Heaven's Closed Read online

  Raphael’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “Amelia, will you come in or do you plan on celebrating New Year’s Eve on the threshold?” He cocked his head studying her face.

  She looked from him to Anna and back. Frowning she asked Anna, “Sis, can you come back outside for a moment?”

  “Did you forget something?” Raphael looked at her and narrowed his eyes. Then he took Anna by the hand and led her further down the hallway.

  “Wait,” Amelia cried out. “Anna, you need to …” As she rushed inside a disturbance rippled the air. Much like a pebble thrown in a calm pond and a shiver ran down her spine. Once inside the words she’d meant to say fled her mind. A hypnotic bass line thumped. Her feet moved in sync and soon she swayed like all the other people attending the party. Raphael and Anna forgotten when male hands spun Amelia around. “Hi Uriel,” she sang.

  “Hello Amelia,” he said. “I’m glad you’re finally here. Cool party, right?”

  “You know what? It is.” Then she stilled. There was something she had to do, but what? Shrugging she took the drink Uriel offered and continued moving to the beat. He tilted the glass as she held it to her lips. Obedient she emptied it.

  “Dance with me?” He wrapped his arms around her. She let him lead her in an old-fashioned ballroom dance. Together they whirled in circles around the dancefloor. “Don’t frown. Smile Amelia, it’s New year’s Eve. The night for wonders, new beginnings.”

  The throb of her heart aligned with the bass. As her eyes focused on Uriel’s a disturbing thought popped up. This wasn’t right. Where did Raphael go? Where’s Anna? “Uriel?”

  “Yes Amelia?” His breath felt uncomfortably hot on her skin. His lips nearly touched her ear. She’d never noticed he stepped this close in their waltz.

  Amelia leaned back and shook her head. All at once the loud music, cackle of too excited voices, a pungent scent of firecrackers and strobe lights assaulted her senses. “What’s happening? What have you done to Anna?”

  “What’s wrong? Amelia,” Uriel said and cradled her hands in his. “Nothing is happening. And your sister is there.” He pointed to the other side of the room where Anna stood laughing. “See? She’s having fun, there’s nothing to worry about.”  While Amelia looked at her sister, Raphael spoke in Anna’s ear. Shaking her head Anna smiled like a cat that saw a big, juicy mouse for the taking.

  “Come, I’m taking you out of this noise. You look like you could use some down time.” Uriel said. He distracted her from the sight of her sister with Raphael.

  Once out of the noisy room her head cleared a little and she remembered at least one thing. “I need pen and paper.” Stood still she looked at the window. The same thin line of salt filled the crease between sill and the glass. “Why do you have a barrier in place?”

  Uriel blinked, looked at her and asked, “What do you mean? What barrier?”

  “You know, the salt,” Amelia said agitated. Why was he playing dumb? He must know, it’s his house.

  “What salt? Oh Amelia, I do think you have no stomach for liquor, one drink and you are imagining things.” He laughed and shook his head. “Come, we’ll get you something to eat, that should help. And maybe a glass of water too.” Still grinning he said, “I should have known.” He took her arm and led her further down the hallway. “Remember our engagement party? How you danced on the table? Anna and Raphael had to drag you down after you drank that special brew.” He smirked.

  “Get me pen and paper. I’ll be fine.” Amelia frowned. Engaged? Surely that couldn’t be right? I must write, correct this, but how?

  “Oh Amelia, come on now. Why do you always worry so much?” He tightened his grip on her elbow and led her to the kitchen. On the way they passed a mirror, Amelia threw a glance at her reflection. Shocked by her own image she stood and gazed. Her eyes widened, breath caught. My hair! My face, my dress, my skin. What had happened to her? “Uriel, something’s terribly wrong. I need to go home, I need to write.”

  He cupped her chin and kissed her lightly on the lips. “My dear,” he looked at his watch and said, “do you have any idea of the time?”

  “Well, we arrived at nine thirty, you and I, we danced. It can’t be later than ten.”

  “I’m sorry,” Uriel shook his head. “I shouldn’t have fed you that drink. It’s nearly eleven thirty, there’s no time to go home and be back in time for the fireworks.”

  Nearly stomping her feet she yelled, “That can’t be right. You’re wrong and I want a pen and some paper. Is that too fucking much to ask?”

  “Don’t Amelia. Calm down. Here, look at my watch. Look at the clock. Ask any of the people in the house. It’s almost midnight and you are drunk.” Indulgent he grinned. “Have something to eat, drink some water and calm down. What in Heaven’s name can be so important you have to write it down while on a party?” Uriel’s calm only roused her anger more.

  “I will swear and yell and write when I want, how I want and what I want. Now. Get. Me. Some. Paper. And a pen.” Her breath laboured, eyes shot fire. She clenched her fists and pressed her lips together glaring at him.

  “Fine,” he said. “If you must. Come to my study, you’ll have all the paper and pens you could possibly want.”

  Once sat behind his desk, blank paper lying before her and pen in hand Amelia couldn’t remember why, or what she’d needed to write. Uriel sat opposite her, watching, waiting. Patient Uriel, always putting up with her temper. She stood and walked around the desk. Then sat on his lap and said, “You know what? There’s a party going on, why don’t you dance with me? Forget I acted up again? Can you?” She smiled and kissed his cheek. Put her head on his shoulder and sighed.

  He trailed his fingers down her arm. “Of course, anything for you.” As he looked at her his lips curled up in a smile that not quite reached his eyes.

  #

  As soon as they arrived at Uriel’s house, Raphael had rushed Anna through the door inside the cavernous space of the hall. The slide of silken air along her skin tickled as they passed the threshold. She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. Once inside the throb of a heavy, hypnotic bass and scent of flowery perfume captured her senses. The strange sensation forgotten her heart beat in sync with the rhythm of the music. A woman sang and Anna swayed against Raphael. 

  “Great music. Uriel does know how to throw a party, doesn’t he?” Leaning down he spoke in her ear. His breath on her skin sent a shiver down her spine.

  Anna smiled up at him, picturing him kissing her, holding her and said, “Dance with me?” She pulled him onto the dancefloor where he stood as she flowed around him. While circling Raphael Anna wrote an intricate pattern with the tip of her index finger on his back all the while whispering, “See me, want me, never forget me. Mine for eternity.” Coming to his front she raised her eyes to his. She’d not need to do much more on him, but what more could he need to tie him down? She pursed her lips.

  As his eyes locked onto hers his lips curved up and he took her in his arms. Pressing Anna to him he moved to the beat. Resting his chin on the top of her head he hid the ravenous expression on his face and the incandescent glow in his eyes. Raphael worked at keeping his breath even and his grasp on her gentle. Just one thing slipped from under his control.

  Anna stirred in his arms. “Raphael, I smell sulphur.”

  “Could be, I just heard the first firecracker go off.” His chest rumbled with the words.

  Anna relished in the sensation of laying her head against his muscles. Soon he’d be fully hers. There’d be no stopping this anymore. Not even if Amelia would erase what she wrote earlier; Nana taught me well, better than mom ever could. Mom and her morals, “Pah!”

  Raphael held her at arms length after her muttering. “Anything wrong, sweetheart?”

  “Nothing,” She stepped back into his arms, splaying her hands on his back. “I remembered what my mom used to say about girls and men.”

  “And? Would she approve of you dancing with me?”


  Laughing Anna shook her head. “I don’t think so.” She looked up at him. Then cocked her head and pressed her index finger between his shoulder blades willing him to tell the truth. “Raphael, why aren’t you dancing with Amelia?”

  “Why would I? You’re all a man needs.” He leaned down and kissed her full on the mouth.

  The moment his lips touched hers another shiver ran down her spine. “Are you—”

  “Shh,” he cut her off by placing his finger on her lips. “I don’t want to talk about your sister on this magical night.” He twirled her around and around until he caught her in his arms again and whispered in her ear, “Why do you ask? Don’t you want us to be together?”

  “I do, but I need to be close to Amelia on this night.”

  “And so you shall be. We’ll find her before twelve. Now I,” he dipped her backwards over his leg and she laughed, “want to dance with you before it is time and you must go.” Again she followed his lead in the old-fashioned waltz. “I need a drink, what about you?” He danced them to the hallway not waiting for her to answer.

  “Raphael?”

  “Yes, Anna?”

  “Don’t you wonder at all why you so easily let go of my sister to be with me?”

  “Why should I? We are meant to be together and your sister is happy with Uriel now.”

  “I beg your pardon? She hated his guts last time they met. She told me so.”

  “Well, not anymore. They’re engaged, have been for the past year. Remember when we had to pull her off a table before she made a complete ass of herself. That sister of yours has no stomach for hard liquor.”

  “Engaged? The past year? What time is it? What year?”

  “It’s eleven thirty-five and nearly 2014. Come we need to find the happy couple. Got to get the sisters back to back at midnight.” Raphael pulled her through the hallway, opening on door after another, taking a peek inside the rooms. “Oops, sorry,” he said to the persons in one of them. He closed the door and snickered. “They were having fun.”

  Anna pulled her hand free, turned and headed back to the dance room. It couldn’t be this late. No way it’s nearly twenty fourteen! Grabbing a dancer she shook him and asked, “What time is it?”

  “Almost midnight, baby! Time for new beginnings.” The man shook her hand off and danced away into the throng filling the dancefloor.

  “What year?” She grabbed him again.

  “What do you mean what year? It’s almost twenty fourteen, gone with the bad luck year. Let the good times begin” The guy pulled himself free from Anna’s hold on him and hopped away from her.

  Stunned she stood and watched the mass of dancing and drinking people. How did she lose three hours and an entire year?

  That moment Raphael laid his hands on her shoulders and whispered in her ear, “Don’t be so shocked. You of all people should know what can be done to get what you need. We needed the both of you, and now we have you.” His laughter sent a shiver down her spine.

  #

  Only fifteen minutes to midnight and Anna raced through the house, throwing open doors in search of her twin sister. Whenever she turned Raphael stood not far behind, smiling, eyes calculating. She had to find Amelia before midnight, but this house was just too big. She doubted she’d have enough time to open every door on the first floor, let alone second, or third. Turning she glared at Raphael. “What do you want with us? Leave us alone.”

  “My, my, Anna my dear. Do you really want to deny us a happy ever after?” He studied his nails, waiting for her answer.

  “I don’t believe you. We weren’t a couple and will never be. This isn’t right!”

  “Anna, my dear. You and I, Amelia and Raphael, together we can do great things. Don’t you want to have a glorious future?”

  “My future has nothing to do with you or your friend. Where’s my sister?”

  “I told you, she’s having fun with her fiancee.” He took a step in her direction and another one, looking very discontent.

  Anna stood, captured like a deer in the headlights of an approaching car. She swallowed, opened her mouth, but as he touched her arm she completely forgot what spooked her into running away from him. “I think I’ve had one drink too many.” She shook her head and rested her head on his chest.

  Enveloping her in his arms he walked her to the study. Upon entering, her head lolled to the side and he scooped her up. Uriel sat in a Chesterfield, Amelia on his lap. The moment Raphael entered he stood pressing Amelia against his chest. She stayed unconscious but smiling. Both men stood facing each other. They left the study. Uriel walked down the hall and Raphael followed in his wake, carrying the still unconscious Anna. A path opened and they walked to the centre of the dancefloor. As they stood everyone tried to pile into the room. Heated bodies surrounded them, all eyes alight, expecting. Hands raised gripping each other in closed circles, row after row until no more fit in. Uriel stepped as close towards Raphael as he could. This pressed the girls back to back. The men grabbed each other’s upper arms suspending the girls between them. As soon as their circle closed all present chanted. “Magic born in blood, entwine in two. Magic flows in two, open the door. Magic written in blood, bring us home.” A rumble shook the house. Between Uriel and Raphael a red beam shot up through the girls’ bodies. The men stepped away from it, brows raised. Puzzled they looked at each other.

  “Shouldn’t this be—“ Uriel raised his hands to the red light, almost touching.

  “Don’t!” Raphael warned. “We don’t know. None has ever done this before, it could be right.”

  The limp bodies of the girls floated to the ceiling where they woke. Still back to back their eyes opened. Slow turning they regarded all stood below them. Anna’s low voice shook the windows. “You dare a lot, waking us.” Amelia cackled. “They think they have what it takes to control us.” The monotone rumble from Anna’s mouth said, “None can control us. None dare try.” A tremor shook the house. Amelia laughed, hysterical, then calmly whispered, “They think these mortals give them what they need.” A crack split the floor. “Then come and try to enter,” the girls sang as they descended and stood in the centre of the red haze.

  Uriel looked at Raphael, together they stepped into the haze. Inside the pillar of red light the girls no longer stood back to back but faced each other. Between them a passage opened: black, void, cold, and shimmering with power.

  “Do you have the Sword?” The voice came from the dark passage between the girls.

  Uriel’s eyes lit up. “I have.” He reached behind his back drawing a shining sword from a hidden sheath.

  “And you,” A black leather braid shot out from the void. It coiled around Raphael’s neck. “Have you buried him?”

  He freed his neck from the whip, tugged it out of the passage and hung it across his chest. “I have.”

  “Then come home and collect your reward.”

  At that moment the girls opened their eyes a blinding light shot out forming a sheet. It blocked sight into the passage. The girls raised their hands towards each other. As their left index fingers nearly touched red blossomed on the tips. With their fingers they wrote bloody red letters on the leaf of light. Each letter one sister wrote the perfect mirror image of the other’s. “Enter and you shall have what you crave. Pass and renounce your rights to gain it all. Beyond this point lies the endless future.” Then Amelia held out her wrist to her sister. Anna laid her writing finger on it. Blood welled and pooled but did not drop. Dipping a quill in the crimson liquid she then offered it with a flourish to the men. “Sign on the dotted line and you’re all set.”

  Uriel reached out. Both girls kept a straight face but pleasure sparkled in their eyes.

  Raphael laid his hand on Uriel’s arm and said, “Surely, He doesn’t need to sign anything for us to pass?”

  “But we need you to sign. No signature, no passing, no reward of any kind.” They took a small step towards each other narrowing the passage. “Hurry, this offer is available f
or a limited time only.” Turning their heads, facing the men, they grinned and took another small step forwards.

  “Wait!” Uriel and Raphael both tried to grab the quill. It fell to the floor and disintegrated. The sheet of light faded, the void narrowed and the red haze dimmed. The last toll of the midnight bell sounded as the four of them reappeared on the dancefloor.

  “Happy twenty thirteen!” All people around them celebrated the turning of the year.

  Dazed the men stood and watched the smiling girls.

  “You do know your tricks don’t work anymore, do you?” Anna said. Amelia stood behind her twin. “Your spells all broken, power denied. You really should have signed when you had the chance.” The girls snickered. “Now those lovely, angelic behinds of yours are ours.” Their eyes lit up incandescent red. “The way home is closed boys,” Anna reached up took a quill out of thin air and dipped it in the still open wound on Amelia’s wrist. From the back of each man wings unfolded. Feathers rustled as they expanded. Anna plucked one from each and  wrote on it. “Fallen from grace, picked up by Writers for eternity.”

  Thank you for downloading this book and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing these two stories.

  Lucy Pireel loves to read and write a myriad of genres, ranging from this to erotica, from horror to romance, sci-fi to literary fiction. She has trouble putting a genre to her own work and has no objections to anyone labelling it for her.

  She’s always happy to hear from people who love her work, so if you would like to connect with her online and discover more:

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LucyPireel

  Blog: https://lucypireel.wordpress.com/

  Author Site: https://www.lucypireel.com

  Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6536994.Lucy_Pireel

  Photographer: Julie Falk