The trio walked out of the apartment, and Aileen locked the door behind them. She threw her suitcase into the trunk of her car and they all got inside. She started up the car and drove toward her parents’ house. Along the way, Deirdre kept up a lively conversation. She asked Uriel question after question. He was a good sport and answered all of them patiently. Finally, she started to slow down and then dozed off, giving the adults a bit of peace and quiet.
“Sorry, she is a talker,” Aileen muttered.
Uriel smiled. “I like her chatter.”
“My niece has this ludicrous idea that you and I should get together romantically,” Aileen admitted to Uriel.
“That is a ludicrous idea,” Uriel agreed, “since I am forbidden to be with a mortal woman.”
“Really? Why is that?”
“It is against my Father’s laws.”
“Who is your father? Are you a monk? Have you taken vows of chastity?”
“My Father is the father of all fathers. He is the Creator of all things, great and small.”
“The father of all fathers? Seriously, Uriel, who are you talking about?”
“Do you read the Bible?”
“I have read it, but not on a daily basis.”
“Well, my Father created the world in six days, and on the seventh day, he rested.”
“God? God is your father?” Aileen asked.
Uriel nodded and looked relieved.
“Honey, God is everyone’s father. Who is your earthly father? Mine is Cian O’Connelly, and my mother is Meara O’Connelly. You’ll get to meet them in a few minutes.”
“I don’t have an earthly father,” Uriel replied.
“Oh, you’re an orphan. That’s all right. My mother will love you! My father might scowl at you a bit here and there, but don’t take it personally,” Aileen chattered on.
Uriel just nodded along to her chatter and looked out the window.
Soon, a stone cottage came into view. There was a fence all around and sheep roamed inside the enclosed area. Chickens and a few dogs ran around here and there. The front door opened and Aileen’s mother stood in the doorway and waved at them.
Aileen stopped the car in the driveway next to the cottage and waved back. She took out her keys and turned to wake up Deirdre.
“Pumpkin, we’re at Grandma and Grandpa’s. Wake up.”
Deirdre’s eyelids fluttered open, and she looked around. Realization hit her about her surroundings, and she opened the car door and ran out to hug her grandmother.
“Grandma O’Connelly, I’ve missed you!” she shouted excitedly.
Her grandmother hugged the little girl back and kissed her.
Aileen turned to Uriel. “Well? Ready to meet my clan?”
“Of course,” he replied. Then he opened the car door and walked out to meet her mom.
Chapter 8
Aileen walked up to the house and gave her mother a hug. Then she introduced Uriel.
“Mum, this is my friend Uriel. Uriel, this is my Mum, Meara.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Meara,” Uriel stated and shook her hand.
“The pleasure is all mine. Welcome to our humble abode,” she said with a big smile and gestured for them to go inside.
Once they had entered, Aileen’s mother took her by the arm and pulled her aside.
“Aileen, it’s about time you brought home a fella,” she whispered excitedly.
“Don’t get your hopes up, Mum. He’s just a friend,” Aileen whispered back.
“Friendship is the foundation of all relationships,” her mother replied with a knowing smile, then she called out, “Cian, they’re here, and Aileen’s brought a friend!”
Aileen’s father came out of the kitchen. He looked Uriel up and down, then stuck out his hand and shook Uriel’s.
“Pleasure to meet you. How do you know my little girl?” her father asked.
“I’m helping him with some research, Dad,” Aileen responded.
Her father nodded and stated proudly, “She is incredibly smart.”
“Yes sir, she is,” Uriel agreed.
“Are we all set to go camping at County Meath?” her mother piped in.
“Yes!” Deirdre shouted excitedly.
Aileen’s father smiled indulgently at his young granddaughter. “I’m ready whenever you are, pumpkin.”
Then he swung her up in the air for a big bear hug as she squealed in delight. “One more, Grandpa O’Connelly, one more!”
He set Deirdre on her feet and asked, “Do you want to ride with me and Grandma or with Auntie Aileen?”
“You and Grandma O’Connelly!”
He chucked her under the chin. “That’s my girl!” He turned to Aileen and Uriel. “Race you guys there. Last person there gets to set up camp.”
Aileen’s mother laughed and grabbed her purse and ran out the front door. Her father picked Deirdre up and ran out after his wife, leaving Aileen and Uriel alone in the living room.
“Well, I guess I’ll be the adult and lock up after everyone,” Aileen said to Uriel.
She checked to make sure all the kitchen appliances were off, then she locked the back door. Aileen led Uriel through the front door and locked that as well. They both heard a vehicle start up and watched as her parents’ big, red truck rolled out of the garage and onto the dirt driveway.
Her mother rolled down the window and yelled, “See you there!”
Deirdre waved at them, and her father honked the horn. Then he drove them out of the driveway and onto the main road.
Uriel and Aileen smiled and waved back at them. They both got into Aileen’s car, and she pulled out and followed them.
* * * *
“I take it you don’t want to pass your father to get there faster?” Uriel asked.
“Oh no, it’s best just to let him win. He’s quite a bear if he loses at anything,” Aileen warned.
Uriel smiled with understanding. He and his brothers were pretty competitive and hated losing. They often held competitions over silly little things.
“So, tell me more about yourself. Do you have any siblings or family? I know you’re an orphan with no parents, but do you have anyone else?” Aileen inquired.
“I have six brothers,” Uriel answered.
“Really? Where are they? What are their names?”
“There’s Azrael, Raphael, Michael, Zerachiel, Barachiel, and Gabriel. They live all over the world.”
“Wow, that’s great! It was just me and my sister Catriona. She died last year in a car accident with her husband Bill. That’s how Deirdre came to live with me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I try to bring Deirdre around my parents and Bill’s parents as much as possible,” Aileen explained.
“That’s a really good idea,” Uriel stated with approval.
They arrived at the campground. Everyone got out and Uriel and Aileen removed the camping gear to bring it out. They found a nice, flat area and started setting everything up. Meara, Aileen’s mother, looked after the food and got some refreshments out. Cian, Aileen’s father, took Deirdre for a walk.
Meara walked over to Aileen and Uriel with drinks and gave them both a bottle and chatted with them, “So, Uriel, how long have you known Aileen?”
Uriel took a drink and replied, “Not very long.”
“What kind of research are you working on?” she asked.
“Mum, I astral traveled to Rome and met Uriel there. He’s researching a demon that attacked him, and I’m helping him with that,” Aileen responded.
Meara nodded. “Is that why he’s here?”
“Yes, and also because Deirdre refused to come unless I invited him along,” Aileen added.
Meara laughed. “Well, if my granddaughter likes you, then you must be a great guy.”
She walked away to unpack more things and Aileen turned to Uriel. “My mother likes you.”
“I like her too. She’s very pleasant,” Uriel observed.
“Yep, that’s
my mum. She’s sunny and happy, and my dad is the grouch.”
“He doesn’t seem so bad.”
“That’s because he hasn’t gotten around to questioning you yet.”
They both finished setting camp, and by the time they had a fire going, the sun was setting. It turned the sky into shades of pink and orange and eventually purple, then black. When Cian and Deirdre came back, the stars had come out, and Meara had dinner ready. She passed it out to everyone. The O’Connellys and Uriel sat around the fire sharing stories, food, and drinks.
Everyone finished their supper, and Meara cleared the dishes and put them away. They all sat and watched the sky. The full moon came out from behind the clouds and shined in the night sky. Meara looked at it and then over at Aileen and winked. Aileen got up and went to her car. She came back with a bag, and the women disappeared into the darkness.
Cian drank his beer and spoke to Uriel, “They’re changing, lad. They’re going to worship the moon goddess and her lunar path across the Heavens. Her different phases in the sky represent the different phases of life.”
Uriel nodded and drank his beer.
“What are your intentions toward my daughter?” Cian asked him.
Uriel looked over at Cian and answered, “We’re just friends, sir.”
Cian took a moment to study Uriel from across the campfire and nodded. “Keep it that way, lad, and no one will get hurt.”
Standing, Cian went to his truck and returned with a small drum. He sat down and started beating a rhythm on it. The women came back to the campfire in their white robes. Their long, red hair flowed down their backs, and they began to sway to the beat of the drum. They started a dance of worship.
Uriel watched in fascination as Aileen danced in the firelight. She looked like an ethereal fairy. Her robes clung to her curves as she twirled and swayed in a dance that had been passed down from generation to generation. Her limbs moved in rhythm to the beat of the drum, and Uriel found himself hypnotized.
This must be how Adam felt when he first laid eyes on Eve. A woman who was created from him to keep him company and ease his loneliness, Uriel thought. With a start, he realized he was lusting after Aileen. He shook his head in disgust. He reminded himself of who he was and what he stood for.
He was the Archangel of Wisdom and the leader of the Archangel Warriors. He would not lust after a mere human. He would not fall into darkness like so many of his former brothers before him. He was made of sterner stuff.
A memory surfaced of him yelling at Gabriel for lusting after Anastasia. He had denied Gabriel’s request to go down to Hell to save Anastasia, a mortal. However, Gabriel’s love for her was so strong that he disobeyed and went down there anyway. With a shock, Uriel realized he was not immune either. He could also lose his archangel status if he lusted after this woman.
Cian stopped playing the drum, and the women stopped dancing. They were laughing and looking at the moon and smiling secret smiles. They started to come back to the fire.
Uriel stood up, cleared his throat, and spoke, “Forgive me, but I need to go pray to my Father. Please excuse me.”
He quickly left the campfire before anyone could speak. He walked until he saw a clearing, and he knelt down to pray. Uriel asked for forgiveness, guidance, and strength.
“Uriel, are you okay?” Aileen asked from behind him.
He opened his eyes and glanced back at her. She had changed back into her normal clothes, but she still looked so beautiful. Her hair fell around her shoulders like a halo.
He stood up and spoke to her in a hoarse voice, “Forgive me, Aileen, but I have to leave now.”
“Leave? Why? How are you going to leave?” she asked incredulously.
Uriel held her gaze as he drew out his wings. They unfolded out of his back and spread out behind him in a shimmering blue in the darkness.
Aileen gasped and squeaked out, “You’re an angel?”
He nodded and said sadly, “Now you see why I cannot be with you. It is forbidden.”
“You weren’t lying. Your father really is God,” she said in awe.
“Yes, I was just praying to him for guidance and strength as well as forgiveness. I cannot lust after a mortal woman. I will not lose my immortality over this.”
Aileen stared at him, a shocked expression on her face. “You lusted after me?”
Uriel nodded with shame. “Forgive me, Aileen. Please give my regards to Deirdre and your parents.”
Uriel flew straight up into the night sky, trying to distance himself from the one woman who could possibly be his ruin. He wanted to leave behind these earthly feelings and sinful thoughts. Flying faster, his Heavenly abode came into view. He soared toward it, thinking about burying his feelings for Aileen in his books and maps.
Chapter 9
Uriel strolled down the hall to his room. He walked inside, then slammed the door shut behind him. He looked around at his collection of books and maps. It used to give him solace, but now it just gave him a sense of suffocation. His room was too cluttered, so he stalked out.
Uriel spied Zerachiel and Barachiel sparring in the training room. He went over and grabbed his battle axe to join the fighting. He needed to release some energy. A few hours later, Zerachiel and Barachiel sat down covered with cuts and bruises. They grabbed ice packs to put on their injuries while Uriel glistened with sweat and panted heavily.
“What has gotten into you?” Barachiel cried out as he covered his black eye with an ice pack.
“Nothing,” Uriel retorted as he swung his battle axe at an imaginary foe.
“Well, it’s called training, not a massacre,” Zerachiel complained as he iced his knee.
“We must prepare ourselves,” Uriel announced.
“Prepare for what? An insane archangel on a rampage?” Barachiel shouted.
Uriel put away his battle axe and came over to his brothers. He sent out healing energy to them, and their cuts and bruises disappeared. They relaxed and sat back, waiting for him to speak.
“My apologies if I was too rough,” he said.
Zerachiel snorted. “Yes, but why? What’s gotten your boxers all bunched up?”
Uriel looked away. He didn’t know how to answer his brothers.
“No! It can’t be,” Barachiel exclaimed with wide eyes. “Not after what happened to Gabriel. Not you too, Uriel!”
Uriel didn’t say anything, but hung his head in shame.
“Are these mortals worth it? What does our Father say?” Zerachiel asked.
“Our Father is silent. He didn’t speak to me when I prayed to Him earlier,” Uriel answered.
“You are being tested. Stay strong and resist it. We cannot lose you too, brother,” Barachiel insisted.
Uriel nodded in agreement. “I know. I remember yelling at Gabriel for falling for Anastasia. I must not do the same thing.”
“Exactly. Besides, what would we do without you? We’re all still reeling from the loss of Gabriel,” Zerachiel said.
“I will simply stay away from her,” Uriel announced. “After all, there are more demons to fight and more humans to save than just this one.”
“Yes, stay away from her before she tempts you into sin and we lose you,” Barachiel proclaimed.
Uriel bid his brothers a good day and walked back to his chambers. After the training and conversation, he felt better and more clear-headed. He picked out a book on Socrates to read. However, he couldn’t get past the first page. Aileen dancing in her white robe kept showing up on the page, so he couldn’t focus on the words of the Greek philosopher.
He slammed the book shut in frustration. With a growl, he teleported to Tokyo. It had been too long since he last saw his brother-in-arms, Gabriel.
Uriel arrived at the Center for Tracking Demonic Activities and walked inside. He greeted the receptionist at the front desk, “Hello. I’m looking for Gabriel.”
The woman smiled at him. “Hello. Who should I say is requesting to see him?”
“Uriel,�
� he answered.
“Just a moment.” The receptionist picked up the phone and talked to someone briefly. She hung up and looked at Uriel. “He’s in his office. It’s through this door and down the hall to the left. It’s the last one. I’ll buzz you through.”
Uriel thanked her and walked through the door once she buzzed it open for him. He arrived at the last door and knocked.
“Come in,” a deep voice said from inside the room.
Uriel opened the door to see his brother sitting behind a desk with a grin of delight on his face. He got up and came over to embrace Uriel in a big bear hug.
“How are you?” Gabriel asked with a smile.
“I’m doing well, and you?” Uriel inquired.
“Good, but very tired. Our daughter Lizzy keeps us busy,” Gabe answered.
Uriel stepped back and looked at his brother. He had fine lines by the corner of his eyes. Grooves appeared on his forehead where before it was smooth. His blond hair, which had always been cropped short, flowed down to his shoulders now. He was aging and dying before Uriel’s eyes.
“Come, brother, let’s go for a walk,” Gabriel invited. “I can show you Anastasia’s flowers.”
Uriel nodded and followed him out. They walked into an atrium with different plants and flowers in bloom. Uriel looked around him with appreciation. Gabriel had always bragged about Anastasia’s gardening skills, but Uriel thought it was just husbandly pride.
Now, he gazed about him with renewed interest as he spied rose bushes with beautiful colored roses. Vines crawled on walls and wooden posts, and plants and shrubs of all varieties grew to complement each other.
“She’s a gardening genius, isn’t she?” Gabriel announced with pride.
“She has done very well,” Uriel acknowledged.
“What brings you over to my neck of the woods?”
“I just wanted to see how you’re doing.”
“We’ve been incredibly busy with raising a four-year-old daughter with unique gifts, expanding the center, and training new recruits,” Gabriel responded.
Uriel stopped to admire a tiger lily and inhaled its unique scent. He turned to look at his brother and asked seriously, “Do you have any regrets here, Gabe? Do you regret the life of a mortal man?”
Angel of Wisdom Page 4
