They stepped out the back door into the yard. Tall, slim American beech and white oak trees, branches and leaves gently swaying in the breeze, edged the far side of the yard. Isabel led Julia to a leaf-covered path on the easternmost side of the property.
From the house, Julia had not been able to see the path nestled behind the dip in the lawn. It was narrow and well-kept, all the branches and growth trimmed back to keep the path clear. True to her word, Isabel walked along as though she were on the runway—head high, everything about her exuding refinement and elegance.
Julia snuck glances into the woods, wondering where the wolf might be, and if it would make an appearance. She knew it was the same wolf she’d seen in the Second Realm, but that didn’t stop her heart from skipping a beat when the sound of an animal scurrying through the underbrush reached her ears.
“Alex would play here when he was younger,” Isabel said without breaking her stride. “He would climb the trees, toss stones in the lake, and build forts with the deadfall.”
“Where does it come out?” Julia asked. She let all thoughts of her wolf slip from her mind as they continued their easy gait along the path.
“Just a bit further—you’ll see it. It’s a bit of an oasis. A creek runs onto the property from the northeast side, feeding into the lake.”
Within a few minutes, the forest became less dense and opened up to a small clearing filled with wildflowers. Mrs. Williams stopped at the edge of the forest, closed her eyes, and inhaled. Julia stepped up beside her and did the same.
“It’s so beautiful.” As Julia scanned the small field of blossoms, the sound of trickling water reached her ears. She reveled in the smells of the wildflowers and the grass, the sounds of the leaves rustling in the wind, and the feel of the breeze and the sun upon her face. The beauty of it all filled her. “No wonder he came here.”
Isabel smiled, and Julia saw the sadness creasing her eyes. “He would talk to himself all the time, you know when he was a little boy.”
“Oh?”
“I worried at first. He had whole conversations.”
Julia almost laughed, when she realized Isabel was looking directly at her with a dark, purposeful glint in her eye.
“He looked to the clouds and chattered when he was a toddler. Gibberish—he wasn’t speaking in sentences and knew very few whole words, but there he was, eyes to the sky, yammering away. I asked him who he was talking to. He stopped, looked straight at me and said, clear as day, ‘The angels.’”
Julia caught her breath, causing Isabel to raise her eyebrows and nod her head. A train of goose bumps made a journey across Julia’s limbs and she realized she had given Alex’s mother the confirmation she was looking for.
Isabel stepped into the grassy field. She leaned over and plucked a bright yellow flower, sniffing it as she straightened.
Julia stepped up beside her, scanning the beautiful scenery, imagining a young Alex playing among the flowers. If she’s asking me what I know, she thought, I don’t know what to tell her. I don’t even know what I know.
-The best learning is often done whilst listening, girl. Pay attention, I believe the woman has a point,- Michael answered.
Julia, now accustomed to hearing Michael’s voice without anyone else hearing, didn’t flinch or even blink. She focused on Isabel, patiently waiting for her to continue.
“None of this surprises you, Julia. Somehow, I knew it wouldn’t,” Isabel said, lifting her eyes to the sky. “On his fourth birthday, he blew out the candles on his cake and happily announced that he had wished for his angel to come home to him. His conversations with the heavens slowed after that, and came to a complete stop just before he began school.”
Julia reached over and gave Isabel’s hand a light squeeze, and Isabel returned it in kind. There were few sensations as comforting as the squeeze of a loved one’s hand.
“I was relieved at first. Nobody would think my son was insane—myself included. As the years went by, the memory of it faded even for me. That is, until the day he came home with you.”
The clouds drifted across the sky as Isabel spoke. Julia saw them, but didn’t really register their passing until she saw something sparkle from above them. She focused on the spot, but wasn’t able to see clearly what it was. It was as if it was shielded from her. She decided that, if someone was watching, she was glad it was from the clouds, not from the trees.
“I remember the day well,” Julia said in an effort to show that she was listening.
“I knew you were the one he had wished for, all those years before.” Mrs. Williams looked into Julia’s eyes for a moment, and then continued. “He began to keep journals, staying up late, sometimes all night, just to try to write it all down. He became obsessed; he had a mission. He seemed to know he had limited time.”
Julia pulled her eyes from the glistening spot in the clouds and saw that Isabel was crying. Not knowing what else to do, Julia patted her hand.
“There is something I must ask you.”
“What is it, Isabel?”
“I know you’ve settled in here.” Isabel paused long enough for Julia to recognize that there was a “but” coming. “My house is so large, so lonely.”
Julia stared at Alex’s mother for a moment, surprised, yet not. “I do love it here,” she started.
“You could keep the lake house,” Isabel cut in. “Use it as your getaway whenever you like. But with Alex gone, the house is just…hollow.”
Julia’s heart ached for the woman that was more a mother to her than anyone else, but she just couldn’t see herself moving into that huge mansion and having her every movement scrutinized. Not to mention that it would certainly make the practice sessions a lot more inconvenient.
“I’m sorry, Isabel,” Julia said, and it was an effort to keep the wobble from her voice. “I’ve lived in my own space for so long now. It just wouldn’t be comfortable.”
Mrs. Williams stood, straight and proud as ever, but her eyes told a different tale. They were heartbroken, deflated.
“I had to ask, or I would never be able to live with myself. Let’s go back to the house. I would like a hot cup of tea, if you’ll allow me to stay a while longer.”
“You are welcome here anytime, Isabel. I mean that.” Julia linked her arm with Isabel’s and they walked slowly back up the path together. “I hope you understand…”
Isabel waved her hand and shook her head. “I understand completely.”
Julia’s step faltered. Not from the pain of losing Alex, but from the pain of empathy for the woman beside her. She wished she could lighten Isabel’s heart somehow.
When they arrived back at the house, Julia thought it seemed a little bit smaller for a moment, but the sadness soon lifted. With their tea poured, they sat in their original positions as though none of it had happened, Isabel discussing the weather, Julia listening intently, glad for her company.
“I’m going to Rome, Julia.”
Julia snapped to attention, startled. “Why?”
“Let’s call it a spiritual journey. Alex’s death left me with many questions. Almost as many as his life.” Isabel held her teacup in one hand, the saucer directly underneath it with the other. She took one last sip and set them both down, pushed her chair back from the table, and stood. “Thank you ever so much for your hospitality, dear.”
“Are you sure you can’t join me for supper?” Julia set her own teacup down and walked Isabel to the door.
“Thank you, no. I must get home and make my travel arrangements.” She paused halfway through the door, hand on the knob, and turned back to face Julia. “Be careful, Julia. Don’t let Alex’s sacrifice be for naught.”
“You can count on that, Isabel.” Julia smiled, embracing her briefly. “It’s good to see you. When will you be back from Rome?”
“No more than two weeks. My staff can’t function without instructions any longer than that.”
“I’ll see you when you return, then,” Julia said with a wa
rm smile, stepping back through the door.
The car pulled away, and a tear slid down Julia’s cheek as she watched it go.
She turned to go back into the kitchen and found herself face to face with an angel she didn’t recognize. He looked like he might have just stepped out of a photo shoot, with his smoldering eyes and his olive-toned skin. But his presence wasn’t friendly, it was intrusive. She pedaled back a step and frowned.
“Who are you?” she demanded.
“The question is,” he said with wings half-raised, taking a step and reclaiming the distance between them, “who are you?”
Julia stood her ground, setting her shoulders back and raising her chin. She looked him directly in the eyes, and the name seemed to spill from her before she knew she was speaking. “Zachariah.”
He nodded curtly, and his wings settled. His eyes were deep and dark, and as Julia looked into them, she could see his rage and his pain.
The pieces fell together in her mind. Michael had said there were others, fathered by Gabriel and Zach-ariah. Charlie had been killed and Zachariah bore the pain of that loss in his eyes. Julia placed a hand on his shoulder, instinctively careful not to touch the wing.
“I’m sorry. I loved her, too.”
Confusion flickered across his face and his eyes fell to her hand. “You should not…”
“Zachariah.” Though Michael’s voice wasn’t raised, anger laced his words. “Go.”
Julia’s hand hovered where Zachariah’s shoulder had been for a few seconds before she realized he was gone. She spun on her heel, looking for Michael. She was alone.
“You have placed us all in great jeopardy.” Michael turned his back on Zachariah and lowered his head.
-No. You have.- Zachariah answered internally, ensuring only Michael would hear. Aloud, he said, “I am sorry.”
-How so?- Michael asked silently as his head lifted slowly and he turned to face the other Archangel.
-I was sent there. By Uriel. He wants to know why you have taken such a strong interest in this one.-
-I see,- Michael answered. -He must have known I would catch you. Go back to him. Tell him I caught you before you could interact with her.-
-I will do as you say. You need to know this, Michael. She touched me without reaction. The energy surge should have had an effect. She felt nothing. It is as though she is fully one of us.-
-She has adapted, then—my touch affected her once. I will look into it. What is Uriel’s frame of mind?-
-He is angry for being left out of your plan. He is suspicious of everything and everyone. He had been working with Ariel, giving him orders.-
-Interesting, and surprising. Let us have a conversation for him to hear,- Michael said silently, then cleared his throat. “You are behaving like a child. A human child. I expect better of you.”
“My girl was a pure spirit. She should not have been killed. Why was she not afforded the same protection as this one?” Zachariah waved an angry arm toward Julia, visible through the clouds in the scene below.
“Your girl was protected, you know this.” Michael bowed his head. “I regret that I was not there myself, Brother. She was surely one of the strongest, most pure we’ve had.”
“She was.” Zachariah lowered his wings on his back in acquiescence. “I regret confronting your girl.”
Michael rested a hand on Zachariah’s shoulder. “Forgiven.”
Zachariah glanced at Michael, gave him a short nod, and disappeared.
Gabriel stepped toward Michael, seemingly from nowhere. - Uriel must suspect Zachariah to send him into such an obvious trap.-
-Agreed. What would cause Ariel to do his bidding?-
Gabriel shrugged. -We have all wondered about Uriel for so long. He was probably trying to determine Uriel’s reasoning.-
-Or his motives.- Michael turned toward the scene below, the front hallway where Julia had been standing when Zachariah appeared before her. She was no longer there. “Do you see…?”
“Are you looking for me, Michael?” Julia asked from behind both Archangels.
XXXIV
MICHAEL swept toward Julia, grabbed her by the arm, and whisked her away from the heavens. She didn’t have time to blink before she was standing in a familiar grassy field with Michael. He towered over her; his shoulders appeared broader, his being more imposing. She stepped back, snatching her arm free from his grasp.
“You should not have gone there,” Michael said, his voice echoing across the field. “How did you go there?”
“I followed you.” Julia frowned. It was unsettling to see the Archangel Michael shaken. “I heard you tell Zachariah to go. When I looked for you, you were gone. Usually there is some trace of you I can see thinly, but not this time.”
“You followed me.” Michael’s gaze was as intense as it ever had been. “And you heard me tell Zachariah to go.”
Too late, Julia realized her mistake. She had been eavesdropping on Michael’s private conversations, and now she had just let him know she could. “Okay. I haven’t let you in on everything I sense, or do. But you haven’t exactly been spewing out the information, either, Michael.”
Michael began to pace a wide circle around Julia. She watched him, turning as he circled her, until it became dizzying, then she stood still. She realized she could see him all the way around without moving if she focused her senses properly. He paced around her one more time, and then stopped directly in front of her.
“Do you see what you did, girl?”
“What I did?”
“I made you dizzy—an experience of the human body.” Michael’s tone changed to that of patient instructor. “You adapted immediately.”
“You’re doing it again,” Julia huffed. “Changing the subject. Michael, I am one of you. Please trust me.”
Michael’s face washed of emotion. He seemed to look straight through Julia, but she could tell he was calculating, though she had no idea what. Finally, he smiled. “All right, girl. No more secrets.”
“Finally,” she said, though she couldn’t help but feel like she might regret the fate that “no more secrets” might bring. She knew knowledge could often be more of a burden than ignorance.
“We may as well be comfortable,” Michael said. Suddenly they were both back inside her house, sitting on the couch in front of the crackling fire.
“Why here?” Julia asked with an edge to her voice. It grated on her that she wasn’t able to move the way Michael did, and further irked her that he did it frequently. And without warning.
“Your spirit is at ease here. Also, I have many protections in place. We can speak freely.”
Julia noticed the steaming cup of coffee beside her, on the end table, and picked it up. “Thank you.”
Michael waited for her to set the cup back down before he began.
“I told you there are twelve of you. Children. Bred to create balance in a darkening world.”
Julia nodded.
“They have always been the bright lights of the Earth. Shining spirits who tend to do great things. Many have been great leaders. Many would have been had their time not been cut short.”
Julia thought about who those people might have been. She blurted out the first one that came to mind. “JFK?”
“No.” Michael chuckled. “Common misconception. But his son…”
“Really?” Julia’s heart sped up. She had always suspected someone was behind that plane crash. Now she was certain.
“Yes.” Michael stood up and walked to the bookshelf, running a finger along the spines. “There have been thousands. Hundreds of thousands. Some die in infancy. That is not the only reason you are here, though.”
“What other reason am I here?” Julia bit her lip, afraid of the answer, yet more curious than she could stand.
“To help me,” Michael said softly. “I am the Protector—the highest of all the Archangels and the only one who can be everywhere and see everything. The population of Earth has compounded so quickly ov
er the last few hundred years, as has the technology. I am stretching myself too thin.”
Julia studied Michael. He was before her as solidly as he ever had been, but she remembered several times when he was almost transparent. “Quite literally, I think. I have seen it. You are in too many places at once.”
“Yes, and it’s dangerous. I have missed things I should have seen. Disasters. Deaths.” Michael flexed his wings, then resettled them on his back, a motion that was rife with frustration. “We need an eighth. We have been watching the Twelve come and go much more carefully these last couple of centuries, hoping there would be one able to join us.”
“You think I am that one?” Julia’s voice rose as she spoke, until it was shrill, almost panicked. “How is this even possible? I am still half-human, Michael.”
“Please be calm, girl, and hear me out.”
“There’s more?” Julia sat back against the couch, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes for a moment. Michael’s words echoed in her head as the weight of them settled on her. She was to be an Archangel. All of the arguments against that bubbled to the surface.
She’d had impure thoughts. She’d been jealous. In fact, she figured she’d pretty much covered all of the so-called deadly sins at some point in her life. Wouldn’t these things disqualify her?
“You are not being sainted, girl, and you are not being judged by your human standards,” Michael said. He shook his head. “It isn’t as complicated as it’s made out to be.”
Julia thought about his words. She knew she had done some things in order to survive. While living on the streets in her youth, she had once stolen an orange from a local market. She’d lied. She’d…well, she’d done a lot of things she wasn’t proud of. But since she had opened the restaurant, she had tried to make up for those things. She shopped at that same market, even though it was a forty-five minute drive from her home. She donated groceries to the food bank every week. She tried to never hurt anyone.
“That’s the key right there,” Michael said. “Even in your destitution you have never made decisions that intentionally hurt others.”
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