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

by Shel Delisle

  He gives me a rather stern look. The first unpleasant moment in this meeting. “No, I can’t. That’s their job, and I wouldn’t ask them to stop any more than I would ask you to stop being a Guardian.”

  Good point. The anger subsides.

  “Now, what was that question you had for me? It wasn’t to ask them to stop flying was it?”

  “No, it wasn’t that. It was: why do you love some of us more than others?”

  “You don’t actually think that do you?”

  I think for a minute, and it does seem hard to believe, given how much love I feel from Him. But, then I think of the Hierarchy, and realize that there must be a higher level. “Well, I’m sorry to say this, but yes. I do believe some of us are more important to you than others.”

  “Let me ask you a question, Grace.”

  Confession: I don’t really see how I can refuse that.

  “Didn’t you just finish with your wing fitting?”

  I smile broadly. “I did.”

  “And are you happy with them?”

  “I love them.”

  “But they aren’t the same as everyone else’s, right?”

  “Right.” I see where He’s headed, but it doesn’t mean that some aren’t better than others. “I understand, but just because they’re perfect for me, doesn’t mean they are the equal to all wings. Doesn’t the Hierarchy prove that point?”

  “Oh, I can see how you’d get that idea. But, you should know—I didn’t create the Hierarchy, I only created the vocations.”

  Huh? “Who created it then?”

  “Why the Angels themselves. Some Beings need to feel they are higher ranking in order to fully experience their self-worth. Surely, you’ve seen it’s the same on Earth as in Heaven.”

  “So, what would have happened if the Locusts were successful?”

  He shrugs. I’m not sure if that means He’s not sure or if it means He’s not telling. “Ultimately for it to change, every Being must accept every other Being as their equal. Otherwise, one Hierarchy would be destroyed, but another would fill the void.”

  Ah….

  “It’s important for you to understand, I don’t love them,” He hitches his thumb at the Seraphim, “more than you. But you knew that already, didn’t you?”

  One of the Seraphim overhead stops singing and flying in mid-flight and another bumps into him by mistake. “What are you saying? Are you saying I’m not better than her?”

  “Precisely.”

  “But I always wanted to be a Guardian. Their job seems much more interesting. They’re always off on adventures, or what have you. I only took this job to be at the top of the food chain. ”

  “Ah, the prestige of being a Seraphim is alluring, but the job is rather structured and quite repetitive. Would you like to switch vocations, Minstrel?”

  The Seraph hovers for a moment, and then touches down next to us. “I think I might. Do you like being a Guardian?”

  “More than anything. And I’m not even a Full Angel yet.”

  “Is there anything bad about it?”

  I look to our CEO and He smiles warmly at me. Then I say, “Nothing is perfect, including me, except for this Guy here.” I point to Dad. “But I wouldn’t want to be anything else. Helping humans is what I’m meant to do.”

  “What do you think?” He asks Minstrel.

  “I don’t know. It seems like a big step. Would it be alright for me to mull it over?”

  “Take as long as you like,” He says. “After all, we have an Eternity.”

  Chapter 31

  The Ceremony has me all jittery. The scene in the dressing rooms at the stadium resembles Grand Central, crowded with busy AITs scrambling about. Mercy had to iron a long-sleeved robe for me, because I was too nervous to do it for myself. Most of the trainees will be dressed in short sleeves, as it’s the tradition. Longer sleeves are reserved for Full Angels. I have no choice. The bandage covering my brand needs to stay hidden.

  “Everyone’s going to think I’m being a braggart, dressing like a Full Angel before I get my wings,” I tell Mercy after I’m dressed.

  “No, they won’t, and even if they do, so what?”

  She’s right.

  I give her a quick hug, and we leave the dressing room to take our places on the field.

  “See you after you’re winged,” she says.

  The hush of the stadium is tremendous. Almost all of the Celestial Beings have shown up. A few former Locusts sit near the front. Frank’s stationed at the stage where Michael will walk. I’m happy The Reconciliation was so fast and painless. It reminds me of the starling murmuration when they split apart and merged back together, still able to fly completely in sync.

  A few late arrivals spiral into the arena, take their seats, and fire up their halos. The glow from the seats is luminous. All of the trainees have returned from their summer projects, so this is the largest gathering of AITs that I’ve seen in a very long time. We sit in folding chairs that line the field, row upon row. Those of us who have received our halos have them lit, and the effect is a smattering of twinkly lights, almost like a sky full of stars. I turn around and see a few familiar faces behind me—Harmony, Justice, Mercy. I’m excited for them and wonder what gift they’ll be receiving today.

  The choir is on-stage, led by Gabriel, singing their Hallelujahs. Faith had choir this summer, so she’s up there, second row, third from the left. As El Supremo glides to the edge of the stage, Gabriel makes a “Z” motion that brings the singing to an end.

  Our CEO, as always, is brief. Thanks be to Him.

  Names are called; AITs shuffle along toward their gifts. Faith gets a halo, and she looks very happy about it. Some look disappointed with their scales. I know better, and still hope to receive mine soon. A few swords, more halos, and a few scepters. One or two wings are bestowed before I reach the steps. The AITs receiving them look contented, while some of the AITs watching seem giddy. As I approach the stage, an itch starts between my shoulder blades on either side. I stand before Archangel Michael, chin high, realizing this is the moment. The one I’ve been waiting for. And strangely, it’s not a big deal, or at least not what I thought it would be.

  “That’s how you know you’re ready for them, Grace,” Michael says in a low voice.

  “Using your Unconventional Communication, today, I see.” Sometimes it’s plain fun to bust his chops.

  He grins—a first—and lays his scepter on my shoulder.

  The itching turns to a burn, a cracking open and I feel them blossoming, unfolding behind me, into my feathery, compact wings. I give them one small wave.

  “Very Nice, Grace. Now, one more thing.”

  Here it comes.

  “I need you to stop by office after The Ceremony.”

  Huh? And I thought he was going to bust my chops back.

  }{

  It seems as though Michael expects me to go through his receptionist rather than teleporting me directly to his office. I stand at her desk and give her my name. “Michael asked to see me after The Ceremony.”

  She buzzes him and says, “Take a seat, please. It’ll be a moment.”

  While I wait, the bandage starts to irritate my skin. I end up picking it off. There’s not a trashcan in sight, so I end up stuffing the crumpled bandage in my pocket.

  She calls me to her desk. “He can see—”

  Her eyes land on my wrist. She sucks in a whoosh of air.

  The brand. I may be doomed to long sleeves for the rest of my days.

  Lips tight, I smile.

  “—you now. Go right in,” she says, her eyes never leaving my wrist.

  I pass Frank, and grin. “Nice wings you got,” he says.

  “Thanks.”

  Inside, Michael sits behind his desk with more paperwork than normal. I raise one eyebrow.

  “It happens after every Ceremony. I have to double and triple check what everyone received. It’s not my favorite part of the job.”

  Huh, who would’v
e guessed Michael had to do stuff he wasn’t fond of?

  “You said you wanted to see me.”

  “Yes, Grace.” He pushes the paperwork aside, and I get the feeling this is going to be an important meeting. “Your training has been…”

  Crazy? Bizarre? A mistake?

  “…more rigorous than most.”

  Well, that’s an understatement.

  “I’d like you to take a break from schooling.”

  I sit straighter in my chair. “With all due respect, I feel like I’ve been on a break from school since Declaration Day. I know it might sound strange, especially for me, but I’d kind of like to get back to classes.”

  “Yes… well…I don’t think that would be prudent…at the moment.”

  “Why? I don’t understand.” And I don’t. Maybe I’ve grown, or matured, or lost the will to take risks, but the thought of redecorating our room with Mercy and spending classes with Justice sounds heavenly.

  “Because of your status.”

  My status? Does he mean because I earned my wings early…or out of sequence? I glance at Michael’s face and there’s sadness in his eyes as he gazes at my brand.

  “You mean this?” I hold my arm up with the inside of my wrist facing him. I’d tried to remove it with a little of the leftover healing water, but it had no effect. Either it needed a lot more water, or it wasn’t something that could be healed. “This thing that I got while I was spying for you. That’s the problem.”

  “Now, Grace.”

  “Don’t you ‘now Grace’ me. That’s not fair, Michael. You know it, and I know it, and anybody with a lick of common sense knows it.”

  “But the problem is, others can’t know about this last Mission.”

  I’m dumbfounded. “Why? Why can’t they know? Isn’t that big battle going to go into the history textbooks? The Battle of The Garden of Eden against the big-bad, s’more-eating Locusts.”

  He actually chuckles at my anger. “Not just yet.”

  The ire in me rises until I feel I could explode. I’m no better than Mother Nature at controlling it. Thank the Big Guy that mine doesn’t create weather. I take a deep breath and try to calm down. “So, what then, are you proposing?”

  “Like I mentioned at the beginning, a break. Mercy is going to be working on her project next semester, and I know you told her everything, so in that case, she can know why you’re going into space with her. I’m re-classifying you as a Virtue. Just temporarily.”

  A Virtue? No way! Cold, dark space. No, no, no.

  “There’s a lot to be learned from the constellations and planets,” Michael says in his calmest, most-convincing voice.

  “And asteroids and black holes, too,” I say, sarcasm front and center.

  He laughs. Again. “It won’t be that bad, trust me.”

  “Do I have a choice?” I ask, thinking of a rule I could invoke.

  “Not a good one,” he says with sympathy.

  “What is it?” Because if there was ever a time to exercise my Free Will, this is it.

  He sits back in his seat and looks at the ceiling, then back at me. “You can be re-classified as a Virtue, temporarily, or…you’ll become a Wingless One.”

  It feels like I’ve been struck in the gut. Sucker punched. I can’t breathe, and my heart races. I may not have been so obsessive about my wings lately, but I’d just gotten them, and I’d grown a little attached. I think of how I felt seeing Annex’s broken wings laying on the ground.

  “Wingless because of my association with Annex?” Annex was not a bad guy, no matter what anyone thought.

  “No, Grace, Wingless because we need you to do this to preserve order in Heaven. And if you refuse, it will be considered rebellion.”

  Ah, I get it. They probably would’ve threatened me with this before the spy Mission, except they couldn’t. I didn’t have my wings yet. “Do Angels ever really have Free Will?”

  “Not on most things,” Michael confesses, “but you always have the choice whether or not to obey Him.”

  I sit in my seat for what feels like Eternity. All kinds of craziness running through my head. Annex is Wingless and he’s not exactly evil. Mother Nature has a cruel side, and she’s got a lovely pair of wings.

  Confession: It’s not as clear cut as you’d think.

  “Grace, I know this came as a surprise, especially so soon after The Celebration, but we really need you to decide. Time is of the essence.”

  Something snaps in me. And, that’s when I do it. A Time Bend to end all Time Bends.

  Michael sits stony in his chair. I walk out of his office past Valor and Michael’s snooty receptionist. Down through the Administrative office, past the Department of Prayers. I see Faith talking to Destiny. She’s fired up her halo to the brightest setting.

  It figures.

  But in a weird way, I’d miss her annoying me.

  I walk to the building where our apartment is. Mercy is perched on her bed, reading the program from The Celebration. Her new scepter is laying next to her thigh. I pick it up. It’s lovely, decorated with a mix of silver and gold, blue gemstones encircling its crown like constellations. She must love it! I place it back where it was, then look at my shelf—the gifts from Tara and Finn, Victor’s quill and the totem pole he gave me. I have no idea what’s going on with us, but still feel like I need to see him again.

  I leave our apartment and walk for what seems like hours. A short temper requires a long walk. In and out of Perpetuity. Into the Hall of Records, where Michelangelo is still at work on the ceiling. Through the rooms at L’Academie. I stop at Professor Keen’s room to see if he’s there, but he must not have returned yet from The Celebration.

  I keep walking. Past The Wilds where the time spent with Annex, Cherish, and Frank has surely shaped the Angel I’ve become. Then, into Paradise for a stop at Nostalgia. It’s like I’m saying good-bye to everything I’d miss.

  I sit at one of the café tables in front of the shop, and it hits me. I haven’t seen Aisha in forever. I miss her, and wish I could see her right now. Her common sense would do me a world of good. My eyes burn and I start to cry, imagining the advice she’d give me.

  “You need to stop thinking of yourself and do it.”

  “But Ish, a Virtue?”

  “He said it would only be temporary. Or were you not paying attention? You do that, you know?”

  “It made me angry. After I did this other ‘special’ Mission. It’s so unfair.”

  “Don’t let your anger get the better of you. You saw where that leads.”

  In my mind I nod at her.

  “Besides, at some point that Mission will be legendary.”

  “I am not exactly the stuff of legends. I’m more like the stuff of scary campfire stories.”

  This makes Aisha laugh. “Who knows what other adventures are out there for you?”

  “Well, The Big Kahuna knows, but he isn’t spilling. Thanks for your advice. I miss you.”

  “I miss you too, Grace.”

  Then, I wipe my tears away. I’m not sure if I imagined Aisha or if that was Unconventional Communication. I’m not sure if my future adventures include wings or not. I think a little longer and then leave Paradise and head back to Michael’s office. Sitting in the chair across from him, feeling more than a little exhausted, I take us back to real time.

  “That was a real Bender, Grace.” His mouth quirks up on one side. “What did you decide?”

  It’ll be a little lonely where I’m headed, but at least I’ll have one companion.

  “I guess you can call me star struck. I’ll do it.”

  End of Book 3

  from the Angel In Training series.

  Thank you for reading Blown Away! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. If so, I’d like to encourage you share it with a friend. This e-book is lending enabled to make it easy for you to do that.

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  Twitter – my tweets are pretty random.

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  Other books by Shel Delisle

  Dolphin Girl

  Jane Wants The Life Of A Dolphin.

  Wild. Graceful. Free.

  But these days her life is nothing like that. Between her mother’s strict rules and the cliques at school, she feels strapped in a child-sized life vest. It’s not until Jane gets a tattoo and befriends popular Sam Rojas, a star on the school’s swim team, that her life feels freer. She begins to wonder: Is there a way to be myself and not be alone?

  While she navigates these murky waters, a wave of events crash down on her, separating her from her family, her best friend Lexie and Sam, who Jane's fallen fin over tail for. Now she must figure out how to surf through rough seas without having everything she cares about pulled under.