He couldn't seem to shake the feeling that this would be the last time he'd ever see the place. And that made him sad. Paul shook his head in disgust. He wasn’t the type of man to allow his imagination to get the best of him and he certainly didn’t hallucinate. He obviously just needed some rest.
Yes, that must be it, he thought.
The sun dipped behind the trees as Paul scurried down the sidewalk. He wanted to get through the park before dark. Despite its gently rolling hills and lush welcoming trees that sheltered people during the day, Forest Park could be dangerous to cross at night.
St. Louis hadn't earned the reputation for being one of the highest murder capitals in the country for nothing. Paul hurried through the park as the shadows from the trees stretched across the grass. Bushes and plants that appeared inviting during the day took on a sinister bent as darkness descended.
Paul heard the flap of wings a second before a shadow glided over him. There were eagles in the area, but he'd never seen one in the city. Fear spiked at the same time as adrenaline kicked in. Despite his age and portly size, he began to sprint home.
He had no idea what he was running from, but his instincts told Paul that he was in real danger. Denial clawed within his mind. This couldn’t be happening. Not when he was so close to achieving his dream. He left the safety of the sidewalk and raced over the grass-covered hills, skirting the trees as he ran for the safety of his lab.
A gust of wind struck him as he neared the bottom of a hill, knocking Paul off his feet. He hit the ground with a thump, the air rushing from his lungs as he tumbled the rest of the way down. He wheezed and quickly rolled to his knees.
Paul had braced himself to rise when a pair of steel-toed black biker boots landed in front of him. He followed the boots up over jean-clad legs to a narrow torso.
Gloves covered the man’s hands, but left his corded forearms and thick biceps exposed. The stranger’s wide shoulders blocked out the waning sunlight, taking the warmth with it. When Paul reached the man’s face, he found himself captured by striking blue eyes, the same glowing eyes he'd seen in the pub earlier.
Paul cried out and fell back, crab walking to get away from the stranger. It was then that he spotted the black wings protruding from the man’s back. Paul froze, his gaze transfixed. He slowly blinked. When he opened his eyes, the wings were still there, black like a ravens, but shinier.
Exhilaration filled him. He wasn’t staring at a man. He was looking at an angel. A real, honest to goodness, angel. “I knew it.” Paul climbed to his feet. “I told them that you existed, but they didn’t believe me.” He marveled at the glistening wings. “You’re living proof that I was right.”
* * * * *
Ardan scowled at the bald, slightly overweight middle-aged man. “You do not seem frightened by my presence, human.” The beings that he’d encountered over the years had all begged and pleaded for their lives. This one’s behavior was most unusual.
Paul chuckled nervously. “Why should I be? You’re an angel. Everyone knows that angels are loving beings.”
Now that was funny. Ardan threw his head back and laughed at the man’s naivety, the sound rusty to his own ears. He slowly removed his gloves. One touch, and this human would cease to exist. “I believe it is you who are mistaken,” he said.
Paul’s smile faded and his bushy brow furrowed. “You’re not an angel? You look like one.” He tilted his head and stared at Ardan in confusion. “I realize the descriptions throughout the ages have been based on mythology, but—”
“Enough!” Ardan bellowed, interrupting his rambling, but only for a moment.
“Do you have a name?” Paul asked expectantly. “I know there are hierarchies, but you must have a name?”
"I do,” Ardan said. “But you can call me death." Ardan raised his right wing and swiftly slashed the man, cutting deep.
Paul Druthers screamed as razor sharp feathers sliced through his chest, straight to his heart. “Why?” he sputtered, choking on blood as he clutched his chest.
“It’s not for me to ask,” Ardan said. He should’ve touched him. Death would’ve been instant, less messy, less vocal.
The man fell over, his sad expression a mixture of horror and confusion as the life slowly seeped from his hazel eyes. His soul’s cry was quickly drowned out by the wail of sirens.
That was fast, Ardan thought as he looked around to ensure he had not been spotted. Not that it mattered. His time here was over.
He stared at Paul Druthers for a moment longer, before striding away. He glanced at his forearm and watched the man’s name slowly fade from his skin. The squall of the sirens grew louder. Soon the police and ambulance would be upon them. They'd find a heart-attack victim when they arrived.
Ardan launched himself into the sky and flew to a nearby copse of tall trees. He leapt to one of the higher branches, hugging the shadows near the thick trunk to watch the chaos unfold. There was no point in lingering, yet for some reason he did.
The EMT's arrived and lifted Paul Druthers onto a gurney to transport him to one of the nearby hospitals. It would do them no good. He was gone. Ardan had already heard the soul’s whisper. There was no returning once that occurred.
A quiet growl near his feet drew his attention away from the flashing lights. Ardan glanced down at a kitten precariously clinging to the tree branch. Its orange hair and tail stood on end as it hissed in displeasure. He carefully donned his gloves and plucked the kitten off the branch. Ardan held the feline up to his face.
“What are you doing up here?” he asked, staring into frightened eyes. It gave a silent meow. Ardan tucked the scared cat against his chest. It dug its sharp claws in deep. He winced and gently stroked its head until the spitting hisses stopped and loud purrs erupted. “That’s better.” He waited until the ambulance faded into the distance, then took to the sky as night settled over St. Louis.
Ardan found a worthy home, then placed the kitten on its doorstep. It yowled until a little girl opened the front door. Soft brown fingers quickly snatched the kitten up, then she ran inside, slamming the door behind her. Ardan heard her yelling, ‘Mommy, Mommy look what I found’ as he slowly ascended, leaving Earth and its problems behind.
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Jordan Summers Page 13
