Read Online Before the Fall by L.G. Castillo - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: L.G. Castillo
Ads: Link
the sunlight that filled the room in the mornings, which was why she’d had Raphael set up her loom there rather than on the bottom floor.
She reached for the bone spatula to use for a patterned weaving and sat on the wooden stool. As her fingers moved across the loom, a lone tear slid down her face as she thought about the expression on her father’s face. It was like she was a stranger to him. Maybe it would have been better if she were a stranger. Then his loathing wouldn’t hurt so much.
She wished things could be different. That Jeremiel could get to know his grandparents better. That her mother didn’t have to sneak away to the well just to see her. Rebecca knew that her mother longed to see Jeremiel, but that she was fearful of the backlash from her husband if she dared to sneak away to visit them. Not that her father would hurt her mother, but his shunning was worse than a whip.
Her thoughts shifted as she thought of Jeremiel. He was growing up so fast. As he grew older, he wanted to go out more. It wasn’t fair to him to keep him away from other children. She could take Jeremiel with her on her daily trips into the city. Raphael had encouraged her to do so. But she was so fearful of what her father or Baka would do to him if they found out he was half angel that she kept him away. Raphael had his angelic powers and would thwart anyone who threatened to harm his son. She had no doubt about it. But to do so would give away his presence and she didn’t know what the implications would be for him. She knew he had only meant to stay here for a short time and she didn’t want to do anything that would make him have to leave.
She was selfish. She wanted Raphael to stay with her. She wanted him all to herself. Deep in her heart, she knew Raphael’s gifts could help others. She had seen that when she first met him and he had defended the outcasts, the sick and the weak. He was a true angel of healing.
She loved him. She couldn’t help herself. And when Jeremiel was born, her heart grew even more. Raphael and Jeremiel were her family, her life, and she would do anything to keep them.
Time passed quickly as she weaved. She focused on Jeremiel and how excited he was to go fishing with his father. It was his first outing away from the house. She knew Raphael would watch over him.
There was a loud bang, and she stopped, her hand in midair. The front door opened and closed. She held her breath. It couldn’t be Raphael. It was too early. She didn’t expect him back until later in the evening.
“Rebecca.”
“Raphael?”
There was something wrong with his voice. Something must have happened.
She jumped up from her seat, knocking it over, and flew down the stairs.
“What is it? Is it Jeremiel?”
Raphael stood alone in the center of the room. His lips curled into a smile. It was the same smile she’d seen hundreds of times. Every time she saw it, her heart would flutter at the sight of it—except now.
His beautiful face glowed as he reached out to her. To her surprise, her stomach clenched at the sight of his thick, muscular hand. Instinctually, she took a step back.
Raphael’s blue eyes grew dark, but in a blink the darkness was gone, replaced with the kind eyes that she was used to seeing.
“You are worried.” He took another step forward. She fought the urge to run away from him.
“Where’s Jeremiel?”
“We were on our way back and we ran into Sarah. She was on her way to visit him.”
“My mother?” She blinked, confused. “That’s strange. She would have told me when I saw her this morning.”
His nostrils flared. It was so quick, she wondered if she had imagined it. Something was wrong with her. She was seeing things that weren’t even there. Maybe the heat was getting to her.
“She had meant to tell you when she gave you the blanket,” his voice was smooth, almost melodic. She felt an unnatural calm spread through her. “She mentioned Dathan’s interference.”
“Yes,
She reached for the bone spatula to use for a patterned weaving and sat on the wooden stool. As her fingers moved across the loom, a lone tear slid down her face as she thought about the expression on her father’s face. It was like she was a stranger to him. Maybe it would have been better if she were a stranger. Then his loathing wouldn’t hurt so much.
She wished things could be different. That Jeremiel could get to know his grandparents better. That her mother didn’t have to sneak away to the well just to see her. Rebecca knew that her mother longed to see Jeremiel, but that she was fearful of the backlash from her husband if she dared to sneak away to visit them. Not that her father would hurt her mother, but his shunning was worse than a whip.
Her thoughts shifted as she thought of Jeremiel. He was growing up so fast. As he grew older, he wanted to go out more. It wasn’t fair to him to keep him away from other children. She could take Jeremiel with her on her daily trips into the city. Raphael had encouraged her to do so. But she was so fearful of what her father or Baka would do to him if they found out he was half angel that she kept him away. Raphael had his angelic powers and would thwart anyone who threatened to harm his son. She had no doubt about it. But to do so would give away his presence and she didn’t know what the implications would be for him. She knew he had only meant to stay here for a short time and she didn’t want to do anything that would make him have to leave.
She was selfish. She wanted Raphael to stay with her. She wanted him all to herself. Deep in her heart, she knew Raphael’s gifts could help others. She had seen that when she first met him and he had defended the outcasts, the sick and the weak. He was a true angel of healing.
She loved him. She couldn’t help herself. And when Jeremiel was born, her heart grew even more. Raphael and Jeremiel were her family, her life, and she would do anything to keep them.
Time passed quickly as she weaved. She focused on Jeremiel and how excited he was to go fishing with his father. It was his first outing away from the house. She knew Raphael would watch over him.
There was a loud bang, and she stopped, her hand in midair. The front door opened and closed. She held her breath. It couldn’t be Raphael. It was too early. She didn’t expect him back until later in the evening.
“Rebecca.”
“Raphael?”
There was something wrong with his voice. Something must have happened.
She jumped up from her seat, knocking it over, and flew down the stairs.
“What is it? Is it Jeremiel?”
Raphael stood alone in the center of the room. His lips curled into a smile. It was the same smile she’d seen hundreds of times. Every time she saw it, her heart would flutter at the sight of it—except now.
His beautiful face glowed as he reached out to her. To her surprise, her stomach clenched at the sight of his thick, muscular hand. Instinctually, she took a step back.
Raphael’s blue eyes grew dark, but in a blink the darkness was gone, replaced with the kind eyes that she was used to seeing.
“You are worried.” He took another step forward. She fought the urge to run away from him.
“Where’s Jeremiel?”
“We were on our way back and we ran into Sarah. She was on her way to visit him.”
“My mother?” She blinked, confused. “That’s strange. She would have told me when I saw her this morning.”
His nostrils flared. It was so quick, she wondered if she had imagined it. Something was wrong with her. She was seeing things that weren’t even there. Maybe the heat was getting to her.
“She had meant to tell you when she gave you the blanket,” his voice was smooth, almost melodic. She felt an unnatural calm spread through her. “She mentioned Dathan’s interference.”
“Yes,
Similar Books
