Epilogue
Three months ago, I gave birth to the cutest baby ever. Now, I stand at the back archway of the Chapel, the same place I exchanged marriage vows with Lincoln. Like that day, the place is crammed with thrax, quasis, and angels.
No demons this time. Whew.
The three of us are alone in the tunnel, which serves as the access way to the Chapel proper. At some point, I’m going to stop being amazed at the size of this so-called Chapel. The thing is way larger than Purgatory’s Arena back home. And today, I don’t think there’s an empty seat in the place.
Lincoln stands at my side. We’re both dressed in our medieval best as King and Queen of the Thrax. Just like with our wedding, my mother agreed that Antrum would be the best place to hold the main event for today, which is Maxon’s naming ceremony. That said, our little family is going on a full tour of Purgatory after this ceremony is over. The angelic choir that got together for my wedding is now doing gigs across the after-realms. They even have a badass name: Wrath of Xavier, or Wrath-X. Personally, I think it’s kind of an angelic idea of a badass name, but who am I to rain on their parade?
Here’s how it will work. Wrath-X will do a quick intro song. Then Lincoln, Maxon, and I will celebrate the naming ceremony. Once the naming part is done, our little family can hightail it out of the auditorium while the band keeps playing. Mom will get her photo opp. The quasi people will get to see the baby. It’s a win all the way around.
Little Maxon squirms in my arms. Did I mention he’s cute? He’s got that awesome baby smell, pudgy limbs with fat rings on his wrists and ankles, and big mismatched eyes. I love him to pieces.
Lincoln leans over, placing his pointer finger into the grip of Maxon’s baby hand. “How’s my little man today?”
Maxon is already a total operator, by the way. My baby perks right up, blinks in Lincoln’s direction, and coos. Adorable, and yes, working the charming factor at a young age.
Footsteps sound behind us. Turning around, I see my father and Cissy tooling up the stone corridor. I have a flashback of them both here once before, as I was getting ready to head down the aisle and marry Lincoln. As it turned out, I was also getting ready to go into a major battle. This time, I hope things will go much more smoothly.
Dad approaches me slowly, like I’m a strange creature he’s never seen before. My father’s been acting strangely ever since the igni talked to him at triple screech level. “Are you…okay, Myla?
“I’m fine, Dad. And you look fabulous.” Which he does. My father is decked out in his golden armor with his matching wings on display. He looks everything angelic and kick-butt.
“If you’re sure.” Dad tilts his head.
“They aren’t screeching at me. No worries.”
My father exhales. “Glad to hear it. You know I went through a lot in Hell and, wow. That’s all I have to say. Wow.”
My father spent seventeen or so years getting tortured by Armageddon in Hell, and Armageddon is a guy who really, really, really likes to torture. This may sound strange, but it makes me feel good to have my father acknowledge how tough igni are to interact with sometimes. Makes me feel semi-heroic for just interpreting them.
“Thanks, Dad. I mean it.”
Cissy steps up; she’s in her Senatorial robes today. “I had to see you before you started.” She steps around me in a slow circle. Cis helped me pick out my gown for this event. We had the royal clothier work with a quasi designer this time. I’m wearing a pale pink over-dress with my white Scala robes underneath. The lines are a little more modern and fitted. I like it.
“You did a great job, Cis.” It was a diplomatic achievement to get Antrum and Purgatory working together on anything, let alone a gown.
Cissy bobs a little on the balls of her feet. It makes her golden curls bounce by her shoulders. “It’s all worth it to see you look this awesome.”
Outside, Wrath-X starts into the opening riff of “Somebody to Love” by Queen. Lincoln sets his hand at the small of my back. “That’s our cue.”
Dad and Cissy make their quick good-byes and rush off down the opposite side of the corridor. Before us, the packed stadium rises to its feet. Little Maxon squirms and gurgles. My tail arches over my shoulder to wave at the crowd. We start the slow stroll down the aisle. I pass so many friendly faces, my face starts to hurt from smiling.
Walker looks handsome in his ghoul robes. He shakes his head as we step by. Walker is basically my honorary brother, so I know what that that headshake means. Walker knew both Lincoln and me since we were kids. No one thought Lincoln and I would ever meet, let alone have a family. Now, Walker can’t believe we’re stepping by him with little Maxon in my arms.
Zeke and Cissy stand by the aisle. She’s crying all over her Senatorial robes. For his part, Zeke is almost completely recovered from having taken down three Razor Guards singlehandedly. The guy spent a week in the hospital after coming back from Earth. When I learned that, I decided to take back another chunk of mean things I said about him.
Next, we step by Octavia and Connor. Lincoln’s mother looks like the definition of “blissed out.” She’s spent the last three months recounting how Maxon’s every little motion means that he’s brilliant and/or a master warrior. “See how Maxon’s gnawing on his toe? Genius baby.” It’s sweet.
Meanwhile, Connor is keeping his blustering to a minimum. Of all the parents, Connor took it the hardest when we announced we were splitting our time between Antrum and Purgatory. For someone who seems really conflicted about my having a baby, he certainly has a lot of ideas on where the kid should be raised. Whatever. I’m not allowing him to ruin the day for me.
At the end of the aisle, there stand my mother and father. Mom looks Presidential in her purple skirt-suit. Dad positively gleams in his angelic armor, wings on display. Once I started into labor, Mom took a rush Pulpitum to Antrum. She recovered rather quickly from the “my daughter isn’t dead” thing and went right into supportive Mom mode. It was awesome.
Lincoln and I finish our walk down the aisle. Before us stands Verus, the Queen of the Angels, who will be officiating the ceremony. She hovers above us in her white gown with matching sandals; her wings beat a steady rhythm. We share a smile.
For the record, I’m glad Verus came today. It was her oracle powers that brought Lincoln and I together in the first place. I’m glad she’ll be officiating the ceremony. As we stand before her, the music goes silent for a moment, then the chorus launches into its big finale.
Find me somebody to love…
Find me somebody to love…
Find me somebody to love…
Somebody, somebody, somebody to love…
Anybody find me somebody to love!
As the crescendo hits, Lincoln and I lock gazes. All the love in world shines out in his mismatched eyes.
The song finishes, and the Chapel falls silent. Verus’s voice carries across the massive space. “Who brings forth this child to be named?”
Lincoln’s gaze stays locked with mine as he speaks. “The luckiest man in the after-realms.”
A blush crawls up my cheeks. Maxon gurgles happily in my arms. And in this moment, everything imperfect and glorious is mine, both in this world and the next.