by Margaret
The truth would not only risk Rachel’s life, it would risk the entire angelic mission here on Earth. But he still needed answers.
Inside the shop was warmth and the fragrant smell of coffee. They sat down and a girl came to take their orders. She sprinted off to work her magic with the espresso machine. Sitting across from Rachel, Derek could clearly see that she was exhausted. Their coffee arrived and they both enjoyed it for a moment in companionable silence. Then Derek said, “About Zanus—”
“Lovely spring we’re having, isn’t it?” Rachel said.
Derek smiled. He could take a hint. “When I was young, I used to love this time of year. Springtime where I lived was beautiful. I would spend hours alone fishing in a little creek near our manor—home,” he amended hastily.
Rachel nodded. “Yeah, I used to fish with my dad in Lake Geneva. I baited my own hook and everything.” She sighed deeply and leaned her head on her hand as she stirred her coffee. She looked suddenly weary, lost, and forlorn.
“Believe me when I say again that I am sorry for the trouble I have caused you,” Derek said.
Rachel stared down at the coffee mug. Then she looked up at him and smiled. “And I’m sorry about that crack I made about doormen. You’re right. I was being a snob. But you shouldn’t have provoked Zanus. And Zanus shouldn’t have gone after you like that. So you’re forgiven. I have a question though—what do you have against him?”
“I just do not like the fellow,” Derek said evasively.
“But you don’t even know him,” Rachel pointed out.
“I know people like him. And they are bad, the lot of them.” That at least was the truth.
“But you don’t know me,” Rachel said, exasperated. “What I do is none of your business. Zanus thinks you’re stalking me and I’m beginning to believe he’s right.”
“Then why are you here with me?” Derek asked with a half-smile.
“I don’t know,” Rachel said, sighing and running her fingers through her hair. “I honestly don’t know.”
Derek kept silent, waited for her to continue. She didn’t look at him. She looked back at her coffee.
“Why did you tell me there was something wrong in my life?” she asked hesitantly. “How could you know anything about my life?”
She paused, then said, half joking and half serious, “You’re not CIA, are you? Homeland Security? You don’t think I’m funneling money to terrorists, do you? Because I’m not. Or is it Zanus? Do you think he’s a terrorist? I can assure you, he’s not.”
He’s more dangerous. He doesn’t just want your life. He wants your soul! Derek was desperate to tell her, but he couldn’t. He was floundering here, not really sure what to tell her. He began to realize that William had been right. Dealing with humans was not easy. He opened his mouth, but before he could reply, she went on.
“You’re not CIA,” she said. “No offense, but a CIA agent wouldn’t be this inept. What are you?” She looked at him, looked at him intensely with her beautiful eyes, and his heart thudded in his chest so loudly he was afraid she might hear it.
“I’m your doorman,” he said, trying to be funny.
She didn’t smile. A little frown line appeared in between her eyebrows.
“It’s just…I’ve had the strangest feeling that something is wrong. And I don’t know why. My job is going great and so is my love life, despite what you think. Still, I’m left with this feeling that I’m all alone with no one to turn to. I felt like this as a kid once. My mom and I got separated at the shopping mall and I was in this big scary place surrounded by strangers.”
Rachel shrugged. Then she smiled at Derek and made a joke of her own.
“Maybe my guardian angel has deserted me,” she said with a laugh.
Derek choked and spewed coffee down the front of his uniform.
“Are you all right?” Rachel picked up a napkin and dabbed at the stain.
“Went down the wrong way,” he said, when he could talk.
She stared at him. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all this. Maybe it’s for the same reason we spill our guts to people we sit next to on airplanes. You’re not stalking me, are you?”
“No, I am not stalking you,” Derek replied. “I know we just met and the fact that I am trying to protect you seems strange to you, but…well…you remind me of someone I used to know. Someone who was very dear to me.”
“Recent breakup, huh?” Rachel said, sympathetically.
“No,” said Derek. “It was a long time ago. A very long time ago.”
“It couldn’t have been that long. You’re not that old. What are you? Twenty-five?”
“I’m older than I look. Wiser, too,” he added ruefully, “although I guess I would have a hard time proving that!”
Derek looked outside. “Our taxi’s here. How is your ankle? Can you walk?”
Rachel slid off the stool and gingerly put her weight on her foot. “It’ll be sore for a day or two, but I’ll be fine. I’ll just have to wear sensible shoes to work. Bleh.” She made a face. “Thanks for the coffee. And for listening to me. But, please, from now on, no more following me into restaurant bathrooms. And no more snide comments about Zanus. My private life is my own. Off limits, even to my doorman. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” said Derek. He rose to his feet, offered her his arm for support. “I may not be a guardian angel,” he said awkwardly, “but I would like to be your friend.”
“I can always use another friend,” said Rachel.
They made the taxi ride back to the condo in silence. Rachel sat as far from him as possible. She seemed lost in thought and he didn’t disturb her. As they were pulling up in front of the condo, Rachel opened for her purse.
“I’ll pay,” she began and then she gasped. “Oh, dear God. It’s Zanus!”
The unmistakable black limo was parked in front of the building. The lights were off.
“Get down!” Rachel cried. Reaching over to Derek, she seized hold of his collar and dragged him down into the seat. “Don’t let him see you. I’m in enough trouble as it is.”
Derek wanted to ask who was stalking whom, but he kept quiet and he kept his head down. Rachel threw some money at the cab driver.
“Don’t get out,” she ordered Derek. “Wait here until he leaves.” She slammed the door shut and walked hurriedly over to the limo. Zanus got out. He looked grim and stern.
“The dude’s going to wonder why I’m stickin’ around,” the driver observed.
“Yes,” said Derek. He hated leaving Rachel, but it would be worse for her if Zanus saw him. “Drive off—slowly.”
The cab driver grinned. Apparently this was the highlight of his evening. He eased the cab out into the street. Derek risked lifting his head to take a peep out the window. Rachel and Zanus were deep in conversation. He looked taken aback. Rachel glowered at him in anger. She appeared to be giving him a tongue-lashing.
The cab crept down the block. Derek peered out the back window. He saw Rachel turn and walk into the building—alone. Zanus stood a moment on the sidewalk, staring after her, then he got into the limo and it pulled away.
Derek leaned back and relaxed.
The cab rounded the block, pulled up again in front of the building.
“What do I owe you?” Derek asked, fishing in his pocket.
“Nothin’. The lady took care of it. Say, that dude’s not a crime boss or something, is he? ’Cause he looked like trouble. You better watch your step, mister.”
“Yeah, thanks.” Derek opened the door and got out of the cab. He was walking toward the stairs that led up to the entrance when he saw a shadow detach itself from the shrubs and move toward him.
“We need to talk,” said Zanus.
“No, we do not,” said Derek and he kept walking. He glanced up at Rachel’s window. The light was on. Zanus looked up there, as well.
“She might be watching, so I’ll make this short and sweet. I know who you are,” Zanus said.
Derek
looked around with a smile. “Then you also know that I’m good at chopping up demons such as yourself and tossing you back into the slime pit where you belong.”
“You can’t win,” said Zanus. “You’re at a disadvantage. You’re an angel.” He sneered. “You’re too good for this world.”
“If you do know me,” said Derek mildly, “you know I am not all that good. I never made it into Heaven.”
He walked up the stairs, leaving Zanus standing there. Derek didn’t look back. He didn’t need to. He could feel Zanus’s eyes on him. Derek had spoken very boldly, but his heart was heavy. Zanus was right. The archfiend could use his hellacious powers and Derek was prohibited from using his power for good, and that left him at a dangerous disadvantage. He didn’t buy that argument Archangel Michael touted—about not wanting to reveal themselves. How could good win over evil when good had its hands tied? He’d talk to William about it.
Derek sighed deeply. He had a feeling William wasn’t going to be at all pleased with him…
Derek heard Zanus’s footfalls moving rapidly down the sidewalk. He heard the limo door open and shut. Derek waited outside the door until he saw the limo’s red taillights disappear into the night. He looked up at Rachel’s window, saw her light had gone out. She was safe. For tonight at least.
What was he going to do about tomorrow?
Nine
The next morning Derek parked himself behind the front lobby desk. He leaned back in his chair, and rubbed his eyes. He couldn’t wrap his mind around what had happened last night. Rachel’s guardian angel was missing in action, and Derek had no idea why or for how long Zanus had wormed his way in her life. All he understood was that Rachel was in grave danger and how in the name of all that was holy could he help her?
She had gone to work as usual that morning. She had given him a smile that was friendly, if a little wary. She had been afraid he would be too familiar, perhaps. He had been careful to be especially polite and formal. He couldn’t help but ask her, as he held the door, if everything was all right.
“Fine,” she told him, as she stood at the door, waiting for her car. “At first Zanus was angry, but then he cooled down and apologized. It’s a good thing he didn’t see us together last night, though.” Rachel grimaced. “He would have been furious. As it was, he admitted I was right, that he’d been out of line, and he should have let me handle things. Oh, and Lana left me a message. She and Zanus managed to keep my name out of the press. So—all’s well that ends well.”
All isn’t well! He did see us together last night, Derek thought, but he couldn’t tell her, because that would lead to questions from her that he wouldn’t be able to answer.
Her car arrived. She got in and they drove off.
So what did he do about her?
He might simply tell her the truth, but then he imagined how the conversation would go.
“You see, Rachel, every person on Earth is assigned a guardian angel. Sometimes an angel will volunteer for the job. This might be one of your ancestors or a friend or loved one who has passed on. If there are none available, another angel is assigned the task. The rule is, everyone is protected. The guardian angels aren’t allowed to intervene in your life. They can’t leap in front of the bus that’s about to smash into your car. They provide spiritual protection. They battle the demons here, as we battle them in Limbo. Your angel fights for your soul, Rachel, and if that angel is gone, your soul is in jeopardy. You sense that your angel is missing. You’re right. And it was your boyfriend who killed your angel.”
Derek shook his head and smiled ruefully. Yeah, right. It’s here she stares at me like I’ve lost my mind and then runs screaming for the exit.
He’d learned enough about mortals to know that in this age of technology and science, a lot of people would scoff at the idea of guardian angels. If we can’t see it or feel it, we don’t believe it, they would say. But at the same time, these same people did believe in electrons and neutrons and protons. They couldn’t see them, but because science said they existed, people believed in them. All very strange. He might be wrong about Rachel, but he had the feeling that she would be one of the scoffers.
To make matters worse, Derek knew things were starting to get personal between them. She was no longer a mission. She was a lovely face; fragrant hair; dark, fiery eyes. Even when she wasn’t around, he heard her voice and breathed the scent of her perfume. She was delicate and beautiful and, at the same time, courageous and fearless. At one point, he’d thought she might actually punch out that poor guy who had hold of her coat. She hadn’t been afraid when they were running from the police. She had seemed to find it almost exhilirating. She liked adventure. She liked taking risks. She had a look in her eye he’d seen in men in battle. Nothing scared her.
Telling her that her guardian angel was missing and that Zanus was somehow behind it would not scare her—even if she believed him, which she probably wouldn’t. Somehow he had to make her understand. She needed to be less courageous. She needed to be afraid. Fear was the key to self-preservation.
Derek woke with a start. He hadn’t gotten much sleep; he’d been up most of the night thinking about Rachel and Zanus and wondering what to do. He must have fallen asleep in his chair. He wondered groggily what had awakened him and then he heard it again. Someone was rapping loudly on the glass lobby door.
Derek looked out and sighed. It was Angel William, still in his shabby coat and disreputable hat. Derek knew he was in for it. He had no choice, however. Derek unlocked the door and held it open.
William stormed inside. He was out of breath, gasping for air.
“Police in this city…stubborn…quite stubborn…” He had to stop to pant.
Derek brought him a chair and William sank into it.
“William,” Derek began, “we’ve got a problem—”
William snatched off his shabby hat and started hitting Derek with it.
“You bet we have a problem! Somewhere out there, a village is missing its idiot!” William shouted, bashing Derek with the hat. “What in the Sam Hill is wrong with you? Do you realize what could have happened last night? You could have been arrested! If it hadn’t been for my intervention, you would be in prison and I would have been forced to leave you there. We angels simply can’t organize prison breaks. I shudder to think what Archangel Michael will say about this. I’ll have to report it, of course—”
Derek raised his arms to defend himself against the blows. “I am sorry, William, but if you will just let me explain—”
“Explain? Explain what? That you’re a Neanderthal? We expected such behavior from cavemen. Their brains had not yet fully developed—which must be your problem, you dunderhead! You simply cannot walk up to a strange woman in the ladies’ powder room and demand to know the name of the guy she’s dating,” William said vehemently, emphasizing each word with a blow of the hat.
He finally stopped, worn out. Sitting back, he used the maltreated hat to fan himself. “That kind of behavior will get you locked up, and deservedly so. Not to mention the fact that I had to run six blocks while being chased by a very angry policeman who, though somewhat tubby, was in excellent physical condition.”
“I am sorry,” said Derek as contritely as he could, “but there is something wrong—”
“You bet there is.” William snorted. “You’re the wrong man for this job, that’s what’s wrong.”
“No, William, listen to me. This Zanus—Rachel’s boyfriend—is an archfiend.”
William sucked in a breath. He looked as if he were ready to fire off another diatribe, and then Derek’s words hit home. William gaped at him, so shocked that for a moment he couldn’t speak. Then he frowned deeply.
“Are you certain about this?”
Derek nodded firmly. “He as much as admitted it to me last night.”
“Why would he admit it to you?” William asked, skeptical. He looked at Derek, and then groaned. “Oh, no. Tell me you didn’t! Tell me he doesn’t know who yo
u are!”
“What if he does?” Derek returned impatiently. “Maybe it will make him think twice before he does anything. We have to think about Rachel. She’s utterly alone, unprotected, and he’s right there waiting to make his move.”
“This is bad,” said William shaking his head. “Very bad. I was afraid that something like this might happen.”
“Then why didn’t you insist that Michael give Rachel another guardian angel!” Derek flared in sudden rage. “How could you both leave her down here with that demon—”
“Now, calm down, son,” said William. He regarded Derek in concern. His expression grew grave. “You’re not getting attached to this mortal, are you? Because if you are, you will have to be sent back at once—”
“No, of course not,” said Derek. “I’m not attached to her in any way. She is just a job to me.”
Angels weren’t supposed to lie, but Derek deemed it necessary. If William suspected for one moment that Derek was becoming emotionally involved, he’d send him back to Purgatory before this assignment was finished. And it wasn’t altogether Rachel. There was now something personal between him and Zanus. Derek didn’t trust anyone to handle this mission except himself.
“It is not easy, dealing with these mortals,” Derek complained bitterly. “They’re too complicated. They have all these urges and emotions that get in the way, clutter things up.”
“Emotions like falling in love,” said William, fixing a stern gaze on Derek.
“That is it exactly,” said Derek, deliberately choosing to misunderstand the archangel. “Rachel thinks she is in love with this Zanus—”
“I wasn’t talking about Rachel,” Williams said. “I’m talking about you!”
