The Journey (11 page)

“Ahh…” he said, falling silent for a few heartbeats. “A single sword—forged by a son of God… gifted to a son of man. And so… the seed was planted.”

“Yes. The
seed
you gifted man that day… it struck a mightier blow than you could have imagined.”

“No, little one, I could imagine. Thus the
seed
.”

I didn’t say anything then.

“It seems you have lost your fear of casting blame.”

I sort of elbowed him. He grunted and then half chuckled.

I rolled my eyes. “Let’s go on to the next one.”

“As you wish.”

When I flipped to the next picture, he gasped.

I smiled. “I like that one, too.”

“You like flowers.”

“I do. All kinds. Orchids are probably my favorite, but it’s really hard to pick just
one
favorite flower. I found these orchids growing wild in South America. I was admiring them when that enchanting little pinkish dragonfly stopped by to pay them a visit. I couldn’t believe my luck. It made for one truly amazing picture.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

We gazed silently at the rare beauty of nature, captured in a single breath and preserved there on my mobile phone, until the picture began to slowly fade.

“I would like to see the world through
your
eyes, little one.” He softly stroked my hair. “If only for a day.”

I didn’t say anything.

“Let me see what other treasures you have stashed away inside this odd little box.”

“I’ve only got a couple hundred pics on
here
. Normally I download them—post the best ones to my blog. I just haven’t taken the time lately.” I flipped to the next picture. “Oh, this one is the view from Taktsang. That’s where I was when I accidentally fell into the Nether. Or slipped, or morphed, or whatever I did.” I shrugged my shoulders. “In truth, I’m not really sure
how
I got there.”

“Then… how did you get out?”

“Oh… Drella. He grabbed my arm and took me to Ireland. That’s where I got the second half of the key.
And
the dagger.”

“Who is Drella? I know him not.”

“That’s because he’s not an Angel… or a bad dude.”

“You think I only know Angels and bad men?”

“Well… don’t you?”

He smiled. “My existence—to you—has been condensed into a single decision. A single moment in time. I am much more than the words you have read concerning my deeds.”

“Of
that
I am sure.” I half smiled. “Alas, we are what we leave behind. Your deeds follow you, long after your soul has left this realm.”

“Wise words from one so small.”

“Small?”

“Young.” He smiled. “It is as you say.”

“Yes, well, Drella is a Seeker
now
. But when he was alive… that gorgeous young man truly was the love of my life. I never found another to replace him.”

Azazel didn’t say anything else as I finished showing him pictures of the many places I had been.

“Now then, Gramps, let’s see to your dry skin. Shall we?”

“What do you mean, see to my skin? You came for blood, not flesh.”

“Yeah, yeah. But you remind me of this old man I know in Slovakia. He scowls at
everybody
.” I chuckled as I sat up. I can’t understand a single word he says. But when I massage his hands and arms, he quits quarreling and almost smiles.”

I suddenly felt dizzy and my head started hurting.

“Why do you have cause to touch this man? Are you a healer?”

“No, nothing of the sort. Ugh… I think my sugar’s dropping.” I dug down in my bag, pulling out a Hershey bar and popping a piece in my mouth. “Every time I pass through there, there’s this sweet little family who lets me stay with them. Most of them can speak a
bit
of broken English. Well, enough so that we can get by for a few days. Not the old man.”

“Then… why do you touch him?”

“Want a bite?”

I handed him the chocolate bar. He took it and sniffed it.

“I touch him because… well… I have no other way to communicate with him. It’s my way of showing him how much I appreciate him letting me stay in his home. He’s bed-ridden. Go on. Have a bite.”

Azazel shook his head.

“Oh, come on. It’s not like I’m
contagious
or anything. Here. I’ll break a piece off from the other end.”

“I do not eat.”

“Eat?” I snickered. “Chocolate ain’t got nothing to do with eating. You eat chocolate because it’s chocolate. Not because it’s food.”

Ignoring his protests, I broke off a square and stuck it in his mouth while I continued on with my story.

“Anyway… the old man stays in a back room of the house—all alone, always yelling about something. One day I stayed there while everyone else went to school or out to run errands.” I took another bite of chocolate and gave Azazel another square as well. “He woke up, yelling about something or other. He didn’t want anything I offered him—no water, no food, not even his bedpan. Exhausted, and just about stressed completely out, I plopped down on the side of his bed. He quit hollering then and his eyes went wide.” I chuckled at the memory. “I told him I wasn’t going to hurt him, but I didn’t have a clue what he wanted. That’s when I grabbed the lotion from his nightstand and started rubbing it onto his hands and forearms… talking all the while.”

Azazel smiled. “Yes. I can picture it clearly.”

I stuffed another piece of chocolate into his smirking mouth and went on.

“He couldn’t understand a single word I said, no, but the more I massaged his hands, the fewer wrinkles he had right
there
.” I gently poked the Angel’s drawn forehead, and then started rubbing lotion into his palm. “See? Doesn’t that feel good?”

“Yes… it does.”

“I know it does. I may not indulge in all of life’s little pleasures, but I always try to find time for a good mani-pedi day. It washes away everything. A good manicurist is worth their weight in gold, far as I’m concerned.”

I glanced at Azazel’s relaxing brow line, and the tiny smile tugging at the corners of his chapped lips.

“Here. Try just a sip of water—help wash the chocolate down.”

He didn’t resist me this time. I filled the plastic cap, then carefully dripped it through his parted lips.

“See how much better things go when you just listen?”

He looked at me sideways, smirking slightly. “It is not one of my finer attributes—listening.”

“Yeah, so I’ve read. Okay, one more awesome chocolate square before I get lotion on my hands again.”

He closed his eyes that time, thoroughly enjoying the melting goodness now coating his mouth.

I giggled. “I knew you’d like it.”

“I never said I did.”

“You didn’t have to.” I winked at him. “I can see it in your eyes. Anyway, now… every time I go to Slovakia, I give that grumpy old man a manicure. Since that day, he hasn’t yelled a single time during one of my visits.”

“I can see why. Yet, tell me. Why are you blessing
me
thusly? I have not yelled at you. Not once. And I am definitely not a grumpy old man.”

“Whatever, Gramps.” I winked at him again, but he didn’t seem pleased with my teasing. “Remember what I told you before, Azazel? When I don’t have the proper—
needed
—words… I resort to physical contact to communicate my feelings.” I sort of shrugged my shoulders. “And I’m also doing it because… because… Well, because I hate seeing such a noble creature lying here in such a state.”

“Hmpft… Silly child, nobility is not a birthright.”

“You say it true,
silly
Angel. It is defined by one’s actions.”

“Pfft.”

He looked away. I didn’t speak, but neither did I stop my delicate ministrations toward his pitifully withered arm.

“My pride brought me to this, Jem,” he softly whispered.

“Yes… I know. Pride is a destroyer of souls, weak and strong alike.”

“Hmpft. For a woman who wishes not to cast blame or pass judgements, you certainly have a painful little way of doing both. It leaves quite a sting.”

“That was not my intent. I promise.” I cut him a sideways glance and smiled. “In truth, I was afraid to slice such brittle flesh. Even with just a thumbnail. I feared only dust would spill forth from the wound.”

His mouth half fell open then. “Are you… are you making fun of me?”

“No.” I bit my lip and looked down. “I would never do such a thing. Pffts.”

I quickly turned my head, trying to hide my growing smile.

“You are!” He grabbed my chin and turned me back to face him. “You’re laughing at me.”

I did snicker then. “So what? Yes, I’m laughing at you. Don’t look at me like that. You’re the one laying there feeling sorry for yourself. You’d think after all these many years, you would
finally
be resigned to the fact.”

He smiled with only one corner of his mouth, then released me. “I take it all back. You are neither sweet nor are you innocent. You are a demon, one sent to torture what is left of me.”

“You never actually said I was sweet. You must’ve just been thinking
that
part. And… how is it you’re now crying torture when a minute ago you were going on about how good this felt?”

He openly smirked. “You have a sharp tongue, child. I see now. A wicked little thing,
when
you want to be.”

“Not truly. It’s just… well, things were getting a bit heavy there for a minute. I was only trying to lighten the tension.”

“If that is true, you should apologize for such harsh words.”

“Azazel, remember when I said I didn’t apologize for things I wasn’t sorry about? This is one of those times. Now, quit whining and give me your other hand.”

I leaned toward the darkened side of his body, the side which the tiny candle could not reach.

“Apologies, lovely Jem. That is a request I simply cannot fulfill.”

“Why not?”

“Bring your light closer.”

I did… and was horrified by this new revelation. Not only was his entire lower half completely covered with giant sharp stones, so too was his right arm—pinned and immovable.

“Why do you cry?”

I quickly wiped at my eyes. “I’m not crying.”

“Must have been my mistake. A trick of the flame, perhaps.”

I huffed out a chuckle when I glanced down at his sardonic smirk. “Smarty pants.”

He smiled then. “Oh, such language. Careful you do not taint my angelic ears, little one.”

“Hmm…” I sort of laughed. “I never thought you’d be like this—playful and teasing. I always took you for a bloodthirsty womanizer.”

“And what made you think that?”

“
What
indeed. Do I not now speak with the very creature who introduced man to the ways of war? The very one who taught men the craft of forging swords and women the art of using make-up. Are
you
not the Angel who enlightened my kind with the ways of blood and seduction?”

“As you say, I only
introduced
such things. Man has always had a rather, shall we say,
vivid
imagination.”

I smiled as I finished up his massage. “Are you saying you did not partake in the
fruits
of you labor?”

“No, I am not
that
bold a liar. I partook… as often and as freely as I chose.”

We shared a knowing glance and smiled.

“Well, it looks like all that
partaking
has left your nails in horrible disrepair. I’ll see to them
this
time, but I don’t expect to find them in such shape again. You hear me, Angel?”

I thought for a moment his eyes sparkled. Just a tiny bit, mind you. Then it was gone.

“On my nonexistent honor, Witness Jem, I will not partake in a single battle nor succumb to the delicious taste of a woman’s flesh from this moment until next we meet.”

“Well met, Angel. I expect you to act decently and honorably with all your appointed guests this coming week.
Do
so try to be a gentleman.”

“
Now
who’s being the smarty pants?”

I only smiled again as I went back to clipping his nails, filing down the broken corners and buffing them until they shined.

“There then,” I said through a satisfied smile. “Never have I seen you look more handsome.”

When I turned to put away my nail kit, he yanked hard on my ponytail.

“Hey! What was
that
for?”