by Amy Lignor
“Have faith,” Michael replied, reaching out to pull her into a hug. “Bad decisions happen, child. But our faith in you, and yours in us, will lead you in the right direction.” Michael stepped back and smiled. “Maybe before you leave you would like to say hello to another friend?”
Emily spoke quickly, “Yes…I need to see Matt.”
Michael cast his eyes to the ground. “No, Emily. You can’t see Matt. He needs to talk to Gabriel.”
Emily wanted to push the issue, but knew there was no point in even trying. She and Matt would be kept away from each other until this was done. She was told that before she even went down there. Wiping the tears from her eyes, Emily sat back against the cushions wishing she could find a way out of her predicament.
Without a word, Michael pointed at the silver door that had suddenly appeared and stepped back.
Standing up, feeling the weight of the human world on her shoulders, Emily walked through.
A smile instantly appeared, as she found herself standing in the garden where she had always played. The familiar scent of heavenly flowers filled her soul. People waved to her as they busied themselves with reading, playing sports and laughing with their families. She waved back and took off, racing across the field of daffodils rushing to the big oak tree standing in the center of the meadow. Laughter came from her soul as she tossed away the human thoughts that had weighed down her soul, and lived for the freedom of the moment.
“Well, look who we have here,” Saint Francis said as he appeared from behind the tree; his human shape was just beginning to take form.
Emily stopped and smiled at her friend, watching several joyful animals wrap themselves into a small bundle. She could make out the faces of rabbits, tigers, wolves and monkeys—everything that lived and breathed in the animal kingdom—as they came together to form the wonderful man before her. Even after witnessing the individual transformations of her friends and teachers countless times, Emily was still awestruck at the brilliance of it all.
Michael had told her that the ‘flesh-covered’ shell was the species that Matt and Emily were going to be a part of, so they needed to get used to it right away. But the heavenly transformations were way cooler to behold—with each entity having their own special way to achieve the human form.
Emily raced into Francis’ outstretched arms. He whispered in her ear, “Child, I’ve missed you so much. How are you?”
“I’ve missed you, too,” she said, clinging to him. “Who’s been helping you since we’ve been gone?”
Francis laughed. “Oh, there’s always a list of helpers for the animals, my child. I haven’t been alone these past few hours. But, of course,” he continued, with a grandfather’s adoration, “no one is as good at taking care of my animals as you and young Matthew.”
Emily grinned.
“Have you made any new friends down below?” Francis asked.
Her grin faded. “No, no animal friends either. I wouldn’t blame them, though. They probably don’t want to be anywhere near those people.”
“Well, make sure you look around. And pay attention to them. They know far more about the facts of life than any human can teach you.” He smiled and patted her arm. “You just missed Matt, by the way.”
Emily stared up at him. “Where did he go? I need to talk to him.”
“I don’t know. He left with Gabriel. They were deep in conversation. He seems to be having a hard time down there.”
“I’m sure,” she mumbled. “You have to be down there, Francis. The world seems to rush by so fast that it’s hard to do—or say—anything right. And, the manners! There are some seriously rude idiots down there, Francis! I thought manners were something we all had.”
The kindly saint placed his hand on her shoulder. “I miss manners, too. We all do. And as far as quick is concerned, human life has always been that way, my dear. Just remember to stop and smell the roses once in a while.”
Emily wrinkled up her nose. “What does that mean?”
“Just a little expression I’m trying out.” He winked. “I hope it catches on. It means…take the time to enjoy your life.”
“Is it really that easy?”
“Of course, it’s that easy. He made a paradise so that humans could live as wonderfully down there as He does up here. Nothing’s too good for them…or you. By the way, how’s the cat?”
Jumping up quickly, Emily kissed him on the cheek. “I have to go. I’ll see you soon.”
“I’m in every creature’s eyes! Just take the time to look,” he yelled, as she ran back across the field.
Francis smiled. “She’s going to make a wonderful daughter someday.”
The large robe fell to the ground and the animals burst forth into the fields.
***
Emily raced out the door, nearly running over Michael and Gabriel who were standing in the hallway. She slowed her pace and shouted back over her shoulder, “Is Matt okay?”
Gabriel nodded and took a step away from the rushing girl. “Just help him. He’ll do all right in the end.”
Emily turned back, waving her hand in front of the marble wall. The solid partition quickly evaporated, and she somersaulted through the mist and into the clouds below.
***
Michael stared at her acrobatics as Emily leapt into the air, and attempted to find some sort of peace.
The clouds turned thunderous around the glass walkway, mirroring his gray thoughts. He worried about the two stray souls he’d sent out into the world. “Was he okay?” he whispered to the warrior beside him.
Gabriel set down his bronze sword and picked up the book beside him. Sitting in the chair that Emily had conjured, Gabriel set his spectacles on his nose. “He’s a warrior through and through.”
“I know that. But is that a good thing?” Michael laughed.
Gabriel looked up at the healer over the rims of his frivolous glasses. “It’s always good to have the fighting spirit when one is around a powerful angel, my brother.”
Michael snorted. “There might be a little too much power for the little ones to handle.”
“I wouldn’t worry—my student is not going for sainthood. One Matthew in that group is quite enough for all of us. Besides…Emily’s smart…she’ll help him control all that power.”
“I hope so,” Michael replied.
“You raised a sensible, stable—albeit, stubborn—girl. She won’t let her emotions outweigh her common sense. And Emily certainly has enough sense for the two of them.”
Michael nodded, as Gabriel transformed into his usual amber tornado.
The gleaming bronze sword became the center, as the flames wrapped around the weapon like a blanket of fire. With a rush of scorching wind, Gabriel disappeared into his room to finish his book.
With a heavy sigh, Michael wiped the few stray embers from his now slightly singed robe, and rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. “I really hate it when he does that.”
Laughter came down from above and flowed through the hallway, offering comfort to His frustrated archangel.
CHAPTER SIX
Liz woke to an odd mixture of gentle purring and the distant rumbling of thunder. The strange numbness began to leave her body, as her eyes slowly opened to witness a black and white cat staring up at her.
Smiling wide, she put her hand out to the animal sitting comfortably in her lap. A rush of oxygen flooded her lungs, as the painful headache finally disappeared.
The cat’s small, pink tongue felt like sandpaper against her fingers, and Liz giggled. “Well, now. How did you get in here?” The cat answered with an intelligent purr. “You must be hungry.”
Slowly getting up from the rocking chair, Liz steadied herself for a moment. Waiting for the tingling in her legs to cease, Liz stared down at the mysterious kitten before scanning her flesh for any bruises that might have appeared during her lost hours. “Well kitty—looks like it wasn’t too bad this time. I guess everything’s right with the world.” Liz sighed as
the lovely image of a green field with daffodils faded from her mind. “I guess the good Lord gave me a break tonight.”
The fur ball offered a meow, and Liz laughed. “Oh, maybe it wasn’t Him—maybe you deserve the credit, huh?” The small knowing eyes looked back at her and she could swear, for just a moment, that the cat had actually smiled.
Walking slowly to the bar, she stopped to search the mirror on the wall for any signs of wounds or bruising to her face. People would certainly think this was strange, but Liz had gotten to the point where this was a natural morning occurrence for her. In fact, she’d grown used to the sight of her own blood.
Even Faith had gotten used to her unexplained injuries. She’d wake up in the middle of the night to see Liz’s skin transformed into a canvas of bruised flesh. She had stopped questioning Liz, preferring to sweep her friend’s supernatural batterings under the rug.
After one such incident, Liz was up in the loft and overheard Daniel tell Faith the story of how he’d met Liz on a rainy night. Later that evening, Faith told her that she’d come to the conclusion that Liz was some kind of fairy who entered another realm at night to kill dragons, roast demons and save kingdoms from destruction. And Faith was absolutely fine with that.
For eons, the Irish people had thought up mystical tales for what Liz had no explanation for. She knew that the angels were most likely punishing her by sending her into other people’s nightmares, but she definitely liked Faith’s explanation a whole lot better. Loosening the super tight ribbon, Liz let her thick mass of curls tumble over the kitten’s head like an auburn veil. In the kitchen, she took two small wooden bowls off the shelf and placed a few bits of cured beef into one, filling the other with milk.
Placing the kitten on the floor, she watched it devour the food as if there was a lion’s stomach that needed to be filled trapped inside the small feline body. “Slow down,” Liz laughed. “You don’t want it coming back up on ya.”
Once again a rumble of thunder shook the cabin and sent the cat scrambling under a wooden cupboard. Liz giggled. “It’s okay,” she spoke softly. “It’s just a storm.”
After trying to coax the small, scared creature from its hiding place, Liz backed away to glance out the window. Her sudden scream sent the cat once again racing for cover.
A flash of lightning illuminated the face of a man staring back through the glass. Trying to collect herself and slow her beating heart, Liz shouted at the stranger, “We’re closed!”
As the figure withdrew from the window, Liz heard a loud knock then muffled conversation behind the door. However, the incessant thunder made it impossible to decipher what was being said.
Her heart was beating faster than the raindrops slamming against the cabin, but she slowly inched closer to the door.
“Please,” a voice begged. “We’re lost. I’m begging you, miss. Please let us in until the storm dies down.”
Liz let out another scream as she was suddenly tugged backward.
“Are you crazy?” Faith snarled.
Liz grasped her heart. “Saint Mary! You scared me!”
“Do not open that door!”
Liz’s fear was quickly turning to anger. “Faith, you can’t refuse a person in need.”
“I can,” she shouted. “Believe me, Liz, I know better than you about the temptations of a man. Not to mention, if we do cry for help, no one will ever hear us screaming in this storm.”
“Please, miss. I beg you,” the voice yelled from outside.
Liz swatted Faith’s shoulder. “I can’t refuse. You know that.”
“I’ll remember to carve that on your headstone when you’re left for dead.”
“You’re terrible. Maybe you should try living up to your name,” Liz said as she weighed the decision in her head before opening the door.
The wind raged as Liz struggled to close the door. Suddenly, a second man appeared entering the cabin on the heels of his companion.
The men turned and threw their bodies against the door, closing out the howling wind. With a quick move, the taller figure stood up straight spraying Faith with water. The smaller man stayed hunched over, desperately trying to dry himself with a soaked handkerchief.
As Faith began to yell at the men, Liz stood back and studied them. The larger one was young, no more than nineteen. His face was angular and strong, like a chiseled statue that an artist had worked on for years. His hair was long in the back, short in the front, and light brown in color. His eyes were as green as emeralds. He was smiling as Faith berated him for dampening her warm clothes. His sparkling white teeth were practically blinding.
Turning away slightly from Faith’s scolding, he bowed at the waist before offering Liz a kindly greeting. “Miss, I don’t know how to thank you for opening that door, but I promise you won’t regret it. We are not looking for trouble.”
His eyes moved back to Faith who was now standing by the bar, holding a broom in her clenched fist. “Although I think we may have found some.”
“Very funny,” Faith snarled. She looked like a warrior, ready to spring into action at the slightest sign of danger.
He bowed to Faith as well. “I assure you, we are not bringing trouble with us, either.” His eyes lit up as he offered her a wink. “We’re apparently just the luckiest men on God’s green earth.”
Faith stood perfectly still. “Sir, we have a fire. We have cheese, bread, water—but nothing else,” she said firmly establishing the boundaries of their hospitality.
The stranger stepped forward; a smile played at the corners of his mouth. “That sounds like a deal. We appreciate it.”
Liz nodded at Faith. “Food, I think.”
With a disgusted look, Faith set down the broom and rolled her eyes before marching into the kitchen.
“And, this is?” Liz asked, turning to the other man. “Are you his servant?”
Rich, deep laughter filled the cabin. “I can be anything you want, if I may also get some food and drink.”
Liz smiled at him. Her heart felt lighter as she listened to the charming tone of the young man’s voice. “Are you his servant, then?”
“Might as well be, considering I do all the work.”
Faith entered the room with a tray of food. “Work, you say? Well, we have quite a bit of work that needs doing around here, boy…if you need a job.”
Liz laughed. “You’re not a very nice hostess, Faith. These are our guests.”
“Paying guests?”
The taller man raised his glass in the air. “We’ll definitely pay. Of course, if I travel much further without the company of a beautiful girl like you, I think I’ll be paying a much heavier price.”
Faith rolled her eyes at his ridiculous declaration. “Don’t be silly, I think you and your friend make a lovely couple. Sit. Dry off. I’ll make plates up for you in the kitchen.”
“Let me help.”
Faith raised her eyebrows. “I must know the name of the man who wants to help a woman fetch a meal, because this is surely a first.”
“Charles Faire,” he replied. “My servant over there goes by the name of Jason.”
“Welcome, Charlie,” Faith said as she smirked while pointing to the kitchen. “After you.”
“No, I insist…wisdom before beauty,” he said with an impish grin.
Faith remained silent, and Liz shook her head in disbelief. She never thought it would happen. For the first time ever, her quick-witted friend had no stinging retort.
Jason headed toward her rocking chair by the fire. “May I?”
“Please,” Liz replied, stifling another giggle. “Sorry, I can’t believe that I’ve lived long enough to meet a male who is as full of himself as my friend is.”
“Funny to you,” he said. “But I have to listen to his over-indulged ego every minute of the day. I knew this would be a perfect place for him to stop the second I saw it through the storm. The fire was being reflected in the mirrors on your walls, and Charles likes nothing better than to admire h
imself from every direction.”
“Faith put those up so she could make sure that she looked good from every possible angle.”
Jason joined in with her laughter. “I’m surprised Charles hasn’t strapped one to the back of his horse’s head. He has them in all his carriages.”
“Carriages?” Liz remarked as she gave him the drink he’d requested. “Your family must be very wealthy.”
“Long story,” he replied, taking the mug from her hand.
As his fingers brushed hers, a shiver ran down Liz’s spine. An unexpected heat suddenly raced through her body making her legs feel like jelly. Quickly, she sat down beside the fireplace and took a deep breath, trying to calm her rapid heartbeat. “Well…I love a good story.”
He brought the hot tea to his full, red lips and took a sip. Watching his long fingers wrap around the mug, Liz’s stomach started to flutter.
She tried not to study him, but it was difficult. His hands were large, yet graceful, like the hands of a musician. The color in his cheeks was a deep warm red, accenting his tanned skin perfectly. And the layers of dark, thick hair that framed his symmetrical features made him look like a portrait created by a master’s hand. Heat invaded her skin when his soft, brown eyes caught her gaze.
As her body began to tremble, Liz looked away and stared at the kitten now stretched out on her lap.
Jason pushed himself back against the chair, and gazed up at the ceiling. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. His deep voice cracked when he spoke, “I have no money, so my story will have to serve as payment for your kindness…if that’s acceptable.”
“Of course,” Liz whispered. Her curiosity was aroused at the thought of hearing a new story from a beguiling stranger.
“We come from Dublin,” Jason began. “We were raised in the city in a wealthy home. But don’t get the wrong idea, the stock Charles comes from…well, they don’t deserve the riches they have. Crafty—sometimes, illegal means—were used to fund their extravagant lifestyle.”
Liz watched him carefully, noticing that his perfect hands twitched, and the muscles underneath his white shirt tightened as he spoke. His rigid posture looked like he was suddenly being tormented by Satan himself.
