I know. I’ll find a way to escape. A price I can pay, to be with her.
How?
When she was parted from Mikhail, during his trips to Earth, their bond was muted. He couldn’t even feel her.I had done some reading on the phenomenon once, and when I insisted he travel with me to Earth to seek out the “demon child,”I showed him the texts so he could rest easy while we were away.Just over two thousand years ago, a few Celestial Messengers traveled to Earth. One had a soulmate who needed to remain in the Celestial Realm. He felt pain when his mate departed, but when she entered the earthly realm, the pain almost vanished. They survived the separation and were reunited. I believe Feather will be safe while I’m there, as long as we leave this realm within minutes of one another. It’s the only solution I have.I wasn’t certain how I would reach the upper level to access the way to Earth, with my wings not functioning. But if it meant saving my soulmate, I knew I would find a way.
It’s a good solution,Arabella replied.The same power that shields young Novices from the shadows on Earth protects the soul bond. Blankets it by freezing it in a timeless pocket.She laughed.Sabriel wrote a thesis on it, and forced me to read it. Tell her for me that it came in handy? She always promised it would.
I will. So, Feather will return to Mikhail and Righteous. I will go to the Flight Hall and…I didn’t spell out the process of that particular method of travel, but I could tell she knew of what I spoke.After I live a blameless mortal life, free of corruption, I will join her upon my death.
Can you do so?
For my brave soulmate? Of course.
Maybe you are worthy of her, Musician, she said gently.Maybe… Those idiots! Why will they not listen to her? Gavriel, one last thing: tell Seraphiel something for me?
Yes.
Tell him she needs him, too.
Chapter 16
Feather
The hallways of Sanctuary were dimmer than they should be, and the soft lights flickered intermittently. Every time the energy dipped, Arabella flew faster. I could sense the stored power inside her fluctuating, pushing like a tide on sand, and wondered how I could help her. It felt dangerous, like she held a lion on a small leash inside of her. It was only a matter of time until it burst free.
When we arrived at The Merge, Perception stood at the door alone, soul knife drawn, singing. He was covered with bleeding scratches, but there were no shadows nearby now, and he threw the door wide for us. Four of the octet took his place right outside as he ushered us in.
The large space was so packed with Protectors and Guides, it was hard even to get into the room. Arabella huffed in exasperation and picked me up again, flying over the heads of everyone on the main dance floors to the stage at the far end. This was where Mikhail had told everyone in the realm I washisonly months ago—though it felt like years.
The stage was raised up, and the only ones on it now were some Protectors I recognized as healers and a dozen or so injured people who were being fed the supplies we’d managed to scavenge. The chef and his crew were already there, but off to one side, doing something that looked like a combination of praying and making clay snakes.
“Cooking more up?” I asked when Arabella set me down. He nodded, but stayed focused on his task. Arabella moved away, striding to the other side of the stage. While she was busy, I checked in on Gavriel. I didn’t plan to speak into his mind; I was just listening. Maybe hoping to get a glimpse of Rumple.
Not reaching out to him was the hardest thing I’d done in… well, at least a few hours. But if he really needed me to leave him alone, I could do that. Even if it made me feel like a needy, whiny birch. How much harm could a tiny little hello do? I forced myself to send that hello to Gav instead.
Gavriel answered instantly.Are you safe?He sounded breathless, and I wondered how he was faring with only a soul knife. He was an expert fighter, though, the best in all Sanctuary. I had to believe he’d be fine.
Yes. In The Merge now with Percy. Hope’s rounding more people up to bring them here.As I said that, another flood ofProtectors breached the doors on the far wall, and I noted what had to be Hope’s mostly angelic glow following them inside. Had she ascended?
She can’t ascend until you link her to the realm, Feather. But she’s ready. You should connect her; we need more High Angeli to bolster Sanctuary.
Got it,I thought back.How are you? How’s Rumple?He didn’t answer, but that was enough to scare me.I’ll come down there. I can tie the shadows?—
No!he shouted into my mind. My brain hurt from the sheer volume of his response.I’m sorry. No, Feather, you need to… I can’t believe it’s come to this. You must evacuate the realm. There’s no saving it. You all have to get out.
At some level, I’d already known this was the only solution, but my heart still fell at his words. Then I realized what he’d said.You? You mean we, right?Wehave to get out. I can’t live without you and Rumple. You know that.He didn’t answer, and I gasped.Arabella, talk to Gavriel. He and Rumple are planning some sort of Thelma and Louise routine down there. I’m not leaving without them. Both of them.
I glimpsed her returning through the crowd. She nodded grimly, then stopped and closed her eyes, obviously setting up a quick Celestial conference with the heroes below.
I knew Gavriel wouldn’t leave Sanctuary while there was so much as one soul remaining. So I had my own work to focus on. I strode to the center of the stage floor and yelled, “Everybody, listen up!” No one listened. No one even heard me. “What the fudge?”
Everyone in the room was watching Arabella, trying to talk to her. Calling out, “She’ll save us!” and grabbing at her robe, while she was still on a call. She shook them off, growing more and more pissed. There was an almost visible dark cloud of anger forming around her.
Finally, her eyes snapped open, and she stalked back to my side, carrying a stained velvet loveseat that would probably look like the Milky Way under a blacklight, knowing how much freaky shizz went on in this place. “You need to address your realm.”
“I tried. They didn’t hear me,” I muttered.
“They heard you,” Arabella seethed. “They just aren’tlistening. But this might help.” She picked me up and stood me on top of the loveseat. I glared down at her. Not very far down, though. I was only a couple of inches taller than her standing on the sofa.
