The Creation: Chaos Rising (24 page)

"Then assign it to one of those ‘few', and leave me be."

You already know the reason I want you to attend to her tutelage.

A weary sigh escaped Willimena's lips. "Indeed I do, father," she whispered. She could already feel the weight of Duty pressing down upon her shoulders.

For nearly three millennia, Willimena had walked among her mortal brethren, but the gradual decline of Earth's moral consciousness over the last few centuries had made her begin to question the effectiveness of the Tenets as well as her place in the Creation's ever-changing infrastructure. Her spiritual malaise had been lifted somewhat upon discovering the existence of Nina, and she had tried in her own way to offer what quiet support she could to the Child's unusual plight.  With the limitations put on her actions by the Seat, most notably the direct order forbidding her prevention of Nina's mother's death, she had assumed that any future contact would be minimal at best. She should have known better.

"Worry not, father," Willimena finally spoke when she sensed his impatience. "When the time comes, and should she need it, I will offer Nina what aid I can."

I feel the heaviness in your heart, my child but do not let it linger. This time I will ensure that you receive no censure for whatever action you choose to take on Nina's behalf.

"You'd better," Willimena replied, her tone sharp.

Her eyes begin to glow as Angel transformed into a swirling mass of Celestial energy that was then absorbed into Willimena's body. "For there is only so much hardship I will allow my youngest sibling to endure," she stated firmly when her absorption, and subsequent transformation into her true form, was complete.

Chapter 30

The light shone with an intensity that blinded Nina as she valiantly tried to shield her eyes with her hand. Several seconds passed then the light coalesced into the form of a man, though unlike any she had ever seen.

He was extremely tall, his tanned shirtless torso rippling with muscles that would put the current Mister Universe and all of his predecessors to shame. Closely cropped blonde hair framed his beautiful face, while hazel eyes much like her own, were focused intently on her. An immense pair of wings protruded prominently from his wide back, and Nina found her self mesmerized by the alternating shades of white and silver running throughout their feathery expanse.

"Who…who are you?"

A wave of compassion enveloped her, and a deep voice resonated through her mind.

"Look into your own heart, my child, and you shall find the answers you seek."

Nina frowned. "I…don't understand."

"I know, but soon you will."

"Wait!" Nina called as the man's image began to fade. "Please…"

"Don't go," she whispered as her eyes opened.

She lay still for a moment, trying to collect her jumbled thoughts. This was the third time the bizarre dream had imbedded itself in her head, but she had yet to make any sense of it. Was it a warning? Was it some type of revelation?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone, and she quickly grabbed it from her night stand. She checked the caller ID, and her mood brightened. "Hi Tyree. What's up?"

"I was wondering if you would like to have to lunch with me this afternoon," Tyree's disembodied voice echoed from the handset. "I could really use your insight on a matter that's come up here at the church."

"Uh…sure," Nina replied. She could tell by his tone that something was wrong. "How about we meet at Tony's at noon?"

"
Noon is good but I would prefer someplace more private."

His unusual intensity piqued Nina's curiosity. "In that case we can have lunch right here at the apartment."

"Sounds like a plan. I'll grab the food myself. See you soon."

"I can't wait." Nina disconnected then smiled at the slight impingement on her awareness. Gabriel would be arriving soon.

Nina's smile deepened at the memory of the first time she'd met the enigmatic man who would eventually become such an integral part of her life, and a warm feeling suffused her body. A heavenly Harbinger and a Celestial Mortal: Theirs truly was a unique relationship.

"The good reverend sounds a bit stressed," Gabriel observed as he materialized on the bed beside her.

"I see you've been ear-hustling again," Nina teased, leaning forward to accept the kiss the Celemor planted on her cheek. She tried to intercept him with her lips, but Gabriel gently turned her head in the opposite direction.

"Not until you've brushed. The sweet and sour chicken you ate last night left a lasting impression on your breath."

"Hah-h-h," Nina breathed in his face before making her way to the bathroom.

After seeing to her hygienic needs she headed to the kitchen where Gabriel was leaning casually against the counter, his attention focused on the wall-mounted television. "It's amazing how far off the mark some of these so-called historians are," he said as he passed the steaming mug of green tea he had prepared for her.

Nina took a cautious sip of the hot liquid. "What show is this?"

"Secrets of
Stonehenge," Gabriel quoted the info guide. "They're talking about the structure's religious significance."

"When in actuality it's a giant target for God when he wants to practice hurtling lightening bolts," Nina put in, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Gabriel chuckled. "Not exactly." His amusement faded as he took note of the tension in her face. "Is something wrong?"

"I had that dream again," she said after taking another sip of her tea. "Same as before, only this time I was able to sense…feelings."

A thoughtful look appeared on Gabriel's face. "It sounds like you experienced some type of psychic transference."

"But from who? And for what purpose?"

"I don't know," Gabriel answered. "Maybe another Celestial is trying to communicate with you, or maybe this is another facet of your adaptation to the increased levels of Celestial energy I sense in you."

"I don't understand that one either," Nina sighed. "I've been feeling like an energizer battery ever since that night at the Fox, and my senses are off the chart!"

Gabriel favored her with an apologetic grin. "I'm afraid I can't give you any answers. None of the other Harbingers I've protected have ever gone through such a metamorphosis. Perhaps Shift can offer you some insight?"

Nina's eyes widened. "Shift?"

"She is a being composed entirely of Celestial energy," Gabriel noted. "I'm sure her perspective on the matter will be entirely different than ours."

"Perhaps you're right," Nina said, marveling at how easy it was becoming for her to accept the unearthly origins of the people around her. "Hell, at this point what have I got to lose?"

Gabriel smiled and they both turned their attention back to the television. "So what's the real story behind those rocks?" Nina nodded toward the screen.

"It's a Celestial gate that connects Earth to the other inhabited planets of Mortalia."

"So that's the Gateway the glowing book's always going on about." Nina couldn't help the awe that filtered through her voice.

Gabriel favored her with an approving look. "I see someone's been doing some reading."

Nina grimaced. "I have to admit Michael's Journal is hard to put down once you get in to it. And the fact that it's all true makes reading it a surreal kind of thing."

Gabriel smiled. Nina's easy acceptance of the bizarre twist her life had taken over the past two years never ceased to amaze him. "I'm glad
you
think so. I've always felt it was a bit...condescending."

Nina flashed him a wicked grin. "Well the author is an
Archangel!" Her expression turned serious. "Though I have to admit the book does tend to portray Mortals as a bunch of immature brats; especially us humans." Nina shuddered at the numerous accounts of Mankind's folly chronicled throughout the Journal's iridescent pages. "Is that really how the Celestials see us?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Gabriel soberly informed her. "Our lack of spiritual cohesiveness and propensity toward violence is the main reason the Mortal races remain separated, despite the best efforts of some of the more enterprising extraterrestrial species."

Nina's expression turned into one of regret. "That's too bad."

"Yes it is," Gabriel agreed.

"Do you think any of us will ever be deemed…mature enough to put the gates into use?"

"I'd like to think so. Though considering what I've seen over the past century, I'd say we Mortals have a l-o-o-o-n-g way to go."

"Yeah we do," Nina said with a snort. "What this Realm needs is a Celestial drill sergeant to whip us into shape."

"Or an overachieving
Harbinger to teach us the error of our ways," Gabriel said, nodding at her.

Nina laughed at the reverent look aimed at her. "Yeah right; I seriously doubt that I've been granted these Celestial quirks to be this Realms guiding light!"

Gabriel made no response to her quip. Even after two years and her steadily progressing Celestial talents she still chose to downplay her significance in the greater scheme of things. "So what's on Father Griffin's mind?"

Nina shrugged, her eyes now focused on the television. "I have no idea, but I'm sure he'll explain everything when he gets here. So how did that thing really get built?" She nodded toward the series of computer generated simulations on the screen portraying the various theories on how
Stonehenge's massive lintels were set in place. "The Journal never mentions that."

"It was designed and assembled by the Archangel Raphael."

Nina's left eyebrow arched upward. "I've been wondering about that guy. There are a couple of references to him in the first two chapters, but after that he's never mentioned again. What's his story?"

A loud buzz sounded from the apartment's intercom before the Celemor could answer.

"That must be Tyree," Nina announced sparing the kitchen clock a brief glance. "Yep: twelve o'clock on the dot. That man's punctual to a fault."

"Like you're any different," Gabriel shot back.

"And just where are you disappearing to?" Nina questioned his fading form as she made her way to the intercom.

Just giving you guys some privacy,
the Celemor's disembodied voice floated through her mind.
Do try to behave yourself while I'm gone.

The Celemor's parting comment brought a slight flush to Nina's face. Gabriel had never begrudged her and Tyree's previous romantic relationship, but she considered the hint of jealousy she sensed in her earnest guardian's mental voice both compliment and mute testament to his own feelings toward her.

"Yes Carl," Nina spoke after pressing the receive button on the intercom.

"Father Griffin's on his way up with some bags of food that sure smell good!"

Nina laughed. "Thanks Carl. When he leaves I'll have him bring you a plate."

"If there's any left," Carl speculated.

"Knowing Tony there'll be enough for you and half the first floor!"

Carl's chuckle echoed through the speaker. "You're probably right. Thanks Miss D."

Nina disconnected then reached over to the door and flipped the deadbolt to open.  She made her way back to the kitchen where she grabbed a couple of plates and some glasses from the cabinet, and sat them on the counter. Within minutes the door's chime sounded.

"Come on in, Ty!"

"Hey Nina," Tyree greeted as he made his way into the apartment.

Nina balked at the number of bags he was carrying. "When we're done I'm gonna fix a plate for you to take down to Carl. There's no way you and I are going to eat all that!"

Tyree smiled. "You know, Tony. He's convinced that none of us ‘young-up-and-comers' as he puts it ever eat enough."

Nina gave her friend's lean frame a speculative look. "Well you are looking a bit thin."

"You're one to talk," Tyree cried running approving eyes over Nina's chiseled figure. "You get any more ripped, I'm gonna enter you in a body-building contest!"

Nina released an indignant snort. "Then go yell at Gabriel. He's the one that's been keeping me on my toes."

"Don't even get me started on him. Down at Main Center the kids call him the Gabe-inator."

Nina burst out laughing. "I'd say the name suits him."

"Where is the poster boy for physical fitness anyway?" Tyree asked after sitting the bags down on the kitchen counter.

"He popped out for a while." Nina couldn't help but smile at the literal truth of her statement. "You sounded kind of tense on the phone, and he didn't want to intrude on our personal time."

"I appreciate the courtesy but that wasn't necessary. I actually need to talk with both of you; about what happened the other night at the Fox."

"Haven't you been watching the news?"

Tyree gave her a pointed look. "The incident I'm referring to didn't make the evening broadcast. It was brought to my attention this morning by a young woman named Cara Simmons."

A puzzled frown appeared on Nina face. "Is that name supposed to many anything to me?"

Tyree's left eyebrow arched upward. "It should. She's the woman whose leg you miraculously mended after she and her colleagues assaulted you at the Fox."

Nina jerked in surprise then favored the Minister with a slight smile. "In that case I'd better fetch Gabriel back.  The three of us need to have a long overdo chat."

Tyree flashed a humorless smile. "I think that would be best."

Nina held his gaze for another moment then turned her eyes upward. "Oh, Gabe, darling; come out come out, wherever you are!"

The look of confusion on the Minister's face quickly morphed into one of astonishment as Gabriel appeared beside Nina amidst a flash of light.

"My God," he gasped, leaning heavily against the counter to steady him self. "Would somebody please tell me what in the name of Saint Christopher is going on!"

The Harbinger and Celemor exchanged amused looks with one another then, after leading a trembling Tyree to the living room where he collapsed wordlessly onto the sofa, began their tale.

An hour later, the dazed Minister was sitting in the driver's seat of the church's battered Dodge Caravan, his hands tightly clutching the steering wheel while his mind tried to grasp all that he had just learned. He shot a quick glance at the worn, leather-bound journal sitting on the seat beside him and a chill went thorough his body. Everything he thought he knew about God and the world around him was wrong.
Everything!

The minister took several deep breaths to calm his racing heart, his jaw working silently in an effort to return moisture to his dry mouth. A part of his mind held on to the hope that this was all some sort of silly prank or delusion. The soft unearthly glow emanating from the book completely dispelled it. He'd come here seeking answers, and had gotten way more than he bargained for! The question now was: what to do with this startling revelation?