Images of Angels and Demons

Partial Story...

Things had changed since that day. Nothing would ever be the same again. To see the secrets of the universe had been a revelation that would forever change David’s life…

42 pages of answers, 42 different stories all in fable form. 42 different life lessons that are all true. David couldn’t believe that he had become the keeper of the answers. The universe unfolded before his eyes as he read the first of many fables in the keeper’s text. The binding had faded over time from black to a dull mottled grey, and the pages of the small book were brittle from the ages of time. The scent of the pages took David back to the dawn of the keepers. He imagined himself among the monks who had transcribed the first Cuneiform script of the secrets on dried reeds. His mind skipped again to the translation from Cuneiform to ancient Latin upon scrolls ornately crafted in the images of Mount Olympus and the gods. The Greeks believed that the gods had written the secrets. The Mesopotamians had believed that Ba’al had written the secrets that were first taken from the tablets of truth.

The secrets had been held by one keeper or another in England for the past three millennia. David was another in the long line of succession and had been chosen at birth to be the bearer of the secrets. What David didn’t know is that he would become the final keeper as all of the secrets would be revealed through his unwitting involvement in petty little things like high school and relationships.

****

Two weeks earlier

“Class may I have your attention please… take your seats.” Mr. Sullivan had a very thick northern accent and was difficult to understand but his lilting voice carried to the very back rows where David sat and tucked the little black book away in the front pocket of his satchel. “Today I’m pleased to introduce a new student to our ranks at King’s. Please welcome Lilly of York.”

The sun broke through the clouds outside in an instant as the new girl entered the classroom. David’s heart skipped a beat as he gazed upon the very face of an angel sent from Odin himself. Lilly appeared as if from heaven a halo of light christened her features and accentuated her crystal blue eyes as she looked about her new domain.

‘Beauty is not always what it seems.’ David recalled from parable 36. ‘If she is not what she appears to be then I must find out what she is.’ David’s mind raced through several examples of the changes he had seen take place in the world that the parables revealed as absolute changes for better or worse. The omen of the beautiful woman was one of the worst parables to have come true, and David dreaded the consequences of the parable. It was up to him to determine the nature of beauty before him, but how to get close to her was the real question.

“Why don’t yah go take a seat in the back row and get settled in Ms. Lilly.” Mr. Sullivan wasn’t one to embarrass new kids in class plenty of that would come later in the lunch hall among her peers and he wished to avoid the possibility of making the girl even more uncomfortable than she already was.

****

Lilly walked towards the back of the class keeping a regal gaze upon the desk she would occupy for the remainder of the class. She sensed the presence of a seeker of truth and she could feel all the eyes of boys on her as her presence enchanted them and the looks of disgust from the girls in the room as they envied her beauty. One of them was different. This one appeared to see through her. She shuddered at the thought that anyone could possibly see through her, but the very fact that this one questioned his instincts made her wary of him and interested in his fear.

****

‘Something isn’t right with this one.’ David couldn’t put his finger on what set his hackles up. ‘She’ll be sitting next to me and that should put right the situation. I can figure her out by seeing how she reacts to me.’

Lilly sat down next to David. ‘She radiates heat like no one I’ve ever met. The perfume is so subtle yet so perfect that I am drawn to her.’ David thought as his mind failed to keep up with his body’s reaction. Shifting ever so slightly in his seat to hide the natural phenomenon that had taken place from his hormonal response to the presence of a woman.

‘This one could prove amusing.’ Thought Lilly ‘He seems repulsed and attracted to me at the same time. He knows something and he’s cautious, but he also wants to get close to me.’

Class continued in silence amongst the two new acquaintances until the bell rang. David moved to get his things and Lilly reached out to tap his shoulder garnering his attention and capturing his eyes in her gaze. She reached out with her hand for a shake. “Hi I’m Lilly. What’s your name?”

“I-I-I’m David.” He stumbled over the words as he couldn’t help but be entranced by her eyes.

‘Good’ She thought. 'I have him entranced.'

“David, very biblical.”

“Well yes my father was a man of the Church of England and he felt very strongly of the stories of David. Hence my name.” David chuckled nervously.

“So, you’re a parishioner’s child?” Lilly was intrigued she hadn’t had the chance to sink her teeth into a godly man in a very long time. She had settled in Germany during the war and satisfied her cravings among the SS and secret police of the Third Reich during the war. It was time to move on to more promising game.

“Well, my father is a keeper of the church and he takes care of it when the parishioner is out amongst the people.” David couldn’t believe what he was telling this girl. She seemed to get the information out of him without even trying. “I must get to my next class. If you’ll excuse me.” David grabbed his bag and slung it across his shoulder. Lilly placed her hand on his wrist he felt warmth radiate through his body and goosebumps sprouted up his arm.

“I’m new here and I think that spending time with you would be grand. You’re not like the other boys in this class.” Lilly enchanted him again with her gaze holding him as she worked her magic. “Would you be willing to show me around town?”

“U-U-U-Uhm sure.” David once again found himself lost for words.

“Great! Meet me out front after classes are over!” Lilly bounced out the door leaving David stupefied. Mr. Sullivan snickered to himself as he walked out the door behind Lilly.

****

The rest of the day went by in a blur for David. At lunch he sat out in the square by himself and took out the Book of Secrets again flipping to parable 36.

‘For as the sun shines bright upon the face of beauty there is a darkness within concealed by the shine of rays so bright. For beauty is a thing to be amiss about; it is not as all appears to be. Taken at the value of face the beauty can entrance the most noble of men. Led astray from the truth beneath the soul is a risk to lose. Quench the thirst of men within the bosom of the harpy and man loses the will to live. Taken amongst the queen of darkness to fall amongst the ashes of damnation.”

'I can't believe that I'm reading this again. I must be taking this too seriously. There is no way she is the harbinger of damnation!' David chastised himself for his thoughts towards Lilly earlier.

"Hey David." Aron came up to him. "You seem to be getting along with the new girl. What's she like?"

"Well she's pretty." David replied.

"No shit! I hadn't noticed." Aron had the typical cynicism of most English men thrice his age.

"I don't know. Something seems off about her. I can't quite put my finger on it."

"Don't tell me you're smitten already! 45 minutes next to her without a word and you're fallen into lust. I must admit I wouldn't mind playing hide the willy with her." Aron laughed boisterously as he shook his head and walked away from David.

****

David left his final history lesson for the day and headed to his locker to drop his books as he turned the corner to the hall Lilly came the other direction towards him.

"Good I thought I'd miss you in all the craziness out front. I wanted to make sure you hadn't forgotten our little jaunt this afternoon." Lilly's face lit up with a smile.

"No I hadn't forgotten." David opened his locker exhausted from Ms. Nautilus' class. "I'm sure that my history teacher has lived through most of it, and married half of the lords in London since the 16th century." It was no secret that Ms. Nautilus had been divorced several times. Hence the reversion to her surname last fall from Lady Lane.

David closed his locker and looked at Lilly. "Shall we. I know a great row in town where the danishes are delightful, and the book keeper has a selection of classics like you wouldn't believe."

...To be Continued