Crossroads (21 page)

“
I thought it may freak
you out. Something not by human standards,” he replied.

I leaned closer and place my hands on
his shoulders. “I’m not freaked out. I think you are amazing just
the way you are. I wouldn’t want you to be any other way,” I said
tenderly, trying to sound convincing with my words and through my
body expression.

His eyes were still steady on the
ground. I needed to try harder to make him understand that there
was nothing freakishly wrong with him, and that his wings were just
as incredible as he was.

“
Michael, please, open for
me,” I pleaded, with my hands still resting on his shoulders. Then
I gave him the biggest smile, hoping he couldn’t resist and would
do as I asked.

He opened gracefully, slowly
expanding, not to rush the excitement of what I wanted to see
again. I placed both of my hands gently on this mysterious gift and
stroked it like it was gold. I was amazed by the many delicate
layers of feathers, soft as cashmere and smooth as silk, but
equally taken aback by the power and strength they exuded. The same
wondrous feeling had rushed through my senses when I was wrapped
inside them after the fall, just before I had panicked. Had I known
then that they were Michael’s wings, I would have stayed there for
eternity.

Slowly I turned my back toward him and
tried to wrap myself inside his wings again. I wanted to be back in
the arms of an angel, back to the feeling of peace that was so
desired. As he fidgeted away from me, he mumbled, “This is too
dangerous. I won’t be able to control myself.” His voice was
worried and low.

I didn’t heed his warning. As I pulled
him closer, he ultimately gave in. He held me gently with both of
his arms and wings this time. All I needed was his touch, for him
to hold me that way; it made all the difference in the world. I was
safe again. Without thought, I turned toward him. The look in his
eyes was so tempting, telling me that he wanted me too. I knew it
was impossible for him to want and need me the same way, but his
eyes told me something else. The depth of my yearning and what I
wanted to do at this very moment was undeniable.

I leaned toward him and tenderly
placed a kiss on his supple lips to thank him. It was an innocent
kiss. What was the harm in just one small kiss? I was extremely
surprised that he didn’t push me away. I was even more surprised at
myself. I was never the type to make the first move.

“
Thank you for saving me,”
I whispered, looking straight into his soulful eyes, as something
came over me. Uncontrollable heat ran through my body. He was
right. It was dangerous, but it was me who couldn’t control myself.
His eyes gave me permission to continue, so I gave him another
kiss, but slower and longer this time. He kissed me back, but with
much hesitation. His lips were warm and sweet like honeysuckle,
just how I imagined they would be. The warmth spread all over my
body like a blazing fire.

Still holding me, he pulled me away
with a sudden jerk, his eyes piercing into mine with anger. His
left hand was tightly wrung around my hair and the other gripping
my shirt so I could feel the tightness from it. Panting, wanting
more of him, I forgot how to breathe, and so did he. His eyes,
still fierce with anger, gripped me even tighter as he slightly
pushed and pulled me, fighting and uncertain of what he wanted to
do. Feeling petrified, I had to prepare myself for the consequence
of my actions, for I knew I had crossed the line.

I was waiting for him to release me
and push me away. I also anticipated the lecture he would preach
about how humans and angels couldn’t have any physical contact.
Remembering the last time, he suddenly stopped as we almost kissed.
Then, he drew me even closer, and kissed me back hungrily.
Passionate kisses that I never knew could be possible claimed both
of us. My toes curled, feeling immense pleasure that tingled to the
very depth of my being as my fingers tugged lightly on his muscular
shoulders. Then his wings were totally wrapped around us. We were
in the dark, just Michael and me inside the cocoon of his wings. I
couldn’t believe what was happening. It was our first real kiss. He
pressed his whole body against mine and I could feel his heart
racing just as fast as mine was. We both lost control, and every
part of me shivered with intense pleasure I had never felt
before.

“
Hellooo,” someone said,
clearing his throat.

Michael immediately unfolded his wings
and exposed us. We were both in shock to have been found. Nearly
falling and out of breath, I was trying to gather myself together.
What had I done? As I looked around, turning my head in every
possible direction, I didn’t see anyone.

“
Hellooo,” the voice said
again. I recognized the voice. It was Davin.

Glancing past some of the trees, I saw
some alkins, smiling and sitting on top of the branches.

“
Caleb? Vivian? What are
you doing here?” I asked, surprised to see them. They glided down
toward where Michael and I stood. They both smiled at us, but Caleb
raised an eye upward at Michael.

“
Where’s Davin?” I asked
casually.

“
Previously saving your
butt, but I’m here,” Davin said from a distance that seemed to come
from a tree above. He swung around a branch and landed right next
to me. He then placed his arms around my shoulder. “Miss me
already?” he mumbled, with a cigarette at the tip of his
lips.

I wasn’t surprised by their actions
only because I had seen what they were capable of doing. Their
strength and speed were incredible. Davin was still holding his
sword. It was the length of an arm, with golden designs and
beautiful indescribable markings on the handle. When he realized my
eyes were focused on it, he placed it behind his back and said a
few words in Latin, and it magically disappeared. Fully amazed by
his little trick, I became distracted by the smell of cigarette
smoke. Without hesitation, I immediately pulled the half-smoked
cigarette out of his mouth and stomped on it.

“
You know how bad that is
for you, and plus I can’t stand the smell of it,” I said with a
disgusted look.

He frowned first, then looked
shameful. “I know, but I think I wanted to be a human again and do
things I had forgotten about. I don’t know where this sudden urge
came from. Maybe I smoked when I lived here once upon a time. It’s
strange, like déjà vu.”

I didn’t realize how much I missed his
friendship and his sincerity. Davin having the urge to smoke might
be the same connection to Michael’s experiencing glimpses of his
past here on Earth that didn’t make sense to him. Perhaps the
longer they stayed, the more they might remember here and
there.

“
I thought you all had
left,” Michael said. I could tell he was uncomfortable, clearly
embarrassed at being caught.

“
We decided to stay since
it was our first time being here,” Vivian said, smiling. Then she
turned to me. “Do you remember what happened?” she asked
tenderly.

I dug deeper into my memory, trying to
remember what they wanted me to. “I remember some now. Fallen
pushed us. I fell. I mean, we fell! Michael and I fell…but Michael
didn’t fall, did he? He has wings. He fell to catch me.” Now it was
all coming together. “Then, I think that’s when I blacked
out.”

I looked at the cliff and got a
glimpse of what could have been. I knew one thing for sure…I would
have fallen to my end had Michael not intervened. Now I knew why
this campsite was called “The Cliff.” It became clear why they were
here. I looked at all four of them, one at a time. They were here
to save me from the fallen.

“
Thank you,” I said,
feeling embarrassed. I didn’t know why I felt that way. Perhaps it
was the trouble I was causing.

Davin placed his arms around my
shoulders again. He was friendly and charming as usual. “Nothing to
it. It was kind of exciting.” He was trying to make me feel
better.

“
What happened to the
fallen after I fell?” I asked.

“
After we got rid of all
of them, Aden disappeared,” Davin replied, seeming quite
proud.

“
Let’s hope we did enough
damage so that it won’t happen again,” Caleb said.

Hopefully, but in danger or not, I
wouldn’t mind coming down to Earth once in a while just to pretend
we still exist here,” Vivian said, looking straight ahead, deep in
her thoughts.

Curiously, our eyes followed the
direction of her gaze, and we were all captivated by the
exquisiteness of what we were witnessing. A small ray of light was
stretching and yawning, making its way through the coat of
darkness, little by little, peeling layer by layer to reveal the
beauty of nature and its creatures. Night and day had met, but
never touched or overlapped as the morning sun conquered the night
once again. Motionless, our view looked like a giant frameless oil
painting. The hills were vast, yet they all looked miniature; I
could almost reach out and touch them. The curves of the lake
wrapped around like a snake, seeming endless and smaller as I
looked farther out into the distance.

“
Wow! This view is
magnificent,” I said softy. But it was nothing compared to what I
witnessed with Michael.

“
I’m loving my view too,”
he whispered into my ear, as his eyes never left my
face.

I turned to stare into his eyes, and I
could see how much he cared for me.

“
Well, we better get
going,” Caleb broke the silence.

Davin spoke with sadness, “The longer
I stay here, the harder it is to go back. I just need one more
puff.” He looked at me to see how I would react. I gave him a
disapproving look.

“
Well, it doesn’t hurt to
ask. Come on, Claudia, I’m half dead anyways.”

I didn’t realize until he said those
words that he was right. They were half humans and half angels.
What did that mean? I felt for them. I could only imagine what they
were feeling and wanted to reach out and comfort them—but
how?

Caleb got up from the rock he was
sitting on. “Well, I’m glad we’re all safe, but he’ll be back.
We’re going to have to discuss this with Phillip.”

Michael didn’t say anything. He didn’t
even look at him.

“
Michael, Caleb is right.
We’re here to help, but the next time Aden comes back, he’ll be
back with more fallen. We’re going to need more help. We’re talking
about Aden!” Davin said.

“
No! Not yet! I need more
time to figure this out!”

“
How long? And what is it
that you need to figure out?” Caleb fired back. “You’re not
thinking straight! Your human emotions are slowly taking you over!
You need to follow the Divine Commandments!”

Michael didn’t like his response. I
could feel the tension, and everyone was silent. He found his calm
voice again, “Please, just do as I ask. Phillip doesn’t need to
know about this, and I won’t ask any of you to come with me next
time.” He looked at Caleb and then at everyone else.

“
Michael, I didn’t mean it
that way,” Caleb said. “I’m just worried for your safety, and
Aden…”

He never got to finish his words.
Michael looked at him coldly as soon as he heard Aden’s name.
“Don’t worry. He has no effect on me. I’m not going down that route
again.” Michael reassured him.

I wanted to hear more. I was curious
to know how Michael and Aden were connected.

“
Like I said, we better
get going,” Davin interrupted.

Vivian spoke next, “I agree. We don’t
even know how long we could survive here, so let’s get
going.”

They all stood up and got ready to be
transported, their faces expressing mixed emotions.

Vivian waved, “See you later, Claudia.
Hopefully under better circumstances next time.”

Davin looked at Michael.
“Coming?”

“
You all go first. I need
more time.”

“
Michael,” Caleb said.
“Don’t forget, thou shall not…”

Michael put his hand out to stop Caleb
from finishing. “Whether I do or not is none of your concern,” he
said calmly.

“
You want to be kicked out
of Halo City because of her?” Caleb raised his voice; his eyes
flickered at me for a second, before refocusing on Michael. “You
need to release yourself from her.”

“
It’s too late. Don’t
worry about it. They won’t know unless you tell, now will they?”
Michael said calmly.

There was dead silence. Caleb didn’t
say a word, but he was right. Michael wasn’t supposed to kiss me
the way he did. I’d caused him to stray. What was I thinking? But I
couldn’t control myself, nor did I want to.

Davin spoke with a concerned voice.
“Don’t worry, we won’t tell Phillip about any of this, but Alexa
Rose will be waiting for you. She worries for your
safety.”

“
I know. Tell her I’ll be
there soon.”

They all stood close to Davin. I never
had the chance to witness his magic until now. With his eyes
closed, he mumbled a few words in Latin, turned to me with a wink
and said, “See you when I see you.” Before I could say a word,
puff! They were gone, leaving a trail of rainbow rays that lingered
for a split second before disappearing at the speed of light
towards the direction they were headed.