L. Castillo - After the Fall

His hand dropped from Naomi’s grasp as she placed it over her mouth. His heart slammed into full gear when her face grew shockingly white.

“What is it?”

She shook her head, and tears streamed down her face as she pointed to the sign.

A numbing cold washed over him as he read it.

Future site of Prescott Park.

Houston luxury living at its finest.

Lash held Naomi as they sat on the porch steps of Welita’s abandoned home. He should have known that Lucifer, known to people on Earth as the billionaire Luke Prescott, was behind this. How could he have been so stupid to think he’d stop? Naomi was in Heaven. She was an archangel now or at least in training. Lucifer was up to something—he just didn’t know what.

“It’s my fault. I did this to Welita, to Chuy, to the entire neighborhood!” Naomi bawled, dropping her head into her hands.

“It’s not your fault.” His voice was gentle as he stroked her back. “The battle between the angels and Lucifer has been going on for centuries.”

“Yes, but he’s after me . He wants me dead because I’m the seventh archangel.” She popped up her head and looked at him with a glint in her eyes. “I can fix this. Maybe if I go to him and work out a deal—”

“No! Absolutely not.”

“But, I—”

He pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her, and she scowled.

Kissing her lightly, he said, “It wouldn’t make any difference if you did. Think about it. The purpose of killing you when you were human was to prevent you from becoming an archangel, which you will be, once your training is complete.”

“Then why is he after my family?”

“I don’t know. We need to talk to Raphael. Maybe he’ll know what Lucifer is up to.”

“Oh, my God!” She gripped his arm, her eyes bulging with terror. “What if he killed them? What if he killed them all?”

“He wouldn’t do that. That would be a lot of people to kill, and it would get way too much media attention,” he said calmly. “He has to maintain his position here on Earth.”

“He wouldn’t have to do it himself. He could’ve gotten Sal to do it or his other followers.”

He shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense why he would.”

A muffled sound came from inside the house.

He stiffened. “What was that?”

Naomi stood and headed toward to door.

“Wait!” He jumped, grabbing her arm. “It could be one of them.”

“Let go.” She tugged at her arm. “They might know where Welita and Chuy are.”

He tightened his grip. There was no way he was letting her go in there. If there were more than one of them, he didn’t know if they could fight them off. “Even if they do know, they won’t tell you.”

“Lash,” she warned, her eyes blazing with determination. “I’m going in.”

He let out a breath. There was no stopping her when she had her mind made up. He loved that about her—except when it placed her in the line of possible danger.

“Okay, but let me go in first. Stay behind me, and if anything happens, leave. Go to Raphael and let him know.”

She hesitated a moment before finally giving in with a grumble and moving aside to let him pass.

“Stubborn woman,” he said as he kissed her forehead.

As he went in, he heard the muffled sounds coming from the hall to the right of him.

“I think it’s coming from Welita’s room,” Naomi whispered.

He nodded and moved slowly down the hall. Just as he reached the entrance to the bedroom, a woman’s silhouette appeared in the doorway.

He moved back and placed his arm up, holding Naomi away from the stranger.

The silhouette moved slowly toward them. Lash was about to attack when the shadow stepped into the sunlit hall, and hazel eyes locked with his.

“Lahash.”

Lash froze with shock at the petite angel who gazed lovingly at him. Dark waves of hair cascaded onto her shoulders. She wore a pink dress that flowed down to her ankles. The delicate dress, with tiny billowy sleeves and lace trim, flowed around her with each step she took.

Something inside of him stirred as he watched her. Something he hadn’t felt since the first time he heard that same voice calling out his name. It was a feeling of unconditional love. He saw it in her eyes. The only other person who looked at him like that, other than Naomi, was Raphael.

“Rebecca?” Naomi stepped around Lash. “Are you Rebecca?”

A tender smile lit her face. “Yes, how did you know?”

“You look just like Lash—so beautiful.” Naomi nudged him. “Are you all right? You’re so quiet.”

“I-I-I...” He gulped, overwhelmed with emotion. “I don’t know what to say.”

It felt like only yesterday he had found out about his parents. When Raphael told him that his punishment was to never see her again, Lash had thought he’d never have a chance to meet her. And now, here she was, standing in Welita’s house.

“It’s been a long time, Lahash,” Rebecca said. “Has Raphael explained to you who I am?”

“Yes. You’re”—he took a deep breath—“you’re my mother.”

“I am.” She stopped a few inches from him, and her eyes took him in with wonder.

“May I?”

He tensed as she wrapped her arms around him and placed her head on his chest. His shirt grew moist from the tears that fell. Slowly, he relaxed and placed his hands around her. She was so small, delicate. His hands touched her velvety hair, and a memory stirred deep within him, fighting to get out.

He squeezed his eyes shut, wanting desperately to have his memories of her resurface. All he could see were bits and pieces, images of her holding him, playing with him as a small child.

And then a feeling slowly spread through his body, a feeling like none he’d ever had before. It was as if there had been an empty place in his chest, a place he didn’t even know was missing, and it was slowly being filled up with motherly love.

He held her tighter.

Cradling him in her arms, she crooned, “Lahash, my son. I have missed you so.”

“Mother,” he croaked. His memories of her may have been suppressed, but this, the warmth, the love he felt was there with him.

She pulled back, tears staining her cheeks. “I don’t have much time with you, and there is much I need to tell you.”

“Wait.” There was something he had to do before anything else. Something he’d always wanted to do but didn’t think he’d ever have the chance.

He turned and took Naomi’s hand, pulling her next to him. “This is my Naomi—the love of my life. We are to be bound.”

Hazel eyes lit up, and she placed a hand over her heart. “Oh, Lahash, you don’t know what great joy it brings me to have you two together again, after all these centuries. When I found out you were assigned to her, I knew—well, I hoped—that you two would find love again.”

Rebecca turned to Naomi and, reaching over with her small hand, cupped her cheek. “You do your grandmother proud, Naomi. She is the reason why I am here.”

“Where is she? Is she all right?”

“She’s doing well now, and she’s with your cousin, Chuy.”

“Now? What do you mean, now?”

Rebecca took her hand, and her face grew serious. “Don’t be alarmed when I tell you this. She had a heart attack soon after you left.”

“She had a heart attack?” Naomi’s voice grew frantic. “We need to find her. I need to go to her now. Please tell me where she is.”

“Your grandmother is not in any immediate danger,” Rebecca said calmly. “Chuy saw to her every need, and she was given the best medical care. She was given a pacemaker, and it helps her tremendously, but...” She looked at Naomi with worry. “They struggled with the finances.”