Free From Heaven To Earth (The Faith of the Fallen) by Sherrod Wall Page B

her!”
    “No wait, you don’t understand.”
    “I understand that you’re supposed to be experiencing human life!” Gerald
laughed. “I’ll leave you two alone.”
    “But...”
    “Listen,” Gerald fought with every ounce of will he had to seem suave and
unnerved, but he knew he was running out of time, “I’m not going to help you
further until you exercise some of that freewill. If God had wanted it any
different he would have just sent you without it.”
    Drean sighed and nodded.
    “Hell, if he had wanted it any different he wouldn’t have agreed to let
me mentor you.”
    I think I understand what he is talking about. I’m not an angel
anymore. I’m something a little more, and when I return the Faithstream to God,
my own life will be affected too, not just His. I need to know why I am doing
this. I need to know what I want to change in this world.
    “See you later, kid,” Gerald said.
    “Farewell for now,” Drean said.
    “Damn that black leather jacket looks great on you. Are the docs comfy?”
    “Yeah. Thanks.”
    Gerald gave him a thumbs up and stumbled out of the bar.
    Drean waited to see if he was gone before walking to Riell.
    What should I say to her?
    “Greetings,” Drean said and placed one of his drinks in front of her.
“Can I join you?”
    “Look, I’m not interested in any of your sweet talking, you...” Riell
glanced up and looked Drean full in the face. “It’s you.”
    She gripped the hilt of her short sword and stood up.
    “Wait,” Drean said, “I just want to converse with you. That’s all.”
    Riell eased into her chair and motioned for Drean to sit across from her.
They sipped their drinks nervously and stole glances at one another.
    “Did you steal those clothes? You weren’t wearing them before.”
    “No, my friend Gerald did. Do you like them? They’re comfortable.”
    “ Leather and denim is not my style. It is against the law to
steal. Did you know that?”
    “You looked sad earlier,” Drean said, hoping to change the subject.
    “Angel, you have one minute to explain yourself,” she said. The skia
moved closer to Riell’s table when she said “angel,” and she cursed her
carelessness.
    “Why are you acting so violent toward me? I came over here to talk to
you, that is all.”
    “I simply cannot trust you.”
    Riell finished her mug and set it on the table.
    Drean blinked and looked downward.
    “Your time is up by the way.”
    She reached down again to unsheathe her sword.
    “So there is nothing that I can do to change the way you feel about me?”
Drean asked.
    He hasn’t even flinched, she noticed. I thought he was an idiot
not to run. Riell sheathed her sword. I would be an idiot to start a
fight here. Those skia would use the confusion to their advantage.
    “Do you have any memories of your past that you can recall clearer than
others?” she asked.
    “Yes, I have one in particular.” His face creased with anger and sadness
as he thought. “When I was imprisoned, I relived it every time I fell asleep
until I was released by my Father.”
    Riell felt a mixture of wonder and dread as she studied Drean’s reaction.
    He lived in Heaven before tonight. What memory could have possibly
caused him so much pain? Can I bear this memory? He was imprisoned?
    “Would you like me to tell you about it?”
    “No, we shouldn’t talk about it. Close your eyes. Try to recall each
event as slowly as possible. If you move too quickly between them it could
damage my brain,” Riell said and waited for Drean to comply.
    He looked uncertain of the situation but closed his eyes. He felt
pressure beneath his forehead.
    Just stay calm, Riell spoke to him through their telepathic link.
His mind fought her entry. She was gentle though she knew the skia would make
their move soon, and slipped through the initial mental wall and into his
consciousness.
    Warmth filled her. All of her reservations for Drean disappeared
immediately. Inside Drean’s innocence she felt: