I am aware that this is going to be a Christmas story, so my apologies for the dark chapter. This one is going to be better! Jason has a lot to learn about the world and how it works! Bits and pieces of this story were taken from a dear friend who nearly died, and told me things they saw and were told. It is dear to my heart.
Read and Review lovelies!
"The world Above is not that simple." Vincent was pacing the floor, his cloak whirling around him like a wild volcano. "I can not see someone about to suffer tragedy and not help them." His clawed fists were clenched in suppression of the violent emotions that he was feeling inside. It wasn't like him to be this upset.
Catherine sat quietly in the nearby corner, watching the exchange between the two strange men. Jason smiled kindly at the lion-man.
"You have a good heart, Vincent. Who knows, you may be one of us someday. We would be honored."
Vincent stopped pacing, leaning one arm on the wall above his head as he turned his back to the young man, and he bowed his head for a moment. "That I do not know for sure. Let us make our way above, Jason. Do what you must. I will not stop you."
Jason smiled and nodded. "Let us begin the journey then."
The sound of groaning reached their ears as Jason and Vincent crept down the alleyway in darkness. The snow created a slight curtain for their approach. In the glow of the corner lamppost, Jason's face was worried. "Too late," he whispered. "We are too late. Lucifer must not get to her first!"
He stumbled forward on his crutches, nearly falling to the ground as he pulled free of Vincent's supporting arm. Laying crumpled in the snow was an elderly woman, winter coat tattered, scarf that was tied around her hair laying to the side, and bleeding profusely from a gunshot wound, staining the pure snow around them. Jason fell beside her, grimacing at the stabbing pain that shot through his injured knee. A quick glance told him that the dark Lucifer was still no where around. He sighed in obvious relief, focusing his attention on the dying woman before him.
"Peace, daughter of the Almighty," he spoke gently, taking her hand carefully in his own. She jumped, startled at the newcomer's presence, and tears were creeping down her wrinkled face below dim eyes. She grasped Jason's hand as a drowning person might grab a life raft, and clung to it with all of her strength.
Vincent knelt beside the self-proclaimed angel, pressing firm hands on the stricken woman's injuries, in a feeble attempt to stop the bleeding. He could tell it was a useless attempt, but he had to try. Jason glanced sympathetically at the strange lion-man and the glance they shared together finally was one of understanding. Vincent needed to know that he did his part. He was human. Jason would continue on and do his. He was an angel (if that was true!)
"They robbed- robbed me." The elderly lady gasped, a tear running don the side of her face, coming to a rest at her temple. Jason gently wiped it away, patting her cold hand comfortingly.
"I know, I know. Shhh. Just rest now. I will take you to the Father in a moment. It is time for you to go to Him, Mary."
"You mean - I'm going to - die?" She looked into the young man's face with such a sad expression that Vincent's heart began to ache at the knowledge that she would not be with them in a few moments of time. Anger flowed into his heart at the thought that someone could so callously take the life of another, even though she would be okay in the end. He was brought from his reverie by the frail voice speaking again.
"Will I - feel like - I'm weightless? That's - that's - what I have - always been told." She whispered timidly.
Jason shook his head and patted her hand gently. "Rest now. You won't feel a thing. I promise you that."
At the end of his gentle words, a soft light began to settle around them, a light so bright that Vincent could not see neither Jason nor their patient any more.
A tender, elated voice spoke from the alleyway behind them. "Jason, my boy. You lived."
Jason looked up from Mary's face to see his friend Chester walking proudly toward him, radiant and smiling, his wings shimmering behind his broad shoulders. Jason returned the smile gratefully. "Chester, so good to see you again. Are we ready to take her?"
The light dimmed slowly and Chester knelt opposite Jason, laying a gentle hand on the injured lady's forehead. "No, Jason. Not yet. Due to your fall, you must earn your wings through pain and suffering, as all others have done before you. I have come to walk her home for you. The Father will know of your good deed here. Peace, Mary. My name is Chester. I am a guardian angel and I have come to take you to the Father."
Jason was completely dumbfounded. "But Chester - Chester, how long will that take?"
Chester looked up at the sky for a moment, as if lost in thought. "Only a moment, Jason. You know the journey to the Father is short. It is only a single step through the curtain of time and we are there in His presence."
Jason grasped Chester's arm with a desperate hand. "No - no, how long will it take before I can come back! How long must I stay here without communication with the Father?!"
Chester patted his shoulder kindly. "You'll figure it out, Jason. You will know when it is time to come home. and the Father will always be there with you if you look up."
The confusion on the young man's face hurt Chester to the core, but he knew that there was no clearer answer that he could give the younger angel. He could only pat his shoulder one more time in gentle companionship. "Take heart, Jason."
Chester then took the elderly lady's hand in his own and helped her rise to her feet. She was smiling at Chester, but could no longer see Jason. Together they walked away, hand in hand, from the body on the ground and in a bright flash of light, they were gone from sight.
Vincent looked up to see the snowy alleyway was empty except for the still body of the elderly lady and Jason, sitting crumpled on the ground. Vincent reached a supportive hand to him. "Take heart, Jason. If what he says is true, then there is hope you will return."
The fallen angel looked up into the wise eyes of the lion man. "Through pain and suffering, he said, Vincent. What could that possibly mean?"
Vincent helped the young man to his feet, and supported the stumbling young man on his arm to get him to the safety of the dark alleyway. In the distance, sirens could be heard. "It can not be too difficult, Jason. Chester has faith in you. You must too."
"Yeah, well I hope I have as much faith in myself." The young angel trudged painfully next to Vincent for a moment, worried about everything Chester had said. A sudden thought came to him and he grasped Vincent's cloak in his hand. "Vincent!" Jason stumbled and looked back toward the scene of the last few minutes. "Our tracks. They will follow us! Lucifer will know where I am!"
Vincent paused, equally alert at the announcement, and turned back as well. The snow behind them was smooth and untouched.
"Tell them, that, to ease them of their griefs, Their fear of hostile strokes, their aches, losses, Their pangs of love, with other incident throes That nature's fragile vessel doth sustain, In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them."
Vincent's voice spoke quietly, breaking the silence around the quiet group gathered in the library drinking tea.
"Shakespeare." Jason spoke quietly. "If what Chester says is true, then I must learn mercy in it's deepest meaning."
"The nature of man is fragile," Vincent replied, watching the young man in concern. "It appears you must learn their frailty, in order to better understand the compassion you have to show them."
Jason nodded thoughtfully and sipped his tea. "I know, Vincent. I had such a glamorous idea of how life was going to go. I was going to get my wings, guide souls to the Father, and live life above the clouds. But your world - it is so fragile, and broken, and dark. I feel so - sorry for you."
"It is a good world," Catherine replied, gazing into the flickering candles. "Even with it's horrible moments." She shared a gentle glance with Vincent, and he wrapped his hand around hers. "There are still beautiful stories to build from the broken parts."
Jason nodded pensively, chin in his hand. "I begin to see that."
At that moment, a shout echoed down the dark hall that led toward the rest of the Below community.
"Come and face me, Angel!"
Jason sat up straight, all of the color draining from his face. Father and Vincent leapt to their feet, rushing toward the entrance of the library.
"No, no!" Jason exclaimed, moving to grab the cloak of the men as they rushed past. They stopped mid-stride, and glanced at the angel. He swallowed hard, and shook his head.
"He does not ask for you. He is asking for me."
"Who?" Father demanded, in a harsh whisper, as the taunting shout was repeated in the darkness beyond. "Who is that?"
Jason struggled to stand, grasping his crutches, and bit his lip in worry as he pushed past the two men and headed for the entrance.
"It is Lucifer. He has found me."