Page 56 of Of Love and Treason
A beat of silence. Iris knew if she didn’t broach the subject now, she’d lose her nerve, or Pater would remove her.
“You prayed for me,” she blurted.
“I did.” Valentine’s tone encouraged her to continue. Pater stood still and quiet, although his grip on her arm loosened.
Valentine’s admission gave her boldness.
“It’s just.” She took another step. “Every time I met you and you promised to pray, my eyes were opened. And then you said it was your god and that he was calling me.” Iris took three steps toward his voice and dropped to her knees. “My pater and I have prayed to every god we could find, and none listened until you prayed. I’m begging you. Pray to your god again for me so I can see.” She stopped as snarls and screeches erupted from somewhere below.
Valentine still hadn’t spoken. The hope slipped from her, whirling like a drain at the top of her spine, slowly moving downward and gaining momentum with each second he didn’t speak. Her lips trembled.
“Icannot heal you.” Valentine’s voice was barely above a whisper. “But if He chooses, myGodcan.”
Her head lifted.
Valentine’s voice rose as he continued. “He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He was, and is, and will always be the One True God. TheonlyGod. He created everything that exists out of nothing. He spoke and the world came into being, breathed and the stars burst into flame. He called light into existence with a word. He is the All-Powerful One, the All-Knowing One. Creator. Rescuer. Healer.”
She could hardly breathe waiting for him to go on.
“I will pray for you, Iris.” He paused. “But know this: I am mere clay in the hands of an almighty God. It is in His name and by His design that you are healed. It has nothing to do with me.”
She nodded once. Was he protecting himself so he couldn’t beblamed if it didn’t work? She didn’t voice her thoughts. The chains clicked. She closed her eyes—as if it would make a difference.
“Do you believe Jesus Christ, the One True God, can heal you?”
She wouldn’t be here if she didn’t. “Yes.”
He took a deep breath. “Lord God, just as You restored the sight of the blind beggar and many others, restore Iris’s sight for the glory of Your name so that all who know her may see You and know You.”
That was it. One sentence. No strange incantations. No incense, no money, no blood. The prison dropped into silence broken only by the sound of Valentine’s breath. Of hers.
A tingling sensation prickled the top of her head with a warmth like oil running down through her hair. Goose bumps traveled up and down her body.
Iris opened her eyes.
Darkness.
She hadn’t realized the extent of her hope until it crumbled around her with that single blink.Please, God.Tears flooded her eyes. She blinked them away furiously, not wanting Valentine to see how deep the disappointment cut, how much she’d allowed herself to trust him and his God. As she blinked, a hazy golden spot appeared in the center of the darkness, slowly brightening like polished copper beneath a layer of dust.
Valentine didn’t make a sound. Her pater didn’t move. The whole prison seemed frozen and silent. The golden spot cleared into an inverted brownish-amber triangle, the lower half of the point darkened with stubble, and then there were eyes above. Eyes and nose and—she blinked once more and the fog lifted completely, revealing a man bathed in a flickering shaft of golden lantern light. He knelt, unshaven and filthy, arms raised toward the ceiling and held there with chains. His eyes were closed.
Iris fell back on her hands, her startled cry jerking Pater into motion. His knees cracked against the stone floor as he dropped beside her.
“Iris?” He cupped her face in his hands, peering hard into her eyes. Iris crumpled and swallowed the hot lump in her throat,managing only to nod as his brown eyes, creased with concern, searched hers.
“Pater, I can—I can see.” She reached up and touched his face. So dear, so nearly forgotten. His bristled gray eyebrows rose, and his face wrinkled with understanding as he crushed her to his chest, unable to speak. His shoulders shook, tears plunking into her hair. She stared at the lantern over his shoulder, the orange-and-yellow flame curling and twisting in the darkness. Such a tiny flame, yet so powerful and beautiful. She pulled away from Pater, gripping his hands as she turned back to Valentine.
He knelt, head bowed, black hair gleaming in the light. When he lifted his chin and met her gaze, his eyes shone with barely checked emotion.
“Praise be to God.” Valentine spoke through a shuddering exhale.
“Pater.” Iris couldn’t pull her gaze away from him. “This is Beatrix’s nephew. This is Valentine.”
“If you must insist.” Valentine’s lips twitched. “I prefer Valens or Val.”
“What magic is this?” Pater asked in awe, twisting to face Valentine.
“You can see.” Valentine spoke to Iris, looking as much in shock as they. She nodded, laughing as tears rolled hot down her face.
