Fallen (Part 5)
James woke up to the soft morning sun filtering in through the room’s small window. For a second he was disoriented and confused, his mind recalling strange dreams about ethereal creatures. He rubbed a hand over his eyes and glanced over at his brother. Still sleeping soundly. He then turned to the floor and gasped in surprise at what he saw.
No dream.
It had been no dream. A beautiful young man did lie on his floor; bound and bruised, eyes closed in apparent slumber.
And the beautiful young man did have wings.
James was at the angel’s side in an instant, his hands already tugging at the ropes that held him. His father had said that come morning they could untie him and it was now morning. As James worked to undo the knots he felt the angel stir slightly. He looked down and found himself staring into those brilliant blue eyes.
He gasped and forced himself to look away from his eyes and to concentrate on undoing the ropes. James had a feeling that he could easily lose himself in those eyes. He had a feeling that he would enjoy the fall into oblivion.
When all the knots were undone, he pulled the rope away from the angel’s body and helped him sit up. The angel rubbed his wrists carefully, his face showing that he was in pain.
James spared a quick glance at his brother. Still asleep, and snoring quite loudly. He then turned back to the angel and smiled reassuringly.
"Hello," he said shyly.
The angel looked up at him and continued to rub his chaffed wrists.
James cleared his throat and tried again. "Do you understand me? Do you speak English?"
The angel just stared at him with a look of puzzlement on his face.
"I am going to assume that means no," James sighed as he looked down. He then looked up and said, "Let’s try this – my name is James. James," he said slowly as he brought his hand up to his chest and tapped it lightly. "I am James."
The angel cocked his head to one side and gave a look of total concentration before opening his mouth. This time the high squeals that he emitted did not sound completely random and James could hardly contain his excitement when he realized that the angel had just said his name. He laughed and nodded vigorously. "Very good. Yes!"
The angel repeated it and James smiled broadly. The way the angel had spoken it, it was barely recognizable as a name, one simple syllable was said with lilting cadences and the high pitched sounds of birds singing.
"What is your name?" James asked. When he got nothing more than a blank look in return he tried again. He pointed to his own chest and repeated the name "James", then he pointed at the angel’s chest. "Your name?" he asked.
The angel seemed to understand this time and he spoke. Again, the result was a series of high-pitched noises that made no sense whatsoever.
James laughed. "Well, I certainly cannot pronounce that!" He paused for a moment, thinking. "How about if I give you a name? Something that I will actually be able to say?"
Again James thought for a moment. Then, almost shyly he said, "There is a name that I have always liked. I have always planned to give it to my first-born son. Perhaps you will accept it?"
James reached out his hand and touched the angel’s chest lightly. "Justin. May I call you…Justin?"
The angel mimicked the name as best as he could. Then he lightly touched James’ hand, which still remained, on his skin. "Justin," the angel said again and this time he smiled. It was a smile so serene that James actually felt his heart soar in his chest. He was about to speak when he heard Joseph’s voice.
"So, you have named it. Does that mean you own it now?"
James turned to see that Joseph was sitting up in bed, watching the scene before him with an amused look on his face.
"Must you have something to say about everything, brother?" James asked as he gave Joseph a withering look.
Joseph threw his hands up in mock surrender and laughed. "Sorry. I forget how sensitive you can be James. I meant nothing by it."
"Meant nothing by what?" their father asked as he suddenly appeared at the entrance to their room.
"Nothing, Father. I was just teasing James," Joseph said lightly.
Their father grunted. "You boys have chores to do, do you not?" he asked.
Joseph quickly stood up. "Yes Father."
Before James could censor himself, he found himself asking, "What about Justin, Father?"
"Who?" the older man asked.
James looked down at the ground; suddenly wishing he could turn back time and keep his mouth closed. He heard his brother answer for him before he could formulate some sort of explanation.
"He named it."
"He did, did he?" Father asked as he walked over to where both James and the angel were still on the ground. "You felt the need to name it, James?"
James continued to look down, afraid to meet his father’s eyes and find anger there. "I just thought that…"
His father laughed. "Why does that not surprise me?" He reached over and grabbed a fistful of the angel’s hair and pulled. The angel stared at him in fear, but made no noise and made no move of protest.
"Your mother and I will take care of Justin today." The name Justin was said with such contempt that James cringed. "You boys get started on your chores," he said.
When he saw that both brothers hesitated slightly, he screamed out, "Now!"
The two young men moved quickly at their father’s shout, neither one wanting to provoke his anger further.
James and Joseph dressed and ate, and then went about doing their chores, almost as if this day were no different than any other. Father had made it clear that punishment would be meted out if they lagged behind today.