The Angels Friend

Nancy

Matters were still tight in heaven. Narcariel, who wasn't strong enough to join the significant heavenly missions, stayed back from most of the talking between her brothers and sisters.

Staying back was one of her usual responsibilities after all the missions that failed, in her mind, because of her. Forever awaiting orders from heaven.

In heaven, every soul generated its own form of paradise after death, and she was sitting in the heaven of a young girl who died from a type of disease that should be long gone, but human stupidity can be astounding. This heaven had trees with colourful flowers. The branches grew in such ways that once you climbed on top you could use a branch to get to another one, and the whole floor was filled with pillows, couches, and blankets. The girl had read many children's  books stored in shelves that were parts of the tree, and the heaven she constructed was one of Narcariel's favourites. So innocent and playful.

Narcariel was near one of the tallest tree branches and observed the scene in her true incomprehensible form. The overjoyed girl was jumping from branch to branch, when behind the usual voices of her brothers and sisters Narcariel heard the sound of pain. She decided to listen, even though most angels have tuned out all human frequencies, Narcariel listened to a little boy's voice praying:

"Please they are so mean..."

Narcariel knew that any angel with any dignity or common sense would tune out at this point, but for some reason she couldn't. So she listened to the whole prayer from a little boy who, as she now learned, is scared to return to kindergarten, doesn't have friends, and owns two pencils and a broken one. A dangerous idea stared formulating in her head.

"Narcariel."

She became stiff as soon as she felt the presence next to her.

"Raziel, you heard the prayer?" She smiled in surprise, maybe she wasn't the only one after all.

"No, but you haven't been reporting and I was asked to find you." 

"Reporting? Right. The reports on soul statistics." She considered her fellow angel more deeply, but realised there is no value in trying to explain herself. The unnerving desire to leave wasn't enough to make her revoke and leave behind heaven, but it also left her isolated. Just enough that every day she doubted her place. 

"I'd like to be stationed on Earth." She tried neutrally, but inside she was worried she'd cross the line. 

"Earth? Last task was 2000 years ago, now we only send in angels with connected vessels for short errands. You are unhappy with your placement, that can be fixed."

Narcariel tried to suppress a shudder at the last part, as although it was meant genuinely by the other angel, in practise it was a threat. Angel methods were fully successful in creating a content population with no complaints.

"I'd like to be stationed on Earth." She said again, new plan formulating "As soon as I am required to come back, I will. You can report my leave." And she was gone in a blink. Narcariel's thoughts were racing, she was itching for the experience of life on Earth and bringing help to the little boy. She could only hope her insignificant position would allow her disappearance in heaven to be left alone for a while.

Besides, she had to admit something about leaving an angel speechless was quite satisfying.

It was around midnight in north east America and the child was dying. Raven haired Lila was a strong vessel, but the sickness was winning, meaning she would soon be gone. It was a perfect opportunity for Narcariel, she could pretend to be a human child in this girls body, furthermore she's observed that young human behaviour is much less questioned and much more often excused.

Right after the child was considered clinically dead Narcariel would leave the hospital the vessel and explore. Although it was wrong of her to take the body from the family who would now have nothing to bury, it still was one of the best case scenarios when it comes to possessing vessels for longer periods of time. It was painful for a human to be a vessel, but Lila was so near death that Narcariel should easily keep her asleep as she walks in her body. Painless extended sleep.

Narcariel caused the machines to show a flatline about 30 minutes before Lila's death, to give the parents a chance to say goodbye before the body mysteriously disappeared.

Of course angels needed consent, and 5 year old Lila gave her permission and the blue angel grace flowed into her body. Then Narcariel, as a small child, was standing in a completely different part of the country.

Sparkling grey eyes inspected the roads and sunshine reflected off her black pigtails that flowed as a car passed by. The area had small buildings and shops surrounding her, with people walking by, too busy to notice anything around them. Now she needed to find... what was his name... Miles. Yes, Miles. She was going to go and find Miles.

"Narcariel." The angel from before was standing next to her in an adult man's vessel.

She was about to defend herself when she realised that Raziel was definitely not meant to be on Earth either, and her words fell short. "I came to remind you to ward yourself from angels and demons, what you're doing here... I do not fully understand, but I can only hope this will bring the fulfilment that you seek. Although the second that heaven needs you, you come back." 

Narcariel nodded slowly, the wavering loyalty to heaven was better left unspoken.

"I have to go back, stay safe sister, and do not reveal yourself, it's a danger to you and anyone who knows." Before she could say anything Raziel was gone.

"Thank you." She whispered.

She then looked down at her hospital gown and noticed the lack of hospital gowns around her. A store with children's clothing on display caught her eye, she knew she needed to fit in. And so with a very focused look that seemed unnatural for a 5 year old, she entered the store. Unsure how it really worked with humans, she did what the others seemed to be doing. Which for her meant taking what she saw on the display, and when the shopkeeper asked why she's undressing the mannequin she ran out of the store holding the clothes and the second she was out of sight she teleported to somewhere else.

This left another 5 year old boy at said store very impressed.