Angel Eyes (36 page)

His face turns serious, and he looks down at my ragged shirt, sliced open, blood still wet. I wrap my hand across my stomach, and he tucks a flyaway strand of hair behind my ear.

“I have a feeling this is just the beginning, Elle.”

That’s a crazy thought!

“Easing me in, are you?”

He laughs lightly. “I just want you to know what you’re in for. You know? Sometimes heroes don’t make it.”

I slip my arms around his neck. “Tonight they did.”

Our faces wet with rain, our clothes soaked with blood, I wouldn’t trade this moment for anything. The world around us is alive with noise, I’m sure, but for a minute I’m conscious of nothing but Jake’s soft breathing and his heart beating against my chest.

“Now, about that truth,” I say, peering over Jake’s shoulder, waking again to the sights and sounds of misery around us. “There’s a police officer headed this way, and I’m thinking he’s going to want some version of it.”

“Then we give it to him,” Jake says. We turn toward the cruiser parked just feet from the open warehouse doors. “The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Just nothing about angels,” Jake clarifies. “People, yes. Angels, no.”

The red and blue lights atop the cruiser draw the children like lonely, frightened moths to the flame of freedom. Malnourished and weak, they make their way into the night air and surround the lone officer. As the sea of stolen children swells, the poor man gropes for his radio.

With our fingers stitched together, Jake and I walk toward the group.

“You shall know the truth,” Jake says.

“And the truth shall set you free.”

Afterword
Jake

A
nother seven days have passed, and it’s Saturday again. Brielle has a thing for numbers, so I’ll put it to you this way:

Forty-two days ago Brielle’s best friend was murdered. Nineteen days ago I met the girl I’ll one day propose to, and seven days ago a knife sliced through her chest, killing her. That very night, God healed both her heart and her mind, and He sent her back to finish out the days He had numbered for her.

And I couldn’t be more grateful.

With the constant downpour and school wrapping up for the semester, we’ve had a considerable amount of downtime. I’ve been spending it with Brielle. Kaylee joins us most days, recalling terrifying nightmares, most of which actually happened. We listen, waiting for an opportunity to share.

I met Brielle’s dad for the first time on Wednesday. It went okay. I can’t say he’s a fan just yet, but I’m hoping. He did give me permission to take Brielle out next Friday, so that’s a good thing. It’s funny, but I’m a little nervous about it. Angels and demons are commonplace to me, but dinner and a movie? That’s a whole different kind of scary.

And then there’s Marco.

After spending a day with Canaan and me, Marco called the one taxi driver in Stratus and had himself driven to the city, where he turned himself in. In light of the children’s statements and the overwhelming evidence against Horacio and his men, the district attorney has hinted that the charges against Marco will be dropped. They’re still trying to decide what to do about his impossible disappearance from prison, and Marco’s explanation has done nothing but muddle the entire affair.

But in an effort to thoroughly clear his name, he has consented to an undetermined period of evaluation at a state psychiatric facility. Brielle and I take turns calling, and Canaan has invited him to stay with us once he’s released. I don’t know if he’ll take Canaan up on the offer, but I hope he does.

There’s something there. Something about Marco that continues to nag at my spirit. It’s a mystery I’ll have to unravel.

One of many, it seems.

“Jake,” Canaan called this morning.

I was at the kitchen table, alone, giving Cocoa Pebbles a try for Brielle’s sake.

“Could you come in here, please?”

“Sure.”

I honestly didn’t mind abandoning the mushy chocolate soup, but when I walked into Canaan’s room I knew something was wrong. He was standing at the foot of his bed, staring down into the open chest.

“What is it?” I asked.

Canaan didn’t answer, which isn’t like him at all. A quiet Canaan makes me nervous. I moved across the room until I could see what had silenced his lips.

And then I dropped to my knees, their strength sapped by the sight.

The jewelry box was gone. The one with Brielle’s ring in it.

Vanished.

There in its place was Damien’s dagger. Dried, crusted blood—Brielle’s blood—still marked the blade.

I tried to make sense of what I was seeing. Thinking, rethinking, and still coming up with nothing.

“Has anything ever disappeared from the chest before?”

“No,” Canaan says. “Never.”

My hand trembled as I reached inside and withdrew the knife.

“What does it mean?”

Canaan shook his head.

“Does it mean I’m not going to marry Brielle? Has the choice been taken from me? Is something going to happen to her?”

My panic moved Canaan to action. He took the dagger from my hand and returned it to the chest. He replaced the lid and pulled me to my feet.

“It means that life is fragile, Jake. That God is wise. That we don’t have the whole picture.”

My breathing was coming quick and fast. Canaan pressed a hand to my chest, steadying me, reminding me of who I am.

Of who I’m not.

And I am not God.

“It means we wait.”

Reading Group Guide

    1. Brielle knows what it’s like to lose a loved one. Has this ever happened to you or someone you know? How did you cope?

    2. At the beginning of this novel, Brielle feels very much alone. In truth, she has a great support system: her dad, Kaylee, Miss Macy, Mr. Burns. Do you have a group of people you can rely on when things get tough? Who are they?

    3. Mr. Burns tells Brielle that “It’s okay to be broken.” Do you agree with him? What does that phrase mean to you?

    4. Ali was Brielle’s best friend but she was also someone Brielle admired and looked up to. Do you have a friend like that?

    5. Ballet is Brielle’s creative outlet. How do you channel your creativity?

    6. By placing an engagement ring with Brielle’s initials on it into the chest, the Throne Room seems to be indicating that Jake and Brielle will marry. Do you believe God orchestrates marriages? Can you think of a biblical example? What do you think happened to the ring at the end of the novel?

    7. The halo gives Jake and Brielle different gifts: Jake the gift to heal; Brielle the gift to see. What challenges or responsibilities come with those gifts? Why do you think the halo affects them differently? If you put the halo on, what gift do you think it would give to you?

    8. Jake quotes Proverbs 3:5-6. It says, “Trust in the L
ORD
with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Do you have trouble trusting what you can’t see? Do you have advice for someone who does?

    9. Brielle’s father is adamantly against anything religious. How do you think he’ll react to Brielle’s new beliefs? Is there someone in your life who is adamantly against religion? How do you reach out to them?

    10. Brielle is attracted to many things about Jake. Can you name a few? What do you look for in the opposite sex?

    11. In this story, fear is portrayed as cold and clingy. It is portrayed as a weapon. Do you think this is an accurate representation? Have you ever felt attacked by fear? What did you do?

    12. While this story is entirely fictional, the Bible speaks very clearly about the existence of angels and demons. Do you believe in guardian angels? Have you witnessed anything that would lead you to believe in their presence?

    13. Brielle struggles to understand how a righteous God could let bad things happen. Have you ever wondered about this? What are your thoughts?

    14. Human trafficking is a very real problem both in the United States and abroad. What are some things you can do to help?

Acknowledgments

Shannon would like to thank…

Matt.
You make everything better. Everything. This story included. You helped me brainstorm and you talked me through my theology. Thank you for choosing me, for loving me, and for being my biggest fan. I’ve always been yours. SHMILY.

Justus.
My little man. I gave Brielle your eyes and can only hope she’ll one day have your passion. You’re smarter than any one child should ever be, but it’s your heart that wins me over daily. Keep reading. Keep writing. And dream big, kid. God has plans.

Jazlyn.
My angel fish. You were there when this story was born and your nose kisses have cured so many things along the way. I hope your desire for buried treasure extends to the Word. Hide it in your heart, baby girl. Keep it there.

Mom and Dad.
You introduced me to Christ over Chinese take-out and you’ve endured my many passions through the years. For loving me and for never rolling your eyes, thank you.

Sharon and Steph.
You are my heart and soul. Parts of you are in every beautiful character I write. I hope you see yourselves there.

Jacy
. Faded jeans and long sleeve white tees make me think of you. I hope they always remind you of a God who heals and a love with no bounds.

Jenny and Joanne
.
Randa and Celeste
.
Team Root
.
Inspire
. Where would a writer be without her writer friends? Because of you, my journey has not been a lonely one.

Alicia and Aaron
. Thank you for late-night talks and copious amounts of homemade butterbeer. Both have changed my world.
Lacey and Carla
. Where would we be without you? You are family and I can’t thank you enough for being who you are.
Jordan, Ty, and Pete
. Superheroes extraordinaire. Thank you for keeping my husband sane.
The Corringtons, Blacks, and Tubras
. You dropped out of the sky when we needed you most. You’ll never, ever know . . .

My Living Way family
. Thank you for letting me grow. Thank you for letting me change. Thank you for being my family regardless.

The Lukes and the Callahans, the Dittemores, Masons, and Delks
. You’re all in here somewhere, in these pages. Your support means the world. I love you all.

A very special thank you to
Jason Pinter
for pulling me from the slush pile, and to
Holly Root
for being the best agent a girl could ask for. You chatted puppets when God-knows you had more than enough to do. I’m forever grateful.

And finally, to
Becky and Ami, to Allen and LB. To Eric and Kristen, to Katie and Ruthie and the entire team at Nelson Fiction
. What can a girl say to those making her dream come true? Words aren’t sufficient, but thank you. It’s a pleasure to venture into the great unknown with you.

For the latest news about the
Angel Eyes Trilogy, visit
ShannonDittemore.com

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