Page 58 of The Music Demon

“That would be putting it in the worst light. None of us knows what would have happened if you had interfered with a major event like…” He looked away.

“I see.”

Rosie’s head was buzzing. The angel was right. In the heat of emotional upheaval that was soul-crushing, she’d known that she could travel back in time and thought she might have been able to change the outcome. Yet she’d never tried changing clothes or conjuring tea.

“What’s the worst you foresee?”

He decided there was no point in holding back. “Something that causes you so much pain you want to end everything.”

“And you really think I’m capable of that?”

“People do dumb things when they’re hurting. Things they regret later. Sometimes those things can’t be undone. And that saying about absolute power? It’s a real danger to anybody who bothers with such things as morals, ethics, good, evil, and the like.”

“Absolute power,” she repeated. Her eyes glazed over as she got lost in thought.

As they sat in silence, each occupied with their own thoughts, rain began pattering against the ancient windows of Rosie’s office. The sound was melancholy, but comforting at the same time.

“What about Micheal? Do I have power over him?”

Kellareal shuddered at that. “See? The very fact that you’d ask that question worries me. It’s an incredibly slippery slope.”

“Do you know?’

“No. And let’s not find out.”

Rosie sat up and trained all her focus on Kellareal. “Are you an angel?”

“Why do you ask?”

“You ducked the question. It occurs to me that assumptions were made. Largely because that’s what my mother calls you. But come to think of it, sometimes she callsmeangel and I’m not one either.”

“Does it matter? What’s in a name?”

“You don’t want to say. You know that will only set fire to my need to know.”

“I’m an elemental. I don’t work for Micheal, but he is powerful. I don’t know if getting you out of there has started something. Maybe. Maybe not. What you need to know is not what species I am, but that I always take care of you first.

There was no way Rosie could deny that. She trusted Kellareal with her life and everything she held precious. Sinking back into deep cushions, she said, “And I love you for that.”

“You know you shouldn’t have been able to follow me.”

“I think I got that message.”

“How did you do it?”

“I was, um, indignant? That you just left when I was talking to you? Flying after you was kind of like acting out a growl.” That explanation didn’t seem to make him happier. “Look. I’m going to be more careful. Ididlearn something from this experience.”

“What?”

“Don’t force others to stay engaged if they want to hang up on you?”

He laughed. “Well put.”

“So. Maybe I could use my powers for good.”

“Or maybe you’d get swallowed up by the seductive lure of your ego determining reality for everybody. You’re smart enough to see the problem there. I know you are. It’s a pitfall that may be too deep for anyone to navigate. Even you.”

“Do my parents know about this?”