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of sex and love and longing. Ignoring the discomfort of the damp
splotches, Cameron snuggled down under the sheets, wrapping himself in
the comfort they provided.
Testament to Love by Ariel Tachna
38
Chapter 4
When Emmanuel left the mortal plane for the celestial one, he was
clothed again in white, all evidence of his recent activities gone from his
body. He regretted the loss, but it did not matter in the end. Nothing
could erase the evidence from his heart.
Calliel and Alimon flanked him as they made their way slowly back to
heaven.
Are you happy? Calliel asked softly.
Emmanuel s smile was radiant. Happier than I can ever remember
being.
The other two angels nodded. They did not understand, not really, but
they could see, could feel, the contentment and joy radiating from
Emmanuel. They had no idea what would happen next, but they rejoiced
in the serenity of that moment.
Then they reached the Gates of Heaven, only to find them closed.
They ve never been closed to us before! Alimon exclaimed.
And they wouldn t be closed to you now if I weren t here, Emmanuel
replied. I m sorry that this has happened to you. I will make it very clear
that this was my decision and that you should not suffer for it.
Do you think you ll get that chance? Calliel asked.
Oh yes, Emmanuel replied. I have transgressed, and I am sure the
Adversary will take great pleasure in informing everyone of it.
When did you get so cynical? Alimon inquired.
When the laws that govern us made me choose between the man I love
and the God I serve.
Testament to Love by Ariel Tachna
39
Sacrilege! The voice was cold and accusing.
Emmanuel turned to face his accuser. The Adversary stood there, finger
pointed accusingly. You heard him, he said to the gathering host behind
him. Sacrilege! He is mine now.
The word sent the multitude into a frenzy, lifting Emmanuel, Alimon, and
Calliel, and bringing them to the Seat of Judgment.
And why is it that an angel has been brought before me? the Judge
asked, not unkindly.
Before Emmanuel could reply, the host had taken up the cry, led by the
Adversary. Sacrilege!
Be silent, Calliel shouted, coming to stand beside Emmanuel, aware
that Alimon had moved to his other side. We fought you for the soul of
the painter and won. How much harder do you think we would fight for
the soul of our friend?
Emmanuel bowed his head, not in shame, for nothing could make him
ashamed of his love for Cameron, but in sadness that it had come to this.
See! the Adversary shouted. He cannot even face his accusers.
Emmanuel s head snapped up, and he stepped forward. What am I
accused of and who accuses me? You? Tell them what you know, or think
you know. He turned to the Judge. I will submit to Your will, but I do
not need the likes of him to accuse me. If loving Cameron is a sin, then
yes, I have sinned. If finding joy in his arms is a trespass, then yes, I have
trespassed. If seeing beauty and grace and goodness in his heart is a
transgression, then yes, I have transgressed. I freely admit it, but I will not
stand to have that beauty and grace sullied by that one s accusations.
Judge me for what I have done, not for what he thinks I did.
And what have you done? the Judge asked.
Testament to Love by Ariel Tachna
40
Saved a soul, Alimon replied before Emmanuel could speak. I saw the
painter, Cameron, saw what misery he was in alone. That one would have
taken him in his despair. I touched his heart again before we left to come
back. Even if Emmanuel never returns, he will wait and hope. He may
never love again, but he will wait and he will live, hoping to be worthy of
Emmanuel when he does return.
And why should he hope to be worthy of Emmanuel? the Adversary
sneered. Should he not hope to be worthy of the Lord instead?
No act of kindness, of goodness, is forgotten, the Judge reminded him,
no matter the reason behind it. If he lives well to be worthy of anyone s
love, he is worthy of Mine as well.
There is more to it than that, though, isn t there? the Judge asked
Emmanuel.
There is, Emmanuel agreed. For I love him as he loves me. I promised
to return to him, to stay with him, and it is a promise I intend to keep.
You know you cannot live as an angel among mortals, the Judge
pointed out.
I know, Emmanuel replied. It is a small enough price to pay. Let me go
back to him.
You do not have to leave. You could stay here and watch over him, guide
his steps, be his guardian angel.
And never know the joy of his smile directed at me, the beauty of his
laugh, the grace of his touch? Yes, I could stay, and while he would wait
and hope, I would wither and die a little more every day, knowing that he
was waiting and hoping for a day that would never come. I will not do
that, to him or to me. Let me go back.
That is truly your choice? the Judge asked, one last time.
Testament to Love by Ariel Tachna
41
It is. But this was my choice. Alimon and Calliel had nothing to do with it.
All they did was save Cameron from the Adversary until I came to my
senses. They do not deserve to share my fate, for this was not their
choice.
Alimon and Calliel do not and will not stand accused before me. As for
your choice, so be it, the Judge decreed. You are cast out of the host of
angels, to live as a mortal for the days allotted to you.
The pain in his back was searing, a terrible ripping sensation, then he was
falling, falling, plummeting toward the earth. Darkness took him, and he
did not feel the hands that caught him, that lay him gently on the
doorstep of the run-down building with the sign, Anderson Painting. He
did not see those hands knock at the door or the two forms that hovered
over him until the door opened and Cameron let out a sharp cry at
finding Emmanuel there. When his eyes opened, he saw the deep blue
ones looking at him, searching his depths for answers, but he did not see
the fluttering wings of the two angels who left him to the life he had
chosen. That sight, the one that let him see beyond the mortal world, was
blinded, but he did not care. All he needed to see, to know, was that the
man was holding him. I told you I d come back, he said weakly.
Cameron scooped Emmanuel into his arms, carrying him inside. Are you
all right? What happened?
I am human now, Emmanuel said, with all the strengths and
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