Angel of Tears – YA

ANGEL OF TEARS By Stevie McCoy

1st draft completed  at 70,000 words 

QUERY:

Dear Reader:

Marie was anything but ordinary but not because she sang like an angel or danced with insurmountable elegance, though those talents didn’t hurt her case. Any human contact sent severe pain coursing through her body. Only recently did she realize that as she experienced that pain the person she touched is relieved of it. Marie’s best friend, Terry, decided it was high time she stop hiding and take on an extracurricular activity at school. Terry decided on theatre which is possibly home to the most pained and emotional people on Earth. While trying to avoid sensory overload Marie discovered she was a reborn angel named Jadyn, the Angel of Tears, and being responsible for taking on the weight of human pain on her shoulders is a lot to ask of a high school student. Fortunately she was given the choice between accepting her duties or giving them up for love but that decision isn’t as easy as it seems.

Raphael, a leader of Heaven’s tower of healing, was aware that a war was impending between Heaven and Hell he just didn’t realize he was a huge part in making it happen. After his apprentice Micha fell from grace to pursue his heart’s desire, a reborn angel on Earth, Raphael had a choice to either go down with him in hopes of preventing his spiral towards dancing with evil or stay in Heaven hoping Micha makes the right decisions on his own. Raphael just wasn’t prepared for making the same mistake Micha had, falling in love with an angel.

THE ANGEL OF TEARS is a young adult paranormal romance completed at 70,000 words; the first novel in a duology, the sequel in progress. Having participated in drama class and a couple of plays in high school the author has experienced her fair share of behind the scenes teenage woes and made it out alive to graduate from the (dedacted) University with a BA in English Literature.

Currently chapters being posted to www.bookcountry.com for peer review and editing.

 Chapter 1 Excerpt: Decent

 

Heat and the smell of burning ash assault Raphael’s senses through the wind; a feeling overcomes him knowing something has shifted the fates. Wings spread wide like a hunting eagle searching for what has disturbed his meditation. Outside the frosted wall of the upper most chambers of Heaven’s Tower of Healing Raphael floats. A swift movement catches his blue eyes. Clouds below him break into smoking pieces. He concentrates and spots a feather drifting below it.

No bird would be up this high.

“Raphael?” A voice calls from within chambers to his left, his room. The walls of the tower are frosted like an ice castle’s window panes too thick to see through. At the touch of a small hand the wall flutters away like falling flower petals for her head to poke out.

 “Raphael-” she hesitates noticing the stern look in his eye.

Turning towards her he notices her jump a little. Raphael tries to ease his stiff features from many years of watching human suffering. He knows that soon more would be upon them, “Yes, Theresa.” He looks back down at the fragmented cloud concern inching its way down his spine.

“I have been informed that two angels were seen falling through the quarters down to the lowest part of the towers.” Theresa pauses; waiting for some indication that Raphael is still listening.

“I felt something.” He responds out loud to himself, Theresa’s presence in the room an afterthought.  

“They seem to be heading to Earth.” She presses the issue waiting for some indication of potential action.

“They would have to take the Eternal Fall to go to Earth without the proper incantations.” He enters back into his chamber. Having an angel fall from grace from his tower on his watch; it is difficult for him to contain his disappointment. A shred of hope still exists that they’ll change their desires before they reach the final barrier between Earth and Heaven.

Raphael’s feet touch softly to the floor and his white gold speckled wings fold behind him. Unable to hide his concern he stares into the vacant space of the room still thinking about how to make this situation right once again.

“Should we investigate who is missing?” Theresa holds her clipboard against her chest.

“No need, I know who they are. One is Cherub Micha.” Raphael looks away ashamed at himself for not being able to save Micha from the inner demons teething at every opportunity. It was a risky choice giving wings to Micha but he had proven himself on Earth giving his life for another.

Micha has so much potential, Raphael sighs heartbroken by poor decisions.

“Sir…” her voice catches in her throat at the news.

“You know what this means, Theresa.” He breathes in deeply, preparing for what he must do.

“Yes, of course,” She places the clipboard up against her wings; it turns into a feather and re-attaches itself, “The necessary arrangements have been made for this particular situation,” Reaching up behind her she plucks another feather and it rolls out becoming an orb glowing with a faint light, “Are you sure about this?”

“We must be prepared for any other decisions he may make.”

“Having both you and the Angel of Tears gone will leave this tower vulnerable,” pausing she sees the determination on his brow, “He still has a choice while on Earth.”

“I have placed a lot of faith in him to choose good but being on Earth leaves him susceptible to his other Father’s influences. I can not leave him on Earth to be influenced one way without the option of the other.” Raphael removes his robes and tosses them on the floor of the chamber, “You understand.”

“Can’t you give him some time?” She holds the crystal orb in her hands worry spreading through her face.

“The time it will take me to prepare my host will, in Earth years, be enough time for him to find what he is looking for.” All of the possibilities of Micha’s influence on Earth run through his mind, and as much as he prays for the better outcomes, the worst scenarios have his muscles straining and his heart pounding. He knows where Micha will be heading and Raphael can’t risk it.  

“I should remind you that the last time you did this it took an Earth month for the body to assimilate to your features and for your memories to regain themselves. Disorientation is inevitable.”

“I am aware of the risks but my bodily form created through the chamber,” he looks over at the still water container, his portal to Earth, before continuing, “Is only a temporary thing and I do not know how long I will have to be gone to fix this situation.”

“I will watch over you,” the orb glows revealing the best candidate for transfer, “I could find an older vessel if you give me more time.” She shows him an image of a seventeen year old lying in a hospital bed attached to a machine keeping his heart beating.

“Not enough time.”

“The boy’s soul has already passed on and is currently being cleansed for re-birth.” She stares at the image solemnly, “Odd, he wasn’t destined to die so soon.”

Raphael places his hand over the orb to see what he can gather, “He was supposed to wake up from his coma but he gave up hope. He’ll have another chance but please investigate which healer was assigned to him.” He walks over to the wall and stands against it, “I need to be sent now so that I can heal his body before his family turns off the life support.”

“Of course,” Theresa wrinkles her nose, “Please do not flinch.” She breathes in and gently places the orb to his head.

“Flinch?” He shrugs and closes his eyes. Raphael feels a rush of wind in front of him and opens his eyes. Theresa whispers under her breath as she smashes the orb onto his forehead. The pieces shatter and then prick into several points on his body. His pulse speeds up as he watches the shards grow and consume him into a crystalized state.

He can feel his veins go cold and his heart slow as the orb’s shards pierce into his flesh and harden his wings.

“I only hope that I am not too late,” Raphael’s pulse beats in his ear drums like a fading throb.

Everything turns dark and he can hear someone’s voice calling to him.

“Hello…?” A woman asks shock in her voice.

 “Tim! Our boy, look!” A hand squeezes his tightly.

“Can you hear me?” A man’s voice calls out.

“Can you hear us, this is Emily we knew you would come back to us.”

“Shh, we shouldn’t harass him just yet.” She laughs with happiness.

“So many voices,” he questions to himself.

Raphael open his eyes and an old woman holds his hand while an old man crosses his arms concerned. A young woman cries with a smile on her face next to him. Where am I? He takes his hand from the old woman and brings it to his head confused.

“Son.” The old woman looks at him waiting; shifting her gaze from where his hand was in hers back to his face.

“Who are you?” Raphael asks.

“Doctor!” The man yells out with a frown on his face.

A man walks in wearing funny looking pants with cartoons on them and Raphael looks around the room at the white walls and silent television hanging from the ceiling.

“Yes,” He looks at him and then smiles, “Well, well. The doctor was sure wrong about you.”

“Where am I?” Raphael holds his hand to his throbbing head. Closing his brown eyes he squints at the nurse.

“You know everyone was gathered here to pull your plug but you sure are a fighter!” The nurse rushes over and places his cold stethoscope to his chest, “You are at Saint Vincent Hospice. Look over this way and follow the light.” He lets the stethoscope fall back around his neck and then clicks a light in to his eyes.

The older woman glares at the nurse and can’t seem to help herself but to lift her hand to smack the man upside his head narrowly missing the nurse by an inch, “How DARE you people! Look at my boy you almost killed!”

“Maam, that was not my decision. At the time your doctor believed we had waited long enough that there wasn’t any chance of brain activity. The scans proved his theory,” He backs away from the woman and accidentally into the sobbing girl behind him, “Thank God that the tests were wrong.”

“I do not recognize anyone.” Raphael starts tearing the IV out of his arm.

“Sir, please you can’t move, there is another machine connected to your heart. When your brain activity failed your heart stopped pumping. Please wait until we verify everything is working and we have a team standing by.” The man grabs Raphael’s hands and holds them down as he struggles to be free, “Gerry! We need the restraints!”

“I do not wish to stay here. I feel I am meant to be elsewhere.” Raphael pleads to the woman next to him.

“I am your mother and once these incompetent doctors get you all checked out and removed from these awful machines I will take care of you.” She sends a glare over at the nurse again and then her eyes get all teary as she moves in closer to him.

“That is very kind of you. I feel quite fortunate but I do not wish to burden you.” He touches his face and shifts his gaze from person to person.

“It is no burden at all. You might remember something when you come home.” She smiles sweetly and pauses, “Don’t you worry about school honey; I’m sure it won’t be too difficult for you to catch up when you’re ready.”

“I do not need restraints.” Raphael feels the tension on his wrists ease up as the nurse then waves off the incoming attendant.

“Don’t try to pull anything I will arrange to get you all fixed up as soon as possible.” The nurse leaves to get things arranged.

“How long have I been here?” He looks down at his chest and his breathing quickens. There are tubes going this way and that rotating his blood and sending sharp pings to his heart.

“Six months. We knew you would come back to us even though the doctors told us you left the day of the accident,” Tears pour down her cheeks, “I knew.” She reaches for his hand but stops midway seeing the fear in his eyes.

“What happened?”

“You had a concussion and the doctors say you just gave up and went into a coma.” The older man smiles at him, “Bunch of ninnies.”

“Who are you?” Raphael sighs pressing his fingers to his eyes.

“Your Dad and beside you is your Mother. And the blubbering one is your girlfriend.” He points over at the girl dabbing her eyes with a tissue.

John opens his eyes and looks over at her.

“How odd.” The mother observes, “Turn this way please.” Raphael looks over at her and she smiles, “I never noticed you have a bit of blue in your eyes.”

“Blue?” He closes his eyes again.

“No, He has brown eyes.” The young girl moves closer.

“I must have just been seeing things I guess.” She stands and then walks out the door with the man following her out.

Raphael can still hear her soft sobs as she exits, “He doesn’t remember us.”

“Don’t worry; I am sure it’s just temporary.” The man assures her outside the door.

Raphael feels his eye lids become heavy as the room blurs around him.

“This is just temporary,” he ponders.