Blown Away!: Even More Confessions of an Angel in Training Read online

  I didn’t tell Mercy or Justice the whole story at lunch, even though I knew I could trust them. It was just too public a spot to talk about Michael’s request. Plus, I knew they’d ask what I planned on doing, and I would’ve imitated the Mute Dove with my silence. Because I don’t have a clue, and wish I’d never been asked.

  After lunch, Mercy headed off to Black Holes 201 or something like that, while Justice and I walked outside to cross the quadrangle to the Chronicles building where we take The History of Mankind. Most of our classmates are Guardians. There are a few Dominions, like Faith, who want to be involved with granting prayers, and a few Thrones who want to understand human leaders.

  One of the queen bees bumps into my shoulder, almost knocking me over. I turn to look and get a chill despite the sunny, warm weather. Something about the way she moves quickly, swallowed up by the other students, reminds me of the way Annex disappeared from my sight in Grand Central Station, which, in turn, reminds me of the decision I need to make. I shiver.

  “What?” Justice asks.

  “The reason Michael called me to his office is that he has a special Assignment for me.”

  “Well, I figured it wasn’t for tea and cookies.”

  I laugh. Justice is a little quirky, but he’s a good friend. During my last Mission I had to bi-locate so that I could be in Heaven and on Earth at the same time. Even though Michael found me out anyway, Justice helped me keep the charade going long enough for me to get back to my Izzy.

  “Is it a secret?” he asks.

  “Yeah. I think so. Sorry.”

  He shrugs, but I read disappointment on his face that I’m not going to give him the deets. I can probably tell him a little.

  “It involves going into the Wilds.”

  “Cool.”

  “And I got to meet this Angel named Natura. She likes everyone to call her Mother Nature. It seemed like she was an Archangel, or at least an equal to Michael. Have you ever heard of her?”

  “Nope.”

  “Me either, so that was the weirdest thing, but kinda interesting, too.”

  “I bet.”

  I feel bad keeping secrets from him. “I’ll tell you more as soon as I can.”

  “Okay. Sure.”

  And then we’re at the classroom for History of Mankind. We take our seats next to each other in the back row. Justice knows from last semester I like to hide out since I’m a teeny bit infamous among AITs studying to be Guardians. I always feel like I’m less likely to be noticed if I sit in back—out of sight, out of mind.

  Our teacher, Professor Vivid, writes on the board: History is not linear.

  Yeah, right, whatever that means. This might qualify as the strangest class I’ve ever taken. She doesn’t discuss normal first day stuff. No rules or syllabus, just, “Take out your tablets. Today we’ll be discussing the ancient Egyptians.” When she says tablets she means the electronic kind, not the Ten Commandments kind.

  Someone asks, “Weren’t there civilizations that preceded the Egyptians?”

  She raps a pointer at her not linear comment and begins. “The ancient Egyptians believed in many gods. Yes, that’s right, plural.”

  I scribble on my tablet: Ancient Egyptians < 1 god > 100? More?

  “Their entire life was dedicated to pleasing the gods. Even the simplest daily rituals were a tribute to them. Put on makeup to please the gods, carve a hairbrush to please the gods, erect pyramids to please the gods.”

  Okay, so the pyramids are pretty nifty, but seriously, were their gods cranky or what? Did every activity have to cheer them up?

  Justice leans over and whispers to me, “I don’t think He cares about hairbrushes or makeup.”

  I laugh until some Dominion turns around and gives me the evil eye. Then Professor Vivid calls the class’s attention to Justice’s joke. Or rather, my glee.

  “Care to share with the class what’s so amusing, Grace?”

  I pass on Justice’s comment without implicating him.

  CONFESSION: I don’t see how this lecture is going to help me be a better Guardian.

  Justice, thoroughly embarrassed for me and chagrined that I took the bullet for him, pipes down for the rest of class. Together we make it to the end without calling any more attention to ourselves. I’ve taken pages of notes, and as I save them to a file on the tablet, Professor Vivid announces, “Tomorrow we’ll have a guest speaker, a Senior Guardian who was on duty in the time of Noah’s Ark.”

  Now, that sounds like it could’ve been a tough assignment.

  Next class—Intermediate Powers with Professor Keen. I’d had him briefly last semester for the Introduction to Angelic Powers. Briefly, because after a class or two, Michael sent me on a Mission in The Big Apple, aka NYC.

  The halls are nearly empty as Justice and I make our way to the lab. Maybe you’ve heard the expression an Angel’s work is never done? Well, it’s true, but most AITs take a break from classes and work on a project in their field of study over the summer. I’ve missed classes for two semesters, and all I’ve done is projects. When I’d returned from the last one, Michael let me know that I’d receive my wings, but was still expected to complete my classwork before taking on my role as a Full Guardian. Now he wants me to take on Annex as a special Assignment.

  Will I ever be done with my schooling?

  When we walk into the classroom, Professor Keen greets Justice, then me. “Miss Lightbourne, so nice to have you back.” His white, wooly hair is woolier than normal. He resembles a lamb that could use a close shearing.

  Justice and I take our seats in the back row, even though we like Professor Keen and this class. Once everyone has arrived and the bell has sounded, Professor Keen uses his stepstool to climb up onto the top of his desk and sit, his stubby legs dangling a foot or more off the floor.

  “Good morning AITs.” He smiles, and the best part of it is the twinkle in his eye. If he had a beard and eight tiny reindeer, he’d resemble you know who. “Welcome to Advanced Powers. I trust all of you have completed the Introductory class and have mastered Time Dilation, Bi-location and Transference.”

  Transference? What in the Hades is that?

  I look at Justice, raise my eyebrow, and mouth to him, “Transference?”

  He leans over and whispers, “It’s the proper name for using portals.”

  Oh, heck yeah, I can do that. I was transferenced right from my wing fitting to Michael’s office just this morning.

  “This year we’ll focus on Elemental Controls and Unconventional Communications.”

  Immediately, my thoughts turn to Victor. He’s very good at unconventional. I replay our kisses on the crown of the Statue of Liberty, and the room seems suddenly warmer. Too warm, in fact. The girl to my left, Harmony, whispers breathlessly, “I hear we learn to talk to the animals.”

  “It’s easy,” I tell her. Because I’ve talked with ducks, and kittens, which both provided useful information, but squirrels…well, they just say “nuts” over and over and over. The funny thing is, I didn’t even know this was a power at first. “Trust me, there are other types of unconventional communications that are more complicated than that.” Like kissing Victor.

  “Does anyone have any questions before we start?” Professor Keen asks.

  Justice asks, “What will the final be?”

  “Yes, right. Like any Powers class you must pass practical tests, demonstrating the skill.”

  Sounds like an angel food cake walk. I’ve mastered the animal communication part already. But I wonder: What are Elemental Controls?

  “Any more questions?” Silence greets Professor Keen, and he says, “I know there are. For example, Harmony wants to know when we’ll be getting to animal communication.”

  Of course she does.

  “The answer, Harmony, is in the second half of this semester. And Grace is wondering what Elemental Controls are.”

  Huh?

  “Grace’s question will be partially answered by the end of today’s clas
s. And Justice, along with a few others, is wondering how I’m doing this. The answer is Unconventional Communication”

  Oh, boy. This is going to be harder than I thought.

  Chapter 4

  “That’s not the only thing I know. Quite a few of you are worrying about the difficulty of this class. But I function at the highest level, and you will only need to master the basics.”

  Whew.

  “So pleased to know that eased your minds. Shall we get started?” Professor Keen hops down from his desk and his compact wings give a small, efficient flap. “Let’s talk about Elemental Controls. This power is essential for proper Guardianship,” he explains. “In its lowest form it’s the ability to not feel the effects of weather. You will become impervious to heat or cold or rain.”

  Coolio. I could’ve used that a couple times already. Walking home in the rainstorm on my first Mission, or during some of the cold winter days in NYC.

  “In its highest form, this power may be used to control the elements.”

  Justice raises his hand. “What do you mean control?”

  “It’s as straightforward as it sounds. Bringing rain during a drought would be a good example. That would be very helpful as a Guardian, don’t you think Mr. Trueray?”

  Excellent.

  “Allow me to demonstrate.” Professor Keen steps to the side of the room. A heavy, dark cloud forms over his head. There’s a rumble of far-off thunder and it begins to rain in the classroom, solely on him. The cool thing is that he stays dry down to very last strand of his wooly hair. He smiles and waves at us through the rain, and then, as quickly as it started, the rain stops and the cloud disappears.

  “If you’ll permit me one more demonstration.” Professor Keen takes a text book from the shelf.

  “Oh yes,” Harmony says in a hushed voice.

  He lays the book on the empty student desk in the front row. “I’m glad you all are a little timid about sitting up front. You’ll see why.” He stares at the book; there’s a spark, a crackle and then the book blazes into a flame.

  “See how handy that might be.” The rain cloud appears immediately, pours onto the book and puts the fire out. “Now for a student volunteer, please.”

  No one raises their hands. He’s going to call on me.

  “Miss Lightbourne.”

  I knew it!

  “For those of you who don’t know Miss Lightbourne, she’s the AIT with several successful Missions already under her belt. Last year, in one of my Introductory classes, she demonstrated a remarkable example of Time Dilation, taking the entire class with her. It was truly one of the best student led instructions in all my years of teaching.”

  I almost puff up with pride. Almost.

  Instead, I’m dreading what comes next, unsure if Professor Keen wants to drench me, freeze me, or use me to start a fire. Actually, I’d probably be good at starting a fire. It seemed easy-peasy.

  “Up, up.” Professor Keen smiles kindly at me, and waves me to the front of the room. I make my way there slowly, then turn to face the class, feeling foolish. Justice is grinning at me and giving me a thumbs up. What a nerd!

  “Let’s start with rain. Now, what I want you to do is to visualize a barrier. Some people use an umbrella, some see a roof. I like to imagine a see-through dome. Just visualize whatever feels more comfortable.”

  “Okay.” I picture a large red umbrella. I look up at the cloud forming over my head. I squeeze my eyes shut and picture umbrella, umbrella, storm cloud, umbrella, cloud, and…

  It starts to rain on me.

  Umbrella, umbrella, umbrella, umbrella.

  It rains harder.

  “Dear me,” Professor Keen says, seeming quite distressed. “What are you visualizing?”

  “An umbrella?” I say. I’m soaked.

  “Well, picture a roof then,” he says with less patience than normal.

  I look up, and the cloud has grown in size. It now hangs over most of my classmates and some of them are starting to look up. Hope holds out her hand, palm up. “Did you feel that? I thought I felt a drop.”

  It starts to sprinkle and that quickly changes to a cloudburst …on the whole class, including Professor Keen, who seems to be the only one who manages to stay dry. He claps his hands twice and the cloud shrinks to the size of a tennis ball, plopping three last humiliating drops onto my head before disappearing completely.

  “Sorry,” I offer.

  “Quite alright, Miss Lightbourne. It’s my own fault for assuming you would handle this with the same aplomb as other powers. Would you like to attempt starting a little fire? It might dry you off a bit.”

  I’m torn between just taking my seat in disgrace, and giving it a go. That did seem like the easier of the two tasks, after all. I may be a dodo, but I’m not a chicken. I heave a sigh. “Alright.”

  Professor Keen retrieves another book from the shelf.

  What happens next: Justice does not give me the thumbs up. He’s grimacing, though I’m not sure whether it’s at me or Professor Keen, or the task at hand.

  Professor Keen lays the book on a desk. “Now, with all your focus, kindle a little flame. That’s right, focus like that. Good. Like that. Just a spark, Grace."

  I focus on that book until tears spring to my eyes and my head throbs. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Obviously, I can’t stop the rain or start a fire. Maybe I could start the rain and stop a fire? Redeem myself before my classmates? Diddly squat. That doesn’t work either. I feel my face flush from embarrassment, which quickly turns to anger. Why can’t I do this? I’m good at Powers if nothing else. The anger and frustration builds inside me until there’s a flash at the book, at the desk, at the chair.

  And before I know it a fire blooms, large and growing. It flares and spreads, and Professor Keen starts the rain again. I’m getting soaked, but the fire won’t go out. Justice runs and pulls the fire alarm as smoke fills our classroom. My classmates run, a few coughing uncontrollably as they flee, and the smoke billows into the halls.

  “Grace, you need to exit the building,” Professor Keen says, sounding much calmer than I feel.

  “No, I started this and I’ll stay until it’s fixed.” My wet hair is plastered to my head. My uniform clings to me.

  “Very good.”

  No. Not good. Bloopers was bad enough. I don’t want to be known as the Angel who burned down L’Academie.

  Chapter 5

  Archangel Gabriel and Professor Vivid show up almost immediately. She looks mostly helpless, but Gabriel asks, “How can we help?”

  “I’m not sure,” Professor Keen says. “Can your trumpet blow out fires?” It’s a fair question; I mean that trumpet brought down the Walls of Jericho. Maybe this will be like a super-sized birthday candle for him.

  Gabriel blows the trumpet, creating a cacophony with the blaring fire alarm. But instead of blowing out the fire, it acts like a huge bellows, sending the flames higher and hotter. I wish I knew how to help. I wish I could take it back.

  Mother Nature bursts into the room, with Michael on her heels. “What’s going on?” she sputters.

  I think it’s pretty clear what’s going on. The school is on fire.

  Before Professor Keen can answer, Natura creates a wave of water that washes through the room like a mini tsunami. It carries desks and chairs and books to the back of the room, shooting into the wall with a crash and clatter. It also puts out the fire with one dying, sizzling hiss. The book is ashes. The desk and chair are charred beyond recognition.

  The alarm is shut off and an announcement comes over the speaker. “The fire is out. Students may proceed back to their classrooms.”

  I sigh in relief. “I’m so sorry,” I say to no one in particular. “It wouldn’t start, and then it kinda exploded.”

  Natura raises an eyebrow at Michael, and Professor Keen jumps to my defense. “Grace needs to refine her talent, but the capacity exists.”

  My classmates straggle back into class, a few of them open-mouthed at the d
estruction.

  Justice grins at me. Like from ear to ear. “Wow, Grace, I never thought—” I shoot him a look. I’m seriously not in the mood for one of his wisecracks. Professor Keen is huddled with Michael and Natura, probably discussing the length of my Detention.

  Professor Keen calls me over. He gives me a sympathetic look. “You should take the rest of the day off Miss Lightbourne. Get out of those wet clothes, collect your thoughts.”

  “Okay, Professor.”

  “I urge you to take this extra time to practice these skills. Try the umbrella during your shower. And in the name of Him, if you practice fire sparking, have your roommate stand by with an extinguisher. From what I just learned from Michael, you might need complete dominion over them in the near future.”

  Sheesh. I haven’t even agreed to take this Mission yet, and Michael is already talking to my teachers about my departure. I thought he said I could exercise Free Will.

  Students are still filing back into school as I head out of L’Academie for home. Mercy is on the far side of the quad and she gives me a shrug. Is that a what-the-heck shrug or an everything-will-be-alright shrug?

  }{

  Late that night, after Faith turns out the light, I wait to hear her breathing deeply until I roll onto my back. I’ve been pretending to be asleep ever since Mercy dozed off just to avoid polite conversation with Faith. Or rather impolite conversation. Faith was sure to ask me again about today’s fire and I didn’t want to discuss it. Especially with her.

  Mercy must have heard from everyone that I started the fire, but once she got home she just talked about all her classwork and how she’s stressed out. Faith, on the other hand, brought up the fire, oh, like twenty times, but Mercy would just bring up another project. In the answer to my prayers, the subject would be diverted yet again. I could’ve hugged Merce for all her goodness.

  I wish I was more than pretending sleep, but there is no way I can fall off easily tonight. Between my meeting with Michael and the fire, sleep won’t come. Both scenes play through my mind like a show from HVEN TV, and when the show is over, it starts all over again, like I hit the replay button. I’m ready for a new episode. Something with Victor would be nice, but my mental remote control is stuck and doesn’t allow me to switch channels.