Epilogue
Cain
After several hoursof difficult explanations, Phoebe and I managed to tell our story to her mother. It would be a while before she recovered from the shock of finding out her husband wasn’t dead, and then he wasn’t even human, but she seemed to be a strong woman.
And she has Phoebe and me to help her along the way.
I blinked to the university quad and waited under the shade of the trees. The memory of killing Amy to recharge my power tamped down some of the excitement of waiting for the love of my life.
I’m sorry.The countless lives I’d taken over the eons weighed heavily on me, and even though I’d been forgiven by God herself, it didn’t make the burden of remembrance any less. Being blessed by the light didn’t mean the light washed away all the darkness of my past.
Now, to recharge my ether required me to protect and help souls reach Heaven instead of sending them to Hell. I enjoyed the way it made me feel, not for the power, but for the love and burst of goodness knowing I made no one suffer any longer.
Michael, now my direct mentor, would assign my first task soon, and eagerness fluttered within me to begin my atonement.
But tonight, I have another task to attend to.
Phoebe, along with her friend, Tara, burst through the doors of a building. She laughed at something her friend said then shifted the backpack hanging on her shoulder.
For a moment, my heart stilled in my chest. I’d seen ugliness, beauty, and everything in-between, but this woman shone like the sun, her exquisite smile, wild pink hair, and mischievous eyes sending painful need slamming through my body.
Gathering my wits, I stepped out of the park and crossed the street, heading directly to her, my eyes not seeing anything else.
When she saw me, her grin deepened and she walked faster.
“Uh, bye, I guess,” Tara said.
“Yeah, see you on Monday.” Phoebe didn’t even give her friend another glance. Like me, she seemed unable to look away.
I enjoyed the sensation of the sun on my skin, of not having to hide in the shadows or behind sunglasses.
“Hello.” I tried to keep my tone light but failed. When it came to this woman I loved more than anything in the world, I couldn’t stop the intense well of emotion from rising up.
“Hey there.” She stopped at the edge of the sidewalk. “How was your meeting with my dad?”
“It went well. He’s taking me on my next assignment tomorrow.”
“Cool.” She gripped the backpack strap hanging on her shoulder. “Did you give him my message?”
