by L. J. Amodeo
“Yes,” she replied, dropping her head down.
“Is this where you are holding Freddie, too?” I stuttered.
She nodded yes.
“Take me to him! I have to see for myself! I want to see him and make sure he’s okay!” I
“I pray it’s not too . . .” Her words floated away like a sandcastle swept away by a wave. With a blatant stare of horror, panic gripped my heart and squeezed it so tightly that I thought I’d die. The sound of Abigail’s voice resonated in my head over and over, It’s too late, it’s too late, it’s too late. I would not accept this as Freddie’s fate. I would go inside and find him; fight for him on my own if I had to.
“Where is he, Abigail? Show me the way!” I pressed her to take me to my friend.
“I already told you—you cannot go to him just yet! He’s transitioning and we don’t know what he’ll do if you are near him. We cannot chance it. Right now Freddie needs you to stay away. We will take it from here.Come on, we really need to get you safe inside. I can’t be too sure if you were followed here,” she muttered, leading me quickly into the crumbling shack.
From the outside, the battered shack didn’t seem like much of a hideout. However, as we stepped past its dingy, broken door, it no longer seemed small, old, or broken down. A stainless steel shaft with its shiny doors wide open waited for us to enter, only to drop into the depths of the earth. Deeper and deeper we fell, passing light beam after light beam until the hoist slightly pounced in its descent, then quickly halted.
Abigail and I stepped off the elevator and were met by a furious Matthew, and a disappointed Faith and Emmanuel.
“What is your damn problem, Elizabeth? I trusted you!” Matthew snapped at me first.
My eyes flickered as I arched my back uncomfortably, unaccustomed to Matthew’s aggressive voice. “I . . . I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
Matthew abruptly cut me off, pointing his finger accusingly at me. “You’re always sorry! Haven’t you caused enough trouble? Don’t you ever learn your lesson to stay out of our business! You really made a mess of things for us, you know that?”
“Take it down Matthew. You’ve said enough, now let it rest.” Faith demanded in the softest of tones. Matthew quickly and quietly retreated, folding his arms across his chest and stepping away, taking in deep breaths.
I couldn’t believe that an angel just spoke to me in such a foul tone. After all, they were angels. But then I remembered what Freddie once said about angels in human form. They were vulnerable to human weaknesses and emotions. I couldn’t blame Matthew or any of them for being upset with me. I put them all in danger, and now Freddie was marked because of me.
“Faith, please let me see Freddie,” I pleaded with her.
“That’s not possible right now, Elizabeth. It’s not safe for you to be around him while he’s transitioning. Besides, you wouldn’t want to see him like this. It isn’t pretty.” She looked sternly into my eyes.
It wasn’t wise for me to insist, therefore, I looked pleadingly at Abigail. She only shook her head in disapproval.
“Sorry, kid,” she mouthed a whisper, shrugging her shoulders.
“When we get word, we move Freddie to Crystalline Cavern. In the meantime, keep her as far away as possible!” Faith instructed the other three angels. Emmanuel and Matthew immediately disappeared down a long narrow corridor, and Abigail turned to face me with a wide grin on her face. “I guess it’s me and you! We’ll be roomies for the night,” she said smirking.
“We’re staying here? For how long?” I asked.
“Um, not sure.” She bit her bottom lip.
“Come on. Let’s go find a room and turn in. You need to rest. It’s been quite a day for you,” she said, pulling me by my hand toward another stretch of narrow hallways opposite the one Matthew and Emmanuel vanished into.
Abigail hummed herself into a deep meditation, crooning the sweet sounds of an angel. I listened as her voice gently faded to only the whispers of her soft breath. Unable to sleep, I caressed my belly, wondering if the baby growing inside me was as striking as his father, or as delicate as the petals on a rose. Lying in the stillness of the night, my inner stomach fluttered for the first time, leaving me breathless. It wasn’t like other times, when it felt more like a strange tightening in my abs, but small feathery caresses that stroked the walls of my womb. Instantly, I loved this baby. My baby. Our baby.
Beth . . . a weak voice whispered in the still air.
I dared not move. My fingers froze over my abdomen.
Beth . . . again it called my name.
I looked over at Abigail who was in deep meditation. Bethy, I need you . . . you . . . you . . . Freddie’s voice echoed clearly.
“Freddie?” I jerked up in bed, calling out his name. Pulling the blanket away from me, I stood and rushed to the door. The long corridor was dimly lit with only a flickering flame of a sconce suspended from the stone walls. I followed his voice, heading toward the center of the Safe Haven.
Standing in the circular receiving area, I spun slowly, carefully listening for Freddie, but everything fell silent. Slowly, my eyes started to focus on each door that led out of the circular area. I stood in its core, able to look toward each direction and into its portals. Portals that were represented by four unusual signs, similar to the Zodiac. Carefully, I walked to each gateway. Above one door engraved in its stone was a circle which I believed represented the earth. Over another, water. The next showed spirals I thought looked like air or wind, and the last portal—flames.
The rotunda was a perfect circle, with four portals leading to long, narrow corridors; each jutting outward and away from the fixed point from where I stood. It was a replica of my sanctuary. The garden I created for my mother.
Elizabeth come to me . . . Freddie called.
Following to his voice, I walked to the south portal. I didn’t understand what the flames represented, but feared they had to do with where Freddie was heading. I knew that Freddie was somewhere deep in this portal. I stepped into the doorway, watching the dim sconces unexpectedly flicker to life, burning steady and bright. I sucked in the thick air as I quickened my step. The corridor only seemed to stretch further away from me, forcing me to sprint down the south wing faster, frantically calling my friend’s name. “Freddie! Freddie where are you? Freddie!”
In an instant, Abigail, Matthew, Emmanuel and Faith surrounded me, stopping me. Matthew, who wore the same scowl on his face that he had earlier, only nodded his head in disgust. Without a word, he left the group and instantly disappeared. Fighting to remove the angels’ grips from my arms and wrists, I twisted my face in desperation and embarrassment. With my head low and my shoulders slumped, I couldn’t find the words to explain myself. I had almost messed up again, and maybe Matthew was right. I was a screw-up, getting myself into trouble every time.
“Elizabeth. Elizabeth look at me,” Faith demanded.
I obliged, lifting only my eyes to look at her through my lashes. I felt ashamed. Acting irresponsibly while carrying the child of an archangel. The very child that had changed the course of history and my life. I fought back tears, tucking my head yet again between my shoulders in disgrace.
Faith placed her finger beneath my chin, lifting my face to hers. “Child, do you realize that you are carrying a special infant? Elizabeth, you have altered the scriptures, rewritten what had been prophesied for thousands of years. Are you willing to put all that at risk?”
I shook my head no.
“If you continue to defy us, your actions will make everyone, mortal or not, suffer the greatest consequences. Do you understand that? Well, do you?” Faith gritted her teeth at me in open frustration.
“I didn’t intend to upset anyone, I was only . . . Freddie was calling for me. He sounded desperate and I only wanted to see him. I’m sure you can understand that. He’d never hurt me. I know that for a fact.” I insisted, staring down at my tiny belly. I loved my friend, and knew in my heart that he’d never
betray or do anything that would ever hurt me, especially now. I caressed my abdomen.
The angels watched me as my thoughts floated to the tiny life inside. Abigail wrapped her arms around me in a loving hug. “Give Freddie some time, Beth. He’ll come around,” she whispered sweetly. Her words were comforting, but not enough for me.
“I only want to show him that I’m okay,” I replied. Faith and Emmanuel gave one another a questioning glance.
“We get it, but not now, Elizabeth. You mustn’t be anywhere near him and do not listen to his pleas. He’s been marked and will provoke you to help him fulfill the dark one’s mission. Let him be!” Emmanuel’s voice suddenly deepened in bitterness. All their fussing was starting to irritate me. I didn’t care about their nonsense excuses about branding or markings, I knew Freddie best, and in my heart, he needed me as much as I needed him. All I wanted was to see my friend.
“I will not stand by and watch him rot away! Freddie is my dear friend and he has every right to know, from me, that I’d never abandon him! If you need to escort me to wherever it is that you are hiding him, then fine! Tag along if you must! But with or without you, I will find him and go to him myself!” I growled and as I did, a beam of light ruptured our sight, shattering our quarrel in a blink of an eye. With the same beautiful magnitude, a hail of golden dust poured over our heads as the manifestation of Archangel Armisael reappeared, its hair billowing beautifully around its visage.
“Elizabeth, my child, you are sad,” Its voice harmonized.
“Armisael, I only want to see Freddie. My heart breaks for him and I can’t stand to be here and not be able to do anything for him,” I stuttered staring into its brilliant eyes.
“Understand, child, that there is nothing you can do for him and that you may be putting yourself and the child in harm’s way. Go, if your heart wills it. The child you carry is pure, emanating the universal power of love, only his pure soul may save our fallen brother. Go to him, Elizabeth. I will guide and protect you.” Armisael stretched its arms out toward the far end of the hall. All the other angels obediently stepped aside as I held my head up and walked to the end of the hall.
With the archangel and the rest of the legion guiding me toward Freddie’s chamber, I took a deep breath, bracing myself for what was behind the bolted door. With a light twist of the ancient steel handle, Armisael opened the door for me, stepping aside to let me in. “I must warn you, keep some distance. His soul is dark.”
I sucked back air as Freddie’s bruised body lay slumped and chained against the stone floors, wearing nothing more than shredded scraps of clothing. Impulsively, I ran to him, crouching beside him, wiping away a small tear that inched down my cheek. Abigail was the first to panic.
“Elizabeth, no!” she shouted, trying to stop me, but Armisael put out an arm to stop the young angel from pursuing me.
“Leave her be. It’s exactly what our fallen brother needs.” Armisael’s heavenly voice sang. Meanwhile, Faith and Emmanuel remained with a concerned look on their faces, while Matthew stayed out of sight behind the doorway.
“Freddie,” I barely whispered, reluctantly reaching my hand to his head. “Freddie,” I rustled his name. My friend’s face twitched in pain forcing his eyes open. To my horror, his once beautiful grey eyes were milky and veiled with a thick slimy film. His skin matched his eyes. Freddie stared at me for some time. Stared, but without emotion or recognition. His thoughts lost and empty like the caverns of his pupils.
Cautiously, I touched his hand. He jerked it away, cocking his head strangely to one side. I bit my lip, determined to make him see me and recognize me if it was the last thing I’d do on this earth. “Don’t be afraid, Freddie. It’s me, Bethy. Your friend. I promise I will not hurt you or leave you here like this.” I choked back emotions. Freddie didn’t need a whimpering weakling like me right now; he needed me to stay focused and strong—for us both. Again, I gently caressed his hand, but this time he didn’t pull away. With slow movements, I raised his hand and placed it on my belly. I could clearly hear the gasps of the angels who watched us from the doorway.
“Do you feel that, Freddie?” I smiled, licking the salty tears that dripped over my trembling lips. Freddie’s diluted eyes stared blankly at my belly as his breaths grew shallower.
“This is why I need you. I can’t do this without you. I love you, Freddie. Come back to me,” I whispered, placing a small kiss on his bruised cheek. It was apparent that the angels, if they breathed at all, were holding their breaths as I placed a kiss on Freddie’s face. Turning to look at Armisael, he nodded for me to come.
I started to get up off the floor when Freddie’s head twitched and twisted in a most bizarre way. Something in him seemed to have awakened. Holding a firm grip around my wrist, he snarled at me from his cut-up lips, as I tried to back away from him and free myself. In an instant, an unforeseen strength shielded me from Freddie’s grip, snapping the marked angel’s wrist back awkwardly in an agonizing way that made his body jerk from the unseen powerful force. Faith and the angels attacked Freddie, pulling us apart and pinning the transitioning angel to the ground. Armisael put an arm around my shoulder escorting me quickly out of the chamber. The fear that beat in my chest gripped my vocal cords as I couldn’t believe what my friend was about to do. It was no use. Freddie was gone. Lost. I lost my best friend forever, my thoughts floated away as did the archangel Armisael.
“Why didn’t you insist on not allowing her to go in there, Faith! He could have hurt her, or worse, killed her, even with his baby in her womb!” Abigail flailed her arms in the air as we made our way back into the circular room, still complaining to the others.
“I don’t understand what Armisael was thinking! Just because it’s Freddie’s child, doesn’t mean that as a marked angel he’d have feelings for the infant,” Emmanuel chimed in.
Meanwhile, I sat with my head hanging between my knees, numbly listening to the angels lamenting. I didn’t care that they continued to believe that it was Freddie’s baby I was carrying. I wouldn’t let them know. There was no need to explain it to them now. All I wanted was Michael to return.
“If Michael were here, he’d have never allowed this to happen!” Abigail stated matter-of-factly. At the sound of Michael’s name, I lifted my head, my eyes swollen and rimmed red.
“Where is he?” I mumbled silencing them all.
“Who, Elizabeth?” Faith turned her attention to me.
“Michael. Where is he? Why isn’t he here?” I suddenly stood up worried at the thoughts that started to occupy my mind.
“Maybe his pissed at you for getting knocked-up!” Matt growled at me. The others gave him a cautious look, while I imagined myself throwing knives at him instead.
“He’s still at Eden, isn’t he? Wasn’t he with you last?” Faith stepped closer.
“No, he left the next morning to meet up with you, Faith.”
“Matt, did he tell you where he was going?” Faith asked.
Matthew only shook his head no. My heart dipped into my stomach. Each angel turned to the other. Not one made a sound or moved from their stance.
Angels are often silent, but they are listening to every thought that stirs our soul.
~ Unknown
THE TRINITY
This time it was Michael whose head remained tucked between his shoulders, still in his physical manifestation, ashamed at what he’d done.
“Your actions have shamed us all, Mikael. Allowing you to return in human form was a grave mistake on the council’s behalf.” Erez pointed his arthritic finger at the kneeling archangel. Slowly he walked around Michael, watching him closely, wondering what to do with the angel who had defied all sacred rules. All members of the council present, save Philip, whispered to one another, each one’s expression wary and distraught.
“It has been decided among the members of the Holy Trinity that you have committed acts against the Great Work, disrupting the balance and leaving Safe Haven open to Trackers. Because of you
r actions and your constraint within the council, the South Watchtower will be unguarded until sentencing!” Erez’s frail voice hardened. The council’s voices began humming, as their unclear words discussed the travesty that had occurred under their watch, as Michael remained silent. Within seconds, a humming of a different sort began to escalate around the room, silencing the entire council, pulling everyone in a voiceless trance.
Everyone remained frozen: Erez, Tobias, Bricius, Philip and all the members . . . all but one, Michael who slowly lifted his tired eyes, then his head. Through the haze of a port-key, Monad, a single being who holds a direct link and a manifestation of the ultimate universal force, appeared before the stunned members of the Trinity. This absolute being, all-knowing and powerful, brought the council immediately to their knees. Monad, a presence who emanated nothing but love and light—free of all emotion or human attributes, floated toward Michael. The manifestation did not utter a word, but spoke to the archangel telepathically as the council listened attentively.
“Mikael, rise,” his voice commanded. Michael rose to his feet, his eyes connecting with the hazy manifestation before him.
“It is one thing for an angel to procreate with a human. It is expected of angels to bring the human consciousness to elevated levels, connecting the universal force and allowing souls to evolve, but an archangel! An archangel, my son . . . that is against all rules and strictly prohibited! In all your missions Mikael, I have never seen you fail or fall. Now, you have fallen in love with a human. And not just any human, but one who is of sacred bloodline—the Key.” Monad’s voice resonated in the minds of everyone present.
Michael nodded his head remorsefully at what he’d done, believing it was for the greater good. Monad gently placed his hand over Michael’s heart, which allowed the being a closer look into the archangel’s time together with his beloved Elizabeth. The being carefully pulled his hand away from Michael, astounded at what he had witnessed.
