House of the Angels

The residents of Angel Manor were unusually surprised by how well Grey was adjusting to his new life in the house. Whenever he was asked to do something he did it without question and never spoke out of turn to anyone who didn’t speak to him first. Everyone, including the little ones seemed to take a liking to him. Never did Grey Beulieu feel more at home than he did at Angel Manor.

“Alright my lil’ chickadees it’s time for me to see if you did your homework.” Sybilla announced to the residents who had gathered in her room. “Thrones and Dominions, what are their main duties?”

Kyle’s hand was the first one up. “To oversee the duties and tasks of the lesser angels.”

“Excellent.” Sybilla replied. “Next question, in Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy, the first circle of heaven is which planet? Rachel you answer this time.”

“It’s the moon.” Rachel responded. “On Dante’s journey through heaven Virgil leaves him under the guidance of Beatrice who shows him the first circle of heaven.”

“Good, good.” Sybilla said feeling very pleased that Rachel had actually done her studying. “I think I’ve drilled all of you enough. Hour is up and we will meet again next week.”

Each of the residents rose from their place on the floor or in the window seat and left Sybilla’s room. It was the last day of June and none of them wanted to waste the day away. The little ones immediately gathered up a backpack and headed down to the school playground for a basketball game, several of the girls went down to the town pool but the rest stuck close to the house just in case unforeseen trouble should arise.

“You’re gonna love the swimming hole.” Kyle told Grey as he dumped a bucket of ice from the freezer into a small red cooler. “Just be careful because the catfish like to bite.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a catfish before.” Grey told him.

Kyle snorted, trying to stifle a laugh. “I wouldn’t be surprised.” He chuckled. “I take it Sally kept you locked up all day in that hothouse and never let you out?”

“Yeah.” Grey replied flatly. “She didn’t want people walking around in broad daylight.”

“Probably because she figured you’d melt.” Andy remarked as he filled the cooler with freshly made sandwiches.

Everyone laughed and joked as they packed a few things for a trip to the swimming hole. Grey, who had never really been swimming before, was eager to see what it was like. He imagined it would be like any other part of the river, brown and muddy with the swirling murk stirred up from the bottom of the riverbed and maybe a few alligator hatchlings lurking around on the mucky banks.

“Ya’ll know the rules right?” Sybilla said as she stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips.

“Got it.” Replied the group.

“And remember,” Sybilla informed them. “First sign of trouble ya’ll git your butts home.”

“Got it Sybilla.” Kyle answered.

“Alright ya’ll git on outta here now.” Sybilla said with a small wave of her hand. “Enjoy the swim.”

Kyle, Andy, Eddie, Grey, Eve, Miriam, Dylan and everyone else who was joining them gathered up their things and headed out the door into the blistering heat. St. Augustine Street was as busy as ever with people preparing for the Fourth of July celebrations that would soon take place while the fire hydrants had been opened to cool people down.

The group headed down to the fishing docks where fishermen and women were coming back with fresh catches while others were busy removing their boats to take them up to Lake Pontchartrain for the weekend. When they found the boats they were looking for, everyone climbed aboard, started up the motors and headed off to the swimming hole.

The breeze that came with speeding along the murky river was a welcome change from the thick, heavy heat that clung to the group like a bad stench. Eddie tuned the radio to one of the local stations, blasting a Stevie Ray Vaughan tune as they rolled along. Grey held his hand out and skimmed the surface of the water which sent up a cool mist onto his face.

“How much further?!” Grey asked, raising his voice above the blasting radio and hum of the motor.

“Not much furthah!” Eddie replied.

They came around the hairpin corner, passing other fishermen and river natives who waved to them before disappearing into the distance. At last they reached the swimming hole where Andy and Eddie came time and again to go handgrabbing for catfish. The boats slowed to a sudden stop and once the motors had died down, Eddie and Andy dropped anchor close to the riverbank, stripped off their shirts and jumped right into the warm river.

“Holeh Moleh that does feel good.” Eddie breathed when he shot back up to the surface.

Kyle jumped right in after them, splashing everyone close by as soon as he hit the water and bobbed right back up again. Dylan removed his black t-shirt and followed Kyle’s lead. Eve and Miriam jumped right in together with Rachel right behind them but Grey held back in the boat. He wasn’t sure if there was something lurking around that could jump up and bite him.

“Grey c’mon!” Kyle called before slipping under the surface and back up again.

“Nothing’s gonna bite you.” Miriam assured him.

Grey wasn’t so sure, but what could it hurt? The heat was sweltering and growing worse as the afternoon wore on. He took off his red and black flannel shirt, tossed it aside, shut his eyes and jumped right in. He sank to the sandy bottom of the river and shoved himself back up again, sputtering and gasping for breath but the sensation of the warm water swallowing and spitting him back up again was like heaven.

The day was spent almost entirely on the water, jumping off the rocks and back in again, catching rays or getting involved in one of Eddie and Andy’s so called “dunk wars” which ended in one of two ways…..one trying to get water out of their nose or the other getting pushed off the rocks.

“How did you guys find this place?” Grey asked, swimming up to the rock where Miriam was sunning herself.

“People come out here to party all the time.” She answered. “All you have to do is follow the loud music and you’ll know.”

“Or you could just follow the trail of floating beer cans.” Dylan laughed before diving into the water.

“Oh shit!” Eddie declared excitedly. “This is my jam!”

He turned the volume knob up on the radio and instantly everyone knew the tune…..everyone except for Grey.

“I don’t think I know this one.” He said.

Eddie and Andy’s jaws fell open with shock. “You’ve never listened to Jaime Commons?” Andy asked him.

Grey shook his head. “Sally never allowed it.” He explained sadly. “She said if she ever caught me with a cassette tape or any other music than the gloomy stuff she listened to she’d have me flogged.”

“Blasphemy.” Eddie spat. “I been listenin’ to’em since he played down at Beauman’s two summahs ago. ‘Rumble and Sway’, one that’s playin nah is one o’ the best.”

The group, each with a different voice, sang along to “Rumble and Sway”, their voices echoing across the swimming hole like the heavenly choir. Grey joined right in even if he hadn’t learned all the words but there was something about the song that put all of his troubles and worries behind him.

Sunset came soon enough with Andy announcing that it was time to load up in the boats and head for home. The angels headed back the way they came in a fresh set of dry clothes and the sky above tinged reddish pink from the dying sunlight. When they reached the dock, Eddie and Andy tied the boats off, gathered their belongings and began to head for home.

“I’d hate to see how crowded it’s gonna get during Mardi Gras.” Dylan remarked as the group passed along the sparse crowd. “Sybilla’s gonna hate going out at night.”

“She hates going out at night period.” Miriam said casually. “It’s nothing new.”

Kyle came to an abrupt stop beneath the balcony of one of the bayou’s many creole townhouses. He was soon filled with the dread of not one, but several lurking shadows that wove in and out of the alleys, up and over buildings and along the sidewalks until he sensed how dangerously close they were.

“Whaddaya see?” Eddie asked quietly.

Kyle’s eyes darted all over the place, from the ground to the rooftops. “They’re back.” Kyle said in a low, stony voice. “And they’re pissed.”

No one needed to say anything more. Grey was petrified to know who it was they all spoke of.

A mass of black mist dove from the rooftops and down to the streets below where it swirled about until six humans took form, many of whom were dressed in black. People on the streets screamed and hurried out of the way but the angels didn’t flinch. They stood dead still as Hillary Caulfield menacingly approached them with a nasty scowl plastered across her face.

“Well look who decided to adopt our little traitor.” She snided. “You really though you could escape us didn’t you Grey? Well now you’re gonna pay for your sorry mistake.”

She drew a jagged, bony blade from her side and was about to make a swing at Grey but Kyle caught her before Hillary could deliver the blow. “Keep away from him you brat!” he growled.

“Think you can protect him don’t you lizard eyes?” Hillary teased.

“Shut your yam!” Kyle demanded, his wrist shaking as his arms strained to keep a grip on hers. “If you leave us alone we’ll probably let you live.”

“Oh that’s not gonna happen.” Mallory chortled poisonously. “You have something we want and we’re not gonna stop until we get it. Even if it means we have to kill you…..every single one of you.”

Kyle sent his knee flying right into Hillary’s side before she yelped and dropped to her knees. “RUN!!” Kyle ordered.

The angels ran off towards the old St. Mary’s Cemetery with Hillary and the other demons hot at their heels and the pavement passing rapidly beneath their feet with every footfall. They rushed through the threshold of the cemetery and slammed the rattling old gate shut but it did nothing to keep out Hillary and her demons.

The two groups collided in a violent fistfight, roiling and wrestling with one another. Stone and rubble flew up from the ground when Kyle flipped Kane onto his back and landed on him with his full weight crushing the breath out of the demon. Rachel spun on the heel of her foot and sent her other one crashing right into Mallory’s jaw, knocking her off the top of a mausoleum. Eve and Miriam fought hand to hand with Heloise, tackling her to the ground and pinning her there. Andy went after Damon, slamming him into the wall of a tomb before Damon in turn wrestled him to the ground.

Dylan fought like an animal with Hillary, slashing and hitting for dear life, dodging every swing that came his way before she scratched part of his face and neck with her razor sharp claws. He cried out as the burning pain tore through him with a hellish fury that made Hillary cackle with satisfaction.

“Time’s up you little worm.” Hillary hissed as she wrapped her disgusting hand around his throat, slamming him right into the wall of one of the tombs. “Now it’s time for me to claim my prize.”

Hillary’s eyes suddenly changed from steely green to beady black, even the whites. Fangs took the place of her canines and her face went ashen pale, her ears turning sharp and pointed. Dylan clenched his eyes shut, gritted his teeth and prepared for the worst.

An ear bleeding scream suddenly ripped through the graveyard and drove the demons mad. Even the angels couldn’t stand such a terrible, screeching wail but it was no use trying to drown out the noise. Hillary released Dylan and took off with the rest of her cohorts, flying away in a black mist back to their unholy domain.

A black, hooded figure leapt from the mausoleum and crouched beside Dylan but when the figure reached a hand out to touch his wounds he swatted its hand away.

“Who the hell are you and what do you want?!” he demanded as the burning pain shot through him again. “Get the hell out of here!”

“Calm down.” A woman’s voice demanded patiently. “You’re badly scratched and I need to have a look.”

The hooded woman helped Dylan to his feet and leaned him against the wall of the tomb. She felt the back of his head to be sure there was no blood or any injuries much to the relief of both.

“You saved our lives.” Dylan told her. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

“No need.” The woman replied. “I was only doing what was right.”

Dylan looked at her with an odd curiosity. Her voice sounded oddly familiar, as though he had heard it in a distant memory. “Who are you?” he asked.

“They call me ‘woman of the hills’.” The woman explained. “I go by many names, but I doubt you will know any of them.”

“Tell me please.” Dylan pleaded.

“I go by the name of Erin.” The woman said. “But those who know my name have called me ‘Erin of the hills’ as well.”

The woman drew back her hood to reveal her fair face. Her amber brown eyes were outlined in thick black lines of charcoal while waves of her rust red hair cascaded down her slender shoulders. Dylan gasped and clamped a hand over his gaping mouth when he looked upon the woman’s beautiful face.

“Mom?” he said breathlessly.

“Aye mo mhac.” The woman replied.

Dylan drew Erin into his arms and nearly squeezed the life from her. Hot tears of joy fell from his eyes onto Erin’s shoulder. “You’re alive!” he said in disbelief.

“All these years my lucky one.” She answered. “All these years.”

“Dylan!” Kyle shouted from around the corner. “You ok?”

“I’m fine.” Dylan answered, trying to calm his racing heart.

Miriam, Kyle, Eve and the rest of them peered around the corner moments later but held still when they saw Erin. Rachel was enthralled but afraid as she stood in the presence of this woman who had just saved their lives.

“Who is she?” Kyle wondered.

“This is my mom.” Dylan answered proudly.

Hushed whispers fell over the angels. None of them had ever known their parents let alone seen them before. A few were afraid to approach Erin out of fear that she would scream again.

“Is Dad still around?” Dylan asked.

Before Erin could give an answer a brilliantly winged figure landed in the cemetery with a loud *CRACK!* beneath his feet. He was slender but well built like Erin with a mass of dark hair that was starting to go grey and brown eyes just like Dylan’s. His wings stretched out before disappearing once more into his back, turning into a large black tattoo just like the ones the rest of the angels had.

“Dylan.” He greeted.

“Holy shit.” Andy gaped. “He’s a…”

“Archangel.” Kyle cut in.

“Are they gone Ramiel?” Erin asked.

“All of them are gone.” Ramiel answered. “Chased’em all the way back to their hiding place.”

“Good,” Erin said. “Maybe they’ll stay there.”

They all left the graveyard behind and began to head for home which the angels reached in no time at all. The lights were still on and the windows open but the garden gate had been locked.

“Where in the fresh hell have all ya’ll been?!” Sybilla demanded as she swung open the front door.

“Sybilla,” Kyle said calmly. “We can explain this one.”

“Explain what?” she interrogated. “Annie and I thought you was dead!”

No one knew what to say. Not one single word was spoken amongst the other residents of Angel Manor. They all stood there, crestfallen and sheepish with shame.

“I’m afraid it’s our fault Sybilla.” Erin piped in. “I should’ve sent out a signal when I saw there was danger.”

Sybilla’s anger soon gave way to shock and surprise. “Well I’ll be slapped three times and sent straight to Hades!” she cried out.

“And you almost were too.” Erin laughed.

Sybilla hugged her old friend as though it had been an eternity since they had seen each other. She led everyone in the house, seemingly forgetting her anger for that brief moment. Anne rushed down the stairs moments later to see what all the confusion had been about.

“Erin?” she blurted out. “Ramiel? How’d you two get back here?”

“Let’s just say we found our way back with some help.” Erin chuckled.

“Well then welcome back.” Anne said joyously as she hugged Erin.

“You never told me your mom was a banshee.” Rachel said to Dylan as they lay close together in Dylan’s bed.

“Why does she scare you?” he teased.

“No.” laughed Rachel. “I just haven’t met a banshee before.”

“Well now you have.” Dylan said, lacing his fingers together with Rachel’s.

Dylan’s odd parentage was still a bit of a shock to Rachel, but then again she had seen odder. After all, angels and humans had had a deeply rutted connection for centuries.

“How did they meet?” she asked as Dylan stroked her pale golden hair.

Dylan couldn’t remember every detail of his parents. That was too long before his time. He racked his brain for every detail his mother, Sybilla, Anne or his father had ever told him until he could finally tell Rachel.

“My mother lived in Knock with her eight sisters, all born from death itself.” Dylan explained. “When they got older it was their job to warn families of someone’s death by screeching in the middle of the night.”

“Is that why you…..?”

Dylan nodded. “One day mom was wandering around the hills alone.” he continued. “I don’t know much else but my guess was that something crawled out of its grave and attacked her.”

“Did she ever say what it was?” Rachel asked again.

“I think she said it was a vampire or something.” Dylan shrugged. “All I know was that it was powerful enough for an archangel to make his way down to earth.”

“Let me guess.” Rachel giggled. “That archangel was your dad.”

“Yep.” Dylan answered. “After a while the two of them got to a point where they wouldn’t leave each other. Dad was given permission to bring her back home so he could protect her.”

“How did they wind up here though?” Rachel wondered.

Dylan smirked, trying to hide the redness in his cheeks. “Snuck aboard some cargo ship I guess.” He chuckled. “They never told me how they wound up here. But once they were here they were perfectly happy. Happier than they had ever been.”

Rachel moved a bit closer to Dylan with her head coming to rest under his chin. “You’re lucky you know.” She murmured. “I never knew who mine were. I knew their names but I didn’t know their faces.”

Dylan knew that Rachel hardly ever spoke about who her parents were. How could she have known them? She had been only a year old when she turned up on the doorstep of Angel Manor and he had only been three. Maybe he was as lucky as Rachel thought. To never remember his own parents’ faces would’ve been torture.

“It’s ok though.” Rachel said quietly. “I always know where they are.”

“Heaven?”

Rachel nodded slowly before settling in and heading off to sleep. Dylan stayed up for several long minutes, contemplating everything that had happened that day until the spell of sleep pulled him in and didn’t let go.