The night passed slowly for Cam. Each minute that ticked by was another minute away from Hannah, and another minute in which his phone did not ring. Minutes were nothing to him before, but since the first moment he laid eyes on her, they were small eternities that he cherished, each one filled with her laugh, her thoughts, her kisses, her warmth, and her love. Each of the sixty seconds measured into every single minute of the last eight months meant more to him than anything else in his long life. He placed Hannah in his heart next to his brothers and sisters, and right below Him. Still, he knelt by Elia’s side. Still, he held her hand. He concentrated on surrounding her in the love and light within him to comfort her and ease her passing. At four twenty-seven a.m., she inhaled her last breath, releasing it on a sigh.
Exactly three seconds later, Cam stood and extended his hand to the lovely woman standing at the bedside of the old woman. Her long, dark hair flowed past her shoulders and down her back. Her skin was smooth and youthful again. The twinkle in her crystal blue eyes radiated a warmth and humor that he’d sensed was there before she passed. She looked no more than thirty years old. Camael wasn’t surprised. The deceased always took on the image of themselves at the peak of their health and beauty. Children remained children. And they stayed that way until their next incarnation was chosen.
“I’m ready now.” Elia took Cam’s hand and smiled.
“Then let’s go meet the throne.”
The angel’s wings spread, and his body became less substantial. As he ascended, so did she; the touch of his hand allowing her to rise alongside him. White light engulfed them as they faded through the ceiling leaving behind the body that lived, loved, and laughed, that birthed children, and labored without complaint. It was shed as one would shed an old pair of shoes that had walked a million miles through sunshine and rain, through grassy fields and over rocky terrain, but were now worn down, scuffed, and riddled with holes and tears. With one last look back, Elia said goodbye to her physical body, thanking it for housing her soul and making it possible for her to kiss her husband, hold her babies, and serve her God by serving her fellow man.
Up, they rose.
At the angel’s side, Elia saw colors she’d never noticed before, heard music that made her heart overflow with joy, felt love so great, she thought she might just explode into a thousand happy bits. They didn’t rise up to a heaven beyond earth as she expected, but rather, seemed to travel through realms that existed on, beside, and within each other. They passed stars newly born, and witnessed galaxies dying, their songs different, but no less amazing. There was no sadness, only understanding.
Ahead, she spied a light so bright, she could barely look at it straight on. As they got closer, a doorway of many shades of gold, amber, and silver, with carved archways and mother-of-pearl inlays took form. The choral music grew louder, and a wave of love and welcome washed over and surrounded her, seeped into her being before spilling back out again.
“What was that?” She turned and asked Camael.
“It is Him. He is welcoming you home.”
“I never knew!” She was at a loss for words.
“But you always knew. You just forgot.” He smiled.
Elia searched her memory. It did feel familiar. As they approached the door, it opened, and memories from lifetimes past flooded her. It all suddenly made sense. She grinned. Then she laughed. It was the vivacious laugh of a child about to see her father again.
***
Cam flew as fast as he could back to Hannah’s house. After escorting Elia straight to the throne, he was dismissed by Zaphkiel, the Keeper of Knowledge, immediately. Usually, Zaph made a point to needle and poke Camael as much as he did with Michael, but not this time. This time, he showed an amazing deference to the human soul as he personally walked her through the blinding light at the center of all, the point in time and space that throbbed with energy, love, and the answer to every question anyone ever thought of or will think of – the origin itself referred to as the Almighty. The throne.
Cam noticed, but his curiosity was not piqued. Instead, he felt free and eager to be back at Hannah’s side. With a swiftness born of both love and concern, he soared with proverbial ‘Godspeed’. It was barely sunrise when he landed on the front lawn. The neighbors were not yet awake, so he walked quietly to and through the front door. Inside, he inhaled the familiar scent of the house. Peace filled his heart as he made his way down the hallway, each step bringing him closer to his love. He couldn’t wait to crawl in beside her and wrap her in his arms.
Cam crept quietly, pushing the bedroom door open and peeking around. He stopped. The bed was empty.
He approached, looking around. Hannah wasn’t home. He walked back out to the living room and searched the kitchen hoping to find a note. He did not find one. He sniffed the air. It was stale. Not even a small whiff of her scent was detected. If she left for some early morning appointment, he would still be able to pick up her fragrance. The air was clear which meant she hadn’t been in the house since at least yesterday. Camael began to panic. What if she was injured or went into labor early? Could she be at the hospital? With barely a thought, he transported there and moved swiftly through the halls to the Obstetrics ward.
He stayed hidden from human eyes while he made his way to the nurses’ station. He scanned the board of patient names looking for Adams. No such patient name greeted his eyes. He teleported to the Emergency Room and checked their roster as well. No sign of Hannah. A stray thought occurred then. He smiled. Of course! Hannah might have been uneasy about sleeping alone so close to her time. He’d bet she simply went to spend the night at her sister’s place. With a flash, he popped over to Jennifer’s house and sought out the guest room. At the end of the hall, he peeked inside knowing he wouldn’t be able to alert Hannah that he was there. How would he explain suddenly showing up at her sister’s house at dawn? He told himself he would just check on her, then go back to their home and wait for her to call him. He looked inside the room, a smile on his face. The smile died on his lips as yet another empty bed greeted him.
Now he was worried. A sick feeling oozed over him coating him in panic. Cam backtracked through the house and stepped out to the back yard. He spread his wings and flew like the wind straight for the mountaintop temple. Something had happened to Hannah while he was gone. His heart beat hard in his chest, and the pain that seared through it threatened to cripple him. He needed Michael. Michael could use the seer’s basin to find out what happened to his love.
Missed the last episode? Catch Episode 3 here.
Start from the beginning with Camael’s Gift, Book I, Ep. 1.
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