Tainted Blood

by S S Bazinet

  Forty-Four

  WILLIAM WOKE UP in a twin size bed, in a strange bedroom. But it didn’t matter where he was or how small the bed was, Annabel was next to him. They’d both been exhausted when they were reunited. Annabel was battling a bad cold, and William was still worn out after his scary, sleep adventures. They had fallen asleep in each other’s arms.

  William felt better as he came awake and glanced at the clock. He’d been napping for a couple of hours. Annabel was still sleeping soundly. Her disheveled, auburn hair and reddened nose were signs that she wasn’t at her best, but William only saw his beautiful ex-angel. He smiled. No matter how she appeared, Annabel would always be the person he’d love forever.

  After he got up and dressed, he quietly let himself out of the room. He’d barely started down the hall when he was met by a white, fluffy dog. As the puppy bounced up and down on William’s leg, a petite woman came hurrying over.

  “Come back here, you little rascal,” Elise whispered as she scooped up the puppy. When she glanced at William, she apologized. “Sorry, I had him in my office, but as soon as I opened the door, he slipped out.” She smiled. “By the way, I’m Elise.”

  William paused and put out his hand. “I’m William.”

  Elise’s face lit up as she shifted the puppy to one arm and shook his hand. “Hi, William, Annabel has told me so many good things about you.”

  “Thank you for taking care of her.”

  “Poor thing, she’s been very unhappy ever since she got sick. But I think she’ll recuperate now that you’re here.”

  “Let’s hope so.”

  Elise motioned for William to follow her. “Let’s talk in the kitchen so we don’t wake up Annabel.”

  As William followed Elise through the living room, he noted that everything was tidy but not overly so. A few dog toys littered the floor and a slipper was half-hidden under a chair.

  Elise saw him checking out his surroundings and smiled more broadly. “Having a puppy has definitely added a lived-in look to the house. But I’ve enjoyed the company. Anyway, can I get you anything? Coffee or tea?”

  “No, perhaps I better go over to Arel’s while Annabel is sleeping.”

  “I’m sure he’d like that. Annabel said that you two are best friends.”

  William bulked a bit at the thought. His relationship with Arel hadn’t always gone smoothly to say the least. “Yes, we’ve survived our ups and downs.”

  Elise’s eyes dimmed a little. “I’m sure that Arel told you about our history. When we were dating, Arel was wonderful. I was the one who wasn’t ready to be with someone. Hopefully, he’s becoming a friend.”

  William sized up the woman in front of him. Elise’s real feelings were easy to read. She was definitely still pining over her relationship with Arel. “Sometimes, Elise, things work out for the best. Maybe being a friend is better in the long run.”

  Elise kissed the top of Freddie’s fluffy head and sighed. “I suppose you’re right. Friendship sometimes survives where a relationship falters.”

  “I’m just saying that Arel wouldn’t be an easy fit for any woman, not unless she was wearing a halo.”

  Elise laughed. “Peggy said something like that to me. Of course, after living with myself, I’ve learned a lot about difficult people. They’re sort of like kids. You either love them just because, or they’ll drive you crazy.”

  William crossed his arms and frowned back. “You sound like you’ve made peace with yourself.”

  Elise walked over to the counter and retrieved a doggie treat from a jar. After she put the biscuit on Freddie’s bed, she put the puppy down next to it. “According to Michael, making peace with one’s faults is best if you want to be happy.”

  * * * * *

  William reflected on Elise’s statement as he returned to Arel’s house, but he didn’t have time to form any opinion. He barely stepped into Arel’s foyer when he saw Carey. After a brief greeting, William stood back and addressed the angel. “So, Carey, it must have been rather intense when Claire came and went so abruptly.”

  Carey paused, letting his grey-blue eyes wander for a moment. When he spoke, his tone was more serious than usual. “Yes, Claire is a very intense woman.”

  “And how do you think Arel is doing with her hasty departure?”

  “He hasn’t had much time to think about it. When he found out about your situation, he put all his energy into helping you.”

  “Right.” William knew he hadn’t taken the time to properly thank Arel for his efforts. “I have to ask myself why I dismiss his actions so quickly.”

  “From what I’ve observed in humans, appreciation begins with the self.”

  “I’ve always appreciated who I am.”

  Carey’s expression eased. “Of course. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some chores I need to take care of.”

  William watched Carey disappear into the garage, but he didn’t feel that the angel was wholly forthcoming. Still, maybe it was better not to question Carey’s motives. Angels thought about life in a totally different way than human beings.

  After William checked the upper level for signs of Arel, he went down the stairs to the lower apartment. As soon as he entered the space, he stopped short and glanced around. A human’s defense mechanism was a built-in part of the physical. When a person visited a lion’s cage, something always warned them not to stand too close. In this case, being around Arel could be a cause for caution. The man’s energy could be intense, especially when William was still recuperating and not at his best. William started searching the rooms. “Arel? Where are you?”

  After a moment, Arel answered. “I’m in the living area, Will.”

  William was surprised when he saw Arel. Arel didn’t look like a lion at all. With his head back on the sofa, the man looked battle-weary, as if he’d returned home after a long campaign. “Arel, are you okay?”

  Arel sat up more attentively. “I’ll survive. I always do. How about you?”

  “I’m better than I was when you found me.”

  “How’s Annabel?”

  “She’s still sleeping at Elise’s. After she gets some rest, I think she’ll be better too.”

  “While you’re here, you and Annabel can use the upstairs master bedroom. I’ll stay in these lower quarters.”

  William walked over to the library area and sat down. His wing back chair was located close to some built in shelves that held Arel’s collection of rare and first edition books. He’d have to check them out more closely later. For now, he continued to scan Arel’s energy. The power he’d sensed was there, but this lion was almost lethargic. “You were fine when we arrived in Chicago. Did something happen since I last saw you?”

  Arel avoided letting their eyes connect. “Rolphe happened.”

  “Rolphe,” William sighed out the name. “What’s he up to now?”

  “I’m not sure. I paid him an astral visit and didn’t get very far. His bedroom looked like a depiction of hell.”

  “Hell? What are you talking about?”

  Arel’s gaze flared in William’s direction for a split second. “Nothing, I’m just babbling away like I always do. What’s important is that you’re safe, and that you’re with Annabel again.”

  “Don’t try to change the subject.”

  Arel stood up and smiled. “Sorry, but I have to talk to Carey. In the meantime, make yourself at home.”

  Before William had a chance to question Arel further, Arel was out of the room and on his way to the stairs.

  * * * * *

  Arel avoided William’s questions and quickly left the room. As he slowly climbed the stairs to the upper level, his body felt heavy, like he was back in Rolphe’s apartment. His thoughts were dull too. After returning to the physical and having a conversation with Rolphe’s son, he’d begun to think about Rolphe again. Rolphe wasn’t just sick. He was in the middle of some hellish experience.

  Arel knew he should be doing something to help, but his mind and body
felt like they were stuck in limbo. He let himself into the garage, hoping to get an angelic perspective on the situation.

  He walked over to where Carey was working on his motorcycle. It was an ancient machine, but with Carey’s attention and ongoing maintenance, it ran fairly well. Its dependability was a different matter. Arel scowled with concern. “Carey, don’t you think it’s time to get rid of that antique? I’ll buy you something reliable instead?”

  Carey flashed a quick smile and went back to checking his tires. “I like Betsy.”

  “Betsy? You named your bike? Isn’t that taking it a little too far, even for an angel? I know Michael talks to his roses, but really, that pile of metal isn’t alive.”

  “It’s a great bike.”

  Arel wandered over to the workbench and sighed. “Why do I waste my breath?”

  “You sound tired. Does it have something to do with your visit to Rolphe’s?”

  Arel leaned wearily against the bench. “I tried to check on him. I didn’t get very far. His children’s spirits sent me packing.”

  Carey stood up, grabbed an oily cloth and wiped his hands. “I see.”

  “Please don’t say, ‘I see.’ That’s Michael’s line, and I find it very irritating.”

  “Why’s that?”

  Arel opened one of the wall cabinets and retrieved a clean rag. He handed it to Carey. “The truth is that I’m in trouble. I just witnessed a horrible scene in my astral visit to Paris. Like you warned, something is very wrong with Rolphe.”

  Carey wiped his hands again and handed the cloth back to Arel. “Go on.”

  Arel threw the cloth on the workbench. “It’s hard to admit, but I have no feelings about Rolphe’s welfare. It’s as if I’m made of stone.”

  Carey went back to his bike and crouched down again. “Maybe you should talk to Michael.”

  Arel crossed his arms as a surge of anger began to thaw out his numbness. Angels could be both irritating and evasive. He didn’t have the time or energy to deal with either character trait. “Just stop your tinkering and help me understand myself.”

  “Really?” Carey stood up and faced Arel.

  Arel backed up. Even boyish-looking angels like Carey could be intimidating, especially if a person wasn’t prepared to face something painful.

  Carey smiled. “Let’s start with something easy. Tell me the first word that comes to mind when you think about Rolphe.”

  Arel let a word slip out. “Monster.”

  “Really?”

  “First off, Rolphe is physically scary. Secondly, a guy who’s supposed to be reformed doesn’t start a bonfire in his room. Even if it’s not a physical fire, it was certainly intense. From what my senses told me, Rolphe is angry, very angry.”

  “Did it feel as intense as your father’s anger?”

  “My father? What’s he got to do with Rolphe’s situation?”

  “You thought of him as a monster too.”

  Arel returned to the work bench and hung some tools back on a pegboard. “I did, but that’s all in the past. I’ve learned to put my childhood behind me.”

  “Are you sure about that? Have you truly put your father’s world behind you?” Carey asked.

  Arel swiveled round to reply and found himself face to face with the angel. But Carey’s face had morphed into one that was lined with age and resentment. His blue-grey eyes were darkened with sudden rage. He looked exactly like Arel’s father.

  Arel shrank back in terror until he realized what had happened. As soon as he did, he immediately broke free of Carey’s mesmerizing eyes and things returned to normal. Still, he had to put a hand to his heart to try to calm himself. “Why did you do that?” he demanded.

  Carey turned and walked back to his bike. “Sorry, I was trying to help you remember the person who first taught you how to conjure up a monster. It was a gift your father gave you.”

  “Gift? You call what my father did to me a gift?”

  “It’s a somewhat accurate term. When a child is growing up and old enough to start to reason things out, they try to understand how to function in the world around them. They observe their parents and teachers and how these adults react to each situation. Be it positive or negative, it’s up to the child to accept the patterns of behavior they’ve witnessed. That’s why two children in the same family sometimes adopt different viewpoints and opinions about life.”

  “I never thought I had a choice.”

  “I know, but you did change your beliefs about life when your brother died.”

  “Yes, the night before, I went to bed happy. My brother was home from university, and I was looking forward to spending time with him the next day.”

  “Exactly. As a young child you understood some of the tough realities of life, but you still believed that life could be good. However, when you found out that your brother was dead, you learned to construct a new world, one that was ruled by monsters and fear. Your father showed you how.”

  “I don’t understand what you’re trying to tell me.”

  “Actually, I’m the one who doesn’t understand. When it comes to the world of fear and monsters, angels are aware of such concepts, but they don’t actively participate in that kind of world. Our minds aren’t made for that kind of thing.”

  “Are you saying that our minds are what make us different?”

  “Absolutely. A human’s mind is capable of being totally fixated on what’s going on outside of themselves.”

  “And what about an angel’s mind?”

  “My thoughts never stray in that way. I simply know who I am as part of the Divine. But people can learn to define themselves in very limiting ways, especially after some traumatic event. And trauma can affect people of every age. When your brother was killed, it was a blow that changed your father’s life, too.”

  Arel’s fists tightened. His father was a stern, but reasonable man before the death of his favorite child. “My father became a raging maniac.”

  “It was a terrible day for him, one that shifted his focus drastically. Up until that time, his hopes and dreams were centered around his firstborn son. When that son was killed, he felt he was left with nothing but grief. And you became a symbol for the emptiness in his life.”

  “He tried to beat me to death.”

  “Yes, and in his rage, he kept beating you until your focus was aligned with his. In the end, you accepted and believed in his world of pain and fear so completely that you lost touch with who you were.”

  Arel went over to the bike and fingered one of the handlebars. “If Michael hadn’t helped me, I’d probably still live in that hopeless world.”

  Carey smiled. “Michael couldn’t have helped you if you hadn’t wanted to change. So give yourself some credit.”

  “Strange, but all this talk about my father makes me think of Claire. I didn’t measure up in my father’s eyes. When Claire left, I think she felt the same way. Maybe I am deficient and just don’t know it.”

  “Claire judges others to see if they fit into her idea of what reality should be. But that doesn’t mean her beliefs are absolute. Remember that humans and angels are all made from the same Divine energy. And in the Creator’s eyes, everyone is perfect.”

  “I wish I felt perfect once in a while.”

  Carey put a hand on Arel’s shoulder and shook it gently. “If your heart is happy, take it as a clue that you’re on the right track.”

  Arel pulled away and started for the garage door. “A happy heart? With Rolphe going ballistic? Give me a break.” As he was letting himself out, the doorbell in the foyer chimed. “Maybe that’s Annabel. She’s probably looking for William.”

  Carey’s smile broadened. “Annabel’s had a most informative visit with Elise, but I think she’s very glad to have William here too.”

  “Hopefully, the two of them can relax and begin to enjoy each other.”

  * * * * *

  Arel left the garage, ready to greet Annabel, but William was already at the front door. H
e wasn’t welcoming in Annabel. He was talking to Arel’s neighbor, Elise.

  “What’s wrong?” William asked with concern. “Is Annabel okay?”

  “Annabel is still sleeping, but my Freddie ran away!”

  Arel grabbed his gut and had to brace himself. It was the second time that day that he’d been overcome with someone else’s energy. In Elise’s case, she was projecting a stormy ocean wave of panic.

  Elise stepped into the foyer, gasping out her news. “I planned to give Freddie a bath after he got muddy. As usual, I took off his collar and tags! When I opened the door for a delivery, he got away from me. He usually doesn’t run off, but he saw a cat going by. Now, even if someone finds him, they won’t know how to contact me.”

  William reached out to Elise. “We’ll do our best to help. But for the moment, try to stay calm. Tell me where you last saw the puppy.”

  As Elise confided in William, Arel tried to settle his stomach. He also shifted his focus and went into search mode. Perhaps he could locate the puppy’s energy signature. He soon learned that tracking a puppy was much easier than tracking someone in a dream reality. As soon as he closed his eyes, he was rewarded with a vision of Freddie. Unfortunately, Arel’s dodgy stomach was aggravated by a frightening awareness. “Oh hell,” Arel moaned to himself. “Freddie’s running towards an intersection.”

  The puppy’s energy was a little like Elise’s. He was very confused. He wasn’t thinking about consequences when he ran out into the street without looking. The sound of horns and cars screeching were so loud that Arel covered his ears. Luckily, Freddie made it to the other side of the street, but the dog was badly shaken.

  Arel was as panicked as Elise after what he’d seen. He wanted to help, but how? First of all, he tried to identify the intersection he’d just seen. It was familiar, but he’d been so busy watching Freddie and the busy traffic, he didn’t pay attention to buildings or landmarks.

  He closed his eyes and concentrated again. He was just starting to remember more details when his mind was hijacked by another vision. This one was so overpowering that it blotted out all his thoughts about a lost puppy. He was suddenly face to face with Rolphe.