardly flung from her leather suitcases.

“Estelle!” Belle cried out, getting up onto her feet and running to her guardian who stumbled onto her own feet, wiping off the tiny remnants of glass and debris from her clothes.

“Belle are you alright?” Estelle asked hurriedly as the sounds of sirens rang out loudly. Belle wrapped her arms about Estelle, followed closely by Wordsworth, whose big grey eyes were filled with terror. “It’s alright,” Estelle soothed, taking Belle’s hand and moving to the door which sprung open to reveal a dishevelled Galean.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes scanning the room before falling on Estelle, Belle and the quiet and trembling wolfhound who was now rubbing his body against Galean’s for comfort. “There boy it’s okay,” Galean soothed gently, rubbing the dog’s ear. “Quick we need to get down to the reception now.” Without a word, Galean stood back and waited for Estelle and Belle to walk past, picking up the child in his arms without thinking.

“My teddy!” Belle cried out, her green eyes looking up into Galean’s blue.

“Where is it?” Galean asked walking back into the room.

“On the bed,” Belle said quietly, wrapping her arms about Galean’s neck for comfort as he searched the sheets of the bed finding a small teddy.

“Here,” he murmured, picking up a blanket and throwing it over his shoulder. No one spoke of Eveline as they hurriedly alongside other scared guests made their way down to the reception where they were met by members of staff.

“If you would all follow us down to our bunker please,” a man dressed in a fine black suit announced. Galean looked about him, the windows and doors of the reception had been taken off their hinges and smashed. The crowd of around a dozen or so guests followed the frightened members of staff downstairs to where the wine cellars were located, now used as both a cellar and bunker in times of raids. When they reached the cellar, the door open and awaiting them, Galean stopped.

“I have to find Eveline,” he said softly to Estelle, handing Belle over to her and wrapping the rug over the trembling child.

“I know,” Estelle said with understanding eyes. “Be safe Mr Edwards and bring back my daughter.”

“I will,” Galean said as he stood away from the door Wordsworth refusing to leave his side. “You must stay,” Galean argued with the stubborn dog who barked loudly.

“He may be of use to you Mr Edwards,” Estelle exclaimed loudly among the noise of the guests, who filled the cellars. Galean looked down at the dog who looked up at him with pleading eyes and sighed.

“Very well.”

With one last lingering look Galean turned on his heels and made his way back up the stairs with Wordsworth. When they cautiously made their way out of the hotel they both stopped to take in the sight before them, the dog hugging Galean’s thighs. Above them planes flew overhead in what seemed to be groups of fifty or more, bombs falling from the planes and whistling through the air, exploding close by to them. Glass covered the road and sand bags had been ripped apart, the contents now covering everything and dancing within the dust that fell heavily about those who were frantically running up and down the road not knowing where to go or what to do. Galean noticed that many of the fleeing citizens were badly injured, many of them without clothes. Above him he could hear the sound of aircraft guns atop the roofs of tall buildings, moved into action, trying to shoot down enemy planes. Searchlights filled the thunderous skies, illuminating the planes that passed hurtling incendiary bombs through the thick mass of condescended watery vapour that now reflected the raging fires that consumed the old medieval city of Bristol. A passing fire engine brought Galean back to reality. The road that led to Castle Park was destroyed, filled with small craters and heavy debris. With a glance down at Wordsworth, Galean turned and began to make his way through the rumble, making sure to keep himself and the dog safe. Small crowds of screaming people passed him by as more explosions ripped apart buildings that lay behind Broad Street, the noise reverberating through his body. He knew that beyond the Bristol Bridge there was a communal bunker, it being too dangerous to head back to the hotel as the raid was still taking place.

It didn’t take long for Galean and Wordsworth to find themselves on Wine Street. They turned a corner and headed right up along the footpath. Across the road, the park was ablaze with fire and in the distance he could see the cathedral now consumed with flames that reached high into the sky. Galean felt terror seize at him, a flashback of his daughter crying out as she was held prisoner to the flames that killed her. Galean fell against the wall of a shop, nausea stirring within him as Wordsworth tried to comfort his new friend. When the image of his daughter had absconded from his mind he lifted his head and took in a deep breathe a plane flying overhead. The entrance to the park lay within half a mile of where he was located, fire engines, Lorries loaded with anti-air craft guns and ambulances flying down the road at full speed. Finding his focus he began to run at full pelt with Wordsworth following, crossing the road and making his way east towards the entrance, passing buildings that were on fire, the heat causing his skin to break with sweat. Finally he came to the entrance of the park and looked around. The air was heavy with dust and it was hard to make anything out due to the fires and noise which caused him to feel slightly disorientated. He bent over himself to take in a deep breathe, his right hand wrapped about the iron bars of the railings. When he lifted his gaze he saw a small mass of people coming forth from the smoke and dust and strained his eyes. Many were badly injured and many were crying in desperation. Galean entered the park and cautiously made his way slowly through the crowd observing those who passed by, some crying at him to leave that the Cathedral had fallen, killing many within. Galean kept Wordsworth close to him as he edged further into the mass of fallen trees, craters, fire and destruction. More explosions erupted into the air over by Castle Street which lay beyond St Peters Church. As he neared the church his fear for Eveline’s life began to increase, she had not been among the fleeing and injured crowd. Suddenly he stopped, alone and encased in smoke, his lungs burning wildly. With his left hand he rubbed at his eyes and nose, bending to wipe away the dust that lingered up Wordsworth’s eyes and nose. The wolfhound began to bark loudly, suddenly bolting forth into the smoke towards a figure that lay upon the ground near to a tree that still stood firm and strong. Galean found himself running at the speed of light, coming to stop before the figure of Eveline who was now being licked by Wordsworth.

“Eveline!” Galean cried out, falling before her as she coughed loudly, her face covered in black smoke, her golden eyes vivid and bright.

“Galean?” Eveline whispered as though he was a ghost. “Is that you?” she asked, raising a hand to touch his face.

“Yes it’s me!” Galean said kindly, his eyes scanning her body. She was like many that he had passed, disillusioned and without all of her articles of clothing. Blood was pouring from her ears and nose and she was missing a shoe, her bare foot badly injured, with pieces of glass stuck within her skin.

“Galean?” Eveline called out again, obviously disorientated and in shock.

“Eveline can you walk?” Galean asked quickly realising that they were in a very vulnerable place and if he didn’t act quickly they would end up in a more serious situation, a fatal scenario. Theodore had entrusted him to protect his wife, Heiden had entrusted him to protect his heir and granddaughter, he could not let either of them down and more importantly he could not let his wife and daughter down.

“Yes,” Eveline replied trying to get up onto her feet but crying out.

“Here,” Galean helped her up and wound her left arm about his neck. “Can you hop?”

“I can try,” Eveline said, lifting her hurt foot and letting it hover as she tried to hop alongside Galean and Wordsworth.

“Okay that’s good, you’re doing well,” Galean said with encouraging eyes. “Now we need to get across the bridge which may take some time, do you think you can make it?”

“I can try.”

Galean made sure to go at a slow pace, aware that Eveline was weak and injured. Wordsworth made himself useful by guiding them through the park, shuffling pieces of debris out of the way. Soon they were at the gates of the park, standing upon the footpath of Wine Street. Galean stopped and settled Eveline against the railings so that he could take off his jacket. Eveline leaned heavily against the iron and closed her eyes briefly, the heat of the nearby fires burning at her skin. When she opened her eyes she found Galean was on his knees wrapping what looked to be a length of his shirt about her foot. With agonising pain she bite down on her bloodied lip, her eyes watering as Galean carefully took out the pieces of glass before wrapping the linen cloth about her foot tightly. When he finished he stood up and wound her arm about his shoulder once more.

“Can you walk a bit better now?” he asked kindly, wiping his eyes and forehead with his bare arm, his sleeves rolled up.

“Yes a bit,” Eveline said through gritted teeth and they began to make their way up Wine Street. About them the road was busy with people running to a fro, many standing in shock as their shops and houses were burning with thick black smoke. Eveline cast her eyes to the path on the other side of the road were bodies lay lifeless, women and men hovering over them, trying frantically to bring them back to life.

“Don’t look,” Galean ordered seeing the horror in her eyes. “Keep your eyes forward.” He knew what it was to face death, he had fought in many wars, on this earth and within his own Kingdom and he knew that if she focused too much on the dead she would only suffer extreme post-traumatic stress, her innocent mind becoming consumed with the faces of the dead, forever haunting her dreams as they haunted his own. Eveline removed her gaze from the bodies and focused on what was in front of her. Soon they made it to Broad Street which was to their left. As they took a small breather, Galean could hear pitched cries and looked over towards a small shop where two women were desperately crying out to someone within the building. Galean looked above the shop and saw that a young boy was crying down at the women, the rooms engulfed with flames. Wordsworth upon hearing his thoughts barked loudly in agreement. Eveline turned and gasped.

“Galean we can’t leave him,” she said loudly above the noise. Galean stood frozen on the spot, the fear of fire causing his body to shiver. “Galean!” Eveline shouted bringing him back from his thoughts. Galean turned to her and nodded, his blue eyes wide and alarmed. Without a word he let her go and crossed the street, running straight into the burning building. Eveline fell unceremoniously to the ground and let out a deep breath of relief, her eyes fixed on the shop and windows above, frantically looking for evidence of Galean, her heart hammering against her chest with anxiety. Had she seen fear in his eyes when he looked at her as though he had seen a ghost? For a brief moment she thought she had until he turned and ran across the street, unabashed by the danger ahead of him. After what seemed to be forever Galean finally re-emerged from the shop with the boy in his arms. The women fell before him in joy, the younger of the two taking the boy into her arms, hugging and kissing him wildly whilst the elder woman wrapped Galean into an embrace. Eveline watched on with a weak smile upon her face, whatever horror had been in his eyes when looking into the fire he had overcome it to save a child and not many would have had the same courage. After a moment, Galean looked across at Eveline and held her gaze before letting go of the woman, instructing her to follow himself and Eveline across the bridge to the communal shelter.

Galean crossed the road and came to Eveline, helping her up onto her feet once more.

“They will follow us,” he said, wrapping her arm about him again and leading her onwards, keeping his gaze from her. Another bomb fell two streets away, the noise and force causing them to stop briefly before they ventured on, the bridge now coming into sight.

“Galean I need to stop,” Eveline said quietly, her head hurting. Galean stopped and turned to her.

“Where does it hurt?” he asked gently, searching her face for an answer. Eveline closed her eyes and let her hands rest upon his arms for balance.

“My head,” she said quietly, opening her eyes ever so slightly. Galean used his right hand and wiped away the thick strands of auburn hair to get a better look at the cut upon her hairline. It wasn’t deep but it looked sore and he imagined that her eardrums must have burst with the blood that dripped from her ears. But it wasn’t the injuries born from the explosions that worried him it was the mark upon her throat. Finally he had a chance to really look at it and when he carefully wiped away a strand of her hair he was shocked to see the area about her cut seriously contaminated, her veins black and bruised. Cupping her face gently he looked back at her, her eyes closed, oblivious to his gaze. His eyes fell to the mark once more and he bit down on his lip deciding it would only be unwise to confront her over the cut and that it would wait until they were safe and she had been attended too.

“It’s only another ten minutes until we get to the shelter,” he said, his hands falling from her face as she opened her eyes and nodded roughly. “They will have a local nurse there who can help okay?”

“Okay,” Eveline said quietly as they once again began to walk, stopping at the bridge. Galean scanned the skies, clear for the moment before scanning the rest of the environment, making sure that they could cross the bridge in safety, knowing that crossing it would put them into peril, there being no coverage or safety. If they bridge was bombed they would fall into the freezing water and that could not happen. With confidence in their safety, Galean began to lead Eveline across the bridge, accompanied by Wordsworth who ran on ahead scanning the area. It didn’t take long to cross the bridge and find the communal shelter close by and when finally they made it, Galean helped Eveline down the steps and into the old building which had been set up as the shelter. It was as Galean thought packed with nervous citizens, many injured and distressed. As he led Eveline further into the shelter he observed several nurses attending to the injured and felt instant relief. The shelter held a pungent smell of blood and saline and when finally Galean found a quiet place in a corner, he helped Eveline to sit down so that he could find a nurse quickly. Wordsworth quietly settled himself by Eveline, laying his head upon her lap for comfort.

*

Eveline kept herself quiet as she observed the overfilled shelter, noisy and pungent. It was mainly filled with women and children, a few elderly couples in sight. The sirens still roared and bombs still fell causing the shelter to shake with thunder only aggravating the already distressed people within, who held onto one another for safety and comfort. Despite the worried expressions on their darkened faces their seemed to Eveline to be an air of strength within the shelter, it was at times like these when man’s true nature was revealed and she saw before her women, men and children fighting to survive, helping and aiding one another to get through the terrifying raid that was still taking place. Some women cried for the homes they left behind and the husbands that were absent and many toughened up using the small resources they had brought with them to help those around them. A few women were pouring cups of tea and coffee from large flasks and handing out small sandwiches which had been prepared and ready for such an occasion. As she looked at the steam swirling about the tops of the coffee and tea Eveline felt her stomach rubble in response, hungry from the pain and shock.

“Eveline this is Nurse Ruth, she will attend to your injuries,” Galean announced as he came back to her with a young nurse. Eveline didn’t speak she simply nodded as the nurse got to work on her foot.

“Did you bandage the foot?” the young nurse asked Galean, looking up from the bloodied bandage.

“I thought it would help to clot the blood,” Galean returned as he sat beside Eveline.

“Well it has certainly helped to contain the blood flow, but you have inadvertently pushed some of the smaller pieces of glass into the skin further. I will have to take them out.”

Galean looked to Eveline who was already biting down on her lip.

“Is there anything you can give her for the pain?” he asked the nurse who opened her box of supplies.

“I have aspirin in my box, could you please fetch me a glass of water?” nurse Ruth replied.

“Of course,” Galean murmured as he got up onto his feet once more. It had not taken long for him to return with a small glass of water. The nurse helped Eveline to drink the water, swallowing the two tablets. Galean watched as she opened up a flask of luke warm water and spread it over Eveline’s foot causing her to cry out. Galean took her right hand in his own and held it tight as the nurse wiped down the foot, taking out the small pieces of glass with what looked to be small tweezers. When she had finished taking out the remnants of glass she opened a small pouch and dusted sulphanilamide over the cuts before re bandaging the injured foot once more.

“Now let’s clean up that face and take a look at your ears,” the nurse exclaimed as she brought forth another cloth, soaking it in water again before attending to Eveline’s face. “Tell me has the pain eased slightly?”

“A little yes,” Eveline whispered politely, happy to feel the warmth of the water upon her face.

“Good, I will give you another two to take in a few hours when I am finished.”

Galean held Eveline’s hand gently and watched on, hoping the nurse would not spot the cut on Eveline’s throat as he was certain it had nothing to do with a human injury. It didn’t take long for the nurse to clean her face and attend to the small cuts.

“Now I have attended to the external injuries,” the nurse began as she lifted Eveline’s chin observing her eyes attentively. “You said that she had a sore head?”

“Yes,” Galean muttered seeing the shock in the nurse’s face as she suddenly realised the colour of her patient’s eyes.

“Have her eyes always been this colour Mr Edwards?” the nurse asked quietly, turning her gaze to Galean.

“Yes.”

The nurse was still for a moment, seeing the distress in Eveline’s face at the recognition of her unusual eyes.

“I cannot see any clear indications of head trauma but I would strongly advise that you keep your wife awake as she has probably sustained a serious concussion, can you do that?” the nurse asked gently, placing a hand upon Eveline’s.

“She is not my wife she is my friends wife,” Galean returned kindly. “I will however keep her awake for as long as possible.”

“Good, now she may find herself suffering from disturbances in her vision and may suffer some memory loss, if she however becomes unconscious, confused or has problems with her balance and finds herself unable to speak then please come and get me as soon as possible or get her to the hospital.”

“I will do,” Galean said with a smile. The nurse took one last glance at her patient before arising and picking up her medical box.

“I will be back later to check on her.”

With that the nurse strode off to find her next patient, leaving Galean, Eveline and Wordsworth by themselves.

“I’m cold,” Eveline groaned as her body shivered slightly.

“Of course you are” Galean said gruffly. “Here,” Galean picked up a blanket which had been given to him when he collected some water. With caution he laid it over Eveline before sitting back against the wall, his own head aching. He looked up at the clock that hung from the wall.

“What time is it?” Eveline asked as she stroked Wordsworth gently, trying to keep her eyes open and alert.

“It’s nearly nine o clock.”

“Gosh it doesn’t seem a minute past six,” Eveline said with a weak smile, the images of the burning cathedral forming within her mind.

“Usually in situations like this time seems to fly by despite feeling that it slows down.”

“You must be tiring of me Mr Edwards, it seems that destruction seems to follow me everywhere at the moment,” Eveline said with serious eyes.

“You are not to blame for this Eveline, it was just bad timing on our part,” Galean replied as he rolled down his sleeves.

“Still you must be longing to go home and not here having to put your life on the line for a woman you do not know.”

“I promised Theodore that I would keep you safe until he returns.”

“He will be here in the morning,” Eveline smiled at the thought. “Then you may return to wherever it is you come from.” Galean saw for the briefest of seconds a hint of sadness within her eyes and wondered what it meant. “Where is it exactly that you come from Galean?”

“You should be resting Eveline,” Galean said quietly as an image of his birthplace sprung up to bite him. He missed his home and his people and knew the longer he stayed away the stronger his brother’s war against his father would become. He would lose the confidence of his people and find himself an outcast to all that he had known and loved. He had already left it too late and knew that he would have to return within the next few weeks if Meer was to survive war and the harsh winter that would come with it.

“I’m not allowed to sleep remember?” Eveline asked with furrowed brows. Galean sighed giving in to her curiosity.

“I come from a planet called Unas,” he whispered quietly not wanting anybody to overhear their conversation.

“That’s incredible,” Eveline whispered softly, her face coming to life. “Is it like our own planet of earth?”

“In many ways yes, but my people are not as advanced as your own.”

“How truly fascinating. Do go on,” Eveline said with patient eyes.

“What would you like to know?”

“Who you are and where your home is.”

Galean looked about making sure that they were not being overheard and when satisfied that they were safe turned round to look at Eveline.

“I am Galean son of Ballour, heir to the Kingdom of Meer,” he announced rather regally.

“You are a prince?” Eveline whispered. “I thought you were an angel?”

“I am in part, my line can trace its way back to the angel known as Gabriel,” Galean said with certainty.

“Gabriel hails from your world?”

“No, but one of his children left Heaven and made his home among the people of the north.”

“So your kingdom is in the north yes?”

“Yes beyond the vast mountain range of Calnuthe,” Galean said seeing the intrigue in Eveline’s eyes and finding it slightly ironic.

“Sometimes when I sleep I see a vast mountain range that lurks beyond this beautiful garden that I always find myself wandering in,” Eveline said with glazed eyes. “It is always a very beautiful dream that takes place in the same garden.” Galean knew which garden she spoke of, it was the garden of Kings and Queens. It was strange that she should remember it considering she was only a baby when she had first and last entered it with her dying parents.

“What happens in your dream?” Galean enquired with soft eyes.

“You will think me silly if I share with you an account of my strange and vivid dreams,” Eveline coloured slightly.

“You couldn’t be further from the truth.”

“It is not unusual that I have dreams or visions for I have always suffered from them,” Eveline began as she moved her body slightly to rid her thighs of the lingering pain. “I awaken within this glorious garden, filled with the most beautiful elements of nature. Trees I have never seen before and flowers that glow under the night sky.” Galean knew of the trees and flowers she spoke of and found himself back within the garden, her words poetic and enchanting. “I always take the same path through the trees coming to stand before a large and beautiful lake with an island in the centre.” Eveline laid her head back against the wall, dust falling in the air as another explosion went off somewhere close to the shelter, but she heard and felt none of what was happening around her for she was back in the garden, her mind filled with the smells and fresh air that always surrounded her. “My feet are always bare and I like to dip them into the cool waters, sitting down by the shore for a while, just taking it all in.”

“It sounds like heaven,” Galean sighed watching how her face changed as she described the Garden of Calhuni, fascinated by her description for he was no poet, but she clearly was.

“Do you think Heaven is a perception of what we deem to be the most scared place in our psyches?” Eveline asked keeping her eyes shut, not wanting to let go of the images within her mind.

“I have been to Heaven and it fulfilled all of the perceptions that had lain deep within my mind.”

“You have been there?” Eveline whispered, opening her eyes to look into his face.

“I’m an angel remember,” Galean smiled kindly.

“Oh yes I quite forgot, your just so…human I suppose,” Eveline returned with merry eyes, the aspirin taking affect.

“Well I am part being too, so I do differ slightly in my appearance to other angels but not much,” Galean admitted thoughtfully.

“What is it like? Heaven?”

“It is quite like earth in the sense that it is filled with natural beauty, hills, mountains, rivers and seas.”

“I always imagined it to be filled with white light and emerald palaces,” Eveline chuckled.

“Well no not exactly,” Galean smirked. “There are towns, villages and cities much like our own but the architecture is quite different. The main city where the God Heiden dwells is called Aurorlas, were all light meets.”

“Have you met your God?”

“Once,” Galean said with saddened eyes, turning his face away from Eveline.

“Is he frightening?”

“When he needs to be yes, with his right hand he wields mercy, compassion and love and with his left hand, justice, wisdom and an iron rod when needed.”

“A balance of light and darkness.”

Galean turned to Eveline and studied her.

“In a way yes,” Galean said flatly.

“I cannot believe that God is perfect if you will forgive my saying so.”

“What makes you think that?”

“Perfection is a paradox in that to be perfect one must be imperfect,” Eveline said with a serious tone.

“You quote Lucillo Vanini?”

“Yes,” Eveline blushed. “What I mean is that all those who have thought about perfection and what it could mean have different perceptions and theories of what it is and how it functions.”

“Aristotle believed that perfection occurred when something had been completed,” Galean added. “But to Empedocles perfection depended on incompleteness, thus the paradox.”

“Exactly, so if we were to use Aristotle’s theory, then God cannot achieve perfection until everything He has created has been completed and how do we know if He has achieved completion?”

“We don’t.”

“And then we must take into consideration how imperfect the race of man is.”

“I believe Aristotle said that the world could be perfect but that God could not.”

“Well from my limited knowledge on the subject there have been many different theories on the concept of perfection, from the concept that perfection is not an attribute of God to the concept that it is,” Eveline said quietly as a women came and offered them both some hot tea. Eveline and Galean took the cups of tea with gratitude for they were thirsty. “The word perfection is explained as being free from any imperfection that cannot be improved upon, the word in Latin is I think perficio which means finishing.”

“Have you read Origins of Species by Charles Darwin?” Galean asked curiously, enjoying their thread of conversation.

“As natural selection works solely by and for the good of each being all corporeal and mental endowments will tend to progress toward perfection,” Eveline whispered with a mischievous smile upon her lips.

“Impressive,” Galean applauded the young lady who was quite obviously well read.

“As I have already said I love nature, it is through nature that I find God and I think to some extent so did Darwin although to be perfectly honest I don’t suspect anyone will ever truly know the depth of his understanding or personal opinion of God and perfection but he seems to suggest that everything adapts and evolves towards perfection.”

“And what happens when everything has evolved and becomes perfect? How does he see perfection?” Galean asked quietly, stroking Wordsworth’s head gently.

“I think that he has figured out how things can evolve into goodness but absolute perfectionism I am not quite sure he himself has found the answer, if you think about it he states that everything will adapt to evolve and at a certain time will achieve perfection as though everything becomes finalised, but it is quite like human life, we all evolve and adapt to reach a certain point in our human life,” Eveline stopped to think a little. “What I’m trying to say very inarticulacy is that we all reach a peak in our life be it our health, age etc. etc. When that peak has been reached then we steadily go downhill and eventually die.”

“So you think that the natural world will evolve to reach its pinnacle and then escalate downwards to its death?” Galean quizzed thoughtfully.

“I am probably wrong but yes, I can see that very pattern in many things, a plant grows until it reaches its peak in life and then it dies away.”

“The buds of the flowers may die away but not necessarily the flower itself, in many cases they come to life again the next year, and they spread seeds so that new life can begin” Galean smiled. “Do you think that God is the same?”

“If true understanding of God is beyond our human thinking then I do not know, maybe he designed everything to have limited life span to give way to new life, a person dies and a baby is brought into the world. Everything must come from something and I think maybe that is true of God, maybe He comes from something and in His own time whatever that may be He will give way to another who will take His place.”

Galean looked at Eveline with wide eyes, she had hit the nail on the head and had absolutely no idea that she or her half-brother where the next in line to Heiden’s throne.

“Gosh all this in depth talking is going to my head now,” Eveline laughed quietly dropping her eyes to the sleeping Wordsworth. “Tell me why it is that I believe you to have some sort of aversion to your God, what happened to make you react so to His name? You are one of his angels after all.”

“I have no aversion to Heiden, we simply parted on bad terms,” Galean admitted as he played with his long fingers in frustration.

“What terms were those?”

“I took the law into my own hands and was exiled for it,” Galean said quietly as a baby near to them began to cry out as another bomb fell, causing a cloud of dust to swirl about the shelter. Eveline furrowed her brows as she wrapped her blanket about her shoulders.

“May I ask what it was you did?”

“You truly wish to know?” Galean asked, turning to her with curious eyes. “Are you not a little suspicious or worried that you have placed your life into the hands of a man that has been banished from the Kingdom of God?”

“I know you are a good man and would not take the law into your own hands lightly if only you had no other option,” Eveline said with a serious face. “All be it I have not known very many men in my life except my husband and the reverend but I like to think that I am a good judge of character. So no I am not suspicious or frightened of you, you ran into a burning building to save a boy, that is the action of a good man not the man you seem to think you are.”

“I had not been long in the service of Heiden when I met my wife, Marsalia,” Galean began, his eyes cast across the room as though lost in memory. “We married a few weeks after meeting and set up a home in Aurorlas. A year later she gave birth to our daughter, Rosalie, beautiful and feisty like her mother,” Galean smiled with love. Eveline found herself imagining Galean’s small family and found herself warming at the thought, she hoped that she and Theodore could start a family after the war when eventually they were safe from harm. When she found focus awaking from her imagination she saw sadness in Galean’s eyes and wondered what had happened.

“Did something happen to your family?”

“When my daughter was six, I was away on a mission,” Galean replied, a mission to save her. “Whilst I was away there was an attack on the city led by a demon called Lagman.” Eveline felt her heart freeze, guessing what was to come. “When I returned, I returned a widow.” Silence lay between them as they both digested the information, each shaken and angered. About them, children lay against their mothers asleep whilst the nurses made their rounds, tending on the wounded and those who had recently sought refuge. It was quite some time before Eveline found the courage to speak, the pain in her foot beginning to ease a little.

“What happened to them?” she whispered, watching Galean as he bent over himself, his shoulders tense and firm.

“My wife was raped and executed in front of my daughter,” Galean said slowly as though to speak the very words burned him. “When I returned to the city, my daughter along with other children had been burnt alive.” It suddenly clicked why Galean had been so anxious to save the boy, fire bore a terrible mark upon him a mark that would never fade.

“I don’t know what to say, only that I am truly sorry for you loss,” Eveline said as her eyes watered, the pain of his loss evident in his eyes. “I cannot imagine what you went through but if you were exiled for avenging theirs death then I understand.”

“I searched all the corners of the universe for Lagman not finding him for years and when I did I felt no shame in killing him until afterwards,” Galean sighed. “My wife would have been ashamed, she had spent her whole life working to improve the legal system of Aurorlas. I knew that I should have brought him before the council but I was driven by despair and vengeance and paid for it.”

“Your wife and daughter would have understood, not wishing you to be so hard on yourself,” Eveline soothed trying to bring him comfort knowing that words were futile and that comfort could not be borne, not when the pain of their deaths burned into his soul so brightly.

“I am heir to a Kingdom Mrs Sampson and if I am to rule then I must abide by the law, not taking it into my hands when I feel the need for vengeance,” Galean said sharply.

“I did not mean to offend you,” Eveline said with coloured cheeks, turning her eyes from him in shame. Galean groaned, if it had not been for her then maybe his family would still be alive and he settled and content. He should have felt anger towards the young woman who sat so diligently beside him trying to bring him ease and comfort, her eyes watered with grief at his loss.  Yet he could summon no agitated feelings towards her, nothing akin to hatred or anger stirred within him, instead he found solace and friendship in her easy and caring ways. Galean turned from her sickened by himself, his weakness and stupidity. The sooner he returned to his homeland the better.

Eveline felt pain as her new friend drew away from her, unable to meet her gaze, unable to speak with her. For a while she simply lay against the wall until nurse Ruth came to her to attend to her wounds once more, making sure she was alright.

“You look pale, how is your head?” the nurse asked seeing the tension between the couple, wondering what had happened.

“My head is better thank you, I’m just a little tired that’s all,” Eveline said as the nurse tended to the cut at her hairline.

“I think you can close your eyes if possible,” Ruth said kindly.

“It would seem wrong and perverse to sleep when such destruction is going on outside of these walls,” Eveline whispered, her eyes scanning the large room. “Not when people are desperately trying to stay alive.”

“Eveline your body has been through major shock in the last few hours, you are pale and drawn, take a tip from your lovely dog and close your eyes for even half an hour if your feel so strongly about it,” Ruth said with kind eyes and a soft tone. “We have a long night ahead of us and most likely a long and trying day too. Close your eyes and give your body some time to breath before the aftershock kicks in.”

“But what if I do not wake?” Eveline said, bending forward so that those around her could not hear her silly response.

“You will wake,” came a strong voice from beside her. Eveline turned and met Galean’s firm gaze. “I will watch over you and awaken you when its time.”

“There you go, now stop making up excuses and close those eyes,” the nurse said as she got up. “And before I leave take these two tablets in another two hours okay?”

“Thank you,” Eveline said with a grateful smile taking the tablets from the nurse who walked away, tending to her next patient. Eveline looked about her for a place to store her tablets.

“Here give them to me I will put them in my pocket,” Galean said holding out his hand. Eveline handed her tablets to Galean before trying to find comfort in the cement wall.

“I can’t sleep against this wall, it’s unbending to my needs,” she groaned, pushing her back up straight but finding no comfort, her body tired and aching, all the traumatic events incurred suddenly catching up with her. Galean watched her for a moment before letting out a deep sigh.

“Sit forward,” he ordered watching as she moved forward. Galean got up and moved behind her, stretching his long legs to either side of her.

“Mr Edwards I’m not sure this is entirely appropriate,” Eveline said with red cheeks.

“We are both adults, intelligent adults, I am giving you comfort not my heart,” Galean said flatly as Wordsworth awoke, standing up with sleepy eyes. Eveline closed her mouth and carefully lay back against Galean, positioning her head upon his chest as he covered her once more with the blanket.

“I wasn’t asking for your heart,” she groaned quietly hoping he could not hear her words as Wordsworth fell upon them both.

“I’m sorry,” Galean said as he wound his arms about her. “Sleep Eveline and worry not, I have no heart with which to give.”

Eveline lay back and let her eyes fix themselves upon the ceiling, her heart thudding deeply with anxiety. Galean felt her body tremble and looked down at her.

“You never did tell me what happened in the garden,” he asked softly, his eyes upon her long nose, dotted with tiny freckles.

“I didn’t did I?” Eveline smiled sheepishly, looking up into his face, her eyes wide and innocent. “Would you like to know?”

“Yes.”

Eveline rested her head back and closed her eyes, twirling the golden band upon her forth finger.

“Sometimes when I walk through the garden I catch a glimpse of animals that greatly resemble deer’s and stags,” she began feeling her heart slow down as she found herself once more in the enchanted garden. “They sometimes look at me with their big yellow eyes before darting off into the forest.”

“We call them Thegs,” Galean interceded quietly.

“I always find myself upon the shore of the great lake where a small boat lingers close by,” Eveline could see the small boat and found herself walking towards it, the air sweet with the scent of the flowers. “I then climb into the boat and as if by magic it moves slowly towards the island. I love to bend over the edge and gaze down into the waters, where I watch the most beautiful fish swim about. If I am feeling particularly adventurous I let the tips of my fingers dance upon the water, the coolness easing my skin which is warmed by the high sun.” Eveline drew in a breathe. “When I arrive upon the island I am met by a tall and ancient tree, its branches are so wide and thick that they almost touch the shore.” Galean smiled at the memory of the island and how she so perfectly described the tree of life. “Under the tree is a very old throne, made of roots, how I’m not sure but it is, this I promise.”

“I believe you,” Galean muttered.

“I am always entranced by the throne feeling a connection to it, however illogical that may sound. Many times I simply sit beside it feeling as though I had been there before in a different life.” Galean sighed, remembering the first time he had laid eyes on the Celestine, now Eveline. She had been wrapped up in the arms of her dead mother, crying, her golden eyes filled with sadness. Theodore had buried the King and Queen whilst Galean nursed the baby in his arms, singing to her softly, her tiny index finger wrapped about his own. He opened his eyes and looked down at Eveline, his hold on her tightening slightly with care. He had felt an instant connection to the child that had lain within his arms, her cheeks plump and her eyes red with tears. “It sounds silly I know but I feel a terrible pain in my heart when I sit at the foot of the throne.”

“It doesn’t sound silly to me.”

“It should,” Eveline chuckled deeply. “Then the dream always ends.”

“Are all your dreams the same?”

“No, they are made up of different scenes from a world so alike that they seem connected to one another,” Eveline said with mystified eyes. “That night that you found me I had had a very strange occurrence.”

“What happened?” Galean asked with raised brows.

“I awoke from a nightmare and found a small ball of golden light hovering before my bed,” Eveline whispered not wanting anyone close by to hear, fearing they would deem her insane.

“It was a dream?”

“No it was real,” Eveline said turning her golden eyes up to him. “I got out of my bed and went to stand before it but then it began to move and I found myself following it out of my room, down the corridor and stairs until I stood before the cottage door. Then it disappeared through the door.”

“What did you do?” Galean whispered gently, his blue gaze delving into Eveline’s golden gaze.

 “What I had too,” Eveline smiled shyly. “I opened the door and found it hovering before me and so I followed it down the garden path. And then something altogether strange happened.”

“Yes?”

“I was guided down to the shores of the lake and stopped before the water, but the ball of light kept moving until it hovered over the centre of the lake, bidding me to follow but I could not, for I cannot walk on water,” Eveline said with wide eyes. “But then it came back to me and gently pushed me onto the lake where to my greatest shock, I found my feet walking upon the water as though it were a floor. When finally I came to stand at the centre of the lake, the ball of light suddenly turned into a door.”

“A door?”

“Yes a door, small and golden.”

“What did you do?” Galean asked, filled with curiosity and wonder, his arms tightening about Eveline protectively.

“I opened it and found myself falling through time itself until I awoke upon a marble floor within the folds of a great palace,” Eveline said with bright eyes. “The most beautiful palace you could ever imagine Galean, with a glass roof in the shape of a star.”

“How beautiful,” Galean whispered into her hair. He knew the palace she spoke of, it was the royal palace of Caci, the city and seat of the High King, her father.

“When I stood up, I found myself surrounded by a thick mass of people, standing to the side of a path that led down the centre of the great nave which come to an end before two thrones and a baptismal font,” Eveline went on, her eyes becoming glazed. “The thrones were beautiful, made of copper, gold and silver. Whilst I took in my surroundings, the great doors of the hall opened and a procession entered made up of a young couple with their baby and what looked to be a priest, followed by more men in similar attire. I stood amongst the congregation and watched on as the couple made their way up the nave of the hall towards the font, the baby in the arms of the woman who I later came to know as the High Queen Unyae.”

“What did she look like?” Galean asked prompting Eveline to furrow her brows.

“That is the intriguing part,” she whispered under her breathe. “This will sound odd and odd it was to me too, but she was in my likeness.”

“How do you mean?”

“She too had auburn hair and golden eyes like me,” Eveline said, her eyelashes flickering gently. “And when I found myself looking down at the baby, she too was alike her mother. I felt a strange sensation run through me as though I were a part of that child.”

“And the King?”

“He was tall and proud with keen eyes and a caring face,” Eveline said, finding comfort in the image of the King. “I could see his intelligence and strength in the eyes of the child and felt in that moment that she was greatly loved.”

You were, Galean whispered inwardly.

“The priest blessed the child and strangely enough said these very words,” Eveline took a moment to think. “Child of the Heavens, child of the Earth, we submit you into the arms of Heiden, God of the Heavens, and God of the Earth.” Eveline turned her body slightly so that her neck did not hurt when looking into Galean’s face. “Strange that he should use the name of your God don’t you think? And remember this was before I knew of Heiden myself.”

“Strange indeed,” Galean mused, hoping his eyes would not betray him.

“So I thought too,” Eveline said turning her head around and laying it back against his chest once more. “Then I fell back through time and found myself upon the grass, overshadowed by…by.”

“You don’t need to say his name, I know the rest of the story,” Galean soothed quietly.

“Do you not think me strange Mr Edwards?”

“No,” Galean said firmly.

“Then how do you account for such an event? Does this happen to every angel?”

“You said that all things come from something remember?” Galean replied.

“Yes.”

“Maybe the dreams and visions you have are trying to tell you something?”

“I wish I could understand them in a way that would make sense to me,” Eveline sighed deeply with frustration. “But you are right, they must mean something for I felt a familiar strangeness within me stir when finding myself within them.”

“Maybe in time you will come to understand their meaning,” Galean said kindly.

“Maybe you are right,” Eveline whispered as she placed her hands upon Galean’s. “But everything at the moment seems to confuse me Mr Edwards, your revelations and my visions.”

“You said that Lagar had spoken to you, may I ask again what it was that he said?”

“He said that I had been hidden away like my mother,” Eveline said with grave eyes. “That she had been brought low, hidden from her people. That she would cry for my existence, that she wept when she held me in her arms, drawing her last breathe, with the knowledge that she been left destitute and alone like me.”

“His words are poison, pay no heed to them Eveline,” Galean said gently. “He only wanted to cause you pain.”

“I wonder how he knew my mother,” Eveline said with curious eyes. “I thought she had died in a car accident when I was young with my father.”

“Eveline look at me,” Galean ordered. Eveline shook her head as her eyes watered again, causing her to feel deep seated shame for she rarely cried over the death of her parents. “Eveline look at me,” Galean ordered once more, softer this time. Eveline slowly found his gaze again.

“Yes?”

“His words are laced with poison do you understand?”

“I understand,” Eveline said, biting down on her lip.

“Good,” Galean replied firmly as Eveline turned her head and stroked Wordsworth, quiet and withdrawn.

“I wonder why it is that I am being hunted Mr Edwards.”

“In time you will know.”

“I am afraid of being enlightened can you believe that, I afraid of being enlightened.”

“It would seem strange, you being a woman who likes to broaden her understanding, but this is entirely separate from philosophy or morality, this is personal.”

“I wonder what Theodore will think,” Eveline pondered.

“Forget about your worries for now and close your eyes Eveline,” Galean soothed. “The sun has not yet risen.”

“Thank you Mr Edwards for saving me and that young boy,” Eveline whispered as she closed her eyes. “It is nice to have a friend in times of peril and uncertainty. I can see why my husband trusts you so.”

“He is a good man.”

“As are you Galean.”

Eveline yawned as she felt a blanket of exhaustion wrap itself about her, forcing her into a dreamless sleep, the noise of sirens and explosions falling away.

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