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“The sin you committed in your former life was based on selfishness, and your desire to steal that which did not belong to you,” Samael said. “Even after you were given a chance to make things right, you struggled with your old set of values, unable to see past your own desires. But in your final moments, we witnessed a change in you so profound it caused you to sacrifice yourself—not to save Cora, a loved one whose life directly mattered to you, but to save a man you felt was worthy of the love you didn’t deserve. Without stopping to think, your instinctive reaction was to jump in front of that weapon to save Finley Walsh. Your reasons had nothing to do with your own desires or well-being. It was your heartfelt display of utter selflessness that turned the tide and helped alter the course of your destiny. Choosing to save Finn’s life was a powerful statement, Liam O’Connor, though you didn’t realize you were making it. What you did had no ulterior motive other than you truly wanted to save an honorable man who deserved more.”
Liam was shocked down to the core. “I didn’t expect—”
“Of course you didn’t,” Samael said. “That’s why it counted.”
“So, you’re saying just because I committed a selfless act of kindness in my last moments, I’ve changed fate? That’s all it took?” It seemed almost too easy. It was hard to believe that Agon had never witnessed this type of thing before in all the centuries—or however long—he’d been observing human nature. People grew and changed all the time. There was no way Liam was the only person who’d ever sacrificed themselves for someone else at the last moment.
“No, that’s not all. It definitely worked in your favor, but it takes much more than that to alter fate.” Samael glanced at Agon, and Liam could tell they were having a silent conversation. He wondered what could possibly have happened to shift the scales so much in his favor. Then Samael tilted his face up with a sigh. His wings stretched out, then folded shut in a decisive snap. “You had an advocate,” he finally admitted. “Someone who pleaded most convincingly to spare your life.”
“Who?” Liam asked helplessly. He could think of no one who cared enough to—
“Finley Walsh, of course,” Samael said.
Liam stared blankly at the two angels. “He fell over the railing...”
“And died? Yes. The tumble he took from the top of Providence Falls released his soul from his mortal body.”
“He didn’t deserve that,” Liam whispered, filled with remorse that he hadn’t been able to save him. “He was a much better man than I could ever hope to be.”
“Finley Walsh was indeed an exceptional human being. For this reason, he was given the rather surprising choice to move on toward his just reward, or to remain within our ranks and help us watch over humanity. He has certain personality traits that would make him ideal for such a role.”
“Knowing Finn, he agreed to help,” Liam said. There was no question in his mind. Even in the afterlife, Finn would jump at the chance to help others and see that justice was served. Liam was suddenly, fiercely proud of the man, and a little awestruck. He was grateful he’d had the chance to truly know Finn, even for a short while.
“You are correct,” Samael said. “He did agree to join our ranks. But when he stood before us in the Chamber of Judgment, he begged a favor in return. Something that we didn’t expect. When we told Finn how your and Cora’s destinies had been intertwined with his, and how you’d tried and failed to right the wrongs you committed in the past, Finn pleaded for your soul.Yours, Liam O’Connor.Quite phenomenal, really. It was his single request that ultimately saved you. Finn was steadfast and resolute in his conviction that you and Cora belonged together. He stood testament to your love for each other and swore allegiance to serve mankind to the best of his ability if we would grant you the life he’d never have.”
Grief punched Liam hard, even as an infinite well of gratitude began swelling from somewhere deep inside him. It filled up all the cold, empty places, rising so high it clogged his throat and made it difficult to speak. “I can’t believe he’d do that for me.”
Samael inclined his head. “As we said, Finley Walsh is an exceptional being.”
“Thank you,” Liam said in a choked whisper.
“Though your gratitude is noted, it wasn’t up to us. The ultimate decision came from much higher up. We’re just the messengers, after all. Even we don’t know the mysteries involved in reweaving a person’s destiny. But somehow, yours and Cora’s have been realigned. Your fate is now intertwined, and because Finn pleaded so convincingly, you’ll go on to carry out the original plan in his place.”
“The original plan,” Liam whispered. Then he remembered why it was so important. “What about the child they were supposed to have? The one who would someday help the world?”
“You needn’t worry about that,” Samael said with a wave of his hand. “She will come along in due time, and someday fulfill her role as expected.”
“She?”Liam’s eyes flew open wide, his thoughts spinning with the possibility of someday having a little girl with the woman of his dreams. He could just imagine a tiny whirlwind running around with golden ringlets and a gamine smile. Someone who looked just like her mother. He wanted that with Cora. A family. A future. He wanted it so much he practically shook with the knowledge that it was now a true possibility. “I don’t... I have no words...”
Agon reached out and patted Liam fondly on the head. His touch was like a lightning bolt of pure, unfiltered joy. It radiated outward, filling every corner of Liam’s soul until all he could feel were peace and happiness and an overwhelming sense that everything was right with the universe.
“I could live a thousand lifetimes and still never be able to thank you enough,” Liam managed.
“Thank goodness it will not come to that,” Samael exclaimed with an uncharacteristic chuckle. He and Agon began to shimmer and fade, both of them looking, for the very first time, like the benevolent, joyful messengers of light Liam had always imagined angels to be.
“Is this goodbye forever, then?” he said with sudden alarm, unwilling to let them go. He’d rather grown to like their strange presence in his life. What if he still needed their guidance? What if he messed up again? The sudden fear of failure gripped him in its steely teeth, and he trembled with the thought of ruining the beautiful life he’d been granted.
The angels paused, half-visible in the shimmering light.
“You will be just fine,” Agon said kindly.
“You don’t need us anymore,” Samael added. “You now have the destiny you always wanted. Go, and be happy.” They faded away in a shower of sparkling light until he sat alone in the empty room.
“I’ll miss you,” Liam whispered.
“Someday we’ll meet again.” Samael’s voice echoed from far away until it disappeared, replaced by the occasional beep of the machine beside his bed and the faint sounds of the medical professionals going about their business.
Liam clenched fistfuls of the thin cotton blanket, overcome with mixed emotions. Loss. Elation. Sadness. Gratitude. Before he could dwell on all the angels had revealed, Cora stepped into the room. In her smiling face, Liam glimpsed their future, and suddenly he knew everything would be okay.
