The third story
This happens two days after "Monstes" and "Interlude."
Ariella's be hammered from the cradle with the idea that lust is bad (which is funny, considering her parents have thirteen kids), and conditioned in durty and doctrine. Add in to the mix a shitty week, and here's what you get.
The seating arrangement in the living room was deceptive; three plush armchairs in a slight curve facing the patio door. The three occupying the chairs chatted carelessly. The overhead light had been dimmed to cast everything in soft orange shadow. The light on the patio was out, and the only thing that could be seen outside the glass French doors was a moonlit mountain forest scene. And the penitent approaching the house.
The three sitting wore shapeless robes, and all of their faces were covered by veils that showed the left cheek, and the symbol on it. The penitent knelt before the patio doors. Slowly, they swung open around her. The penitent wore black pants and tunic, her hair free flowing. She rose and took three steps into the room. The doors swung shut softly behind her, a soft click closing out the world. She went down on both knees and bowed her head, waiting.
“Ariella Walker, you are not stationed in this region. Why have you come to this confessional instead of waiting for our return to the Northwest?” one of the tribunal asked.
“My sin is great, and I could not continue with it staining my soul,” Ariella replied, not looking up.
“What sin could be so great that you could not wait mere days?” another asked, a deeper voice.
“I have tempted an angel,” Ariella answered. The was an audible shifting of the tribunal.
“A heavy burden indeed, and a most serious sin,” the third said, a higher voice. “Which circle did you tempt?”
“An Archangel,” Ariella said.
“What name does this angel call itself?” the deep voice asked.
“Sariel,” Ariella said. More shifting, and nearly inaudible whispering. The penitent cringed while waiting for judgment.
“I think, Ariella Walker, that you should explain, from the very beginning,” the first voice said. Ariella looked up, and began.
It began talking to me when I was awake about seven months ago. At first, I felt privileged. Angels aren’t supposed to talk to you unless you were in trance or asleep, everyone knows that. I supposed I felt honored to be singled out.
And then, about four months ago, I was leaving a cleansing at a graveyard, and I saw him. Yeah, he appeared as a man, black jeans and t-shirt and a dark brown bomber jacket. I remember thinking how odd it was to see the Angel of Death in a bomber jacket. It honestly didn’t strike me that he was a man until he disappeared. I wasn’t up to analyzing the situation, as the pill was kicking in.
I saw him several times after that, always as a man. Sometimes he would just watch me, other times he would follow me, or stop me to talk. The first couple of times I did the right thing, I ignored him, hoping he’d realize what he was doing was wrong. He didn’t go away though, and eventually, I began not wanting him to. He was so understanding, so kind, so beautiful…
Okay, he was attractive as all get out. There, it’s out in the open. I found him attractive. I couldn’t help it. And I felt guilty for it.
About two days ago, though, it changed again. I had done an exorcism after taking the pill. And the brother of my heart had just ripped it out and stomped on it about the whole deal. I really don’t know how long I had been on the floor crying when I felt Sariel enter the room. I didn’t look up, my guilt about It being heightened, too, of course. And then, I felt him touch me, like a hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him, and there was pain in his face.
“I can feel your pain, lion. Tell me what has happened,” he said. I started crying harder, explaining the situation to him. I thought I saw anger flicker over his face when I mentioned the pill. When I had a hard time finishing, he gathered me into his arms, and held me until I finished.
When I was done, he said, “I’m sorry. I will take your pain if you will let me.”
I was weak, because instead of rejecting it outright, I asked, “How?”
“The pill only heightens one emotion, guilt. Have you never noticed that, lion?” I shook my head, and he continued. “I can draw out what is left of the drug, and it will dampen what you are feeling. Would you like me to?”
I shook my head, unable to speak. He raised my face and placed his lips on my brow, and I felt my guilt recede. And then I was looking into those black eyes from a distance than I was sure I didn’t want to have between us. The part of me that was telling me to pull back was stronger, thank God. I was up and as far away from him as the walls would let me be just like that.
I stared at him, still kneeling in the middle of the floor. Inside, I was feeling a whole host of things, mostly guilt, anger, and lust. I pointed at the door.
“Get out,” I growled. He stood up and took a step toward me.
“Lion, it’s okay. I’m just-” he started, and I started yelling.
“No, it’s not okay. Get the fuelt out!” I actually tried pulling the shadow around me before his sad little smirk reminded me who granted my requests for miracles.
“Very well, lion. For tonight, I will leave you,” he said, and was gone the next moment.
“I collapsed on the bed, and set out for here as soon as I could,” Ariella said, and dropped her eyes to the floor once again. Although the ceremony required her to be still, she still shook from the hurt and guilt. There was whispers and shifting again, and then the light voice spoke.
“We commend you for sending him away, and yet you admit to temptation of a much lesser extent than you would believe. For your sin, you will fast for three days, and any time you are not sleeping, you will attend the daily Masses and ceremonies.” The penitent nodded, and walked backward out of the opening doors. She did not turn around until she came to the patio steps.
And there she felt him behind her. Her eyes widened, and she warred with herself before running back to the doors. Away from that temptation.
Ariella's be hammered from the cradle with the idea that lust is bad (which is funny, considering her parents have thirteen kids), and conditioned in durty and doctrine. Add in to the mix a shitty week, and here's what you get.
The seating arrangement in the living room was deceptive; three plush armchairs in a slight curve facing the patio door. The three occupying the chairs chatted carelessly. The overhead light had been dimmed to cast everything in soft orange shadow. The light on the patio was out, and the only thing that could be seen outside the glass French doors was a moonlit mountain forest scene. And the penitent approaching the house.
The three sitting wore shapeless robes, and all of their faces were covered by veils that showed the left cheek, and the symbol on it. The penitent knelt before the patio doors. Slowly, they swung open around her. The penitent wore black pants and tunic, her hair free flowing. She rose and took three steps into the room. The doors swung shut softly behind her, a soft click closing out the world. She went down on both knees and bowed her head, waiting.
“Ariella Walker, you are not stationed in this region. Why have you come to this confessional instead of waiting for our return to the Northwest?” one of the tribunal asked.
“My sin is great, and I could not continue with it staining my soul,” Ariella replied, not looking up.
“What sin could be so great that you could not wait mere days?” another asked, a deeper voice.
“I have tempted an angel,” Ariella answered. The was an audible shifting of the tribunal.
“A heavy burden indeed, and a most serious sin,” the third said, a higher voice. “Which circle did you tempt?”
“An Archangel,” Ariella said.
“What name does this angel call itself?” the deep voice asked.
“Sariel,” Ariella said. More shifting, and nearly inaudible whispering. The penitent cringed while waiting for judgment.
“I think, Ariella Walker, that you should explain, from the very beginning,” the first voice said. Ariella looked up, and began.
It began talking to me when I was awake about seven months ago. At first, I felt privileged. Angels aren’t supposed to talk to you unless you were in trance or asleep, everyone knows that. I supposed I felt honored to be singled out.
And then, about four months ago, I was leaving a cleansing at a graveyard, and I saw him. Yeah, he appeared as a man, black jeans and t-shirt and a dark brown bomber jacket. I remember thinking how odd it was to see the Angel of Death in a bomber jacket. It honestly didn’t strike me that he was a man until he disappeared. I wasn’t up to analyzing the situation, as the pill was kicking in.
I saw him several times after that, always as a man. Sometimes he would just watch me, other times he would follow me, or stop me to talk. The first couple of times I did the right thing, I ignored him, hoping he’d realize what he was doing was wrong. He didn’t go away though, and eventually, I began not wanting him to. He was so understanding, so kind, so beautiful…
Okay, he was attractive as all get out. There, it’s out in the open. I found him attractive. I couldn’t help it. And I felt guilty for it.
About two days ago, though, it changed again. I had done an exorcism after taking the pill. And the brother of my heart had just ripped it out and stomped on it about the whole deal. I really don’t know how long I had been on the floor crying when I felt Sariel enter the room. I didn’t look up, my guilt about It being heightened, too, of course. And then, I felt him touch me, like a hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him, and there was pain in his face.
“I can feel your pain, lion. Tell me what has happened,” he said. I started crying harder, explaining the situation to him. I thought I saw anger flicker over his face when I mentioned the pill. When I had a hard time finishing, he gathered me into his arms, and held me until I finished.
When I was done, he said, “I’m sorry. I will take your pain if you will let me.”
I was weak, because instead of rejecting it outright, I asked, “How?”
“The pill only heightens one emotion, guilt. Have you never noticed that, lion?” I shook my head, and he continued. “I can draw out what is left of the drug, and it will dampen what you are feeling. Would you like me to?”
I shook my head, unable to speak. He raised my face and placed his lips on my brow, and I felt my guilt recede. And then I was looking into those black eyes from a distance than I was sure I didn’t want to have between us. The part of me that was telling me to pull back was stronger, thank God. I was up and as far away from him as the walls would let me be just like that.
I stared at him, still kneeling in the middle of the floor. Inside, I was feeling a whole host of things, mostly guilt, anger, and lust. I pointed at the door.
“Get out,” I growled. He stood up and took a step toward me.
“Lion, it’s okay. I’m just-” he started, and I started yelling.
“No, it’s not okay. Get the fuelt out!” I actually tried pulling the shadow around me before his sad little smirk reminded me who granted my requests for miracles.
“Very well, lion. For tonight, I will leave you,” he said, and was gone the next moment.
“I collapsed on the bed, and set out for here as soon as I could,” Ariella said, and dropped her eyes to the floor once again. Although the ceremony required her to be still, she still shook from the hurt and guilt. There was whispers and shifting again, and then the light voice spoke.
“We commend you for sending him away, and yet you admit to temptation of a much lesser extent than you would believe. For your sin, you will fast for three days, and any time you are not sleeping, you will attend the daily Masses and ceremonies.” The penitent nodded, and walked backward out of the opening doors. She did not turn around until she came to the patio steps.
And there she felt him behind her. Her eyes widened, and she warred with herself before running back to the doors. Away from that temptation.