by Bonnie Lamer
A strong hand grasps my wrist. “You seem to be making a mess over here, Raziel. Perhaps you will allow me to lend a hand?”
It’s Ray. I forget what his Angel name is. “Yes, please Ray,” I say.
He does a double take at the use of his Cowan realm name. With one hoist and a little bit of magic, he has me out of the schism and on my feet. With narrowed eyes, he says, “There are no Angels who call me by that name, Raziel. I surmise there is something afoot here?”
“Well, yeah,” I say. Finally, someone is getting it. “Can we go somewhere private? The orchard or somewhere?”
With furrowed brows he nods curtly and then starts walking. As he does, the giant schism I created folds back together. Okay, Archangels are pretty cool.
Ray’s walking so fast I thought I would have a hard time keeping up with him. But I’m not. My strides are as long as his. Huh. That’s weird. Adriel on the other hand is having a hard time keeping up like I would have in my body.
When we are finally far enough away from the rest of the Angels, Ray stops abruptly. Adriel almost walks into him. She takes a quick step back. I guess it’s custom for Angels to give deference to Archangels.
Ray speaks first. “You have never been one for mystery, Raziel. What is going on?”
“I’m not Raziel,” I say. Yeah, I’m the whiny one now. I try to keep the whine out of my voice as I continue. “I’m Xandra.”
Adriel is looking at me as if I’m crazy. Ray looks thoughtful. “With your manner of speech as it is, I am apt to believe you. How has this come to be?”
Great, the grammar police have gotten to him since he came back to Angel time. Back in Ireland he was perfectly happy to use contractions. “I don’t know. One minute I was about to kiss Kallen and make our marriage real, and then I’m not. And everyone started calling me Raziel and I don’t know what happened but I would like it to be reversed so I can go back to my wedding and marry Kallen so we can go rescue Tabitha from the Goblins and Dragons.” I have to take a deep breath now because my tirade used up all the oxygen in my lungs.
Ray cocks his head to the side. “You are the only soul within this body?”
Um, thought I just explained that. “Yes.”
“That is impossible.”
Oh my god, if I hear that sentence one more time in my life I’m going to start killing people. “Apparently it’s not.” He deserved that bit of snarkiness. I wonder if that’s really a word. Probably not. Great, I’m thinking about grammar again when more serious matters have to be addressed.
He strokes his chin with his index finger and thumb as he stares at me in a thoughtful trance. “The only logical explanation is that you and Raziel have switched bodies. The why part of the equation is what I cannot puzzle out.”
“I don’t care why it happened, I just want it fixed.”
“How do you even know Raziel?” Adriel asks. “Archangels rarely commune with others.” Realizing she just said that in front of an Archangel, her cheeks turn bright pink. It looks pretty on her porcelain skin.
Ray inclines his head. “You are correct. The answer to your question is that there is a bond between Xandra and Raziel.”
“Bond?” she says.
“He changed my destiny.”
As Adriel takes in a deep gulp of air, Ray gives me a sharp look. “That is not a detail to be shared Xandra.”
Oh. I think I just committed an Angel faux pas. “Oops, sorry.” My face is the picture of sheepishness. “Adriel, you have to promise not to tell anyone.” She nods her head a couple of times. I don’t think she can speak right now. She may be in shock.
“It is important that we keep all of this amongst ourselves,” Ray says and there is a clear threat in his voice. Adriel shrinks back a bit. Wow, where’s my smart mouthed friend?
I am getting more frustrated by the second. “Okay, we keep it to ourselves. Fine. How do we fix it?”
Ray shrugs his shoulders. “Honestly, I do not know. Raziel would be the one we would question about that. Since he is omniscient, I assume he knows how to reverse this. We will have to wait until that happens.”
There has to be something in my ears. I would say bees but I don’t think these trees need to be cross pollinated. I think they have some sort of Angel fertilizer because they have the biggest cherries I have ever seen. I wonder if it’s a crime to eat one. “I must not have heard you correctly because I thought that you said we should do nothing.”
“That was the implication of my words, yes,” Ray says casually.
“You know, I’m not really a wait and see kind of person. What else can we do?”
Ray shakes his head. “Xandra, I understand your impatience. It is justifiable in this situation.” Gee, glad to know my freaking out about being in someone else’s body is justifiable. “But.” I knew there would be a ‘but.’ “There is a delicate balance to the universe that must be maintained. Part of this balance is each soul has an ultimate destiny. Little changes are made through free will, but taking someone completely out of their destiny can create an imbalance. Raziel thought that he had worked around that.”
“Guess not,” I say. I’m not whiny anymore and my frustration is quickly fading into complacency. Wow, I think I’m in shock now.
Ray nods. “Guess not. I am sorry, Xandra. There truly is not anything that can be done by anyone besides Raziel. He holds the key to the answers. In the meantime…” I close my eyes. I know I’m not going to like this. “It is important that none of the other Angels know that Raziel has gone missing like this.”
My mind is so befuddled I have no idea what he is talking about. “What do you mean, ‘like this?’?”
“Without warning. Without preparing anyone, yourself included.”
Still befuddled. “I don’t get why that’s such a big deal.”
His chuckle is humorless. “Xandra, Raziel is omniscient. Nothing is supposed to happen without him knowing about it.”
“Okay, I know what omniscient means. I just don’t get why it’s so horrible if Raziel isn’t.”
“Xandra,” Adriel interjects, “there is a plan. A cosmic plan – an outline that has been sketched into the universe and we have faith that it is the right plan. As Angels, we have to have faith to do what we do – which is to uphold the plan.”
The significance is starting to seep into my brain. “If Raziel isn’t really omniscient like everyone believes and has faith in, there might be other things wrong with the cosmic plan. Angels all over will be second guessing their faith and might start looking for other ways to screw up the plan.”
Ray’s mouth is in a grim line as he nods. “That is correct. We must figure out how this factors into the great plan before anyone else can know it happened.”
So I really do have to pretend to be Raziel. I don’t have the first clue how to be an Archangel. “Just from my brief conversation with one of the Angels over there, she has to know something is wrong. I mean, I feel a connection to Raziel,” which is true now that I’m thinking about it, “but I don’t know anything about him. I don’t know how he walks, how he talks, or most importantly, how he thinks. This is not going to work.”
“It must.” Good, glad I have a choice.
Chapter 10 - Raziel
Kallen is pacing back and forth in front of Dagda’s desk where Isla and Dagda are searching ancient texts for answers. I have already explained to them that if it had happened before, I would know about it. Isla’s response was that I did not know about this, so I may not have known about a previous instance. I suppose I will be confronted with a lot of doubt from here on. That may make eternity more tedious than it already is.
“Is Xandra back yet?” Zac’s small voice says from the doorway.
I shake my head. “Sorry, it is still Raziel in here.”
“No offense, but you’re kind of creepy right now.”
I chuckle. “Yes, I suppose I am.” A thought hits me. How strange it is to have to figure things out as I go along. I could get used to this. “Zac,
how would you like a job?”
One of his eyebrows goes up and the other goes down. “What kind of job? Will it be hard?”
Smart child. “No, not hard at all.”
“What kind of job are you trying to give my son,” Xandra’s mother demands as she appears right behind him.
“I would like to suggest dividing our workforce so that we can attain two positive outcomes instead of one.”
Dagda sits back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest. “What are you saying?”
Here goes. My first attempt at talking someone into something without having my omniscience to back me up. I probably should not be giddy at the moment. “I am suggesting that young Zac here help his parents pour over these tomes,” I wave my hand at the pile of books, each several inches thick, on the desk. “That will free up the four of us to go in search of Miss Tabitha.”
Dagda puts his head back against the chair and closes his eyes. I believe he is considering my proposal. Isla tilts her head and the look on her face makes me want to squirm in my chair. Wow, me, an Archangel, being intimidated by a Fairy. Except for the ill-timed body swap and kidnapping, this is a very exciting day for me. I try not to let that show on my face.
Zac is the first to speak. “How do I help them? Do I have to read all of those books?” His face says exactly what he thinks of that idea.
I smile. “No, you would simply need to help your parents by getting the books for them and turning the pages. Then they could search for a way to swap Xandra and me back while the rest of us retrieve Miss Tabitha.”
Dagda looks at Xandra’s mother with questioning eyes. “Your thoughts?”
She mulls it over a moment. “It does seem reasonable.” I can tell that she would rather we all be working on the body swap issue, but her concern for Tabitha prevents her from doing so. The machinations of humanoid brains. Fascinating. Perhaps the next time I fall I will choose a realm that has beings other than large reptiles simply to watch them figure out their lives without being all knowing.
“I agree,” she says. “With one condition.” She turns to Dagda. “I believe you should remain here.”
Storm clouds move in on his face. “I am going.”
I think I see where she is going with this. Maybe I can help. “I believe she is implying that your presence here in this realm is crucial at this juncture. Word will spread fast that something is amiss and you will need to reassure your subjects that things are under control.”
He shakes his head and sighs, resting his head against the back of the chair again. “You are correct.”
“Kallen, are you comfortable with this?” Isla asks.
I think comfortable may be too strong of a word at the moment. I do not believe he will be comfortable until Xandra once again inhabits this body. I will try again to reassure him. “I will continue to search for answers that may be hidden away somewhere in my mind. I am as eager as you to have this resolved.”
Hmm, being in this realm seems to be affecting my moral compass because that statement was not completely true. I am jealous as hell that he gets to spend the rest of his life with Xandra. I am not eager to have this situation resolved because the longer I am here and she is not, the longer it will be before I have to go back to watching her be with another. But, I made this choice and I will abide by what I said. I will search for answers whether I want to or not, for I must hold the key somewhere in my mind.
Instead of answering Isla, Kallen turns to Dagda. “You give me your word you will do everything in your power to get Xandra back.”
Dagda sits forward. “I will not rest until she is back here insulting me and constantly being a test of my authority.” He attempts a smile but it is rather grim.
Kallen does not even try to smile. He looks at Isla. “We should be off. I do not want to waste any more time. If just the three of us go, we can make better time.”
Isla rises from her chair. “You are correct.” Looking at me, she says, “Perhaps something more comfortable and less eye catching would be appropriate.”
Yes, this wedding dress is rather binding. Time to test my magic. Or Xandra’s magic. I pull some from the earth and I am flooded with coarse, wild magic that is quite difficult to control. There is so much of it. Beings in realms other than that of the Angels are not supposed to be able to draw on this much magic. Especially considering how impure it is.
As I am internally ruminating, the magic has taken on a mind of its own. It is seeping out everywhere. I need to get a handle on it. I get an image in my mind of what I would like to wear so I can give it direction. Perhaps if I close my eyes I can focus better. Alright, black pants and gray shirt. Oh, and shoes. Black. I feel the wedding dress melt away and the new clothing taking shape. I open my eyes to look at my creations. Now I want to close them again.
I did not take into consideration the size difference between Xandra and myself. Therefore, I am wearing pants that are sure to fall down when I stand up and a shirt that would serve well as sleepwear. It goes well past my knees. The shoes that are on my feet are overly large. By approximately four inches.
“Ahem.” Isla’s voice drags me out of my self-assessment. I look up at her and I want to close my eyes yet again. Though she is taller than Xandra, she is still quite slender. She is holding her new black pants up with one hand and trying not to slap me with the other. At least, that is what I assume she wants to do. It could be something worse. A quick scan of the room shows me that Kallen and Dagda, as well as a maid whom just walked into the room, are similarly clad. At least their pants are not falling down. Well, the maid’s are but she is holding them up admirably.
“Xandra’s back!” Zac shouts and he runs to me throwing his arms around my neck.
Oh, how I wish this was true. I am an Archangel. I do not lose control of magic. I wield it as easily as I breathe. I can level realms as easily as I can prepare a light snack. I do not inadvertently dress others in garments meant only for me.
“No, she is not,” Kallen says coldly.
Zac drops his hands from around me. “Oh.” The amount of disappointment in that one word saddens my heart.
“Soon,” I promise him.
Isla tilts her head. “If nothing else, it is good to know that Xandra’s magic truly is difficult to control.”
I believe I am blushing. Another marvel for the day. “Yes, quite. I am impressed that she accomplishes so much when she wields it. It is coarse and wild with a propensity to take on a life of its own.” I knew this before but experiencing it is different. I have a great deal more respect for how Xandra is able to keep her magic reined in. With that thought, a drop of sadness seeps from my closed off heart. I have set her on a path that may be more difficult than the one originally meant for her.
Isla looks much less impressed with my epiphany. “As fascinating as that is, I would appreciate you reversing the magic.”
Hopefully, I can. Trying to pull less magic, I let it flow out of me and towards the others in the room, returning them to their previous state of dress. It works. I am getting the hang of this now. Next, I adjust my own clothes so that they fit Xandra’s slender frame.
Dagda comes around the desk. “Kallen, I have given you my word in regards to Xandra. You must promise the same for Tabitha. I want her back here alive and well and in one piece.”
“There is no other option.” There is an impressive amount of steel in Kallen’s voice. He is brave and determined.
Turning back to Isla, Dagda says, “I will send guards with you. You may need the extra magic.” He gives me a pointed look. I believe he is implying that my assistance may be negligible. This is a day for wonders.
“Guards will not be necessary,” Isla says. “The fewer Fairies in our party, the easier it will be to move about in the Dragon realm.”
Dagda nods in understanding. “Just be sure everyone you left with comes back.”
It was a rhetorical statement so Isla does not respond. She walks towards the door and says
, “We will open a gateway outside. Xandra could probably open one inside the palace without mishap, but you have not had enough experience with her magic yet.”
True. “I understand.” Without another word, she turns around and walks out the door. Kallen and I are left to follow. We do.
I expect her to lead us through the throne room and the great hall where the guests have been dismissed though the decorations are still in place. She does not. She winds us through several corridors until we reach the kitchen. The smell of freshly baked bread fills my nasal passages with joy.
Unfortunately, I am the only one. Isla and Kallen walk through the kitchen as if they do not notice a thing. Perhaps their olfactory sense is not as keen as Xandra’s.
Once outside, Isla and Kallen both turn to me expectantly. I know what I am supposed to do because I have watched Xandra do this. I also know the magic behind it. Reaching my hand out, I try to channel just enough magic to open a gateway. It is not opening so I pull a little more magic. As much as I complain about knowing everything, I find that it can be rather frustrating when you do not. I pull more magic but I am not as careful this time. Too much magic flows through me as I tear the folds of the realms away. The magic barges through the gateway and attacks the Fairy standing on the other side. He may have been expecting us, but he was not expecting the magic. That is evident by the writhing he is currently doing on the floor of his…I suppose you could call it a cavern. Now, I need to figure out how to get this magic back.