Gods and Mortals: Fourteen Free Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Novels Featuring Thor, Loki, Greek Gods, Native American Spirits, Vampires, Werewolves, & More (174 page)

C
omplete darkness engulfed me
; I couldn’t see a thing. I was afraid to move, especially since I didn’t know where I was. But I felt an indescribably soft object encircling me, and it made me feel so warm. Whatever it was gave me such comfort, and I felt safe wrapped inside it, like a cocoon. So soft and featherlike, it felt like velvet or the stuffing of a goose-down blanket. As I realized I wasn’t dreaming, I panicked and tried to wiggle my way out. It didn’t work. Feeling claustrophobic, I lost my breath, which made me fight frantically with all my might, pushing and punching, then finally surrendering when I heard his voice.

“Claudia, you’re safe. It’s me, Michael.” Michael peered in.

“Michael?” I was so relieved to hear his voice. Pulling the crystal toward Michael, I asked quickly, “What color is it?”

I could tell he was trying to hold back from laughing. “It’s clear,” he said.

I relaxed. Pulling the crystal into closer view, I squinted my eyes to confirm what Michael had said, but I couldn’t see a thing. Not that I didn’t believe him, I was just amazed that he could see in the dark.

While holding the crystal in my hands, I remembered that I hadn’t even thanked him for my gifts. “I should have thanked you sooner, but I want to thank you for my birthday gifts. It was a pleasant surprise, but you didn’t have to,” I said in the most sincere way. “I thought alkins didn’t celebrate birthdays.”

“We don’t, but the Divine Commandments didn’t say anything about celebrating a human’s birthday.” He winked.

“So, you kind of make up your own rules, huh?”

“I guess you can say that. By the sound of your voice, you sound fine, but how are you feeling?” Michael asked, changing the subject.

“I don’t know. I guess it would depend…” I paused with a terrible thought. “Am I dead?”

“You think you’re dead.” He chuckled. “Why is that always your first thought?”

“Well, I guess because I’m always blacking out or waking up somewhere else. This isn’t normal by human standards.”

He laughed out loud.

“Hey! This isn’t funny. And…and where am I? I want out!” I started pushing him away from me, but he was way too strong for me and he didn’t even budge. I stopped when I realized how close his face was to mine. I became breathless as he continued to look at me with such tenderness. My mind wandered with impure thoughts and I had to force myself to snap out of it. With my head clear, I remembered what I wanted to say. “Please,” I asked warmly.

He let out a heavy sigh.

“Something is wrong, isn’t it?” I asked. “I’m dead. I’m really dead, and you don’t have the guts to tell me,” I said louder, angrily.

“No. Nothing is wrong,” he said, and his eyes grew bigger. “You don’t think I saved you?” he asked, looking hurt.

Immediately I relaxed. It was not my intention to offend him. I should be thankful. “I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sorry,” I said as I ran my fingers through his hair. I was shocked that I touched him that way; immediately I placed my hand down and refocused somewhere else.

“Claudia,” he called gingerly.

I looked at him, marveling at how his voice saying my name sounded like a beautiful melody to my ears. He looked so serious that I refocused my attention. I had to prepare myself for whatever he was going to tell me. The delay must mean that something awful had happened.

“I’m going to open up, but you have to promise me that you won’t freak out…Promise?”

What could possibly make me freak out? All sorts of nonsense started racing through my mind. Was I hurt? Or was Michael or the alkins injured? I imagined the worst, just like the pictures I saw in my history book with the wounded soldiers during the war.

“You promise, Claudia?” he asked sternly.

“Okay. I promise,” I lied, not knowing exactly how I would react to something he told me not to freak out about.

As I prepared myself for whatever it was, something held us tighter and moved us upward. Slowly, I was released from his hold. I stood right in front of him with my mouth opened so wide that I could have swallowed the forest. He slowly moved his wings up and down. They were grand, bigger than Phillip’s wings. Michael’s were as white as the clouds. I couldn’t believe how strong they were, to be able to hold me the way they did. His wings were magnificent, but how? “Alkins don’t have wings,” I whispered. I stared into his eyes to get an answer.

“This one does,” he responded and turned away.

“They are…” I was lost for words as I continued to stare, enthralled by him.

He continued speaking, unwilling to make eye contact. “My father is or was one of the Twelve. That’s all I know.” His voice was low and indifferent.

Michael’s father was one of the Twelve, and the Twelve have wings. Then Phillip’s words flashed through me. Phillip, Margaret, and Agnes are part of the Twelve. Aden, who had become a fallen, was one of the Twelve. That left eight of the Twelve Angels still on Earth to carry out their duty. Who could his father be? And was his father still alive, or had he died? This happened before the Crossroads was created. It could be any one of them. Regardless, I could only imagine how difficult this must be for him. Although there were so many unanswered questions, now didn’t seem like the right time to ask them.

I started walking in circles around him, engrossed by his wings. His shirt was torn on the back. From where the wings protruded out, there were long slits to form an upside-down V. He was beautiful, his wings were beautiful, and I was even more in awe of him. Perhaps my reaction embarrassed him, as he quickly closed them. It was amazing how they completely disappeared without a trace of their existence. Even his shirt showed no sign that it had been torn to allow such a phenomenon.

“May I please take a look again? For me, please?” I pleaded.

“You’re not freaked out?” he asked, looking astonished.

“Should I be?” I asked, wondering why he felt embarrassed with his precious gift.

“I thought it may freak you out. Something not by human standards,” he replied.

I leaned closer and place my hands on his shoulders. “I’m not freaked out. I think you are amazing just the way you are. I wouldn’t want you to be any other way,” I said tenderly, trying to sound convincing with my words and through my body expression.

His eyes were still steady on the ground. I needed to try harder to make him understand that there was nothing freakishly wrong with him, and that his wings were just as incredible as he was.

“Michael, please, open for me,” I pleaded, with my hands still resting on his shoulders. Then I gave him the biggest smile, hoping he couldn’t resist and would do as I asked.

He opened gracefully, slowly expanding, not to rush the excitement of what I wanted to see again. I placed both of my hands gently on this mysterious gift and stroked it like it was gold. I was amazed by the many delicate layers of feathers, soft as cashmere and smooth as silk, but equally taken aback by the power and strength they exuded. The same wondrous feeling had rushed through my senses when I was wrapped inside them after the fall, just before I had panicked. Had I known then that they were Michael’s wings, I would have stayed there for eternity.

Slowly I turned my back toward him and tried to wrap myself inside his wings again. I wanted to be back in the arms of an angel, back to the feeling of peace that was so desired. As he fidgeted away from me, he mumbled, “This is too dangerous. I won’t be able to control myself.” His voice was worried and low.

I didn’t heed his warning. As I pulled him closer, he ultimately gave in. He held me gently with both of his arms and wings this time. All I needed was his touch, for him to hold me that way; it made all the difference in the world. I was safe again. Without thought, I turned toward him. The look in his eyes was so tempting, telling me that he wanted me too. I knew it was impossible for him to want and need me the same way, but his eyes told me something else. The depth of my yearning and what I wanted to do at this very moment was undeniable.

I leaned toward him and tenderly placed a kiss on his supple lips to thank him. It was an innocent kiss. What was the harm in just one small kiss? I was extremely surprised that he didn’t push me away. I was even more surprised at myself. I was never the type to make the first move.

“Thank you for saving me,” I whispered, looking straight into his soulful eyes, as something came over me. Uncontrollable heat ran through my body. He was right. It was dangerous, but it was me who couldn’t control myself. His eyes gave me permission to continue, so I gave him another kiss, but slower and longer this time. He kissed me back, but with much hesitation. His lips were warm and sweet like honeysuckle, just how I imagined they would be. The warmth spread all over my body like a blazing fire.

Still holding me, he pulled me away with a sudden jerk, his eyes piercing into mine with anger. His left hand was tightly wrung around my hair and the other gripping my shirt so I could feel the tightness from it. Panting, wanting more of him, I forgot how to breathe, and so did he. His eyes, still fierce with anger, gripped me even tighter as he slightly pushed and pulled me, fighting and uncertain of what he wanted to do. Feeling petrified, I had to prepare myself for the consequence of my actions, for I knew I had crossed the line.

I was waiting for him to release me and push me away. I also anticipated the lecture he would preach about how humans and angels couldn’t have any physical contact. Remembering the last time, he suddenly stopped as we almost kissed. Then, he drew me even closer, and kissed me back hungrily. Passionate kisses that I never knew could be possible claimed both of us. My toes curled, feeling immense pleasure that tingled to the very depth of my being as my fingers tugged lightly on his muscular shoulders. Then his wings were totally wrapped around us. We were in the dark, just Michael and me inside the cocoon of his wings. I couldn’t believe what was happening. It was our first real kiss. He pressed his whole body against mine and I could feel his heart racing just as fast as mine was. We both lost control, and every part of me shivered with intense pleasure I had never felt before.

“Hellooo,” someone said, clearing his throat.

Michael immediately unfolded his wings and exposed us. We were both in shock to have been found. Nearly falling and out of breath, I was trying to gather myself together. What had I done? As I looked around, turning my head in every possible direction, I didn’t see anyone.

“Hellooo,” the voice said again. I recognized the voice. It was Davin.

Glancing past some of the trees, I saw some alkins, smiling and sitting on top of the branches.

“Caleb? Vivian? What are you doing here?” I asked, surprised to see them. They glided down toward where Michael and I stood. They both smiled at us, but Caleb raised an eye upward at Michael.

“Where’s Davin?” I asked casually.

“Previously saving your butt, but I’m here,” Davin said from a distance that seemed to come from a tree above. He swung around a branch and landed right next to me. He then placed his arms around my shoulder. “Miss me already?” he mumbled, with a cigarette at the tip of his lips.

I wasn’t surprised by their actions only because I had seen what they were capable of doing. Their strength and speed were incredible. Davin was still holding his sword. It was the length of an arm, with golden designs and beautiful indescribable markings on the handle. When he realized my eyes were focused on it, he placed it behind his back and said a few words in Latin, and it magically disappeared. Fully amazed by his little trick, I became distracted by the smell of cigarette smoke. Without hesitation, I immediately pulled the half-smoked cigarette out of his mouth and stomped on it.

“You know how bad that is for you, and plus I can’t stand the smell of it,” I said with a disgusted look.

He frowned first, then looked shameful. “I know, but I think I wanted to be a human again and do things I had forgotten about. I don’t know where this sudden urge came from. Maybe I smoked when I lived here once upon a time. It’s strange, like déjà vu.”

I didn’t realize how much I missed his friendship and his sincerity. Davin having the urge to smoke might be the same connection to Michael’s experiencing glimpses of his past here on Earth that didn’t make sense to him. Perhaps the longer they stayed, the more they might remember here and there.

“I thought you all had left,” Michael said. I could tell he was uncomfortable, clearly embarrassed at being caught.

“We decided to stay since it was our first time being here,” Vivian said, smiling. Then she turned to me. “Do you remember what happened?” she asked tenderly.

I dug deeper into my memory, trying to remember what they wanted me to. “I remember some now. Fallen pushed us. I fell. I mean, we fell! Michael and I fell…but Michael didn’t fall, did he? He has wings. He fell to catch me.” Now it was all coming together. “Then, I think that’s when I blacked out.”

I looked at the cliff and got a glimpse of what could have been. I knew one thing for sure…I would have fallen to my end had Michael not intervened. Now I knew why this campsite was called “The Cliff.” It became clear why they were here. I looked at all four of them, one at a time. They were here to save me from the fallen.

“Thank you,” I said, feeling embarrassed. I didn’t know why I felt that way. Perhaps it was the trouble I was causing.

Davin placed his arms around my shoulders again. He was friendly and charming as usual. “Nothing to it. It was kind of exciting.” He was trying to make me feel better.

“What happened to the fallen after I fell?” I asked.

“After we got rid of all of them, Aden disappeared,” Davin replied, seeming quite proud.

“Let’s hope we did enough damage so that it won’t happen again,” Caleb said.

Hopefully, but in danger or not, I wouldn’t mind coming down to Earth once in a while just to pretend we still exist here,” Vivian said, looking straight ahead, deep in her thoughts.

Curiously, our eyes followed the direction of her gaze, and we were all captivated by the exquisiteness of what we were witnessing. A small ray of light was stretching and yawning, making its way through the coat of darkness, little by little, peeling layer by layer to reveal the beauty of nature and its creatures. Night and day had met, but never touched or overlapped as the morning sun conquered the night once again. Motionless, our view looked like a giant frameless oil painting. The hills were vast, yet they all looked miniature; I could almost reach out and touch them. The curves of the lake wrapped around like a snake, seeming endless and smaller as I looked farther out into the distance.