Daniels Song. Katherine Dobney
in heaven? Even after all this time. I know that I can still hear them. So many angels were lost that day. It was a massacre! And I… I was a part of it. The Archangel Michael advanced on me. Raising his sword, a sword of flames, blue flames. I could feel the heat burning me. The power it held was unimaginable. He was ready to strike me down. I just watched Michael; I didn’t raise my sword in defense. I would not fight Michael! I would rather cease to exist, to become nothing.”
“Michael watched me in astonishment, as I laid my sword at his feet. I don’t know what happened to the rest of what was left… of my legions. Myself, and one other lieutenant, Alexander, were put before the High Choir. It’s like a court, or counsel where you are judged.”
“Alexander?” Hope replied. “The same Alexander at the college? He called you brother… Is he your brother, an angel too?”
“Once…. But not now, there is only evil now.” Now all Alexander did was leave me with a disgusting taste that still lingered. Alexander fouled whatever he touched even my senses as I recall our last encounter. What did he want?
“What happened?” Hope whispered with a voice filled with sorrow.
“Michael stood beside me, as the Choir discussed my punishment. Before my sentence was passed down, Michael stopped them and asked me why I had laid down my sword. I told him, ‘what was the use in fighting’. Given enough time, I was sure the children of Adam would destroy themselves! Then my transgressions were read and my punishment delivered.”
I could hear Hope’s quick intake of breath. “Daniel… what did they do?” The truth, always the truth, I told myself.
“I was stripped of my titles. I was no longer one of the Powers. On that day I felt that I had lost everything. I was given this body, more human than divine. Michael sent me into the world of those I had wanted to destroy. I was charged with the task of giving assistance to the children who were dying without hope and alone, to help guide their souls.” I opened my eyes and saw the stars above me, heaven. “Until atonement.”
Hope’s breathing was soft and her head was still resting on my chest. She gave another little shiver and I still wondered if she was cold. I kept watching the small waves, as they built, fell and then retreated back to the sea. I knew we had about thirty minutes until we would be able to leave the cove. I brought forth my wings and wrapped them around me, around Hope, as I had once before.
I thought Hope had fallen asleep until I felt her fingers moving along the feathers of one of my wings. The feeling was almost indescribable. There were no words just strange sensations. It was as if a mild electric current was going through me. It was pleasure and torture at the same time. I tried as hard as I could not to move, trying to understand the sensation. When I could no longer endure it I shivered and started to snicker. The vision of Hope running in the small waves, laughing, filled my head. She laughed because the sand people tickled her feet. That was this feeling. It tickled! My wings trembled as Hope ran her fingers through my feathers; but now I knew what the feelings were.
Hope stopped moving and with a soft voice, “Sorry.”
“Sorry, for what?”
“You were shaking. I didn’t want to hurt your wings.”
“Hope, it doesn’t hurt,” as I chuckled, “it tickles.”
“They’re different than what I thought, soft and sheer, like gossamer. There are even light shades of color, like oil on water. And they smell like… air after a light rain. The glow reminds me of when I was younger, out on a friend’s boat. I would jump up and down to see the luminescence of the water glow with each bounce.” I had to smile at the way Hope saw the world around her. It was so simple and so beautiful. “When they glow they’re warmer!”
Hope ran her fingers around each feather, tugging lightly, trying to find one that had fallen out. I knew what was coming, so when Hope tugged on the next. “Owe!” She jumped and I tried not to laugh.
“Sorry…I didn’t mean to hurt you!” Hope tilted her face toward mine looking a little shocked. “I just wanted one.” Now she looked guilty. I reached over grabbing one about eight inches long and pulled. I was trying to understand her expression as I handed the feather to her. This was so new to me.
“Didn’t that hurt?”
“No. We lose them all the time.”
As Hope glanced at the feather her expression turned sad. She gazed into my eyes. “What happened to it? It was so beautiful. Where did the glow and all the colors go? Now it looks like a real feather. Not an angel’s.”
“It is a real feather, a feather from an angel. My wings look like this because of divine spirit. That power is lost when the feather is removed. If it didn’t, the world would be full of glowing multi-colored feathers, gold in Michael’s case!” I smiled at that vision. I didn’t even want to try to explain Willy yet.
“Can you fly?”
“What?” It was so straightforward that it caught me off guard.
“Can you fly? I’ve seen pictures of angels flying. Is that how you got to me.”
“I’m not a bird! We don’t fly in the way you think, it’s much like…” I tried to think of an example. “Teleporting. I can shimmer into tiny fragments of light then reappear, shimmering again. I know where I need to be and I’m there. I was told where you were and to deliver a message. That it wasn’t your time and to keep fighting.”
“So why the wings?” Hope looked down with that funny little smile of hers at my wings that were wrapped protectively around her. My wings.
“They are for balance, I can hover, almost float. But it’s hard to fight with a sword and keep your balance at the same time. When angels hover our wings move somewhat like a birds. But we don’t fly with them, like I said balance.”
Looking between the waves and the bluff, I noticed that there was enough space to get out without getting us, or the bike wet. “It’s late, I need to get you home. I told your father you would be home as soon as the tide was ebbing.” I retracted my wings, helped Hope up so I could stand. As I folded the blankets and put them in the saddlebags, Hope brushed the sand off of her. I handed Hope the helmet while I started the bike. This time she had no problem with the strap. She laughed as she climbed on the back. We took off on the wet smooth sand. Hope was getting braver. Every time I slowed the bike down she would hold on tighter with only one hand while patting my back with the other. I was glad she couldn’t hear me chuckle. I knew what she was searching for! She was trying to find my wings.
Finally Hope knocked her knuckles on my helmet as she asked, “Where are your wings?” I ignored her but kept smiling the rest of the ride home.
When we finally arrived at Hope’s house, I walked her to the door but she turned around suddenly before she went inside. “Can we go stargazing again tomorrow night?” She asked.
“As long as your father says yes and you’ll have to learn the names of at least a few stars.” I told her sweet dreams and kissed her forehead before turning and walking to my bike. When I turned again to look toward the house, the door was closed. Hope was home and safely inside.
There was a plate of cookies on the kitchen counter. Rachael must have spent the evening cooking. Pulling up a stool I grabbed a handful. Monster cookies were my favorite. They had everything in them. With all kinds of chocolates and nuts, they were pretty hard to resist.
Suddenly there was a glass of milk in front of me, and Willy smiling ear to ear. It was a little creepy. “Did you enjoy your evening?”
“Thanks, I needed something to wash the cookies down with.” I knew that wasn’t the answer he wanted. I sat there like any other night. I guess the pressure was getting to him because suddenly Willy threw his hands in the air.
“I