The front yard didn’t look any different from the back. Trash littered the steps of the house. Beer cans, bottles, an old sock. Graffiti was written on the front walls.
“Don’t do that,” he said when Naomi bent down and picked up a flattened basketball.
“Why? I want to clean up.”
“You’re in your angel form. No one can see you. If someone passes by, they’ll only see the objects in your hand and not you.”
“Oh, right.” She dropped the deflated ball. “I forgot about that. Can we change into human form?”
He looked around the neighborhood. It didn’t seem like anyone was nearby. But if one of her old neighbors just happened to be around or if they ran into someone who knew her, it could be trouble for them, especially since they thought she was dead. “I don’t want to take a chance on someone seeing you.”
“Okay.” She glanced over his shoulder and furrowed her brow. “Is that a sign over there? I don’t remember seeing it before.”
They headed toward a large sign on the corner of the street. Lash scanned the area as they walked over, studying each of the houses as they passed. Other than a few stray cats that scrambled underneath a house porch when they passed, it was obvious no one had lived in any of the homes for quite some time. He listened carefully for any sounds of life in the surrounding area. There was nothing.
The entire neighborhood for blocks around was empty.
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.
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
“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.”
