Truth and Reconciliation

“I came here a year before you did,” Darion begins, “From the Earth city called Boston.” He keeps his eyes on Aelia’s face, the only part of her he recognizes. Her sweeping curves have diminished to barely-feminine lines, her swaggering strut has sharpened to a purposeful, deadly grace. Her curly, rich brown hair has seemingly died, replaced by waist-length curtains of pin-straight white.

        Worst of all, though, are his adopted sister’s eyes. The careless, silly, slightly dim young woman he knew is gone, and if all else had remained, her eyes would betray the truth. Her storm-colored gaze seems to penetrate everything she looks upon, demanding truth, trusting nothing at first glance. A damaged, but fiercely intelligent person stares out from behind his sister’s face.

        It’s depressing and scary. Darion sighs inwardly and continues, only dimly noting the boy Evan next to Deirdre… next to Aelia.

        Deirdre is gone.

        “There was a car crash. A horrible one. And it was completely my fault. I was driving my dad’s car, a sports car, much too fast for someone my age… anyway. I lost control, spun into a building. A daycare center.”

        Evan looks sharply at Darion, but says nothing. Darion pauses before continuing. “I wasn’t very badly hurt, but I was stuck, I couldn’t move, and there was so much screaming… all I wanted was to take back what I’d done, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t even move.

        “The next thing I knew, I was in the woods, surrounded by smiling people, and I was taken in by a man named John. I’d come to Fallen because I hated myself. I’d lost the desire to live.”

        Aelia nods. “That’s how it works.”

        “Well, that’s how it worked for you, too.”

        “How?” Aelia almost whispers. “How did I come here? What happened to me… on Earth?” She says the name of the world with wonder, a homeland she’s never known. It seems strange to forget a life. And it seems the depth of cruelty, to take the memory away. She spares a moment of dark thought for Sebastean and his shadows.

        “I don’t know. You didn’t tell us.”

        “What? Who’s ‘us’?”

        He arches an eyebrow. “From what I’ve heard, you’re still one of ‘us’. I mean the New People’s Home. John’s the head counselor for New Armagh, and after I’d gotten settled, I became a counselor too. You were the next new person after me, actually.”

        Aelia frowns. “I’ve never heard of a head counselor. Usually there’s just one counselor in any town that size, and there’s never any specific hierarchy.”

        “Yes, well… it’s a different situation, in New Armagh. The New People’s Home is more of a ministry. Or a monastery, if you want to split hairs. John helps our new people come to terms with their new life by teaching them about the Lord, and His plan for us.”

        At this, Evan finally speaks up. “Are you serious?”

        “What do you mean?”

        “You people are preachers? Do you really think that’s what people need, when they’ve just been through something so traumatic? Their whole lives have changed, forever, and you’re jumping on the opportunity to convert them?”

        Darion sits up straighter. “What better time? I don’t know what I would have done, if John hadn’t been there to help me. He brought me to the light. He explained to me what had happened, that I’d been brought to Fallen as a test of my faith. He taught me how to resist the temptations and vices of this world, and believe me, there are temptations on this world that nothing on Earth can compare to!”

        “That’s crazy-“

        “Enough!” Aelia growls. She shoots Evan a ‘shut up’ glance, then turns back to Darion. “Okay, so you don’t know what my Earth life was like. What was I like… when I was Deirdre?”

        Darion smirks. “You were a hell raiser, to be honest.” Evan grins at that. “You didn’t want anything to do with the faith, or John, and you couldn’t wait to leave New Armagh. That’s why, when you vanished, we all just assumed you’d stowed away with some Pteros traders or something. Nobody panicked or worried, we were all just very sad to lose you.”

        Aelia feels his eyes on her white hair, her lean, deadly form. He hesitates before speaking. “The night you disappeared, you snuck out of the Home with a six pack. I caught you, we argued, and we parted ways with… less than kind words. I blamed myself when you didn’t come back.”

        Darion shakes his head. “And you know what? John was right. You’ve been attacked, corrupted, and twisted by the world. You’re not the happy person you were back then.”

        “Who says I’m not-“

        “And it’s because,” Darion says, sadly, “You’ve turned your back on God. None of this would have happened if you’d stayed home.”    

        Aelia holds a silencing hand to Evan, who’d started forward at this, and looks Darion in the eye for a long time. The hum of the ship’s engines is the only sound.

        “I was mauled and mindfucked by an insane person. That’s how I got this way. Your god or gods had nothing to do with it. In fact, if your god gave a damn about me, he probably would have done something to prevent it.”

        “That isn’t how it-“

        “-I don’t care. I just don’t. You say you’re my brother, and your story adds up, more or less, and I’m sure it’s wonderful to see you… again. But I’m not interested in your theology. Evan’s even less interested. So stow it.”

        “I’m only trying to-“

        “We need to get to Providence, and we need to stop at Halfmoon on the way. Please take us there. I’m going to bed now.”

        Aelia stands up, and both men stand up with her. Darion manages to speak first. “You’re being prideful. I know it’s you, for sure. You haven’t changed that much.” A hopeful smirk lights his face.

        Aelia doesn’t smile. “I’m glad I was smart enough to ignore that foolishness back then, too.” She turns to leave the galley, running fingers back through her hair. “Evan, don’t stay up too late. We need to be rested when we get home.”

        “I’ll be there soon,” Evan says, making it a question. From behind, he can see her cheek move in a smile. “Yeah. I just need to talk to your brother for a bit. Boy stuff.” He smiles as she sways out of the room, leaving Darion red in the face.

        “She hasn’t changed one little bit,” he grumbles, sitting back down. “She always flaunted herself like that. She was no s**t, don’t get me wrong, she just knew how it annoyed John and me.”

        Evan waits until Aelia’s footsteps fade into silence before speaking quietly. “I need to explain something to you, Darion.”

        “Of course, go ahead.” Darion leans politely forward, eager.

        “I don’t know how much of this whole situation is true. It makes as much sense as anything makes, here, but I don’t know.”

        “You don’t have any reason to doubt me, Evan.”

        Evan raises his eyebrows. “See, that’s the point. We have something of a track record when it comes to dealing with you religious types. The Seraphs we’ve seen are either murderous zealots or pacifistic morons, both justified by their faith. Cestorn’s got a new faith of his own, and he’s using it to justify the killing of hundreds. And frankly, your ministry in New Armagh doesn’t sound like it’s exactly an honest enterprise.”

        Darion sits up straighter. “You’re lumping us in with madmen and you know it. That isn’t fair.”

        “Maybe not. But the point is this: The past few months have been bloody and insane, and at the end of the day it’s all because of people’s twisted beliefs. And if you want to get through to Aelia, if you want your sister back, the last thing you want to do is emphasize your stupid religion.”

        Darion sighs and sits back. “I can see where you’re coming from.”

        “Good.”

        The pair sits in silence for a moment, each wondering what the other is thinking. Out of nowhere, Darion chuckles.

        “What’s funny?”

        “Just strange to see someone else being so protective of her… and yet, from my point of view, you’re trying to protect her from the truth. Shielding her from Salvation.”

        “Aelia doesn’t need salvation. She’s a good person.”

        “ ‘There is none righteous, no, not one,’” Darion quotes. “Everyone needs Salvation. Nobody is innocent, and everyone will be judged. I’m trying to help her. Help both of you.”

        Evan closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. When he opens them, Darion flinches at the spark of star-fire in them. A quiet anger colors Evan’s voice.

        “I will keep her safe. From anything.”

        “Nobody is safe from Judgment, Evan. We all stand before the Lord, at the end.”

        “I don’t think your god is real,” Evan growls, starlight flickering in his eyes, “And if he is, and he has a problem with us… I won’t hesitate to kill Him, too.”

        He rises from the table, stretching his shoulders. Darion has a look like panic on his face.

        “You shouldn’t talk like that. You don’t know for sure.”

        “Tell me something, Darion. Are the Seraphic gods real?”

        “Of course not,” Darion scoffs immediately.

        Evan smiles and turns to leave. “Do you know that for sure?”

        The door closes behind him, leaving a confused Darion alone at the table.

 

* * *

 

        Aelia flinches when the door chimes, sitting up straight from the cushy chair in the corner of the tiny bunkroom. She passes her hand through a holographic icon, raising the dim lights. “It’s open,” she says, steadily.

        The sliding door whispers aside, revealing the broad silhouette of Evan in the hallway. “Hey,” he says quietly, “Room for one more?”

        “There’s barely room for just you. But come on in.”

        Evan smiles and enters, the door slipping closed behind him, brushing his baggy black pajamas. “You’re right, this place is crowded.” He looks around for another chair, finds nothing, and finally perches on the edge of the small bed.

        “I think it’s by design. Darion probably picked this boat so nobody could make an attempt at his sister’s chastity. No room.” She chuckles. “Poor guy. I really do feel bad for him. I wish I remembered.”

        “You weren’t you, though, back then.” Evan says, before he can stop himself. He instantly wishes he’d shut up.

        “What do you mean?”

        Evan looks at his feet. “I don’t know.”

        “No, really,” Aelia inquires, leaning forward to place a hand on Evan’s. “What do you mean by that? You look sort of upset.”

        Evan tries to look anywhere but at her. After a bizarre moment where his gaze loops around her head, he gives up and looks into her eyes.

        “You and Darion are both acting like it’s a tragedy that you can’t remember who you were. I don’t know. I don’t know if I feel that way, and I wish I could.” He drops his gaze again, ashamed. “I know what happened to you was terrible, and unfair, and I should wish that it never happened, but…”

        “But what?”

        “But… I don’t know Deirdre. I know Aelia. I can’t imagine life without Aelia, you know?”

        They’re both silent. Aelia gets up from her chair and sits next to Evan on the foot of the bed, both of them barely balanced on it. She leans her head into his big shoulder, and he rests his cheek atop her impossibly soft hair. Neither feels the need to speak for a moment.

        “I’m sure you would have liked Deirdre just fine,” she finally says, but he shakes his head.

        “Probably. She sounds fun. Maybe I would have liked her.”

        He pulls back to look at her face, smiling sadly. “But I love Aelia.”

        Her gray-green eyes widen. “I…”

        “It’s true. No other version of you… would be you. Not to me.”

        Her little smile emerges, the look of confusion falling away. “You always seem to know what to say. How to make me feel better.”

        “I’m not just trying to comfort you, Ellie…” and she smiles at the odd nickname, “I mean it.”

        “What-“

        “I mean I love you.” His heart stops at voicing it aloud. “I have no doubts.”

        They look into each others eyes for a long time. Evan smiles. Aelia smiles too. Sometimes there’s no need to say anything. Aelia slides her arms around his neck.

        “Then I have no doubts either,” she whispers in his ear, pulling him down to the tiny bed. “And, my Evan, I love you just the same.”

        He revels in her words. To hear his feelings reflected… ecstasy. Lying close, pressing together so as not to fall from the cot, gazing into each others eyes, scrying for the answers there…

        With the slightest motion forward, their lips meet. Somehow the heat of her skin always surprises Evan, but for the first time she feels different.

        “You’re not burning,” he whispers into her lips, a millimeter between them. “You always feel so hot to me.”

        She kisses him again, and a jolt rakes his spine when her tongue darts across his lower lip, his pulse leaping, and her hand on his back feels pleasantly cool.

        “I’m the same as ever,” she breathes, her voice rough with excitement. “I think you're just burning with me.”

        For an instant, Evan thinks of Darion and his dire warnings. Nobody escapes judgment.

        All right then, Evan decides, gasping at the motion of graceful hands, returning caresses in kind, all right.

        If this is sin, I’ll burn.

Reviews

[UponATyme]

I actually liked this chapter. I was afraid that the whole love revelation between Evan and Aelia would be cliche, but I guess I should have known better coming from you. I like the tie-in to sin at the end, and the burning. It really wraps things up nicely.