She Speaks to Angels (21 page)

“
We sure are a pair,” he commented, a grin stretching across his face.

“
We sure are.” I agreed. I hung my neck over on the back of the sofa. I could feel my face beaming.

“
So...what do you want to do now?”

I turned my whole body around, legs crossed, and leaned into him. His face lit up like a bolt of lightning. He must have thought I wanted another kiss.

“
I want to know who you are.”

“
What do you want to know?”

“
How long did you live in the orphanage? Were you ever adopted?”

“
I was put up for adoption as soon as I lost my parents. I had no other living relatives. Since the state had nowhere else for me, they put me into the local city orphanage. I was raised by harsh hands.” Kian rubbed his temple, deep in memory, and a tear rolled down his cheek, lingering at his top lip. I wiped it with my pinky.

“
You never have to be sad again.”

“
They beat me badly.

My mouth gaped open. I couldn’t imagine what a horrible life he must have had before he met Sammael! “Did you report it?”

“
No,” he shook his head. “That wouldn’t have accomplished anything. The police don’t care about us orphans.” His mind wandered somewhere as he stared at the painting on the wall. “I ran away.”

“
To child services? Anyone?”

“
An orphan named Allen tried once. Didn’t do much good.”

“
I’m so sorry.” Comforting him, I circled his back with my hand.

“
Don’t be. I’m here now...with you.”

I let my head rest on his shoulder as he continued. He had so much story to share with me, and we had all the time in the world...well at least until eight. “So you lived on the streets?”

“
Yep, most of my life...well until Sammael.”

“
So, you haven’t lived in the mansion for that long?”

“
Not too long. But it feels like the home I always wanted.”

“
I’m glad.” I nestled up closer to him; the warmth emanating from his body was something akin to sunbathing under the summer sun. My chin relaxed on his neck. “Because I want you around.”

“
So, you’ll keep me as your protector?” he said with a hint of sarcasm.

“
I wouldn’t want any other.”

“
You won’t need any other,” he retorted, sounding confident.

“
I know.” I felt reassured and closed my eyes for a moment, basking in that certainty. He would be there for me always, whenever I needed him; my own personal angel of the skies. No other man could come close to what he gave me.

We sat silently like that, our legs wrapped over each other like roots of a tree, for at least thirty minutes. I didn’t want to break the quiet spell, a still reverie between us that spoke volumes without us saying a word. But then I had to. I had to know more.

“
After you ran away, where did you stay? On the streets I mean.”

“
Here and there. A few homeless shelters; a few sleepless nights. Sometimes I found comfort within the homes of a few Good Samaritans.”

“
In New York?” My mouth dropped open again.

Snickering, Kian retorted, “Yeah, hard to believe I know. But they exist.”

“
If you say so, I believe you.” I answered, only half seriously, and then I decided I wanted to pursue the conversation more. “So you survived the streets, I guess with criminals, poverty, demons and all?”

“
Fighting the criminals and demons became second nature to me. I had a knack for stopping the bad guys. My wings sprouted eagerly, and my abilities took hold. Caring for and protecting those weaker is who I am...who all the angels are.”

“
A true angel.” I sounded so sappy.

“
The poverty part, now that was a challenge.” I laughed at his remark.

“
How’s so?” I pushed closer to him; his story enthralling me.

“
Well, living on garbage is not something I’d recommend to anyone.”

“
Eww, really? You had to eat garbage?” I reacted quickly without a second thought to his sensitivities.

“
It’s not
so
bad...not when you’re hungry...or worse, starving.”

“
Sorry; I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did.”

“
Don’t beat yourself up about it. Everyone reacts that way.”

“
Everyone? Who else have you told?”

“
Well, Krysta, Nathaniel...and Sammael. You should have heard how Krysta reacted.”

I could totally visualize exactly how Krysta would have gawked and then made some sort of finger-down-the-throat-expression.

“
Well, you never have to face those hardships again at least.” I sounded cheery.

“
Yeah, I owe a lot to Sammael...even my life.”

“
Your life?” He caught me off guard.

“
Yeah, well...on more than one occasion, actually. The demons can be pretty ruthless. I remember a few times coming face to face with Dameon and his family of demons. Once Dameon caught me off guard and was holding me against an alley wall with a knife to my throat.”

“
Oh my God!”

His voice grew serious and deep as I watched his lips move. “Sammael sent the angel Jacob to help me.”

“
Jacob?”

“
The angel of love.” My expression must have grown curious, so Kian clarified what he meant. “Yes, the angel I spoke of earlier. You will get to meet him. He has had quite a life.”

I gave him an incredulous expression. “I thought I wouldn’t be meeting any more angels.”

“
You won’t. Except for Jacob. He is old and doesn’t serve the community as he once did. Well, you’ll understand once you meet him. He will tell you himself. It’s alright to know his identity. His power is already too weak to be of any value outside of the mansion walls.” As I pondered what Kian meant by that, I grew excited with the notion of meeting another angel.

“
When will I get to meet him?”

“
Soon.”

“
Wow!” I tried to digest everything Kian had told me. The homelessness, the poverty, the near life death experiences, Jacob. I wanted to ask more, but then the clock on the wall struck seven thirty. Like Cinderella with her magical glass slippers, I had run out of time.

“
I’d better get going. Don’t want to have to answer questions from your family.”

“
Yeah, you’re right. Better get going.”

He dematerialized before my eyes and disappeared beneath the kitchen window pane. Mom’s car pulled up seconds later.

Carnage

It
was Wednesday morning; I remembered this day well. Kian called and told me to meet him at the fence gate of my house. He flew into my backyard, hiding behind the apple tree, and after his wings folded inside his body he skirted around the fence and met me at the gate. I watched him the whole time. He must have brought a bag of clothes with him, because he dressed well.

“
What is it?” I asked, biting my lip. His ripped blue jeans and faded maroon t-shirt hung over his body in a way that accented every muscle.

“
Krysta is worried about what Dameon is up to; she hasn’t figured it out yet and doesn’t want you going to school without me...not with him there.

“
She said that? Krysta?”

“
She cares about you, too, Ali. She might not act like it, but she is Angelfire. Human kind is her priority.”

“
I didn’t know.” I lowered my head, feeling a bit ashamed of how little I thought of Krysta.

“
Don’t worry about it. Not many get along with her.”

I didn’t want to worry about it, but I kept going over in my mind how I’d treated her and how unfair I’d been.

“
I’ll try not to.” I brushed my thick hair behind my ear as Kian brushed past my shoulder; his warmth kept me comfortable in the cool weather. “And you should put a jacket of some kind on. I mean, I realize you probably don’t get cold like we humans do, but you don’t want others looking at you funny.”

He looked at himself, eyeing his legs and then his arms, bare from elbows down. “I have a jacket in my hidden backpack at the school.”

“
I hope so.” I nearly rolled my eyes. “Because I don’t think you’d like my pink coat.” I gripped his arm, and we walked toward the sidewalk. Jen would be by soon. “So, this is kinda nice...you being by my side and all.” I cozied up to him, my cheek to his chin.

“
Don’t get too comfortable; remember rule number 2.”

“
Yeah, yeah...rule number 2.” And I finally did roll my eyes. Molly had rubbed off on me.

As Jen pulled up to the curb, her sedan sounded clunky, as if the vehicle could break down at any moment, and Mol hung her head over Jen straining to see Kian.

“
What happened to your car?” I shouted as I bounced up to the back door.

“
Is he coming with?” Mol yelled as I opened the back door.

“
Yeah!” I huffed and slid in before Kian.

“
Have you gone and lost your mind?” Mol widened her eyes at Kian’s blushing face. “No jacket?”

“
In the laundry. No worries; I’ve got one in my locker.” Kian told her.

“
So, back to the car...what happened?” I interrupted the mini-banter between my friend and my so-called-angel-boyfriend-protector...or whatever he was to me.

“
An accident.” Jen gulped, her voice filled with shame.

“
You were in an accident?” I leaned forward between seats.

“
Not
my
fault. Daddy’s taking the jerk to court. We’ve got car repairs.”

“
Well I hope this doesn’t break down on our way to school.” I half giggled. Jen had never been one to do or have anything unreliable. If anything, she went out of her way to be responsible.

“
It won’t,” Jen said firmly as she mashed the accelerator.

When we finally arrived at school, Jen parked in one of the few parking spaces available. We’d almost gotten there late. Again.

“
Come on, guys!” Jen shouted, craning her neck to see us in the backseat. We jumped out of the car and hurried behind her and Molly.

“
We’re right behind ya,” I retorted and tightened my grip on Kian’s arm. The sight of the school brought everything into focus. I would be entering dangerous territory, entering the doors that separated the safety provided me by the presence of my friends, of me being with Kian to that of being alone in each of my classrooms for fifty minutes at a time.

“
I can’t believe I’m going to be late again!” Jen yelled, more at herself than anyone else. “Daddy is going to kill me!”

As she raced down the hall, her ponytail swaying, I shouted at her, “Just blame the car! Your teacher will understand.” After all, Jen did have a car problem.

“
Well, I’ll see you two later.” Molly dug her hands into her backpack and pulled out her painting, one she had evidently worked on the prior night. “I’ve got to get my masterpiece to art class before I get a zero.” And her painting did look like a masterpiece, at least as well done as a Picasso. She had a way with shapes, strokes and colors. I admired her for her talent, a talent I could never attain. The closest I got to a Picasso painting was a stick figure.

“
Later.” I waved, and my second best friend disappeared.

Only Kian and I stood at my locker, a familiar story, but one I enjoyed. A slit of sunlight slid through the window in the hallway and covered Kian’s left shoulder like a silk scarf. His eyes sparked amber for a quick second, and I remembered that I stood in the presence of someone celestial, some kind of awe-inspiring entity.

We walked to my first period class together; the velvety touch of Kian’s arm on mine kept me entranced, as if the more time I spent with him, the more I could not be without him. “Are you leaving me now?” My hand hung on the English class doorknob. Through the rectangular window I could see the class full of inattentive students, and Dameon was positioned toward the back.

“
You’ll be fine.” Kian encouraged, but I hardly heard him. I could feel my heart palpitating and my nerves cracking.

“
What if...”

“
No what ifs.” Kian leaned toward me and whispered in my ear, “I’m always right here, protecting you. Don’t be afraid. He can do nothing to you there, and remember, I’ll be right here waiting at the door when the bell rings.”

I nodded and then brushed my head against his soft cheek as I rested my chin on his shoulder. “I...I know.” And I did know; he would never let anything happen to me. I felt that assurance in the deepest parts of me, the same assurance that told me the sun would rise each morning, or that the winter brought on the need of heavy coats.

I opened the door and smiled at Kian before staring at Dameon. Somehow, with Kian behind me as the door slowly shut, I felt empowered.

“
Nice of you, Allison Maney, to finally join us.” Mrs. Engstrom stated firmly.

“
Sorry...the car...”

“
No excuses. I’m marking you tardy.”

“
That’s fine, Mrs. Engstrom.” I slipped into my seat. All eyes were on me. I had become quite a spectacle...breaking up with one of the hottest new guys — Dameon — and hooking up with one of the other hot guys — Kian—who was also new to the school.