Michael's Blood

by S S Bazinet

  As Arel’s icy chill was banished, he became aware of Michael’s heart. It was unspoiled and pure. Its steady beat seemed to broadcast that purity. Arel still couldn’t move, but inside, he was smiling. He knew about Michael’s tricks. The angel was showing Arel’s heart what to do. And Arel’s heart was a fast study after its trip to the other side. It responded joyfully, eager to learn from this master. With gratitude, it synced itself to the rhythm of the angel’s mighty vessel that knew only love.

  Once started, Arel’s heart did what it was designed to do. With strong, steady beats, blood started to flow from the center of his being, branching out to nourish and nurture every cell with the precious, red liquid.

  As he was gently laid back on the ground, Arel reached out to Michael’s eyes and held on. When he was able to manage movement again, he smiled. He tried to speak and coughed. With effort, he raised a finger and beckoned Michael close to him. Finally he was able to whisper. “You don’t have any more surprises waiting for me, do you?”

  Michael’s laughter was so filled with joy that for a moment he couldn’t contain himself. Beautiful, crystalline tears sparkled in his eyes. “Welcome back, my friend,” he cried out.

  * * * * *

  When Arel was able to sit up, he looked around at the garden. A surge of relief made his smile broaden into a grin. Everything was beautiful again. Cool, green islands of lawn caressed flower beds that were crowded with colorful blooms. The buzz of the attending honey bees added a quiet hum to the scene.

  “Thank you for never giving up on me,” he said softly. “And thank you for cleaning up my mess.”

  Michael shook his head. “I didn’t have anything to do with the garden. As you came back, your soul’s love was so powerful that you blessed everything with new life.”

  Arel blinked back with surprise. “Really? That wasn’t hard.” Then he remembered that he’d been dead only minutes before. “On second thought, maybe it was tougher than I think.”

  He blinked his eyes and enjoyed the ease of movement as he looked around. “It truly is a magnificent garden.” In front of him, the sun played hop scotch on the shiny surface of a small, nearby pond. A wren sat singing on a limb above them.

  Michael sighed. “That was a close one.”

  Arel’s brows narrowed with concern. “Are you saying that I almost didn’t find my way back?”

  “I think you know the details better than I do. I think you also understand things in a way that should help you from now on.”

  Arel paused and reflected on what he’d seen. “There were so many angels gathered in that dark square where we were burned. I realize that they tried to help us, but it was like we were so removed from feeling their presence. The fear and darkness blotted out all the light. Even the Divine seemed like a lost cause.”

  Michael smiled and laid his hand over Arel’s forehead, letting it rest there. “There’s more. Let me show you a little of what you missed.”

  Arel knew that he wasn’t afraid anymore. He shut his eyes, giving himself over to Michael’s energy and to life. In his stillness, he felt his heart beating. It was strong again. He took deep breaths of the garden air and rejoiced in the fragrance of the earth. He listened to a sound that went beyond human hearing and gave thanks for the heavens that were singing to him.

  As he relaxed into a state of total peace, a great panorama, a great window opened in his mind. It was bright with a blinding light, and he was standing in the middle of it. There was fire all around him, and yet as he stood in its midst, he remained unharmed.

  A crowd of jeering, angry people were staring at the bright flames and the persons burning, but he didn’t see the mob’s ugliness or feel the pain of burning flesh. He saw the multitude as they really were. They were lost, ignorant people who were afraid from the moment that they woke each morning until they went to bed, hungry and cold. Their pain was so great that they’d gone numb to all that was good and beautiful. All that they knew was a constant fight for survival.

  As Arel let their faces slip away, he realized that he wasn’t alone. He was a part of the angelic presence, adding his own light to the scene. He was offering his forgiveness, along with his love and understanding. For a brief time, he felt like he was in two worlds. The past and the present were both there for him to experience. He opened his eyes and looked at Michael through his tears. “I slipped so far from the light too. I’m so grateful that you’ve been here to help me find my way back.”

  Michael smiled. “You trusted me.”

  Arel was about to comment further when the vision begin to fade. It felt like a dream, and he was losing touch with what he’d understood. “What’s happening?” he asked in a panic. “Why am I forgetting what I just saw?”

  Michael gazed back knowingly. “You don’t have enough energy to hold on to it. After all, this is only the beginning of your new journey. Today you’re taking your first step. Someday, you’ll remember it all again.”

  “First step? That’s all I’ve taken? I died! That should be worth more than a first step!”

  Michael laughed and let out a contented sigh. “Your soul has come back from the darkness. That’s a huge accomplishment. Be proud of yourself, you’ve taken a leap towards enlightenment.”

  “Tell me that I don’t have to die again to get more enlightened.”

  “I truly hope not.”

  “You hope not?”

  “Stop worrying,” Michael said with a playful smile. “If you can simply trust and let the process work, everything will be fine.”

  “If you say so.” Arel knew he should be more illuminated after the miracles worked that day, but he began running the phrase, ‘I hope not’ thru his mind.

  Michael stood up and reached down to him. “Did you forget? We have a reception to go to.”

  The thought brought Arel back to the moment. “Oh hell, I did forget.” Standing up, he looked at his muddy clothes and his hands, all bloodied from the weed pulling fiasco. He held them up for inspection. “Why didn’t my hands get healed?”

  “Just a memento, in case you think what happened here was only a dream.”

  * * * * *

  Crystal chandeliers and golden-cherub, lighting fixtures decorated the ballroom. The elegant accents set the mood for the reception. When Arel and Michael arrived and noted their surroundings, they couldn’t help smiling. They were ready to celebrate Peggy and Tim’s wedding and Arel’s return to the land of the living.

  Peggy was the first to see them. Her happy face became even brighter as she grabbed Tim’s hand and ran over to greet them. “Where have you two been? Did you get lost?”

  Arel gave Michael a brief look of relief. “Yes, you might say that, but forget about us.” He smiled at the newlyweds. “Congratulations again to both of you.”

  “Thank you,” Tim said. He gave Arel a quick inspection as he extended his hand. “What happened to your tux?”

  Arel glanced down at his dark blue, pinstripe suit, then took Tim’s hand and shook it enthusiastically. “Sorry, but I had to change.”

  “And you’re all scratched up!” Peggy said with a frown. Reaching out, she snatched up his free hand and stared at the numerous red marks and half dozen band aids. “How did you hurt yourself?”

  Arel laughed. “Talk to Michael. He had a gardening emergency.”

  “Gardening emergency?” Peggy gave Michael her motherly look of disapproval.

  “Long story, long, long story,” Michael said as they all walked into the ballroom.

  Sixty-Six

  CAROL STOOD IN the living room, looking at Kevin. He was lying on the sofa. When he stretched out, he took up most of the couch. “You look comfy,” she said with a smile.

  Kevin roused himself and sat up. “I had a stressful day at the office, but now I’m here with you. That’s all that matters.” He sounded tired, but his tone changed as he studied her. “Come here,” he ordered playfully.

  Carol smiled back as she sat down. She snuggled close to Kevin,
enjoying his arms around her. “Do you know that you sometimes remind me of a life-size Charlie?”

  “Your old stuffed bear? I don’t consider myself vain, but I thought I looked better than that.”

  “Don’t let this go to your head, but you’re extremely handsome.”

  “That’s nice to know, but I’m also hungry,” he teased. He began nibbling at her neck with quick, little bites.

  Carol raised her shoulder defensively. “Stop it! You know that tickles.”

  Kevin pulled her closer. “I can’t help it, I can’t get enough of you.”

  “You better stop it. I know where you’re ticklish too!”

  Kevin pulled back. “Fine, let’s call a truce.”

  Carol sighed contentedly. “I never thought I could be so happy. These past couple of months have been amazing.”

  “That goes double for me. Why didn’t I find you sooner?”

  “I don’t know about the whys in life, but I do know that Arel would be pleased if he saw us.”

  Kevin ran his finger over the places he’d nibbled. “Who would have guessed that he’s a matchmaker at heart?”

  “Thank goodness he’s doing so much better.”

  “I know. One minute he’s as frail as a baby mouse, and now he’s asked me to help him with an exercise program.”

  “Do you believe him when he says that he experienced a miracle healing?”

  “What else could have happened? He’s not the same man. The last time I dropped in to see him, he was blasting out tunes on his CD player, burning incense, and trying to lift ten pound weights.” He paused. “The key word in that sentence is ‘trying.’ He’s still got a very long way to go as far as being in shape.”

  “He’s always been very sweet. That hasn’t changed,” Carol insisted.

  “Yeah, but it’s kind of nice that we don’t have to be his servants anymore.”

  Carol took a deep breath and studied Kevin's eyes. They were a little intense, but they also had a pleading quality about them. Arel had explained that, at times, Kevin didn’t know how to express his feelings. Maybe this was one of those times. “Was Arel really that bad?”

  Kevin shrugged off the question. “Hell, if I’d been in his shoes, I might have been worse.”

  Carol had defended Arel, but she wasn’t blind. She knew that he had been very demanding with Kevin. But Kevin never refused to do what was asked of him. “It’s nice that you feel that way.”

  Kevin’s eyes brightened.

  She took his hand and held it close. It made two of hers, but she squeezed it firmly. “You’re very sweet too,”

  Looking pleased, Kevin kissed her cheek again. “Can we sit here and be this happy forever?”

  * * * * *

  Fred and Grace sat together on Carol’s small, apartment patio. Both were enjoying the evening and the night sky. Fred noted that Grace looked especially happy. She was smiling serenely as she fluffed out her wings behind her. He was trying out a sparser pair of wings himself. He could feel the moon’s silvery rays bouncing off his feathery energy like iridescent rain drops. When they splattered on the floor, it became a palette of vivid, dancing sparkles.

  He glanced at Grace and grinned. “It’s nice to see that you’re back to your usual self. No more bat wings.”

  Grace’s eyes widened for a moment, but she ignored his remark. “I’m thinking about Carol and Kevin. They seem so in love.”

  “Yes, that’s true.”

  The two angels didn’t like to pry, but they had peeked in on the young couple while they were enjoying a movie.

  Grace continued. “My heart is literally leaping for joy. I’ve waited so long for Carol to find someone to adore her.”

  Fred sighed, but didn’t respond.

  Grace looked over with a frown. “You’re very quiet about it all.”

  “I’m sure that they can have an amazing relationship that lasts their whole life if they choose to. But you know that they’ve charted out some events—”

  “I know,” Grace interrupted, letting her wings sag.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m sorry. I’ve been observing humans for so long that at times I almost let myself indulge in some of their moods.”

  “I didn’t mean to upset you. And on the bright side, Michael seems very calm about it all.”

  “Of course he’s calm. His attitude is exemplary.”

  “Don’t be hard on yourself, even Michael has his moments.”

  “So true.” Grace brought her gaze in line with Fred’s. “You heard about the garden scene, didn’t you?”

  “Grace, you haven’t been listening to those rumors.”

  “No, my information comes straight from Abrigail.”

  Fred fluttered his wispy wings and closed them like he was snapping an umbrella shut. Tiny sparks of light flew in all directions as he came to attention. “That’s different. What did she tell you?”

  “If Michael hadn’t used all his devotion, his vigilance, and his speed, there wouldn’t be a certain former vampire with us today.”

  Fred glowed with admiration. “Thus his name, ‘Who is like God?’”

  “Amen,” Grace whispered. “He’s given all of us a great gift. What would happen to Carol, Kevin, Peggy and Tim without Arel being there to help them?”

  “Very true.”

  “There is a small concern.”

  “What is it?”

  “As you know, the events coming up will be physically exhausting for Arel. He’s working with his body, but have you seen his arms? I hope that he can get them in shape quickly.”

  Fred had seen Arel’s arms. They were about one half the size of Kevin’s. “He’ll be in my thoughts and prayers.”

  “Amen,” Grace intoned again. “I wish him the best.”

  Sixty-Seven

  IN THE EARLY morning sunlight, Arel’s face was flushed and glowering. “This pace is too much,” he protested as he dragged himself along the side street at a very slow jog. In the weeks following his amazing escape from death’s door, he’d been truly happy, swept up by revelation and rebirth. Now, he felt swept up by a much more down to earth regimen.

  “Stop complaining,” Kevin insisted.

  Arel glanced up at the tall man who was jogging next to him. “You have an attitude, and I don’t like it.”

  “You wanted to get in shape, didn’t you?”

  Arel’s pace slowed to a crawl. “I can’t do it. My body is ready to drop.”

  “Keep it moving!” Kevin yelled out for the umpteenth time. “You have to break through the pain barrier.”

  Arel’s legs were so rubbery that he knew they couldn’t go through a thick sheet of paper much less a pain barrier. “That’s it,” he gasped as he let momentum deposit him against a tree. “I’ve had it.”

  Kevin was still jogging in place beside him. “Look, you said you got a clean bill of health from your doctor, right?”

  Arel glared back. “Yes, what’s your point? You want to prove him wrong?”

  Kevin laughed. “You’ve been running for two blocks. I know you have more in you than that.”

  “How would you know what I have? Do you have x-ray vision? Look at me. Have some pity.”

  Kevin shrugged him off. “You’re not the first person I’ve coached, and I’ve coached people in worse shape than you.”

  Arel dropped down to the curb and spread out his legs in front of him. He found it hard to believe that his limbs looked okay. They felt like they belonged to a month old baby. “Are those people you coached still among the living?” he gasped.

  Kevin grabbed Arel’s arm and pulled him back into a standing position. “They're fine and so are you. If you can’t jog, we’ll walk.”

  Arel groaned back, but he tried to be compliant as he limped along. In spite of being a hard task master, Kevin’s heart was in the right place. After all, Arel had asked for the young man’s help. Now he needed to distract himself. Happily, he remembered a favorite subject that he wante
d to discuss. “How are you and Carol doing?”

  Kevin stopped short and stared back. His broad smile was an answer in itself. “We’re really happy. At least I know I am.”

  “Great, so elaborate a bit. Are you finding it easier to listen and respond in a way that makes Carol comfortable?”

  “It’s getting easier all the time. Like you said, women need to express their feelings, so I let her talk. I’m using the ‘I’m here to support you, not to try to fix your problems’ technique. It’s working.”

  Arel didn’t tell Kevin his secret, but he’d been reading everything he could find on relationships. Now one of his students was acknowledging that his advice was valid. Yet he was ever vigilant. It was part of his nature. He stared at Kevin with furrowed brows. “Don’t get over confident. Women are very sensitive.”

  As they went on chatting, and Kevin rambled on, Arel realized his legs were getting a rest. He’d have to remember to keep this ace in the hole available whenever Kevin tried to kill him in the future.

  The young man looked at Arel as if he’d read his mind. “Why are we standing here? You need to keep moving. And from now on, there will be no discussions. I promised to help you, and I’m going to keep that promise. Let’s start jogging.”

  Arel glared back as he walked lamely forward like a skinny dog following its master. “What did I do to deserve such a dedicated guy like you?”

  Kevin smiled. “I guess you’re just lucky. You’d have to pay a trainer a lot to get this kind of personal treatment.”

  “How much would I have to pay to have someone put me down? You’ve got a suffering animal here.”

  Kevin didn’t stop, but he did grab Arel’s shoulders and gave them an encouraging squeeze. “Man up, Arel. By the third week, I guarantee, you’re going to see some real muscle on those legs.”

  Sixty-Eight

  THE DIM INTERIOR of the pub was filled with lively conversations as Tim and Kevin sat on adjoining stools at the bar.