On reaching Earth, Margriel had changed into human form to blend in. But not just any human form... He had changed into the physical form of Janice's brother, Jamis.
Jamis had indeed run away from the village at the sound of the battle cry of Thorne's men. Jamis was a kind man but he was a coward. He had wandered into the desert barely packing enough water. He had focused more on packing food items he could find.
He was also ill dressed for the harsh climate of the desert. It was an unforgiving dry heat. He forded onwards through the desert in hopes of finding something even though it was common knowledge that the only good lands after the sea were the lands of Wasis.
His food supplies ran out a day after his water on the fourth day. He died of hunger and thirst in less than a week.
But nobody back at home knew that he was dead for sure. They had assumed it but there was no evidence he was truly dead.
This made Margriel's entrance into the village and into the Mighty House much easier than it would have had he used another face.
Margriel was having more reasons to believe he was indeed supposed to be there. After all, if he was wrong, why was everything working in his favour?
Margriel now had an audience with Janice.
He was in her room, waiting at the door as she freshened herself up in the bathroom. He would be in close proximity with the object of his affections... the target of his forbidden desires. He felt some type of way that he had never felt... well except for the time when she had hugged him. She had come running to hug him! Why was he so excited in his heart about it? For the life of him, he could not understand it. This was a phenomenon foreign to the angels.
She had hugged him thinking he was Jamis. Now he would be alone with her and it was up to him whether to reveal his true identity or to keep up the facade that he was Jamis. What would he do? Oh it was so difficult making decisions in this human realm especially when one wasn't sent by God. Things were much easier in heaven where all he had to do was the Lord's will. Now what was this? A conundrum. Tell her he was Margriel and risk exposure by her, flouting his plans? Or stay Jamis and be close to her but deny himself the pleasure of sharing his love with her? The love he sought before coming to Earth in the first place?
***
She was done. She opened the bathroom door and came out with a fragrance of aromatic oils following her in the steam pouring gently out of the bathroom.
She was in her shower dress and quickly grabbed a silk like night gown from the bed stand and wore it. As she came out, Margriel's eyes had seen the beautiful skin of her arms and upper chest and the outline of her breasts. He quickly averted his eyes as she reached for the gown.
"Jamis" she called from the side of the bed.
"Come on. Don't be a stranger" she said, smiling.
He walked towards her and before he reached her, she flung herself into his arms again, and this time he could really feel it. He wasn't caught off guard or in the midst of Thorne and his barbaric men. He was alone with Janice!
She held on to him tight and sighed with relief. The sound of it did something in his ear that transported a series of sensations through him.
The touch of this gentle creature fashioned after man was pleasant. It was soft. She was soft. She was tender and warm and his man body felt it and responded in ways he didn't know existed. He held her in response. Lightly at first, but then tightly. He felt his heart beat faster and sensed a thumping. A rhythmic drumming of ecstasy gently, violently vibrating his being.
Then he sensed her drawing away. Pulling him out of his sensuous mental escape. She had not noticed he was where he was.
"How are you alive, Jamis?" Janice asked as she finally withdrew from the long embrace to again inspect his body all round. He saw that tears had streamed down her cheeks.
"Why are you crying?" he asked, concerned.
"I thought you were dead, Jamis!" she exclaimed as if shocked he was asking that. "I thought you were dead!", she broke into tears and fell sitting onto the bed.
He followed her down, crouching close and holding her hands.
"I'm here, Janice" he said. "I'm alive. Look at me"
She looked up at him and drew him to her side and he put his arm around her, comforting her.
He realized he had now made the decision. He would remain Jamis. At least for now.
She looked up at his face and burst into a very short laugh which faded into a smile. He could see genuine happiness plastered on the streaks of tears drying on her face.
"Oh, Jamis! I missed you and I didn't even know how much!"
"Oh, Jamis, a lot has happened since you left... Terrible things, Jamis."
"But now you are here. I'm just glad you fled from those evil men. They would have killed you like they did..." she stopped, stooped low to let her face reach her folded arms and let the tears flow freely.
Her sobs were soft but deep and filled with agony. It broke his human heart. He put his hand out to hold hers and felt hot water on her skin. His heart felt the heat and he wanted so badly to immediately make her stop crying.
"Jamis" she called through her tears.
"They killed Andrew. They murdered my husband." she sobbed bitterly and began to shake, unable to speak further.
Margriel knew nothing else to do. He put his arm around her and comforted her.
"I'm sorry" he said.
She brought her head up and turned to face him.
"He was a good man, Jamis" she sputtered with a teary voice.
"He was strong, he was brave, he was kind and they just..."
She burst out crying again and Margriel held her close to his body, letting her cry through his muffling flesh.
"They took my son" she said after a while, now looking up red eyed, full of anger.
"and now that evil brute wants to marry me".
She looked at Margriel's face. "I won't let it happen, Jamis... I would rather die."
"No! Never!" Margriel found himself exclaiming reflexively.
This was the second time he was hearing her speak of her choice of death over marriage to Thorne.
"Oh Jamis" she said, now considering his presence.
"I cannot take my life now that you are here."
"I thought all was lost and the men in my life had left me and our sister in the hands of these evil men. I would rather have died and gone to meet Andrew."
"But now I have hope that my God has not forsaken me. You have been rescued for a sign and brought back to give us respite."
Margriel was silent.
"Oh Jamis, I know that you don't put much faith in God. But don't you see it now? You have been deliveered alive from a wilderness where no one comes out alive."
"You have been saved not just for the sake of your own life but to give hope to us who had lost it utterly."
"God be praised!" she said, looking up.
She looked back at Margriel.
"Jamis."
"Yes, Janice"
"Will you join me in a prayer of thanks to God for keeping you?" she asked.
Margriel really wished he could speak to God. But he felt guilty for leaving his post and coming down to Earth without permission, and for a reason as unholy as dalliance with a woman.
He could tell everyone he was Jamis, but he definitely couldn't conveniently face God and thank Him for saving Jamis' life when he and God knew that Jamis' body was in fact lying feet deep in desert sand.
"No, Janice. I'm sorry" he said to her disappointed face.
"I will excuse you now. We shall speak again soon" he said as he got up to leave.
"But what shall happen now? Shall I go on and marry this murderer?" she asked as he faced the door.
"No" he answered. "You will not marry Thorne"
"What do you mean?" she asked
"I know this of a fact. Put your mind to rest" he answered.
"How can you assure me of that, Jamis?" she queried further
He paused...
"Your God who you serve... If you really trust him and believe that he brought me out of that wilderness and here to you, alive. Then believe me when I say that he shall make a way out for you."
Janice was surprised to hear her brother speak about God in such a way. He was never one to put his trust in a heavenly creator he couldn't see.
"Jamis?"
"Listen, Janice" he said. "Your God is real, and he definitely has you in his heart... something will happen... Believe."
And he left the room with Janice feeling as shocked as she was motivated.
As he left the room and Janice went to pray, Margriel went to the room allocated to him and there invoked a sleeping spirit to come upon Thorne.