by S S Bazinet
Twenty-Five
ELISE WAS RELIEVED and happy when Peggy agreed to a little get together with Annabel, Carol and herself. She hadn’t seen Peggy since the poor woman’s breakdown. Elise knew her situation couldn’t compare, but still, she felt like she might be in the middle of a breakdown herself, the breakdown of her marriage. Maybe by being there for Peggy, she could forget her own troubles.
She looked at her friends as they sat around the kitchen table. Except for their conversation, the house was quiet. The men were at the park with the children and Freddie. Elise held out a plate of scones to Peggy. “I just got these from the bakery. I think they’re fresh.”
Peggy took a cranberry scone and put it on her plate. “Thanks, Elise.”
Peggy didn’t look her usual self, and her voice was too quiet. Elise had to be careful not to say anything that might upset her. Instead she steered the conversation in a neutral direction. “With Annabel here, it feels like old times,” she said with a smile.
Annabel chimed in. “I love being here. I’ve missed everyone.”
“And we’ve missed you,” Carol said.
Annabel smiled at Elise. “The last time I was here, we did a lot of celebrating. Your wedding was such a wonderful occasion.”
Elise had to bite her lip when she thought about that day. Standing next to Arel and taking her marriage vows was one of the happiest times of her life. Now, Arel might be headed for some psychiatrist’s couch or worse, a padded cell. “Thank you, Annabel. All of you made that day extra special.”
Peggy took a sip of tea and replaced her cup on its saucer. She gave Annabel a quick glance. “It was so kind of you and William to come here when I—” She stalled and stared down at her lap.
Annabel spoke up again. “I’m so sorry that you had such a frightful time.”
Peggy continued to keep her eyes averted. “I don’t know what happened to me.”
Elise tried to remain cheerful. “Thankfully, that’s all behind you.”
Peggy’s head jerked up. She stared back with wide, anxious eyes. “I hope with all my heart that it is behind me! Arel said—”
Everyone waited for Peggy to continue, but she looked like she wanted to cry. Elise spoke up. “Sometimes, Arel surprises me.” She rubbed her cheek. “I was taking a nap, and he rushed in like some maniac and started yelling at me, trying to wake me up. It was so strange.”
Peggy sucked in a heavy breath. “I think after what happened to me, he panics easily.”
Carol snickered at Peggy. “He’s always panicked easily, remember?”
Peggy smiled too. “That’s true, Elise. When we first got to know Arel, he was a nervous wreck.”
Annabel nibbled at her scone. “He really loves you, Elise. If anything happened to you, let’s just say it would probably do him in.”
Elise gave the table a couple of good raps. “Knock on wood, I’ll be around for a while.”
Peggy gave Elise a sideways peek. “Was there something that might have made Arel act like that?”
Elise sat back with her cup in hand. “Maybe I was talking in my sleep. In this dream I was having, I didn’t like this guy who was there. He was lurking in the shadows. If I wrote horror stories, he’d be perfect as the villain.”
“Did he try to hurt you?” Peggy asked.
Elise took a sip of tea. “Arel asked me the same thing, and I’ll tell you what I told him. Dream or no dream, I refuse to let some jerk take advantage of me again. In fact, in my dream, I remember telling this guy to take a hike in no uncertain terms.”
Peggy put a shaky hand to her scone and broke off a piece. “I guess I once felt that way, but after my recent descent into hell, I can’t seem to bounce back. It’s everything I can do to close my eyes at bedtime and try to sleep.”
Elise hesitated. “Gosh, I’m sorry, Peggy. I’m acting all tough, but I did leave out one detail. In my dream, the bad guy was behind some kind of barrier. So I was safe. He couldn’t actually get to me.”
Peggy stood up and stared back. “Be so grateful for that,” she announced in a breathless voice. In the next moment, she hurried from the room.
Carol got up and ran after her.
Elise looked at Annabel with flushed cheeks. “Poor Peggy, I don’t know what I said to get her so upset.”
Annabel sighed. “I’m so glad you’re alright. That your dream turned out so well.”
“But it was just a dream. Why was it important?”
“From what I understand, Peggy felt like her experience started in a dream, too. Only she couldn’t wake herself up once it pulled her in. After that, whatever happened, it must have nearly driven her crazy.”
* * * * *
Peggy ran into the bathroom and grabbed a couple of tissues. When she looked in the mirror, she saw Carol standing behind her. “Sorry,” she sniffled. “The tears can come so quickly. But at least this time, they’re tears of relief. Arel told me he was going to help, but I didn’t dare believe it could be true. But after hearing about Elise’s experience, I feel better about everything.”
Carol hugged her. “Good old Arel, he sure was there for Kevin and me.”
“He’s been through a lot himself. He deserves a break.”
Carol nodded. “That horrible Claire was bad news. When she threw him over, I was afraid he’d retreat into his shell again. But he surprised us all and hung in there.”
Peggy blew her nose and tossed the tissue in the wastebasket. “I guess that’s the answer. I have to hang in there too.”
* * * * *
Col paced back and forth in front of his bench. He was angry, angrier than ever. He couldn’t believe Arel’s woman, Elise. He’d given her a beautiful display of his scare tactics. Hate-filled, merciless black eyes, a face that was as vile as the devil’s backside, and an ample dose of projected cruelty should have been enough to send her scurrying for cover. But she’s stubbornly refused to give in to any of it. She’d gone so far as to start yelling at him and calling him names.
On the other hand, Col had to remind himself that he hadn’t really failed. The woman knew he couldn’t get to her. Arel’s energy wall was holding, and his pretty wife seemed to know it.
Still, it was a disappointment Col would not forget. If he ever got a chance to strike out, Elise would not go unpunished.
Twenty-Six
WHEN WILLIAM WAS asked to join Arel, Rolphe, Kevin and Tim on a park outing, he decided it was a good idea. He needed to get out of the house and into the brisk outdoors. He strolled the grounds and noted that Rolphe seemed to be enjoying himself. Rolphe was playing fetch with Freddie. They were in an enclosed area where the dogs could be off leash. On the other side of the park, in the playground area, Tim and Kevin were keeping an eye on their kids. Little Sara and young Ariel were bundled up in winter coats, hats and gloves. They were laughing as they made repeated trips up and down a slide.
William walked over to the bench where Arel was sitting off to himself. “Will you be bringing your own children here someday?” he asked as he sat down.
Arel acted as if he hadn’t heard William’s question. His attention seemed to be on Freddie’s movements. The small fluff of white went scurrying after every ball Rolphe threw.
William nudged Arel’s arm. “You’re very quiet.”
Arel glanced back with wistful eyes. “I was thinking about Elise. She did very well with her encounter with Col.”
“Of course she did. She didn’t have to worry about him, not with our shields in place.”
“Still, just his appearance would have frightened most people.”
“I suppose that’s true. Hopefully Elise is tougher than Peggy.”
“Peggy is having a very difficult time coming back to herself after what Col did to her.”
William gave Arel a sideways glance. “That’s what I want to talk about. Have you any ideas about how to take care of our little problem permanently?”
“Maybe. How about you?”
“Not really
. We’re dealing with a ghost, but not the normal type. This one knows exactly what he’s doing. And from what I can tell, he has no intention of stopping his campaign to snuff us out.”
Arel stuffed his hands in his pockets and nodded. “I agree.”
William didn’t like the way Arel said the two words. The tone was so quiet and yet as definitive as the judge’s gavel coming down on a block. “Do you want to share anything that you might have in mind?”
“I don’t think it would be helpful.”
“Look Arel, about our last talk, I’m sorry if I came off as a jerk. I do appreciate the times—”
“The couple of times I didn’t ruin your life,” Arel scoffed.
“Maybe we shouldn’t talk about it.”
“It’s alright, William. I understand why you feel like you do.”
William glanced skyward and watched some grey clouds moving in. “Regarding Col, whatever you’re considering, you don’t want to end up like I did.”
“I’ll remember that.”
William’s gaze drifted over to Freddie. The dog was quick. The last ball Rolphe threw never reached the ground. Freddie leapt into the air and caught it before it got very far. William’s mind was almost as quick when it latched on to a terrible thought. Even if Arel wouldn’t share what he had planned for Col, the end result came to William in a flash. Arel didn’t intend to return from his final battle with Col.
The idea was unthinkable. Even if William fantasized that he and Arel would part ways or that he hated Arel, those were just feelings and fantasies. They helped him to cope with all the hell he’d been through. But to think that Arel would leave the Earth was another matter.
William didn’t know how to process that kind of revelation. Arel gone? Forever? His mind spun round, trying to come up with something to say to Arel, to tell him he was being his usual idiot self, but it wasn’t true. Arel was keeping his promise. He was taking care of Col once and for all.
William stood up and moved away from the bench. “I’m going for a walk. I’ll see you back at the house.”
Arel called out before William got very far. “Will?”
William turned around. “Yes, what is it?”
“Try to forget all the blame. Forget about me and take care of yourself.”
William stiffened with instant rage. It was a blinding fury he couldn’t control that came out in a shriek. “You bastard! That’s what you want, isn’t it? I’m supposed to absolve you and let go of my blame. Don’t you realize that’s all I have left? You and my father took everything else!”
The wrath that spewed out was a force that hit fast and hard. It was accompanied by a terrible, physical torment. William grabbed his chest. The pain in his heart took his breath away. When he’d first noticed it, he figured the wound Col inflicted was still healing. But the pain was getting worse instead of better. He stood in front of Arel barely able to bear his weight, feeling as powerless as he had as a child.
Arel stood up and reached out to him. “Will, what’s going on? What are you talking about?”
William had the strength to bat Arel’s hand away. “Don’t touch me, you traitor!” he bellowed. When he heard himself, he was mortified. How could he lose control so completely? He tried to regroup, to hold in his feelings, but a hidden madness was still calling the shots. “You act like you care, but it’s a lie! You’ve always wanted a way out of this accursed world, now you’ve found it. And you’re leaving the rest of us behind to keep on suffering! You’re no better than Col!”
Arel’s face collapsed in confusion and hurt. “I can’t believe you’d compare me to that fiend. I’m doing the only thing I know to do.”
“Then do it!” William yelled with the little breath he had. He didn’t know where all the anger was coming from, why he was saying what he was saying. He only knew his chest felt like the palm of his hand. Both were sources of acute misery.
He staggered away from where Arel stood, hating what he couldn’t control, hating that he felt like a victim. He tried to rally, yet every time he took a breath, a searing pain in his chest resurrected itself, stealing the air and his ability to think clearly.
In the midst of his physical pain, a helpless feeling was gobbling him up. He’d failed with Col. Now, Arel was leaving the world, leaving him to battle angelic blood and a life he hadn’t wanted. That would have been fine if he had any strength left. But a growing weakness was claiming his body and robbing him of his staying power.
* * * * *
Arel felt like he was in a daze as he watched William walk off in a rage. Had William gone insane? Had the angelic blood and Arel’s many blunders finally pushed the man over the edge? William also seemed to be struggling physically. Arel wanted to help, but William’s actions were clearly warning him off.
Rolphe came hurrying over, carrying Freddie. “What happened? Why was William shouting like that?”
Arel fell back on the bench. He clasped his hands when he realized they were shaking. “I don’t know.”
“Did you say something that made him angry?”
As Rolphe questioned him, Arel could feel his own anger coming to the surface. He couldn’t escape William’s blame. Still, he knew better than go down the “guilt” road again, not with Col around. No matter what, he had to remain as calm as possible. He looked up at Rolphe with clenched teeth. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Rolphe held Freddie out to Arel, like a peace offering. The pup was licking the air as he struggled to get to Arel.
Arel took Freddie and held him close. He hadn’t been very fond of the dog at first. As a puppy, he’d had accidents on Arel’s wool rug and chewed his custom made slippers. But Arel’s feelings had changed. Freddie was a sweet innocent, a reminder of what was good in life. With a sigh, he began to pet Freddie’s soft fur.
Rolphe sat down next to him. “William is lost. He’s always thought of himself as a champion of what’s right in the world, but now, he doesn’t know how to be that person.”
Arel gave him a sideways glance. “Do you think he’s still suffering the effects of Col’s attack? Or is it more than that?”
Rolphe remained quiet. When he finally spoke, his voice was edged with sadness. “It’s more than that. When a warrior thinks he’s failed the ones he’s supposed to defend, he doesn’t know how to go forward.”
“So what’s going to happen to him?”
“You saw what I became, Arel. When I lost my family, I lost faith in everything. I became a self-pitying fool. Let’s pray William finds a better path.”
Twenty-Seven
AREL RETURNED HOME from the park and went directly to his bedroom. He was sure William was on the brink of a breakdown, and he needed to talk to Michael. When the angel joined him, they sat in the matching slipper chairs, the chairs that he and Elise sat in when he told her about his past.
“Michael, I think William is going off the deep end. He takes everything I do or say the wrong way. He’s always been the rational one, but now he seems to be caught up in something that’s driving him nuts.”
“Perhaps, before we talk about William, we should talk about your plans.”
Arel tried to remain patient, but William’s caustic statements still hurt. “My plans? I’m trying to keep a monster at bay, and William acts like I’m going to Disneyland for a vacation.”
“William has recently suffered a very traumatic incident. And you know that he doesn’t do well with handling his fears.”
“That’s why I needed to see you. Your perspective is so clear when I’m dealing with emotional baggage.”
“I’m always happy to help. That said, do you want to talk about what to do with Col.”
“What’s there to discuss? I don’t have any options.”
“Are you sure?”
“Michael, I tried your way, and it helped Will, but Col is still gunning for me and the people I love. I can shield them for a while, but I can’t do it forever.”
“So your mind is made u
p?”
“Yes, it is. I’ll join Col in the astral realms. I’ll stand guard and keep him under wraps forever if need be.”
“You’re not going to ever return to your body?”
Arel looked away. “I have to do this, Michael.”
“What about the people who love you? Even if William says otherwise, he does care deeply. And what about Elise and your friends?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve worked all that out. If my plan succeeds, no one will care that I’m gone. And as for William, maybe he’ll finally have a chance to come back to himself.” He smiled at Michael. “But I’ll miss you, my friend. Perhaps you can visit me occasionally.”
“Of course, I will.”
“In the meantime, I’m depending on you to watch over everyone once I leave. Will you do that for me?”
“Yes, but I wish you’d reconsider.”
“I wish it were otherwise, but I can’t do that.”
* * * * *
Rolphe bowed his head in prayer. When he communed with the Creator, he could forget his concerns. On occasion, he’d give himself so completely to a meditative state, he’d spontaneously slip out of his body. He’d visit realms that were beyond earth and its dense reality. Those experiences restored a sense of peace. And he needed that peace, especially now.
Being in Arel’s house was hard. The atmosphere had a highly charged air of stress and apprehension. William and Arel were even more worrying. Every time he was around their energies a hopeless feeling took hold.
Arel was intent on taking care of Col. Rolphe had gleaned what Arel had in mind, and he could only pray his friend didn’t go through with his plans. William was on a manic path that could end up with his destruction. All in all, Rolphe knew a bitter cauldron of events was brewing. If his predictions came true, people he cared about were headed for heartache and misery.
He didn’t want to think about the future. If he did, he’d start weeping. And that wouldn’t help anyone. He had to find another way to keep his friends from harm. In the meantime, he’d keep praying.
