The Forsaken(48)

“Ah, it is good to see you again, my son. I would ask how goes your problem with your fiancée, but by the look on your face, things are not great. Am I correct?”

“It’s complicated.”

“They usually are,” answered the rabbi, ushering Nat inside with a smile and warm pat on the back.

Small talk had never been Nat’s strong suit, so he launched into what he needed.

“You are asking for me to lock you in a room with no food or water and not to worry.” The rabbi paused. Nat knew he wasn’t done. “You test me. This is some joke, right?”

Nathanael stood his ground and shook his head. “Sadly, no. I need privacy. Uninterrupted. If after seven days I do not emerge, I grant you permission to enter.”

“Enter and find what? You dead on my floor? That’s just what I need to deal with,” taunted the rabbi, looking clearly worried.

Nat wasn’t immune to serving penance, having recently completed a week of diligence. His sore back a reminder of the daunting task he set upon. What choice do I have? “Fear naught, I have suffered far longer. A week for me is nothing.”

The rabbi struggled to find the proper words but none came.

“There you go with that funny talk again,” said the rabbi, attempting to lighten the mood. Nathanael could tell when the rabbi looked at him he saw something more than his human facade. “My son, your faith is strong. Let it guide you. Come, I will show you to a special room. It is not much, but you will have all the privacy you seek. But hear me, I will come charging in like a bull if I have not heard from you on the seventh day, make no mistake.”

Nat chuckled. This human does the good of mankind. Maybe they are not all that bad. Nat was reminded how transformed his Seraphim thinking had become in such a short span of time on Earth. No wonder Isabella acts the way she does. Assimilating means change, and in our heavenly realm, most change equates a negative reaction.

“Here, take this key. The door sticks so you might have to give it a good kick. I’m not walking down those steps. Body’s not as young as yours. Now, can I get you anything?”

“No. Thank you. I am honored by your kindness.” Nat bowed, feeling as if he faced a Seraphim elder.

The rabbi touched his shoulder. “I am not sure where you come from, and for now, think it best I do not know. I trust you. There is something pure in you and I shall take comfort in that. I shall leave you now. Lock the door behind you.” He winked. “I have a spare key.”

With that, the rabbi squeezed his shoulder, turned, and left. He made his way down the sharp-angled steps. Nat used the key and then proceeded to kick the door open. Inside he made sure to lock himself in. He eyed the cold concrete floor and grimaced. Nat removed the purple spiritual candle Meredith had handed to him on his way out of Isabella’s building from his jacket pocket. He blew on the candle. His angel breath instantly caused it to flame. After placing the candle in the middle of the floor, he disrobed, setting his mind to his task. Shivering instantly as the damp basement seeped into his bones, Nathanael prayed for guidance. Prostrating himself, he settled his bones in for a long wait.

*

“I was talking to myself,” said Shea to Izzy.

Izzy didn’t buy it, but she didn’t want to upset Shea when she sought to comfort her. “I told Meredith a sister was to be with you at all times.”

Shea scoffed. Calmly, she slipped on a pair of jeans and a baggie hoodie. “Really, Izzy, I am fine. I don’t require a babysitter. You worry for no reason.”

Izzy let the silence thicken the air, her eyes not once leaving Shea. “Great. Then you’ll honor swear to me you will not attempt to end your life.”

She smiled. “I honor swear I won’t.”

That was too easy. Izzy’s eyes narrowed as she looked at the Cherub. Shea seemed so tiny compared to the rest of them, but she always had been so. Tiny in height and small in frame, Shea had the most powerful heavenly Cherub voice Izzy had heard. She stood exactly five feet and was the smallest Cherub on record. A distinction she didn’t like. That had been part of the reason Shea had been eager to take up arms with the rest of them. She wanted to prove her own worth. Izzy understood her motivation.

“Did they already eat?”

“What?” asked Izzy.

“I am hungry. Did my other sisters eat?”

Izzy smiled, feeling foolish. “Shea let us go together to find some food. I heard Nayla made one of her Mexican experiments again and I’m sure it will be delicious.” Izzy still wasn’t buying Shea’s quick escape, but the thought of eating one of Nayla’s salivating concoctions was irresistible.

Izzy’s stomach grumbled. She wondered why they weren’t all fat. Nayla had taken on the role as chef and none had dissuaded her. She worked daily miracles in the small kitchen.

*

Izzy grew anxious with the onslaught of each day and night. Time was her new enemy. Four days had passed since Nathanael left. She tried hard not to picture him lying naked in prayer, failing miserably. Izzy also didn’t like worrying about his welfare. As stubborn as her, he’d starve in his quest to reach the Mistress before giving in.

For the first time in a long while, Izzy did not know what to do. Always she took command. She’d been the one to find all her exiled sisters. The one to work her voice to ensure they had food and a roof over their heads. The one who used her smarts to save money, to allow Michael to become her business partner while securing a building to house all of them. She sought to create harmony, to shelter them as much as she could from the wicked lure of the sins of man. She might not always be successful but she’d try with all her might to keep them safe. Now, since Nathanael had landed on their turf, things had changed. Izzy realized she had slowly slipped back to the Cherub tradition of letting the Seraphim lead the way.