Part 23 (2/2)

”The best. Absolute best,” Beau replied fervently. ”I'd go back to being Zeke's age if I could. Just to keep him.”

Suddenly, a door opened out of nowhere, and another angel stepped into the room, his gaze taking in the whole scene. ”Padgett!” Prissie struggled to her feet. Her throat threatened to close, but she choked out, ”Milo's hurt!”

Some of the fierceness left the Caretaker's face as he quickly crossed to her side, his long, black hair sweeping across the debris scattering the floor. ”Don't worry, miss. That's why I was Sent.”

”Can you help him?”

Padgett touched her face. ”Fear not. None of the Faithful are beyond help. Trust G.o.d to provide.”

She felt a little steadier, a little calmer, and she suspected him of ministering to her on a divine level. ”Not me! Him!”

”Them,” Koji quietly corrected, for his arms still sheltered Ephron.

”Of course,” Padgett replied, crossing to the Messenger, whose wings still provided the brightest light in the surrounding darkness.

Beau gawked up at the newcomer. ”Can you really help Milo?”

”Yes.”

”That's good. Thanks.”

Padgett's hands moved without haste-smoothing, straightening, strengthening. ”Do not thank me. Thank G.o.d.”

”Have been,” Beau replied.

The Caretaker paused in his work. ”Milo is important to you.”

”Yeah. He's my friend.”

”He's also mine.”

Beau checked, ”Are you really an angel?”

”Yes.”

”Wow.”

Padgett's almost-there smile made an appearance, and he reached across to touch the top of Beau's head. ”Don't be afraid. Everything is in G.o.d's hands.”

Beau offered a small nod and asked, ”Can I help?”

”Thank you.” The Caretaker reached into one of his wide sleeves and produced a roll of softly-glowing gauze, which he pa.s.sed to the teen. Catching Prissie's eye, Padgett nodded significantly toward Koji.

There was no refusing the implied request, but she felt the need to ask, ”What will Momma say when she comes looking for us?”

”We have all the time we need.”

Prissie's eyebrows slowly lifted. ”Did you do something?”

Padgett patiently answered, ”I've prolonged this moment so we can finish without causing further distress to your family.”

With one less worry weighing on her mind, she glanced at Koji, who had his hands full with a s.h.i.+vering bundle of skin and bones draped in torn raiment. She shuffled her slippers across the braided rug, cringing with every crunch of gla.s.s underfoot, to pull a soft blanket off the bed. Shaking it out, she made her way to Koji. Angels might not feel cold, but her friend couldn't offer Ephron the shelter of wings. When she draped her subst.i.tute around the pale angel's shoulders, he started.

Koji spoke in low tones. ”Prissie is with us. You remember her. She is my friend. You are safe with us. We are with you.” His soft a.s.surances had a lilting quality that soon became a song that promised peace and comfort.

Even though Ephron was clearly taller than the younger Observer, he'd curled into a tight, defensive ball, but he lifted his face and murmured, ”With me.” Suddenly he exclaimed, ”Lavi! Where is Lavi?”

Koji helped him fumble with the collar of his tunic, and a brilliant yahavim burst into the air, zinging around in a joyous dance. Prissie squinted hard and gasped in recognition and lifted her hand, ”Hi, you.” She beckoned to the manna-maker who'd accompanied her down to the Deep. ”You're looking much better.”

The tiny angel with his puff of soft green hair lit on her fingers and twirled on the tips of his toes. Lavi's attention quickly returned to Ephron, though, for Koji was helping the injured angel rearrange his limbs. The rescued Observer's pants were badly torn, the cloth unraveling in the absences of seams, which left much of his legs bare. Prissie realized with a jolt that the mottling on his skin was probably bruising, and she couldn't begin to count the cuts, which were in various stages of healing. Her lips trembled, but her jaw came up. There had to be something she could do.

Although an angel's raiment could resist spot and wrinkle, Ephron was in desperate need of a bath. Dirt and dust gave his skin a slightly gray cast, with pale streaks to show the tracks his tears had followed. Prissie would have liked to take him down the hall to the bathroom, but that probably wouldn't work. No power. No lights. ”Koji?” she whispered urgently. ”How do angels wash themselves?”

”With water.”

She bit her lip to keep back a sharp answer.

Koji's dark eyes took on a s.h.i.+ne. ”That is a good idea.”

”Prissie?” She turned to find Beau holding out a basin of water. Her brother explained, ”This other guy said you need this.”

Lavi fluttered in a slow circle around Beau's head, then landed on the wide brim of what looked to be a heavy stone bowl. Her brother showed no sign of noticing the bright pixie testing the water with his toes. Prissie asked, ”How many angels do you see?”

”Is that a trick question?”

She slowly shook her head and pointed to each, pausing to see his reaction. ”Milo. Padgett. Koji.”

Beau's eyes widened. ”Koji's here? Wait. Koji's an angel?”

She stood awkwardly. ”I ... um ... I guess I shouldn't have said anything.”

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