Blown Away!: Even More Confessions of an Angel in Training

by Shel Delisle

  But I can see from the set of his jaw that he has no intention of changing course. I even get why it’s hard for him to turn back. When everything turned sour with my first Mission, I didn’t want to admit my mistake. Sometimes it’s easier to keep moving forward, even when you see the mountain looming in front of you. Sometimes the easiest thing is to face the climb.

  “If you want to take off I wouldn’t blame you. No hard feelings or anything. Just sneak away tonight when everyone is asleep,” Annex tells me.

  I reach out and hug his generous soul.

  Chapter 25

  Tomorrow is it.

  I lay awake in my sleeping bag, waiting for the sun to come up, thinking about what could happen, about who might get hurt. At daybreak, we Locusts will pile onto the canoes and make our way to The Garden. And then… who knew?

  Annex had given me a way out. Just be gone by sunrise, he’d said, and there’s definitely an appeal to that if I could stay neutral, by not siding with this group. At the same time, a part of me wants to stay with the Locusts and never look back. Their society would seem to be perfect, with the equal treatment and all.

  If the Locusts eat the fruit, it will be like that throughout all of Heaven.

  But… if they eat the fruit Mother Nature will get mad.

  If only everyone would relax.

  If I was forced to pick, I’d stay with the Locusts. But then, I’d miss Mercy and Aisha and Justice. I’d even miss Archangel Michael, not to mention Victor. Would any one of them join me? Nah! Not a one.

  Because… they’d be allowed to choose.

  But what the Locusts will create will force their version of society, which would eliminate free will. Even though their heart is in the right place, it’s the wrong answer. Somehow I’d gotten myself into a situation where I couldn’t let the Locusts win, but I didn’t want to see them lose. And I definitely didn’t want anyone to be hurt.

  Really, I just wanted this whole ordeal to be over.

  Will Annex be surprised to find me here in the morning?

  What will Michael or Mother Nature do when they see me?

  Is there any way I can stop what’s coming?

  I’m stuck, wanting to be in two places at the same time…

  That’s it.

  I know what to do. Battling on both sides is crazy enough that it just might work.

  }{

  As the sun comes up the Locusts ready their fleet of canoes. I take one last look at my tent, fully expecting I won’t be back. I hate to leave the backpack behind, but there’s only one thing I might need. I grab it and slip it into the front pocket of my flannel shirt, and then make my way to the water. I end up sharing a canoe with Cherish and being forced to use the lopsided paddle I made. Some would call that karma, but it’s probably just bad luck.

  We launch ours from the shore and begin paddling directly into the sun. It’s warm with a soft breeze. The sky overhead is an unreal shade of blue. The vibe is more fitting of a family picnic than an assault by an armada of pissed off Angels.

  I’m watching a couple herons fish along the bank when Cherish says, “You’re awfully quiet this morning.”

  “I’m trying not to think about anything. They’re a nice distraction.” I point at the birds.

  “You should think about what’s coming today. Make a plan for yourself. I don’t think the Archangels will let our rebellion go unchallenged.”

  “I have one.” Which is only partially true. I don’t know what happens after I bi-locate. “Do you?”

  “Run for cover.” Cherish laughs when she says this, but I think that she’s being more honest than I am. It’s times like these I think we could’ve been friends under different circumstances. Maybe we still could be.

  I drag my paddle, steering us against the current. “Did Annex tell you we visited Izzy?”

  “What? When?”

  “When we were working on disaster clean up. I heard Izzy’s new song on the radio. It was its own kind of disaster, and Annex flew me to California to see him. He misses you.”

  “I miss him, too. He was a great Assignment.”

  “Do you think you’ll ever go back?”

  “I don’t know. I guess I hope after we invade, I can go back to being a Muse. If I had it to do all over again, I never would’ve left.” The fleet of canoes in front of us turn into the mouth of a river. “Too late now. We’re almost there.”

  When we reach the mouth, we begin to paddle upstream. It’s hard work. The water rushing by us is stronger than any currents we hit on the way here. Once we’re into calmer waters, we bank our canoe next to the others. Surprisingly, the ride wasn’t that far, the sun is still low in the sky.

  It’s so quiet, totally silent, in fact, leaving me with the strange sense that there’s no one here. Not even us. I feel as though I should tiptoe to avoid disturbing any of the plants or wildlife. This is their home more than ours.

  Up ahead, there are row upon row of greenhouses, each one sheltering exotic, never-before-seen plants in shapes and colors that boggle my mind. I gesture to them to make sure Cherish notices.

  “Beautiful. Natura is extremely creative.”

  Past the greenhouses the ground grows spongy, and a fresh, fertile odor fills the air. Like any seed planted here would sprout, grow, and bloom. I’m certain this means we’re close to the border of The Garden.

  And then I see it.

  A short distance ahead is the lushest vegetation I’ve ever seen. A wall of flowers, winding their way around tree trunks. But that’s not how I know it’s The Garden. I know because the area is blanketed in a glow, like this place has its very own halo. Cherish and I both fall to our knees. I look around and the other Locusts have done the same.

  A whirring sound makes me look up. A dark cloud glides over the treetops. It swirls, randomly changing direction and form. It’s beautiful and chilling at the same time. I’m mesmerized by its ebb and flow. “What is that?”

  “A murmuration of starlings. I used to see this all the time on Missions, but it’s much less common now,” Cherish says.

  Suddenly, the flock of birds splits in two, each group moving like a mirror of the other. They turn toward each other on a direct collision course and then without one bird falling from the sky, they’re moving in unison again.

  “Incredible.” It’s breathtaking.

  Behind the original cloud, a larger cloud grows, and the birds seem to be ten… twenty…a hundred times bigger. Hypnotic. “What’s that?”

  “That’s….

  I look over when Cherish hesitates. Fear is etched on her face.

  “…any army of Angels. Run, Grace.”

  Chapter 26

  As the words leave her mouth, Locusts scatter, but I’m frozen to the spot where I’d knelt. The army draws closer, flying past the sparrows. In the lead of the Angel murmuration is Michael, his flaming sword drawn. He’s flanked on one side by Natura. Her weapon of choice: a bow and a quiver of arrows.

  My heart’s racing, frantic to move out of their way, to see this through to the end. I muster whatever little courage I possess and bi-locate.

  }{

  Michel touches down first. Softly. But when Mother Nature lands a split second later, the ground beneath us tremors, Heaven’s version of a minor earthquake. It messes with my balance and I stagger around until I manage to latch onto a tree and wrap my arms around its trunk. The army of Angels touches down in wave after wave of ten or twenty at a time. Mother Nature’s aftershocks affect their balance, too, and they flap their wings to find their equilibrium. Grace 1.0 finally moved out of the way before being crushed by the battalion. I can see her crouched behind one of the greenhouses with Frank.

  Michael holds his flaming sword overhead and addresses his troops. “We know they are here, and our job is peacekeeping and to assure no one enters The Garden. Spread out and take a position.”

  The Angel soldiers do as he commands, fanning out and standing guard every thirty or forty feet. Most of th
em are young, strong and Cherubic looking, but curiously, among them is old, wooly-headed Professor Keen. I half expect to see Victor among the soldiers, but he’s absent as they take their stations.

  One positions himself almost directly in front of my tree. I don’t breathe, don’t move a muscle.

  A huge bug that looks like a grasshopper lands on my nose. It’s looking directly into my eyes. Please, fly away, please. It doesn’t budge. I crinkle my nose up and down, and wiggle it from side to side. Geez, is the thing glued to my face?

  It’s then that I feel a sneeze coming on. No. No. No! I try to hold it in, counting backward. Ten, nine, eight, sev—a high-pitched chee escapes, which causes the guard to turn and see me. The only silver lining is that the bug flies away.

  “Sir, come quick. I’ve found one!” He grabs me by my upper arm and drags me into the clearing.

  Michael walks forward, his weapon aloft. “Let go of her,” he tells his soldier, then looks at me and relaxes his grip on the sword. “Grace, I’ve been worried about you and I’m glad you’re safe with us, but, we need to know: how far along is the invasion? Where are The Locusts now?”

  }{

  When Michael asks my other self about the invasion, Frank turns to me, seething. “I knew we couldn’t trust you.”

  I’m hyper-aware that every other Locust is seeing what Frank’s seeing, but they don’t know that there are two versions of me. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

  “So what. You’re bi-located. It’s one of the most basic powers. Am I supposed to be impressed?”

  I roll my eyes at him, which probably isn’t the smartest move, but seriously, I can’t help myself. “I’m not trying to impress you. I’m with you.”

  “Are you saying you’re a double agent?”

  “No. I’m done with spying. I’m not taking sides.”

  Frank turns away from me and watches the drama unfolding in the clearing.

  }{

  Both versions of me say, “No. I’m done with spying. I’m not taking sides.”

  Michael raises a brow. “Why?’

  “I don’t think they’re bad. They’re decent Angels, and to be honest, they have some legitimate gripes.”

  Michael has an odd look on his face. It’s almost like he’s pleased with what I said. “Fair enough. But I can’t allow them to invade The Garden. That could be disastrous. I think you understand that.”

  Of course. Mother Nature would have a temper tantrum. “Yes.” I sense that every Angel and Locust eye and ear is attuned to our conversation and I don’t know what comes next. Should I try to negotiate with Michael for some of the changes The Locusts want? Would they even accept me as their spokesperson?

  I tell Michael and the eavesdroppers the only thing I know for sure, “All this anger has to stop. It’s a fire that destroys everything in its path.” Like those cities on Earth, the true purpose of the Locust Angels, my friendship with Victor. If only everyone could forgive everyone.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I see movement. It’s a hulking figure—is it a Cherub?— I realize too late what’s happening.

  }{

  Both versions of me yell, “No! Stop!”

  While I’d been watching myself doing a pretty decent job of bringing everyone together, Frank slipped away. When I noticed he was missing, a quick glance told me he was just about to breach the border of The Garden.

  After I yell, he turns and winks at me, and then steps through the glowing vegetation.

  Why, Lord, why?

  I almost expect alarms to sound, but there is only the silence of shock. Mine. Michael’s. And I’d like to think Annex’s. Then, Mother Nature erupts.

  The ground beneath our feet shakes, throwing me into one of the greenhouses and breaking the glass. Popping, shattering glass travels along the row of greenhouses, destroying one after another.

  In the distance, a volcano begins spewing a stream of lava. In the clearing, a howling wind whips leaves and branches around Grace 2.0. Her forearm shields her eyes as she scans the greenhouses trying to find me. I have no choice but to follow Frank into The Garden.

  Chapter 27

  Michael pulls me to his chest and the wind dies. “You’re safe Grace.”

  I can’t find the other version of myself and it’s like I can’t even contact that part of my mind. Has the other me been killed or maimed?

  It’s like I’m in a protective bubble with him. Outside the bubble, the wind has picked up and trees are being uprooted from its strength. Locusts are stripped of their hiding places, and a few run back toward the canoes. “How are you doing that?” I ask Michael.

  “Elemental Controls.”

  So now I know why Professor Keen was so insistent that I practice.

  “I’m bi-located,” I tell him, “and it’s like the other part of me is gone.”

  “You’re completely fine. It’s just the effects of this shield.”

  “We need to stop her”

  “She’ll calm down. She always does.”

  “--before someone gets hurt.” I look at Michael and he’s tranquil. Is that a good thing? An offset to Natura’s wrath? I’m not sure, but it’s the most frustrating thing ever. I can’t stand his inaction and break free from his protection.

  She can’t destroy everything. I won’t allow it.

  I keep my head down, covering my neck and ears, and make my way, bracing against the wind, to where she is standing. Her gown swirls about her, her wings standing out stiff and unmoving. Her mouth is drawn into a grimace, her eyes hard.

  “You need to chill,” I tell her.

  She casts a look at me that turns my blood icy.

  “I’ll show you chill, child.”

  }{

  In The Garden, a blizzard appears from nowhere. What’s going on in that clearing? I’d been following Frank, but now, in the white out, I’ve lost sight of him. “Frank! Frank!” I wrap my arms around myself and shiver. This would be a good time to start a fire, but I don’t dare. What if I burned down The Garden?

  I just hope the other part of me figures this out. Soon.

  }{

  Icicles form in Mother Nature’s hair when she says chill. Her eyebrows have frosted over. We’re in the center of a snow tornado. “Listen,” I tell her. “I’m bi-located. The other part of me is tracking The Locust. She’ll convince him to leave The Garden.”

  “Why didn’t I think of that?”

  What I wanted to say was, I kept my cool. And then, you should have. Most definitely, if you hadn’t lost your temper. Finally, anger blinds you. But that wouldn’t be very angelic of me, so I just thought it all instead.

  “Such a smart one,” Mother Nature coos. “No wonder Michael selected you for this Mission.” The polar vortex disappears as quickly as it appeared, even the howling wind stops.

  She’s finally calm, thanks be to The Big Guy.

  She picks up her bow and shoulders the quiver of arrows. “Time to go tracking,” she says before disappearing into The Garden.

  }{

  The Blizzards stops, like somebody upstairs switched off the snow and wind machine. I hope this means that my alter ego took care of things and that we won’t end up trapped in quicksand in the next few minutes. Either way, I still need to get Frank out of here.

  I lost him in the storm, so I call his name one more time, even though I’m pretty skeptical about getting a response.

  Silence. No big surprise.

  There’s a bit of a natural trail, bordered by flowers and small rocks. I follow it in the hope that it leads me to Frank; it undoubtedly leads somewhere. Follow the Yellow Brick Road. Except there’s no bricks and I don’t even have Toto for company. As I come around a curve, I spy Frank. He’s standing in front of an tree—is that the Tree of Creation?— ready to pick an orange from one of its branches. Again, I’m reminded of The Wizard of Oz. It wouldn’t be a bad thing if the tree reached out and slapped him.

  “Frank, don’t.”

  He glances over his shoulder at
me, and drops his upraised arm.

  “It seems to be over,” I say, “but we need to get out of here. I’m pretty sure Our Head Honcho doesn’t approve of trespassers.”

  “Did you just call Him Head Honcho?”

  I nod and giggle. “What do you call Him?”

  “Our Father.”

  I shrug. Same difference, except Frank’s name is a teeny boring. “Listen, what we call Him is not the most important thing right now. It’s important that we respect His wishes. Besides, didn’t you hear what Michael was saying? I think he’s open to changes.”

  “I heard. But some things will never change. There will always be a Hierarchy.”

  “How can you possibly know that?”

  “Because I prayed for it to be eliminated, and it went unanswered.”

  Hmmm. Was that before, during, or after he worked for The Department of Prayers?

  The trumpet of an elephant sounds before I can ask that question, followed by the heavy thumps of its approaching footsteps. I peer over my shoulder and see Natura coming our way, riding on the back of the noisy beast. Walking next to the elephant on one side is a tiger, on the other a lion. Behind them is a parade of critters. I’m pretty sure I see the grizzly that wanted me for lunch.

  The herd stops short of us. I could almost reach out and touch the elephant’s trunk. Its eyes are gentle. Unlike Mother Nature, whose eyes are aflame. She hoists her bow, knocks the arrow into place, then draws it back with a steady hand, aiming directly at Frank’s heart.

  “Prepare for justice to be served.”

  Justice? It seems like a perverted type of justice. And who is she to serve it?

  As the arrow is released, I Time Bend and reach the arrow, pushing hard against it to alter its course. It resists any movement since it’s frozen in the Bend, and it takes all my strength just to change the trajectory slightly.