Crossroads (42 page)
He was always worried about what she
would think when he did things that weren’t normal by human
standards. As he reminisced about the things she said to him, he
chuckled lightly to himself. She was everything to him. To him, she
was his guardian angel. With these thoughts in mind, he faced her,
memorizing her face one more time, as his back made contact with
the wall.
“
Te Amo,” he said in
Latin. He slowly opened up his wings and disappeared. Out in the
crisp, cool air, the beating of his wings was too soft for human
ears to hear. He flew upward and then disappeared before he could
blink. The light was his guide as he traveled through a tunnel of
different hues. Soon after, the light faded and he stepped onto the
dirt road where he had first seen Claudia. But this time he was on
the other side. He was about to enter, crossing over to Halo City,
when Davin stepped out.
“
Hey,” Davin
said.
Michael returned the greeting with a
smile.
“
You okay?” Davin
asked.
“
I don’t know. But don’t
worry, I can figure it out myself,” Michael grumbled as he kicked a
pebble far into the clearing.
“
Let me help you,
Michael,” Davin said sincerely.
“
No! I mean…” His tone of
voice was softer. “I can’t ask you to lie for me.”
Davin started laughing lightly. “What
do you think we’ve been doing? We’re keeping your secret a
secret.”
Michael nodded, realizing what he had
allowed his friends to do, and it broke his heart. “I’m sorry,”
Michael apologized, unable to look Davin in the eye.
“
No need to apologize.
Don’t feel bad, Michael, you would have done the same for me if the
roles were reversed. Anyway, she’s quite adorable…funny…nice.”
Davin’s brows arched thinking of other words to say.
Suddenly Caleb and Vivian stepped
out.
“
Were you eavesdropping?”
Michael asked.
“
Yeah, something I learned
from Davin,” Caleb teased.
“
Hey! Sometimes I do,”
Davin said with a sly smile. “Not all the time.”
“
Did you clean up the
lights and the candles for me?” Michael asked Caleb.
“
Yes, but seriously, you
needed all those lights and candles?”
Michael chuckled. “Sorry, but yes. It
wouldn’t have had the same effect without them. Anyway, thank you
for taking care of it for me.”
“
Anytime. They don’t call
me the sweeper for nothing,” Caleb said lightly.
“
Claudia, is she okay?”
Vivian asked changing the subject.
“
Yes. Safe for now, but
I’m afraid there may be more fallen, demons, and who knows what
after her,” Michael replied.
“
What are you going to say
at the meeting?” Vivian asked. “If I tell them the truth, I may
never see her again. She would be safe, and our world would be
safe, but who is to say there aren’t any more like her?” Michael
said, torn and confused.
“
Whatever you decide, we
will be on your side,” Davin reassured him.
“
I know, but I’m asking
too much from all of you,” Michael replied.
“
Don’t worry about us,”
Caleb said, surprising Michael with his words.
“
I appreciate your
honesty. We better get going,” Michael said hesitantly, not wanting
to cross over to Halo City. He was torn between what he wanted and
the right thing for a guardian angel to do. Could he give up
Claudia? It was the right thing to do, but he would feel like he
had betrayed her. In the end, he had to do what was best for
her.
“
After you,” Davin said to
Michael, waiting for him to open the field and cross
over.
As Michael parted the field, they
walked through one after the other. Before closing the field,
Michael took one last look to where Claudia had stood the last time
he had seen her there all grown up. He never expected her to ever
cross over, nor did he expect to fall so completely in love with
her. He couldn’t help the way he felt. It was so natural and easy
because of the way she made him feel, the way she made him laugh,
the way his heart felt full when she was around. His thoughts were
quickly interrupted by the sound of his name.
“
Right behind you,”
Michael said. “Let’s get this over with,” he muttered under his
breath.
Michael, Davin, Vivian, and Caleb
entered the meeting room. Phillip, Margaret, and Agnes were already
seated along with the two other alkin officers, Ruth and Paul.
After they exchanged greetings, they found their seats at the round
table. It was silent until Phillip spoke.
“
Michael, why don’t you
start by debriefing us about Aden’s death? And then we will ask
questions if needed.”
“
Yes,” Michael said,
clearing his throat. His words had to be precise and clear, to the
point. He couldn’t lead Phillip to think he might not be telling
the truth, for Claudia’s sake or for his own. “To make a long story
short, Aden thought Claudia had the soul of the Holy
Spirit.”
There was a hushed commotion among
them, until Margaret cleared her throat and spoke. “That cannot be.
All of Isaiah’s descendants are with the Royal Council. We do not
make mistakes,” she said proudly.
Michael continued. “I think Aden was
so caught up with revenge that after Claudia entered our world, he
thought she had the soul of the Holy Spirit. He first sent Julia,
and since Julia couldn’t help him, he gathered the fallen. Not only
that, he killed Lucy Reed, one of the Earth angels. So we had no
choice but to take his life when he tried to take ours.”
“
It must have been
difficult for you,” Margaret consoled. “Even though he was lost in
his ways, you did care for him a great deal once.”
“
Yes, but I had to do it
to keep us safe. I only feel bad that I had to kill our own,
someone who was once my superior,” Michael replied.
“
Then Claudia is safe?”
Phillip asked.
“
For now. But I’m afraid
that the other fallen or the demons may be after her,” Michael said
carefully.
“
Demons?” Phillip raised
his voice. “What do you mean?”
“
Somehow the demons
escaped by Aden’s doing. We were not successful at eliminating all
of them. I don’t know how he got them out,” Michael said, thinking
of Alexa Rose. He couldn’t let her take this fall. He could blame
it on Aden. “I’m afraid that there may be fallen and demons seeking
revenge for Aden’s death. She may still be in grave
danger.”
“
Maybe you’re right,”
Phillip said. “But what puzzles me is what possessed Aden to think
that she had the soul of the Holy Spirit, besides her crossing
over? He must have other explanations. Do we need to investigate
this further? Do I need to bring this up with the Royal
Council?”
“
I think revenge was all
that was on Aden’s mind,” Michael answered.
“
I see,” Phillip said.
“Let me know if you need more assistance. If you are outnumbered by
too many fallen and demons, you need to let us know. We may have to
take matters into our own hands. When this is all over, we need to
erase Claudia’s memory of all this so she may go back to her normal
life.”
“
Yes,” Michael said.
Whether or not he would follow Phillip’s order, the decision would
be made when the time came.
“
Is there anything else
you need to tell me?” Phillip asked.
“
No,” Michael replied.
“I’ve told you everything I know.”
“
Very well. This meeting
is adjourned. We are sad to see one of our brothers leave our world
without a soul. It will be as if he never existed, but you had to
do what was in the best interest for all. I know how hard it must
have been for all of you. Be safe. Hopefully this will be the end
of it.”
They all stood up. As soon as they
left, Davin grinned hugely. “Glad that was short.”
Michael felt relieved beyond words.
The tension in his muscles relaxed, and his heart beat steadily
now. He knew this was the right thing to do. He felt it in every
part of him. But he had withheld information, and for this, guilt
set in. The Royal Council didn’t know, so he too, would pretend he
didn’t know that Claudia had the soul of the Holy
Spirit.
“
Do you think Phillip was
convinced?” Davin asked Michael.
“
I hope so,” Michael
replied, hoping he had said enough to satisfy Phillip and the
others.
“
Speaking of unprotected,
Claudia doesn’t have any powers,” Davin reminded them. “Are you
sure she has the soul of the Holy Spirit?”
“
Yes,” Michael said. “I
saw her birthmark, and Gamma wouldn’t have protected her the way
she did if she wasn’t sure.”
“
But she can’t do
anything,” Caleb said quickly.
Michael shot him a “don’t say anything
negative about her” look.
“
I meant, she doesn’t have
any powers like us.”
“
I don’t know. We’ll have
to wait and see. Her powers will come when she is ready. Don’t
discuss this with her. She’s gone through enough. She doesn’t need
to worry about not having powers.”
“
When do we get to see
Claudia?” Vivian asked.
“
She needs some time to
grieve. She needs some time to be with her mom, her friends, and to
leave all this behind her. We’ll give her some space for now. I’ll
let you know when the time is right,” Michael said. “I need to
check up on Alexa Rose.”
“
As you wish,” Davin said.
“We’ll go with you.”
They headed out the door side by side.
Their friendship was not just bonded by who they were, but also by
having the need to protect Claudia. In their eyes, Claudia was just
human because she had no powers to defend herself. Until her powers
emerged, whatever they might be, she was still vulnerable. She was
also a friend they had grown fond of. After all, they could relate;
she was half human and half angel.
Peeks to the next
book
I closed my eyes and took in deep
breaths. It was so peaceful just doing nothing and relaxing in the
tub. All I wanted to do was think of nothing. Suddenly. .
.
I reached my right hand for it,
catching it before it fell. I felt a tingling sensation on my hand
that I had never felt before . . .
He wrapped his muscular arms around
me. I smiled, thinking it was Michael. “It’s okay. It’s me,” he
said quickly. It wasn’t Michael. It was . . .
“
But before I go,” he
said, cupping my cheeks, “One to remember me by, until we meet
again.” His lips were warm and soft. They molded perfectly with
mine. I could tell he wanted more. His kisses ran down my neck. As
he tugged my nightgown, he slowly . . .
Mary Ting resides in
Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys
oil painting and making jewelry. Writing Crossroads was a way to
grieve the death of her beloved grandmother. It was inspired by a
dream she once had as a young girl.
Visit her website
www.marytingcrossroads.com