Saints and Sinners

By Monika Arenth

Time travel is Angelika’s destiny.

In my previous book, The Healing Circle, Angelika journeyed into the 17th century where she experienced three days within the horrors of a black plague outbreak. With the guidance of a wise matron and a dedicated physician she survived with the help of her fellow healers.

In this sequel ‘Saints and Sinners’ Angelika continues her journey. After finishing her nursing training she feels the need to pay it forward by volunteering in a state of the art underground hospital during a modern day plague outbreak in 1972.

Shortly after reuniting with her family, she once again is summoned to visit the past. Perhaps it is her gift of healing or her openness towards other dimensions which predestines her journey; this time into the 13th century to the Wartburg, an ancient castle sitting in the hills of Thuringia. There she meets Saint Elizabeth the patron saint of the church of her hometown and becomes reacquainted with her first true love.

Is it possible that love can bridge centuries dimensions apart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664159372

Monika Arenth

N.A

Book preview

Copyright © 2021 by Monika Arenth.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 02/23/2021

Xlibris

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Contents

Preface

Chapter 1     1972

Chapter 2     Introductions

Chapter 3     Wine or Ale

Chapter 4     A Revelation

Chapter 5     The Plot Thickens

Chapter 6     Saying Goodbye

Chapter 7     A Homecoming

Chapter 8     Into The 13th Century

Chapter 9     Meeting Elizabeth

Chapter 10   The Ward

Chapter 11   Godspeed to Louis

Chapter 12   Revelations

Chapter 13   About Life and Death

Chapter 14   The Birth of a Princess

Chapter 15   Saving Elizabeth

Chapter 16   Doubt no more

Chapter 17   Escape into the Open

Chapter 18   A Night to Remember

Chapter 19   On the Other Side

Epilogue   Author’s Note

Saints and Sinners

                                  Time and space are just illusions

                                  Love the biggest one of all

                                  As we travel through dimensions

                                  Not explored

                                  We have to fall

                                  Saints and sinners fly together

                                  Through the universe we know

                                  And the molecules within us

                                  Find the portal as they flow

                                  When we reach our destination

                                  Here or there it matters not

                                  For our souls have found their purpose

                                  In this life or with their God

Also by Monika Arenth

Two memoirs:

Helena’s Hunger

Beneath the Boulder

Fiction:

The Healing Circle

Saints and Sinners

PREFACE

T HE PLACE IS Germany, the time is 1972.

Angelika a young nurse awoke from a dream which had moved her into the late 17thcentury. There she found herself within the horrors of a plague stricken town as a member of a group of volunteer nurses working in a makeshift hospital to accommodate the onslaught of the many plague victims. Her somewhat complicated childhood experiences and the beginning of nurses training made her the perfect candidate to understand the suffering and ultimately the healing of the afflicted. Her grandmother, a natural healer taught her well in the art of homeopathy and her inborn intuition, her ability to assess and interpret a patient’s condition prepared her for the art of healing. Some might call it a 6th sense, others a gift from God. She seemed to have the ability to open her senses completely to a patient’s suffering and was often able to predict the outcome.

While she was captured within her dreamlike state, she met the love of her life in the form of a young and dedicated doctor, who was not only smitten by her looks, but mostly intrigued by her natural intuition and modern knowledge, which had evolved over nearly 300 years. Later she continued her training in her time and the doctor stayed behind. Through many complicated circumstances they meet again.

CHAPTER 1

1972

T HERE HAD BEEN a plague outbreak in Germany. First it was not reported in the papers or on the news for fear it would promote panic. This plague unlike its Middle Age cousin was now curable with the antibiotic Tetracycline. The bacterium was nearly unchanged from the strain that killed half of Europe’s population from the 13 th through 17 th century. Unfortunately Tetracycline was not developed until 1948 and when administered in time was extremely effective in curing the afflicted. In spite of having a cure, plague was still considered an extremely dangerous disease and afforded strict isolation.

Angelika found herself immersed as a volunteer in a state of the art underground hospital for infectious diseases which had the potential of creating an epidemic. The entire staff of doctors, nurses and therapists plus cafeteria and cleaning personnel consisted of volunteers.

Angelika volunteered because she felt that she owed the universe this service. All through her nursing training and early career she remained single. She was totally devoted to her profession and up to that point had not found a man worth her attention. Not since her dream had she met anyone to capture her completely. Her family considered her shy and bit strange, her friends called her picky and prudish and often downright boring to be around.

She hated herself for her coldness. Yet in her dreams and especially during those waking up moments, when the brain is waking up, but the soul is still lingering in that other realm, she could feel piercing blue eyes burning into hers and smell his scent unspoiled by deodorants and perfumed soaps. This mixture of pure musk, mixed with the lingering pungent odor of ancient camphor, myrrh and wood smoke was as intoxicating to her as before. She always awoke just before she could feel his touch. For many years she feared this recurrent nightmare or ‘wakemare’ which made her question her sanity, had it not been for Bella.

Next to her grandparents there was her neighbor Bella, a wise woman healer who had been a constant source of love and understanding in her life. She was the only one Angelika had entrusted with the story of her previous experience, which helped her to accept that sojourn into the past as a gift instead of a curse and for that reason she kept her T-shirt and a pair of faded jeans rolled tightly in the furthest corner of her cupboard. Sometimes she would pull them out, unroll them and bury her nose deeply into their fabric, inhaling 1679.

Originally she was afraid to touch those garments, fearing that she would lose her grip on reality. But several years have passed and now she was able to relish the feel of the fabric, the yellowed knit of the former white shirt and the pale blue soft wrinkled pair of jeans bell bottomed and frayed. As her hands unfolded and stroked these two pieces of clothing she had worn during her three day journey of time travel into the 17th century; it all came back to her, the smells, the crying but foremost the feeling of unbridled friendship and love.

CHAPTER 2

Introductions

A   GROUP OF volunteer doctors and nurses were busy treating patients in the new underground facility for infectious disease. A plague epidemic brought into the region from the Far East prompted the emergency plan of opening the new hospital. All staff, once volunteered, would work and live there until the last patient was released and their incubation time had passed. Those were the rules.

Angelika had worked there for the last three months when she met him, the man of her dream.

It happened while they were saving a severely ill patient. Before he would introduce himself; they were both masked and gowned, Angelika seeing only his clear blue irises behind the big plastic shield, knew with utter certainty that it was him.

After the patient was removed and they were able to scrub their hands, she felt nearly faint with weak knees, but managed to say, I know! after he introduced himself. James Merlin, have we met?

Angelika could only nod her head and since no other words came to mind, she said again, I know!

She was taking a deep breath, trying not to pass out, as she busied herself at the sink, when she heard him mumble, I know we have met, but where and when. I remember you making an impression somehow. He mentioned a variety of places and hospitals and clinics which were all unknown to her. Perhaps you have double. Yes that must be it.

After they had properly washed off, he grasped her hand, Let’s shake hands properly this time and thank you for your assistance.

Angelika was in shock and didn’t know how to respond. This was the man from her dream, how could he possible think she had a double? And then she thought, this is my memory, my dream, not his. I wonder if he had been a figment of my imagination all along. Oh, how could I have been so stupid? Pull yourself together and do your job! She chided herself.

As they were both still standing at the sink, she stared at his hands. They were finely boned with a sprinkling of blond hair, tapered fingers with blunt cut clear nails. Damn it, she thought, I know these hands. These are the fine hands of a surgeon, precise and sure, knowledgeable hands capable in the task of healing. She also thought, I better play it cool or they will send me to the resident head-shrinker and I have met that guy. He is crazier than the people he is supposed to cure.

Well James Merlin, here we meet again! and with the bravado she didn’t possess and with her head held high she plastered a benign smile around her lips and left the operating theater.

Their time in quarantine was almost done. Dr. Merlin had treated one of their last patients who had finally tested negative for the bacteria and was now recovering from surgery. Merlin was lucky; he only had to spend a couple of weeks confined, while the rest of the staff who had been there from the beginning was getting cabin fever. They were tired of the enforced routine and wanted nothing more but breathing the fresh air outside and feeling the sun on their faces. Most of them had been there the better part of three months and they couldn’t wait to smell freedom.

Maryanne had become Angelika’s best friend. After a particularly stressful day and a few too many glasses of wine, Angelika confided in her about her dreams. Maryanne was also the first to notice Angelika’s special gift of intuition with her patients. She noticed that Angelika was almost always accurate about the outcome of a patient’s condition. While she was first perplexed, Maryanne soon appreciated their friendship.

Roseanne, their other roommate kept to herself. She was in constant competition for the friendly brown eyed doctor, who did not seem at all that interested in that sharp eyed and equally sharp mouthed little girl, in spite of her glorious fiery hair which complemented her flashy personality. Roseanne shone with an iridescent light, which put everything and everybody else into her shadow. Her bright bell-like laugh, her white glittery little teeth made one snap to attention if only to save oneself from a further attack. Liz the former roommate did not stay. She confessed to be claustrophobic and left shortly after they arrived. Angelika hated to see her go since she was sweet and sincere and had the potential to be not only a great caregiver but also a comfortable roommate.

Once Angelika made her exit from the operating theater through the shower and into fresh clothing, she could not wait to get back to her quarters in the hope to see Maryanne. Her head was still spinning and she needed somebody to confide in. She nearly bumped into Merlin again in the hallway only to save herself by pressing into a niche near the water fountain until the coast was clear. In the room Maryanne was sitting comfortably on her bed sipping a cup of tea. Hi there, all done for the day?

All done in, you mean.

Maryanne looked up and noticed how upset Angelika appeared. Oh my God, what happened, are you sick? Who died?

No, no one died. It’s the opposite. Someone came back into my life and I don’t know what to do about it.

You are speaking in riddles, come sit and have some tea.

You won’t believe what happened.

Well spit it out before I am dying of curiosity!

It’s him, Merlin, he came back.

Who, that James Merlin, the surgeon, they contracted to do the operation on the guy with the bad lung. You are trying to tell me, that this is your James Merlin from the dream? Have you lost your mind?

I know it’s him. I recognize everything about him and he remembered me. He just didn’t remember where and when we met before.

Now it’s finally getting exciting, something is happening in this dull place. I was about to lose mind for boredom.

That is because you don’t chase the guys like sharp toothed Roseanne. I bet she is never bored. I swear that girl hops from one to the other. She changes guys like we do our underwear.

Now, Angi, don’t change the subject. We need to sort out your doctor Merlin. I am dying to meet him.

Well, I did, Angelika laughed, remembering that she had died in her dream in order to escape the nightmare and return home. Unfortunately she had to leave James behind.

Mary lived so you could return home, a life for a life, remember?

Oh yes, I do remember, it’s the reason why we are both here in this place at this time just in a different realm. What do we have to do to remind our dashing doctor Merlin, that he lived 300 years ago, the descendant from an ancient family of healers, where he met and fell in love with a young nurse apprentice, who had fallen into a drug induced sleep, only to wake up 300 years earlier? This girl taught him the rudiments of modern medicine. The fact that disease was not caused by bad humors and spirits, but by bacteria and viruses, these tiny enemies of the human body, one could not see with the bare eye. Maryanne remembered the details of Angelika’s story.

I can’t just approach him and blurt all this out. He is going to think that I am insane, Angelika replied. It’s hopeless, there is nothing that I can say and do, other than hope that he will fall for me again. After all I am not an innocent little student anymore, but a woman of the world, well my small part of the world anyhow. She laughed, Oh it is all so silly, why didn’t I fall in love with a normal person, instead of a spirit from the Middle Ages?

He seems to be flesh and blood right now.

Wait, you have not met him yet, you just have to take my word for it.

Maryanne looked at her questioningly. Don’t tell me you made all this up, the dream, the deaths, the plague, James… I could go on?

Angelika got very serious. I would never make light of what I experienced during those three horrible days. It was travel into another dimension, into the past, that’s for sure. Perhaps it was this gift I have had all along, that certain feeling of being able to sense a person’s life force that was the catalyst for this experience.

It’s OK, Angi, I didn’t mean it. Of course you could not have invented the whole thing down to the tiniest detail. I believe you, that’s not the problem. It is Merlin we have to convince.

There cannot be a ‘we’, it has to be up to me. Promise me, Maryanne, that you will not breathe a word of this to anyone.

Maryanne put her arms across Angelika’s shoulder. Boy we are getting skinny, too much work and not enough good food, I think. It’s time we get out of here and back to our normal lives. All this talk about time-travel and different realms made Maryanne feel uneasy. She thought when you feel uneasy, it’s best to change the subject. I am starved, she announced. Let’s go to the dining room. I want to get a good look at Mr. Right.

Oh Maryanne I am almost afraid to go. I don’t know what to say.

You will introduce him to me, silly, that’s a good start.

But what if I faint?

You faint? Impossible! I have seen you work 18 hours straight, enduring the most atrocious task without a complaint.

Yeah that’s work, but this is different, its craziness, infatuation, or love whatever you want to call it.

Let’s face it; he is a man, not a god or a prophet, just a guy. A 300 year old guy, so he has to be pretty harmless by now.

At that they imagined a 300 year old man; a bent statue, grey wispy hair, rheumy eyes, a dripping nose, grey whiskers sprouting from nose and ears, tottering on a cane unsteadily crying with a wheezy broken voice. Hello girls, what’s for dinner? Maryanne had assumed a bent figure and attempted to totter on wobbly legs, hollering, Hey where’s the bathroom?

All the anxiety had left. Angelika was laughing so hard, doubled over holding her sides with tears streaming down her face. Enough! See what you have done. Now I have to fix my makeup, I am a mess!

They took turns in the bathroom and when they reappeared, Angelika looked composed. Her clear face shone with mirth. She decided against fixing her makeup. Let him see me the way I really look, she thought. She had changed into her jeans and a loose white shirt, noticing regretfully that she had lost more weight. Her jeans didn’t quite fill out and the shirt seemed especially loose. While she bemoaned her thin frame, she hadn’t notice the change in her features. Her face had lost its girlish roundness, appearing more chiseled; large brown clear eyes resting quietly over high cheekbones, while an easy smile graced her short upper lip accentuating the full lower one. She brushed her long hair until it shone and let it fall in easy waves over her shoulders. After looking in the mirror, she thought, I look like a starved chicken, bony and pale, nothing like Maryanne, who after brushing her teeth, took a quick glance in the mirror, threw her long blond curls back in a swift motion and laughed. Her jeans still fit well and she definitely filled out her t-shirt in the right places.

It’s all genetics, she cried, we are tall with big boobs and butts in my family. Unfortunately we will get fat, something that will never happen to you, she laughed. I hope I catch my man soon, or it will never happen to me. This little work vacation with the most deplorable cuisine has done me a favor. She turned a few times in front of the mirror to admire a new hourglass figure.

Come on; let’s go, before the best morsels are gone. You are pretty enough for a 300 year old figment of your imagination.

Angelika threw the brush at her and they stepped out into a new adventure.

CHAPTER 3

Wine or Ale

T HE DINING ROOM was already quite crowded, so they decided on a corner table at the back of the room to have the best advantage for observation. Within minutes Roseanne spotted them, leaving the tall and handsome brown eyed doctor, she had been flirting with for days. She sauntered over to their table with a tall glass of red wine in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other.

Girls! she cried. Her face was flushed and her gait a bit unsteady. You better pick your poison. The wine is great and the food as forgettable as always. Come on!

Maryanne noticed Angelika’s discomfort and whispered. You go get some food first while I reserve this table and get rid of Missy here. They couldn’t quite figure out why Roseanne had joined this mission in the first place. She was flighty as a moth; always flying too close to the light and almost always getting burned. Her light shone too bright, her aura exuded heat. There was urgency about her, like she had to do all the living at once and taste all the pleasures the world had to offer in one bite. Below this violent storm rested a needy soul. Angelika and Maryanne had discovered this about her early on. Her soul needed constant reassurance of its worthiness whether it was through intense work or the admiration of those around her. She had been their roommate for the duration and while she was a ferocious energy vampire at best, underneath all that bravado was a sweet person, quite capable and loving. Roseanne’s shrill laughter broke the spell as Angelika headed over to the buffet.

The food was the usual unappetizing mix of overcooked roast beef swimming in a grey sauce, mushy potatoes and overdone ‘army green’ green beans. Nothing green here, she thought. Oh what would I give for a fresh salad with a little vinaigrette and a morsel of spicy grilled chicken? It will be a sandwich again for me; ham and cheese with tasteless tomato and limp lettuce. While she was selecting her bread and toppings she silently wondered how long it would take to get scurvy from lack of fresh fruit and vegetables. She also made a mental note to increase her vitamin C intake. She picked an apple and yoghurt and a bottle of spring water deciding not to drink alcohol for she wanted to be clear headed.

Since Maryanne was unable to supply Roseanne with any juicy tidbits of gossip, she made her way back to the noisy crowd on the other side of the hall. Looking at Angelika’s meager tray, she mumbled, "Green beef and grey sludge again!

It will be the same for me then." And with a defeated sigh she walked over to the buffet just as Angelika sat down.

Wait, don’t go! Angelika hissed, trying to hide behind Maryanne’s wide back.

There he is!

Where?

Over there by the door looking straight at us.

Don’t move! Angelika sounded desperate. Don’t go, oh my God, he saw me already. Sit down and don’t leave me right now. I won’t know what to say!

Oh silly, you find the words and I am starving. With that Maryanne walked away.

Damn you! Angelika hissed.

Is this chair taken? His deep warm voice enveloped her like satin.

Nope! she managed.

Ah, you are the little nurse from this afternoon. You look different without the OR garb. I remember your face.

He smiled as he looked at the sad collection on her tray. That’s dinner; bread, cheese, green ham and water? I think prisoners live better than that. How long have you been here?

Almost two months. It was not too bad in the beginning but the funds must have run low or the cook ran out of ideas on how to prepare frozen and dried ingredients. But never fear we have our vitamin pills and lots of juice, frozen of course. We shall survive and it’s almost over.

He sat down next to her and continued to study her face. He shook his head and said softly, Why do I feel, like we have met before? You mentioned the town, the hospital and church before, but nothing comes to mind.

Well this is a big city and I come from a very small town about a three hour drive from here.

He continued to study her. I have an excellent memory; I never forget a face, perhaps a name, but never a face.

Me too, she replied uncomfortably. Just then Maryanne returned with a large tray bearing a sandwich and three large glasses of red wine.

The food sucks, but this here Beaujolais is drinkable. Cheers to you doc, what’s your name?

Merlin, James!

Oh yeah that’s right. Maryanne, here. She placed the glasses in front of them and proceeded to shake his hand vigorously until he winced.

Ugh, you have some strength Nurse Maryanne. I cannot afford to injure my surgeon’s fingers. He shook them in mock pain and laughed.

Well the ice is broken and I hope not your gifted hands. Maryanne plopped down and took a big swig from her glass.

Cheers, health to all! You better get your food before they clean up! When he got in line to get his food, Maryanne noticed Angelika’s pallor.

Drink up; he is just what you have been telling me; tall, handsome, blue eyes and a bit awkward. Not exactly the chatty, flirty type but no ring on his finger, didn’t you notice? His fingers are bare.

Like most surgeons he is not wearing jewelry. It’s probably in his pocket or around his neck. But then he doesn’t exactly look like the necklace wearing type. At that they both laughed and took a big bite out of their sandwich. Once they had finished their food and wine, Angelika tried to think of something to say in order to get out of this uncomfortable situation. Merlin saved the awkward moment by organizing another bottle of that famous Beaujolais. He poured another round, saying that this wine was surprisingly good and since they