Fallen (Part 6)
All throughout his busy day, James tried to catch glimpses of Justin. The chores were so numerous that he wasn’t able to see him but for a few seconds at a time. However, he did notice that Justin no longer wore the dirty white gown that they had found him in. He was grateful that his parents had been kind enough to clothe him. However, his heart saddened when he saw Justin sitting on the ground outside the family’s door, one end of a rope around his neck while the other end was tied to a stake in the ground.
As if he were a beast that had to be tethered. An undefinable emotion raced through him and he had to turn his head away from the sight. Best to concentrate on the chores and the work ahead than to feel things he could do nothing about.
He went to work.
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Night was closing in on the land when the two brothers finally began to trek back towards their home.
"Something bothering you, James?" asked Joseph as they walked.
James turned to his brother and saw the concern in his eyes. "Why do you ask?"
"You are not your usual self today. You seem disturbed," Joseph answered.
James let a small smile play across his features. "You read me so well, brother."
"Then what is the matter? Are you thinking about the angel again?"
James nodded. "I cannot seem to help it. I just hope Father is treating him with some semblance of care. He deserves…I do not know…so much more than what we are giving him."
Joseph stopped abruptly and waited until James stopped also. He put his hands on James’ shoulders and looked at him intently. "Have I ever told you that sometimes you have the heart of a woman?"
The question was asked in a solemn manner with no indication of teasing. James nodded and placed his own hand atop one of Joseph’s.
"Yes, you have. And yet you do not hate me for it?"
"Of course not, you are my only brother. I could never hate you. I merely believe that at times you are too soft. You need to harden, James. Life is so much easier when you do not feel as much."
James nodded at his brother’s words, although he knew that he could not change himself. The two men parted and continued to walk the remaining distance in silence.
As they neared their home, James immediately began to look around for Justin. He smiled as he thought of how perfectly the name seemed to fit the beautiful creature and he was glad that the angel had accepted it. He saw Justin sitting down by the front of the house and for moment he was actually proud that his father was kind enough to let the angel sit and rest, then he remembered the rope around the neck and the feeling of pride quickly turned to one of disgust. At least it appeared that his broken wing had been set. At least his parents had been that merciful.
Joseph walked into the house with a wave while James walked towards Justin. It was then that he took notice of the two figures that were just steps away from him. Funny how he hadn’t seen them there before. One of the figures was his father and the other one he recognized as Edgar Stevens, one of their closest neighbors.
As he moved closer to them he could hear their voices.
"I would appreciate it Edgar, if you made no mention of this to anybody. I still have not decided what to do with it," his father was saying.
"Of course not. I won’t breathe a word of this. You have found yourself in quite an unusual situation, haven’t you?"
"My son…" his father began.
Before his father could continue his sentence, James cleared his throat loudly, enough to ensure that he would heard.
Both men turned around quickly.
"Ah James. How are you?" Edgar Stevens asked.
"I am well, thank you. And yourself?" he asked politely.
"As well as can be expected, I suppose. Your father was showing me your discovery. Quite a find James."
James looked down at Justin, who kept his eyes on the ground and did not acknowledge their presence. "Yes well, it was most unexpected."
"Now there is an understatement," Edgar said as he laughed heartily. He took a quick look at the sky and said, "Well, I really should be going. The wife will worry if I am not home by suppertime."
He reached down and patted Justin’s head. Justin did not even move or look up. "Thank you for such an amusing afternoon," he said as he walked away.
Both James and his father said their farewells as they watched the other man leave. James turned toward his father as soon as they were alone. "You told Edgar," he said in surprise.
His father shrugged. "He stopped by the house for a moment. There was no time to hide the beast…"
James cringed at his father’s words, but said nothing. Instead he looked down and lightly touched the angel’s face. "Justin?"
Justin looked up immediately, his eyes focusing on James as if he were the only thing in the world. A shy smile played on his lips.
James took in the beautiful face before him and realized something was different about it. It took only a moment to realize what the difference was. Justin’s left cheek sported a new, dark bruise.
"You hit him," James said dully. It was not a question, for James already knew without a doubt that his father had again raised his hand to Justin.
"I told it to stand up so that Edgar might have a good look at it, but it would not obey. So, I hit it. It was nothing it did not deserve," his father said calmly.
"But Father, he does not understand our language. You cannot fault him for not obeying you," James cried.
His father’s gaze changed from bored to stony anger within seconds. "What did you say to me boy?" he asked.
James looked furiously at the ground. "I am sorry Father. I forgot my place."
"You seem to be doing that quite a bit lately."
"I am sorry," he repeated, knowing there was little else he could say.
To his relief, his father only said, "Watch yourself, James," before turning on his heel and walking into the house.
James kneeled down next to Justin and touched his shoulder. "I am so sorry. I know that you do not understand me…but I am so sorry that my father hurts you."
Justin merely looked at him, a look of confusion on his face.
James sighed, then gently fingered the rope that hung around Justin’s neck. "How do we get you home? I wish I knew. It is so obvious you do not belong here."
Again the angel stared at him, uncomprehending. James pointed at the darkening sky and said, "Home. I want to get you home."
Justin looked up also and whispered, "Home." Then he shrugged slightly as sadness passed across his face. James took in the shrug with amazement. The movement had seemed so human-like. For a second Justin had actually looked less like an ethereal being and more like a man.
James breathed in deeply and hesitantly placed his hand upon Justin’s bruised cheek. He was pleased to see that Justin did not pull away, but instead seemed to lean into his touch.
"You know that I will not hurt you, don’t you? You somehow know this," James whispered.
The angel said nothing as the two stared at each other silently.
Out of the corner of his eye, James saw Joseph step outside the house. "Father wishes that you bring the angel in now.
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James cared for the angel all night, giving him scraps of their leftover dinner when no was watching and letting him drink fresh, cool water as soon as his father gave permission. He even managed to convince his tired father to allow Justin to sleep on the floor by his bed without being hog-tied. Of course, Father still insisted that Justin’s hands be tied in front of him with rough twine, but James accepted this without argument. He knew that Justin would be far more comfortable tonight than he was last night.
Once he and his brother were alone in their nightchambers with the angel, Joseph walked over to where Justin was sitting. He squatted down in front of him and said, "Hello."
James watched him warily. Was Joseph up to something? His brother was not a particularly cruel man, but at times his indifference to a situation led him to be. And he knew very well that Joseph was indifferent to Justin.
Justin did not speak; instead he wrapped his bound arms around his knees and hugged himself protectively.
"He is afraid of me," Joseph said with amusement. He reached out and tentatively brushed his thumb against the angel’s lips. Justin flinched slightly and looked to James with obvious fear in his eyes. James smiled and nodded, trying to let Justin know that he was safe, although he himself was not certain of that.
Justin turned his eyes back to Joseph and hesitantly kissed the thumb upon his lips. The kiss was chaste and quick but both Joseph and James had to catch their breaths in amazement.
That had been so erotic…how in the world had an angel made that small gesture seem so erotic?
James watched as Joseph stood on shaky legs and walked backwards to his bed, his eyes never leaving the angel on the floor.
"Goodnight, brother," Joseph said in a subdued voice.
"Goodnight Joseph," James echoed. He caught Justin’s eye and said softly, "Goodnight, Justin."
Justin did not attempt to say goodnight, instead he whispered the name, "James," as he lowered his head to the floor and closed his eyes.
Feeling slightly shaky himself, James leaned over and extinguished the light from the lamp, then covered himself with his blanket and tried desperately to sleep.
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The next five days passed in much the same manner as the first; every morning James and Joseph would leave to do their chores and every evening they returned with James immediately running to Justin’s side. The only thing that changed from day to day was the number of visitors that they had at the small house.
Apparently Edgar Stevens could not help but tell his wife that the Smythes were harboring a fallen angel from heaven. The very next day, Mrs. Stevens told her friend Margaret Winningham and swore her to silence. Margaret in turn told her husband about the angel that night as they held each other in their marriage bed. By the third day, half of the township knew about an angel at the Smythe residence and almost everyone wanted to see the angel for themselves.
James spent those days in a constant state of both disgust and sadness. It seemed that the townspeople, people he had known his entire life, some that he even considered friends, were not content to merely see Justin. Most of them felt the need to lay their hands on him, almost as if they needed proof that he was real. Unfortunately, very few of the touches were gentle, and in fact most of them were cruel and James could see that many of the townspeople found sport in trying to see who could make the angel squeal.
James tried to be extra kind to Justin during the nights, to somehow make up for what his people did to him during the day, yet every time Justin’s golden tears flowed, James felt his heart break apart.
Near the close of the sixth day, James and Joseph trudged up to the house after doing their chores. Enough people were gathered around the front of the house that James could not even see Justin’s form.
"What a crowd we have today," Joseph remarked.
James merely grunted in reply.
"I think I will suggest to Father that we should charge some kind of fee to see the creature," Joseph said.
James merely glared at him and Joseph laughed. "I meant…to see Justin."
Instead of walking towards the house both men walked towards the crowd of people. The crowd parted as they walked through, almost with reverence at seeing two of the angel’s owners.
They saw that their mother’s face was flush with excitement; their father’s chest puffed out with pride. The smiles on their faces took James completely by surprise. He could not remember the last time that he had seen his parents smile in actual joy.
"What is happening Father?" Joseph asked with obvious curiosity.
His father turned towards them. "Well, it appears that news of the angel has spread to Lord Joshua. He wishes to see him. He has even made it known that he may buy the angel if he finds it of interest."
Both James and Joseph turned stunned faces to the angel on the ground. Whatever they had expected to happen, it was certainly not this.
James watched as his father’s hand stroked Justin’s head possessively while Justin appeared to cringe.
"Joseph. James. I cannot make the journey. You two will take the creature and travel to Lord Joshua’s estate come morning."