Heaven Sent (17 page)

I touched the tip of my nose to his. “I have a question. If you choose to stay on Earth, will you become mortal?”

He nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. “Not exactly mortal,” he said, “but I could die, if that’s what you mean.”

“It is,” I replied, the words nearly stuck in my throat. “That’s a lot to give up—immortality.”

“What good is being immortal if I can’t be with you?”

We shared a passionate stinging kiss right out in the open on the park bench. The kiss swallowed my breath leaving me light headed and dizzy. I didn’t care if anyone was watching.

My days passed easily after that. I loved my new job and particularly loved my angel boyfriend meeting me each day at the end of my shift. We rode to secluded places where we made out, and I reveled in his stinging kisses. We’d sit in empty cafes and secluded glens talking about everything: life, love, people, places, dreams. We seemed to be opening up more and more to each other, and as the days passed, we fell more deeply in love.

As much as I loved the wonderful turn my life had made, a part of me knew I was being selfish. Maudrina hadn’t called, and I’d long stopped trying to make contact through calls, emails or texts.
She’s a big girl. She’ll get in touch when she’s ready.

I knew something had gone wrong between her and Curtis, but I didn’t care. Things were going so well between me and Guy I didn’t want to think about problems. So I didn’t. I didn’t think about Maudrina and Curtis and the pain my best friend might be in, or about my precious hell cat living under my roof, or the monster lurking within me, or even about Erin who would be getting married in weeks. All those troublesome thoughts were pushed aside. Love. Happiness. Romance, was all my mind could handle, all it wanted to handle.

On a sunny afternoon Guy and I rode back out to the secluded meadow in the hills. The midday sun cast a golden sheen along the mountains. The day was picture perfect, like a postcard. As Guy spread the blanket out on the grass, my eyes moved to the large oak tree across the meadow.

“You want me to work on my abilities again,” I said.

He stopped what he was doing. “No. Not at all.”

“Then why did you bring me here?”

“I… I thought you liked it here. This was the site of our first date.” He seemed confused, yet he snatched up the blanket and began folding it. “I now realize it was a bad choice. Sorry.”

I moved to him, grabbing both his hands, stopping him. “It isn’t a bad choice. It’s a perfect choice.” I released his hands and took a step back. “You just stirred up a bit of guilt in me is all.”

Concern flooded his eyes. “Guilt? Why?”

“There are some things I need to take care of, and I… got sidetracked. Now that I’m here, I’m remembering.”

“I didn’t mean to. I never want to upset you.” The concern in his eyes transferred to his words.

“I’m not upset. I didn’t think about these things because I didn’t want anything to intrude on my time with you.”

A mischievous smile appeared on his lips. “I can understand that. When you have all this, why think about anything else?” He struck a rapper-like pose.

This coaxed a smile out of me. “You are so conceited.”

“I’m a truth teller,” he replied, starting to chuckle.

“All right, Mr. Truth Teller, I want to show you something.”

I took the blanket from him and spread it out on the grass. “Sit,” I commanded. As he sat, I focused my attention on the big oak tree across the meadow. “Watch.”

We’d been standing next to the tree when I’d first displayed my abilities. Now we were at least twenty feet away. As I stared at the tree, I could feel my mind opening easily. A gust of wind sprang up in the meadow. It tousled my hair as it blew by and began whistling through the branches of the tree, shaking them vigorously.

“I’m doing that,” I said, and as I spoke the wind subsided.

“What?” I could tell from the expression on Guy’s his face he was having a hard time fathoming that I had created the wind. I began to laugh.

“Surprise,” I said with a hint of pride.

“When?” he asked, his dumbfounded eyes working me over.

“I’ve been working on my abilities at home in my spare time.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean
why?
” A wave of anger rifled through me. “You told me I needed to harness my abilities. I thought you’d be pleased.”

“Yes… I am. It’s just that you caught me off guard.” He smiled. It seemed forced. “Sit.” He pulled me down onto the blanket. Reluctantly, I settled next to him.

He gently kissed my pouty lips. “You caught me off guard, Megan. I didn’t know. I’m surprised is all.”

“You don’t seem happy.” I was still being stand-offish.

He stared at me. “Well… that’s because I’m worried for you. I know why you want to harness your abilities, and I commend you for it.”

“But?” I said through tight lips.

“But I’m afraid you’ll get hurt. There is something you said to me once: ‘I would do whatever I can to keep those I love safe.
’
His expression darkened. “Do you remember?”

“Or is it that you don’t want any competition?”

“Huh?”

The dark thing inside me had latched onto the tiny bit of anger I’d felt earlier and used it to make a surprise appearance.

“If I master my abilities, then perhaps I’ll be your equal. That wouldn’t sit well with you, would it? Being a man and all.”

“What!?” His voice rose in anguish. “You can’t possibly believe that.”

“I… I don’t believe it,” I stammered. The monster was retreating now, leaving me to clean up after it. “It was a childish, angry outburst. I’m sorry.” I rubbed his hand.

“Megan, please believe me. This has nothing to do with my ego. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you. I want to keep you safe.”

“I know,” was all I could say.

He stared at me. “I fear I was wrong in asking you to harness your abilities. I fear if you use them, it will end badly.”

In that moment, my heart melted. I looked into his tortured eyes and realized how worried he was for me. I didn’t dare tell him about the monster that was terrorizing me from within for fear he’d worry even more.

His eyes were smoky-luminescent, and in them I could see just how much he cared. I squeezed his hand. “I’ll be fine. I’m not going to do anything foolish. You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” I added.

He saw the teasing smile easing its way onto my lips. “I’m holding you to that,” he replied, a matching smile sneaking its way onto his.

“Good.” In seconds I was in his arms.

With the bad behind us, we spent the afternoon kissing and chatting. I didn’t use my abilities again for the rest of the day.

*

Life was good. On Saturdays I worked till 5 p.m., and although I was tired when I got off, it was a good tired. My fatigue was well-earned.

I was nearing the end of my shift when my cell hummed with a text. I thought it was Guy, letting me know he’d be late picking me up after work. I was surprised to see it was from Maudrina. I hadn’t heard from her in so long:

Meet me at Aunt Jaz’s this evening.

I stared at my phone, the guilt and fear coming on me in waves. I hadn’t permitted myself to think about Maudrina for quite some time. I knew instinctively this cryptic text was about more than a breakup with Curtis. Something was seriously wrong.

A solemn Maudrina escorted us into the apartment.

I had chosen to bring Guy along. I didn’t know what they were about to tell me, but I didn’t think I could handle it alone.

One of them is dying.

That’s what I’d been thinking, and that’s what I knew for sure as we moved down the narrow corridor, our feet squeaking against the green linoleum. Usually Aunt Jaz’s apartment was filled with yummy fragrances. Today, a musty odor hung in the air, as if the place hadn’t been opened up in weeks. The stale air around us reeked of bad news.

We entered the living room where Aunt Jaz and Monsieur Perez were seated on the sofa deep in conversation. She was wearing a dark green polyester pantsuit, straight out of the 70s. I smiled inwardly. She was working her way into the 21
^st
century. When we entered, they looked up and stopped talking.

“Hello, deary. It’s been too long,” Aunt Jaz said. Her voice was cheerful, yet her expression was pinched and weary.

“Yes, it’s good to see you,” said Monsieur Perez. “Both of you,” he added, nodding to Guy.

Guy nodded back but remained silent. He didn’t like Monsieur Perez, and wasn’t afraid to show it. I knew his feelings stemmed from the way Monsieur Perez had treated me last time. I didn’t like him, either. He seemed nice at first, but I didn’t like the way he looked at me. I could tell he envied my abilities.

“It seemed urgent,” I said. My eyes drifted to Maudrina, who was still standing in the doorway. She wasn’t as adept as the others at hiding her emotions as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She knew I was looking at her, yet she wouldn’t return my gaze. She locked her eyes onto Aunt Jaz and there they remained, twitchy and nervous.

“Yes, it is,” replied Aunt Jaz. “But not too urgent for a proper greeting.” She rose from the sofa and held her arms out to me. I moved in and was engulfed in one of her famous bear hugs. “I knew I should have cooked or baked something,” she said as she released me.

But what goes with death?

The sentiment invaded my thoughts like a marauder. It was followed by a tragic thought:
Aunt Jaz is dying.

“But the least I can do is put on some tea,” she continued.

Maudrina was still avoiding my gaze and I knew…
knew
what I’d thought was correct. Aunt Jaz was dying. Relief began coursing through me, immediately followed by shame because I was relieved it was Aunt Jaz who was dying and not my best friend.

“Let’s save the tea for later,” I said. “Right now I’d like to know why I was summoned.”

“Oh, dear, I wouldn’t call it summoned.”

“Yes, yes, we just want to chat. I agree, let’s save the tea for later, Jasmine.” said Monsieur Perez. He was leaning forward in his seat. All business. I disliked him even more for being so anxious to get on with the bad news.

“Oh. Okay, then. Please sit.” Aunt Jaz pointed toward the orange banana-shaped sofa. Guy and I sat at the far end. I gripped his hand for support.

“You, too, Maudie,” she said to Maudrina, who had been planted in the doorway as if she’d sprouted roots.

“Right.” She moved to the old rocker in the corner. It was as far away from us as she could get.

Aunt Jaz turned to Monsieur Perez. “Hector, why don’t you begin.”

He cleared his throat and looked at me. “There is trouble afoot,” he said in his tremulous voice.

“Trouble?”

“The Satanists have cooked up a most diabolical plan. No, scheme, is a better word. For that’s what it is. It’s a horrible scheme.”

I squeezed Guy’s hand and could feel the color going out of my cheeks as it dawned on me this wasn’t about Maudrina or Aunt Jaz. This was about me.

“As you know, there are four times a year when the Satanists summon and exalt Satan. The first is on Candlemas. You were witness to what the last Candlemas brought.”

I swallowed hard. “Armando,” I said so softly only a tiny bit of air escaped my lips.

“Now it is time for the solstice celebration. Usually the solstice is celebrated with two days of debauchery. But the Satanists feel they were so close with their last attempt, they want to try again.”

“A bride for Satan?” My head was spinning as the words fell from my lips.

“Yes,” said Monsieur Perez.

“How do you know such a thing?” asked Guy. There was irritation in his voice. “How can you be sure?”

“You will have to take my word for it,” Monsieur Perez said with a hint of annoyance.

“Megan, you know all the advice I’ve given you in the past was good advice. Was it not?” asked Aunt Jaz.

“It was dead on.” I turned to Guy. “She’s the one who told me about the gris gris, and she helped me defeat Satan.”

Sensing the despair in my voice, Guy squeezed my hand. “So what?” He turned his angry eyes on Monsieur Perez. “Why are you trying to alarm her like this? Satanists are nothing but lunatics. They have about as much power over Satan as I do.”

“That may be true, deary. But they’re planning a wedding all the same,” said Aunt Jaz.

“So what? Let them plan it. Plan away!”

“Do not take their intentions lightly,” Monsieur Perez warned.”

“They will
never
get their hands on Megan,” barked Guy. “I will protect her with every ounce of my being.”

“It isn’t Megan they want this time.” Maudrina had spoken from across the room. Her voice was small and lost. I looked at her. She was gently rocking the chair, her eyes filled with despair.

“Then, who?” I asked. But I knew her answer before she gave it.

“Erin,” Maudrina replied. “Your close friend since the third grade.” She said the last as if it was something vile and disgusting.

“That’s ridiculous. Erin is marrying that roughneck,” stormed Guy.

“That is what they want her to believe. But I have it on good authority it’s not the Satanist she will be marrying, but Satan himself,” said Monsieur Perez.

“She’s got a soul sucker eating away at her soul,” called Maudrina. Her eyes were filling with tears. “That’s why she’s been so cruel to you. She’s not herself. There’s a dark thing inside of her, preparing her for Satan.”

I thought of my own dark thing as her tears began to fall, and I realized she wasn’t worried about Erin. None of them were. They were worried about me, worried that I would hold true to my word and attempt to use my powers to free her.

“That’s ridiculous,” Guy spat, his eyes filling with rage.

I turned to him. He wouldn’t look at me. He sat breathing heavily in and out, his dark eyes sulking. It would be impossible for him to protect me if I chose to go up against the Satanists—that was the reason for his rage. I slid closer and pressed myself against his side. He was practically vibrating with tension.

I would do whatever I can to keep those I love safe.