A flash of light blinded him, and a rush of heat flooded his skin, burning torture that ripped through his limbs, torso, and face. A sensation of melting collapsed his legs, and he dropped to his knees. All he could see was his fiery hand clutching Hannah’s and her pleading, pain-struck eyes. As flames leaped all around, he pulled her close, and they melded into a single human torch.
Timothy stepped out of the shaft of light and toppled over, gasping for breath as he scratched the ground with both hands. “Hannah!” he wailed. “Oh, my darling Hannah! Why couldn’t I stop those murderers?” Weep, a gentle voice whispered in his mind. Cry out to your heavenly Father, and he will soothe your soul.
Timothy sobbed, clutching dirt. He threw it to the side and clutched more handfuls. “I failed you! I couldn’t keep you or Ashley safe!”
A hand rested on each of his shoulders, one a strong grasp and the other a light touch.
“He has lost his Eve?” a tender voice asked.
“No doubt Hannah was as dear to his heart as Dragon was to yours.”
“Who is Ashley?”
“A daughter, perhaps. … Yes, that would make sense, if he is here to fulfill the prophecy.”
Timothy spread out his palms and pushed away from the ground. The two hands helped him sit upright. Angel stood and, after unzipping her jacket, mopped his brow and cheeks with the tail of her shirt.
He sniffed and cleared his throat. His voice cracked with every word. “I apologize … for my outburst.”
Angel knelt again at his side. “No need for apologies. Your love is a beautiful gift to behold. I know your passion and loss all too well.”
“The tunnel of light,” Abraham explained, “enflames the passions of your heart. Since you grieve, your laments have become cries that make the angels in Heaven weep. If you feel love, then it becomes so overwhelming, even the shadow people are beautiful in your sight, and those you already loved are the greatest treasures in all Eden.”
Timothy nodded. “I know what you mean. My heart hurts so much, I just want to die.” He took Angel’s hand and pulled her close, then put an arm around Abraham. “But my love for both of you is so strong, I want to stay here forever.”
Abraham patted him on the chest. “It seems that our heavenly Father has brought you here to live a new life, perhaps better than the one you had before, much like the children who sojourn here.”
Angel nuzzled his arm. “We have each risen from the dead. Though the longing for your Eve may never pass, I will do my best to ease your pain.”
Abraham reached over Timothy’s shoulder and gently caressed Angel’s cheek. “While emotions are running rampant, there is danger in making hasty decisions.” He rose and extended a hand to each of them. “Let us finish what we have come to do, and we will discuss your potential union tomorrow.”
“As you wish, Father.” Angel bowed her head and edged away from Timothy, smiling.
“What is left here to do?” Timothy asked.
Abraham tapped a finger on his head. “Do you think that your memories are fully restored?”
“It’s hard to know for certain.” Timothy laid a hand on his head. “My memories are so many, it might take time to sort them all out and piece them back together.”
“If you are the prophetic stranger who weeps, then it appears that you have two daughters, one who is rebellious and one who is lost in some sense, a wanderer.”
Timothy angled his head upward. “My memory of my daughter Ashley is clear. If she and her grandfather escaped the slayers, she might still be alive.”
Abraham’s brow arched. “Slayers, you say?”
“Dragon slayers. They were trying to kill Hannah and me, because we were once dragons.”
Angel gasped but quickly stifled it.
Abraham stroked his chin. “Go on, Timothy. This is very interesting. What was your dragon name?”
“Makaidos. My mate’s name was Thigocia, before she became Hannah.”
“Makaidos and Thigocia?” Angel repeated. “You were named after stars?”
Abraham raised his finger, silencing her. She folded her hands in front of her waist and lowered her head.
“Stars?” Timothy glanced back and forth between Abraham and Angel. “What does she mean?”
“I will explain at another time. Did you have any dragon daughters who might be part of the prophecy?”
“My firstborn daughter, Roxil, was rebellious, but she was killed by the same slayers centuries ago. Before I died, I heard that Hartanna, another dragon daughter of mine, was still