Guardian

Part 1

Emma crumpled up the paper she was drawing on and threw it in her trash can. She started drawing again. Many pieces of paper latter she had the head and body, the way she remember from her dream. She then moved on the the wings, stretching out behind him and drawn very faintly so you could only see it if you looked hard. She left the face blank, not even trying to copy what she had seen.

Her mother called out from the kitchen. Dinner was done. Emma left the drawing on the table and made her way down stairs to the kitchen. She sat down beside her stepfather who was already eating and holding his broken arm. Her mother was making her own plate, Emma's plate sat in front of her. She sat with her hands in her lap and her eyes downcast.

Her mother sat down with her plate and they started to eat in awkward silence. "Foods good mom."

Her stepfather looks up from his plate at Emma. "Good? I've eaten better from a bathroom floor."

Emma didn't respond to her step father. "Times like this makes me want to break the rules and beat some sense into him."

"Careful Micheal...we've already warned you once" The voice came from behind me. I turn around and Samuel was standing in his fancy suit and tie. The same thing I was wearing but mine was more disheveled.

"Don't worry Sam, I follow the rules."

"Allen, Andrew and Sadie. All four were removed from your care because you broke the rules."

"Hey, don't bring up Allen we all know that that was a special circumstance"

"Which is why you are still doing field work...Anyway I'm not here to have an argument with you. Your being called back to Heaven. Gabriel's orders."

I look back towards Emma .I had tuned them out during my conversation. Her step father was yelling at them again. "What about Emma?"

"I will be watching her until you get back." He moves to the corner of the room and stands.

"Keep her safe, Sam."

"I'll do my job Micheal no more no less."

I fly up to Heaven in an instant. Most people think Heaven is some shiny gate and perfect place. It might be to you. I see an office building. Tall and beautiful with gardens off to the side.

I walked up the stone steps and to front door. Pushing open I wave to the angel behind the counter and enter the evivater to the side. It would be easier to fly up there but that's only for emergencies. I fix up my suit and make myself look presentable.

With a ding the door opens into a round office with only a desk and chairs in it. There's a large window where normally there would be a back wall. Golden light fell through the window onto Gabriel, sitting at his desk.

I stand at attention in front of him. "You called sir?"

"Ah yes, Micheal right?"

I nod my head as he flips through papers on his desk.

"Here it is. Yes your going on messenger dudy."

"Wait, what about Emma?"

"The prophet? Samuel took your position didn't he?"

"Well yes, but I've been protecting the prophets for years! Don't you think-" I cut off my sentis as I heard a small voice in my head. It was Emma and she was screaming. "The prophet is under attack."

I turn around to leave as I feel a hand grab my arm. "I hope your not leaving to go do there. You don't have clearance anymore and anyway Samuel can take care of it himself. Now take this down to Virgil." As Gabriel reaches down for something on his desk, I spread my wings and fly down to earth. Down to the prophet. Down to Emma.

I land with a dull thud and look up to see Samuel thrown across the kitchen and through the window by Emma's mother. Her eyes a dark black.She was possessed by a demon. Probably one after the prophet. I run up to her and tackle her to the ground. Pulling myself on top I pin her to the ground. The body thrashed around on the ground, trying to free itself.

"Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus.." I constitute the exorcism as the body moves around and black smoke started to leave the mouth. As i finish the think screams out and the black smoke leaves her.

I touch her head and heal all her physical wounds before standing up and looking at Sam in the doorway. "Sam, where's the stepfather?"

"I have already taken care of him. He was the first one to attack Emma. Why are you down here? I thought you were being reassigned."

"That's good. Emma is safe right? Where is she?" I couldn't see her in the kitchen.

"She is fine and in her room. Are you going to answer the question now?"

"Thanks Sam." I start to walk to her room ignoring anything Sam says.

I make myself invisible to human eyes and walk in the room. She is sitting at her desk drawing again. I sit down on her bed behind her and let out a sigh. "Your safe."

"Is mom safe?" She turns toward me and there's a green light in her eyes. Across her arm there are marks of pen. What might be thought to be a childs doodle to others I recognize as Symbols of Power. Runes that Prophets can make that give people powers. The ones on her arm look like glowing eyes.

"She's safe Emma, I got the demon out of her. I have to go now. You will still be safe just someone else will be watching you." I reach forward and wip off the Runes from her arm. I could hear Samuel coming up the stairs.

"Goodbye Emma." Then I fly away.