The next morning, Alex woke up and sees two people in the room. Raphael was sitting on a recliner in a corner. Samantha was covered with a blanket on a seat next to his bed. The Healer got up quickly and walked over to him. He put a hand on his forehead and a few seconds later he said softly:
"Good, no permanent or long term damage has been done. Alex, do yourself and me a favor. Keep your temper at bay for a moment and please give yourself time to recover."
He nodded and said quietly:
"That's the problem Fuzzie, I don't know if I have time and if so how much."
"I have heard, but in the state you are in now, no one has any use for you."
"I know Fuzzie."
He pointed at Samantha:
"Has she been here all night?"
"Yes, she refused to leave your side."
A sneaky smile appeared on Alex's face:
"Oh, I would have loved to have seen Samuel's face. His little sister spent the night with the Antichrist. I'm surprised he didn't need your help after suffering brain damage."
Raphael laughed:
"Yes, he wasn't happy about it. But after what Michael said yesterday, I'm not surprised he didn't storm in here."
"What did he say then, Raffa?"
Samantha asked, sitting up straight as she rubbed her eyes. Raphael tilted his head slightly to the side and said:
"I think I prefer Fuzzie."
Alexander said smiling:
"Okay Fuzzie, what did Michael say?"
"Well, what I know is that he showed up at Gabriel's right after your meeting. He wanted him to spread a message to the entire Angel choir. Gabriel objected that he couldn't do that without Mom or Dad. The next thing he knew, he was up against a wall a few feet off the ground with Michael's hand around his throat. He had never seen Michael so pissed off. The message is that you are both under his protection from now on, and whoever lifts a finger against you will curse the day of their creation."
He looked at Samantha sternly:
"You know Michael Sam. When he is in such a mood, no angel or demon is suicidal enough to doubt his words. Not even Samael."
"But what about Mom and Dad? They would never let that happen, would they?"
"I don't know Sam. After you and Alex left the table, Michael must have said things that were not for sensitive ears. Aisha and Franklin left soon after. Dad and Mom retired to their suite and didn't show up again. And Samael, as far as I can hear, is simultaneously seething and seriously afraid of Michael. That says everything about the mood Michael is in."
There was a knock at the door and Michael poked his head in.
"Speak of the devil..."
Alexander said and Samantha giggled. He entered the room and said:
"Nah, that's my dad. Come to think of it, you have one of those too. We should start a club brother."
"What can I do for you, Michael?"
The archangel pointed at him:
"Oh no, not this time brother! No more others first. Now it's about what you need, what we can do for you to reach your goal."
"Michael, I'm sorry, but I'm not sure I want to achieve a goal."
"How long do you want to lie to yourself, Alexander? An hour, two hours? You made your decision yesterday at that table. I know who you are."
Alexander said venomously:
"And who am I?"
" ou are the son of the Devil. The Antichrist, who, according to the ignorant people of Earth, should usher in the end of time and almost wipe out mankind. And what are you going to do? You are going to save the whole mess, just the opposite. That's you!"
Alexander stretched his legs over the edge of the bed. He wanted to go outside and smoke a cigarette. In a soft voice that had lost all sharpness, he asked:
"And what if I fail, Michael? That by trying something I unintentionally achieve the opposite of what I want to achieve?"
"So what? You are looking at this problem from the wrong angle. After what Aisha showed you yesterday, you know that that universe is doomed anyway, because that is the intention of the old fool. If you try to save it and fail, it is still that madman's fault, not yours. No one can blame you for trying, it would be worse if you didn't try and watch from the sidelines."
He pointed at Samantha, who was helping with Alexander's sweatpants because even with something as simple as that, he was having trouble and pain getting it done. The two youngsters didn't realize it themselves, but these things were automatic. They were so attuned to each other and that understanding hadn't even penetrated their brains yet.
"She won't blame you if you fail. Sam will always be there for you, brother. Either way, you will end up as God, because that's what you are meant to be. Either you end up on the primary throne in your universe or you end up on the secondary throne in our universe. You two were just made for each other."
Both Samantha and Alexander had gone red in the face, while Raphael and Michael had broad smiles on their faces. They had already started to spread the rumor that the two were madly in love with each other, love at first sight.
"So Alexander, what is your goal?"
He looked into Samantha's eyes and said quietly:
"Saving that universe is no longer my primary goal."
"Why brother?"
"Because my primary goal is to find a way for our two universes to function in such a way that we can be together."
He was even weaker today than the day before and had to be helped by Michael. They sat on the bench and he smoked his cigarette. When he finished, the butt disappeared into thin air. He asked quietly:
"Michael, you are the general here. I need a mentor, the best. Can you please teach me as much as you can?"
"Yes, as I said, everything you need. But this is unknown territory for me as well. I can train you, but what do we start with?"
Alexander looked at him:
"Wings, because I need a sword."
"I understand wings and I understand sword. I don't understand what they mean together."
"I need a flaming sword. Without it, the whole exercise is useless. You have one in this universe, but I can't use it because there's no guarantee that your sword will work in this other universe. And I can't count on having their sword in my hand at the right time. So a new sword must be made. For that, I need wings."
"Your wings?"
"Yes."
"Unfortunately, that will have to wait another two years. You are a Nefilim and according to Raffa it will take at least two more years, around your fifteenth year, for them to manifest. We weren't sure about Samantha either, because she was born natural, not created. With her they manifested at the age of twelve.
"Manifest as in poof they are there?"
"Yep."
"Manifest and put away as in..."
He made a new cigarette appear, lit it, and then made the lighter disappear.
"Yep."
He smoked his cigarette in silence and then asked:
"Hey Red, would you mind showing me your wings? I would say I will show you mine if you show me yours, but I seem to have some trouble getting mine out."
Samantha had turned a little red and Michael let out a snort. She stood up and took a few steps in front of him. She rolled her shoulders and two beautiful green wings appeared. He looked at her and her wings and it seemed like lightning had struck his brain. He knew immediately that he would never get tired of her, that he wanted to see and admire her every day of his existence.
"Now put them away please."
She did as she was asked and rolled her shoulders in the opposite direction and the wings disappeared. Alex sat intently, absorbing everything. Samantha came back to sit beside him and wanted to take his hand, but he straightened up and went to stand where Samantha had been. He closed his eyes. A few seconds later, with a loud, raucous cry of pain, two beautiful blood-red wings shot out. As Alexander fell to his knees, Samantha flew towards him and Raphael came sprinting out. Only when he was on his knees next to Alexander did he realize he possessed wings and said:
"That should not be possible. At least not yet."
Gritting his teeth and in great pain, Alexander said:
"Nothing is impossible Fuzzie, nothing!"
Michael came to stand before him:
"Look at me, Alexander!"
He raised his head with difficulty.
"All right, that was your first lesson. Visualize your goal and get the tools you need. Tomorrow, strategy, short term, and long term. See you tomorrow little brother."
Michael sauntered off but was stopped a few steps away by Samantha.
"Was that really necessary Michael? That hurt him so much!"
He looked at her and said:
"That? That was nothing compared to what he was used to. To what has been done to him physically and mentally all his life. He will endure all the pain that comes to him and then use it to achieve his goal. When he is ready, he will tell you his story or a moment will come when you can ask him to bare his soul. But Sam, that is not an issue right now, so let it go. He is nowhere near ready for something so emotionally upsetting."
Her eyes had become watery and he pulled her against his broad chest.
"Sam, I can't treat him as your boyfriend. You have to do that as his girlfriend while he licks his wounds. I have to treat him like the general he is becoming. Do you understand?"
"I think so, Micky."
"Well then, go back and pick your boyfriend up off the ground and make sure he's back in his bed."
"So you don't mind if we become boyfriend and girlfriend?"
He laughed softly:
"No, even if I was against it, which I am not, how could I stop you two when even Mom and Dad appear to be powerless. Take it easy Sam. First he has to get back on his feet and after that it will be damn hard for him. He will be very good friends with Raffa."
"He prefers Fuzzie?"
Michael asked, not understanding at all:
"Who, what, Fuzzie?"
"Alexander renamed Raphael Fuzzie and apparently he has become attached to that pet-name."
Michael laughed out loud. He turned to Raphael and said:
"Fuzzie, along with Samantha, make sure that Alexander gets as much rest and food and drink as possible because the three of you are going to be very good friends in the near future."
Laughing, Michael made his way out.