> Michael leanded back again, regarding him both earnestly and humbly "Perhaps > they need to realize it then. Especially considering some people are given > the rare opprotunity to be given a blessing not once, but twice." > > He knew Derek Rayne wasn't feeling too stable right now and he, Michael was > sure that if Julia were to find out or even heard them now she would say > something about him sticking his angelic nose into other people's business. > And, if truth be told, this wasn't his usual job - there were angels > assigned to deliver messages and he was one of the angels that served in a > warrior/guardian capacity. > > But he had also taken an interest in Julia Walker and had gotten to know her > during her time working with him and others. Although she didn't know it > yet, she had been recieving training for the time to come in which she would > be offered a position within the Archangels, although that was neither here > nor there. He turned his thoughts back to the here and now - and the man > before him. > > "I want to ask you something, but I don't want you to answer me now. I will > ask you again at a later time. I want you to think of your answer carefully > and sincerely." > > He looked Derek Rayne in the eyes, keeping the man's gaze and seeing both > the slow revelation that Michael had been talking about him specifically in > his rhethorical question and a kind of hesitancy in that the Archangel was > speaking of a subject he had kept under tight guard "There are two, in your > case three, things that you can't hide even your deepest feelings from, > although you might succeed in holding it off for a time. That's you, us and > Julia. > > "But back to what I want you to think about." > > He straightened and lowered his hands to his side, looking at Derek with > that mixture of envy and empathy he was speaking of earlier in regards to > gifts and turning them away. When he spoke his voice was quiet, but it had > the authority and gentle power that only those holy essenses possessed. > > "People are given a Gift, a Blessing to accept and yet.. they turn it away, > only to mourn and even long for it when it's gone." > > "Derek Rayne..... what are you going to feel......when Julia's taken away > from you again?" > > The last few words were said sadly and voice echoing deep within the man's > soul, even as the angel who voiced them faded from Derek's view, leaving a > kind of.... reminding pressense in his wake for the mortal man to feel, just > in case Professor Derek Rayne thought of trying to excuse the Visit as his > imagination. > Derek: Derek stared at Michael in disbelief, feeling a multitude of conflicting emotions. First and foremost was irritation. He didn't really care who Michael was, what business was it of his? On a deeper less superficial level he did hear the words the angel was saying. In fact, Michael's last question made him feel rather sick. He had to admit that Michael might have a point, but there were still obsticles in his ways. Perhaps created by his own mind, but still there nontheless. Julia was significantly young then he and now she was not entirely human, but rather something of both realms. It just seemed wrong how, his first thoughts as this raced through his mind were of Ingrid and her convent, as odd as it seemed he held Julia in a similar light now. Perhaps, it was just something left over from his childhood, he wasn't sure. Even so, this entire matter was waighing heavily on his mind. If he did something about the way he felt, what might it do to her? Take from her? And the underlying fear that she didn't have similar feelings was ever present as well. Derek opened his mouth to speak, just as the angel began to fade away. "I wish it were as simple as that," he said softly. Derek
