CHAPTERS 11 & 12

Chapter 11

            “Do you have any idea of where we are, Tess?” Stacey asked, as she struggled to see the road ahead of them.  The snow was falling so quickly that the large flakes coming at the windshield made her feel as if she were in space and shooting through the stars.

               “Not a clue, baby,” Tess grumbled, trying to keep her attention on the winding road ahead,

            “This is the way I was told to go, so this is the way I’m goin’.  When the Father says ‘Jump’ baby, you don’t ask ‘how high?’, you just do it.  It would, however, be nice if the weather would cooperate just a little.”

            Stacey settled back in her seat and tried to relax, as she glanced at the darkness and snow outside of the car,

            “So, what is the deal with this Kathleen person? “

            “The deal with her?” Tess chuckled softly at the human’s curiosity,

            “Kathleen is intent on destroying Monica, baby.  A long time ago, those two were best friends, back when Kathleen listened to God.  Those two angels were inseparable for a long time.  They sang on the choir together…well, Kathleen sang, Monica tried,” She glanced sideways at Stacey, seeing her confusion,

            “You ever heard Monica sing, baby?” Seeing her shake her head, Tess continued,

            “Well, that would be a good thing, if you get my drift.  Anyway, Kathleen was given a few tough assignments, and she started to get discouraged and she started questioning why God was setting her up to fail.”

            “Why was He?” Stacey asked, her expression perplexed by the tale that was being told to her.

            “Baby, God doesn’t set anyone up to fail.  You humans have free will, as do angels.  We try to help you do the right things, but it’s up to you if you listen or not.  All we can do is to bring the truth that God gave us and hope that they listen.  Monica tried to explain this to Kathleen, as they were both in Search and Rescue at the time, but Kathleen was too busy trying to find an easier way, which was also the darker way.  My baby’s heart was broken when Kathleen decided to leave God’s light and follow the one of pure evil,” Tess grew quiet for a moment, remembering that time and Monica’s sadness and tears over the loss of her friend,

            “I didn’t think Monica was ever gonna get over it, and about that time, the Father sent Andrew to work with us.  She was none too happy about that at first, let me tell you.  That was one jealous angel, or maybe it was the fact that she was unwilling to trust him.  But over time, he worked his way into her heart and they’re closer actually then she and Kathleen were. “

            “So, Kathleen wants to take Monica over to the other side then, to be with her?  Maybe Kathleen misses her, Tess.”

            “I don’t think so, Stacey.  I think Kathleen is jealous of Monica’s faith, as Kathleen was unable to keep her own.  Nothing would make that demon happier then to see Monica fall and it’s up to Andrew and I to see that it doesn’t happen.”

            Stacey nodded her head in understanding as she reflected on what Tess had just told her.  Her eyes looked back out the window and she squinted, seeing something in the snow-covered road ahead,

            “Tess, look out!  There’s something in the road!”

            Andrew awoke from a sound sleep on the couch, and realized he was shivering with cold,

            “What on earth-“ he muttered, sitting up.  He immediately saw the front door wide open and his heart leapt to his throat as he realized Monica was gone.  He was on his feet immediately as he grabbed the coat that hung by the door and was ready to barrel out into the snow when he was stopped by the sound of laughter,

            “Kathleen,” He glowered, his eyes narrowing in anger,

            “Where’s Monica?  What have you done?”

            “Your Angel Girl decided to take a little walk is all, Andrew,” Kathleen smiled,

            “I couldn’t have her getting better and being able to think straight now, could I?  She has an important decision to make and I’m worried that if she is thinking coherently, she may not make the right one.”

            “She is never going with you, Kathleen!” He snapped, taking a threatening step closer to the angel of darkness.

            “We’ll see, Andrew.  We’ll see.” With her laughter echoing through the room, she was gone, as if she had never been there to begin with.

            Andrew stepped outside, his eyes searching for any sign of his friend, through the snow and the darkness that she was so afraid of.  Just as he was about to begin his search, he saw lights up ahead and a car, Tess’ car, pulled up to the cabin,

            “Tess!” He called out, his heart filling with relief at the sight of his friend.

            Tess and Stacey got out of the car quickly,

            “Give us a hand, Angel Boy, quickly!  We found Monica lying in the snow.  She’s half frozen and burning up with fever.”

            Andrew raced to the car, nearly slipping on the snow, as he reached in and lifted Monica out and into his arms,

            “Lets get her inside,” He said, his heart pounding as he pressed his lips to her forehead,

            “Hang on, Angel Girl,” he whispered,

            “Please, hang on!”

Chapter 12

            Andrew’s hands shook as he rummaged through the linen cupboard to find all the blankets that he could before he hurried back out to the main room.  Tess and Stacey had by then gotten Monica out of her wet clothes and into a warm nightgown.  He helped them wrap his friend snugly in the blankets, his green eyes taking in how pale she was and how her lips appeared to be nearly blue. 

            Stacey threw another log onto the fire as Tess bathed Monica’s face with a warm cloth,

            “C’mon, baby,” Tess whispered softly as Andrew tried to warm Monica’s icy cold hands with his own,

            “Come back to us, Angel Girl.”

            The three worked feverishly trying to warm the nearly frozen angel and finally some time later, Monica’s eyes opened and she looked around her, confusion apparent in her eyes.

            “I’m so…cold…” She uttered weakly, beginning to shake now that she was awake.

            Andrew moved to the head of the bed to wrap his arms around her, furiously rubbing her arm to try to warm her,

            “She’s burning up again,” He uttered, his hand moving to feel her forehead.

            “Again?” Tess asked questionably, looking at him.

            “She’s been sick the last few days, Tess.  Ever since she found me in the cave, but she was getting better until Kathleen-“

            “Hang on, baby,” Tess interrupted him,

            “Start at the beginning for me, please?” 

            Tess and Stacey listened as Andrew relayed to them all that had transpired since he had left Monica on the beach a few weeks ago. 

            “So Kathleen is trying to make Monica go with her by threatening you.” Stacey said softly, watching as Monica slept in Andrew’s arms.

            Andrew nodded his head, his eyes never leaving his Irish-tongued friend,

            “She nearly agreed to it at one point. She really scared me, Tess.”

            “You need to understand something, Angel Boy,” Tess remarked, her gaze meeting his,

            “This angel will go to the ends of the earth to protect you.  She lost Kathleen’s friendship and she isn’t about to lose yours, and Kathleen knows that.  That’s why she is making this a choice, but all the while knowing, that for Monica, it isn’t a choice at all.”

            “I don’t quite understand, Tess.  Monica never really talked to me about her friendship with Kathleen and I didn’t want to force the issue.” Andrew replied, his eyes filled with questions for what had happened.

            Tess explained what she had explained to Stacey earlier about the friendship between Monica and Kathleen,

            “I don’t think our Angel Girl has ever really forgiven herself for Kathleen’s decision, Andrew.  She, in some way, feels responsible; that she could have done more.  Monica grieved for a long time the loss of that friendship and the hurt only lessened once a special Angel of Death, who shall remain nameless, entered into the picture,” Tess smiled as she winked at Andrew,

            “She will go to great lengths to protect you, Angel Boy.  I can almost guarantee that she would not try to save herself at the risk of losing you, and Kathleen knowing that makes this all very dangerous.”

            “Maybe Kathleen is jealous of Monica’s friendship with Andrew,” Stacey wondered aloud, exchanging looks with both of them.

            Tess nodded her head slowly,

            “Could be, baby.  Could be.”

            Andrew turned his attention back to Monica as she began to murmur in her sleep, her expression one of panic,

            “Andrew!”

            “I’m right here, sweetheart,” He soothed, his fingers brushing through her still slightly dampened hair.

            “Don’t hurt him…don’t hurt him…please…I’ll do anything…anything…” She thrashed briefly for a moment, before falling back into Andrew’s arms in exhaustion.

            “Yes,” Tess said softly, as she watched her Angel Boy soothe his friend,

            “This is very dangerous right now and we’re going to have to be very careful.”

            Kathleen stood in the corner of the room, unseen to the others, a contented smile playing on her lips,

            “Ahh, Tess, you have no idea.”