True Confessions of the Angel of Death

Home Sweet Home

I lead them to Byron Street, house #15. I could tell they were still a little disoriented from the trip. It was much worse for Bethany. Gabriel and Ivy had made plenty of trips to earth since its creation for various reasons but Bethany had never experienced senses before.

"It gets easier with time," I told her stopping in front of the house,"It's easier if you don't fight it."

"Oh, look," Ivy clapped her hands and smiled, "It has a name."

Byron had been named after the street. It was a two story, sandstone house, far from the street, behind iron gates. I lead them up the drive way and fit the key into the lock. I stepped back to let them in first since I'd already seen it. The ceilings were high and the rooms were bright and open. On the first floor was a music room, living room, a marble and stainless steel kitchen, a half bath, and out back was a courtyard, a small yard and a guest house. Upstairs were four bed rooms and the main bathroom. I'd chosen my rook upon arrival. It was average sized with fading blue walls, a marble fireplace, a dark wood furniture set that included a wardrobe, four poster bed, a desk and chair, and a chest of drawers, and two big windows that overlooked the ocean.

As my family looked around the first floor, I took three identical bronze keys from a small table in the hall, "Alright. these are your keys. they open the front and back doors and the door to the guest house. Don't. Lose them." I handed them each the keys, looking directly at Bethany when I said the last part. I didn't know how long they'd be here but I really didn't want to have to go to get new keys made.

For a few weeks, my siblings stayed inside to get used to things while I went out making sure everything was in order and reaping when it was necessary. Bethany and I were going to be enrolled in a local high school and Gabriel would be working there as the new music teacher. That was one thing i was looking forward to. Gabriel looked every bit like an angel of God, from his golden hair and stormy eyes to his physic and height. Angels didn't falter often so I was curios how he'd react to the boy crazy female population of the student body.

On More than one occasion, I'd notice Bethany was distant from Gabriel and Ivy. I didn't blame her. They were high ranking angels that preferred life in the Kingdom so they had a tendency to be a little stand offish. Whenever this happened, I always made a point to talk to her.

"Don't worry. They're just a little homesick. They'll loosen up soon." I told her in one of these cases.

Our siblings were talking to a representative from the Kingdom downstairs so I had brought Bethany up to my room with some caramel tea. We were sitting on my bed, just talking and listing to the soft patter of rain outside.

"I hope so," She sighed, "Azrael, why am I so different?"

I thought for a moment, sipping my tea and choosing my words carefully, "You're young. We've seen the horrors f the world and the evils of mankind. It makes us a little more uptight sometimes...If you promise not to tell Gabriel or Ivy, I'll let you in on a little secret."

She nodded enthusiastically, shifting her position so that she was sitting indian style.

"I'm a little different too. I'm more susceptible to emotion because I spend so much time around mortals. One starts to pick up their habits."

"Really?"

"Mhm." I hummed, "I know how hard it can be to be around perfect angels all of the time. How about this...We talk more, you can tell me anything and I won't spill if you do the same for me."
"Spill?" she looked down at her tea confused. I'd forgotten she wasn't used to expressions yet.

"Tell."

Bethany smiled at me, "Deal."

It was a little funny watching them try to adjust. Gabriel had taken over the job of cooking for us, though Ivy enjoyed baking from time to time. In Byron, there was a house phone, a computer, and a printer but no cell phones (Other than the one I had acquired earlier, much to Gabriel's distaste), tablets, or television. Gabriel had made a point to show us -erhm...Bethany- a television show about people fighting and competing in challenges for money and had commented about how barbaric it was that the mortals considered it entertainment.

I'd met several people since my arrival, but my siblings had limited their social life to Father Mel, a nice old man who was the priest at St. Mark's. He wasn't nosy and we helped him with the service every Sunday. Sometimes, though, I thought he knew more about us than he let on.

Bethany had convinced me somehow, to join their daily walks. She was begining to grow on me. One evening, we'd been out on a pier and spotted a boy about seventeen or eighteen, sitting at the end fishing. I knew that Gabriel and Ivy would want to leave but it was too late. He'd already seen us.

"Hi," He smiled at us, "Nice night for a walk."

I recognized him from around town and knew that he went to the school we would be attending, but that was about it.'

"Yes, it is." Bethany said, surprising the rest of us, "Have you had any luck?"

"I come out here to relax. If I happen to catch anything,, I throw it back in." he said, showing her an empty bucket.

She took a few steps closer, despite a warning look from Ivy.

"Want to try?" He offered.

"Come away now, Bethany." Gabriel ordered before she could say anything, "We have to get home."

Bethany's expression turned to one of exasperation but did as she was told, none the less. I was slightly irritated by Gabriel's tone. He'd made no effort to hide his intolerance and his desire to leave.

"Maybe next time." The boy smiled.

Bethany moved away from him and we began walking back toward the shore. Her posture was tense and I noticed her look back at the boy out of the corner of my eye. I sighed. Bethany may have been an angel, but she was still a teenage girl.

"That was so rude." she told Gabriel when we were out of earshot.

I arched an eyebrow in surprise, "Bethany, he can't help it. We're not human. We weren't created to be social creatures."

"Still..." She muttered.

"We have to be careful, Bethany." Gabriel told her, slowly and calmly as if speaking to a toddler-which to him, she was.

"Gabriel is right." Ivy agreed, "We're not ready for human contact yet."

"I think I am. And what about Azrael? She goes out and talks to people all of the time."

"It's a part of her job." Gabriel sighed, "She's used to dealing with the mortals. She has more experience."

It was clear by the tone of his voice that the conversation was over. "Don't worry, Bethany. I'll take you with me some time and let you meet some people." I whispered to her. Still once more, Bethany looked back at the boy. This time I looked as well and he was still watching us and still smiling at my little sister.