by S S Bazinet
She was facing something so shocking, she couldn’t let herself react. She had to put that emotional part of herself on hold. With Arel being totally insane, it was up to her to remain steadfast for the time being.
She gave Arel a genuine smile because she still adored him, but there was an acute sense of sadness behind the smile. She had to find a way to help him in whatever way she could. She decided to talk to her very good friend, Michael. Happily, he’d arrived home shortly after Arel and the others. Michael was like a father to Arel, and Elise felt she could trust him to help her deal with Arel’s condition.
Nineteen
ROLPHE WAS GRATEFUL to Carey and a bit humbled to take up residence in the angel’s room. He was also pleased with himself as he looked around his new accommodations. All of his things were unpacked and neatly stowed away. There was no clutter or disarray.
Keeping his surroundings tidy was something he’d learned while Arel was staying with him in Paris. He’d admired Arel’s passion for order and cleanliness. They were virtues he’d neglected until Arel took on the job of making everything in Rolphe’s apartment shine or at least pass a white glove inspection.
Rolphe had to make sure he was presentable too. He’d taken a quick shower and put on a clean shirt and pants. He wanted to be ready when the panic started. And he knew it was coming. When Arel told Elise she needed to “know” everything about his life, Rolphe felt an immediate spike in his emotional balancing act.
He was already doing everything he could to be the “calming” factor in the situation with Col. He didn’t have a choice. Arel and William were stressed to the breaking point. But knowing Arel’s new bride was going to be thrown into the deep waters of Arel’s confession, Rolphe had to up his game plan. If people started falling apart around him, he had to be ready to help.
He stared at a little picture on the dresser. He’d placed it there earlier when he was unpacking. It was a picture of an angel who was giving praise to the Almighty. Rolphe wanted to connect to the deity too and folded his hands in prayer. “Please help me to help my friends. Give me the wisdom to know when to speak and when to hold my tongue. Assist me when I’m at a loss and help me to always stay true to my faith. Amen.”
* * * * *
Once Elise was sure Arel was asleep, she let herself out of their bedroom and went in search of Michael. As she was walking down the hall, she passed the bedroom where Rolphe was staying. The door was open. When she glanced in, she saw Rolphe sitting in a chair. He smiled and waved to her. For some reason, she was drawn to the imposing man. Maybe it was remembering how sweet he’d been with Freddie and how Freddie calmed down when Rolphe touched him. She waved back. “Are you getting settled in?” she asked from the doorway.
Rolphe nodded. “Thank you so much for having me, Elise. It’s very kind of you.”
Elise took a couple of steps into the room and then remembered how Arel had told her Rolphe had once thought himself a vampire. Remembering her husband’s crazy rantings brought tears to her eyes. “Oh Rolphe, what am I going to do?”
The words came out before she could stop them. Arel was mentally ill, and that fact was so devastating all she wanted was to cry forever over her loss.
Rolphe stood up and immediately came over. “Please don’t cry, sweet lady. You’ll have me crying too.”
It was such a strange statement for the tall, robust man to make that she forgot her sadness enough to look up for a moment. But sure enough, Rolphe had tears in his eyes.
Rolphe quickly swiped them away with the back of his hand. “I’m sorry. I’m too emotional, but it’s the way I was raised. The men in my family sometimes shed more tears than the women. When my children died—” His voice broke, and he paused, wiping away more tears. “Again, I apologize for going on about my life when you’re clearly very upset.”
Elise didn’t know why but she had to reach out to Rolphe. “You lost your children?”
He nodded. “Two beautiful boys. They both died in my arms.”
“Oh Rolphe, I’m so sorry.”
He let out a heavy breath. “It was a long time ago. I should be over it by now.” He smiled. “Sometimes, when I look at Arel and William, I think about what fine men they’ve turned out to be. If my sons had lived, I believe they would have been fine men too.”
Elise swallowed hard. Rolphe spoke about Arel with such affection, and he was right about Arel being a fine man. The problem was Arel was also certifiable. She took Rolphe’s hand in hers. It was so large compared to her smaller version, but she gave it a good squeeze. “I’m sure your sons would have been very fine men.”
He nodded. “Thank you, but is there anything I can do for you?”
Elise thought about how Rolphe had lost his children, and how she’d lost the man she loved. As her eyes filled with tears again, she walked over to the bed and sat down. She didn’t want to share everything, but she had to express some of her feelings. “Tell me what to do, Rolphe. I need to be there for Arel, but I don’t know how.”
Rolphe walked over and sat down next to her. He put his arm around her shoulder and patted it ever so gently. “The answers will come. I’m sure of it.”
Elise sniffled. “I wish I could believe that was true.”
* * * * *
William was always impressed when he stayed in the lower level of Arel’s home. The rooms were beautifully furnished. Expensive paintings adorned the walls. Elegant bronzes and other rare collectables accented the space throughout.
The bedroom was no exception when it came to good taste. He and Annabel lay on a spacious, king-sized bed that was fit for a king. They were both tired, and it was a relief to relax on the bed’s plush linens. Freddie didn’t want to be left out. The little dog had stationed himself between William and Annabel. He was fast asleep on the luxurious comforter.
Annabel had brought Freddie down to the lower level when Arel announced his intention to share his secrets with Elise. William knew Annabel made the right decision. Elise and Arel needed some time alone for that kind of conversation.
William let out a little groan as he slowly stroked Freddie’s soft fur. “Annabel, I’ve been thinking about Arel. He might be making a very big mistake talking to Elise about all the things she doesn’t know. She looked slightly traumatized already after seeing his physical condition. If he starts telling her he was once a vampire—”
Annabel continued to stare at the ceiling. “I think you’re right. He needs to ease her into something so different than the reality she’s used to. But if he does tell her all, what do you think we should do? I’m sure she’s going to want to talk to us about it.”
“Perhaps it would be prudent to say as little as possible.”
“Why is that?”
“Think about it, my darling ex-angel. If you were Elise and a bunch of people invaded your home and told you they’d once been vampires or in your case, a heavenly messenger, what would you think?”
“I’d probably think I was crazy or they were crazy. Either way, I’d be very confused and probably very scared by it all.”
“Exactly, so if Elise asks any direct questions, be casual but evasive.”
“But what about Arel? If we don’t back him up, what will he think?”
“I’m sure he wants what’s best for Elise, at least when he’s thinking clearly.”
“Oh William, I know he loves Elise, and he wouldn’t want her stressed out.”
“Exactly, he’s stressed out enough for both of them.”
Twenty
WHEN ELISE LEFT Rolphe’s room, she felt a little better. She didn’t tell him she thought Arel was losing his mind, but she did confide in him. She told Rolphe about how concerned she was about Arel and his physical condition.
Rolphe was very understanding. He said Arel had been quite ill in London. Arel hadn’t wanted to worry her, and so he avoided her calls. Rolphe also explained Arel could be prone to illness when overly stressed. Elise cringed inwardly at the thought. Perhaps her c
all about possibly being pregnant had triggered something in Arel. She knew he’d had a terrible childhood. Maybe he had more fears than he admitted.
Rolphe seemed to sense she was being hard on herself. That’s when he assured her that Arel often bounced back quickly if he rested for a while.
After their talk, Elise was more hopeful. She also remembered something William had once told her. It was something about Arel being prone to delusions. She thought he was joking around, but maybe he meant it. Could it be that Arel was just sick and stressed out to the point of making nonsensical statements? She decided to talk to William next.
* * * * *
William wasn’t surprised when he heard a knock on their lower level entrance door. He knew it was Elise. He quickly went to answer it with Annabel and Freddie trailing behind him. He hoped Elise was holding it together, that she didn’t let herself fall apart. But when he opened the door, he was prepared for the worst.
Elise stood in the doorway just long enough to greet him, and then she leaned down and picked up Freddie. “There’s my boy,” she said as she held him close.
Annabel spoke up at once. “Elise, come in and sit down.”
Elise kissed Freddie’s head and sniffled. “I was just talking to Rolphe.”
William’s blood pressure went up a notch. He hoped Rolphe hadn’t said something he shouldn’t have. “Rolphe? You were talking to Rolphe?”
Elise smiled and bit her lip. “He’s a very sweet person. I’m having a difficult time, and he was very good at being there for me.”
“What kind of difficult time, Elise?” Annabel asked. “Maybe William or I could help.”
When William saw Elise’s eyes starting to tear, he braced himself. It was time for damage control. “Annabel is right. Tell us what you need.”
“Do you think I stressed Arel out when I called and told him I might be pregnant?”
“Is that what Rolphe told you?” Annabel asked.
“Well, not directly. He said Arel was very sick while he was in London visiting you. He also said Arel could get that way if he got too stressed.”
William felt his shoulders drop a couple of inches. From what Elise explained, Rolphe had actually done a good job of covering for Arel. “Rolphe is right about Arel. He is pretty high-strung.”
Elise sniffled again. “William, you once said Arel can be delusional. What did you mean by that?”
When William hesitated, Annabel spoke up. “Elise, can you tell us what you’re worried about?”
Elise shrugged. “I don’t know exactly, but Arel said some things that didn’t make sense.”
William smiled. “There you go, delusional! When Arel is extremely tired or he’s been sick, it can happen. He says stuff, weird stuff, like his mind is a little off.”
Elise brightened. “Oh, I see. Then maybe—”
“Why don’t we sit down for a few minutes and you can relax a little,” Annabel suggested. “You look tired.”
As Elise was nodding, William’s phone rang. He didn’t tell her it was Arel’s ringtone. He excused himself. “Business,” he explained. “I better take it.”
William quickly left the room with his phone pressed to his ear. He listened quietly to Arel, but his irritation was back. Arel had gotten himself in another mess and needed to see him. He tried to sound understanding. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
* * * * *
Arel woke up, opened his eyes, glanced around and closed them again. He didn’t know where he was. He’d been so deep in sleep, his mind wasn’t ready to function yet. Or maybe he didn’t want to return to reality. He wasn’t sure which it was. He wasn’t sure about anything.
He opened his eyes a second time and looked around the room. It seemed familiar. He recognized the furniture. In the next thought, he knew where he was. He was home. He was back in his bedroom in his Chicago rancher. That fact came with a comforting feeling, and yet—
He had a feeling that wasn’t comfortable. Something told him to brace himself. But brace himself for what? He let his eyes wander over the room. Everything seemed normal until he saw a little knick-knack. He knew it didn’t belong to him. “What’s a ballerina figurine doing on my desk?” he asked.
A few images followed his inquiry. He remembered arriving home and coming through the front door. There was a woman waiting for him in the foyer. He remembered a name. “Elise.”
He rubbed his eyes, shocked that he could have forgotten his wife. She was the woman he adored. So how could he wake up and not remember her unless . . . unless something happened.
But what could have happened that made him go into denial? He’d been guilty of not facing facts in the past. But forgetting his wife? That seemed too crazy even for him.
He threw back the covers, sat up a little too fast, and grabbed for the night stand. He was still a bit light-headed. He checked the clock. He didn’t think he’d been asleep for very long. Maybe he was still exhausted. Maybe that was why his brain was so unresponsive. Whatever the problem, it felt like a pot on a burner with the flame turned down way too low. “Concentrate, Arel, turn that burner up.”
The order he gave himself was supposed to help. Instead, a wave of anxiety swept through his body. It was accompanied by a feeling that he’d done something really stupid. But what? What had he done this time? He had to know what that stupid thing was.
He began to retrace his steps. He’d arrived home, been greeted by Elise and then he vaguely remembered having a conversation with her. He frowned. “I think I told her some things. I think I told her about—”
He grabbed hold of the nightstand a second time, his fingers grasping the hard surface. “Oh lord, what did I say to her?”
Slowly, everything came into focus. He recalled the promise he’d made to himself in London, how he’d vowed to tell Elise everything. He remembered sitting in the chair across from the bed and casually discussing things with her, things that needed to be told.
“But not all at once! Not like some maniac babbling on and on!” How could he have been so foolish?
Denial was replaced by too much clarity. He remembered what he’d said and how he’d said it. He’d delivered the facts about his previous life like he was reading something from the morning paper. Only the morning paper didn’t have columns about vampires who drank rat’s blood. The paper didn’t report on incarnate angels, ex-angels and a ghostly fiend named Col who was haunting people. Yet, the facts had poured out of him. The burden he’d carried for so long wanted to be purged, and he purged it alright, without thought or deliberation.
He vaguely recalled Elise’s face. As he droned on, she sat looking at him with her spine straight and her shoulders narrowed. Her mouth was slightly curved as if she was trying to smile, but her brows were lost in deep furrows of concern. She never said a word.
Afterwards, after he finished his story, she gently encouraged him to get some rest. When she’d tucked him into bed, she kissed his cheek. He remembered that kiss. Elise’s lips were trembling, but he was too exhausted to worry about it. He’d let himself slip into a dreamless sleep.
Now, he was awake and panicking. He had to do something and fast, but what? He reached for his phone. Maybe William could help.
Twenty-One
WILLIAM TRUDGED UP the stairs to the foyer two at a time. Not that he was in a hurry. He recognized his mood. When he was a child, he often got into a bad temper with people. Now Arel was one of those people who made him angry.
Of course, if Arel only made him angry, he could handle that. What Arel did was draw him into places William didn’t want to go. It had all started when they were young men. William was innocently minding his own business, having a drink in a pub. When he glanced up, a man about his age was seating himself at a table. William thought he’d seen the guy at the university he attended. Everything about the man expressed hopelessness and futility. The way he was hunched over, his thin, gaunt haunted face, Arel was a picture-perfect example of failure from head to toe.
<
br /> Before William could look away, this king of the forlorn lifted his eyes and stared back. It was a moment William would never forget. The person he’d deemed a disaster targeted William with the most intense, probing eyes he’d ever seen. He’d observed eagles and hawks that had fierce eyes, but Arel’s golden gaze topped them all.
When Arel broke their connection and stared down at his drink, William’s life was changed forever. After living in a world that had no room for anyone, he’d met someone who piqued every curious bone in his body. He was determined to find out more about Arel. How could someone who walked around playing the ultimate victim have eyes that made William feel excited about life again?
All these years later, William was still being pulled into Arel’s world, and he needed to do something about it. Arel was headed in a direction that involved angelic blood and beliefs that William didn’t endorse. No, he had to go his own way. But not now. Not with the Col threat. Angry or not, he had to help Arel before Col had time to attack again. If Col succeeded in bringing Arel down, the results could be disastrous for all of them.
William knocked on the master bedroom door and let himself in. Arel was sitting on the edge of the bed, head down, as if he was in that tavern again. When he looked up, William half expected to see the man’s fierce eyes. But no, Arel was playing a different role. His eyes were those of a child, a child in trouble.
Arel stood up and greeted him. “Thank you for coming so quickly, Will. I did something stupid with Elise. I need your help.”
A sharp pain went through William’s hand. At times, it felt like his flesh was being sliced open again. Perhaps that was a good thing. The pain was warning him to keep his distance, not to be pulled into Arel’s world.
He almost laughed when he thought about Arel’s perspective. Arel fingered the scar on his palm with a dreamy look, as if the idea of being brothers was a gift he was always giving himself. Arel’s attitude made William tired. But still, as hard as he tried to ignore the man, it was almost impossible to shut him out completely.