1606010611-When-a-Good-Angel-Falls-Kougar.doc (6 page)

“I certainly needed it. A belated thank you,
Bell
and
Pearl
.”

“I will make certain you rest as wonderfully.”

“Carnal activities or clouds?”

“Your question holds a raised sword,” he amused glowed.

“I’m sure it does.”

“Clouds, then our pleasure activities.”

“Not that you aren’t attractive and all that, not that my woman ego isn’t tugging at the bit
–
so to speak. Of course, maybe I should just throw caution to the winds, given that I might not have that much longer on Earth. Why not ‘pleasure activities’ live it up?”

“My duty is to protect you to a long life.”

“Great. More torturous moments here. I get to live the world’s dark journey into tyranny.” Sedona heard the gurgle of a smooth-flowing stream. “Saved by the water. Sort of. Let’s make it more holy, cherub.”

Magician trotted after the mustangs, toward the large mountain stream. He halted on the stream’s narrow bank next to them, and waited like a gentleman. Before they allowed their horses to drink, Donna and Gary dismounted, and approached the water, glistening in shades of gray over rounded rocks.

Dismounting smoothly, Volcano lifted her off despite her glower in his direction. “Sedona, I want to. And you need to become used to me handling you. It’s vitally important to my protection of you.” Taking her hand, he invited, “Join me.”

Deciding on harmony against her high irritation, Sedona walked beside him, and knelt with him as he knelt to the softly singing stream. Next to them Donna and Gary chanted their reverence, their gratitude to the water spirit, and to the One Spirit. Thinking it was odd, but not really odd, she understood them, even though she didn’t understand their language.

Volcano swirled his hand in the water. Sedona imitated him, seeing emanations of light from both their hands. Rainbow crystalline rays transformed the waters, spreading as if a stone had been tossed. Ethereal tingles owned her insides, the same as she’d experienced before in her life when feeling the sacred, when the divine miracles occurred.

Miracles, all the spiritual insights she’d gained in a state of bliss, the impromptu healing of her friends, and every time her butt had been saved no matter what the nightmarish impossible circumstance. It had happened so often she’d lost count.

And now, despite living off the grid, she’d found enough food and clean water. Most people didn’t. Miracles, even though she’d been obviously blessed, there was still not nearly often enough in her great big book of life. No, not nearly enough miracles.

The gratitude of the water sizzled lightly up her arm. “Neat.” Sedona smiled. “Most blessed, most blessed, most blessed.” She whispered it as a song.

Eagerly the horses dipped their muzzles in, drinking their fill. She watched Donna and Gary kneel, and dip their canteens, the water bubbling inside. As she stepped back with the cherub, Sedona heard the black helicopters, the rumbling enormous whoosh above, and headed toward them.

Shading her eyes, even though ash haze made it look like an overcast day, Sedona searched. “What now, Volcano?” she soft-acidic asked. “I don’t suppose we’re allowed to merely blow them out of the sky.”

“No.” He sounded amused. “But we can suck the power out, force them to return, land.”

“They’ll know our position by that, exactly when and where they’ve lost power.”

“Feel the beam, Sedona. They already know.”

She did feel the slight alteration of energy.

“So, it won’t matter if we suck their power.”

“They won’t be able to keep tracking us with those helicopters.”

“How?” she reached for his hand.

“Soar with me.”

Swiftly their awareness flowed upwards, as if they belonged to the sky. Level with the three helicopters, Volcano guided her around them in a circle.

Whirlwind, Sedona. Pretend to be a whirlwind.

Funsies, cherub. Sure, teach me.

They circled slowly at first, gradually faster, until they spun like an out-of-control carousel around the three helicopters. Sedona thought she should be dizzy, but it was like being a cyclone, and creating a vortex. Spinning madly, she felt the power of the helicopters sucked away. The next instant, they shot downward, seeing through their physical eyes again.

Amazed, she murmured, “Wow. Better than the rides at
Worlds of Fun.
” An exploring muzzle touched her cheek and she turned to the black stallion. He snuffled her face, drew in her scent. “Magician, what beautiful eyes you have.” Bright and dark, loving, he gazed at her. “You have stars in your eyes, handsome,” she softly crooned.

Magician winked, then moved alongside them, ready to be mounted. Again Volcano swung her astride before she could step into the stirrup, then leapt up behind her.

“Where did you go?” Donna politely asked from astride her dun mustang.

When Volcano remained silent, Sedona answered. “We power drained the black helicopters. Are you sure you want to continue? This is getting really dangerous.”

“We are protected,”
Gary
assured. He waved his arm outward.

Sedona saw a menagerie of spirit animals—bear, moose, her wolves. Eagles soared, a raven sat on a lightning-splintered stump. Two raccoons and a porcupine waited on the opposite bank, where a stag and a doe stood on the path.

“Wayshowers,” Donna explained, her arm flowing toward the deer. She urged her mount into the slow-moving stream.

Sedona nodded, feeling absolute wonder. She also felt apprehensive for them all. Even though it wasn’t the positive vibes she should be projecting, or so she told herself.

“You are worn out,” Volcano whispered to her ear. Beneath them Magician splashed across the stream, following the mustangs. “Lean back on me. I will feed you light.”

Part of her resisted, her independent Aries nature and her learned distrust of men.
Sedona knew she needed to lean on him, but for so long there had been no one to lean on. It had become second nature not to, and now felt alien.

Still, she leaned back once Magician rocking loped beneath them. She leaned back against his strength, his young, bold and beautiful strength. She shouldn’t enjoy him as a woman, but she did. And she knew he enjoyed her by the way he wrapped himself around her body. “It’s all wrong,” she whispered.

With his light warmly radiant around her, and flowing into her, Sedona settled more in his embrace.

“If it was wrong, it wouldn’t be carnal allowed,” he whispered, his tone soothing, yet potent.

“I only have your divine Word,” she teased, amused at the absurdity of the situation.

“The Word of a Cherubim can only honor divine truth, and your truth.”

Suddenly weepy, she sniffled, then burned with embarrassment. “This is a mighty huge adjustment. Anything bad we can blow up in the meantime?”

“There will be,” he promised. “In the meantime this is how to prepare your energy level. Close your eyes, Sedona. I’ll hold onto you. Magician won’t let you fall.”

Sedona let her eyes blink closed, not wanting to miss western
Arizona
’s mountain scenery, all around her. She also knew her own exhaustion, a life time of exhaustion had caught up with her as she rested in the cherub’s arms. She drifted into a light sleep, aware of her surroundings, the fecund rich smell of winter’s dried leaves and the tang of pine, despite the endless supply of volcanic ash.

Aware of him, and of Magician beneath her
, s
he knew she entered a lucid dream. The woman was dancer thin, her face scrutinizing and sharp as the wicked witch of the west from Oz. Although, Special Agent Chokynkos looked like a badly dressed spy. Sedona realized she searched for her psi ruthlessly. In her altered state, she moved around the woman, observing her. Why did they exist in a dream realm together?

Tell me how you plan to eliminate me,
Sedona spoke to her, remaining to the side of the Special Agent.

Dark angels have been summoned.
The Special Agent faced her, hands deep inside her trench coat pockets.

Why bother?
Sedona shrugged.
What can I really do against you?

The light remains as a force against us. We will eliminate your light. Who is the man with you?

A misguided youth. Savior complex. Why have you turned against the light?

This is a planet of darkness. I prefer the winning side.

Is it winning to be expendable to your Dark Masters?

Have you won? Once your light is snuffed out?
The Special Agent glared, almost evil.

“Sedona.” She struggled to come fully awake. Darkness trapped her eyes shut, and felt like demonic glue. Finally she forced her lids open, the
noon
day brightness in her eyes.

“Special Agent,” she barely murmured. Focusing her gaze and her senses, she realized they had stopped in a high mountain meadow. The horses grazed on the winter dry grasses, while they remained astride them.

“Special Agent Chokynkos?” Volcano verified. “May I see?”

“See?”

“View what occurred, Sedona.” He stroked her forehead lightly, sweetly.

“Yes.” She surrendered, wanting him to know. She tried to straighten away from his hold.

“Still,” he crooned, gently restraining her. “It’s easier for me to view if I’m touching you.”

“Whipper snapper cherub,” she complained. It was the only thing she could think of, even remotely appropriate. At least, he wasn’t some milquetoast angel who appeared more corporeal than real flesh.

“Not good,” she muttered, once she felt him with her again.

“The Special Agent was possessed when I woke you. But their dark purpose against you was interrupted. The Dark Masters are too close. Once we pass through, I’ll find a place I can make invisible. Confuse their search.”

Sedona nodded against his chest, and sighed her worry. Donna and Gary galloped toward them.

“Quickly!”
Gary
summoned, waving them to follow.

“My father temporarily sent them away from us,” Donna shouted.

Magician surged, galloping after the racing mustangs. Together, they all charged toward a trail winding up the mountain slope between the pine trees.

Flat out, they raced, Sedona leaning over Magician’s neck, Volcano over her. Behind them she heard the telltale buzzing of terrain vehicles. Soon it sounded like a machine horde chased after them.

Can’t we stop them?
Sedona asked.

Better to let them believe they have us on the run.

Where’s my laser revolver, something like that?

Low-tech squad used for routine patrol. Let’s give them a good run.

Whatever you say, cherub.

Magician ran magnificently, leaping onto the mountainside trail. Sedona would have been in horse-riding heaven if the situation had been different. The wind in her face, the stallion’s galloping power beneath her, exquisite and wild, as they sprinted upwards.

The ping of high-powered rifle bullets followed them. Sedona scrunched down further, her face nearly buried in Magician’s mane.

Just low-tech regular bullets. Gee.

Cherub shield.

Donna and Gary?

Protected. Get ready. The cycle is near the top of the trail.

Magician?

Dimensional opening. Watch.

The buzz roar of the terrain vehicles echoed closer, the whiz of the bullets surrounded them. Magician increased his galloping stride, joining the plucky mustangs as they neared the top of the trail.

Her adrenaline on fierce, Sedona watched a cave opening materialize as if it naturally belonged to the land. Swiftly they were upon it. Volcano reined Magician to a halt inside, and leapt down. He grabbed Sedona off.

“He knows where his home is.” Volcano heartily patted Magician’s neck. “Long trails,” he offered to Donna and Gary, who had halted beside them. “The cave will take you home.”

“Long trails,” they returned, then spun their mounts into the cave, which rapidly changed to a thick mist.

Sedona watched them all vanish, felt her garments alter back to cycle gear. Volcano handed her the helmet. Putting it on, she spun around.

“Hang on.” He grinned, and mounted the hum-ready cycle.

“You certainly know how to impress a girl,” she wise-cracked. Mounting behind him quickly, she hung on.

They zoomed up the rest of the winding trail and racing-shot around the pine tree trunks, reminding her of a scene in one of the Star Wars movies. Soon enough, she heard their pursuers. The baying buzz saws tracked them like bloodhounds. Sedona prayed.