Deciding to take a different approach, Charlie mentally righted a chair that had been overturned when he first barged in. “Please, let’s sit an’ have some tea,” he suggested, producing a pot of warm brew on the coffee table, along with cups to pour it into. “Would you like sugar?” he asked, adding a bowl of the white crystals to the setting.
Her mouth hanging open, the woman only stared at the offering; she appeared petrified.
The man, however, stared at Charlie, the truth coming into focus as the light in his eyes grew. “I’m one of you, aren’t I,” his whispered. “How could I not have known? My whole life, how could this be a secret, even from me?”
“You were under a spell of some kind; we broke the magic, but now we have to figure out what to do next,” Charlie replied, taking a seat on the couch and serving himself a cup.
“Get out,” the woman stated sharply. Stamping her foot, she shouted, “Get out of my house and don’t come back!”
His jaw dropping, Charlie felt lost for a moment, unsure what to do. “I only came to talk -”
“GET OUT!” Karen screamed. “Get out! Get out! Get out!” her arms flailed as she thrashed about.
Afraid she might injure herself, Charlie decided to do as she had asked. Grabbing the man by the arm, he said firmly, “We will work this out. Talk to her. Together, you can get through this,” he promised, then he opened the front door and walked calmly down the steps.
Without Malice
Stomping down the deserted street, Charlie could feel the anger roiling inside him. Longing for comfort, he transported himself to the beach in Miami. Finding himself alone on the long stretch of sand, he flopped down and wept.
What he cried for, he couldn’t say. His wife and daughter were safe, and he would do everything in his power to keep it that way. Karma wasn’t nearly as strong as he had once thought she was, or perhaps it was he who had changed. Either way, he felt certain he could take her if it came down to it.
Hearing laughter, Charlie looked down the line of the water. Hurriedly wiping away his tears, he got to his feet and marched towards a group of boys, five in number, who seemed out of place in the deserted setting.
Seeing that they appeared to be about thirteen or fourteen years of age, he slowed his place. Wishing to observe them, he hung back, listening to their laughter. As he watched, he noted that one of the young men bore the aura he had come to associate with his kind. He had scarcely formed the question in his mind, wondering if the others were aware that their comrade was different, when one of them suggested they go for a swim.
Reluctantly agreeing, the Angel among them cringed for a moment at the feel of the cool water, but the urging of the others bolstered his nerve and he moved into the deeper water with them. Charlie watched all of this as the group seemingly ignored him, as if he still stood in his magical plane, outside the world of the living.
After a few minutes of thrashing about and playing in the waist-high waves, one of the human males seized the Angel about the neck and dunked him. He came up sputtering, and Charlie could feel a tightness in his chest he couldn’t explain. Taking small steps, he inched towards the water’s edge, and it lapped at his feet.
Before him, the game had changed, and the boys dunked one another repeatedly, until the rules seemed to shift and the four humans set upon the Angel in unison. At first, they dunked him in turns, until one of them finally held him under, refusing to let him catch his breath.
“What are you doing!” Charlie shouted, running a few steps towards them, the water up to his thighs.
Freezing, the guilty faces turned to stare at him, with one of the boys keeping the downing Angel’s face just below the surface. Charlie could see the terror in the wide-open eyes, observing, “You’re killing him! Get off o’ him!”
“So what?” one of the other boys moved forward, shoving Charlie as if to knock him off balance. “He isn’t like us. He’s a freak. Now beat it, or we’ll drown you, too!”
Pure rage coursed through his veins. “The hell you will,” Charlie shot back, knocking the four humans further out into the water with a blast of energy, forcing the one to release his prey. Grabbing the Angel by the upper arm, he lifted him from below the surface and tossed him up to the shallows.
Crossing the distance instantly, Charlie knelt beside him, holding the boy up as he coughed and puked. “Jesus Christ,” he muttered, looking up to see the others had swum further up the beach to exit the water and were coming around from the land side. Rising, he stood between them and their victim.
Forming a single row, they stood on the dry sand, dripping and considering what they would do next. “You’re outnumbered,” one of them announced loudly. “Why don’t you get out of way and let us finish him?”
“Not a chance,” Charlie shook his head. “I’m not scared o’ you punks; get out of here before someone gets hurt.”
“That’s gonna be you,” another boy replied, taking a step towards him. “You’re one of them aren’t you; a freak, like him,” he indicated the Angel with a toss of his head.
“I’m one of them,” Charlie nodded, “but not like him.” Raising his hand, showing them his palm, he swirled the sand into a small cyclone, whirling it around them and pelting them with the tiny grains.
Calling out, the boys covered their faces with their arms and hands. Dancing for a moment, they appeared too stunned to run. Halting his attack, Charlie allowed the dust to settle, commanding, “Get off the beach; go home where you belong before I really get upset.”
Taking off in pairs, the four split in two different directions. Watching them for a moment, Charlie could hear his comrade still sputtering and fighting to clear his lungs. “We should get you to the hospital,” he announced sinking down beside him to inspect the damage.
“He’ll be fine,” Keeper called from the shore, “Thanks to you.”
“Well, look who’s here,” Charlie stood up straight, dragging the boy with him. Getting up on dry land, he allowed him to sit. “I figured you would have taken your people and run,” he sneered.
“Not yet,” Keeper informed him tersely. “There’s one more thing I need to do.” Raising his hand, he hit Charlie in the chest, producing a flash of light when he made contact.
Knocked off his feet, the younger man fell back, landing on the soft earth with a small thud. Fighting for a brief moment, he tried to get up, but couldn’t seem to move; then a powerful darkness overtook him, closing his eyes and leaving him unconscious.
When Charlie came to, he was alone on the stretch of sand. His chest ached, and the sun hung low in the sky. “What the hell,” he grumbled, getting up and staggering a few steps. Rubbing his ribs, he felt like they had gone nine rounds, but all he could recall was the single blow.
Dropping his head back, he searched. Not locating Keeper, he wasn’t surprised. He hadn’t been able to, even once, in all the times he had tried. “Maybe he took his people an’ left,” he mumbled to himself. “Good riddance.”
Staring at the water’s edge, he remembered the young Angel the group of humans had tried to drown. “I wonder if they came back while I was out an’ finished?” His mind turning, he recalled how the boy had been defenseless against them. “Weeks and months should a new angel practice to perfect his craft,” Father’s voice spoke in his head. “I remember that!” Charlie said aloud in surprise.
They’re all defenseless! They have no idea how to handle themselves, and they don’t have anyone to teach them, he lamented to himself. Deciding there would be no way to tell what became of the outed Angel, he ran his fingers through his hair. He stared out over the water in the approaching darkness, considering what he had seen before Keeper’s appearance. His stomach rumbled, and he realized he’d hardly eaten anything before leaving Purgatory, and that was hours ago. Transporting, he arrived in the atrium an instant later.
“Charlie!” Clarisse squealed, leaping to her feet to greet him. “Oh, sweet Destiny, you’re hurt!”
“I�
��m fine,” he pushed her hands away, then pulled her into a strong embrace. “It was a long day,” he informed her quietly, observing the group over her shoulder as he did so.
Seated around the tables once more, apparently dinner had been served. Releasing his wife, he ambled towards them, observing every seat was taken. “Apparently your house isn’t big enough,” he teased.
“You can have my spot,” Phil informed him. “I’m ready to get home to my wife anyways. She’s probably worried sick about me by now. Who wouldn’t mind giving me a lift?” he asked, glancing around at the others.
“You don’ need a lift anymore,” Charlie grinned. “You need to branch out; use your powers as they were intended,” he stated calmly, claiming the vacated seat next to Karma and filling his plate. The gathering oddly quiet, everyone stared at him, with his disheveled appearance and odd behavior.
“Come on,” he sputtered, “don’ let me interrupt. Finish your meal,” he sang, turning his fork in the air in a winding motion to encourage them.
“We’ve been discussing what we should do next,” Karma informed him. “I have placed Bethany under my protection, in her home, in case you were worried about her.”
“I wasn’ worried,” Charlie hoisted a bottle of wine and put the mouth to his lips, chugging a few swallows. “My wife an’ kid,” he used his fork again, waving it to indicate them, noting that Destiny held his daughter. “That’s who I was worried about.” Taking a few bites, he chewed noisily, then asked, “Who else have you been protecting?”
“A few people,” Karma shifted anxiously.
“Not the Light Angels,” he countered, noting the shocked expression that flittered across her features. “Oh, sorry,” he mocked, “I thought that would include all the ones who were crossed over. Keeper didn’ take them; but you already knew that.”
“What are you talking about, Charlie,” Destiny demanded sharply.
“I’m talking about all the males who had made the last crossing. Young; old. Keeper took their children, but not them. He wanted the pure souls. Those who might have known anything, he left behind,” he informed them, continuing to eat.
Inhaling deeply, Destiny seemed to be grasping the magnitude of their task. “We have to help them,” she stated firmly. “They are not within my ranks, but they are our kind.”
“The Dark Angels are your kind, too,” he pushed, taking another swig of the beverage.
“Charlie, why are you actin’ this way?” John cut in. “You seem… disgruntled.”
“Disgruntled,” the younger man shouted, laughing out loud. “Disgruntled,” he repeated more quietly, almost to himself. “Yeah, dad; I’m disgruntled. I’m plain fucking pissed.”
“Charlie!” Clarisse said in dismay. “What has gotten into you?”
“They don’ know what to do,” Charlie waved the utensil around above his head. “I visited several places. The humans are terrified of the Angels. They’re attacking them; killing them!”
“I find that unlikely,” Karma surmised.
“Go pull up your screens if you wanna see,” he instructed her, then curled his tongue. “But you don’ wanna see. You wanna hang out here, in your comfy little oasis, an’ hide. Give them a few days to thin their numbers. Then go pick through what’s left and set yourself up as queen.”
A blow landed across his cheek, Karma’s eyes smoldering. “That’s enough, Charlie.”
Rocking his jaw, he only chuckled, glaring at her daughter, seated across from him, with his daughter in her lap. Staring at the child for a moment, his only thought was for her safety. Raising his hand, a bright flash of light collected the infant, and she disappeared. Catching it when it flew towards him, he could feel the hard, tiny gemstone pressed against his palm as Clarisse screamed. Looking down the table at his bride, Charlie could see the tears on her face.
“Where is she,” the girl cried. “What have you done with my baby?”
“She’s safe,” he smiled crookedly, holding up the bright blue stone between a thumb and finger. Seeing the hurt in her eyes, he released the baby, placing her in her mother’s arms. Sobbing, Clarisse kissed the tiny head and glared at him.
“How did you do that?” Karma gasped.
“Come on, Karma,” he chortled, “you’ve seen that trick before.”
“Too many times,” she seethed.
“I don’t like where this is going,” Destiny stammered. “Mother, I thought you had this under control!”
“Control,” Charlie sneered. “Like the set up you all enjoyed for a few thousand years?”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” Destiny flushed. “We were very kind to the humans. We saw to their needs. They flourished under our care!”
“Don’t give me that! Your little magical plane wasn’ to protect the humans at all,” Charlie accused. “It was so you could hide, an’ carry out your plans. But Keeper is gone, and your kingdom is in ruins. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”
“Charlie!” Clarisse gasped as Destiny stared at her plate, unable to respond. Coming to her aid, Karma interjected, “Things were very complicated back then.”
“No,” he shot back, “they weren’t complicated at all! You came across a species that you could use t’ fix your little problem, an’ you took advantage of them. An’ to make it worse, you lied t’ cover up what you did!” he slammed a fist down on the table. “So now we’re here tryin’ t’ clean up your mess!”
“Charlie, please,” Karma replied in a weak voice. “You know, I really don’t want to punish you.”
“Punish me?” he coughed, rising slowly. “I’m not the same scared kid I was when I came here. You wanna go, let’s take it outside. No sense tearing up the furniture.”
“Don’t be silly,” she laughed. “We can replace the furniture with the snap.” She cut her eyes over at him, her smile fading. “People are not so easy to come by.”
“Yeah, it only took you about five thousand years to figure that out,” he growled, leaning across the table towards her. “So, this is what we’re gonna do. I’m in charge, from here on. You do what I say, an’ maybe we’ll all get out of this alive.”
“Come on man,” Dante stood as well. “Don’t be so dramatic. You can’t tell Karma what to do in her own house. And the rest of us aren’t going to follow you!”
“Well then,” Charlie sneered, “Good luck with the humans.”
In an instant, Charlie, Clarisse and the baby all disappeared, leaving the rest of the group staring at each other in surprise.
Shine of a Diamond
Sitting under a shade at the water’s edge, Clarisse bounced gently in her chair, rocking her infant. Watching the waves roll onto the shore, she sighed.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Charlie said quietly, appearing on the other side of the table that made up base of the umbrella above them.
“Hello, love,” she greeted him with a small smile. “I was thinking of you.”
“Still worried about me going out there?” he indicated the expanse of water. “I told you, no one can get through our barrier now. You guys’re perfectly safe while I’m gone.” He opened a leather pouch and poured a small pile of the gems out onto the table to inspect them.
“It’s not us I’m concerned about,” she confessed. “Every time you go, I worry you won’t come back.”
“Don’t be silly,” he cut his eyes up at her, then returned to his counting.
“Those are the Angels, aren’t they,” she observed, her lip quivering. “You’re locking them away, just as Keeper did.”
“It’s for their own protection,” he informed her. “I’m not planning on keeping them there.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I jus’ haven’t decided what I’m gonna do with them. For now, I need t’ gather them up an’ make sure they’re safe.”
“I don’t understand how you know them. I thought they had all gone into hiding or refused to reveal themselves after the way everyone reacted to their presence.”
&nb
sp; “I have a way,” he grinned. “I know them when I see them. Keeper an’ Karma thought they would come out fighting. It never occurred to them they would have no idea how to use their powers. At least, I hope that’s how it was.”
“Oh, Charlie,” she sighed. “You still want to see the best in both of them.” Clarisse had been certain the opposite was true, as new Summer Angels had taken months to learn how to use their powers; they should have known they would be helpless. She believed Keeper and Karma both had intended for the humans to kill off the rest of the Angels and be rid of them for good, a revelation that broke her heart.
“Yeah, I do,” he sniffed, taking a seat and returning the gems to his pouch. “I can’t stand the idea that either of them actually intended to destroy the world. This world, anyways.”
“So, you gather them all up. Then what?”
“Once they’re all removed, I think the humans will heal. It’ll take time for them to get used to doing things on their own. It’s all they’ve ever known, being pushed an’ pulled between the Light an’ the Dark,” he observed. “An’ there will be less of them, that’s for sure. I’m hoping they will appreciate the Earth again. Love it as they did a few centuries ago, when more of the tribes of man were primitive.”
“Something’s bothering you,” she pushed. “What’s happened?”
“Nothing, yet,” he stood abruptly. “but soon I’ll have to return to Purgatory. I don’t want you t’ worry; I’ll be safe, an’ so will you.”
“Are you going to tell me before you go?” she asked meekly.
He had turned his back on her, but paused. “I love you, Clarisse. You an’ Emily are the world to me. Or most of it. I’ll tell you before I go, if you really wanna know, but I think you’ll worry less if you don’t.” Leaving her to think about it, he headed into the trees, taking a path barely visible even to those who knew it was there.
The Keeper Set - Summer Spirit Novellas 7 - 9 Page 16
