The moon is up and the stars shine bright, they’ll sing you a lullaby
So close your eyes and drift away, on an angel’s wings
just close your eyes and drift away on an angel’s wings.
Hush, hush my sweet baby boy rest your little head
Drift off to sleep I’ll see you soon, I’ll be here when you wake
Hush, hush my sweet baby boy, don’t you fear the dark
Your Guardian angel is watching you and keeps you safe tonight.
So close your eyes and drift away, on an angel’s wings
So close your eyes and drift away, on an angel’s wings
Baby boy, sweet baby boy, close your little eyes
Baby boy, sweet baby boy, close your little eyes.
Thad sat for a moment completely speechless. “It is so beautiful,” he whispered, fighting back a torrent of tears.
“Of course it is. It was made for a beautiful boy,” She said gently wiping away Thad’s tears.
“It hurts so much. Every where I look there are things that remind me of him. Remind me that I will never again be able to hug him, laugh with him or even walk just holding his hand,” Thad cried, giving in to the tears.
“I miss him too,” she replied hugging Thad close to her.
“I just wish I could tell him that I loved him one last time,” Thad sniffed.
“I think he knows how much he meant to all of us,” she smiled down at him.
“Does it ever go away?”
“In time the ache will fade, but life will forever be different. When someone departs us, they leave behind a void that cannot be filled by any other. For everyone’s special and every soul gives life to this world in they're very own special way. When a person dies the whole universe mourns,” She answered.
Thad smiled up at her, “I like that." He rested his head against Zyphera's chest. The sound of her heart thumped through his ear. It's steady rhythme calmed his own allowing him to drift into a peaceful sleep.
A glistening silver tree
Thad watched as the sky changed from rich ebony to a brilliant array of pink, purples and oranges. He’d managed a few hours of sleep before a horrid nightmare awoke him.
“The first of many to come,” he thought to himself as he looked at the clock. “4:47” glowered back in his face. He smiled slightly as he swung his feet over the side of the bed and into the old slippers his Grandfather bought him.
They reminded him of the time he snuck down the hall to his Grandfather’s room, stealthy as possible, slip under the warm covers and touch his icicle feet to his Grandfather’s cozy legs. He had never seen an old man jump so high.“Imagine that. A memory that made me smile,” Thad mumbled as he trudged out the door.
The rest of the house was quiet. He slipped up the stairs to the fourth floor. It was a huge loft the Sentry used to storage all the extra “stuff” they’d collected over the years.
“I bet nobody even remembers what is up here,” he muttered, picking his way through the mounds of boxes.
Finally he reached his destination, a large window, opening to a small balcony and a winding staircase leading to a larger balcony on the roof. Many mornings and nights were spent here drinking in the wild beauty that created the dawning and departure of every day. Suddenly Thad found himself smiling again.“Every day has a beginning and an end, but it is continuously reborn with changing beauty,” he recalled his Grandfather’s words. “This life my have ended for you Grandfather, but I know that you have many more to come and our lives are destined to meet again,” he spoke aloud.
He sat till the bold blue of the day chased away the last dancing colors of dawn. He climbed carefully down the stairs, his heart alive with hope. “Tonight is not a farewell, but a mere separation of paths,” He told himself. As he suspected Zyphera and Leath were up and munching eagerly on delicious looking pieces of stuffed French toast.
“Oh my osh, fad you have to try vish,” Leath managed to say, barely chewing his food.
Thad grabbed a plate suddenly realizing how hungry he was. He helped himself to four slices under the bulging eyes of two people he considered family. “What, I am hungry,” he defended himself
Leath raised an eyebrow. The three of them laughed and joked as if the world around them ceased to exist.
Moments later Mathias and Traiden joined them in the dinning room.
“Good morning everybody!” Traiden greeted cheerily, rubbing his rumbling belly.
“Morning Traiden, Morning Mathias,” Thad replied.
“Hungry?” Mathias asked eyeing the heap on Thad’s plate.
“Yeah,” Thad replied like it was a no brainer.
“How are you two feeling this morning?” Mathias asked Leath and Zyphera.
“Better then ever?” Leath replied with a wink as he put his arm around Zyphera.
“Just fine thanks,” Zyphera blushed.
“So when were you going to tell us that you’re an Angel?” Leath asked.
Mathias grinned, “Never!”
“I don’t understand how you could be an angel. I thought they were a sort of Myth, a being that lived in heaven?” Thad stated.
“Well we sort of are and, well, heaven is kind of the name,” Traiden answered, joining the conversation.
“I don’t follow,” Thad said stuffing another piece of toast in his mouth.
“It is a long story,” Mathias replied.
“Well we are all free for the next couple of hours,” Leath replied with a grin.
“You better get comfortable then.” Mathias said adjusting his posture.
“When the universe was created life appeared on five planets: Fairum Celest, Minerva, Aetherius, Uraleigha and Earth. But life did not blossom all at once. The race on Fairum Celest was the first too establish, and gathered knowledge at a rapid pace. They expanded their colonies in a manner that limited the impact on the surrounding eco systems. By closely studying the behaviors and interactions between animals and their environment, they learned how to forage for edible food, learned the signs of the changing seasons, and transformed the animals ingenuity into a tech their race was capable of using. The Celestians often wondered how the Creature inhabitants could be so in tune with their environment, so one resident set out on a quest. Forty seven years passed and with no communication, he was presumed dead. Then one morning he simply appeared in a village, his body still as young as the day he set out. Out of his hands life grew and seasons changed with the power of his breath. He became known as “The Creator”. No one knows exactly what happened during his time living in the wild. Some feared him and others begged for his knowledge. During his absence the Celestians developed the ability to travel through space and discovered other habitable planets. Eventually their fears drove them to leave, scattering amongst four planets. The people who remained gained great power and knowledge, allowing them to transcend to an eternal level of existence. The Celestians wished to share their knowledge but were met with fear and resistance thanks to rumors fearful Celestians had spread. Undeterred, the residents pursued their mission. They mingled invisibly with different societies, only revealing themselves if necessary.”
“I think Genesis left out the part about the other planets,” Leath whispered to Thad.
Thad stifled a laugh as Mathias continued.
“How life and this universe came into existence is the greatest question ever posed. Societies have come up with many theories and engaged in heated debates. The downfall to their enlightenment hinged on the inability to see that each theory could be a piece in the same puzzle. It became clear that the differences of opinion became a dividing factor instead of a means of collaboration and insight. We watched as civilizations waged war in the name of their beliefs. Empires were all but wiped out. Joining forces with the few remaining societies, the Creator worked to re seed life. Worried the new beings would follow in their predecessor’s footsteps, it was decided some of us would walk among them as Guides and Protectors. Eventually we bec
ame myth and legend housed in a book of morals.”
“I don’t get it?” Thad said shaking his head as if trying to help the pieces fall into place.
“Many of us are wandering angels like Traiden. They provide inspiration and are a sort of Police Force. Some beings have a larger impact on the universe, so they are assigned a Guide or Protector. A Guide is usually a best friend or confident, someone they go to for help and advice. Sometimes Guides are invisible and encourage ideas that lay dormant in their assignments mind. Protectors are pretty much the same, just trained for combat, and we tend to be slightly bigger,” He added with a wink
“So you’re my Guardian,” Thad said with wide eyes. "Are you differnt than the Zion race?"
“I am Guardian to all watchmen. I have been here for almost two hundred years,” He explained. "and the Zion race were genetically engineered by the creator, we are still unsure how we came into existence."
“So you live forever then?” Leath wondered.
“Our bodies can die or wear out after a period of time, but our soul is reborn,” Traiden explained.
“So you have to start all over again?” Zyphera asked.
“We are born with the knowledge we acquired over the years and if we left an assignment unfinished we are still bound by the contract to see it through,” Traiden replied anxious to tell some of the story himself. “When we die of “Natural” causes are bodies are reborn and reach the age we left in a matter of months.”
“Why do you keep bringing up natural causes?” Zyphera wondered her fork paused in mid air.
“Ooo, can I tell this part?” Traiden begged, bouncing up in his chair like a young boy.
“Of course,” Mathias rolled his eyes.
“Thad, remember when I told you everything has an opposite; dark, light, male, female, positive, negative and so on. Well we have an opposite as well.”
“You’re talking about demons,” Thad stated recalling his Grandfather’s lessons on the differences between religions and beliefs.
“Correct you are. They are the only being that can kill us. Our soul will die if we are slain by one of their kind, and vice a versa. And just like us they roam the worlds but with slightly different agendas. If there were only good choices to choose from, it wouldn’t really be a choice would it,” Traiden said with a smile, sitting back to see how long it would take for the info to click.
“Oh my, gosh, demons are angels that have been instructed by the creator to try and mislead us,” Thad said shaking his head. “I don’t believe it. Why do you guys keep this a secret?” Thad wondered.
“What do you think would happen if everyone knew the truth? Knowledge is empowering but it is also a gift of pure evil. Many horrendous deeds started out with good intentions. Aside from a handful of people, the only world that knows of our existence is Minerva. It would be hard to keep that a secret from the writers of history,” Mathias grinned.
“One thing I don’t understand, why don’t you just avert things like war and famine. You have the power too,” Thad asked.
“We are prohibited from being the initiators of change. We can only help others work towards those goals,” Mathias answered.
“Well that’s a bummer,” Thad sighed.
“I suppose.” Mathias said shrugging his shoulders.
“Well I don’t know about the rest of you, but I don’t think I can handle anymore information,” Leath said leaning back in his chair stretching.
“I am with you on that,” Thad agreed his face wrinkled in thought.
“There’s more to the story isn’t there,” Zyphera prodded.
“Nothing you guys can’t live without,” Traiden grinned.
They sat in silence pondering the expanse of knowledge the universe holds.
“Anybody know what time it is?” Leath asked.
“I am guessing it is almost noon,” Zyphera said peeking out the window.
“Anybody up for a walk before people start arriving?”
“I am in,” Thad said pushing a way from the table, dreading the coming hours.
“Sounds good to me,” Zyphera chimed in.
“I am sorry but I have to have a little chat with Gabriel. I will catch up with you later,” Mathias excused himself.
“Well how about it angel boy?” Leath said turning to Traiden.
“I am game,” Traiden answered hopping off his chair.
Mathias watched as the troop headed out the side door to the Garden. When they were out of sight he took up post in the living room. He watched the minute hand tick around the Birken clock that sat on the old wood mantle above the fireplace. It made it half way around before Gabriel arrived.
“I have been meaning to ask how you managed to be so conveniently close to the city,” Mathias said startling the keeper as he walked into the room. “Or what business a keeper had in Barathrum to begin with.”
“Holy cow you scared the poop out of me Mathias,” Gabriel said clutching his chest.
“I have some questions that need answering,” Mathias stated, his voice colder than usual.
Gabriel sighed. “What do you want to know?”
“I want to know why you broke the treaty,” Mathias demanded. “I am guessing the explosion was not a coincidence.”
“No that was Madron’s servant Merrick, but he was acting on Piaus’s orders. I was there to get Merrick out safely when we heard you guys were in trouble. I happened to run into Leath which made it a lot easier to find you,” Gabriel replied as he slumped into a chair. “Look, I am sorry but there are certain things that I am not at liberty to discuss. You are going to have to take it up with Michael.”
“He knew about this?” Mathias said bewildered. His mind suddenly ran wild trying to understand why his superior would allow a breach to occur.
“He helped plan it,” Gabriel continued wearily.
“I should have been told. I was supposed to be protecting the professor!" Mathias was angry to hear his own commander had left him in the dark.
“Yes, but he was suppose to die.”
“I don’t understand,” Mathias said blinking rapidly as his vision hazed and heart raced. Nothing was making sense. “Did he know about Thad?”
Gabriel became quiet.
“Son of a bitch,” Mathias slammed his hand hard against the mantle.
“Look, we will talk more about this later,” Gabriel’s quiet voice barely reached his ears.
Mathias looked behind and saw Thad and the others coming up the porch steps to the living room.
“Oh, you’re here already,” Thad mumbled attempting a smile.
“How are you doing Thad?” Gabriel asked, looking at the boy with a sadness that went far beyond his feelings about the Professor’s death.
“Sun is about to go down. I have to go get ready,” He ignored Gabriel’s question and headed out of the room.
Mathias looked at Gabriel, his face serious. “I expect the truth,” making it clear there was no other option.
“Nothing but,” Gabriel replied.
The sun began its slow decent below the western horizon as people filed onto the estate grounds and congregated in the meadow to pay their last respects. Thad glanced curiously at the forming crowd. There were citizens and races from many worlds and realms. Towards the back Thad could make out the giant forms of Goliath and Delilah along with a few of their mates he did not recognize.
As the light of the sun’s golden fingers fully disappeared and the brilliant colors faded into the coming night, a mournful song rose from the depths of the earth. The meadow came alive with the flickering of tiny lights as the inhabitants of Tuathia emerged out of the darkness. Thad watched in awe as they formed a circle around the mourners.
Fifty or so of the Gnomes slowly weaved their way through the crowd and encompassed his Grandfathers body. Their voices rose in an eerie unison filling the night sky with their song.
“Your life has vanished with the sun
Your soul will rise with the moon
Your heart beat steady with the earth
Your spirit will shine among the stars
The angel comes to take you home
Where our tears fall the earth will grow
A tree of strength with branches high
Its roots run deep, forever it will stay
A living memory
Fear not your dreams they will treat you well
Fear not your death, for your life has just begun.”
As their voices rose their candles brightened. The entire meadow basked in flickering light. Soulful drums echoed across the estate as tears fell to the ground. A loud rumble resonated. The earth began to shake. The soil began to shift. Thad’s heart beat with fear and wonder. He watched in amazement as the branches of a tree appeared beneath his grandfather, wrapping around his broken body and tucking him deep with in its womb. The tree rose steadily out of the ground, roots scrawled out below the dirt, occasionally breaking the surface to catch a glimpse of the night’s full moon. The stars caressed its leaves, calling them forth as the moon draped a spun silver cloak over every branch.
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