by L. J. Amodeo
“Freddie, you should have let me go! Why did you save me?” I grimaced, pressing on my temples to keep the thumping that was starting to progress at bay.
“It’s my duty and I had to save you, you’re my best friend,” he whispered, reaching for my hand.
It took some time for Freddie to finally quiet me down. We sat silently on the edge of the bed, with nothing to say to one another. There had been something burning in my chest since Michael’s return to Caneadea. My pesky conscience argued Freddie, too, was here not by choice, but by obligation. Whatever the truth was, I needed to hear it from his mouth.
“What were you doing there?” my voice finally broke the silence.
“Where, Beth?”
“At the bottom of the cliff?”
“I . . . I was waiting for you. Remember, I told you I’d be the one waiting.” The corners of his eyes peaked with concern.
“Did my mother tell you she was going to—drive off the cliff?”
“No.”
“Then how . . .” I shook my head again, trying my hardest to push away the thoughts that began to nag at me. I couldn’t imagine that my best friend was not who I always believed him to be. My entire life had become a lie—not even I knew who I was anymore. As my mind shifted to earlier memories, revelations of Freddie's image in the woods and the angel whose voice spoke to me and protected me against the vicious lashes of Lucifer’s son, emerged in full clarity. I finally understood.
“It was you, wasn’t it, at the Skull? You were the one who hid me under the tree to protect me from Luca.”
Freddie did not say a word. He just nodded his head keeping his eyes to the floor.
I looked down at my stomach, still uncertain of my fate.
“You shouldn’t have saved me, look at what I’ve done!” I covered my face with my hands.
“Beth. I couldn’t let you die, and it’s not what you think,” he said, sitting closer to me, reaching for my chin. His pained eyes stared at my belly.
“Beth, you’re not pregnant,” he said.
“Freddie! Look at me!” I growled staring down at my belly.
“I am looking at you. You’re beautiful and not pregnant,” he smiled, barely.
I looked at Freddie as he pressed a gentle finger into my abdomen.
“Look for yourself,” he forced a smile.
Again, I glanced down at my stomach. This time it was smooth—flat. No bump.
“I . . . I don’t understand. I swear it was bigger a second ago!” I stuttered, as the panic in me held the threat of a meltdown. My stomach was firm.
“Beth, you are having prophetic visions and dreams. They are premonitions of what you foresee—of what may happen,” he explained.
“Then, it’s true? I am destined to carry Luca’s child?” I was struck speechless.
“According to scriptures, yes. But I can’t answer that for sure. However, you—you can change your destiny,” he replied a little reluctantly, but with a certain passion in his voice.
“I find that hard to believe, Freddie. I distinctly remember my father telling me I was the chosen one,” I said, pressing my hand to my chest.
“I know, but we each have the power to alter our fate! You have the power to change it, Beth!”
“That’s not true. I was told our fate is predestined, written in the scriptures, right?” I asked, hoping he’d disagree with me.
“Yes, but we still have an ability to change its course. Think about it Beth, and do whatever you need to do to change your destiny.” Freddie gritted the words through his teeth.
“How?” I asked desperately. “Tell me how I can do that, Freddie!” I pleaded. Freddie lifted himself off the bed, tucking his hands in the front pockets of his jeans, pacing nervously.
“I can’t. That’s something you’ll have to figure out on your own. You own it. No one else does; not me, the Trinity, Michael and certainly not Luca. Only you can change it. You have the free will and power of choice. Always remember that, but you didn’t hear it from me.” Freddie stared intently at me as if trying to silently relay a message I just wasn’t getting.
My heart beat hard against my ribs as ideas swirled through my head. Killing Luca was an option, but an unrealistic one. Beasts and angels alike could not be killed, only banished to their realms for the next millennium. Besides, no human would ever have the power to take down the dragon, so I had to come up with other options.
“You can’t say this stuff to me and then tell me I’ve got to figure it out! I need your help. Tell me what to do to change my fate, Freddie!” I became instantly frantic, walking to stand next to him.
“I told you, I can’t do much for you as far as your destiny is concerned. All I can do is protect you and perhaps speak to the elders to see if they have any advice. You mustn’t tell anyone why you are here or speak of your premonitions.
“Here? I have no clue where here is!” I retorted.
“Beth, if your whereabouts leaks out, it will be disastrous for everyone, not just you. So please, not a word for as long as you’re here.”
“What about Michael? He’ll know what to do,” I whispered. Freddie blinked several times, nodding in disappointment. He moved away from me and stood by the window, staring out at the mountains that radiated with tranquility and natural beauty.
“Michael has certain obligations, Beth,” he replied tonelessly with his back to me. I rushed toward him, still trying to make sense of what he was saying. I stepped in front of the window, obstructing his view.
“What do you mean? Are you saying he’s not coming back?”
Freddie stood face to face with me locking his eyes on mine. “Only when and if necessary,” he responded coldly.
“Is that what he told you to tell me?”
“Beth, you’ve got to understand, Michael cannot roam the earth like you or I can.”
“That's not true and you know it! He was here, Freddie. How do you deny that?” I mumbled staring desperately at him.
“I’m not denying it, but he was sent here as a mortal because of the imminent danger that surrounded you. That was the reason for his physical presence, Beth. Michael was summoned to protect you because of the Watchers; Sam, and Luca. But he crossed the boundaries when he fell for you.” He whispered, realizing he said something he shouldn’t have. My heart skidded to a halt, each breath plagued with pain as I inhaled and exhaled.
“What has he done? Has Michael become a fallen angel because of me?” I yelled hysterically.
“No, No, Beth! Don’t you get what I’m saying? He’s not fallen in that sense of the word.” Freddie suddenly fell silent, pinching the bridge of his nose.
It was too much to ingest. The possibility Luca may find me to use as his breeding place was too much to absorb.
“Freddie, I’m scared,” I whispered, staring out the window at the sapphire lake glistening the exact shade of blue in Michael’s eyes.
“I’m sorry I never told you all this: we took an oath, and were forbidden to tell you in order to protect you.”
“But we told each other everything. We weren’t supposed to keep secrets. We made a promise, remember?” I fought back tears.
“I do remember. And we did promise, Beth, but what was your excuse for keeping your secret from me?” He retaliated, but quickly retreated. With a squeeze of guilt, I avoided a response. I moved away from the window, walking toward the fireplace this time.
It hit me all at once. The realization of who my friend really was—how Freddie came into my life when my father left me and I was hurting most. How he was always there whenever I was in danger. How he seemed to be at the right place at the right time.
The idea of Freddie being my guardian angel sloshed about in my head. My heart beat hard in my chest at the revelation that suddenly came into focus. My best friend wasn’t a living, breathing human like me. Freddie was an angel!
“Is it true? Are you an angel too? How could it be, Freddie? You were always my best friend. How could I
have not known,” I choked back tears as Freddie embraced me, leaving my broken heart fluttering like an injured bird.
“Bethy, I’m still your guy, aren’t I?” his voice softened as he wiped tears from my face. His fingertips brushed against my cheeks, leaving my skin tingling at his touch. I could only stare into the face of the boy I thought I knew everything about. There were never clues he was different from any others in Caneadea, except for his mystical beauty and wealth of knowledge.
“And your parents are they . . . like you?”
He didn’t need to verbalize his answer, it was apparent they, too, were covert angels. Now, it was clear when Michael said there were more angels on earth, who he was referring to.
“Freddie, if the Trinity sent Michael to protect me, why you too?”
“Come, sit down,” Freddie pointed to the double-ended chaise lounge, finished in a pale viridian green Jacquard. “The Trinity sent me when your father had no choice but to leave. Sam was tracking your father, not you, yet. For some reason, she and the Watchers had a tough time finding you after that close call at Lake Sinclair in Georgia. None of us, whether it be the Trinity, White Knights or the Watchers could understand why your particular bloodline was so difficult to track—it’s all still a mystery. The council thought having your dad go far away from you would deflect Sam and give the angels enough time to find and destroy her and her army. Instead, Sam shifted from body to body continuously, keeping her identity concealed. She made it completely difficult to find her, sending the covert angels in every direction of the globe trying to locate her. I was sent to you as your guardian, to conceal you and to look for any signs of Sam and her apes. Once Samantha tracked you and settled outside Caneadea, Michael was sent as Shield of the Key Keeper to protect you and destroy her. Until Sam appeared, I was only a guardian, not yet a warrior.”
“Hold on a sec! Go back. Shield of the Key Keeper? That’s what Luca called Michael in my dream. What exactly does that mean?” I asked, gulping back fear.
“Beth, do you remember what your father told you about your destiny?”
“Please, I’m trying to forget,” I grumbled, as memories danced through my head.
“Look, there’s no way around it. You’re the key.”
“See, that’s it! This is exactly what I mean! Explain to me what the key is. All I keep hearing is ‘I am the key.’ I get it, ok! I know I’m the key, but what am I supposed to unlock?” My curiosity grew to frustration by now. I was tired of being told I was the key, the chosen one. All I wanted was for all of it to disappear; for it to go away.
“Don’t you get it? You are the balance. Beth, our entire existence is based on the balance of good and evil, and you are the one who keeps that scale steady. If the scale tips, even slightly, you would throw off the balance and set them free. Open up all the portals of the Shadow Realm,” his thoughts slipped past her as he seemed to transcend into the spirit world.
“What portals? Shadow Realm? Are you kidding me, Freddie? Is this something you read in fiction books?”
“This is no joking matter, Beth. There are portals that allow the Watchers and dark beings to travel to and from the Shadow Realm. There are portals that do the same for the White Knights and light beings. That’s where you come in.”
My expression was one of complete, stunned disorient. “Explain!” I gnashed my teeth at him.
“You keep the balance of four primary portals–or what we angels call The Watchtowers; each allows access to the multi-dimensional realms. They are strategically placed at the cardinal points; north, south, east and west. If the balance is disrupted, the energy will shift causing portals to close. The consequences would be catastrophic.”
“Isn’t that what you want? To shut them down?”
“It’s not like that, Beth. It’s more like playing Russian roulette. We won’t know which of the portals would seal until it’s too late and if any of the four primary portals close—” Freddie squeezed his eyes shut, nervously biting down on his lip, “we just don’t know what would happen.”
“So you’re telling me it could be the angels’ portals that close or, even worse the primary portals?”
“Yes.” Fear crept onto his face, feeling my stomach knot as worry spread across mine too. How could I, at my age, balance the two realms and determine what happens to the four primary portals? Before my senior year, stories such as these were only a myth.
“Then how will we know which portals close and which remain open?” I said, rubbing my eyes as pain throbbed in my temple, trying to make sense of what was happening.
“We won’t until it’s too late,” he replied, his voice contorted with despair.
“Freddie, as my guardian, you don’t have to fight? I mean, you get to stay here and protect me . . . right?” My eyes blinked rapidly with fear that my only friend may have to leave me.
“I’ve earned my rank.” He grinned.
“Does it mean now you’re a—soldier?”
“Was a soldier. I’ve been promoted to Guardian of the Key, and when duty calls, I fly.” He arched his brow playfully.
I wanted to laugh, but nothing about this was funny. I closed my eyes, feeling blind to everything that had ensued throughout my life. The most important people in my life knew my secret, every one of them, except me. I thought about the chaos festering in the Trinity about now. How will they protect my soul if evil prevails? My conscience stammered with questions.
“Let me get this straight: if you're the Guardian of the Key and I am the key, why can’t you stay here with me? Why would you be sent off to fight the Watchers? Who will protect me when you’re gone? As your boss, don’t I have final say?” I gave him a questioning, but playful glance.
Freddie seemed lost in thought for a moment. He had lots to consider and think about as my guardian angel. “Beth, you’re safe here. You’re on sacred grounds. This place is off the grid and can’t be tracked; nearly impossible for Trackers to find it. Besides, these grounds are off limits to the Watchers and any one of their kind.”
“Off limits? How is that even possible? Did you make a deal with them? Is there some signed contract forbidding them to trespass?” I snorted at the idea.
“No, not really . . . Well, sort of. Only those who serve the Legion are permitted on Lake Louise. It’s known as the Sacred Temple of Faith and Protection. It is where thousands from the Blue and Light Legions come to congregate and the waters that surround us are blessed.” A slight smile crossed his lips.
“And who are the Trackers?” I asked Freddie.
“Trackers work for the dark forces, helping them do exactly what their name says they do; track who they are looking for.”
“Are they demonic, too?” I pressed my fingers to my forehead, hoping to grasp the concept of other worldly supernatural beings.
“No. Trackers are humans who have made a pact with Satan. They track for him since the Watchers and Luca are not permitted to roam on sacred grounds. In exchange, they get worldly possessions; fame, beauty, wealth, power or whatever they desire. But when they die, their souls are raised to serve his dark army for an eternity. As living, breathing humans, they can be quite dangerous since most times they go unnoticed and undetected.”
“Trackers, portals, keys, I can’t even comprehend any of this. I need time to process it all, Freddie. You swear I’m safe here? And where exactly is Lake Louise?” I asked, hoping to get a possible location.
“Somewhere remote and far from Caneadea. It’s not important where we are. All you need to know is you’re safe here.” I heard a swell of emotions emerge in his husky voice.
“I don’t want to be alone. Stay with me,” I said after a moment of silence between us.
“You won’t be alone. I promise,” he replied.
Freddie didn’t say a word for a while. He only embraced me for a long while.
“Freddie?”
“Yes, Bethy?” he whispered, kissing my hair.
“How did you and Michael become
angels?”
“There are many kinds of angels, Beth. There are various origins of angels and hierarchies. Each has a purpose and a mission. Michael and I are very different as angels, but we’re all under one Legion.”
“How so?” I said with a smirk, following him toward the bed.
“The difference between us is I was born with a soul.”
“Does that mean you weren't always an angel?” I squinted my eyes, trying to understand.
“Yes, at one time I was alive and happy,” his voice softened. I thought I knew everything about my closest friend, but it turns out I hardly knew him at all.
“Then you weren’t always Freddie Albrizio?” I asked innocently, as I stared on in blatant disbelief.
“Come sit down. This might take a while,” Freddie smiled his heartbreakingly beautiful smile. We sat on the bed. Shoulder to shoulder, resting our backs against the headboard like we’d done so many times before.
“If there is one truth about me, I was always Freddie, but born in a different place and time,” he struggled a painful smile. I caressed his hand, letting him know I was okay with his confession. I urged him to go on. “Tell me about the real Freddie, the one who lived before I met my best friend,” I whispered.
“I was born in Philadelphia, on the fifteenth of June, in 1923. I died nine years later during a mob hit. It happened during a long, tangled street war of a mob boss named Sabella, who had retired that year. He handed the reign of his crime family to a man called Tanino; who tried to snuff out any competition by threats and violent beatings. Times were tough and my father, an immigrant fisherman from Sicily, ran a small fish store. Under Tanino’s rule, the Philly Mafia extorted my old man every week, demanding money in return for protection. It became impossible for my family to make a living with these guys knocking on our door every week. My father, fed up and angry approached Tanino, who I believed was my dad’s friend, but instead an argument erupted between the two. I watched them argue from my porch step. My mother stood at my side, holding onto my hand real tight.”