My Soul Keeper (13 page)

Rumour says he fell in love with a fellow Angel, which was forbidden, a sin to God. Angels are His children and are to serve only Him. When Chamuel’s lover fell from grace, her wings were clipped and she was left to live among the humans. He was kept in Heaven like a prisoner and unable to look down on the human race any longer.

When I have a soul ready for its place in Heaven, I bring them to him so he can see the life the soul has lived, to give him a glimpse of what he can no longer see. He’s walking the length of the golden room holding a book in his hands, reading when I come to him.

“Chamuel, you look well,” I tell him as I approach his tall, elegant figure.

He has almost black hair and crystal blue eyes; blue with flecks of silver. He’s wearing white robes like every Angel in Heaven. His eyes light up when he sees me.

“Shamar, my dear friend, I have missed your visits. I grow ever weary. Please tell me you have brought a soul for me to see life through.”

His eyes lose their excitement when he sees my head shake no. “I’m sorry. Not today, but soon. Instead I was hoping to show some of mine.”

He steps back and looks at me. “But you have never let me see through you. Shamar, what troubles you?”

“There is this soul…” I answer but I don’t finish.

He smiles and nods. “I can sense the love in you.”

I find his eyes. “Yes, I believe I love her. Can I love?”

“Is that a question, because I’m pretty sure you are already feeling the answer. Every soul can love - even dark ones. But your soul is far from dark, Shamar, and love is pouring through you.”

I feel my stomach clench and then relax. “She is a Destined. There is a dark soul, the darkest I’ve ever seen, making itself known to her as a fellow student. She is the purest soul; her light is brighter than that of even yours, Chamuel. How can that be? I don’t trust her guardian, either.” I rush through what I need to vent.

Chamuel pales and looks conflicted.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come to you with this.”

“No, please let me see her,” he almost begs, taking my hand. I relax and open my soul to him to show him the scene of her at the school and the dark soul talking to her.

He pulls back abruptly and a single tear graces his cheek. “Muriel, my love,” he mutters in almost a whimper.

“Chamuel, that is not Muriel.” A sweet voice comes from behind me as the Angel Charmeine comes into view. Her dark hair and green eyes look at me with affection.

“Sweet Shamar, it is so wonderful to see you here again.”

I smile at her as she reaches out and strokes my face. “When you speak of Muriel, do you refer to the Angel Muriel?” I ask Chamuel, who is standing so still it’s unnerving.

“No, no,” his voice croaks.

“Chamuel.” A deep commanding voice bellows towards us. “We have work to do.”

I turn to see Archangel Michael summoning Chamuel.

“Please, please, watch over her, Shamar, and come back to me.”

“Chamuel,” Michael’s voice commands again.

“Please, Shamar,” he begs as he follows Michael.

I leave Heaven more confused than when I came. I approach Simone, who is sitting in her hammock. staring at the sky. She looks so beautiful, her eyes glistening with contentment.

“Hello, beautiful.”

“Shamar,” she breathes. She holds her hand out for me to join her. I oblige, spooning her warm, soft body. God, she smells of flowers. She moans, pushing her body further back into mine. I can’t stop my body’s reaction to having her ass pushed against my groin. I feel her shake a little. I lift my head to look over her shoulder to see her giggling.

“Something funny?” I ask, thrusting forward a little, sending some friction against her most precious place. I smile as she gasps. She bites her lip and shakes her head.

“Nope, nothing,” she manages to whisper. I bring my lips down to her shoulder, tiptoeing kisses along toward the back of her neck; I reach my hand up to remove her hair from my line of kisses. Her hips grind against my needy groin. I’m so turned on; I want her.

“Oh, Shamar,” she moans, rubbing harder against me. The electric current pulses through me as she cries my name; it could light up the sky. I remove her hair further up her nape and freeze. A red risen mark, just hidden by her hair, comes into view…
Ἄγγελος

My God, she is an Angel.

I feel the bulge behind his zipper prodding against me and desire floods me. His kisses send shivers throughout my body, begging him to touch me more.

“Oh Shamar,” I moan.

He stops moving, his body, hands, and lips - every part of him – frozen. I mirror his actions. He inhales roughly and then he shoots up and away from me. Oh my God, how embarrassing. I moaned and he couldn’t get away fast enough. Just like earlier when he stopped us at lunch.

“Erm, I forgot I was meant to meet someone,” he mumbles, putting more distance between us.

I stand up and drop my eyes to my feet, kicking at some imaginary dirt. I feel humiliated. “Okay, sure. Go,” I manage without tears. I wait for him to lift my head but he doesn’t. When I look up, he’s gone.

My heart physically hurts. I feel my body shake as the tears flow freely. Did I read all the signals wrong? God, I made a fool of myself. He’s older and no doubt used to experienced girls.

I rush indoors and shower, the hot water tapping over my skin like rain. Tears flow with the droplets. I let the water turn cold, gasping as the blast hits my skin, leaving it tingling. The water shakes me from my pity party of one.

I change into jeans and a halter-top, leaving my hair loose. After applying minimal make-up, I rush out the door, shouting bye to my mom on my way.

Frankie’s Diner is packed. I squeeze past a few jocks and find Leah frowning as Mia explains the importance of colour coordinating with her date for prom.

Leah looks up when she realises I’m there. “Holy shit. Thank God. You know - talking to stupid people really makes you realise how clever you are.”

I laugh and look at a fuming Mia.

“You bitch,” Mia spits.

I feel Lucas approach before I see him. He comes to a standstill behind Mia.

“You’re the bitch. You’re trying to kill me with boredom,” Leah retaliates in her usual bored tone.

“There’s nothing boring about me. Isn’t that right, baby?” Mia asks, looking over her shoulder at Lucas. I nearly choke on my own tongue when she called him ‘baby.’ He doesn’t look impressed by my reaction.

“Being a slut still makes you boring, Mia. There are sluts like you everywhere.” Leah’s tone has grown agitated.

“You would know all about that. You’re the biggest slut of all, keeping Liam off the market but not committing to him so you can be a slut at parties.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Have you finally come full circle with every guy in the school and now Liam’s last on your list? Dream on, he wouldn’t touch you,” Leah jeers.

“Ha, we'll see about that, you fucking bitch. I’m going to make it my mission to sleep with him, just to spite you.”

The aggression is thick like a fog all around us.

“Wow, you really are a slut. You would sleep with someone just for fun?” I ask, feeling just as pissed off as Leah. She’s my best friend and Liam means a lot to me. To have Mia speak of him as a tool to use against Leah makes me angry. “What does your ‘baby’ think about that?” I ask, looking directly at Lucas.

“You’re such a frigid bitch, Simone. You really need a good fuck to bring you down from your pedestal.”

Shocked from her vile choice of words, only the sound of a loud clap breaks me from my momentary stunned state.

“You fucking whore,” Mia bellows, holding her face. She picks up her drink and throws it at Leah.

“You’re the whore,” Leah spits back.

Liam pushes his way toward us and grabs Leah, who’s trying to climb over the table to get to Mia. Mia reaches out and grabs Leah’s hair.

“Get off me, you bitch. And stay away from my fucking boyfriend. I will kick your ass,” Leah screams.

Liam tries to pull her free but Mia has her hair in an enclosed fist. Lucas smiles; the son of a bitch is actually enjoying this. Never in my life have I let anger win over my emotions, but it is like anger infects the air around us.

I lunge for Mia before I realise I’m doing it. I grab her head and bring it down on the table hard. She screams out in pain, releasing Leah and reaching to the injuries on her face.

“Oh my God, you broke my fucking nose.” Blood pours from her nose, painting the table in crimson puddle.

I step back, shocked by my own actions. Lucas beams like he’s proud of me. I slap him hard across his cheek; it stings my palm. He lets out a deep laugh then lunges forward, grabbing my face with both hands and crushing his lips to mine.

Everyone around us disappears. There is no sound, only our breathing. Heat rises from my toes and up my body, washing through me like a wildfire, singeing every nerve ending. Lust pulls in my stomach but my mind snaps me back with thoughts of Shamar. I only want him to kiss me.

I hear muffled voices then the smells of coffee and cinnamon attack my nose and the rush of everyone around us blurs into my vision. I shake my head and push Lucas away.

“You fucking bitch! You want everyone!” Mia screams at me. She throws me to the floor, her blood dripping all over me as her hands tug at my hair.

“Get the fuck off her,” I hear Liam shout. Suddenly, Mia is lifted from me like she’s a feather. She’s thrown across the room and lands against a table. As she crumples to the floor, everyone stares at Lucas.

Liam is beside me in an instant, checking my head for injuries. “Are you okay?”

Lucas reaches out his hand, but I shake my head and wrap my arms around Liam’s neck. He lifts me up and carries me through the crowd. Leah opens the door for him and we all inhale the fresh night air.

“You broke her nose.” I look sheepishly to Leah. “It was awesome,” she shouts, using her hands to emphasize her enthusiasm.

Liam huffs and lowers me to the ground. “Can you stand?” I nod. “I think you should take some Advil. She was like a crazed woman. What happened before I got there?”

He looks between me and Leah.

“She was being a bitch,” we say in unison.

“So what boyfriend has she got to stay away from?” he asks Leah, cocking an eyebrow and smirking.

“Liam, you’re the boyfriend and you know it. Life’s too short.” She stretches onto her tiptoes and places a sweet kiss on his lips. As she’s pulling away, he grabs hold of her waist and wraps her in his arms to deepen their kiss.

“Damn straight it was me you were talking about,” he gloats, releasing her from his grasp but keeping hold of her hand.

I smile at them. “It’s about time,” I mutter under my breath.

“Let’s get you home, Simone. You need to burn those clothes,” Leah says looking down at the blood staining my clothes with disgust.

“She’s an Angel. What the hell, Gabrielle? How?”

Gabrielle doesn’t even flinch; she turns her gaze to me and she looks scared. “I warned you to stay away. Don’t say I didn’t.” She disappears in front of me.

I go straight to Maliki.

“She has the birth mark of an Angel,” I tell him, without even a hello.

“How is that possible? I thought she lived here - with human parents?”