Camael watched as Hannah polished off an entire pint of Moolennium Crunch ice cream. She licked the spoon as if it held ambrosia, all while balancing the container on her now eight months pregnant belly. She glowed. The aura that only angels could see radiated around her in warm hues of pink, orange, gold, and bright white. She was happy, and the baby was happy too. Sitting curled up against three pillows at her back on the king-size bed, with her long black tresses piled atop her head, she appeared a queen in his eyes. She was truly the most glorious sight he’d beheld besides the brief moments he experienced in His presence.
His own happiness seeped out in the form of a rather goofy grin on his handsome face. Hannah stuck the spoon into the empty container and set it on the nightstand. She sighed, a smile of contentment spreading across her face.
“I take it my lady is pleased.” Cam lay stretched out beside her. They were watching an old black and white movie on TV.
Hannah turned to him. “I am. That was the best ice cream ever.” She leaned over and planted a kiss on his lips. “Thanks for bringing that home for me. You’re just the best boyfriend in the entire world.”
Cam wrapped his strong arms around her, pulling her closer. He still marveled at how wonderful it felt to hold her, even now that she had fuller curves, and a belly bump that sometimes gave him a gentle kick. The scent of her shampoo combined with her personal essence tickled his nose causing a natural high. She fit right under his chin. He took a deep breath and then kissed the top of her head. “You’re welcome. Anything for you, Hannah.”
Eight amazing months had passed, and for Camael, they were the best months of his eternal existence. Nothing compared to how he felt when he was with Hannah. He was so happy, he felt like he would burst with it and rain happiness down upon every single soul in his radius. The warmth of her seeped into him, and he could feel her lips traveling up his neck as she tilted her head back, trying to get closer. He couldn’t refuse such an invitation, and swooped down, capturing her mouth in a hot, exploratory kiss. He never grew tired of kissing her. And he never grew tired of the ‘other thing’ either. How is it he didn’t know about this before now? He didn’t have an answer for that question except maybe that he didn’t know because he didn’t have Hannah in his life until recently. That ‘other thing’ was like a whole new side of heaven he’d not seen or experienced until her. And now, there was a new life on the way. Camael was going to be a father.
Hannah had become insatiable during her last months. The movie was forgotten as they once again reveled in the feel and taste of each other.
“We have to be more careful now.” Hannah looked down at her belly.
Cam smiled, and turned her away from him, spooning her, his chest to her back instead. He slid a pillow under her tummy making sure she was supported and comfortable, and then, he kissed her neck as he picked up the remote control, turning the television off.
***
The day dawned bright and beautiful. Cam opened his eyes and discovered the bed empty next to him.
“Hannah?” He sat up, and then, in one magical motion, stood, fully clean and dressed. He looked in the restroom. No Hannah. He walked to the living room and stopped. His keen senses alerted him to a faint sound coming from the backyard. He made his way quickly to the patio door and opened it.
There she was, digging holes in the flower bed along the gravel path and dropping seeds into them. She was singing to herself, and then stopped to touch her stomach. Cam’s breathing ceased in an instant of worry, then released when he saw her smile and begin speaking softly to the baby. His child must be enjoying the sunshine as much as its mother. He turned and strode into the kitchen pulling orange juice from the fridge and pouring a glass.
Angels didn’t need to eat or drink. They could, but they didn’t need to. But this wasn’t a need, it was a want. Cam discovered that orange juice was sweet and cool, and caused him to experience tangy, fruity joy whenever he drank it. Looking out the kitchen window, he noted Hannah’s back to the house, so he took advantage, flexing his back and popping his wings out for a stretch. They extended like arms reaching as far and as high as they could go. It felt good. He really wanted to take flight, but that would have to wait until he left. As far as Hannah knew, he still worked for hospice. Each day, he left the house at the same time in the morning and arrived home at the same time in the evening. Each day, she would ask about his day, and each day, he would share a story of some soul he visited and helped. There was always a soul in need, and he was always assigned somewhere to help, so he never lied to her. He just didn’t share the whole truth. It would be more than she could handle in her fragile state.
A horn sounded. It was loud enough to shake walls and shatter glass, yet all remained calm around him. Cam knew that horn. Michael was calling him. It was time to go to ‘work’. He set his empty glass in the sink and walked to the French doors stepping out.
“I’m about to go. Do you need anything when I come home?”
Hannah looked over her shoulder and smiled. Cam looked gorgeous leaning out the back door. His golden hair was loose, curling as it brushed his broad shoulders. He wore his usual dark jeans and black t-shirt. He looked fit and sexy as sin. A stray memory from the night before brought a blush to her cheeks as she recalled just how sexy he could be up close and personal. She also knew how kind, considerate, sweet, and funny he was as well. A day didn’t go by in which he didn’t do something extraordinary for her, and sometimes those extraordinary acts were quite simple and downright thoughtful. He always knew what she wanted or needed. She was truly blessed, and her heart felt like it would burst from her chest. Hannah was in love.
“I can’t think of anything right now.” She glanced around, then back at him with a saucy glint in her brown eyes. “Well, maybe one thing.” She looked him straight in the eye, grinning coyly.
Cam laughed and trotted out. He leaned down and kissed her softly, sweetly, and then slowly and thoroughly leaving her breathless. “I can bring some of those home later, too.” He winked and dropped another quick kiss on her lips.
“Yes, please!”
He pulled away, reluctant to leave her. “Okay, I’ll see you later. If you need anything, just call me.” He stood, walking back to the house and through to the living room where, out of her line of sight, he spread his wings and ascended through the ceiling up, up, up into the stratosphere. His great wings flexed and flapped as he soared higher, the sheer joy of it filling his being. He headed toward the temple bypassing a flock of geese, and a Boeing 747.
***
Dagon shrugged his shoulders and pulled his black, gossamer wings back in. To the human eye, he was wearing a long, dark leather duster. Nothing out of the ordinary. To the eyes of any other supernatural creature, long slits in that coat were noticeable from which his massive wings now rested along the line of his back, the last feathers of which brushed the tops of the back of his boots. His black hair was pulled back and tied with a leather thong. His dark eyes peered left and right checking the area for any sign of Camael or any other archangel possibly left behind to watch over the human. He saw no one, heard no one. He knew this before he approached having seen the angel burst through the roof and fly off, but he needed to be sure. Much rested on his mission. It was nearly time.
He walked around the side of the house, drawn to the scent of the woman. As he rounded the corner, he could see her kneeling in the dirt, planting flower seeds. She glowed. The colors were blinding to his eyes. He pulled out a pair of dark sunglasses from his pocket and put them on. The aura of a woman blessed with child was almost repellent to his kind. The Dark Ones. The Fallen. But a woman blessed with the child of an archangel still in His grace was beyond what their eyes could endure. If he’d walked any closer to her without the protection of the dark shades, he would literally have been blinded. He’d seen lesser angels unaware of what they were doing rush foolishly into the light and then witnessed their eyes burning out, bleeding profusely, leaving only empty sockets behind. Because of the nature of the blinding, they were unable to regenerate. Those who lost their sight succumbed to madness, becoming demons. They ended up cast down into the lower levels of hell where other demons of higher ranking tortured them mercilessly for fun. He wasn’t about to let that happen to himself.
With his eyes protected, he could see her more clearly. Her scent was sickeningly sweet. The stronger it became, the closer she was to delivering the whelp.
The legions were preparing the altar already. All he needed to do was supply the sacrifice. The woman hummed a tune to herself, then sat up to rub her stomach. She stilled, and then turned to glance over her shoulder. Dagon swooped in, covering her mouth with his hand, effectively cutting off her scream. He wrapped his arms around her and shot up, flapping furiously while she fought in vain to break his grasp. She dropped the trowel she held in her panic. It landed point-first in the dirt halfway between where she was last sitting and the back door.
***
Michael waited patiently for Camael to arrive. He wiped his face clear of any emotion as he stood looking out the entrance of the temple in the mountain. He had a job to do and Camael had a mission to fulfill. He looked over his shoulder, and up at the ceiling of the cave and beyond.
“I hope you’re happy.” He muttered, then turned back, stoic once again.
A gust of wind heralded Cam’s arrival. His great white wings flapped, slowing him down as he landed on the outcropping. His smile was joyous.
“You rang, Michael?” He performed a mocking courtly bow.
If the situation weren’t dire, Michael might have laughed. Instead, he turned, walking inside knowing Cam would follow. “You took your time,” he said.
“Sorry. It just felt good to stretch my wings.” Cam noted the stiffness in Michael’s spine. “What’s wrong?”
The leader of the archangels spun around. “I have a job for you. A soul to escort.”
Cam nodded. “Okay. Who, when, and where?” He clasped his hands behind his back and waited.
“A very wise woman. She’s not yet passed on. It will be two days at most, but you’re ordered to stay with her until her time comes, then take her to Him.”
Cam stiffened. He didn’t like the idea of being away from Hannah right now. He also knew he could not refuse. He struggled with how to handle this one.
Michael saw every thought that ran through Cam’s mind. He steeled himself. He knew his friend would buck at being torn away from his woman. “You’re to leave at once.”
“But Hannah…” Cam began to protest.
“Call her and make your excuses.” Michael’s voice was hard, authoritative, his will unbending.
Cam looked down at his feet. “And who is the woman?”
Michael gestured for the angel to follow him to the seer’s basin. Cam peered inside the clear water. An old woman, older than any human he’d ever seen, lay upon her bed. She was alone.
“Where is her family?” He asked.
“She has none. She’s outlived them.” Michael shrugged.
“How old is she?” Cam’s eyebrows furrowed.
“One hundred and twenty-two.”
“How in this world did she manage to live so long?”
“By His grace. She’s special, Cam. And no one should die alone. Go now, and do not return until you’ve personally delivered Elia to Him.”
“Directly to the throne?” This was a very rare request. He’d only done so once in his entire existence.
“Directly to the throne.” Michael remained somber.
“She must be special indeed.” Cam gave a formal half-bow to his leader and walked to the temple entrance. He pulled out his cell phone and called Hannah. It rang four times, and then was answered by her voicemail. She must still be outside planting, he thought. “This is Hannah. You know what to do!” The line beeped.
“Hannah, it’s Cam. Listen, I’m sorry, but I won’t be home tonight. I have a patient with no family. She’s all alone, and on her very last. I’ll be staying with her tonight, and possibly most or all of tomorrow, too. Call me if you need anything, and I’ll find a way to help.” He paused, and then said, “I love you.”
It was the first time he’d actually said it. He’d shown her in a thousand ways, but then, he’d been able to be with her every night for the last eight months. Being apart from her now was a new feeling and he didn’t like it. He hoped she’d call so he could at least hear her voice and be assured she was okay. He hung up, and with one final glance back at Michael, extended his wings and jumped.