The Forsaken by Renee Pace Page A

take all your damning, but you must first live. I beg thee Mistress, with my soul…please let her live.”
     

Chapter Nine
     
     
    “What do you mean, you can’t do anything else for her?” asked Nat to one trembling, tear-stained Meredith.
    “I’ve done all I can. I made a promise to Izzy never to call a human doctor for her again. I can’t go back on that promise.”
    A gasp from Isabella’s sisters made him realize he was acting irrationally. He was Seraphim, and they looked to him now for guidance. “But what if that doctor can help?”
    “She would rather die.”
    Nathanael knew Meredith spoke the truth but he didn’t know what else to do. “I know you are trying everything. What about if you all sing to her?”
    Shea moved forward. Pleased he was learning some of their names—more importantly, their trust—he beckoned her closer. “You have something to say, Shea?”
    “Nathanael, we have sung to her most of the night. There is no change. What I am suggesting is not the normal way of things, but maybe you should try singing to her.”
    Nat fought not to laugh. Me, sing? Obviously she hasn’t heard me attempt to sing, and that’s a blessing. “Seraphim do not sing.”
    “Actually, some do,” countered Shea, bowing her head, her hands nervously folded together.
    “What?”
    Keeping her head lowered, Shea rushed on with her words. “Isabella said her father sang to her mother whenever she felt sick. She said it had made her mother feel better.”
    Nat noticed the tense of her sentence. He’d had no idea Isabella’s mother was no longer with them and again Nat questioned why he didn’t search out more information about his intended. It was also becoming clear to him that none of the Cherubs felt like they’d ever get the chance to go home again. And without Isabella, they truly would be lost.
    “And did it?” asked Meredith, clearly as astonished at Nat.
    Shea nodded. “What can it hurt?”
    The sum of it had been said. Isabella had lost so much blood, Nathanael knew only a miracle would keep her tethered to them. If that miracle could by chance be his off-key voice, he’d swallow what pride he had, and sing his heart to the rafters.
    “I will do it. I ask you all to pray for us,” he said. Muttering under his breath he added, “Cover your blessed ears.”
    Meredith smiled sadly and Shea nodded, leading the other sisters to the prayer room. Nathanael removed his dirty shoes and socks, before walking barefoot into Isabella’s bedroom, her sanctuary. A blessed red candle sat in each corner of the bedroom to honor the Heavenly Mistress and to act as a beacon to guide her help. Incense burned in a small gold holder, the smell light and flowery.
    Isabella shivered violently in the bed. Nat reached out and touched her sweaty forehead, expecting it to be burning hot. It was the opposite—ice cold—she shivered in the throes of a raging fever. It seemed she fought her inner demons, the ones that dared to take her away from him. Not knowing fully what to do, Nat quickly made a heart-wrenching decision. He crawled under the covers, drew her shivering form, clad in a simple shift, to his and started to sing, hoping his prayer-song worked a miracle. To hold his ordained heavenly wife in his arms was a true blessing, but knowing this could be the one and only time…not so much.
     
    * * *
     
     
    Meredith felt worn out. The last few days had been dizzy with the rediscovery of her faith and the belief the Mistress would change her mind. Meredith held fast to that, but the worry she’d felt for Isabella, knowing she fought the demons on her own made her mad. Meredith, like Izzy, could easily wield a weapon to slay a demon. They’d both taken up arms after watching demons slay their mothers. Together, they had sneaked from their rooms at night to meet up with the one Seraphim who had said he’d help. A Seraphim Meredith never wanted to see again. He’d treated them like an equal and it had been