“Take my kerchief, child. A pretty girl like you shouldn’t be doing any crying.” A white handkerchief appeared in the shaky grip of a wrinkled hand.
She couldn’t tell if the speaker was male or female. The voice was two packs of cigarettes daily rough with a hint of whiskey accent. The shadows bathed the hand in darkness so all she could see were the wrinkles. She couldn’t even get a shape of the body out of the blackness. The handkerchief fluttered at her. She took it and dried her tears.
“I’m sorry for disrupting your prayer time,” she said.
“Don’t be sorry, child. The Lord and I have had many talks before you got here and we’ll have a bunch more after you leave. It’s good to see someone use this old church. It hurts to see God’s places forgotten.” The stranger was silent for a moment.
Teresa held out the scrap of linen. “Thank you for the handkerchief. I’d better be going.”
“Oh no, you stay seated, little child. I heard your sigh when you came on in here. There’s no better place to lighten a load than this. Lay your problems down at His feet, child and the world will be a brighter place.”
She hesitated.
“Do you believe in Him, child?” The voice was compelling.
“Yes, I do.” She was surprised at the conviction in her voice and soul.
“Then tell me your problems and He’ll listen in. Maybe between the two of us, we can help you.”
“I’m not sure where to begin.” Teresa wrapped the linen square around her fingers. “It’s all gotten complicated.”
“And dangerous.” The voice added. “Start with your man, child.”
She jerked in surprise. “How did you know it was a man?”
A husky chuckle dashed across the pews. “When a pretty child like you cries, there’s always a man involved. Tell me what the rat’s done.”
“He isn’t a rat.”
“Then why are you crying?”
“He says he loves me.” Tears welled again.
“Oh well, that would make me cry too. Is he mean?”
“No.”
“Does he hit you or say things to hurt you?”
“No.”
“Does he run around on you?”
“No.”
“Then you’re right not to want him, child. He sounds too perfect to be true.”
“He is perfect. That’s why I’m crying. A person as wonderful as he is can’t really be in love with me. I’ve seen him with another woman who would be just right for him.”
“And why not? There’s nothing wrong with you except maybe you cry too much.”
She laughed. Dominic always said she was a marshmallow inside. “He loves me, but I can’t help thinking that it’s just because I was there.”
“Ah, opportunity.”
She nodded.
“Do you really believe he slept with you because he was bored and you were available? Do you think he’s the type of man who would use you, then leave when someone better came along? Would he tell you he loved you just to get you in bed with him?”
She shrugged. “No, he’s not that type of person.”
“Why do you doubt his feelings?”
“We’ve been friends since I moved here. In fact he was the first person I met. We ran into each other at a coffee shop. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going and ran into him. He stood there, staring at me in shock with chicory coffee dripping down the front of his Cashmere coat. I was mortified.”
“That’s what the man gets for wearing cashmere in New Orleans. I still don’t see why he would sleep with you out of boredom. There are plenty of women he could sleep with without screwing up a wonderful friendship.”
“I know. He says he loves me, but I can’t bring myself to tell him I love him back.”
“It sounds like you’re doubting yourself. There shouldn’t be any doubt in your mind about his love. He’s risking more than you know by loving you.”
“You’re right. I am doubting my own love for him. I’ve wanted him since I first saw him. How do I know it’s not lust?”
“Lust and love are two sides of the same coin, but lust doesn’t make your day brighter by knowing he’s alive. Lust burns out fast, but love grows slowly. Think about all those moments you spent together. How you’ve laughed together and cried together. Imagine what your life would be without him. Do you doubt you love him?”
Teresa couldn’t imagine how empty and lonely her life would be without Dominic in it. She didn’t want to imagine it. She did love him and by admitting it to herself, she could finally say it to him.
Dominic stood in the doorway of the church. “Teresa, are you in there?”
“Yes, I’ll be right there.” She turned to the figure behind her. “Thank you so much for listening to me whine.”
“You’re welcome, child. Now go to your man and tell him you love him.”
Teresa jumped up and ran to where Dominic was standing. She threw herself into his arms and kissed him deeply. As the couple left the church, the stooped shadow straightened until it was standing tall. A glint of silver came from his eyes and a rustle of feathers was heard.
“Things are only going to get worse, Father. I wonder why we must test them like this.” His voice echoed in the empty church. A gust of warm wind caressed his cheek and he nodded.
* * * *
Later that night, Dominic and Teresa went to the home of the mambo Randy had told them about. Teresa felt goose bumps grow on her arms as the door opened to reveal a tiny black woman. It was hard to tell her age because her skin was smooth and unlined. She smiled at them and gestured for them to come in.
Dominic handed her some packages. “If you have anyone in need in your community, I hope these will help them.”
“Thank you, child. Gifts given with a good heart are always welcomed. Will you please sit down?” Before they settled in, the old woman asked Teresa if she would let the woman’s daughter know they would require some refreshments. They watched her head towards the kitchen. Once she was out of sight, the woman turned to Dominic and said, “My son is an oungan and he says that you might have trouble with a spirit possession.”
“Yes, I’m afraid that Vincent Delacourte has messed with spirits he shouldn’t have. When I’m close to him, I feel like there are two spirits inhabiting his body. His original one is weakening and should soon be dead. The other spirit is strong. Somehow it has become obsessed with Teresa. I’m not sure if it’s a spirit possession or if it’s just a split personality, but he’s going mad.”
“Just like all religions, Vodou can be twisted for personal use,” the old priestess told him. Her wrinkled hands clasped his tightly. “Your woman is in terrible trouble if an evil spirit has focused on her. If something isn’t done, not even one of God’s fallen can help her.”
He felt fear rush through him. He had never been so scared. There had never been anything he couldn’t fight. His power from being an Enforcer kept him from being vulnerable to mortal problems, but he had never dealt with mortal spirits and mortal magic. It was a different form that he wasn’t equipped to deal with.
“Vincent Delacourte is a dangerous man. He was ambitious before he meddled in secrets he should have stayed clear of. Now the spirit possessing him will kill to keep his body. His soul is struggling to break free, but he’s losing the fight.” The mambo stared at him. “Vodou isn’t the religion people look for when they come to New Orleans. It isn’t about zombies and curses. Even though we do have those components within it. Don’t turn your back on the true lesson in Vodou.”
“Which is?”
“There are spirits of our ancestors all around us. They can help us if we are respectful and ask them nicely. Everything in the world has a spirit. We must remember that.”
Dominic’s phone rang. He was reluctant to answer it. He knew their time with the mambo was limited. He could feel her spirit’s grip on the mortal world loosening. Teresa came into the room carrying a tray with cups and a coffee pot on it. Sh
e set it down in front of the woman and sat on the couch next to her.
“Answer your phone, angel. I need to talk to your woman.” The lady’s laugh was deep and full. Her dark eyes twinkled as she and Teresa watched Dominic move away. Grinning at her, the mambo said, “That man should be illegal. The thoughts he puts into a good woman’s mind just by breathing.”
Teresa couldn’t argue. She had often thought the same thing. Now that they were lovers, she knew he would be even more dangerous if women could see him naked.
“He’s a good man. You should never be afraid he’d leave you. You’re connected by your hearts.”
The old woman took Teresa’s hand and held it between hers. The mambo stared into her eyes. She felt the sensation of slipping behind a veil and it seemed as if the priestess was studying her soul.
“Delacourte hasn’t marked you yet. That is a good sign. You might be able to stay away from him and be safe.” The woman looked to where Dominic was standing. “Your man is special.”
“Yes, he is.”
“He’s more than just an extraordinary man, child. There’s something in his soul that makes him far more superior to mere mortals.” The priestess’ eyes widened in shock. “You know this.”
Teresa couldn’t speak, but she nodded. Though they had never talked about it, she had always understood there was a difference between Dominic and everyone else. It was a difference that had nothing to do with his good looks or his overwhelming wealth. She had tried to explain it to one of her friends, but couldn’t describe the timeless feel he gave her with each moment they spent together.
“He has lived forever, this fallen angel of yours. He has seen friends and lovers die while he continues to endure. It is a suffering brought on himself by inciting the wrath of God. Repenting did no good and his wings were taken from him.”
Teresa wasn’t surprised by the woman’s words. Maybe it was the trance like state she had fallen into along with the incense filling the room, but she wasn’t shocked to hear Dominic was a fallen angel.
“Time will tell if you truly believe me, but there’s something about you. You were meant for him. From the moment of your birth, God ordained that you and this angel should be lovers.”
She felt a twinge of recognition deep inside her from the woman’s words. Dominic came back into the room and the mambo let go of her hands. He eyed them with suspicion as if he thought they had been plotting against him.
“I’ll ask among my followers to see who might know Delacourte or what bòkò has been helping him. Don’t be arrogant enough to believe you can handle him, Dominic. Even you need help from time to time.”
“There isn’t anyone else to call.”
“When the time comes, help will be available. Remember love is strong enough to defeat the most powerful of evils and sometimes forgiveness must be earned.” She smiled at him.
Teresa saw him nod at the old woman. She looked back as they were leaving the house. The mambo was watching them with tears streaming down her face.
“Why is she crying?” she asked Dominic when they stopped by his car.
Shrugging, he opened the door for her. “Maybe it was the first time she has ever met an angel.”
Somehow she knew he wasn’t paying her a compliment. “Are you an angel?” She needed to hear it from him to confirm her beliefs.
Dominic turned to look at her. He rested his arm on the steering wheel and hesitated. “Do you really want me to answer that?”
“Yes, and I want you to tell me the truth, not what you think I want to hear.” She put her hand on his arm. “I’ve finally admitted to myself that I love you and there can’t be any more secrets between us.”
His blue eyes studied her. In them, she saw the usual arrogance, but for the first time, she saw an unrelenting sadness as well. She wondered if it had always been there.
He nodded. “All right. We’ll head to Paisible and I’ll try to explain my past to you. I just hope you can believe it.”
“Thank you.”
Driving to his house, Dominic couldn’t believe he was going to tell the woman he loved about his worst mistake. He wondered what Teresa and the mambo talked about while he was on the phone.
They were silent as he drove out to the plantation house. He wasn’t sure what he was going to say, but he knew it had to be done. Maybe she wouldn’t think he was crazy. He pulled up the driveway. Leading her up to the door, he stopped. The lights were on inside so the glass panes caught their attention.
“Look closely at the people kneeling on the mountain. Do any of them look familiar?”
She studied the people. The man closest to the angel looked remarkably like Dominic. She pointed to the figure. “That one looks like you.”
“The people in the leaded glass are William Bradford, Celeste Young and me. We are Enforcers, but more than that, we are all fallen angels. The archangel Mika’il is the one denying us entrance into Heaven.”
“He looks so sad.”
Dominic nodded. “I think he hurt as much as we did when we were thrown out. We were his brethren and even though we rebelled, he still loved us.”
“Aren’t fallen angels supposed to be evil?” She looked at him with a bit of suspicion in her eyes.
He opened the door for her and ushered her in. Dropping his keys and her purse on the table next to the door, he led her to the study where he waved her to the couch. He went to the side bar and poured a glass of whisky for himself.
“It’s complicated. There are two factions of fallen angels. On one side are the Enforcers. We are the fallen who repented and asked God’s forgiveness. On the other side are the unrepentant as Danielle calls them. They are the ones who will never ask God for forgiveness because they don’t think they’ve done anything wrong. They proudly followed Lucifer when he spoke of rebellion and being better than mortals.”
“Wait. Danielle is a fallen angel as well?”
“Yes. Only she’s one of the few fallen who aren’t one or the other. She isn’t an Enforcer or an unrepentant. She tries to live as normal a life as possible.” He shrugged. “I don’t know how she ended up coming into your store when you needed her. Maybe it was part of a plan God has for all of us.”
“So only the unrepentant are evil?”
“Yes, as an Enforcer, I’m charged with trying to keep them under control. When they reach a certain level of evil, they start killing and destroying mortals. At that time, an Enforcer steps in and takes them. In reality, we can’t kill them. I don’t have the power to punish them for their crimes. There are those Enforcers who are given a special power. They are called Avengers. My friend, William, is one. He takes the unrepentant’s immortality. He loops their memories, so that they will always remember the glory of what they once were. It tends to drive them crazy and they end their days in a mental institute.”
She flinched. “That seems rather harsh.”
“It might seem to you to be cruel, but I’ve seen what these fallen can do. I’ve seen the lives they destroy and I’m willing to be cruel to end their reign of terror.”
“Aren’t you afraid of Lucifer?”
Dominic shook his head. “Most of the time, Lucifer stays out of every day affairs. He’s too busy plotting the next rebellion where he’ll take over Heaven. He hasn’t quite grasped the concept of repentance. Also, he won’t lower himself to talk to any of us.”
“Why did you do it?” She curled up on the couch and stared at him.
He moved to the French doors and opened them. He let the humid air of the bayou drift into the room. “I’ve thought about it for centuries. I think the one thing all of the fallen have in common is a very huge ego. We have the arrogance to believe we know better than God. Crazy, isn’t it? That anyone—mortal or angel—knows better than God, the being that created the universe. The being that sees the beginning and the end of time. We rebelled. What we thought we would do when we took over Heaven, I don’t know. We were thrown out of Heaven and found out how unprepared for mo
rtal life we were. Some of us fell to our knees and begged forgiveness from our Father. Imagine our surprise when God didn’t give us forgiveness. Instead He sent Mika’il to take our wings and brand us.”
“The cross shaped brand on your chest and the scars on your shoulders.”
“The brand marks me as an Enforcer. The scars are where my wings used to be. I still feel them at times. The way they used to hang from my back. I remember the way it felt to be able to fly. The sheer glory of moving through the sky.” A tear made its way down his cheek.
She stood up and went to him. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she leaned her forehead against his back. He sighed and covered her hands with his.
“Why haven’t you run out of the house screaming yet? Is it possible you really believe me?” His voice was wondering.
“The mambo told me. Even if she hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been surprised. I’ve known you were different from the moment I met you. There was this otherworldly feel about you. I always had the feeling that you lived far longer than I’ve been alive. There’s no madness in you, my love. There’s only pain and loneliness. I hope I can help with both of those.”
He turned and pulled her tight to him. Burying his face in her hair, he breathed deep. A sense of contentment filled them both. He cupped her cheeks in his trembling hands and dropped gentle kisses all over her face. She smiled as he brushed his lips over hers. Sweeping her into his arms, he carried her to his bedroom.
He switched the lights on as they walked in. She was glad the first time they made love it had been in the dark. The angels carved in the ebony headboard were not the cute winged creatures depicted in art. These angels were tall and beautiful, but there was desperation and a fierce anger on their faces.
She shivered slightly. “How can you sleep with them looking down on you all night?”
He laughed. “I’m used to them. I used to be one of them.”
“Why are they depicted like that?”
“We looked like that right before we fell.” He shrugged. “I don’t remember much about what things looked like before the Fall. I thought I would have this done to help me keep at least one memory alive.”
Fallen: Dominic Page 7
