by L. J. Amodeo
“Too bad, I’d love to go for a ride if you’re up for one.” Matthew winked. I felt a rush of excitement as I opened the driver’s side door and ran around to belt myself in as his passenger.
“Finally! You have no idea how long I’ve waited for someone to offer!” I breathed a sigh of relief. “Are you ready?” Matthew asked giving my hand a squeeze. “Yep,” I replied all smiles.
Matthew pressed a small button on the dashboard, and the garage door opened smoothly for us to slip through. Adjusting his sunglasses he informed me, “There’s a beautiful spot I’d like to show you. I think you’ll like it.” He raised his eyebrows. I could only smile a stupid, wide grin.
As the car zipped through Eden’s turns and bends on the narrow roads, I inhaled the fresh air watching Matthew’s hair thrash in the wind as I secured my own hair in a tight bun. Matthew drove for several miles through a long stretch of road covered by canopies of trees. The road was incredible.
“Matthew,” I shouted against the wind that beat against our faces. “Where are we?”
Matthew cocked his head, giving me a questioning glance. “We’re still on Lake Louise grounds—on the other side of the peaks,” he replied, eyeing me with his bad boy grin.
“How can that be? We’ve left the grounds miles ago,” I asked somewhat puzzled.
“Lake Louise, or The Flame, as we call it, stretches for many miles. It’s a small country within itself!” he laughed over the clamor of the wind.
I brushed the loose strands away from my face admiring the new landscape for the first time. On the far left, the falls were visible as the car wrapped around a mountainside road. Every so often, Matthew would give me a sideward glance, followed by a large dimpled grin. He was adorable, like Freddie. I instantly liked him, and knew we could easily be friends. But my smile wavered momentarily, as my happy thoughts were replaced with my best friend’s fate. I tried not to think about him. I didn’t want to spoil the little bit of freedom Matthew was willing to allow me. Pushing back my thoughts, I lifted my arms high in the air as the wind pushed against the palms of my hands, feeling alive and free-spirited again. I let go of my woes and howled at the top of my lungs. Matthew, taken by my uninhabited behavior, laughed at first, but eventually joined in.
By the time Matthew reached the destination, our hair was in total chaos. I desperately combed my hair with my fingers, trying to reset it. Matthew casually brushed his fingers once through his hair. He waited patiently for me to tie the hair band around my loose bun.
“Ready?” he asked, holding out his hand for mine. I carefully shut the car door and walked around to him. “Yes, I’m ready,” I said excitedly.
Before I took another step, I looked out at the magnificent view of an endless ocean. Perched on a plateau covered completely in soft green moss, we slowly made our way to the very edge of the rock. Below, in the deep violet waters, two incredible islands jutted from its surf, forming the shape of a star and half-moon. I’d never seen anything like it before. The view was incredible.
“Wow! I’m speechless, Matthew. This is remarkable!” I said, breathing in the cool ocean air.
“Are you up for a little walk?” he asked. I nodded, and soon we headed down the mountain toward the purple sea.
At the bottom of the highland, a gorgeous sailboat bobbed in the wake of the ocean. Matthew helped me on board, and I took a seat on the soft cream leather sofa, removing my ballet flats. Turning the engine key, Matthew started up the dual engine propellers. “I thought we’d go sailing today.” He grinned over the soft engine’s purr.
We sailed for some time out at sea. Matthew effortlessly pulled the sails into place, allowing the vessel to glide around the perimeter of the plateau, and then out toward another small island some distance away, where the color of the water had turned a crystalline sea-foam green. I was lost in its beautiful surroundings, imagining living here under different circumstances. Again, images of me and Michael living blissfully left my heart fluttering until Matthew interrupted my thoughts.
“Hey, Elizabeth, there’s lunch inside the cabin. Why don’t you make yourself something to eat?” he suggested, steering the boat toward an island that stabbed out of the sea. I complied. I was starving. I hadn’t had a full meal in what seemed like days.
“Can I make you a sandwich or something, as well?” I asked Matthew before going into the kitchen of the cruiser.
“Sure, if you don’t mind.” He smiled sweetly.
“Not at all.” I smiled back. Today was perfect. I needed this day. A good feeling stirred in my core. One I hadn’t felt in years. Ad meliora, an angelic voice whispered while another, more sinister, deeper in my core immediately interrupted the angel’s words in my mind. Deep in my heart, I knew the angel was right. There were better things to come, and the proof stirred deep inside my belly.
Anchored near the shore, we enjoyed a light lunch of fresh tomatoes, minced red onion and feta cheese, sprinkled with lime on delicious avocados. I drank glasses of mint water to quench my thirst. Matthew’s smile was vibrant, as was his personality. He had a youthful charisma for telling stories and, surprisingly so, kept my attention for a long time.
“So, how did you get yourself in this mess, anyway?” His voice softened as he looked at me with sincerity. His question took me by surprise. I looked away, unable to answer, wondering if all the angels had known what Michael and I had done. I was ashamed of myself, at the pain I’d caused all of them—Freddie, Michael, my mother and now Matthew and the entire Legion of angels.
“Stupidity, that’s how I got us into this mess,” I sighed.
“Really? You? Nah, that’s not true,” he laughed. “Don’t believe that this is all your fault. I’m sure you’ve been told that it was written in—”
“I know—” I interrupted, “—in the scriptures . . . yada, yada, yada, I’ve heard it a thousand times, and yet, I still allowed that snake Samantha, to manipulate me!” I said, rolling my eyes at myself.
“Ah––don’t beat yourself up over it. That’s what these beasts do best. They manipulate and lie to gain friendships and trust. It’s human nature to see the good in others. Your trust instincts immediately take over.” He spoke softly and understandingly.
“See, that’s where you’re wrong! I never trusted anyone,” I said, emphasizing the word ‘never.’ “Except for Freddie. I was always wary of people’s intentions until I met Sam. That’s when my instincts and judgement of character went out the window. I wanted to be like her. I wanted her . . . life.” I looked away, twisting at the napkin in my usual way.
“She deceived you, Elizabeth. She preyed on your weaknesses. You know what your downfall is? You don’t believe enough in yourself,” he said, pointing an accusing without being arrogant finger at me. “She knew that and played you like a fiddle.” His mouth curved in a mischievous grin, lifting my mood just a bit. He reminded me so much of Freddie. I winced a tiny smile, blinking away any humiliation and shame.
“Let’s put the wench behind us and enjoy this one day out. How are your swimming skills?” he grinned, removing his linen button-down shirt. I shied away at the sight of his firm, tanned chest, remembering what Freddie’s felt like against mine. Matthew gracefully dove into the crystal waters. “Com’on! It’s beautiful,” he called out to me, extending his arms above the swaying ocean for me to join him. Bravely, I removed my sandals and balanced myself over the side of the vessel. Gracefully, I dove into the warm sea. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Matthew said once I surfaced. He swam closer, grabbing hold of my hand.
“Yeah,” I responded, trying to keep the salty water from splashing into my mouth.
“Wanna race to shore?” I dared him.
“You’re seriously challenging me to a race?” he asked.
“Why not?” I giggled giving myself a head start.
Without hesitation, Matthew disappeared beneath the water and popped up several feet ahead of me taking long even strokes across the water. I trailed closely b
ehind, using my amateur frog-strokes.
As my feet touched the sandy ocean floor, I waded out, twisting water from my sundress and hair. Matthew ran ashore, throwing himself on to the white sandy beach, stretching his arms out on either side of him. I sank down beside him inhaling deep, long breaths of salty air. Matthew closed his eyes from the blaring sun’s rays, letting out a long unwinding moan. The beauty of the secluded beach, with its stretch of powdery white sand was spectacular. Palm trees leaned lazily toward the sun as the brilliant cerulean sea swayed in rhythmic ripples.
“I won!”
“No fair, you’re an angel. You have like—ridiculous angel strength!” I replied breathlessly.
“True!” Matthew chuckled.
For some time, we remained quiet with only the sound of the rushing water lapping against the shoreline. I glanced at Matthew, who laid lazily on the satin sand. His skin glowed and glistened with small grains of white sand mixed with droplets of ocean water.
“Thanks,” I murmured, interrupting his rest.
Matthew sat up, one arm resting on his bent knee. “For what? Beating you at swimming?” He winked, squinting his hazel eyes at me.
“No. For this. For bringing me here,” I whispered staring out to sea. “It’s not often that I get to sit on a beach this beautiful.” I smiled dreamily.
“Aw, don’t thank me. You’ve been through a great deal this past year. It’s the least I can do.” He gazed at me. I quickly slid him a look and flushed. I really liked him. He bore a strong resemblance to Freddie in some obscure way.
Inhaling the sea-scented air, I took another look around the island, settling my eyes on the sleek sailboat.
“Calypso,” I uttered at the name written in lettering that matched the blue of the ocean.
Matthew’s eyes darted directly to the bobbing vessel. He turned his attention back to me. “She was a goddess, you know,” he informed me.
“I know,” I replied, smiling to myself. If there was one thing I could hold a conversation to, it was Homer. “She fell in love with Odysseus.”
“Wow, you know your Greek mythology. Impressive!” he stated.
“I love the Odyssey, it’s one of my favorite classics,” I informed Matthew proudly, who continued to look on with an adorable twinkle in his eye.
“I see that,” he replied. “Calypso loved Odysseus, but their love could never be,” he whispered as if he felt my anguish.
Calypso’s love story was similar to mine. I guess that’s why I felt such a strong connection to a story that intrigued me as much as it did, with she a goddess and Odysseus a mortal. Their relationship was like water and oil. It could never come together. Like me and Michael.
“When she rescued him from a shipwreck, she fell passionately in love with him, offering to make him a god—but it would never happen,” I murmured, falling silent. The anguish of knowing it was really Michael and myself I was talking about.
“It isn’t possible, Elizabeth—you know that. She, being a deity and he a human. It’s not what Odysseus wanted, nor the god Zeus,” he confirmed earnestly, relaying an underlying message. All I could do was nod my understanding. Michael loved me, I never doubted that. But could a human and an archangel ever really be together? The romantic sort of love I longed for and had with Michael was prohibited by God, who created his angels without the ability to fall in love with mortals or with other angels. And there was nothing anyone could do to change this, not man, nor seraph . . . until now.
As I snapped back to attention, Matthew stood up, stretching out his back. “Boy, do I love this place. I could spend months here.” He turned to face me. “Come on, let’s walk!” he said, bouncing his eyebrows playfully. With a help of his hand, he lifted me from the sand. I hadn’t realized how tired my legs felt.
We walked along a white beach that stretched for miles, picking up seashells along the way. Matthew pointed in the directions of places he had traveled to. “And going West, this way, is the Strait of Georgia and Vancouver Island.” He pointed inland.
“Is this part of Vancouver Island?” I gave him a questioning look.
“No. If this island were our starting point, let’s say the center of the Earth, I’d travel west from here to get to the island.”
“Center of the Earth, huh? So where exactly did you say we were?” I asked, intrigued by the idea of finding out our location. Nothing surprised me and the splendor of this place made it all the more realistic.
“I didn’t,” Matthew laughed. I guess he could read my thoughts, too.
“Just a few more steps and we can rest, Elizabeth.”
By the time we reached the island’s highest point, I was winded and wet with perspiration. Although, the canopy of trees provided shade during our walk, the air was warmer and damper than Eden’s.
Matthew and I walked toward a spectacular villa that emerged elegantly from the ground. Its white stucco walls, blue-trimmed roof and windows, and arched stoned porticos granted breathtaking panoramic views of the sunset that glistened just above the ocean.
“Jump into the pool and cool off with me,” Matthew winked, as he dove gracefully into a pool that gave the impression of being one with the sea. It was positioned directly in the center of the open portico, which was surrounded by smooth concrete decks built along both sides of the long swimming pool. One smaller wooden deck, the size of two symmetrical diving boards, jutted out from the opposite end of the pool, toward the sea, with one lounge chair facing the sun. The villa did not have doors or windows, only the openings of what would have been.
Matthew swam from end to end tirelessly. His muscles flexed with every stroke in the water. “Is this your place, Matthew?” I asked, admiring the beauty of the Greek inspired villa.
“It belongs to all of us,” he said.
“This is where you all live when you’re not protecting anyone?” I asked innocently. Matthew snorted a laugh.
“We’re always protecting, Elizabeth. Our job is twenty-four-seven, every day of the year,” he echoed toward the tangerine skies. “It’s where we come when we’re called to The Flame,” he added.
“Well, it’s really beautiful here,” I commented, taking a seat on the lounge chair on top of the wooden deck. I laid back, watching Matthew do butterfly strokes through the water. “Is this how you stay in shape, Matt?
“Matt?” He laughed. I blushed. “Yep. I do a little every day,” he winked.
“Then you did beat me by cheating!” I giggled.
The sky deepened, and the first signs of twilight were visible. The crescent moon hovered in the distance. While Matthew finished his laps, I had enough time to think about Michael and the other angels, wondering if they made any progress with Freddie and the impostor. I shuddered at the idea that Freddie may already be badly hurt, or worse, dead. I sat up with questions beating fiercely in my mind. Questions I so desperately wanted to ask Matthew, when I felt a kick in my rib that sent me tumbling into the pool.
I inhaled mounds of water as the kick knocked the wind out of me. I choked and kicked in the water, unsure of which way was up, rapidly blinking my eyes as the wake of my fall settled, giving me clear view of Matthew swimming toward me. Armisael super te veniat, I heard a voice chanting about some sort of coming . . . puerum suscitat ad mundi creationem novi! Panicked, I wailed my arms and legs to swim to the top, but Matthew lifted me above his head and placed me on the smooth deck. Choking and sputtering water from my mouth, the angel held my head slightly elevated, brushing away hair from my face. The words I heard were a clear message; a message of a child’s awakening. My body trembled.
“Elizabeth, are you all right? I . . . I thought you could swim?” His chest rose and dipped rapidly.
“Something’s not right. Something’s happening. I can feel it,” I managed to say between coughs. Matthew immediately lifted and brought me to a bedroom located on the left side of the portico.
I clutched at the pain that continued pouncing in my stomach. “Shouldn’t we head
back?” I stuttered, afraid of what was happening in my belly.
“Not yet. We will remain here until further instructions. The Tracker girl has exposed your location, and we cannot take any chances bringing you back to Lake Louise for now. Sorry. Faith’s instructions,” he said, on the defensive.
“So this was planned?” I bellowed, feeling instantly frantic. “You were told to bring me here? Does Michael know about this and do they already know about the baby?” I blurted out, immediately cupping my hand over my mouth in horror. Matthew was caught off guard in the midst of my hysteria. His eyes widened at my words.
“Whoa! What are you talking about? What baby? There’s no baby! We’ve been protecting you from Luca. Just because it’s prophesied in the scriptures, it doesn’t mean it’ll happen like the Immaculate Conception. Luca must consummate physically, and he hasn’t, right? Or is there something you’re not telling me.”
I bit down on my lip, desperately forming an excuse for my big mouth.
“No, of course not! I’m scared that it’ll happen, that’s all. And I’m worried about Freddie,” I responded hiding the truth.
“Don’t scare me like that! Those beasts are fighting a vicious battle to find you. Time is running out, and you must trust our decisions and do as you’re told,” he insisted. After much convincing and guidance from Matthew, I gave myself a moment to absorb what he was saying. Yet, the words that afflicted my mind still troubled me.
“Hey Matt, did you hear the voices? Did you hear what they said to me in the pool, when I fell in?” The anxiety began building.
“No. What did they say to you?” Matthew whispered, absorbed with mounting concern.
“It was something about the arrival of Arm—isael.” Before Matthew could respond, the voice enunciated yet again . . . Armisael super te veniat . . .”There it is again! Did you hear it this time, Matthew?”
“Armisael? Are you sure that’s what you heard?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what I heard.”