“Never. If I had to do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat,” Gabriel stated. Then he looked closely at Uriel and asked quietly, “Who is she?”
Uriel turned away in shame and answered just as quietly, “A Druid priestess named Aileen. She saved me from the attack of a demon.”
“If you want my advice, the more you fight it, the more it will hurt and burn,” Gabriel said.
Uriel silently acknowledged that Gabriel might know what he was talking about. After all, here was a former archangel and brother-in-arms who also fell for a mortal woman.
Uriel turned to him in despair. “Do you want me to sin? Do you want me to give into this temptation and lust?”
“To give in to love is a deliverance from the suffering,” Gabriel argued.
“You speak like the fallen ones,” Uriel protested.
Gabriel smiled at him. “I am fallen.”
“You will always be my brother, and you fight for us even as a mortal!” Uriel exclaimed.
“Always, my brother. I have to fight to keep my wife and daughter safe. I can’t afford not to.”
“Our Father was silent to my pleas for strength and guidance. I don’t know what to do. I am lost and stumbling in the dark with no light to guide me.”
“You must choose your own path. Whichever choice you make will determine the fate of our brothers, but know this, I will always support you,” Gabriel announced loyally.
Uriel clasped his brother in a tight embrace, moved by his words. “Thank you, Gabe. Your support means more than words can say.”
“Anytime, Uriel. Now, you must come home with me. Anastasia will be cooking dinner, and you have yet to meet our daughter,” Gabriel said, leading him back into the Center.
“Hey, do you want to know what Raphael and Mikey did to Azrael?” Uriel asked in a change of mood.
Gabriel grinned. “Do I want to know?”
“It involves two polar bear suits and penguins.”
“What? Really? I have got to hear this story!”
Chapter 10
Aileen went back to her normal routine of working and watching her niece. She suspected she would probably never see Uriel again. Her mother and niece’s idea of her and Uriel as a couple wasn’t going to work out. Of course, they didn’t know that he was an angel and forbidden to be with humans.
Aileen didn’t tell anyone about him. Her excuse for him leaving so abruptly was that he had a work emergency and he had called for a cab and left. Aileen wasn’t one to spend time sulking over things, so she threw herself into her work.
New book orders had come in, and she kept herself busy cataloging the books and shipping them out to libraries across Ireland. She helped the library patrons who needed books and other services. Aileen resumed her life as it was before she met Uriel.
One day, as she was typing away at her computer, she looked up and saw Uriel standing in front of her. She stared at him in surprise. He put the books she had given to him earlier on the desk.
“I believe you said they were due in two weeks. I hope I got them back on time,” he said.
Aileen checked the books in. “Yep, you returned them right on time. Thank you.”
“No problem. How are you and Deirdre doing?”
“We’re doing fine, thank you. Will this be all?”
“Yes, thanks. Tell her I said hi,” Uriel said and turned to go.
Aileen watched him walk away and swallowed the lump in her throat. She told herself it was better this way. He didn’t belong in her life, despite what her niece and mother thought. She went back to her work, but she couldn’t get him out of her mind.
After work, Aileen picked Deirdre up from her dance lessons. They chatted as they strolled down the street.
“How was your lesson?”
“It was good. I can kick and keep my legs straight now.”
“Good, I’m glad you’re getting better. Are you hungry?”
“Yes!”
“Do you want to stop somewhere for a bite to eat? Or can you wait until we get home for me to make dinner?”
“I want ice cream!”
“Very well, let’s stop at the café then. They sell both sandwiches and ice cream.”
They stopped at a small café with tables and chairs on the sidewalk and were about to walk inside when Deirdre spotted Uriel sitting at one of the tables reading a newspaper.
“Uriel!” she shouted. “How are you?”
Uriel put down his newspaper and smiled at her. “Hello, Deirdre. I’m doing well. How are you?”
“I’m doing okay. Auntie Aileen and I are getting ice cream!”
“That sounds delicious. Would you and Auntie Aileen like to join me?”
“Yes!” Deirdre exclaimed at the same time Aileen said, “No!”
“Now, Deirdre, Uriel looks very busy, so we should leave him alone,” Aileen protested.
“Are you busy, Uriel?” Deirdre asked.
“Nope,” he answered with a smile.
“Perfect, we’ll be back soon,” Deirdre declared with a smile of her own. Then she entered the café.
“What are you doing?” Aileen hissed at Uriel.
He shrugged. “I like ice cream and Deirdre.”
Aileen scowled at him and went into the café after her niece to order food. They came back out and sat with Uriel. Deirdre, as normal, chatted with Uriel, asking him question after question.
“What are you reading? Is there anything good? My aunt likes to read. I like to read too, but not newspapers. They leave your fingers all black. Are your fingers black?”
The food arrived shortly and Deirdre stopped talking to eat, giving Uriel time to answer her questions.
“I’m reading about a terrorist attack in London, so not anything too good at the moment. My fingers aren’t black yet. The trick is to hold the corner of the newspaper to turn it, not the print on the pages.”
Deirdre nodded and lobbied another question at him, “Will you come with us on our fishing trip this weekend?”
“Deirdre, don’t talk with your mouth full,” Aileen reminded her.
“We’re going with Grandma and Grandpa O’Connelly,” Deirdre told him.
“I might be able to come as long as I don’t have to work,” Uriel answered.
“Don’t you dare ask me to astral travel to find him,” Aileen warned her niece.
Deirdre made a face at Aileen, and Uriel laughed.
“Very well, I will come fishing with you,” he conceded.
“You promise you’ll stay the whole weekend?” Deirdre persisted.
Uriel grinned at her. “Yes, I promise I’ll stay the entire weekend and fish with you.”
“Good.” Deirdre nodded with satisfaction and ate her food in silence.
They finished their dinners and ice cream was brought out. It was getting late, so Aileen decided they could eat their ice cream as they walked home. Uriel walked with them and listened to Deirdre chatter on and on. He made the appropriate sounds here and there.
He glanced over at Aileen. “Is everything all right?” he asked. “You’re being very quiet.”
“Everything is fine,” she answered and ate her ice cream.
She didn’t want to talk and kept on walking. When they reached Aileen’s place, he bid both of them a good night. Uriel turned and walked away once they were safely inside.
Aileen cracked open the door and called out, “Uriel!”
He stopped and turned toward her. “Yes?”
She walked out to talk to him. “Listen, you don’t have to come, you don’t have to do this.”
“Is something wrong?”
“I don’t want Deirdre to get too attached. I know she can be quite stubborn about getting her way, but I think it’s best if you don’t come. You’re an angel who’s forbidden to be with a human. There’s really no point or future to this relationship.”
Uriel spoke with empathy, “I understand. If it is your wish that I stay away, then I will. I don’t want to intr
ude.”
“Thank you. It’s just easier this way,” Aileen stated with relief. She turned to go back inside.
Uriel spoke, “Aileen?”
“Yes?”
“It is my sworn duty to protect you, Deirdre, and all of God’s children. I will not interfere, but I will watch and protect you from afar. Do not hesitate to contact me if you need anything,” he said. Turning away from her, he walked down the street.
Aileen watched him go with regret. She had the biggest urge to run after him and throw herself into his arms. It took all her strength to go back inside and shut the door. She leaned against it, needing something secure to keep her upright. Her knees had turned to jelly and didn’t seem to work properly. She also couldn’t think.
Maybe she should run after him. He did give her permission to contact him at any time. She could astral travel to him right now and drag his gorgeous butt back here. Aileen shook her head to clear her thoughts and walked to her bathroom to take a cold shower.
* * * *
The weekend arrived and Aileen packed up her car. Luckily, Deirdre didn’t throw a fit this time. Aileen’s telephone rang and she picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Aileen? Sweetheart, it’s Mum. Listen, your father came down with a bit of a fever, so we won’t be able to join you and Deirdre this weekend. The fool went out in the rain and refused to put a jacket on. He came back in and couldn’t stop shivering. Now he’s sick.”
“Oh, that’s terrible! Tell Dad I hope he feels better. Deirdre and I will miss you.”
“Tell Pumpkin to catch lots of fish for her grandpa and me.”
“Of course. We will.”
“Have you talked to Uriel lately?”
“Yes, Deirdre and I ran into him at the café the other day.”
“Really? How did it go?” her mother asked.
“Deirdre invited him to come along for the fishing trip, but I told him not to.”
“Aileen Margaret O’Connelly! The moment we’re done speaking, you call that nice, young man and tell him you’ve changed your mind!”
“I can’t call him, Mum. It doesn’t work like that.”
“You better do as Deirdre says and astral travel to find him! Bring him on this fishing trip!”
“I don’t need Uriel or any man. I’m fine on my own.”
“That’s your problem, Aileen. You think you don’t need anyone. One day you’ll wake up old and alone.”
“I will not wake up old and alone. I have Deirdre.”
“What do you think will happen when Deirdre grows up and meets a nice fella of her own? Aileen, go out there and meet people. You won’t meet anyone with your nose buried in books all day long.”
“Mum, don’t worry about it. Listen, I have to go. We’ll be late if we stall anymore. Tell Dad I hope he feels better soon.”
“All right, I love you and Deirdre very much. Drive carefully, and be safe!”
“Love you too, Mum. Bye.”
Aileen hung up and sighed. Sometimes her mother could be a little too much.
She went to go check on Deirdre. “Are you all set?”
“Yep, you ready Auntie Aileen?”
“I will be soon. That was Grandma O’Connelly on the phone. Grandpa O’Connelly is sick, so it’s just you and me today, pumpkin.”
“Okay.”
Aileen smiled at her niece and went to go finish packing. She loaded up her car, and she and Deirdre drove to County Kildare to the Rye Water. It was known for its numerous trout and pike.
Chapter 11
Aileen put the worm on her line and cast it into the river. She watched Deirdre, who already had her line in the water. Deirdre jerked it a few times.
“Hold it steady. You’ll know when a fish bites, because the line will grow taut,” Aileen advised.
“All right,” Deirdre responded.
Deirdre walked down a ways on the bank. Aileen could tell her niece was bored, because she was distracted and looking everywhere. Aileen was about to warn Deirdre not to go too far away when her own line grew taut.
She focused on her line and reeled it in only to have the fish fight her. She played tug of war with it. Obviously, it was a big fish, and it fought so hard for its freedom she thought her pole might break in half.
Aileen backed up and reeled with all her might. A big, brown trout splashed out of the water. Aileen swung her pole onto the bank, and the fish plopped down on the ground, thrashing and flopping. It was fully grown and looked like it was about three kilos. She smiled in triumph and yelled for Deirdre.
“Pumpkin, I just caught our dinner for tonight! Come and take a look at it!”
When Aileen didn’t hear anything, she looked down the river, but Deirdre was nowhere in sight.
“Deirdre?” she called out again.
She decided to go look for her niece. Aileen left her pole and the brown trout on the riverbank, and walked in the direction she last saw Deirdre. Every few minutes, she called out the little girl’s name, but she got no reply.
She came upon a patch of woods. Aileen hoped that Deirdre had enough sense not to walk into the woods alone, but knowing her niece, she probably did. Aileen called out for Deirdre again, but all she heard was the wind whispering through the trees.
She went into the woods, getting angrier and angrier at Deirdre. Where could that girl have gone? She was going to kill her when she found her. Deirdre knew better than to walk off by herself. She’d better have a good reason.
The woods were thick, and patches of sunlight shone through here and there. Birds chirped and flew above her. Aileen didn’t see any sign of Deirdre, but she continued walking.
Aileen wasn’t sure how long she’d walked, but the woods started to thin out and a path emerged. She was debating if she should continue on this path or turn around when she spied a fishing pole laying next to a big tree trunk. Panic set in when she recognized it as Deirdre’s.
The path led toward the river again, and Aileen followed it. She scanned the bank frantically, hoping Deirdre hadn’t fallen in. Thankfully, Deirdre did know how to swim, but Aileen noticed that the current this far upstream was much faster...maybe too fast for Deirdre to handle.
Aileen ran along the riverbank and spotted a figure walking in the river where the currents turned into a whirlpool. She recognized Deirdre and screamed out at her.
“Deirdre! Don’t go any further! Come back!”
Her niece gave no indication that she heard her and kept walking into the pool. As Aileen ran closer, she spied something rising out of the water in front of her niece. The serpents on the figure’s head wriggled, and Aileen yelled out.
“Deirdre, run! Run away from her! Don’t go in!”
Aileen watched the swirling waters claim her niece, and the head with the serpents disappeared. Aileen jumped into the river and swam after Deirdre. She went down with the currents and tried to fight it to find Deirdre. She swam as deep as she could, but saw nothing.
Aileen knew she needed to go up to the surface for air, but she didn’t want to go without Deirdre, so she kept kicking and looking in the black water. Out of the dark depths, Aileen saw two red eyes coming toward her. She froze, unable to move, as the eyes drew closer.
Aileen couldn’t breathe, and her lungs screamed for air. She began to feel lightheaded and lose consciousness. She closed her eyes to let death take over. Then she felt a pair of strong arms lift her out of her watery grave and into the air. Opening her eyes, she found herself nestled against a strong, muscular chest. Turquoise wings surrounded her.
The next thing she knew, she was on her back on solid ground. Aileen promptly turned over and vomited water. When she finished heaving all the liquids out of her system, she looked up to find Uriel staring at her with concern written all over his face.
“She took Deirdre,” she whispered hoarsely.
“We will find her, Aileen,” Uriel said quietly.
“What could she possibly want with a little girl?” Aileen gas
ped out.
“I don’t know, but we will get her back,” he promised.
“We better. Deirdre is my life,” Aileen sobbed.
Uriel held her as she cried out her anguish at not being able to save her niece. When she managed to calm down and her sobs became quiet hiccups, Uriel talked to her in a soothing voice.
“We have to get you somewhere warm and into some dry clothes. You will catch your death this way.”
Aileen didn’t bother answering. She was too miserable and beyond caring.
* * * *
Uriel picked Aileen up and flew her to his chambers. He gently laid her on his bed, and she curled into a fetus position. He closed his eyes and looked for Raphael. His brother was the Archangel of Healing, and Aileen needed healing after her loss.
He found him and spoke to him telepathically. “Raph, I need you in my chambers. Please bring warm clothes and a hot drink.”
A moment later, Raphael’s voice responded in his head. “Sure, no problem. Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine,” Uriel answered.
Uriel heard a knock at his door and Raphael entered, bringing clothes and a steaming cup. He came over to Uriel and stopped when he saw Aileen on his bed. He stared at her in surprise and then looked up at Uriel.
Uriel took the clothes and mug and set it next to Aileen. He talked to her in a gentle voice, “Please change into these, and drink the hot cider. I’ll be right back.”
He grabbed Raphael, and they quickly left the room. Outside his chamber, Raphael confronted him.
“Uriel, no human has ever been in our chambers before. What are you doing?”
“She’s been here before. She astral traveled and found me.”
“Really, and you told no one? Not even our Father?”
“I’m sure He’s aware of it, which was why she was allowed access this second time.”
“Very well. What are you planning on doing with her? Why is she here?” Raphael asked.
“Remember that female demon I was researching? She has kidnapped Aileen’s niece. We have to go find her.”
“Have you talked to Azrael? He might already have the niece’s soul in his custody.”
Angel of Wisdom Page 5
