Lilith stared at me, her eyes sharp and assessing, though her face was still slack and her mouth impassive. I felt stripped bare by her gaze. My chest ached after the endless days of flying, and I didn’t like what she might be seeing.
I opened my mouth, ready to see what came out, when Lilith began to speak.
Four
Lilith
For a heartbeat, I wondered what would happen if I let the seraph fail. But I didn’t want to be blamed for any mistake made—and the elders would somehow blame me, most assuredly.
Perhaps I could help Castiel. It never hurt to have someone powerful like you. It’s how I had survived unscathed for so long. I whispered, low enough that only the Herald would hear me. “Oh great Lord Erlik.”
Castiel’s eyes narrowed on me. He swallowed, then spoke in a loud, booming voice that made me remember he wasn’t human at all, but a mighty spiritual being beyond our ken. “Oh great Lord Erlik.” He gave a pause, but somehow instead of confusion he radiated reverence, as if he was hesitating because of the weight of the blessing falling from his lips.
How could he not be a Herald? And what was a seraph? Were the elders lying, or had someone lied to them? I put it from my mind for now, trying to get us through the blessing for my mother’s sake. My questions could buzz around my head later.
“There is no blessing we implore that you cannot give. Oh God of Death and the Beyond, infinite and boundless in your wisdom and grace, eternal as death itself, make us willing to accept your will and guidance through our lives. From the rising sun to the midday of youth, to the grave of nightfall when we finally sojourn home into the shelter of your wings, we owe you our lives.
“And though we are but frail beings, grateful to look with wonder into the power of your name, we beseech of you.” I swallowed, leading the Herald of Death through my mother’s favorite blessing, so quietly none could hear but him.
“Bless us, oh Lord Erlik, with your wisdom, that we may spread your light across the world;
“Bless us, oh Lord Erlik, with your hope, that we may be unswerving and stalwart in our faith;
“Bless us, oh Lord Erlik, with your love, that we may never know true peace until we find our way to your home;
“And bless us, oh Lord Erlik, with your spirit, that we may remember our place as servants to you and servants to one another, living in community to the best of our ability, bringing honor and glory to you forever through our lives of service. Amen.”
Castiel’s voice echoed through the courtyard, strong and confident.
My mother wept beside me.
Castiel’s hands dropped to his sides and he looked over the crowd, back straight and amber eyes fierce. My heart skipped a beat at the sight. If he wasn’t a Herald from Erlik, what else could he be?
“Thank you,” one of the elders said in the heavy silence that followed. “Our gratitude for your presence knows no bounds.” The spell broke as people shuffled and glanced at one another.
My mother turned away, wiping her eyes with her apron, to follow the elders as they removed the two bodies.
“Mother,” I called out, but she didn’t hear me. She only had interest in Absalom. My lips twisted as I watched her walk through the crowd, away from me. In death as in life, I supposed. Why should this be any different than before?
The air was thick and heavy, a shroud across the entire crowd. Grief echoed in the loud silence. Everything seemed darker, more foreboding than last I’d experienced.
My skin prickled. I glanced over my shoulder to see Castiel, still as a statue, staring at me with that intense expression. Suddenly I couldn’t breathe. I needed to get away, to escape his ever-watching eyes and the suspicions I had about him. I looked away.
“Herald.” Elder White stepped toward him. “We shall have the funeral service tomorrow night at sunfall, as is custom for our church. If you approve?”
Castiel must’ve nodded, for White continued. “We have prepared a place for you, with glass so you can receive your nourishment from the sun, as Reverend Grimshaw told us you required. Come, let us show you a place to rest. Tomorrow we can seek your counsel on moving forward, now our church will have Erlik’s own messenger in our midst.” A smug tone filled his voice. He’d come to the Church of the Love of His Divine Saints a mere six years ago. I’d heard he’d been released from his holy service at another church for Erlik. They considered his views extreme. Persecuted and maligned, Elder White found his way to our community and joined our congregation.
“Very well,” Castiel said evenly.
I took two steps away, hoping to hide in my bedroom for all eternity, but Castiel’s voice cut me short.
“I will need her—the woman.”
I froze. My pulse rushed in my ears.
“The—woman?” There was a heartbeat of silence. “Well, if that is something a Herald requires, you may keep her. She is the prettiest woman we have. I’d assumed spiritual beings such as yourself had no base desires, but if you require it?—”
“Not that.” Castiel’s voice cut like a whip. “Have her settle my resting place. It needs a woman’s touch, doesn’t it? And then I shall release her back to her duties.”
