Hallelujah

Feathers (Epilogue)

Epilogue

She woke to the sounds of birds chirping and water moving over stone. A waterfall. To the smells of clean forest dirt. Her blurry vision cleared, making green light into leaves and sunlight peaking through them. She blinked back to clarity, rising up on her elbows.

She was on the jetty near her cabin. Overlooking the grotto where she swam. Near her left hand, a cardinal flitted, chirping curiously. Jude groaned, rising onto her palms. Looking down, she found herself in her favored white sundress and flats, feathers in her lap and on her legs. "What..." she murmured softly.

Downy white feathers swirled around her head. She saw one light on a golden curl and blew at it. Had it all been a dream? Surely not. Tears threatened. Briarcliff? Timothy? Shachath? "Eunice?" She whimpered.

"What?"

"What?" Her head whipped to the voice. "Oh!" She startled at the face near hers. "Eu- Eunice?"

"Whaaaat?" Eunice repeated. Her smile was bright. So beautiful. Golden hair coifed neatly beneath a feathered white fascinator.

"What are you doing here?" The little sister helped her rise. "Oh my God!" Jude's hand covered her mouth when she saw Mary in full. "Oh, Eunice!" Jude's tears spilled and Eunice smiled even wider.

"Do you like them?" She fluffed the voluminous white wings proudly. "I'm still getting used to them."

"Eunice..." It was all Jude could manage. Hesitantly, her fingertips stroked the edges of the silken wings. "They're beautiful. Oh, Eunice!" She pulled the girl into her arms, wings folding over her elbows and then around her. She was enfolded in purity. There could be no doubt. Aside from the pristine wings, Eunice wore a flared white skirt and pin-neat blouse, striped satin. Her white kitten heels seemed out of place in this forest. "You're an angel!" Jude breathed, captivated.

The angel just snickered. "I know! Isn't that crazy?"

"No." Jude drew back, tracing Eunice's features. "No. No surprise at all. You were always my angel."

"Oh, Sister." Eunice let her forehead fall against Jude's.

"What happened?" Jude asked, suddenly remembering. "Where is everyone?"

"Everyone is where they should be." Eunice reassured. Her wings fluffed more down as she retracted them, folding them neatly behind her back. She took Jude's hand, swinging it as she led her older sister away from the jetty. "Frank is with his wife. Happily showing her all the things he's learned to cook. Or...well...burn. And Shelley is in Paris. Probably lodged in between at least two handsome sailors. Pepper is with her freakshow family and Elsa, throwing knives at somebody probably. And Arden..."

"Arden?" Jude stopped them, seeing her cabin coming into view. "We defeated Arden? You took him?"

"I didn't take him, no." Eunice shook her head. "The shadows took him. Where he belongs." She winked, pointed down at the ground. "You know..."

"Yes, I know." Jude took a deep breath. "I was afraid it had all been some strange dream."

"That would have been a shitty dream."

"Eunice!"

"Angels can say whatever we want." She laughed, tugging them again toward the cabin. "You did a great job, Jude. You brought us all together. You led us to a victory. I wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for you."

"We did it together." Jude reminded gently. She smiled. "But we damn well did it!" They laughed, hugging past the awkwardness of Eunice's giant wings.

But Jude stopped at the steps of her cabin, watching Eunice climb without her. The angel turned midway to the deck, noticing her companion malingered. "Sister?"

Jude bit her lip, stalling. "Eunice..."

"Hm?"

"What about...um...what about Timothy?" Her eyes watered, threatening to spill again.

"Timothy?" Eunice blinked. "Oh! Him."

Jude rolled her eyes. "Yes, him."

"Me." The word in her ear in his voice and his hands on her waist and his arms wrapping her from behind.

"Oh!" She whirled in his embrace, wrapping him tightly in her own. "Timothy!" And again the tears spilled freely. "God, I was so scared I wouldn't see you again."

"You promised me." He reminded her, nuzzling her shoulder. He pulled away enough to kiss her. "It would seem that you are my peace, Jude." He glanced at her cabin, gestured about them. "And this is a paradise. Are you willing to share it with me?"

Jude clutched his grey oxford, trying to control her tears of happiness. "I can't fucking imagine being without you."

"Eternity is a long time." He offered.

"I think we earned it."

They turned at a little sniffle. Eunice had sat on the steps. She wiped tears from her cheeks with a wing corner. "You two..." she murmured.

"What happens now, Eunice?" Jude asked. Keeping Timothy close, she climbed to Eunice. "What now?"

Eunice shrugged. "I'm going to be...wandering for a while. I'm learning still. And I have a good teacher."

"Schachath?" Jude asked, nonplused.

Mary chuckled. "Exactly."

"Well, she clearly taught ya how to dress." Jude sobered. "Will I see you again, Eunice?"

"Oh, no doubt." She stood, dusting off her skirt. "We might have more work for you. Both of you."

"We're retired." Jude snapped.

Eunice chuckled. "Timothy?"

"Yes?"

"Take care of her."

"We shall care for each other." He assured, wrapping Jude again.

"I know you will." Eunice took their hands, bowing her head. The couple followed suit. When they felt the hands slip away, they raised their heads. The angel was gone.

"I know a real angel," Timothy said, wonder in his voice.

Jude laughed. "I always knew that girl would turn out alright." She kissed him. Kissed him again. "I'm yar peace, huh?"

"Indeed." He kissed her this time.

"Mmm." She broke away, tugging him up the steps. "Wanna get a piece?"

Grinning, he followed her. "Jude. I fear you've spent far too much time with Shelley..."

Eagerly, they climbed the stairs together to Jude's porch. Their porch. Into their shared peace. Downy white feathers fluttered in their wake.