I want to say another big thank you for all those people who have taken the time out to review this story, especially those who submit muliple reviews. When i started writing this, i intended it to be no more than ten thousand words. clearly that didn't work, now seventy thousand words later i feel i need to praise all of you, as it is you i'm writing for. if i hadn't recieved such fantastic feedback i doubt i would have gotten this far. so thank you all, and pat yourselves on the back!
Three whole days.
Seventy two hours of chewing nails and pacing the floor, wondering and idling as they waited. There had been some minor discussions on whether or not some of them should press out and take a cursory search to see if all was right. But it was only an idea borne of a helpless indolence, after all Michael had said that he would be back, and he had not yet backed down on his word.
Kyle had taken several trips down the rough track that had led them up the side of the cliff, marking off on the wall the water levels as it receded. Twenty five feet and falling, even now the tips of the low lying short scrub bushes that had hugged the sharp incline had started to break through the waters surface, gentle ripples breaking the mirror finish as the day wore on. He was currently searching through the miscellaneous stores in the storage rooms tucked away in the recess corridors, looking for something to measure the depth left.
The time had crept by achingly slow, marked by the sporadic hiss and blare of static as they were contacted by the locals in Red Ridge, checking in with a paranoid regularity, as though perhaps they had dreamed the contact and had to reassure themselves that the offer of relocation still stood. The shifts they took varied in length, those taken in the middle of the day lasting for little more than half an hour before someone would relieve them, the sun hot and strong as it arced wide across the pale blue sky, but when evening fell the open tableau would usually find itself host to few or all of them, with a picnic of food spread out between them as they sat in near silence as they scanned the horizon.
Those nights seemed endless, the seconds ticking by on the clock with a loud and obnoxious tediousness as Kate lay rigid in her bed, her eyes closed as she tried to fool herself into sleeping, all the while her ears pricked for any slight movement or sound. She likened it to being seven years old again, knowing that in the morning she could bound down the stairs to rip open Christmas presents. But her sleeplessness then had been caused by an irrepressible excitement. Now it was a nervous energy that kept her awake, causing her to toss and turn, throwing off the blankets as she tried with futility not to think what he would say when he came back. She dreaded his contempt, remembering with a harsh guilt the pain and anger that had clouded his eyes after she had struck him. Even now her fingers itched when she thought of it.
Charlie's words still hovered at the forefront of her mind, ominous and dispiriting every time she thought of them. Dragging herself from the bed she showered and dressed, resigning herself to another sleepless night. Her eyes felt dry as she soft footed her way through the living area, trying not to wake Kevin who dozed lightly on the sofa, the menu for whatever DVD he'd been watching playing on repeat as she carefully made a coffee. She took the mug outside, the air only marginally cooler than that in the bunker as she sat on the uncomfortable rock. The waters surface rippling silently in the light breeze, distorting the pale cast of the moon as it whirled and eddied around the branches that penetrated the blackness.
She was still there when the sun rose, eyes closed in a restless sleep as a faint call fell from the top of the cliff, followed almost immediately by the crackle of the two way radio that had been placed on the coffee table. The sound echoed terribly, startling Kate from her uneasy rest and no doubt rousing Kevin in a much more spectacular manner. Even from outside and in her drowsy state she could hear Jeep's clear voice stating that someone was coming. She struggled to her feet, kicking over the mug that she had left beside her as she hurried to the door, leaning heavily against the jamb as Kevin shouted to the others, inciting a colossal amount of noise as doors slammed open down corridors. Kate didn't wait for them, instead heading straight up, her bare feet making the climb more painful but she pushed the thought away, heaving herself up the steeper incline as she neared the top, her lungs burning with the effort.
Jeep was already there, waiting anxiously where the path met the cliff top, the radio clutched tightly in his hand as he helped her steady herself on her feet before flinging his arm wide, pointing out over the sun hazed rock, the horizon shimmering with a haze of heat. "Over there." He panted.
Kate guarded her eyes against the sun, hot and weighty despite having only been up for a couple of hours, and gazed hard, following the line of Jeep's hand until she saw in the haze the distinct figures of people on the horizon.
She felt exhilaration and a gut clenching nervousness explode through her, eyes fixed and concentrating on the dark and distant shapes.
"They're here." Jeep breathed, smiling even through his own complicated nervousness. "Are the others coming up?" He faced her, eyes glancing back and forth between her and the horizon.
"Yeah." She gasped, still catching her breath. "Kevin was shouting around so I doubt they'll be long."
Jeep laughed, an odd sound that was more panic and nerves than actual merriment. "Man, I'm shaking." He shook his hands as Kate gave him a sideways glance.
"Chill out." She said dryly, smiling despite her tone.
"I know." He shoved her lightly. "but I been up here since dawn, thought I was hallucinating. Waiting's over." His grin stretched across his face.
Kate returned his smile, stooping to brush the soles of her feet as she kept her eyes trained on the distance. She couldn't make out how many of them there were, the heat shimmer distorting them as they moved with an agonising slowness. She thought maybe she counted twenty, but it could easily have been only ten or maybe thirty. There would be no way of telling until they got nearer.
There was a smatter of footfalls, a scrambling and hurried sound as the others came careening up onto the flat. all of them shouting and calling at once as they spied the shadows in the sun bleached horizon line.
"You think we should go to them?" Charlie squinted, shifting her hold on Evan who squirmed in her arms, his eyes scrunched up against the light.
"Could do." Kyle muttered back, his hand shading his eyes. "Wonder how far they've walked." He mused. Or how hurt would they be, and tired, and thirsty under the heat of the sun, Kate though, rubbing her forehead with the back of her hand. The need to bring up any water was small, what with the bunker only just down the path and it would do them better to get out of the sun as soon as possible.
Audrey broke away from them, her low slung scruffy jeans scuffing against the rock as she started to run, her hair shining like black gold in the sun. Charlie shouted after her, eliciting only a joyous grin as the girl spun for a moment before resuming her pace. There was a held breath as they looked at one another, a momentary pause and then Kevin was off too, his pace quick to catch up with Audrey who was laughing as she ran.
Kyle rolled his eyes, his smile wide before he too ran to join them. It was always Audrey, Kate thought, always the young girl who would break the ice or spur them on and take action. She paused, shifting on her feet as she glanced at Charlie, her son held high on her chest. The young mother nodded, a sly smile on her lips that seemed to unlock something deep within Kate, her heart thumping in her chest as she turned and put one foot in front of the other, faster and faster until she too was running, the rock bruising and punishing beneath her feet as the wind whipped her hair, the sun warm against her face.
They became clearer the further she ran, sweat trickling down her back as she ran in line with the others, all of them gasping for air and laughing all at once, the pain of running barefoot over the uneven terrain forgotten when the could fully pick out the people coming closer towards them.
Her lungs burned with an intensity she'd never felt before, her heart hammering with more than exertion as her eyes flicked from one of them to the next, searching for his familiar shape.
Kevin slowed first, catching Audrey by the wrist as they both leant forward, hands braced on their knees as they gasped, Kate and Kyle stumbling to a halt beside them, their eyes wide as they were approached.
They were beautiful, even though tired and their pale skin smeared with blood. They held themselves with a grace that defied their hardship and the heat, their sculpted limbs hidden only by the sheer dress of translucent material that rippled and shifted in the light breeze.
Kate found herself caught up in the gaze of a woman so stunning she would have been at home on the front cover of any couture magazine, her pale grey eyes unrelenting in the scorching sun, hair the lightest shade of blonde, all of which made her appear ghost like, unreal and out of place in the arid landscape. Any semblance of something coherent died on her lips as she stared up into the ethereal face, feeling more lowly and human that she'd ever felt in her life. Kyle's hand landed on her shoulder, his breathing matching hers, rapid and loud in the hot air.
It seemed for a moment as though they were caught in some bizarre dream, widely surrounded by these beautiful creatures, all of them gazing at them with an avid fascination. All of them waiting for each other to speak first.
But it was always Audrey.
The young girl stepping forward with a airy demeanour, proffering her hand as she introduced herself.
The woman before them looked at the girls hand with curiosity, reaching forward hesitantly to hold it within her own hand. "Onnjel." She smiled, her eyes glittering as Audrey grinned.
"How many of you are there?" Kyle asked softly, more than aware of the company they now kept.
"Twenty one of us have come here. But there are many more that have chosen to spread themselves throughout the world." She spoke with a lilting accent so familiar to Michael's that it forced Kate's eyes from her flawless face, roving hungrily over the gathering individuals, all of them meeting her eye with a inquisitive air as she took in each one of their faces, looking over them twice, then three times, leaning back and forth until she came to the sudden dreadful realisation. Michael wasn't with them.
"Where is he?" The words were blurted from her mouth before she even had the chance to register that she'd spoken. Her desperation silenced them.
The woman regarded her with a guarded sympathy. "He is taking counsel with his brother." She said softly.
"He's not coming back?"
"He will join us shortly." Onnjel said quietly, her stare softened. "He suffers more than us." She held Kate's eyes with significance.
Kate caught her meaning, like a devastating blow to the chest. "Is he angry?" She hated the way her voice shook.
Something of a frown passed over the woman's flawless brow, a hesitant emotion flashing in her eyes. "I can't say. He has changed, a lot." She spoke slowly and evenly as though dissembling the words. She paused and peered back over her shoulder to some point far off in the distance. Kate followed her line of sight but saw nothing.
"You're okay to come with us now?" Kyle spoke loudly, his hand tight on her shoulder, squeezing firmly with sympathy even as he smoothly changed the subject.
"Yes." She made a motion with her hand and the surrounding figures straightened.
"We got everything you're gonna need down in the bunker, but it's still a short walk away. You guys gonna be okay?" Kyle pointed out the smear of blood beneath her chin, evidence of a greater pain.
"Most of us are unafflicted." She turned when Kyle did, her eyes betraying more than a physical hurt. "There are only a few of us who have chosen to bear the pain of our mortal flesh." She dropped her voice. "The shock of breaking the bond with our Father was more than most could endure, there are a few that I find myself…concerned…about." She frowned lightly, and Kate recognised the look as one that Michael had worn so often in those weeks when he struggled to make sense of the rush of uncomfortable and unfamiliar emotion.
They were a few feet away before Kyle realised that Kate had not followed, pausing in his low speech he turned back and motioned her to follow, but her feet would not comply.
She couldn't leave. Not knowing that he was close by.
"He could be hours yet Kate." Kyle took her elbow in a gentle grip, turning her from the wide vista.
"I want to wait for him." She muttered quietly, ducking her head to avoid the cool celestial gaze that regarded her with open interest.
"But we need you to help these people." He spoke each word with definitive weight, trying hard to be patient and stern at the same time.
"Maybe he needs help." She said curtly, aware of her petulance.
"You needn't worry for him. Gabriel will see that he comes to no more harm." Onnjel's voice was clear and sweet, full of a gentle certainty as she spoke.
She felt her eyes widen. 'No more harm', Kate thought, just those words alone made her skin shiver. "But Gabriel tried to kill him." She glanced wildly at Kyle who was also frowning in disbelief.
Something pained flickered across the angels face and she shook her head briefly, the smallest hint of a sad smile lingering at the corner of her lips. "To prevent Michael from making a mistake." She met Kate's furious stare with an unflinching stoicism. "They are brothers Kate." She explained slowly, ignoring the fleeting glimpse of shock at the use of her name, despite not yet having introduced herself. "They were made to complete each other, they share a bond inconceivable even to us, they have been fighting for each other and with each other since the dawn of creation. Gabriel will not harm him."
Kate stood tall under her stare, feeling her spine straighten, her blood hot in her veins as the softly spoken words washed over her, almost condescending in their simplicity. She shook her head, the incongruous picture she had painted unreal in her mind.
She diverted her eyes, looking at Kyle as he glanced warily at her from the corner of his eyes. "I …" She couldn't explain to him, how desperately she needed to see that he was safe, to be the first to welcome him back. She couldn't tell him just how badly she wanted to simply speak to him, to convince him how truly sorry she was for her hurtful actions.
"He'll come." Kyle whispered, gripping her arm more tightly and pulling gently. Kate stared resolutely at the floor, feeling her face flame as she focused on her bare feet, feeling crestfallen and shamed. She allowed herself to be led, listening mutely as Audrey chattered away behind her, question after question answered by a soft male voice that sounded both young and ancient.
The distance they had run to get there seemed so much father now that they walked slowly back, the sun more heated on their shoulders as they led the newly mortal on their path. Kate let her gaze wander, looking over the bizarre company, their steps even and measured, their shoulders dark and stained, rust coloured under the yellow sun. they carried within their hands something long and thin, all of them clutching the object with a gentle fierceness and it was only when she allowed her steps to veer her closer to one of them that she realised they held within their hands a feather, each one different, long and sleek. One of their own.