Chapter 23
The trip to Sam’s home is instant, and only disorienting for a moment. It’s different than shifting, where there is a feeling of the universe moving around you. With teleportation, you’re simply one place, and then you’re someplace else. I’m pretty sure this isn’t something I can do on my own, like shifting. It’s a purely angelic power, and I only get to experience it by holding on to one who is doing it, like I just did with Sam, and like my family did with Luke.
The “Dome,” as the Earth Angels call their home, is huge, like a giant city in space, with houses and silvery glowing streets going off in all directions. Trees, all of which are large and impossibly old with long, low-hanging branches, line these streets, and form a forest in the distance. The houses are all different sizes and shapes, made to fit families of every kind. They look similar to human houses, but from a much earlier era, with thatched roofs and whitewashed plaster walls. Small gardens with flowers adorn the yards. There are also a variety of community and public buildings that don’t have obvious purposes, but I assume are used for similar things as their Earth-bound counterparts. Angels of this kingdom must have worked in them prior to being sent to the moon camp. Sam says every adult in the Earth Angel kingdom has a job. I wonder how many of them are left.
The sun and sky look similar to what we have on Earth, with clouds floating here and there. It’s all slightly transparent, though, with the vastness of space barely visible behind it all, stars sparkling against the blue sky in a way they can’t do on a planet. It’s a stunning visual reminder that Sam’s home is somewhere far up above the Earth, hidden from human view, except for seers with telescopes.
The colors are brighter and more vibrant here, and everything seems to have a slight, iridescent sparkle to it that is innate to its being, not just a pretty angelic decoration. The air is clean and pure, with no hint of pollution like on Earth, and there’s a sweet, earthy scent that reminds me of the tall, soft grasses of the American northeast. The atmosphere is perfectly suited for habitation by humans. Angels can breathe anything, so I wonder if it’s always like this to match the atmosphere of the planet they protect, or if Sam made it safe for me when we arrived. It’s the kind of that is within his powers.
In the far distance, behind the thick forest, are snow-capped mountains with peaks poking just above the cloud line. I can hear the sound of water running over stones nearby, so I know there is a stream or a brook in the vicinity. The presence of a decorative fountain in the middle of town shows me water is a part of their society.
In all, Sam’s home looks like a brighter, more vivid version of Earth, with a slightly magical quality about it. There is also an extremely subtle, but definitely noticeable, curve in the sky, which tells me this place is a sphere. Rather than continuing to call it “Sam’s home,” or “The Dome,” as the Earth Angels call it, I privately dub it “the AngelSphere.” It seems fitting.
The AngelSphere gives every indication of being a thriving city of hundreds of thousands. There may even be individual towns here, and not just this large city we’re currently standing in. The place is too large to see all of it, so it’s certainly a possibility. But instead of the bustling crowd you’d expect to see, the AngelSphere is empty. There’s not a single person anywhere. They’ve all either been killed or sent away. It’s a living place, though; I feel its sentience, just as Sam says the Earth has sentience. It needs its people, and is lonely without them. If the angels don’t come back soon, it will eventually wither and die. Should that happen, those who are left will need to build a new home from scratch, and I know it won’t be easy.
It seems like I spend an eternity taking everything in, still clinging to Sam in the same position as when we teleported. However, in reality, we’ve only been there a few seconds when I hear a low, richly toned voice behind us.
“Son,” the voice says, and I swear it sounds just like Darth Vader. “I thought I sent word you were not to come here.”
Darth is angry, but not overly so. More annoyed than anything, really.
Sam lets go of my hand, and turns around to face his father. On instinct, I turn with him.
Darth is not as tall as Sam, but close. What he lacks in height, he makes up for in imposing presence. This angel is a king among his people, which I must be sure to remember and respect, and he carries that regality with him like it’s part of the fabric of his being. He wears a long white robe instead of the earth-toned tunic and pants donned by the other Earth Angels. There’s a gold sash around his waist like Jonathan wears, and a long gold collar around his neck. These are things I assume indicate his leadership position.
His hair is shoulder length, dark brown, and smooth, glistening an almost indigo hue where the sunlight bounces off of it. His eyes are the same sapphire blue of all angels, his nose is long and angular, and his red lips are pressed in a thin line. His face is almost triangular, with a wide forehead and a sharp, pointed chin. He has the appearance of a youthful man in his 50’s or 60’s, with smooth, un-wrinkled and unblemished skin. He is muscular, but not chiseled like Sam, so it must have been a while since he had to work those muscles. Taking care of this place on his own will undoubtedly change that in short order.
Most interestingly, he has the first facial hair I’ve seen on an angel of any caste. He boasts a beard and moustache combo that makes him appear very much like Gandalf from Lord of the Rings. It’s mostly dark brown with hints of gray in it, and the beard is long, reaching down to his collar bone.
Overall, it is obvious he is the king. He carries himself in a way that says he will brook no dissent or disobedience, which I’ve seen Sam do on occasion, yet his eyes are kindly, indicating a benevolent ruler who knows he maintains his position at the discretion and love of his people. His eyes are impossibly weary. He’s been through a lot recently, and it shows. Right now, he is a king with a kingdom in diaspora, and no queen. I feel sad for him, and for Sam, who must be thinking about his mother.
“Father,” Sam says reverently, “I beg your pardon for going against your wishes, but the matter was of utmost importance.”
“You’ve brought a guest,” Darth points out, ignoring Sam’s explanation as he notices me standing partly behind one of his son’s wings. I know his name is Josiah, but Darth seems like the more appropriate name at this point, at least until I’ve talked to him personally.
Sam steps aside to fully reveal me. “Father, allow me to introduce you to Lucy McDonald. She is a seer from the European family on Earth. She saved my life after my fight with Jonathan. Lucy, this is my father, King Josiah of the Earth angels.”
I give a tiny curtsey, not sure what the protocol is with angel royalty. It would’ve been nice to have received a primer on it before coming here, but the decision was made too quickly for instructions. So, I just go with my instinct, which is usually good.
“Your Highness,” I say softly, lowering my eyes to the shimmering street, mimicking the title I’ve heard other Earth Angels use with Ella and Sam.
“Lucy,” Josiah nods to me formally, but his voice is kind. “Please rise.”
I do.
“Welcome to our home. It is an honor to have a seer grace our humble community. It has been many millennia since we were so blessed, long before Sam was born. I only wish we could offer you more hospitality, but as you see, there is no one left here but me.”
“That’s quite all right, sir. I’m just glad that you are well.”
“As well as I can be, considering the circumstances, my child,” he says, wearily. “You have my thanks and gratitude for saving my son. Anything I can do for you, just ask, and if it is in my power, it is granted.”
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.”
“So, I assume Sam has taken the place of your guardian angel, or he would not have brought you here,” he says, his tone suddenly a bit brusque, and I wonder just how glad he really is to have me here. He quickly recovers, though.
“It is only fitting, of course,” he con
tinues, his voice full of gentleness again. “You saved his life, so he owes you some protection. As you can see, I’ve raised my children well.”
My Spidey-senses tingle a bit at his quick but noticeable change in attitude. This is an angel who is hiding something. I don’t know how I know, but I know. Sam’s opening of my seer abilities reveals all kinds of new powers to me all the time. This must be one of them, sensing when an angel is not being totally forthcoming with information.
“You have, indeed, sir,” I assure him, being careful to keep the suspicion out of my voice. Instead, I smile beatifically at him to show him my pleasure with how he raised his son. Inside, though, I strongly suspect Sam’s manners and gentlemanly qualities have a lot more to do with his mother.
“Father,” Sam says, oblivious to my guard going up, “I hope you are not too angry that I came here. As I said, it is an urgent matter. May we discuss it?”
“I’m not angry, son,” Josiah says, and I can tell he means it. “It would be different if the community were here and you’d openly disobeyed me, but what matter is it now? There is no need to keep up royal appearances when it is just us and your seer companion. As far as I’m concerned, this is a family matter, not a matter of state. Let’s sit, shall we?”
He indicates some park benches nearby under one of the amazingly long-limbed trees, and we all go over to it, Josiah and me sitting on either side of Sam.
“I presume whatever you have to say is known to Lucy?”
“Yes, Father. Lucy and I have no secrets from one another. In fact, she is the leader of the human seers in our training camp on Earth. You are aware we are training with seers to get ready to fight Jonathan’s army?”
“I am. I think it’s an excellent idea, and a far overdue one. We and the seers should have been working together on many things all along. It’s a shame that connection was lost with most of them. Maybe this Jonathan situation wouldn’t have happened if that were the case. We’ve been very foolish in that regard.”
Sam lets that comment go by, having nothing useful to add to it. “And you know the angel training camp behind the moon was decimated by Daniel’s troops yesterday.”
“I received word. Ella is unharmed, as I was told?”
“Yes, she is unharmed. You still get messengers here? I thought most of the ones in this solar system were in hiding. Except for the ones in our camp, of course.”
“There are still some who risk the possibility of being captured to do their jobs. I receive messages daily, and sometimes more. Nothing of importance goes unreported to me if it happens in this part of the galaxy.”
Sam considers this for a moment, then decides it makes sense. “Father, we need more troops. After the decimation of Ella’s camp, our numbers aren’t even close to high enough to take on Jonathan, and I think he may be close to making a move to take the Earth, even without capturing me first. Can you recall any angels who are not in absolutely critical jobs on the planet’s surface, or who have moved to other planets, such as my brothers, and send them to us? You could also use the messengers who come to you to send word out to the rest of the galaxy. We need everyone we can get. It’s the only way we stand a chance of winning. We’re recruiting humans and angels on Earth, but we need more. Will you do this for us?”
Josiah considers us both carefully, his bearded face inscrutable.
“No,” he finally says. He is perfunctory in that one word, and leaves no room for negotiation. The universe seems to stop for a moment, as if it can’t quite believe what it just heard. It must be commiserating with us, because Sam and I are dumbfounded.
“No?” Sam says after a stunned silence. He draws the single word out like a piece of ribbon from a spool, not wanting to come to the end of the syllable and get confirmation of what he doesn’t comprehend.
“That’s right, Sam,” Josiah says, more adamantly and firm this time. “I will not help you.”
Sam’s eyes flash with something I’ve never seen in them before: rage. It is a look I never want to see on him again, both frightening and painful, like a giant wave about to crash onto the shore and destroy the city that lies in its path. Good Lord, what is he going to do? I know he loves his father, but right now, in this moment, he looks like he could kill him and not feel bad about it.
I’m not sure about Sam’s next move, but personally, I want to shrink into the boards of the bench and become invisible. Am I about to witness a fight between an angel father and son? I really, really don’t want to be anywhere near that kind of thing, especially when the father and son are also the king and crown prince of the Earth Angel realm.
Am I furious that Josiah is refusing to help? Of course. But nothing makes a person so uncomfortable as to be a witness to a fight. Participating is one thing, but just sitting there watching makes you feel like both an intruder and as if you’re being intruded upon. It is super unpleasant. And if Josiah hurts Sam up here, I don’t know if I will be able to help him. Josiah’s strength and abilities are unknown quantities to me. The shifty king might even keep me prisoner here, and I need to get back to my people. They’re counting on me to protect and lead them.
“Father,” Sam says evenly, working very hard to remain respectful and remember his place as both son and subject in this relationship, “I do not understand. How can you refuse us in this? You know the danger we face and the consequences if we do not stop Jonathan.”
“I do,” Josiah confirms. “But I will not help you in any way, Sam. You must be on your own in this.”
I can see the muscle in Sam’s jaw twitching, just like a human’s would if said human were within a hair’s breadth of punching someone in the face. I wince involuntarily, waiting for Sam to make the move and wonder what will happen if he actually raises his hand to his father. Josiah may be a jerk, but he is still king of this realm, even though he is the only resident of it right now. And Sam is not just Josiah’s son; he is his subject. This could get complicated.
“For God’s sake, Father, why?” Sam’s rage is barely contained now. He is actually visibly shaking, and I can see his hands balling and un-balling into fists in his lap. “Jonathan’s henchman killed Mother! Another one killed two of your own sons, my brothers! They killed untold thousands more of us, and they threaten the very Earth we are sworn to protect! What is wrong with you?”
“Watch your tone with me, boy,” Josiah snaps, eyes narrowing dangerously. “Remember who you’re talking to.”
Sam leaps to his feet, towering over his father, who remains seated on the bench. “Believe me, Father, I know who I’m talking to. I’m talking to the angel who raised me to be his heir, who I always admired as a fair and kind king who cared about his people, who always made sure everyone was safe and felt valued, but who wasn’t afraid to make difficult decisions. I’m talking to the man who loved his wife beyond reason and who was devoted to his family, who made sure all of his children got excellent educations, learned how to defend themselves and be good leaders in their own rights, who cared about the Earth, and served as a wonderful example of what an Earth Angel should be to everyone in his kingdom! Where is that angel now, Father? Tell me! Where did he go? Or did Mother’s death drive you mad? Because I certainly don’t recognize the person I see sitting before me now!”
Josiah is on his feet in an instant, hand raised as if to slap Sam. I clutch the arm of the bench, digging my fingernails into it. Please don’t hit him, please don’t hit him, please God, let Josiah get my psychic message and back down. This is more than just a family matter. This is also a dispute between a king and his heir, and if the history of Earth has taught me anything, it’s that those fights never end well. Royal family disputes usually get resolved with one party either imprisoned or dead. I won’t let Josiah do either to Sam. I’m not entirely sure of the extent of my powers yet, but I will stop him if I have to. I’ll find a way.
Blessedly, there is no need to put my abilities to the test, because Sam catches his father’s hand easily and raises it h
igh in the air, away from him, then flings it down. “Don’t,” he warns, his tone dark and dangerous.
“You cannot possibly understand, you ungrateful, stupid boy,” Josiah seethes, nursing his now bruised hand with his other one. Sam apparently hurt him a little bit. “There is far more at stake here than just the Earth. We must protect our own.”
“What do you think we’re trying to do down there?” Sam throws his hands up, exasperated.
“Jonathan has way too many troops on his side to defeat now. He will take the Earth. We may be able to recruit enough to stop him before he takes the galaxy, but he will conquer more planets and more angels before it’s done. We have to play along in the meantime. Too many angels are afraid to refuse him. They won’t join you, and I won’t ask them to put their lives and the lives of their families at risk for a cause that they cannot possibly win at this point. It is easier to go along, and then subvert him from the inside once he thinks we are loyal to him.”
Sam looks at his father as if he has grown two heads. “Loyal to him?” He shakes his head, unable to believe what his father is saying. “Since when are we loyal to tyrants? When do we abandon our planet and its people to the mad plans of one who would enslave them? Where is the father who encouraged me to fight, who told me I was the strongest among us and the only chance we had of defeating this monster? Where is the father who helped me set up that training camp behind the moon, who sent Ella to me for protection? Where is the father who told me the Earth must be saved from Jonathan at all costs? Where is the father I admired? I don’t even recognize you!”
“It’s all very fine to say such things when your wife is still alive and most of your kingdom hasn’t been wiped out by the enemy!” Josiah shouts, his voice echoing off the empty buildings all around us. “Should we protect the Earth? Yes! But we must protect our own first, or there will be no Earth to protect! Priorities, Sam! Even if we can’t protect the Earth now, we can protect ourselves. Jonathan will let us live, and may even assign us to a new planet if we please him. Our family and our people will be preserved. That is the most important thing. We have to cooperate now, so we can live to fight another day, once we have time to come up with a workable strategy, if such a thing can be done. Or maybe it won’t be so bad under Jonathan’s rule, as long as we comply with his wishes. He may allow me to be a vassal king once his empire grows. There may even be hope for you, if you turn yourself into him now, and swear your loyalty.”
Sam turns a sickening shade of green, and I feel distinctly queasy, too, as we both realize the horrible truth at the same time.
“Oh God,” Sam whispers, disgusted beyond words. “It was you! You are the spy! You’re the one who gave away the camp’s location to Daniel! How could you?”
“Sam, you don’t understand,” Josiah says, holding out his hands in a placating matter, realizing he’s pushed his son too far. “Daniel promised amnesty and protection for all of our people who are in hiding if I gave up the location of the training camp. I had to think of the needs of the many against the needs of the few. It’s what kings must do.”
“You had two sons training there!” Sam shouts in disbelief. I feel tears streaming silently down my face I didn’t even feel coming as I realize what Josiah has done. How could he give up his kids like that? What kind of father is he? And Ella? Isn’t she the favored child? Did he know she was there and not with Sam on Earth when he pointed the enemy straight at her?
“Believe me, it was the hardest decision I’ve ever made!” Josiah no longer sounds angry. He is almost pleading for Sam to understand. I know Sam never will.
“Two sons,” Sam goes on, close up in his father’s face now, his own face contorted in anger and disbelief, as everything he thought he knew about the angel who sired and raised him vanishes before his eyes. “And you sent an army to kill them! And Ella! Did you know she was there? Did you care?”
“I heard Ella went there after she left you. I asked Daniel to promise to spare her and whoever was with her if I told him the location. He gave his word she would not be harmed, and any angels she gathered around her could also go free. He figured there wouldn’t be enough angels in the camp left to matter in the big scheme of things, and he was right. I protected her!”
“You couldn’t be sure Daniel would keep his word! For all you know, Ella and the angels who were with her only escaped because Daniel couldn’t find them!”
“That is possible,” Josiah admits, “but I like to think Daniel is an honorable angel. He has always kept his word in the past.”
“Oh yes,” Sam says sarcastically, raising his eyes to the heavens. “Let’s believe the word of an angel who has turned against everything we stand for and taken up as one of the commanders of a lunatic’s army. We don’t even know his planet of origin, Father! You had no idea Ella would be protected. You just got lucky, whether he kept his word or she escaped through her own cleverness, which I think is the more likely truth!”
“I did what I had to do, Sam,” Josiah says quietly. “I have thousands of our people in hiding all over the Earth and this area of space. Not everyone was in the moon camp; far from it. I’m not so foolish as to put all my people in one place. I had to think of them. I’m their king. They are depending on me.”
“Correction,” Sam growls, his voice low with barely controlled. “You were their king. But you’ve shown you are no longer fit to rule. And we both know when a king is insane and unable to rule as he should, he no longer has any claim to the throne. The kingdom goes to the heir. That is me.”
“I’m not abdicating for you, Sam,” Josiah’s voice is firm, unmoving. “You’re not ready.”
“I’m not giving you a choice.” In one swift, fluid motion, Sam reaches out and grabs his father’s golden sash and collar, pulling them off before Josiah has a chance to react. Those must be important symbols of office, because Josiah reaches for them just a moment too late.
“We both know our kingdom is our people, not this place. This is just where we live. We can always build a new home if we have to. But I’m not going to let you destroy everything our people stand for, because when you take that away, you take the spirit of the people. They need to know someone is protecting them, keeping them from slavery, and helping them continue to do the jobs they were created to do. That person isn’t you anymore, Father. It’s me. You can go ahead and rule over this empty place on your own, the king of nothing.”
Sam raises his hand in the air and calls, “Halo!”
A large, round-edged halo sparkling with inlaid multi-colored gems materializes out of thin air just above Josiah’s head, which is kind of amazing. Sam grabs it and sets it above his own head, where it floats on its own, untethered, just like in all those old paintings of angels from the Renaissance. It must be suspended there by some kind of energy field given off by Sam’s angelic nature.
Wrapping the sash around his own waist and putting on the collar, he says, “I declare myself, Sam, son of Josiah, to be the new king of the Earth Angels. Long live the king.”
Since no one else is around to echo it as is done on Earth, I mutter, “Long live the king,” quietly, hoping to draw as little of Josiah’s attention as possible.
“You know everyone heard that, no matter where they are,” Sam says, leveling his father with a contemptuous gaze. “They know I have the crown and the symbols of office. They will follow me now.”
“Sam, don’t do this,” Josiah begs. “It is a mistake. You don’t know what you’re dealing with here. It’s so much more than you know. Jonathan’s power is far greater than you realize, even on his own. With his army, there is virtually no stopping him. You will fail, and you will destroy our people in the process. Only I know how to protect them.”
“I don’t believe you. What’s more, I’m disappointed in you. You have broken my heart, Father. Stay here and enjoy your empty kingdom. When and if our people come back, it will be with me as their leader, and I will deal with you more appro
priately then. Or just go ahead and join Jonathan’s army now, and I will see you on the battlefield. It’s your choice. I don’t care what you do anymore, as long as you stay out of my way.”
Josiah turns away sadly and disappears, gone off to somewhere else in the AngelSphere, away from Sam, his kingdom and his people gone, and his heir turned against him. I wonder what he will do now. As dejected as he seemed, I can’t feel sorry for him, not after what he did to his own children and subjects. He had this coming.
Sam stares after the space where his father stood, letting out a long sigh of relief, probably beyond pleased he didn’t have to physically fight his father for the kingship. Then, he turns to me, eyes full of an odd mixture of sadness and renewed determination.
“Come on, Lucy,” he says gruffly, his voice cracking just a little. “Let’s get out of here.”
He clutches my hand in his, a bit more roughly than usual, and though he’s staring straight ahead, I can see a hint of the usual lightness in his eyes gradually returning to them.
“Come on, seer. We’ve got work to do.”