Disappear: Into Shadow

- CHAPTER NINE -

As the chains of the swings jangled in the slow wind, night faded. The sun rose on a new day. Through the park, people took their dogs on early morning walks as sparrows darted in and out of the trees. Their chirruping became a constant background song. Flying about, their chattering lights spread a thin veil of fog throughout the parkette. Sunlight streamed through their scattered patterns in a sparkling haze. The birdsong's dissonance surrounded the two spirits on the swings in this new land of light and shadows.

Children from daycare classes arrived, their gleeful squeals and laughter joining the sparrow's song as they run about. The golden discs of light around their heads shone bright as the sun itself. They glowed in the playground's wisps of sparrow fog. They frolicked, climbing over the jungle gyms, bars and swings of the playground. Everywhere, except for the two empty swings. Two swings which, as far as the children were concerned, didn't even exist.

Michael stared into the face of the raven-haired beauty sitting in the swing next to him. Smiling, she asked, "Are you ready, or should we stick around a little while longer?"

"Where would we go? Stay here with me a little while, please?" His eyes followed the twisting flight of a sparrow. Finally he said, "This is surreal."

"Can I ask you a question?'

"Sure." Michael said, his eyes locked on the birds in the sky.

"Why did you choose to leave?"

"That's a second question."

"This is serious."

Michael smiled and when he did, Azrael felt herself shift. Somewhere deep inside she felt such a longing. Locked deep inside of her lay a place she didn't understand and could not accept. Too many of her fellow Elohim had given in to its siren song. She had been able to fight its lonely call for so long. All the while, she had feared this moment.

When he smiled again, Azrael knew why her fellows had answered their desires. She no longer knew how she could resist such a forbidden fruit.

Why now, when the balancing was at hand? The looming end rested, in true Atlas fashion, squarely on her shoulders. After all these years, why have I waited until now? Azrael asked herself.

The fact remained that Michael was forbidden. He was a soul, whether living on the world or returning to the spirit. Un-evolved, he was still impressionable, influenced. He was one of those whom she watched. She couldn't allow her authority to be an issue. She had responsibilities.

It just simply wasn't done.

You're an Outcast. The insistence told her. It's expected of you to have him.

She knew full well how love was a part of the life experience. She was made of the same light and love as every soul. Azrael loved Michael as she loved all life. Yet, Michael stood out. Especially when smiling. It was that human face she saw in her daydreams. Watching him live? It was during those moments when she wanted him the most. Azrael wanted to touch him, hold him, to love him, to be a part of his life and he a part of hers. She couldn't understand her desire when he was around, or how it lingered after parting ways. It wasn't fair to feel so torn.

Of all the Watchers, Angels and Daemons, hadn't she been the one most devoted to her duties? Why did temptation torment her so? She was at risk of falling just like so many other Watchers before. She couldn't, wouldn't let herself fall. She couldn't remove herself from life either. She wouldn't let it beat her. She was an angel after all. An Archangel at that; or, was at one time. A select being, she was one of the few Watchers unblemished by temptation. She had been an Angel of Devotion. As far as she was concerned, she still was. She knew she must stay distant, but the old craving of seeing Michael held on.