by S S Bazinet
Rolphe’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel. “I have to go back,” he mumbled aloud. “There’s another way. I know there is.”
At the first opportunity, he turned the Mustang around and drove back to the rental unit. His mind was already reaching out to Arel, scanning the ethers, trying to find out if the man was alright. A big “Hell, no!” was his answer.
He parked the car, jumped out and ran to the condo. He pounded on the door with both fists. No answer. He tried the knob. The door was unlocked, and he let himself in. His panic was growing as he searched the condo. When he found Arel in the back bedroom, he had a brief moment of relief. It didn’t last. The man’s chest was barely rising as he struggled to breathe.
Rushing over and inspecting Arel’s energy field, Rolphe was shaken to the core. “Oh my dear Creator, all of his shields are down,” he gasped. “And his heart! What happened to his great, loving heart? It’s not functioning properly!”
When he tuned in a little deeper, he was even more appalled. Col had invaded Arel’s mind. Rolphe bellowed out his horror. “No, I won’t let Col torment you again, Arel! He already took your life once, but he won’t succeed with his evil ways this time.”
In that moment, Rolphe’s great love for his children and for Arel merged. The feeling was so expansive he felt his heart release what he’d been holding back through years of blame and doubt. A brilliant light flooded the space and instantly dispersed Col’s energy. It became a radiant shield, transforming the entire room into a safety zone, a place where not even an evil syllable could be spoken.
It took a couple of minutes for Arel to recover from Col’s attack, but when he did, he seemed disoriented. He stared up helplessly at Rolphe who stood hovering over him. Rolphe returned an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry, Arel, but this is for your own good.”
Rolphe took careful aim, trying to gauge what he was going to do. When he was satisfied with the angle of his raised arm, he slammed a fist into Arel’s jaw. Arel was rendered unconscious by the blow.
Rolphe stepped back and smiled with satisfaction. He’d come up with his own plan, and he sent out a message to Col. “You don’t want Arel. You want me, that boy you called your son in another life. I’ll be joining you soon.”
* * * * *
Col was deciding on Arel’s fate and how to make the horrors he had planned last as long as possible. But his reveries were rudely interrupted. In fact, the word, interrupted, couldn’t possibly express the magnitude of what occurred. Rolphe was the source of an incredible display of power.
Rolphe was turning out to be a major disappointment. For months, Col had carefully inserted one suggestion after another in the man’s thoughts. He’d carried out a marvelous, malevolent campaign to convince Rolphe that Arel and William had no room for him in their lives. But did Rolphe listen? No, he started praying.
Col dismissed Rolphe’s prayers as a custom the man had been taught and would eventually put aside. Col figured he simply needed more time to convince Rolphe to switch sides. Perhaps that was where he’d gone wrong. He hadn’t been prepared for Rolphe to come to Arel’s rescue. He hadn’t been ready for the explosion of light that came from Rolphe’s heart.
The damnable blast had thrown Col to the ground and nearly blinded him permanently. He was on the spirit side of things, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be affected by such a powerful burst of energy, not when he was trying to maintain a body that resembled something akin to a physical vessel.
Col had to recover quickly. He had to remain calm in spite of the fact that he was groping around feebly where he lay, trying to cope with his impaired eye sight. He might have succeeded in regaining some control, but Rolphe called out to him before he had time to collect himself. Rolphe was taking Arel’s place.
The man’s announcement had so much power behind it that his words thundered in Col’s ears and nearly deafened him. But it wasn’t the volume of Rolphe’s words that sent a chill through Col, it was Rolphe’s tone. His message was delivered in no uncertain terms. Unlike, Arel or William, Rolphe had no fear of what Col could do.
Col braced himself. Rolphe was planning on joining him, and that wasn’t a good thing for Col, not in his present condition. He could barely see or hear, and the blast from Rolphe’s light show had him smoking around the edges. He had to get a grip on the darkness that had served him for so long. He had to find a way to use it on Rolphe by unnerving the obstinate man.
Col spit out his frustration. “Son or no son, if he doesn’t behave, he’ll have to be thrown into the fires too.”
Thirty-One
AFTER ROLPHE MADE his announcement to Col, he paused. It took a moment to regroup after such a large expenditure of energy. His body buzzed with the aftereffects. But he felt like he was working on behalf of his Creator. And when he had that connection, there was an endless supply of energy. He bowed his head in gratitude. “Thank you, oh Divine One, for being there for me and for those I love. Help me now to do what I have to do.”
He looked down at Arel who lay unconscious on the bed. The man’s jaw looked bruised and swollen, but Rolphe knew hitting Arel was the only way to get him out of the picture. He allowed himself a moment of closure. “Goodbye, old friend. We haven’t always agreed, but that doesn’t matter now. All that matters is that you and William get on with your lives. Love your beautiful wives with all your heart. Have babies and raise them joyfully. Nurture them into adulthood. I lost my precious family, but I’m praying that yours will always be there to enjoy.”
Rolphe did a mental check of what needed to be done next. He thought about his phone and took it out of his pocket. He’d leave it behind so Arel was able to contact William when he woke up. He gave the room a final quick glance. It was time for him to leave, but when he turned to the door, Michael was standing there.
Rolphe smiled. “Thank you for coming, Blessed One. I’m going to need your help.”
A strategy was forming in Rolphe’s mind. He’d seen a motel on the drive to the condo. He’d check in there and essentially follow the plan Arel had in mind.
* * * * *
After Rolphe and Michael took a cab to a nearby motel, Rolphe paid for a room. Once he’d inspected his new accommodations, he was satisfied. It was adequate for what he needed. He looked at Michael with a confident smile. “Oh Blessed One, I’ve wanted to find a way to help Arel and William, and I think I’ve found it.”
Michael stared back with thoughtful eyes. “Would you like to talk about your plans?”
“Arel is right about Col. He’s a malicious type. He’s not going to stop hurting people unless someone steps in and makes him rethink his ways.”
“And you believe you’re that person?”
“I’ve often doubted myself, but perhaps I’m the man for the job.”
Rolphe sat down on the floor in a meditation pose he’d recently started to use. Putting his hands together, he looked up at Michael for guidance. “Oh Blessed One, I don’t want to make any mistakes with Col that might endanger Arel or William. Will you tell me what to say and do when I seek him out?”
Michael smiled back. “Trust what’s in your heart, Rolphe, and the words and actions will come naturally.”
“My fondest wish is to find a way to turn this situation around. I was once lost too, and because of Arel’s perseverance, I finally found my way back to the light. What if Col can be redeemed too, do you think that’s possible?”
“You can’t make someone turn to the light. Each soul is free to choose.”
“I understand. So if Col remains committed to his evil ways, I’ll have to be just as committed to remain and keep watch.”
“You have a beautiful life you’ll be forfeiting, Rolphe.”
Rolphe smiled broadly. “When I found Arel surrounded by darkness and my heart flew open, I experienced a joy beyond any I’d known before. When I allowed the light to flow forth from my being, and it drove back Col’s darkness, I knew at once that my heart and I had finally found
true purpose.”
“Then trust those feelings. Hold on to them if you feel the darkness coming near. They’ll become a shield more powerful than any you’ve known before.”
Rolphe nodded again, said some prayers, and lay back on the carpet. He’d seen Col’s dark soul in action, but he wasn’t afraid. He let himself relax. After a few minutes, his astral body slipped easily from its physical moorings. It only took a brief space of time for him to leave the earth plane and travel to that space where Col resided.
* * * * *
Standing in the park setting, Col was recovering his hearing and vision when a man appeared next to him. He recognized Rolphe. He’d been observing the man for a long time. But in the space they now occupied, Rolphe surprised Col. He even laughed. “My goodness, you have grown up to be a big boy, haven’t you?”
Rolphe stood immobile, looking down at Col with steely, unblinking eyes, not uttering a word.
Col laughed again. “Well, don’t just stand there. Give your daddy a hug.”
Rolphe ignored Col and walked over to the park bench. He sat down, crossed his arms and continued to stare at Col.
Col needed to determine what he was dealing with. What did Rolphe plan to do? Would he be like Arel and show off his power? Would he try to convince Col to change his ways? What was the imposing man up to?
Col walked over to the bench and decided to play around a bit with his newest guest. He reached out to nudge Rolphe’s arm and got another surprise. His hand bounced off some invisible barrier surrounding Rolphe.
Col backed away at once, realizing he’d been too relaxed in his approach. But that wasn’t his fault. Rolphe’s energy signature had tricked him into being careless. In spite of Rolphe’s massive appearance, Rolphe still retained a familiar soul essence, a sweet, loving vibration Col remembered. That same essence had been present in the boy Col had once called his son.
Col’s brows furrowed as soon as he remembered how beautiful that child had been. The sunny-faced, little boy always greeted Col with a smile. When Col came home from working in the fields, he could barely put one foot in front of the other. His son would run over to him and latch on to his failing body. In that special moment, Col’s lungs would expand a bit, and he’d have the strength to take a deeper breath.
But Col couldn’t hold on to his beautiful child. Now, he couldn’t touch the man who called himself Rolphe. It was infuriating and made him approach Rolphe again. This time the smile and laughter were gone. Col’s bitterness spewed out.
“I worked from morning to night trying to feed your hungry mouth. And now, how do you repay me? You sit there, looking all high and mighty, when you should be thanking me for what I did. Don’t you realize that?”
Col waited for an answer, but Rolphe simply stared back at him, still unmoving and mute. Col leaned in as close as he could and waved his finger in Rolphe’s face. “Are you listening to me? It wasn’t my fault you died. It was Arel’s fault! The guy you’re protecting is the one responsible for your death!”
Col felt himself getting flustered and paused. Why was he letting Rolphe’s presence bother him? He needed to remain calm and in control. He forced himself to smile at Rolphe. “You can deny it all you want, but I’m telling you the truth. Arel deserved what he got. He was a murderer who needed to be burned.”
This time his statement affected Rolphe. He remained very still on the park bench, but his gaze intensified when he targeted Col’s eyes. “That’s not what I remember, Col,” he said. “We’re definitely going to have to talk about what really happened.”
Rolphe’s announcement was delivered in a quiet, restrained tone, but Col knew it contained a warning, a warning he didn’t want to think about.
Thirty-Two
WILLIAM WOKE UP and looked at the clock. Six in the morning. How could he have slept for so long? The last thing he remembered was talking to Rolphe. He’d been so tired and his chest was a constant torment. When his legs gave way, he toppled over, but he didn’t remember what happened after that. He took a deep breath and noted the ease in his chest. Another mystery. Why was the pain gone?
“William? Are you awake?” Annabel asked in a drowsy voice.
The former angel lay beside him, looking as beautiful as ever. Her sleepy, emerald eyes stared at him with concern. “Annabel, yesterday, I think I said some very harsh things. I’m sorry.”
“You must have been very ill. Rolphe said Arel had to remove some of Col’s energy from your heart. Do you feel better now?”
“Yes, much better.”
“That’s a relief.”
William took a moment to think about this latest development in the Col situation. “I’ll have to thank Arel for saving me a second time. I think it’s becoming a full time job for him.”
Annabel stretched out her lithe body and sighed. “I had a very strange dream about Arel. I dreamed he tried to snuff out my feelings for him. I know it was just a dream, but it left me feeling very sad. Do you think he’d ever try to really do that?”
William frowned. “I don’t know, but now that I think about it, I had a similar dream.” He thought about his talk with Arel in the park. “Did you feel like Arel was leaving us behind?”
Annabel sat up and propped herself against the headboard. “Yes, that’s exactly it. In the dream, Arel told me he needed to sever our ties. I tried to argue with him, but he wouldn’t listen. He just smiled at me and told me not to worry about it.”
William threw the covers back and got out of bed. “That idiot always thinks he knows what’s best. I better go talk to him.”
“You don’t think our dreams have any truth in them, do you?”
“With Arel, who knows,” William said as he put on his robe. As he headed out of the room, there was a loud knock on the door to the stairs. When he opened it, Elise stood waiting. Her face was flush and her eyes were wide with panic. “Elise, what’s wrong?”
Annabel came running over to join them. “Elise, you look like you’ve been crying again. What’s going on?”
Elise thrust out a piece of paper. “Arel’s gone. He’s abandoned me without a word. I found a note on his pillow!”
William read the note aloud. “Elise, I’m not the man for you. I’m sorry. Please get on with your life. Arel.”
“I had this awful dream that Arel wanted me to forget him! What kind of thing is that?” Elise bit her lip, but it didn’t stop her tears. “I love him. Even if he’s crazy, I don’t care. Doesn’t he know that?”
Annabel put an arm around Elise’s shoulders. “What about Michael? Did you talk to him?”
Elise swiped at her eyes. “I think he’s gone too.”
“Did you talk to Rolphe?” William asked.
“The door to his room was open, but he’s not here either.” Elise grabbed William’s hand. “Please, we have to find Arel.”
William was encouraged. If Michael and Rolphe were missing, maybe they were with Arel. No matter, his first job was to calm Elise, even if that meant lying. “Try not to get too worried. Arel probably had an episode, but that doesn’t mean he’s in any trouble. Isn’t that right, Annabel?”
Annabel hesitated and then nodded. “Yes, that’s right. I can truly say he’s given us a scare or two in the past.”
“An episode?” Elise asked.
William gave Elise his most understanding look. He felt for the woman. He couldn’t imagine being married to Arel, especially now with Arel leaving ridiculous notes. “Elise, listen to me. Like Rolphe told you, Arel’s been ill. He might have had a relapse. So let me get dressed and start looking for him. In the meantime, Annabel can make you some tea.”
Even as he was telling Elise something she wanted to hear, William was already trying to figure out how to approach Arel’s disappearance. He was also remembering his dream and the words Arel had spoken to him. “Celebrate, Will, you’re going to be free of me forever.”
* * * * *
After William promised Elise he’d take care of the “Ar
el is missing” problem, he dressed and then phoned Rolphe. Rolphe, the constant eavesdropper and watchdog, could be depended on when it came to information concerning Arel’s latest escapades. Unfortunately, after his call went unanswered, William realized Rolphe was definitely missing too.
William’s next stop was Arel’s laptop. The man had become very attached to the online world. He often did business on his computer. William checked Arel’s email. It might hold some clue to his whereabouts. The inbox, sent box and trash were empty. Arel could be as sly as a fox.
The thought took William back to his early days with Arel. After they became friends, Arel’s eyes weren’t always fierce. At times, they could morph when he got very agitated. They became the eyes of an animal, an animal caught in some hunter’s steel trap.
When William came across those poor creatures as a boy, their pain invaded his body. He didn’t know how to protect himself from their suffering, and he usually got sick. By the time William met Arel, he’d managed to shut down most of those pain sensors. Still, he couldn’t escape Arel’s misery entirely.
Arel’s plight stirred William’s slumbering compassion, and he tried to help. But slowly, as time passed, William watched Arel’s life force slip away. He tried arguing with his new friend, giving Arel little jabs, hoping to get him to fight back. It worked for a while, but eventually the pain of Arel’s broken life was too much.
When Arel was close to suicide, William made the ultimate sacrifice. Even if it meant losing Arel, his only friend, he didn’t think he had a choice. After all that he’d lost in childhood, he couldn’t allow another beautiful creature to be snatched from his world. So he passed on his vampire blood to Arel. In his eyes, it was a gift, a way of giving Arel an extended life span and a chance to find his freedom.
Arel didn’t agree with William’s decision. He was beyond furious when he realized his plight. He believed William had cursed him forever. At the time, neither of them knew that they were actually dealing with a virus. It probably wouldn’t have mattered. Arel felt betrayed.
