Chapter 36
Two months later
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Lucas wrapped his arms around his new wife and they continued to push the stroller to the park—transitory bliss.
“To hell with demons for today, they can hunt us tomorrow.” Lucas beamed. Stogey trotted alongside the stroller with his ears pricked up and tongue hanging out.
They kissed like giddy teenagers and practically ran to the park where they were meeting Dean and his son, Max, Ellen, and Calise’s parents to sit under their favorite sugar maple tree, have a picnic, and throw bread to the ducks.
Ellen was early, already situated on a red and white checkered blanket, arranging snacks from a woven basket.
“I forgot bread for the ducks,” Cali lamented. “El, do you want to walk to the bakery across the street with me to get some?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll take Michael, okay?”
“Sure, Cali. I love you.” Lucas pecked her on the cheek and his son on the head.
They chatted about Russia on the way to the bakery. “Dean can actually recount specific memories from his ‘spur of the moment trip to Moscow.’” Calise laughed.
“Yup, I’m good, aren’t I?” Ellen said, winking.
“You just got back from the orphanage. How are the children?”
Ellen sighed. “My angel contacts are still in the process of finding the last of the angel baby’s birthparents. All the kids will eventually be diagnosed with some level of reactive attachment disorder.”
“What does that mean?” It doesn’t sound good.
“Basically, because they were never held when they were sick or hungry, their brains reprogrammed themselves to shut down—that’s why the babies didn’t cry—to maintain control of their environment. The children will have to be placed in extremely patient and loving homes or with foster angel parents. Some will never reengage with society and will need extensive psychiatric help.”
“At least they’re safe and alive—and away from Nara’s family.”
“They wouldn’t be…if it weren’t for you,” Ellen said.
“Have you gotten a line on Shane or Nara?”
Ellen shook her head.
The chime attached to the door of the bakery jingled as they left.
Calise’s parents got out of the car across the street with Dean and Max. Her parents hugged Lucas in greeting, and Lucas and Dean started chatting. When Ellen and Calise reached them, she scooped Michael out of the stroller and handed him to his doting grandparents.
Calise relished the momentary peace in her life. Lucas and Dean laughed together and her parents and Ellen tickled Michael and pointed to the ducks. Today was like a breath of fresh air on her new life. She thought about the Latino man that had come into the pharmacy last winter. “They are everywhere.”
He was right, but now Calise was prepared.
Now, she had something to fight for.
*****
Epilogue
The archangel Raphael steeled himself. Six other archangels walked the earth, their memories scrubbed of their true identity. When the seven united, the Son would return, signaling the end of days. If he located the ring of Solomon, it would make all the other artifacts immaterial. The ring had the power to control all demonsâand therein, he could have Anna released from Hell.