Babylon (Eden Saga Book 2) Page 4

  “How long was I asleep?”

  “Fourteen hours, seven minutes and-”

  Alexandra nudged her friend. “I don’t need the seconds.”

  “A very long time.”

  “I guess so. Did I miss anything?”

  Nodding, Erzulie said, “The general came to check on you every hour. And that’s not all.”

  She leaned closer to the angel. “What else?”

  “Benjamin is alive!”

  “Benjamin?”

  Erzulie nodded. “He’s not here though. He followed the Brasilian vehicles to do some reconnaissance.”

  Disappointed she wouldn’t get the chance to see the soldier, her friend of the road, Alexandra slumped against the wall. “Oh.”

  “And there’s something else,” Erzulie said as her mood turned dour.

  “What?” Alexandra asked apprehensively.

  “When we fled Brasilia, Benjamin and Nicole succeeded in sneaking Santino and Delia from the city.”

  “Yeah, the general said they were safe.”

  “Unfortunately,” Erzulie said, “Benjamin and Nicole were captured before they could join Santino in safety.”

  Alexandra narrowed her eyes. “Padre Hernon.”

  “The Padre imprisoned them here,” Erzulie said as her eyes glossed. “Disease was rampant in the jails and Benjamin barely survived.”

  Realization washed over Alexandra and her heart squeezed tightly like it did at Tampico and the beached cruise ship. She knew what was coming next from Erzulie’s harmonic mouth.

  “Nicole,” the angel said. “She didn’t make it. I’m so sorry, Lex!”

  Alexandra held Erzulie while the angel cried and wondered again why her own feelings failed to make an appearance. Another friend was dead, and the feeling passed through her like a tragic story on the five o’clock news. Everything felt so distant to her. As the fiery memory of her Koneh dream flared into her consciousness, she wondered if she was the one who was displaced. Maybe she really did belong in Eden now.

  “I’m sorry,” Erzulie said as she wiped her eyes. “These emotions are so powerful. I’m just not accustomed to them quite yet.”

  “It’s okay to mourn our friend,” Alexandra said. “Nicole was too young to die. If we ever see the Padre again, I’ll make sure he understands that.”

  “You might just get that chance.”

  The new voice came from the doorway and General Ryan slipped into the room. Erzulie used the moment to compose herself. She stood and turned her back to them as they talked.

  “You look much better,” he said.

  “Thank you, General, for everything,” Alexandra said.

  He waved his hand, leaned into the doorframe and said, “It’s nothing. I’m happy to help.”

  “So,” Alexandra said, “what do you mean I might get my chance?”

  “Well, we heard back from Benjamin’s team.”

  “One sec,” Alexandra said. “Start at the top for me. Why are you here and what’s been going on for the past few months?”

  The general lowered his blue eyes and sighed. “Nothing but pain and loss over the past months. Santino and Delia made it to Veracruz. Santino told me that you were arrested in Brasilia, and he wasn’t sure if you made it out alive. He believed Benjamin was also captured. So, instead of waiting for news, I decided to march down here and see what was happening.”

  “Wow,” Alexandra said softly, “thanks.”

  General Ryan sat on the cot next to her and said, “As I told you before, I owe you my life. I’m not about to forget what you did for me.”

  “I think your debt is paid,” Alexandra said. “Finding you instead of Padre Hernon here in Brasilia probably saved my life this time. So I think you can stop feeling you need to repay me. We’re even, okay?”

  Chuckling, he said, “We’ll see, we’ll see.”

  Alexandra playfully rolled her eyes and said, “Please continue.”

  “Right. So, I left most of the troops in Veracruz and took only volunteers with me to Brasilia. We arrived a few weeks ago to find the city deserted. Vehicle tracks headed south, so we decided to scout it out. We also sent word back to Veracruz that Brasilia was safe, and some of the soldiers’ families have made the trek down here to join us. There’s more water here than up north so we may permanently move the entire base here, if it remains this way.”

  “And you’ve heard from Benjamin?”

  The general nodded. “Yeah, he took some communications equipment with him and setup a few hidden relay stations so he could send messages back to us. We got a message from him yesterday morning telling us he’s following the convoy tracks across the former ocean floor.”

  Alexandra and Erzulie looked at each other. “Eden,” Alexandra said.

  “They might know where it is,” Erzulie said.

  “You can tell me about Eden in a moment,” he said. “Benjamin did get a chance to talk to some people headed back to Brasilia. Apparently, they had enough of the trip and were going home. They told him that Padre Hernon was leading his people under a papal decree to build a city at Eden.”

  “A city?” Alexandra asked.

  “Indeed,” he said. “Now, Benjamin filled me in on some more details than you gave me when you were in Veracruz, but I obviously don’t have the whole picture. Help me understand what happened to you down there? What’s this about Eden? And where’s Koneh?”

  Alexandra tightened at the mention of Koneh’s name. Would she have another chance to meet him in her dreams? Could she really have him for eternity if she died and returned to Eden?

  Grudgingly returning her focus to the general, she said, “My job, it appears, was to reopen Eden for mankind. Koneh and Erzulie kept me alive long enough to enter Eden and accomplish my task. Koneh... Koneh died at the hands of a fallen angel named Ael. I killed Ael and we escaped that awful place. I’m not sure why anyone would want to build a city there. It’s cold and barren.”

  “But Eden is not,” Erzulie said, her pure white eyes distant. “The living and the dead will be able to meet in paradise now that the gates are once more open. As the people return to Earth, they will bring with them tales of wonderment. The world will flock to Eden and Padre Hernon’s city will become the center of everything.”

  The truth of Erzulie’s words stung Alexandra like the razor-sharp tails of those horned demons. She had opened the door to a bottomless gold mine and walked away. Eden was free for the taking and the Church was already on the move.

  “Damn,” Alexandra breathed. “He’ll be the most powerful man in the world!”

  Erzulie nodded. “And from what we’ve seen of his character, that is a disturbing thought.”

  Alexandra turned to the general and said, “Benjamin said that Hernon is operating under a Papal Order?”

  “Yes, that was Benjamin’s understanding,” he said. “Though, I suppose it’s possible the Padre is lying to his people to ensure they follow him. We don’t know how a message could have been delivered so fast to Brasilia.”

  “Oh,” Erzulie said, “I think there’s one thing left on this planet with global reach.” She pointed at her wings and shrugged. “If angels were cast from Heaven, they would seek out the highest member of the Catholic faith.”

  “Rome!” Alexandra said. “Remember that message we found on the satellite radio at the flyover? Someone was broadcasting from Rome.”

  “It stands to reason that the Church has recovered from the quakes and is informed now,” Erzulie said. “People are likely returning to their faith to be a light in the darkness. It’s very possible - likely even - that a message was sent to Brasilia and that the location of Eden is now known. With the gates open, the light can be seen for miles. Trust us, we just came from that direction. If there are angels in the sky, they would have seen it too.”

  The general rubbed his beard and said, “And you aren’t too fond of this Padre?”

  “He put me in front of a firing squad!” Alexandra said.

&n
bsp; “Well,” Erzulie said, “Marco did feed him a bag of lies. And the Padre likely didn’t know I am a fallen angel, not a demon.”

  “Who’s side are you on?” Alexandra asked, though she couldn’t stop the spread of her smile. A symptom of Erzulie’s new childlike innocence.

  “I’m just saying maybe the Padre is a man with a good heart, after all,” Erzulie said. “Maybe he was just doing what he thought was right.”

  “A moment ago you were questioning his character, and now you’re his biggest fan?” Alexandra said. “I don’t get it.”

  “I was just trying to see things from his point of view,” Erzulie said.

  Alexandra grumbled. “Well, I don’t like him.”

  “I think we’ve established that fact,” General Ryan said. “And I know Benjamin blames him for Nicole’s death. Seems to me like the Padre isn’t making too many friends with your group.”

  “What do you want to do, Alexandra?” Erzulie asked.

  Alexandra rested her head against the wall. “Sleep,” she said. “I think I’ve earned a few days of rest. I don’t want to think about Eden or Padre Hernon for a while.”

  “Well,” General Ryan said as he produced a small gift wrapped package from his jacket, “don’t sleep too late tonight. Merry Christmas.”

  Alexandra blinked as she attempted to process this new information. Christmas? What? Had it really been so long?

  General Ryan placed the package next to her and stood. “Merry Christmas to you too, Erzulie. I hope to see you both at the party tonight. Remember, the statehouse - seven o’clock.”

  Alexandra couldn’t speak or move. Was it really Christmas?

  Erzulie turned to Alexandra and clasped her hand. “There was one more thing I needed to tell you,” the angel said. “Tomorrow is Christmas.”

  Chapter 7

  As she entered the statehouse, Alexandra felt like a schoolgirl again. She remembered her first dance and the trepidation she felt outside the barn. This time, however, the feeling had a different cause. Now, she felt like she didn’t belong. The memory of Eden imprinted itself into the deepest parts of her soul. She belonged there. She belonged with Koneh.

  Laughter and music seeped from the statehouse doors and windows. People gathered in small huddles both outside and inside. The only reminders of her dangerous new world were the gun emplacements she spotted on the roof and the nearby tanks.

  General Ryan greeted her as soon as she entered. “Alexandra! I’m glad you could make it.”

  “Yeah,” she said, “my other plans fell through.”

  The general raised his eyebrows. “Other plans?”

  She tilted her head towards him, grinned and said, “Sarcasm, General. I just returned from the bottom of the world, remember? My phone isn’t exactly buzzing with activity.”

  “Oh,” he said. “Right. Where’s Erzulie?”

  “She mentioned something about a dress. I dunno.”

  He inspected her and said, “I see the fatigues still suit you?”

  Alexandra pointed to his chin. “And I see the beard didn’t last too long?”

  Taking her arm, he said, “Well, with the amount of criticism you gave me, what choice did I have?”

  “I wasn’t that harsh-”

  He laughed and said, “Come. There’re some folks I want you to meet.”

  Alexandra attempted to catalog the names and faces of army men and women, their families and others who tagged along for the relocation to Brasilia. Everyone seemed eager to meet and talk with her, and she guessed at the reason. They had all heard the stories, no doubt, of her healing hands. Of how she saved General Todd Ryan and Lieutenant Benjamin Howell from certain death. They wanted to be friends with their Messiah.

  If she was there to save them, why did she feel so out of place amongst them? Why did she feel half of a whole without Koneh? Did they still need her? What else was expected of her? Hadn’t she already saved them by opening Eden?

  Her musings were interrupted when she noticed everyone in the room gasp and turn towards the entrance. Alexandra followed their eyes and caught her breath in her throat.

  Erzulie entered the hall in a shimmering red dress which clung to her athletic yet feminine body. Her perfect ashen skin contrasted nicely with the loudness of the garment. Some of the younger women flocked to her. Breaking from the fawning throng, Erzulie glided towards Alexandra with a wide smile on her unearthly face.

  “Do you like it?” she asked as she performed a short curtsey.

  Still stunned, Alexandra fumbled with her words. “You... I can’t believe it. You look amazing!”

  “Why thank you, Lex,” Erzulie said. “I wore this for you.”

  “Erzul-” Alexandra didn’t know how to respond to the angel’s advances. She felt a new kind of closeness with Erzulie, but she didn’t quite know how to process it yet. However, she realized she couldn’t delay discussing the subject with her too much longer.

  “Though I liked the color, the style suited my special needs,” Erzulie said as she turned. The plunging back allowed her wings freedom.

  Alexandra’s eyes followed the opening downwards to the angel’s partially exposed backside.

  “Where did you find this thing?” Alexandra asked.

  “In the bins at the cathedral. They left behind a mound of warm weather clothing.”

  “Yeah, I guess the cold doesn’t bother you?”

  “I prefer it.”

  “Erzulie,” General Ryan said as he approached the two women, “What are you trying to do to me?”

  Alexandra eyed him and said, “You?”

  He traced his finger along the rows of flap jawed soldiers. “Look at those boys,” he said. “How am I going to keep them in line when they will be daydreaming about that dress for months to come? I think you have permanently ruined some of them.”

  Turning serious, Erzulie said, “I’m so sorry, General. Shall I go change?”

  General Ryan’s eyes wandered to Erzulie’s body and then quickly snapped to a far wall. “No, no,” he said. “We’re here to have fun.”

  “Okay,” Alexandra said, “why don’t we find a dark corner and-”

  “Dark corner? Shouldn’t we be dancing?” Erzulie asked as she moved with the music. The angel seemed eager to embrace all life had to offer.

  “You go on ahead,” Alexandra said. “I’ll join you in a bit.”

  Erzulie leaned close to her and asked, “Are you sure?”

  Smiling, Alexandra said, “Go. Have fun.”

  A wicked smile crawled across the angel’s face and Alexandra wondered if she would have been frightened by the whole effect if she didn’t know Erzulie. The ashen skin, all-white eyes and dark hair composed an unsettling visage. If Erzulie ever were to become her enemy, like in the dream, Alexandra may yet be terrified by the fallen angel.

  Her friend then tentatively joined the dancers near the center of the hall.

  “Is she alright?” General Ryan asked.

  Alexandra watched as a few of the younger men gravitated towards the exotic fallen angel. “Yeah,” she said, “Erzulie is a big girl.”

  “Some of these kids might be in over their heads.”

  Chuckling, Alexandra said, “Do you think it would spoil the boys’ impression of her if I told them how old she is?”

  General Ryan smiled. “I think you underestimate the power of male hormones. Are you jealous?”

  “Of all the attention? She can have it. I never wanted it.”

  A couple walked by and thanked the general for the party. Alexandra’s eyes strayed as they talked and she noticed the strung Christmas lights, candles and a tree in the corner.

  She turned to him after the couple departed and said, “You did all this?”

  “I just wanted everyone to have one night of normalcy. One night that made them feel like they were home again. I’ve been in this building every day trying to get it ready. On many occasions I thought I would run out of time, but somehow I finished.”
>
  She watched the soldiers and families laugh, talk and dance. “This is the best gift you could have given them.”

  “I hope so.”

  The evening dragged into the night and Alexandra felt more uncomfortable with each passing hour. She fabricated excuses to keep her distance: a breath of fresh air, aching head or she needed to sit for a while. That nagging feeling returned telling her she didn’t belong there. Erzulie checked on her from time to time, but the angel was enjoying a new experience: fun. Alexandra felt like an anchor to everyone else’s high spirits, so she ducked out during a dancing contest. She stopped at the door to retrieve her sword, as she never left her bedroll without it.

  After wandering the dark boulevards for a while, she found herself at a familiar spot on the hill with a view of the TV tower. The music and voices from the party were a distant hum and she laid in the grass, content to be alone with her thoughts.

  She closed her eyes and hoped to dream of Eden again. To dream of him again. However, the wind was brutal and she couldn’t get comfortable. As she gathered herself to leave, she heard the flapping of wings. The memory of Lilev flashed into her mind and her heart raced. Had the demoness returned?

  Alexandra reached for her sword but immediately realized she didn’t need it. Erzulie’s dazzling red dress reflected the lights from the statehouse as she touched the ground. Her majestic black hair floated softly to her shoulders as she folded her wings against her back.

  “Everyone’s asking where you went,” Erzulie said. “Are you well?”

  Returning her half-drawn sword to its scabbard, Alexandra slumped back to the ground and said, “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  Erzulie joined her and said, “Why don’t I believe you?”

  “Probably because I think you know me better than I know myself.”

  “I’ve been watching you for some time now, even before the world ended.”

  Sometimes, the angel’s words made little sense. “How?”

  “There are ways to see across worlds.”

  A thought popped into Alexandra’s mind. “In Eden I used a pool of water to find you and Koneh,” she said.