Heaven and Hell by Anne Guest (top 10 non fiction books of all time .TXT) 📖

sunny, too bright for me to be honest. I lifted my hand to shade my eyes and looked around wondering why Jonah had bought me outside. That’s when I saw him, Luc was up sat the farthest right hand side of the garden sitting on a tree stump looking at our secret hideaway from when we were children. He was hunched over his wings limp dragging on the floor behind him, he looked so lost. I turn my head to look at Jonah who was retreating back into the house.
I stretch my whole body including my wings I glance at them and noticed more red now was visible, not again I think and quickly dismiss the thought as I could see and feel the pain radiating from my brother, his face now buried in his hands.
I silently approach him and come to face him, I kneel down in front of him raising my wings to keep my balance and place my hands on his and give them a small pull.
“Leave me alone” he said his whole body radiating grief and pain, I pull again and still he wont remove his hands.
“Hey demon” I say softly. His whole body tenses and stills.
“Lucas” I say this time and pull his hands away which he allows.
I see how tired he is, the grief for me and mom etched in every line of his face, tears spill down my cheeks my heart breaks for him.
“I thought you were dead” he reaches up and wipes a tear from my face.
“I’m not so easy to kill” I reply “but it was close.”
“I didn’t think they could do it and then hearing you scream” he whispers uncertainty clear in his words. “Am I dreaming?” he asks.
“I’m sure if you’re dreaming you would think of something better to dream of” I tell him.
“Lily” he says and stands pulling me into his arms. “Hey angel” he whisper in my ear.
“Hey demon” I reply.
We sink to the floor and sat with our arms around one another and our heads touching just like we had when we were kids and we had been punished. Neither of us saying anything both of us glad just to be together. The sun had begun to set. I wrapped my wings round us both as I didn’t feel like going back inside just yet.
“Your wings have changed again” Luc informs me while running a finger down my feathers. He smiled a little “at least I didn’t get shocked when I touched them this time” he tells me.
“Really” I said wondering what the hell was happening “I know it must be the result of getting me back here” I tell him “I’ve been graced by two elder gods now”
“How did this happen?” he asked.
I briefly tell about meeting Mercy and who she was and what they had to do to me, I didn’t tell him about exactly how painful the pain was because it would have caused more hurt to him, and he had enough already.
“What happened with mom?” I ask him holding in my tears.
Luc explained to me that when they thought I had died. Elizabeth and Sebastian along with their people, also Gabriel and surprising to me Uriel all vowed to aide us. Everyone else scattered.
“Oh then granddaddy turned up” he adds.
“Oh my god, what did he do?” I ask in wonder.
Luc told me that he raged, set fire to the trees surrounding the clearing, threatened murder chaos, you know the usual for him. Once he had vented his rage he came over to us, to a dead daughter, and a near death granddaughter and a grief ridden grandson. He claimed me as family and you also if you survived. He has taken moms body with him down to his home.
“He says he wants to get to know us and will visit soon, then disappeared” he finished telling me.
“Who’s inside?” I ask nodding towards the house changing the topic of conversation before I let the tears fall and grief overwhelm me.
“Jonah and Mercy” he says “Gabriel and Uriel are there too”
“Anyone else?” I ask as he has that look on his face that all brothers have when they don’t want to tell you something.
“Sebastian here as well” he finally tells me.
“Why is that a problem” I ask with a frown.
“The thing is when we thought you were dead, he was upset, to upset for just a friend if you know what I mean” he says with a sigh.
“We are just friends” I tell him “there has never been anything between us” I explain.
“I know but I sort of get the feeling that maybe he was hoping there could be, and it’s been a little tense around here while you‘ve been healing”
“And?” as I felt there was more this.
“Seb and Jonah have been eyeing one another up the last five days and its getting on my nerves” he tells me.
“I’ve been out for five days” I say in wonder.
“Focus lily”
“I’ve loved him forever but he never showed any interest and now there’s Jonah. If he had done something before I had meet Jonah, then maybe but even then Jonah draws me to him, I feel like his mine.” I tell him.
“And that’s the problem Sebastian knows this and is as jealous as hell, and also believes that Jonah would have stolen you from him”
“That’s just stupid we aren’t together so it’s irrelevant” I pouted “and how has Jonah been with this?”
“For the most part ignored it, and has mainly been with you and keeping a vigil at your bedside” he explains.
Fed up talking about it I open my wings and allow the evening air to cool our bodies and I shiver at the drop in temperature. I get to my feet and stand up pulling Luc to his feet along side with me.
I don’t really want to go inside and was content to stay and just be with my brother, but there was an elder god in there waiting for me.
He walked toward the door Luc’s arm draped across my shoulder. We enter the kitchen to be greeted by Sebastian who pulls me to him and hugs me. I feel Jonah anger at Sebastian behaviour and move quickly away.
“Hi Seb” I say as Jonah came to me and kissed me on the check before standing directly behind me. Luc has gone through to the front room to leave us to it.
“How are you Lily?” he asks genuine concern etched on his face.
“Fine, fine you know fine” I say awkwardly.
“I’m glad” he tells me as he reaches down to my and takes my hand in his. I feel Jonah tense behind me and I pull my hand away.
“I’m heading up to bed I’m drained” I say to them both and turn and leave them there heading for my room. I threw myself on my bed fully clothed; I had already hidden my wings so I did for a second contemplate sleeping in my clothes. I heard my door open I lifted my head to see Jonah looking down at me.
“You haven’t killed him then” I ask him.
He smiles at me before answering and sitting on the edge of my bed. “no, I think you would be upset with me” he replies and runs his hand down my hair to cup my cheek, I lean into him briefly before I close my eyes and relax back on the bed.
“Please leave Sebastian alone” I ask of Jonah.
“Why? What is this mage to you” annoyance laced his voice.
I sigh and sat up to face him, I lean forward and press my lips to his briefly before I answered. “I have known him and loved him most my life, and I’ve wanted him for a very long time but nothing ever did happen between us.”
“I am unsure what this is that’s happening between us, or if we will become enemies eventually, but I have never wanted him as much as I want you. I am willing to take the chance of you breaking my heart, and I’m doing it all for you” I pressed my lips to his and kiss him with passion. I crawl over him to straddle his lap. I feel his hands on my thighs pulling me closer, I lean into him pushing him down on the bed so I was leaning over him, I pull at his shirt pulling it over his head and throwing it on to the floor to reveal a muscular chest and a wash bored set of abs. I run my hand slowly over his body enjoying the feel of his skin under my hands, I also felt him shudder under my touch.
He allowed me to appreciate him a few more moments before taking my hands in his and holding them still against his chest.
“Thank you for your trust” he tells me as he sits up putting our bodies in direct contact. I extract my hand and place them around his neck. I just want to get close to him and move to kiss him but he holds me in place.
“Lily, as much as I want to experience this with you, I am not able to now, I have come to tell you I need to leave for a while” he say.
I feel my disappointment strongly in my chest but say nothing; I