Chapter 15

"Father, I'm going over to Leanne's house for a while. I will be back in time for dinner," said Drake as he closed the front door behind him. His father sat somewhat dumbfounded at the table, unsure of what just happened.

"Okay, son," he whispered to the closed door.

Truth peeked her head into the main room. He looked at her with a shrug and she pulled her head back into Drake's room. Now to keep her mind occupied and not dwell on them...

Drake eased himself onto Leanne's bed, noting how much more comfortable it was than his, and looked over to Leanne, who glanced anxiously at him. Why did she request they talk in her room of all places? Unless she had an ulterior motive... He soon found out that she did as the young woman leaped on him, planting a passionate kiss on his dry lips and knocking him down onto the bed. Leanne then grabbed his tunic and yanked it off over his head. Drake enjoyed her enthusiasm and let her proceed to do what she liked. If things got out of hand, he would stop her... Maybe.

*****

Truth, meanwhile, aimlessly wandered the streets of Eldor for several hours, watching the people. She admired the mothers juggling large baskets of food in one arm and a wailing child in the other; smiled at the dirty children playing in the street with equally as dirty dogs; dared a glance into the busy taverns where men were practically bathing in ale and laughing at anything remotely funny, while miraculously swapping relevant gossip. It made her think about other people's lives than worry about her own. Many of these people she had seen before from her perch among the clouds - it was a completely different experience walking here among them. She came to appreciate and understand them more than she ever thought she could. Truth was a part of them. But no, she could never really be one of them. For as long as she was untouchable, unlike the life around her which was prone to sickness and eventually death, she was forever different. The thought dampened her mood and she began to trudge home. 

Making her way back to the outskirts of the city, she passed the same noisy tavern, its lights flooded onto the street in the haze of late evening. A pair of older men stood outside, laughing at a joke from within, their mugs sloshing over onto their boots. They stopped abruptly as Truth passed by. The apparently older of the two nudged the other and leaned over to whisper something not so quietly. "I 'ear she be the one who poisoned Miss Leanne. Mhm." He stared skeptically at the woman with black wavy hair.

"Aye, 'tis what I be hearin' too. But she's too purdy to do an awful thing like that..." Truth felt his awed gaze on her back.

"It be the purdy one's you haveta look out for! I bet she ain't as nice as she looks..."

Truth shuddered and quickened her pace. Stupid, ignorant old men. I didn't do it and I have no idea who did, but I applaud him for it. The wench needed a slap back into reality. It was almost completely dark when she was only a few streets away from Drake's home. A cold breeze kicked up and chilled her to the bone. She had forgotten that the first day of winter was not too long ago, which meant Christmas was swiftly approaching...

The angel stopped in her tracks as she could make out the frantic whinny of a horse and a rickety wagon hurtling down a nearby street. Her stomach lurched as she heard the ensuing crash. Following the sound of the struggling horse, she navigated through the wood houses until she arrived at the bloody scene. The poor creature lay on its side tangled in its reins. Lifting up her dress, Truth took out the knife strapped to her thigh and cut the confused animal loose, which promptly stood up and began limping away as fast as it could. Take a better look at the wrecked wagon, she found the driver slumped over the only side that was still somewhat intact. She pulled him over the edge to lay flat on the ground, but he was dead. Truth glanced around her, but there was no one in sight. Surely she wasn't the only one that heard it?

She was just about to call out to the cool night air when she heard a grunt and the sound of wood shifting, soon accompanied by the soft pitter-patter of rain. It rains when God is sad... Truth rushed over to the sound and began sifting through the splintered wood. A large hand came into view and she tugged on it, but to no avail. Panic gripping her, she heaved off the last plank of wood covering him and with super-human strength, threw it aside. Drake's father lay there beneath the broken wagon, only the top half of his body visible. Through the impeding darkness, she watched as hot scarlet blood seeped out from under the wood. Bringing her attention back to his face, she saw it was now extremely pale and staring up at her in disbelief. "I've never seen anything like it... before," he whispered. "Your wings... So beautiful..."

Truth froze and her eyes darted behind her to her tattered and lifeless wings that no human was supposed to be able to see. How? Ah, but of course... 

His face twisted in pain and he closed his eyes. "I should have known. I knew you were different..." She held her hand over his eyes to shield them from the rain as he slowly opened them for the last time. "Why are you here?"

"I did not come here of my own free will. I have fallen. I am nothing..."

"You... Have a good heart." The man coughed, causing blood to trickle down from his mouth. His eyes fluttered closed and he gripped Truth's hand harder. "Take me to heaven, O Angel. I know my children are in good hands..." 

She wasn't sure what to do - she couldn't take him to heaven. If she knew the way, she would have gone back long ago, as much as she scorned her former life. Truth was lost and alone. Her gaze softened at the dying man. "You must go on your own. Right now my place is here. Rose is waiting for you."

He smiled and was still. His hand fell limply from hers and onto his blood-soaked chest. Truth felt her eyes swelling with tears, but quickly pulled them back as horse came galloping toward her. Standing, she faced the rider with as much composure as she could muster. Soon, Edmund slowed his horse at the scene. The white stallion paced anxiously in place. The prince merely looked down at Drake's father, almost unsurprised by what he saw. "Is he dead?"

"Yes... He was gone when I arrived here. I suppose he was hit by the wagon-"

"Yes, what a shame. I will send for someone to clean this up. In the meantime, you should notify the family." Truth noted the formality and distance in his voice and inwardly smiled. It's as if he was expecting this.

"Of course," she replied, watching as Edmund so elegantly trotted back to his castle, the stallion reflecting the moon's light like water. Truth then ran toward the Hawthorne's humble home. She had to get away. No one would be there. She could wallow in her sorrow without interruption. Upon arriving there, however, she found the memories to be overwhelming. Now both of them are gone... The emotions she had held back now openly tore at her heart and eyes. Slumping back against the door, she slid down it onto the ground, pulling her legs against her chest and burying her face in her knees. That's when the tears came - hot, unashamed, unstoppable. The man's last words still rang in her head, his face the only thing behind her eyelids. Truth remembered hearing her last words, uttered in much the same manner. Why did it have to happen again? She was no angel of death. Then why did it surround her? 

The part that bothered her the most, though, was the fact that she had yet to tell Drake. It was her duty, she had been there... But how? Her presence brought him enough grief. Truth hadn't even tried to save his father, though she knew it was beyond her limited powers. But he was ready to leave - afraid, but comforted by the thought of seeing his beloved wife again. Truth had never seen two people so in love as them. She had always secretly wished for the same kind of relationship. She knew Rose would be excited to see him, too, thought she would expect Truth to watch over Drake and Cassie more carefully. That's Hope's job, she thought, but knew it was hers as well. 

The fallen angel was now the undoubted guardian angel of Drake. Drake didn't want her help, but now she had to give it.

Truth wondered if it would be easier down on Earth, or harder.

Well, she would find out.