Angel Kisses

6. St. Peter

I awoke to the soft fluttering of my ravens wings against my cheek. In his beak he held a small piece of parchment with messy ink scrawled across it. He thrust his beak towards me as if demanding that I read it. There were only four letters but they covered the paper in a dark scribble.

Raaf

I looked back and forth between my bird and the paper. No way. It's impossible, how could a bird (not to mention a mechanical one) write a name on a piece of parchment? But I had to test my theory.

"Raaf?" In response he bobbed his head cooing and hopped closer to me. I smiled at the name and held out my hand. He lightly flew and perched on my hand only to move to my shoulder. Glancing over at the Roman numeral clock hanging on my wall I found that I needed to go. Hurriedly I grabbed my satchel and flipped it over my shoulder on my way out the door. All the while Raaf squawked and tittered after me loyally.

I reached the entrance of the grand hall and deliberately stepped up the stairs. The grand hall always forced little butterflies of nervousness and slight fear into my stomach. Raaf cooed into my ear somehow understand my discomfort. As I reached the top step a small angel boy, probably no more than 20 years old (which would make him look about 10) came rushing out and ran into me knocking me over.

"I-I'm so sorry mam', I'm just in a hurry. I gotta' get this to St. Paul!" He held up a crisp white letter and you could here the determination in his voice.

"It's fine, go ahead complete your mission and if you meet me back here in a couple minutes I'll take you with me to get a treat." His eyes lit up and he bounced away eager to earn the treat.

I chuckled to myself as I walked into the buidling, my nerves all but having disappeared. Approaching the main desk I greeted Lillith.

"Lilly! How have you been? Are you settling in well here?"

"Oh my gosh, Nova! What are you doing here? You haven't gotten in trouble have you?" She practically scolded me the she gasped noticing Raaf still perched on my shoulder."And who is this? He's adorable."

Raaf fluffed his feathers a bit in irritation to the comment.

"Yes and this is Raaf, but I asked you a question first."

"Oh fine, I've been good and I like it her, but the Saints still can be a bit scary. I don't know how you handled being raised by one."

"Lillith, you know St. Peter is a softy and you'll get used to them." She huffed under her breath at the thought.

"Ok ok, now it's your turn, what did you do?"

"Well...."

"Come on tell me" she whined wanting the newest bit of news.

"Fine, they finally jumped on me for dancing on earth, but I've already served my punishment which was a day's work of delivering blessings. Now will you send me up to Peter?"

She gasped in shock, not from my crime but from my casualty in using St.Peter's name.

"Nova! You know you can't call them that you must call him ST. Peter."

I rolled my eyes at her words, Peter really doesn't care all that much it's just customary.

"Whatever, can you send me up?"

She immediately went back to her cheery self, "Okie dokie"

She pushed a button opening the two heavy golden elevator doors and leaned down to speak into a microphone.

"Hello, St. Peter, I'm sending Nova up to you."

"That's fine, thank you." Peter's voice sounded gruff through the little speaker on Lillith's desk. Lilly looked back up at me.

"You know where to go."

I smiled and thanked her as I said around the desked and stepped into the elevator. The doors slowly closed behind me and I looked around as the fluttery elevator music ruffled in the air. Gold trim outlined bright white walls. Raaf squawked and hopped to the other shoulder as the elevator dinged back open.

I was met with a hall with several doors on either side but I walked straight to the double doors at the end. Opening one of the doors I poked my head in.

"Come in, Nova."

I tentatively stepped into the room. St. Peter was in business mode with glasses propped on his nose and a desk full of papers. His eyebrows were furrowed in concentration and the grey streaking his once dark hair seem more prominent in the serious aura enveloping the room.

"I see you woke up your raven, how was your trip to earth? Anything exciting happen?"

"Umm...", it seemed as if he already new what had happened so I was going to apologize but right before I buckled he sighed standing up. He put his glasses down onto the desk and I saw the worry lines across his face.

"My goodness child, you scared me half to death, we cold not see you in that last town. I nearly went down there myself but Gabriel had me wait to see what would happen. Thank goodness your safe. No what happened while you were there?"

Now that I knew he didn't see I had to hide the little turn of events."oh, nothing, just met a wonderful older lady. Though I did come to realize how wonderful it is to hand out blessings no matter how simple on my venture. Do you think I could possibly be given a couple to take after classes each day?"

He looked suprised, I had always thought that taking those little messages was childish. Part of my statement was true, I did enjoy taking the blessings, but I mainly wanted to go back to that town.

After recovering from the shock he stumbled into his next words, though he sounded pleased."s-sure, I'll have Lady Amilla arrange that for you. Now you better head off to your classes."

"Ok, thank you",I grinned and turned around with a new bounce in my step as I made my way to the elevator. Maybe, just maybe, I'd see that mysterious stranger and finally understand how a man I had never met could set my skin ablaze with a single touch and cause my heart speed up with only his gaze.

--------

After taking the little boy to the icecream parlor it was time to go to my university. As I stepped into the classroom I grudgingly shuffled to my seat. I wish the classes would be over and I could go ahead and become a miracle worker. Lillith graduated two years ago and taking classes has been boring ever since. I only have one more year and it will all be over. I plopped down into my seat and huffed under my breath. Raaf fluttered off my shoulder and onto the desk.

"Nova! I'm so sorry about last night, I didn't know it would hurt you. It will never happen again. Please forgive me." Rowan had appeared beside my desk with his hands clasped and a pleading look on his face.

I sighed,"can we talk about this later? I don't think I can handle it right now"

He seemed upset but he nodded his head and walked away looking dejected. I know it was rude of me but I couldn't help it, my mind was on other things and I had decided last night that I would never marry him.

Dear lord, forgive my actions and please comfort rowan. Amen.

My class went on for what felt like forever though it was only three hours. I sat by myself at my desk which was secluded in the corner. Lillith had been my only at all close to my age. Rowan continued trying, but I couldn't allow myself to like him. Finally our instructor dismissed us and I lept from my seat and rushed out the door in the direction of the message center, Raaf flying after me.

I reached the pure white steps and bound up them in one leap. Twirling through the door I danced from side to side until I reached lady Amilla's desk and I did a quick curtsy and stood back up as Amilla clapped her hands over enthusiastically as a mother might for her 4 year old. She was one of the only ones who acknowledged my dancing but she only did so to please me.

"Oh darling, that was wonderful!!! Are you here for your blessings?"

"Yes, Lady Amilla"

"There are three there that way you can get to bed on time."

I smiled at her concern,"thank you, I better get going"

Turning around I left the building with one thing in my mind, finding that man.