Vampire Mine - Kerrelyn Sparks [108]
“Don’t say that!” Roman shouted. “Oh God help me, I should have never dragged you into my world.”
Father Andrew gave him a weak smile. “I don’t regret a moment of it.”
Connor materialized beside Marielle, his face haggard.
She reached up to touch him. “Are you all right?”
He shook his head slightly as he regarded the priest. “I have avenged you. I hope it will give you peace.”
“You killed Casimir?” Roman asked.
Father Andrew coughed, then lifted a trembling hand to Connor. “My son, you know what I really want from you.”
Connor’s mouth twisted, then he fell to his knees and clasped the priest’s hand. “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been . . . almost five hundred years since my last confession.”
“Tell me,” Father Andrew whispered.
A tear rolled down Connor’s cheek. “I . . . have murdered in a fit of rage.” He glanced up to the top of the monument. “Twice.”
Father Andrew nodded. “I will pray for you.” He looked at Marielle. “Now I wish to finally be touched by an angel.”
“Father, no.” Tears streamed down her cheek.
Blood trickled from the side of his mouth. “I’m in pain, child. Please let me go.”
Marielle glanced at Roman through her tears, and he nodded. A pink tear ran down his face.
“Dear soul, your Father loves you greatly.” Marielle laid a trembling hand on the priest’s brow.
He didn’t die. His soul didn’t open for her. He merely sighed and fell into a painless coma. With a gasp, she lifted her hand. Was she no longer a Deliverer?
“Marielle.” Zackriel appeared close by. “I have come for this soul.”
“Have I ceased to be an angel?” she whispered.
“Who are you talking to?” Roman asked.
Zackriel knelt beside her. “You are very close to being completely human.”
Another tear slipped down her face. “You’re not taking me with you tonight, are you?”
“It is not yet your time.” Zackriel rested a hand on Father Andrew’s brow. “Dear soul, your Father loves you greatly.”
Marielle saw the priest’s soul open and his spirit lift out. Zackriel stood and moved close to the spiritual form of Father Andrew who was smiling at her, Connor, and Roman.
She stood and bowed to the priest. “God be with you, dear soul.”
Zackriel wrapped an arm around the priest. “It is time for us to go.”
“Will I ever be able to go back?” Marielle asked.
Zackriel smiled at her sadly. “It is still possible. But only if you really want to.” His wings fluttered out, and he vanished, taking Father Andrew’s soul with him.
“What just happened?” Connor asked.
Marielle gazed up at the stars while tears rolled down her face. “Father Andrew is going to heaven.”
Chapter Twenty-five
An hour later, they were all back in the cafeteria at Romatech. Marielle sat quietly in a corner, watching the friends she had made in the seven nights that she’d been on Earth. They had succeeded in defeating the Malcontents, but there was no celebrating.
The Vamps sipped from bottles of Blissky and Bleer. The shifters indulged in real whisky and beer.
After Connor had teleported her back, he’d hugged her fiercely. “I thought ye were leaving.”
“Not tonight.”
He slumped into a cafeteria chair. For the last hour, he hadn’t moved or spoken a word.
At the end of the battle, the Vamps and shifters had quietly cleared away all signs of the struggle. Piles of dead vampire dust were swept into the woods. Weapons were gathered and returned to Romatech. Bloodstains were washed away. A group of Vamps swept through the area, looking for mortals and wiping their memories of the night’s events.
Roman had teleported Father Andrew’s body back to his church. Now he returned to the cafeteria, his eyes red and swollen.
Shanna ran up to embrace him. Her eyes were red and swollen, too. “What did you tell the other priests?”
Roman sighed. “That he was attacked by a criminal.”
Shanna nodded. “I suppose that’s true.”
Phineas slammed his Blissky bottle down. “At least we got rid of Casimir once and for all.”
Heads turned to look at Connor.
He remained silent, gazing blindly into space.
“Do ye think Corky will really