On Wings of Angels
Chapter One
The final “amen” of the evening service was punctuated by a roll of thunder. A storm was coming. Prior William heaved a sigh of relief as the last of the church-goers grabbed their umbrellas and headed towards the door. They filed past him, murmuring their goodbyes as they prepared to brave the storm. When they were all gone, the old prior locked the great oak doors and sunk into one of the pews, overcome with exhaustion. I’m getting too old for this, he thought to himself. Church attendance was at an all time low and William had become bored with preaching to the small, unmotivated crowds that still attended. What we need is a miracle, he thought, something to inspire everyone again. Including me. Prior William had never been a very good preacher. He was the practical, down to earth kind of holy man, and this recent slump had dampened his spirits as well as those of his flock.
William stood slowly, his bones creaking loudly in the empty chapel. He went around the edge of the hall slowly working his way inward, putting out candles and checking for belongings that had been left behind. When he had finished, the chapel was dark, illuminated only by the occasional streak of lightning, casting eerie shadows through the stained glass. William sighed and headed towards the dormitory. Maybe tonight I will get some sleep he mused. Bad dreams and aching bones had been plaguing the prior’s nights. William grunted in pain as one of his knees gave a loud pop. Or not.
*****
Rain pelted the forest outside in huge, round drops. It was spring time in Scotland and the earth was sodden with rain. Wind buffeted the windows of the cloister. Prior William listened to the ruckus of the storm as he finished his evening prayers. He was turning down his bed when he heard someone entering the church. Who is it now, he thought bitterly as he stood and reached for his flashlight. Entering the main hall, William saw a dark figure kneeling before the altar. The candles he had put out only moments before were relit and cast strange flickering shadows over the large, kneeling man. William shinned his light on the figure to get a better look. The man had dark hair that was plastered to his head from the rain. He wore soaking wet black slacks and a long leather duster draped over his broad shoulders. William cleared his throat to get the man’s attention.
“There are no more services tonight, sir, I’m going to have to ask you to come back tomorrow,” he said sternly. William was in no mood to be friendly to this intruder. The man turned his head slowly towards William, revealing a well defined face with high cheek bones.
“I’m sorry father; I didn’t mean to disturb you.” The man had a voice like honey and striking violet eyes that seem to look right through William. It was quite unnerving.
“Then what can I do for you my son?” William tried to be kind as he recovered from his shock. The man slowly stood.
“This is a beautiful chapel you have here, Prior,” he remarked. William stared at him, suddenly realizing just how tall he was. The Prior himself was a large and imposing man despite being nearly sixty, but the stranger stood at least six inches taller than him, making him shift his weight uncomfortably. And he didn’t remember telling the stranger that he was a Prior. He repeated his question a little more sternly.
“Yes, it is beautiful. Is there something I can do for you?”
“You look to be a pious man, Prior, can I trust you with something?” Perhaps this man has a confession to make, thought William. It was typical for the local criminals and drunks to come by for late night confessions. This man wouldn’t dare hurt an old prior in his own church anyway William reasoned with himself. His curiosity was getting the best of him.
“Yes, son, you can trust me.” The stranger’s face softened a bit. He suddenly looked young and confused.
“I am completely and utterly lost,” he said in an exasperated tone. William laughed, glad to relieve the tension that had been building in the room. And here he had been thinking the man was a criminal.
Chapter Two
“So let me get this straight.” Prior William was now sitting at a small wooden table in the back of the dormitory. He sat across from the stranger who was sipping tea from one of the church’s antique cups. “You woke up in the middle of the forest just outside. You have no idea what the date is, not to mention the year, and you don’t remember how you got here.”
“Correct” replied the stranger. Great, thought William, I’ve got a crazy man on my hands. What am I going to do with this guy?
“So what is the date?” asked the man innocently between bites of scone.
“March the 18th, 2006,” sighed William.
William had now been awake for thirty-six consecutive hours and he was not in the mood to baby-sit this buffoon. That is, until he noticed the guy’s ring. It was a simple silver band with a small seal on the top. It was the seal that intrigued him. It depicted a crescent moon surrounded by olive branches. It seemed familiar to William, although he could not determine why.
“May I see your ring?” asked the ageing Prior. The stranger regarded his ring as if he had never seen it before. Then a knowing light dawned upon his face and he looked up.
“My name is Gabriel. I just remembered. And yes you can,” he stated confidently.
“Gabriel. A good name. It means ‘man of god’ if I am not mistaken,” William said as he took the ring. He began to examine it more closely. A few silent minutes ticked by.
Gabriel waited while the prior examined his ring. The old prior was being very kind to him. I must be coming across as insane, Gabriel mused. The prior had listened to his story with a concerned air and offered him food and dry clothing without questioning him at all. Gabriel felt for him. Poor man, having to listen to every nutcase and drunkard who comes in here looking for free food and a bed for the night. Gabriel regarded the old prior affectionately. He had a round face and a big frame with kind, knowing brown eyes hidden beneath bushy, silver eyebrows. He wore only his rough, home spun cassock and old leather sandals on his bare feet. A true holy man, Gabriel thought.
Gabriel’s thoughts turned inward. He was becoming uneasy. He had been telling the truth so far, just omitting a few key details. Should I trust this man? Will he help me? Suddenly Gabriel stood. There’s nothing for it, he though, I might as well tell him the truth. He was tired of lying.
“I have to go. I have imposed on your hospitality long enough.” Gabriel had decided what he needed to do. William, who had been ignoring these remarks, suddenly realized why he had recognized the ring.
“Wait.” William’s mind was reeling as he tried to think of an excuse to stall him. “Who are you?” The prior asked, confused. This ring, thought William, carried the symbol of the archangel Gabriel, the left hand of God. Gabriel smiled at William, but inside he was torn. Telling this man the truth would put him at great risk. But on the other hand, he needed somebody’s help. Anybody’s help.
Gabriel quickly made up his mind.
“I knew there was a reason why I came here,” he stated decisively. “You are supposed to help me. I have to show you something. Are you alone?”
“Yes,” replied William tentatively. This didn’t sound good.
“Please do not be afraid,” said Gabriel, “I’m not going to hurt you.” With that he removed his leather duster in one graceful movement. He wore no shirt underneath it and had a few strange scars on his tanned and finely chiseled body. But that was not why the prior gasped and recoiled in fear, crossing himself and dropping to his knees as he took in the sight before him.
Gabriel stretched his wings in relief. They had been stuffed under his duster all evening. The great wings nearly filled the small dormitory and seemed to suck all the light in the room towards them. They stretched away from his body nearly six feet on ether side. They were the color of a stormy sky.
“Please do not be afraid,” Gabriel repeated. “All I have told you so far is true. Only, I ‘m an angel. Or I used to be. I think I have been banished” Gabriel regarded his wings in surprise. “Odd,” he thought aloud, “my wings have changed colors. They used to be white.”
William was beginning to regain his sanity. He ran a sweaty hand through his thinning silver hair. This cannot be, he thought, terrified. He knew lack of sleep could cause hallucinations, but nothing like this. Then reason started to take hold again. I must trust in God’s plans, William reasoned as he got to his feet. If I am supposed to help him, I will.
“How can I help you?” William asked. Gabriel sighed in relief. William had reacted better than he had expected.
“I need to speak with the Pope.”
This has been seriously edited since the first two reviews, so I hope you like it. Sorry it looks like such a mess but I can't figure out how to indent the paragraphs. There will be more coming soon so let me know what you think!
