Of Wizards and Angels
A supernatural fantasy
by
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Then one day, a month or so later, when Elizabeth was completely alone and bored, she drew a steaming hot bath and decided to soak all day and listen to some classical piano music. While there in the hot tub all by herself and completely alone in the apartment, if the music brought on melancholy, she could cry to her heart’s content. Most of Elizabeth’s music had already been downloaded onto her computer; the computer was connected to the main audio system, which filled the apartment with amplified high-fidelity stereo sound. She easily programed a play list from the music library. Then she relaxed in the tub and the music became delightfully entertaining, but without becoming too nostalgic.Nearly an hour passed and the music wasn’t nearly over. However, the water started to get cold, even after turning the hot water tap on full. It was annoying, and she reasoned that maybe she should put in a larger water heater, or even better, one of those demand type heaters that never ran out of hot water.This minor disturbance interrupted her melancholy mood which the music seemed to bring on, and what a shame. What Elizabeth selected was music that normally was depressing. However, Elizabeth was in a mood where such a selection could be appreciated. That mood rarely occurred, accepting that Elizabeth could at times experience pleasure from certain kinds of music, though not in spite of her melancholia, but because of the melancholia, for the nostalgic melancholy made the music more emotional and exotic.Regardless, the water had turned cold and Elizabeth had to get out. But the doorbell rang just as Elizabeth stepped out the bath. “Wouldn’t you just know it?” She mumbled to herself, though loud enough to be heard if anyone else was in the apartment besidesherself.“Why,damn it,” she asked herself loudly, and angrily, “why does this always happen. I can’t believe it. Now I need to hurry and almost break my neck getting down to the door. No matter, I know whoever it is, will be gone by the time I get there; don’t know why I should even bother.” Her mumbling became louder and louder as she went on complaining until finally she was in fact talking out very loudly to herself. She quickly slipped on a bathrobe and hurried to the door dodging furniture on her way to the stairway. Elizabeth took short cuts to the short flight of stairs. She descended the stairs two steps at a time.Still mumbling, wet and barefooted, Elizabeth quickly grabbed the doorknob while still talking to herself, but louder as she started to open the door. “Of all times, Paul had to be out when this happens. I swear it’s more than a coincidence.” Elizabeth mumbled and was by then talking loud enough to be heard even through the thick exterior door.Elizabeth was embarrassed and realized that the person at the door had surely heard her having such a ridiculous conversation with herself; she knew with disfavor that she was about to come face to face with the intruder. Fortunately, or unfortunately since she had already embarrassed herself; she arrived at the door in time and whoever was there had certainly heard her. Knowing this, Elizabeth felt foolish. She didn’t bother looking through the peephole, and just hurriedly unlocked and opened the door slightly agar. Elizabeth then had a clear view of the entranceway.What a surprise, there before Elizabeth stood an extravagantly gorgeous young woman, who looked like the flight attendant of her visionary week-long Delta flight to Atlanta.Elizabeth just stood there still as a mannequin for a few moments. She was startled by the sudden appearance of what had to be an alien humanoid form. Besides being so exquisitely and flawlessly beautiful the visitor was extremely tall.In just a few seconds, as many thoughts rambled through her mind, Elizabeth analyzed the creature standing before her; for all viable reasoning the intruder did seem alien. Of course, Elizabeth did have a habit of seeing magic at the slightest provocation. Still magic wasn’t on her mind. Even so, she knew the staff was tucked away in the locket around her neck.Shocked at the appearance of such an unexpected view, Elizabeth was caught short of breath. After inhaling hard, she let out her breath rapidly, permitting a little audible sigh pass by her lips. Still she managed to contain herself for a few seconds until finally she was again alert and rational.Undeniably the visitor was strange in appearance, but only because she appeared so much taller than any human female Elizabeth had ever seen, and besides the visitor was remarkably beautiful. With the bland appearance displayed by the visitor, the creature appeared benign. That simple smile, together with her kindly expression alone were enough to convince Elizabeth this visitor was more than welcome. This surprise appearance was not in the least bit threatening; in fact to Elizabeth the creature’s behavior was pleasant. That was so, even had she considered magic was involved.Elizabeth knew the creature hadn’t come there just to visit; most assuredly, the creature was there for some profoundly important reason and she must cooperate with this creature.Though not conspicuously curious, Elizabeth was desperate to see what this all was about. She knew far too well the creature was there for reasons mutually aligned and was satisfied the nature of this visit was more for her and the baby’s benefit than any others.All those thoughts swirled around Elizabeth’s mind in just a few seconds. However, it was time she asked the visitor in, so finally it became necessary to fully open the door. After remaining inanimate as one of her marble statues, for what seemed like a few long minutes spent to survey the intruder, it was time that Elizabeth ushered the stranger in. Elizabeth calmly proceeded to fully open the door. With a happy smile and an unmistakable welcome expression, Elizabeth said to the strange visitor, with a wave of her hand, “Oh please, come in, I think I know what this is about. Come, follow me to the living room, it’s just up this short stairway and down the hall. We can sit, while you explain what this concerns.”The tall humanoid creature entered and without the simplest exchange of words followed Elizabeth upstairs and down the hall. Elizabeth stopped momentarily only to turn off the loud music. Then, as Elizabeth proceeded, she occasionally turned and glanced back from time to time as they continued down the hall. The creature smiled each time. Yet the smiles appeared programed; it was almost like the creature was a puppet, controlled, but of course not with strings, but with outside influences.As Elizabeth closely paid attention to the stranger’s actions, particularly the smiles, which were perfectly beautiful, she couldn’t help notice, they too had seemed artificially fashioned with the most incredibly perfect teeth splendidly peeking out from behind beautifully parted lips. Yet this face was made to be even lovelier. Though starting with such perfection, it seemed inconceivable it could have been given any improvement. It was such a lovely beautiful face, could anything be done to improve it; doubtful, however with this ageless face she could have been born yesterday, for the creature’s skin was so smooth, it was apparently void of even the tiniest visible pores. Elizabeth then analyzed the creature; ah yes, it was a timeless face without even the slightest bit of character. It was a face that one would have a hard time identifying; only to say it was a beautiful and perfect face.Still having further thoughts, she marveled, how odd that its skin could be so perfect! Newly birthed, but of course, yes, an infant’s skin adorned the creature’s face. Yet, ironically, the creature harbored a body resembling a fully developed voluptuous human female. This absolutely was the ultimate wizard’s daemon. Yes it was a perfect creation; it was a perfect Clone of an improved human form,
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About the Book
“In the late seventeen hundreds and early eighteen hundreds, I was Beethoven’s prized pupil, if you can believe it. Unfortunately I had to quit him for reasons not concerning music. It was really quite silly. I was supposed to be protecting my good name. You see, it was rumored that the maestro, Beethoven, was a womanizer and while conducting orchestras he also conducted many affairs with his young female students. In those times, although mostly behind their backs, some men and even some women were referred to as libertines. Of course any man as emotional as Beethoven had to be romantically exotic, but I didn’t consider him a libertine; it was just that young women threw themselves at him and he used the opportunities. The saddest part was this remarkable man was almost deaf; in later years, he became almost completely and totally deaf. Yet this man was such a genius, just by reading the written notes, he could hear the music inside his head. Often, he laid his hands on the piano as I played. At times, when I played—particularly when we were alone, after he’d closed the piano, thus containing the sound—he’d then lay his head down on the piano; by doing so, with his temple held tightly on the lid, it enabled him to hear it fully the way it was meant to be heard. This was done only prudently and only witnessed by certain people as he was embarrassed and, at first, not wanting to admit being deaf. No matter how much relief I’d get by forgetting the music, I never would forget it on purpose. That music is a part of me, more so than my arms and limbs even; the music is more part of me than my perceived beauty or my immortality.
About the Author
The author is seventy-five years old and retired. He has traveled all over the Rocky Mountains and has been on safari in Africa twice. He dove to a ship while in Acapulco. His travels left him with many interesting life experiences. So now with nothing to do with his time, he figured—what the heck, let’s write a novel.