Babylon (Eden Saga Book 2) Read online

  “Satan?”

  “Yes, Satan was the first and only angel with a soul. As I mentioned before, that act required a great deal of effort from Elah. I think you have somehow duplicated that miracle. I believe I now possess a soul.”

  Shocked and confused, Alexandra could only stare and blink. Neither questions nor answers presented themselves. Her mind was an empty bowl. She didn’t know what to think of recent events.

  “How did you do it?” Erzulie asked. “Or do you not recall?”

  Alexandra narrowed her eyes and attempted to concentrate by focusing on a nearby rock. None of it made any sense.

  “Lex?”

  Meeting the angel’s questioning stare, Alexandra said, “I... I don’t know what happened. All I remember is refusing to lose my last friend in this awful place.”

  “Anything else?”

  Alexandra concentrated. “I remember a ripping at my soul. And the realization that I was going to die. I’m not dead? How could I survive two weeks?”

  Erzulie shook her head. “You’re made from superior material, remember?”

  Huffing, Alexandra said, “If you keep saying it, I might just start believing you.”

  “Maybe that’s it!” Erzulie said.

  “What?”

  “I just had a thought. I’ve heard of this before.”

  “Heard of what?” Alexandra asked.

  Erzulie grasped Alexandra’s hands and locked gazes. “Your soul - our souls - are like candles. They can pass their flames to unlit wicks. Iblis tried to do this once before, but the miracle comes from love. Of course, Iblis had that emotion in short supply. His early success with the feat led Elah to send me to investigate, since love was my domain. I found that Iblis had only succeeded once, and on an angel he truly loved. He wasn’t able to recreate the feat, so Elah deemed the matter resolved.”

  “I think this is what happened to me. You passed a part of your soul to my body, gifting me with a soul of my own. A newly lit candle in the void of my former self.” Tears formed again at the base of her eyes. “Your love has given me life.”

  Alexandra recalled more of the unbelievable event and recognized the truth behind Erzulie’s words. It made sense in a simplistic way - the easiest explanation to a mythical riddle. Heaven and Hell. Cain amongst them. Angels and demons. Eden. Myth was too quickly becoming reality around her, she decided.

  “What does this mean?” Alexandra asked. Uncertainty floated palpably in the air between them. This was uncharted territory for both human and angel, it seemed.

  Erzulie smiled. “This means I want to keep kissing you.”

  “I’m not sure-”

  “Not now, Alexandra. We must reach Brasilia.”

  Alexandra nodded and squinted at the horizon.

  “But,” Erzulie said, “my self-control is now bound by my fragile and new emotions. If not now, I will want to kiss you again soon.”

  Alexandra didn’t know how to respond to her friend. The thought of Erzulie’s lips on hers was simultaneously exhilarating and frightful. As she picked herself up off the ground and prepared for another long walk, she considered why she felt those two conflicting emotions.

  “What do we know?” Alexandra asked as she eyed the dark Brasilian skyline.

  “As I carried you from that awful place to here, I heard many vehicles on the road one night,” Erzulie said. “I didn’t dare risk a closer look, but they were coming from Brasilia and headed south. By my estimate, there were maybe one hundred cars and trucks.”

  “Wait. You carried me here?”

  Erzulie nodded.

  “But, you weren’t able to fly. You were-”

  The angel leaned close and said, “It’s amazing what you can overcome when you have a soul. The impossible bends to just within reach. You humans have taught me well.”

  “Have we, now?”

  Erzulie nodded. “I understand so much more now. About the soul, and humanity. I can finally empathize with the subject of my studies. I can finally feel.”

  “Let’s just focus on Brasilia for now,” Alexandra said. “We can figure out what’s going on with you later.”

  “Okay. Back to the matter at hand,” Erzulie said as she returned her attention to the city. “They may know about Eden. Or, they did know two weeks ago.”

  Alexandra lifted one of her eyebrows. “An exodus from Brasilia?”

  “Perhaps. Shall I take a closer look inside while you rest here?”

  “Nah,” Alexandra said. “It’s night. We’re tired. I’m hungry. Thirsty. Let’s just approach together and take it slow.”

  Erzulie examined her. “You shouldn’t be able to walk after such a long time spent unconscious,” the angel said.

  Alexandra tested her knees and feet. Her thigh throbbed in response. “I feel rusty but okay.”

  “You are the Lioness indeed,” Erzulie said.

  “Let’s just get inside.”

  “We didn’t leave here on good terms last time,” Erzulie said. “They may try to arrest you again. Please, allow me to scout ahead.”

  “I’m not letting you out of my sight,” Alexandra said. “Not so soon after losing you. We’ll sneak around the edge of the city and see what we see. Okay?”

  Erzulie considered her words and nodded. “Very well.”

  Though Alexandra was excited for her friend, she felt a pang of regret. She immediately scolded herself but the thought had life - Erzulie was no longer hers to command. If the angel truly had a soul, she could now think for herself. Why did Alexandra recoil at that thought? Was she no better than Elah, commanding her servants and expecting obedience?

  The city appeared much like it did the last time Alexandra was there, however most of the people were gone. The only activity seemed to be near the cathedral. Even the hotel was dark and empty. Debris littered the streets and smoke hung in the air.

  “Maybe they were attacked,” Alexandra said as memories of Tampico resurfaced.

  “I don’t see evidence of a battle,” Erzulie said. “Let’s get a closer look at the cathedral.”

  “Right.”

  As they approached the familiar teepee-shaped church, a group of soldiers exited and readied their rifles. Alexandra and Erzuie hid in a ruined building across the avenue. The Brasilian soldiers were awed by her last time they met, but that was right after they shot at her. She wasn’t sure what to expect. One thing was certain however, she needed food and water. This time, she reasoned she would have to steal.

  “Americans,” Erzulie said, shock in her voice.

  Alexandra squinted and realized Erzulie was correct. What were Americans doing there?

  “Maybe from Veracruz?” Alexandra said.

  “Quite likely.”

  After mulling over her options, Alexandra rose from her kneeling position and made herself visible to the men. “Stay out of sight,” she said. “I’ll check it out.”

  Erzulie frowned. “I wish you would consult me before making these kinds of decisions.”

  Alexandra grinned and moved slowly into the street, her hands visible and nonthreatening. The soldiers tensed when they saw her and appeared indecisive.

  “I’m an American,” she said as she continued her approach. “What happened here?”

  One of the soldiers leveled his weapon towards her and said, “Where did you come from? How did you get here?”

  The man was young, early twenties. Like a predator, his eyes watched her every move. Grimy fingers escaped from his fingerless gloves and his stubble-ridden jaw tightened as he gripped the barrel of his gun. Surprised and annoyed, he didn’t appear ready to trust her simply because she said she was American.

  “That’s a long story.” she said.

  “Start talkin’!”

  The other soldiers fanned out and trained their weapons in her direction as well. Their fatigues weren’t in the best shape and shadows stretched across their faces. One of them looked like he was struggling just to keep his eyes open. These men and women had
likely been through quite an ordeal, wherever they traveled from.

  “Well, San Antonio, actually,” Alexandra said. “But I’ve been wandering since the quake. Are you from the Veracruz base?”

  The lead soldier glanced at one of his mates and then back at Alexandra.

  When it was clear he didn’t intend to answer her, she said, “I passed through Veracruz a few months ago. I know General Ryan.”

  The soldier blinked. “What’s your name?”

  There it was: the gamble. Tell them the truth and hope they are on her side, or lie in case they were loyal to Padre Hernon? The Brasilian priest believed she was in league with the demons and signed her execution order. He probably had a standing order to arrest her on sight, since she narrowly escaped last time she was in the city.

  Then, of course, there was the possibility these men had never heard of her. After a brief internal struggle, she reasoned that was the most likely truth.

  “Alexandra,” she said.

  The soldiers gasped as the familiar spread of realization washed over their faces. They knew who she was.

  “We should take you to General Ryan,” the soldier said. “We didn’t know. We all thought you had died.”

  The idyllic Eden countryside passed through her mind, as did the conversation with her mother. Did she die? Was she now reborn? Alexandra wasn’t certain that the barrier between the two states was as permanent or defined as she once thought.

  Aware they were waiting for her, she cleared her throat and said, “The general is here? When? How?”

  The soldier lowered his weapon and said, “We came here because of you. Because of what we heard about this place.”

  “Me?”

  “We should get you out of the street. It’s not safe. The general will want to talk to you ASAP.”

  After glancing at the threatening sky, she said, “Right. Just let me go get my friend.”

  “Friend?”

  Alexandra’s face darkened. “That’s right, and don’t you dare point your guns at her. Me? Whatever, I can forgive you. However, if you threaten her, I’ll not be pleased. Got it?”

  “Why would we-?”

  The soldier’s question expired in his throat as Erzulie emerged from the shadows of the ruins. One of the other men raised his weapon, but Alexandra stopped him with a stern glare.

  “She’s with me,” Alexandra said. “Don’t treat her like the enemy.”

  “But-”

  “No questions,” Alexandra said. “We’ll wait in the cathedral for the general. Or, we can wait here for him. I really don’t care which.”

  “I have my orders,” the soldier said with a sigh. “Come with us.”

  Like a homeless shelter during a hurricane, the interior of the cathedral was packed with people, crates, portable lanterns and debris. All eyes turned to the angel as she entered. Nobody panicked, but the tension inside the massive building rose a few levels as people hushed their conversations and warily watched Erzulie.

  Alexandra was greeted by another group of soldiers, and they somewhat calmed after she gave them the same speech. Moments later, the door to the inner offices burst open and General Ryan ran towards her.

  He had grown a beard and his eyes had aged. Alexandra guessed the past few months were difficult on him as well. When he reached her, he didn’t stop. He lifted her off the ground with a gigantic bear hug. Her weakened bones felt ready to snap under his embrace.

  “I can’t believe it,” he said as he held on to her like he was afraid she was going to float away. His voice broke as he attempted to control his emotions. “After Santino told us what happened, we didn’t know what to think. We thought-”

  “I know,” Alexandra said as a sense of relief overcame her after her long months in the wasteland. She stumbled and they fell to the ground.

  General Ryan kept his grip and buried his head in her shoulder. “You don’t know what this means to me,” he whispered.

  Aware that everyone was watching them, Alexandra disengaged from his embrace and smiled. “I don’t like the beard,” she said.

  Everyone around them laughed and a soldier offered his hand to her. She accepted and returned to Erzulie’s side.

  “I’m sure you have some stories,” General Ryan said. He traced his finger along her cheek. “Not all of them pleasant, I assume?”

  Alexandra followed his movement along her jagged scar. She had almost forgotten about it since her daily habit of pruning in front of a mirror was but a distant memory. That horned demon at the cruise ship certainly left its mark upon her.

  “Maybe later,” Alexandra said. “Right now, I think I need some food and water. And a soft spot to put my head down for a few hours.”

  As the general led them into the inner offices, Alexandra whispered in his ear. “Make sure your men understand about Erzulie. I don’t want any trouble.”

  General Ryan glanced at the angel and nodded. “Absolutely.”

  “So, you saw Santino?” Alexandra asked, too curious to wait.

  “Yeah. He and Delia are safe, back in Veracruz.”

  “What about Benjamin? Nicole?”

  “Here we are,” he said. “It’s not as nice as a hotel, but it’ll do for now. I’ll go check on that food order of yours.”

  Alexandra sensed deception in his demeanor. Something wasn’t right.

  “You didn’t answer my question. Have you seen Benjamin?”

  “We’ll talk after,” he said gently. “I’m curious what happened to you. Erzulie and Koneh as well. We have plenty of time and you look ready to collapse. So, later?”

  She conceded and slumped on the cot. He was right. They had too much ground to cover for her current state. Her throat was raw and her stomach empty. Somewhere in Antarctica she tossed her pain and fatigue aside. However, now that she was on a mattress for the first time in months, the journey caught up with her. Every cut, bruise and joint screamed at once for relief. She attempted to give her attention to the physical agony to avoid the emotional jolt she felt from hearing Koneh’s name.

  Koneh. Where was he now?

  The moments stretched out in a blur as she ate, drank and rested on the cot. Eventually, the hum of the cathedral’s population lulled her to sleep. She drifted backwards through the orange clouds and over the silvery gates. Endless paradise stretched out before her and a cool breeze touched her skin. Pine greeted her nose and she floated down to the soft grass.

  She lifted her gaze to the tree line and gasped. Koneh, naked and unscarred, walked towards her with a crooked grin on his face.

  Chapter 6

  Alexandra spread her arms wide but the “how” failed to escape her lips when she realized she was also unclothed. A part of her screamed to cover herself, but it was distant sound. There, in Eden, the boundaries of society weren’t as oppressive. Eden was raw emotion and she raced into Koneh’s sure arms.

  She starved for his mouth and attacked him with a series of swift, hard kisses. His arms tightened around her and she felt he wasn’t holding back, not like their first kiss in Brasilia where his duty weighted heavy upon his weary shoulders.

  In between fiery tangles of their tongues she said, “How is this possible? I’m... I’m really here.”

  He growled and threw her to the grass. “No talking this time.”

  An instant later he was on top of her, retaliating against her earlier assault. He strayed along her neck and down the center of her chest. She reached to grab his hair and realized it was cut too close to his scalp. Damn!

  She wanted to ask him questions. She needed to decipher her dream or vision, if that’s what it was. Could this be the future? A lifetime in paradise with the man she loved? How could she get there without first dying? Was death even an obstacle now that she knew what it was like to be pressed against his body?

  Koneh dove lower and Alexandra moaned in delight as his tongue found another part of her. She grasped handfuls of grass and wrapped her legs around his head. Time lost its flow and she
found herself pinned to the ground with Koneh inside of her, driving her into the grass. Bliss rippled through her body for an eternity until she realized they were by a stream, naked and absorbing the sun’s warmth. She was exhausted and fulfilled. Complete yet broken, and suddenly aware that she wasn’t there in the flesh.

  For several minutes she studied his unblemished, copper skin. His angular jaw line stretched out majestically from his ears to his squared chin. Eyes that were once pure black now sparkled a brilliant green in the sunlight. Dark hair clung to his head yet showed no signs of balding. As she had guessed when they first met, he was a remarkable man under his scars.

  Alexandra scolded herself. Koneh was beautiful with his scars. Every part of him was both flawed and whole. He was simultaneously a wanderer and a man of purpose. A true hero, he gave his life so she could reopen Eden for the world.

  As before, the dream began to defocus and fade. Instead of asking for explanations or wanting answers, Alexandra simply closed her eyes and snuggled closer to Koneh. She was content to be in her lover’s arms and enjoy the peace there, even though she realized it would soon end. Each moment was worth a lifetime, and she didn’t wish to ruin any of it. She just wanted to be for a few moments longer.

  When she opened her eyes, Koneh smiled and nodded. Alexandra found strength in the certainty on his face. He appeared confident that they would meet like this again.

  “Love you,” she said as the landscape and sky melted.

  “It is my turn to say that,” he said playfully. “Well, next time.”

  Alexandra awoke on the army cot inside the cathedral. The cold and stagnant air was a jarring contrast to the sweetness of Eden. Sweat drenched her face and she felt wetness between her legs and on the inside of her thighs. She smiled.

  It was a fine dream.

  “Good morning,” Erzulie said from her perch on a nearby desk. Her friend was much like a bird while at rest – she preferred curling her toes around a high ledge of some sort, teetering in a flight-ready position. The fallen angel hopped to the ground and continued, “I have some canned ravioli here for you.”

  From disjointed dreams to cold ravioli. Wonderful. What a life. Alexandra accepted the “meal” and washed it down with tepid water.