A Demon's Whisper

Aaron

A heavy darkness unfurled, and the world turned dull. My head swam as the sterile room spun around me. Grasping the back of a rocking chair, I tried to steady myself. My other hand instinctively ran through my hair as I struggled to remember what I was doing. What an odd sensation to feel momentarily lost. I shook it off, deciding to return to Lucas. My body felt strong and ready to guard—that was the only explanation for being here. The hospital nursery had always been my refuge, a place where I found solitude and strength.

Like a slap on the face, my surprise was immediate when I discovered another guardian accompanying Lucas. Thankfully, Lucas was napping, so I had missed little from the human aspect, but what was she doing here?

“Oh. Hey, Aaron.” This angel waved a tiny hand. Such a human gesture.

“Who are you?” I asked with too much force, but she took me by surprise.

She giggled with amusement until she looked at my face. I'm not sure what expression I had conveyed, but she quickly switched gears. “Do you seriously not know who I am?”

“I don't recall us being introduced.”

“This can't be good.” She paused, shaking her bobbed black hair back and forth. “I'm Arrah.” Her eyes widened as she stood and paced the room. “What's the last thing you can remember?”

“I must have been building up my strength because I came from the nursery just now.”

“What about before that?”

I tried, but I honestly could not recall. My mind had never experienced this kind of void before. What was wrong with me?

“Wait, Lucas was packing up for a trip,” I said, satisfied with my answer.

“Shoot. So, you don't remember any time aboard the boat, the last few months, or time with Catalina?”

That name. Catalina. I let it sit in my mind, pondering this woman’s name, but I couldn’t recall her.

“Wait, months?” I asked.

“Yes. It’s now the end of summer.”

How could I be drawing a blank over several months’ time?

“I'm not familiar with anyone by the name of Catalina. Is that your assignment?”

“No, she has become your new one,” she replied.

“That's simply not possible. Why would I have a new human assignment when I have not completed my obligation with Lucas? He's clearly alive.”

I hesitated, walking closer to him. Yes, he's alive. I can hear his breathing.

The small angel waved her hand as she continued to pace. “Yes, he is fine. I will retrieve Jonathan and see what we need to do next.” She vanished and was back with him in seconds.

“Hello, Jonathan. We seem to have some confusion. This guardian, Arrah, states she is now in charge of Lucas,” I told him.

“Well, that would be correct. You met with the council and requested to be reassigned to Catalina, which was granted.”

“Who is this, Catalina?” I looked back and forth between them.

“See what I mean!” The intruder angel looked at Jonathan with wide eyes.

He glanced at her and then at me again, seeming to be lost in his thoughts. “I don't understand, Aaron. You do not recall any events from the last several months?” he asked.

“The only thing I know for sure is I departed the infant nursery, and Lucas is my responsibility.”

“Well, that may have been true at the beginning of the summer, but you now have a new obligation, and her name is Catalina. I'm worried Seth may be responsible for your loss of time.”

“Seth, Lucas' demon? He's never been trouble for me before.”

“How I wish that were the case now. It seems I have a lot to catch you up on, Aaron. You may want to sit down for this,” he stated with a concerned tone.

As Jonathan explained the events of the last few months, my mind spun. Did I really go to such lengths for a human woman? I could not fathom this realization.