Time

  Malak and Angel took long walks to different places of Angel’s choosing. She showed him her garden. She showed him to her favorite reading spot beneath a willow towards the edge of her property. She showed him her favorite place to fish, and he was surprised to learn that this was one of her interests but he was more than happy to spend the day fishing with her. She showed him the fallen tree she used to use as a balancing beam back when she was into ballet and even demonstrated her ‘balancing skills’ for him. She took him a good distance back to a small cave in a hillside that she had explored when she was a child. They had entered said cave and hurried out after seeing legions of bats dwelling inside. The two built and painted a birdhouse together and placed it near the feeder she had already placed outside quite some time before. They went out to eat at a local diner and enjoyed a meal, despite all of the awkward stares/attention. 

Malak was enjoying himself. This ‘normal life’ was so different from what he was used to and he was happy with it by Angel’s side. Angel was enjoying herself as well. Sharing her favorite things was a new experience and surprisingly pleasant. She figured everything was just better in good company and Malak was certainly good company.

Today, however, the weather prevented outside activities. Thunder roared, lightening flashed and rain poured down as though the clouds were attempting to wash away the world. 

The two finished breakfast then simply sat side by side, chairs pulled up to the bay window in the dining room, and watched the storm progress. Music played softly in the background. 

~ I don’t quite know ~ How to say ~ How I feel ~ 

  Angel lost herself in thought. She remembered a storm like this happening when she was very young. The thunder had scared her, so her mother pulled up two chairs just like this and sat with her. She held her hand and smiled. Angel remembered feeling silly for having been afraid but she didn’t let go of her mother’s hand.

The storm could not hold Malak’s attention. His eyes drifted from the window and found themselves drawn to the beautiful visage beside him. There was something about her that made his heart beat faster whenever she was this close to him. He imagined now that his heart wasn’t beating fast but trembling.

Angel turned to see Malak’s deep blue eyes were upon her. Her heart picked up speed and blood rushed to her cheeks, coloring them a pretty shade of red. Malak was aware that she had turned to face him but could not break his gaze. She was more beautiful in this light than she had ever been before. 

  The phone rang and they both jumped up and headed for it. Angel answered and handed it off to Malak. It was his father calling.

The storm raged on throughout the day without pause and Angel decided to use this time to do housework after Malak left to meet up with his father somewhere, despite the terrible weather conditions. Apparently it was his father’s only day off. 

  Malak and Caleb met up a little down the road from Angel’s house then Caleb drove them a good distance down the road and pulled over. With the engine shut off, the rain almost sounded like hail on the roof of the car and this was the only sound for a moment. 

Finally, Caleb broke the silence. “Angel is one of us but we cannot waste time simply standing by and hoping she’ll turn.”

“What do you suggest we do?”

“Introduce her to the idea of what we are and go from there. She’ll willingly join our cause or she won’t believe but will be left with contact information. Then again, there’s always the chance she’ll be overwhelmed by the tear in everything she believed to be and lose sanity.”

“And I’m assuming I’m the one to introduce the idea... If she reacts poorly, she won’t be pushed, right?”

“Of course not. But if she reacts poorly, we will have no further reason to monitor her. I’m aware of how attached you have become, you can hide nothing from me. So any chance you may have at spending any decent length of time with her depends on this.”

“Who s-“

“Don’t even attempt to argue, pup.”

“I understand.” His expression blank, Malak opened the car door and stepped into the downpour.

With the power knocked out by the storm, Angel could do little more around the house so she huddled up in soft blankets in the middle of her queen sized bed and closed her eyes in hopes sleep would take her but was instead flooded by memories. The memory of her mother earlier that day returned with more like it. 

Her mother had always been a kind woman but a strong one. Her hair was bright red, her eyes bright green. She used to wear lovely sundresses that hugged her curves beautifully around the house, no matter the time of year. Angel always thought her mother looked like an angel.

The candle burning on the nightstand by Angel’s bed filled the air with the scent of a warm blueberry pie and brought back the memories of learning to bake by her mother’s side. She hugged the blankets closer. 

Lightening flashed and her mind pictured it as the flash of a camera. Her mother was always taking pictures. In fact, she was so into photography that she had converted a portion of the basement into a dark room. Angel could feel a knot forming in her throat.

Thunder crashed overhead and she remembered sitting in the living room watching movies with her mother on rainy days such as this. The sound system was amazing and explosions felt like they actually shook the room. Tears welled in her eyes.

Angel began to cry and this brought to mind the day she woke to find her mother had not come home. Tears streamed down her face and she remembered the days that followed. She had never been so alone. Her heart now felt as it did at that time; heavy with sorrow, devoid of hope… 

  Malak sorted through his thoughts as he ran freely through the forest. He was unsure of how much time had passed but was more concerned by the fact that he had thoughtlessly shifted and was now without clothing. He decided it best to keep his form until he arrived at the back entrance of the house and did so cautiously.

The power was out and he could not have been happier to learn this. He shifted to his human form and crept inside as quietly as he could. Naked and soaked practically to the bone, he hurried to his room to find clothing. He pulled on a soft pair of navy blue pajama pants that Angel had thoughtfully bought for him one day the previous week. He was sifting through drawers, searching for a comfortable shirt, when he became aware of a sound coming from Angel’s room. Sobbing. She was crying. 

Malak didn’t even bother closing the drawer. He rushed to her room then stopped at the door, unsure of how to proceed. He finally decided to simply walk in and position himself beside her. She kept her head down in her arms, not even aware of his presence. Malak sat for a few moments then brought his legs up onto the bed and grabbed hold of Angel, pulling her against his chest and holding her tightly. 

Angel’s heart jumped as his arms closed around her. Then she leaned against him, her breathing calming and the tears slowing. She was not alone. And nothing was hopeless. The steady beating of his heart was soothing. She adjusted to where she was directly above it. A few moments later, she began to sing. 

~ Calm thyself, child ~ Break away from the broken ~ There is plenty of time ~ To speak words still unspoken ~ For the souls of the pure ~ Gather in Mara’s Heart ~ Oh the souls of the pure ~ Are never truly apart ~ 

Malak felt as though his heart stopped for a moment. This was a song often sung by werewolves to their offspring. His mother used to sing it to him every night, right up until the night she was killed. He continued the verse.

~ Remember, dear child ~ There is nothing to fear ~ For as long as time flows ~ I will always be here ~

It wasn’t until the end of the verse that Malak realized he had sung most of the verse alone, as Angel had fallen asleep in his arms. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to sleep as well.