A Heavenly Christmas: Getting To Know You

Nick stepped out into the wind and back into his apartment.  The day promised to be a difficult one and he needed one last breath to fortify him not just to brace him for the cold, but for the day ahead.  He took a deep breath and paused.  Roses?!  First the bells and now he’s smelling roses?  “I gotta get outta here” he exclaimed as he hurried out the door amid peals of ringing bells.

 

The angel clamped her hand tightly over her mouth as she hurried after him.  It would do no good to have him think he’s crazy.  He turned on the car and scraped the windows clear of ice as she stood watching him.  She made sure she was far enough away from him that he didn’t smell her again.  As soon as he got into the car, she hurried to the top.  Even if it wasn’t angel-like, she just couldn’t help sitting with her legs crossed on the top of the car as they road to work. 

 

She knew it would be a short trip, but Ostara was well pleased with the number of turns.  After the first two she got the hang of leaning into the turn so she wouldn’t slide off.  She was enjoying herself so much she didn’t notice that Nick had turned up the car radio to drown out the sounds of bells pealing in his head.

 

When he pulled into the parking lot, Nick wondered at the sudden chill in the car.  He opened the door and got a faint whiff of roses before she could slip off the other side of the roof.  He shook his head to clear it as he headed into the warehouse becoming more certain that he was losing his mind.

 

She knew the ride wouldn’t be long, but she couldn’t help the disappointment when they stopped.    “Oh!” she grunted as she landed on the ground on the other side of the car.  “I hate it when that happens.”  She stood up and brushed the snow off herself.  She straightened up her wings and robe and headed to the warehouse a few steps behind him.   “Here goes”, she said as she rushed through the door before him.  She looked back at him.  Only his slight frown showed that he noticed anything amiss.

 

He headed into his office mumbling good mornings to those he saw.  He didn’t notice the angel that walked behind him and how, as she waved to those same people, his grumbles sounded cheerful in their ears.  He stopped at his office door and turned to look at the smiling faces watching him.  “What are you looking at?” he shouted.  It certainly didn’t help his mood when everyone started laughing and turned back to their work.   Then he heard the bells again.  They sounded closer but softer.  He growled and hurried into his office, slamming the door.

 

The angel ran across the warehouse to get as far away from him as she could before she broke out with laughter.   Tears of mirth were running down her face.  If she couldn’t make him laugh, at least she could brighten the days of everyone around him.  The best part was, he had no idea that everyone heard him give a great “ho, ho, ho” before he went into him office.  Her laughter faded to giggles again as she began to wonder what that wonderful belly would do if he ever laughed.  She sighed and started back toward his office.

 

He sat at his desk staring at invoices for the day.  The angel sat in the far corner of his office with her arms around her knees.  Her head was tilted as she looked at him.  She was wondering what she could do to make him laugh when there was a knock at the door.  “Enter.” 

 

“Do you want me to start pulling the orders for today?”

 

“Yeah, here.”  He handed over the invoices.

 

“What’s with you today?” asked Andy.  “One minute you seem to be in a good mood, and the next you’re grumpy as usual.”

 

“Good mood.”

 

“Yeah.  You know; ‘Ho, ho, ho’ and all that.”

 

“Ho, ho, ho.”

 

“Yeah, Scrooge.  ‘Ho, ho, ho’.  Looks like we were as shocked as you.”

 

“Andy, as long as you have known me, when have you ever heard me say ‘Ho, ho, ho’?”

 

“Well, including this morning, exactly three times.”  Ostara sat in the corner, tears running down her face from restraining her mirth as the two men stared at each other.  “Dude, you gotta lay off the sauce!”

 

Ostara was barely able to contain her laughter until Andy left Nick’s office.  As soon as the door closed her laughter burst forth.  Nick flung open the door just as Ostara clamped her hand over her mouth once again.  Nick glared at the employees near his door.  None of them had those damned bells he kept hearing.  “Get to work!” he bellowed before once again slamming the door to his office.

 

 

 

 

“You know she’s more likely to drive him crazy than to save him.”  Tlazolteotl and god stood at the Pool of Sight.

 

God sighed.  “It’s beginning to look that way.  Maybe I should have sent you.”  Tlazolteotl’s eyes twinkled.  “But laughter is the key here, not…well, you’re particular talents are best used elsewhere.”

 

“I guess so,” Tlazolteotl agreed.  Had god been paying more attention, she might have wondered at the quick agreement.  Had god been paying more attention, she might have noticed Tlazolteotl quietly slipping away.  Had god been paying more attention, she might have noticed the gleam in Tlazolteotl’s eyes that told all who knew her that she was up to no good.  But god was not paying attention to Tlazolteotl.

 

 

Tlazolteotl took the long way to Hecate’s hut; she walked.  Her plan still needed some details worked out.  The biggest kink in her plan was how to keep god from finding her out.  That was where Hecate came in.  By the time she reached the hut, Tlazolteotl knew what she had to do.

 

“Hecate?” Tlazolteotl called at the open door. 

 

“Come in and close the door.  I see a plan forming.”  Hecate’s voice purred from the darkness within. 

 

Tlazolteotl laughed.  “I swear you can smell trouble brewing.”

 

Hecate chuckled from her rocking chair near the fire.  “It’s not hard you know.  You have an evil bent.  Ostara is on assignment.  All Heaven's attention is on her.  You have come to my hut.”  She listed the reasons on long finger that came to a tapered point.  “It all adds up to trouble any way you slice it.  The question is, are you trying to help this time or…..not?”  Hecate’s rocker stopped as she looked Tlazolteotl eye to eye.  Only Hecate knew of Tlazolteotl’s jealousy and she wasn’t afraid to let Tlazolteotl know.

 

“Really!” Tlazolteotl huffed after a few intense moments.  “You don’t know everything.”  I just though the situation could be infused with a little passion is all.  He’s awfully boring you know.  The only reason everyone is so interested in this Lost Soul is because they want to see how bad Ostara is going to screw up this time.”  Tlazolteotl curled her long elegant legs under her and sat next to the fire.  “All I need from you is something to distract god for a while….and your silence of course.”

 

“Of course.”  Hecate resumed her rocking.  “I have been watching them too.  I think a little passion may not be so bad.  After all, he is rather attractive and he has been without female companionship for quite a long time.  And besides, it’s not good for all of Heaven to be so focused on the actions of one angel.”

 

“Why Hecate, are you questioning god?”  Tlazolteotl’s tone was teasing, but they both knew the seriousness of the question.  Hecate continued to rock without speaking.  Tlazolteotl leaned forward.  “You could, you know.  So many of us are tired of being shut up here away from our followers.  One god!  Wasn’t existence so much more fun when she let us have our own way on earth.  Damn that Lucifer for getting us all banished to Heaven this way!”

 

Hecate just rocked.

 

Tlazolteotl sat staring at the fire in silence as she reflected on her time on earth.  “Now we have to wait for an assignment or sneak down.  And it’s not damn likely she’ll be sending me any time soon.” 

 

“If it is simply a matter of you wishing to return, it can be arranged.” 

 

“No.  I am well aware that you know I have found my own little way to make earthy visits.  Unlike the rest of her audience, I actually want to see Ostara succeed.  I just think she needs a little helping hand.”

 

“And you think you should be that hand.”

 

“Ostara is naive.  She’ll never know the difference.  And besides, I’m the only one that can infuse this situation with some passion.” Tlazolteotl rose over Hecate radiating with endorphins designed to manipulate divine as well as human.

 

Hecate’s eyes glowed, but her words belied the desire in them.  “Do you really think you can ensnare me with your chemical web?"  Tlazolteotl simmered once again into her passive form.  "That's better.  I do not conspire with those who try to threaten me."  Tlazolteotl smiled.

 

"Will you help me then?"

 

"I will help you, but know this Tlazolteotl:  I risk all to do so and I will call upon you to settle this debt." 

 

Tlazolteotl looked into the fathomless dark eyes of Hecate.  Suddenly she became very frightened of what she saw.  Her smile faded.  "Even with all the angels behind us, there are some things that cannot be undone."

 

Hecate's laughter filled the room with the harsh cries of ravens.  "You are still a child, friend Tlazolteotl.  It is simply that I too grow weary of this life.  Even so, I have no wish to live amongst the mortals and have no communion with the divine.  You will keep me company on each full moon."

 

Tlazolteotl started.  Haw did Hecate know she rode to Earth on the beams of the full moon?  Ah, it was no point to wonder.  The deal was set with the blood of the angels and Tlazolteotl left knowing the two had changed the course of their own history.