I could feel the sadness eroding away my insides, but I could also feel myself erupting, like a volcano ready to explode.
I pulled my pillow to my face and screamed.
“Why God? Why did you even allow me to be born into this misery? Why would you give me love, only to steal it away? Do you hate me that much?”
Fate was just as evil and hard as Lucifer.
Agony and torment kept poking their ugly heads in my face, taunting me.
But then Kade’s face, his smile, his hazel eyes which were once filled with so much love and so much life, flashed before me. I wished I could replay it over and over.
“Kade,” I anguished. Every part of my body ached. Intense pain ripped through my chest, puncturing my heart over and over again. My world had never felt so dark or so empty, and could never offer a cure, or a magic potion, for this kind of suffering.
I curled up into a fetal position and let my emotions bleed. Tears soaked my cheeks and my pillow, but the pain only intensified. “Help me,” I cried out in desperation. “Someone help me.”
“Emma,” a voice spoke ever so softly, as if directly into my ear. I could barely hear it over my cries, so I paused. In between my convulsive gasps for breath, I heard it again.
“Emma.”
I glanced up to witness a bright light emitting from my closet, illuminating the whole frame. It was as if I was experiencing déjà vu.
Was this real, or was I dreaming?
Then, even through my very stuffy nose, I could smell a familiar sweet scent which wrapped the room in a warm tranquility.
My eyelids were swollen, but remained frozen on the knob which appeared to be turning. My breath hitched. I couldn’t scream, but I didn’t feel like I needed to.
When the door opened, a light shined so bright I had to shield my eyes. Someone stepped forward and walked toward me. I slowly lowered my arm and froze. An impassive peace covered the area.
Before me stood the most beautiful angel I had ever seen. A golden aura radiated around him, and the most beautiful golden hair fell like silk around his broad shoulders. His features were strong and chiseled, and when I gazed into his dark brown eyes, a halo of gold encircled them. They seemed so familiar, but I knew I’d never seen him before.
“Emma.” His voice was melodic and melted my anxiety.
The closer he approached, the more I felt as if we were connected.
“Are you God?” I exhaled. I figured I’d start at the top because he appeared nothing less than God-like.
“No,” he chuckled, taking another step forward, leaving about four feet between us. “My name is Michael.”
I gasped, clasping both hands over my mouth.
“As in Michael the Archangel?” My heart hammered against my chest, my pulse was racing.
He nodded and offered me his hand. As I placed mine in his, every ounce of sadness I’d felt inside instantly melted away.
“You’ve been through so much pain and suffering, Emma, but you’ve shown so much strength. You should be proud of the young woman you’ve become.”
A tear trickled down my cheek, not knowing how to respond. I hadn’t been strong. I’d been weak and feeble, barely holding myself together.
“It seems you’ve been in possession of my dagger?” he questioned, with a grin and a tilt to his head.
I nodded and found my voice.
“Yes. Yes, I have it. Dominic gave it to me, and it saved me, many times.” I turned back to the dagger lying on my nightstand, now glowing just as brightly as Michael. I reached back and picked it up. It was warm and sent a buzz through my arm. I held it out and offered it to him. “Thank you so much for letting me have it for a while, Michael – Archangel… sir.” I felt like a complete idiot, not sure how I should address him.
His face lit up and he laughed loudly, then reached out and took the dagger in his right hand. He held it out, and it magically hovered above his palm. I watched it slowly twist, then it floated back in front of me.
Michael’s brow rose. “Peculiar. It seems my dagger would like to remain in your possession for the time being. Would you care to watch over it a while longer?”
I was in shock, looking at the dagger magically floating in front of me.
“Is that a yes?” he asked.
“Yes. Yes, of course,” I sputtered, reaching forward and grasping it by its shaft. It tingled in my hand, and then the light went out. I carefully placed it back on the dresser. I was glad the dagger wouldn’t be leaving me for now. “This dagger has watched over me more than I have of it,” I smiled.
“Yes, it has grown quite fond of you,” he acknowledged.
I glanced up to him. “It has? How can you tell?”
“Because we are connected, the dagger and I. It was a gift from the Creator. We were bonded by blood, which makes our connection even stronger. Magical.”