Free Covenant by Maria Rachel Hooley Page A

her take those impossible steps. All she’ll know is what’s
in front of her—a younger woman, probably her daughter, who wasn’t
supposed to die.
    “ Amy.” The word is more of
a breath as she reaches the bed, her trembling hand reaching to
touch the dead woman’s face. In that moment, I see all the love
wrapped up in her, a slight caress of fingers against her hair so
sweet in pausing I feel her chaos stirring within me, and part of
me aches in a way I’m not sure I ever have.
    It is in that moment of
grief I really see things from the human side and know that what I
do for them means something to them, even if they do not realize it
because they can’t see us. But I also realize I can’t stay in this
limbo forever. I have to unravel this mystery of my forgetting. If
Evan and Celia won’t tell me the truth, there is only one other
angel I can go to who probably knows the truth—Jayzee.

Chapter Seven
    Flying over the ocean, I
find myself heading toward the mountain where a massive waterfall
looms in the distance. Even from here I can hear the rumble and
crash of the falls against the ocean. The world is distorted in
rising mist as I fly directly toward the falls, heading for the
Central Gathering Place, the location all angels go, especially
sojourners and guardians. The sojourners take their souls there.
The guardians take breaks from the human world there so they can
recharge their spirits.
    The waterfall is rather
intimidating even for angels, but I zoom through it and land on the
invisible floor, watching as the ocean rushes beneath my feet.
Then, I look up and see all the images of humans flashing on the
backside of the water fall. This pictures are mostly for the
guardians, not the sojourners so I ignore them and try searching
for Jayzee amid so many angels I don’t recognize, and that’s pretty
uncomfortable. It’s like being a foreigner without landmarks to
guide me.
    Amid the group, there are
three angel who are just a little disturbing—they tower over all
the rest, and they appear so foreign I feel unsettled. The three
turn toward me and give me these looks that say I should recognize
them, but I don’t. It only makes me wonder how Evan accomplished
putting up the wall, and how certain things transcend his efforts.
Those things I’m pretty sure are deliberate.
    Scanning the crowd, I
realize that Jayzee must be on a mission, and since she and Sarah
seem to know me well, and I had something to do with their training
to become sojourners, I might be able to sense them. I should know
where they are because I should be working the same area. Usually,
it’s only the guardians who shift from the initial groupings. There
are those who have functioned as both sojourners and guardians;
it’s rare but not unheard of.
    So, before I run into Celia
or Evan, I fly to the Lower Realm, trying to keep myself open to
the presence of those who have served with me. At first, I feel
nothing, so I force myself to focus harder, searching for even the
smallest inkling that will lead me in their direction. For a moment
I think I might be sensing something, but it occurs to me I am
going about this all wrong. It’s probably not so much about sense
as it is instinct. It’s not like the calling I usually notice with
those who are near death. No, it’s more of an intuitive thing I
shouldn’t have to try so hard to find.
    Frowning, I know perhaps
parts of my memory are still intact or I wouldn’t have realized
this. Once more with selective holes, thanks to Evan. Isn’t that
the reason I’m trying to find Jayzee?
    As I wing toward the Lower
Realm, I feel the sun’s warmth, at least until I need to blend with
the sky. All during the flight, I focus on the sense of familiarity
I feel with Evan, hoping that will guide me.
    Of course, where it leads me
is a cemetery. Part of me wants to laugh at the irony as I land
right next to a statue of a cherub. Shaking my head, I stare at it,
well aware just how wrong humans get