Protect and Follow
By: MusketeerAdventure
Summary: Reunited – Michael; Alex; Pete and Noma – take time out to regain their footing; re-establish bonds and confirm their faith.
Chapter Sixteen: Respite
Noma shivered slightly and pulled the sleeping bag close around her shoulders. Darkness had come quickly – so camping here in this long forgotten National Park had become their stop for the night. The twisting, turning bristle cone pines, indigenous to this region, reached upward to heaven with strength and purpose of longevity and survival.
The nearby lake – in daylight – a cool blue hue, now at night showed as a large, black well; the stars bouncing their glow from heaven to its depths. It was good they had found this place, hidden beneath the mountains – away from eight balls – who would find it too ponderous a climb; and too cool to rest.
It was a sanctuary of sorts; and they definitely needed the respite. The fight back in Ely had taken a great toll. They were all weary and worn down – their bodies ached to stop – desperate to regain strength and energy.
Noma could see that Michael's presence had brought about a change in Alex – a change for the better. He seemed more confident that things would improve – that now the real journey would begin. Michael seemed to restore something in him – perhaps his sense of purpose.
She looked across the flames of their campfire and was met by the un-emotional stare of deep brown eyes. She shivered again. Michael looked through her as if she wasn't there – or did he look through her – straight into her soul?
Though glad to be reunited with him, to see him safe – she shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny; and brought her attention back to the fire. She wondered what he thought of her now that she was no longer a higher angel, could no longer take flight – was only Noma.
The stranger in chaps – cowboy boots and the gallon hat came to mind. His Cheshire grin and promises assailed her senses. She wondered if Michael could feel her disloyal thoughts beneath her misery.
She poked at the flames before her and felt the heat swell along with pops and crackles of flying embers. She could not sleep – as the image of the stranger would not let her. His words echoed – sweet like honey – "bring him east" – over and over again.
What did it mean – was he a dream – a vision – or a premonition? His touch had seemed real enough and it frightened her.
The phantom flutter of wings at her back made her flinch and she reached behind from beneath her sleeping bag – too late – realized nothing was there. The grief hit her hard; the pain of it bringing tears to her eyes, and his promise of redemption flooded her with hope.
What did this say about her true nature? Would she so easily consider his whispers over Alex's love – his mission – his importance to God?
She dropped her hands to her lap, dejected; remorseful – conflicted. It had not been real. The stranger's words – his promises had to be false. If not false, then to consider them was treacherous on her part. She loved Alex.
His hope for the future – was her hope too. His mission was hers. She had willingly chosen sides; to be Michael's ally, and had given twenty – five years of her life for this moment in time – to assist the chosen one.
She scanned the camp. Alex and Pete had left some time ago to gather more kindling. They would be back soon. She would seek Alex out then – lie close to his side and find her redemption in his arms – nowhere else.
Noma could feel the heat of Michael's stare across the spitting flames. That he knew her – understood that centuries of back story stood between them sent an unsettled tingle down her spine that had nothing to do with the cooling temperature.
She closed her eyes and hoped her face gave nothing away of her uncertainty; her regret at having sacrificed her gift. When she opened her eyes and looked to the heavens, the stars called to her – beckoned her to come and enjoy the space among them.
The stars here were magnificent; the sky pristine – what she would surrender to have just a moment with the wind in her face. She welled up with sorrow – her pain a living, breathing thing. Her heart was broken – she would never have such joy again.
Noma lowered her body to the ground; stretched her limbs and laid her head in the dirt. Though she had lost her gift of flight, she still had Alex. She would soar through him – give him all she had left.
Noma closed her eyes and ignored Michael's intense gaze. If not sleep – she would rest. For the final leg to Vega – she would need all the rest she could get; and would address Michael and his mistrust of her soon enough.
Michael sat across from Noma and considered her carefully. She was in pain – her grief was raw and she was hiding something.
He watched as a myriad of emotions passed over her face and then leech into her body, masked as weariness. Her suffering was hard to ignore – but deep down he could sense her uneasiness – an uneasiness that overrode her pain, her loss and her love for Alex.
He turned from her as she slid to the ground to effectively dismiss any chance he had of questioning her. Tomorrow would be soon enough. Today – he would just revel in being reunited with Alex – with them all.
Finding Alex again, had brought out emotions in him – he had long thought buried. It was good to be near him - his presence a soothing balm. He resolved to never leave his side again. Together, they would decipher what was left of the markings, unlock God's message and restore mankind's humanity. He would make up for lost time; beg for forgiveness – if he must; and work to restore Alex's faith in him.
Michael closed his eyes and retreated into himself – reached out and could sense Alex with Pete out among the trees. The two were laughing as they gathered sticks and it brought a brief sort of joy to his heart that Alex could still find goodness in this barren world.
Earlier, as they had all washed in the nearby lake – blood from their clothes – hands – faces and bodies; he had seen the raw, puckered stitching at Noma's shoulder blades – the molten bruises on Pete's back, chest and torso. And then there were the burn marks along Alex's arms and back – courtesy of Lyrae's madness. They had all suffered greatly in New Delphi; and it was his hope that Gabriel had found a way to exact revenge.
Not only had Lyrae caused his boy pain – but he had forever erased God's word – never to be regained, deciphered or understood. He lifted his face to the sky and pushed back his guilt. The past was the past. Alex had survived and now lived to fight, laugh and love another day.
Side by side with Pete, the First Reborn – Noma the Protector – and he the Archangel would see to it that mankind followed Alex into the light. He would stand by his side until the bitter end.
Michael relaxed his shoulders – breathed deeply, and let the night noises – the chirping crickets; rustling leaves and the ebb and flow of water in the lake, calm his scattered thoughts.
What lay ahead would be hard – difficult beyond imagination – but as other chosen ones before had endured, so would Alex.
Then, there scrambling through the brush – an arm laden with wood was Alex. He walked toward him from the tress – Pete rushing to keep pace. A smile adorned his face; his eyes were bright – his aura – a blue glow that brought him peace, and purpose.
When they came to a stop, beside him stood the boy – who looked on the chosen one with such ardor. Michael knew in this moment that this was the beginning. He could feel the foundation of his faith rise up within his heart. Together they would make it to Vega – bring Lyrae's army low and start a revolution. It would be Alex – he would be the one to bring God back to them all.
Alex dropped his burden and sprawled next to him – his limbs loose; fatigue evident in the way he sighed and rubbed at his temples.
Pete sat close and stoked the flames a fresh. "I'll take first watch", he proclaimed. "Get some rest. I'll wake you if anything happens."
Michael looked to the boy, who gazed back and frowned with a hint of mistrust – but also with tolerance and respect. He would like to learn more of Pete – what it was to be reborn.
"Sounds good", Alex groaned, as he made his way to Noma's side and lay with her – his hand resting at her waist. She burrowed close and let him hold her tight.
Michael closed his eyes once more, and let himself drift deep down into slumber – a slumber that led him inexplicably to Laurel and the dusty streets of Mallory.
Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review and let me know what you think. Reviews are like fuel to help keep me going! Happy New Year!