Soul Catcher (15 page)

Chapter Nineteen

Angel opened the door just as Jacque decided to kick it in. Her amber tresses hid her face. The sight of her eased his pain. He thought he had lost her forever. Somehow a miracle plucked him from the gates of purgatory and dropped him on her doorstep. Yeah. Purgatory. He never expected to end up there; demons usually went straight to Hell.

As soon as she stepped within reach, he scooped her into his arms, holding her tight to his chest. Her body stiffened and she pushed back. Then realization hit, a brilliant smile broke across her face, and she circled her arms around his waist. Shaking with tears, she mumbled incoherently into his chest. He inhaled her sweetness and kissed her hair, unable to let her go.

He brushed back her dark waves to take in her beautiful face. The image of her large coffee colored eyes and pouty lips stayed with him as he waited for his judgment. She let go of him and looked the other away. Her head dropped, shoulders shook, and she sucked in air between the sobs. She pushed against his stomach, trying to escape his hold. Confused, Jacque held her tighter. Her hair cascaded around her face, blocking his view.

“Angel, baby. What’s wrong?” he pleaded. This wasn’t the welcome he expected.

“I don’t want you to see me,” she murmured through her tears.

He turned her to face him. “Why? What’s going on?” She jerked away and dipped her head lower. He wanted to see her, to get lost in her eyes. She was an easy read. Her emotions laid on the surface waiting to explode.

She held strong when he tried to tilt her face to him. “You’re not going to want me anymore when you see me.”

He hugged her, feeling some of the tension ease from her body. “I will always want you. I love you.”

“You love someone who doesn’t exist anymore.”

“Okay, Angel. What hell are you talking about?” Frustration resonated in his voice.

She slowly pulled back her hair and chocolate orbs stared at him, watching him expectantly. The horror tore him apart. A gaping scar mangled the right side of her face. The deep gash cut a path from her temple to below her jaw line. The scar pulled at her skin, slightly deforming the shape of her right eye. Who could do such a thing? Then the answer was evident. Words escaped him. The pain in her eyes as she watched him hurt worse than the dagger that pierced his heart. She tore herself from his arms and disappeared into the house.

Jacque felt the sorrow and turmoil boiling like a cauldron inside of Angel. Was this what she gave up to bring him back? Ignorantly, he stared at her in horror instead of comforting her fears. Every time he opened his mouth or, this time, not open, he hurt her. His track record sucked. He had to fix this. Making things right with Angel was becoming a full-time job for him.

He hurried down the hall to the living room. The room went silent when he entered. Bell called his name under her breath. Before he could take another step, she threw herself into his arms. Bell’s tears wet his shirt as he stroked her back to soothe her crying.

“I thought you were lost to the Pits forever.” She clung tighter. He wanted to pull away from her and find Angel. He sensed her need to be close to him and stayed a bit longer.

He let go of Bell and stepped back, unlocking her arms from him. “No, I ended in Purgatory then someone plucked me out of there and here I am.”

“You can thank Angel. She made a huge sacrifice to get your no-good ass back,” Laurent called from the kitchen.

“I noticed. I think I messed up.” He took another step back, trying to put some distance between him and Bell. She hovered close as if he might disappear.

“What the hell you do? She’s really messed up right now.”

Jacque eyes fell to the floor in shame. “I was just surprised when I saw her face.”

Laurent rubbed his temple as he sat in the club chair in the corner. “Shit. You
are
a dumbass! She got messed up in a car accident. She came to Luc ‘cause she was trying to get her beauty back. Then, he wanted her to take me out and she refused. He forfeited the contract.”

“I knew something heavy brought her to Luc. She refused to tell me what. How the hell did she get me back?”

“The archs are here, well Michael and Raphael. They offered to return Angel’s beauty. Instead of helping herself, she traded it to get you back. I guess the Big Guy approved her request.” Laurent shook his head as he recounted the story.

“Fuck. Did all hell break loose when I left? I thought you were supposed to be taking care of her.” Jacque’s eyes flash red with anger.

“Man, we’re at war now. The shit has hit the fan!”

“I guess I have a lot of catching up to do.”

“First you need to go and make things right with Angel.” Laurent pointed up the stairs.

***

Angel stopped at the top of the stairs and watched the scene below as the reality of her situation blossomed in front of her. Isabella ran into Jacque’s arms. He gathered her lovingly, soothing her shock just as he did with Angel. Only he gazed upon Isabella’s face with admiration, not horror. The sharp talons of jealousy ripped a hole in her thundering heart.

She waited for him to come to her. He didn’t move. He lingered with Isabella hovering close, talking to Laurent. She tried to prepare herself for this situation. She understood the possibilities. The pain still tore at her sanity. She thought he loved her, therefore could see past the monster she had become. His betrayal far outweighed Jackson’s. She didn’t love Jackson. He did her a favor when he left. Foolishly, she fell for Jacque, giving her heart to him.

Angel sighed, studying Isabella’s delicate features, the fairness of her blonde hair and blue eyes. Her petite figure highlighted Jacque’s massive frame. They were a dance of contrasts, painting a picture of contradicting beauty. She admired them with envy.

He turned, heading toward the stairs, prompting her to dart into the bedroom. She didn’t need or want his pity. Locking herself in the bathroom, she faced her worst enemy, the mirror. As she stared at her reflection, she came to terms with her fate. This monster was her burden to bear forever. It was time she embraced her destiny.

Angel picked up the black band and gathered her hair high on top her head in a ponytail, her face fully visible for the first time since Lucifer stripped her of his gift. She traced the ridges with her fingertips, saying goodbye to the Cover Girl face of her past. Digging deep, she mustered up her courage and went back into the master bedroom.

Jacque stretched out across the bed with his hands tucked behind his head waiting for her. The massive bulk of his body made the king-sized bed shrink in size. Her eyes roamed over the broadness of his strong chest, catching the ripple of muscles as he watched her cross the room. The ridges of his ironclad abs showed through the tight T-shirt. His torso tapered at his waist, flowing into the powerful build of his legs. She licked her lips unintentionally. She was a lioness ready to pounce on its prey. The desire boiling inside of her reminded her how much she missed him.

Instead of reacting to her instincts, she ignored Jacque, forcing herself away from the bed.
Must stay strong
. She went to the dresser and opened the top drawer, pretending to search for something. The bed moved and she sensed Jacque’s heat. She froze, holding her breath. If he touched her, she wasn’t sure she could maintain her pretense.

He swept her hair across her shoulder and his lips hovered at the base of her neck. The warm moisture of his breath made the hairs on her nape sway like reeds in the wind. Her knees trembled as soft full lips whispered a kiss just behind her ear. She released the breath she held. He wrapped an arm around the front of her, melding her to him. Angel closed her eyes, basking in his seduction.

“I’m sorry,” he implored, the words caressing her cheek.

She tried to escape his grasp. “I don’t want your pity.”

“I feel a lot of things for you. Pity is not one of them. I’m sorry I did this to you.” He leaned his weight in on her, cocooning her in his arms.

She shook her head and answered, “You didn’t do this. This was done long before I met you.”

“But you could’ve changed it. Actually, you had changed it until I messed things up.”

“Jacque, I shouldn’t have made the deal with Lucifer in the first place. I got a second chance to make things right, to do the right thing.”

“You saved my life.” A kiss brushed against her temple.

“I took your life when you tried to help me. I gave you back what was rightfully yours.” She touched his arm and grazed his jaw with her lips.

He spun her around to meet his gaze. Immediately, she diverted her eyes to the floor. With a finger under her chin, he lifted her face to his. “I meant what I said at Antione’s.”

She looked up at him with hood eyes. “Help me remember.”

“My, how easily we forget.” He smiled and ran a finger along the scar, gently stroking her face. “I love you.”

“Look at me. How can you love this?” No longer able to bare the intensity of his stare, she buried her face in Jacque’s chest.

“I see everything about you, even the things you fail to see about yourself. There’s nothing monstrous about you. You’re my Angel.” He played with a strand of her hair.

Once again, he lifted her face, slanting his lips on hers. The urgency of his passion lit like wildfire through Angel. His tongue darted in and out of her parted lips, begging her to respond. She moaned against him, her mouth opened, welcoming the sweet taste of his eager lips. Her tongue met his, twining in desperate desire.

Chapter Twenty

Banging interrupted their kiss. Angel regained her composure and removed herself from Jacque’s hold. The banging became louder.

“Hey, y’all in there?” Bell’s voice called from the other side of the door, sounding as annoying as she did when they were kids. “Helloooo. Anyone home?”

He snatched open the door. “What do you want, Bell?” Bell’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “Just want to tell y’all we have company. Etienne is downstairs for Angel, and your parents are here.”

“What do you mean ‘my parents?’” Angel piped up.

“Shit, Bell. You didn’t call them, did you?” He glowered, waiting for her answer.

“I thought they would want to know you’re okay. And they can help. You know they got clout in the Underworld. I’m trying to get a hold of my mom, too.”

Angel sunk onto the bed with an exasperated expression glued to her face. “Who
are
your parents?”

“You would’ve had to meet them sooner or later. I was just hoping for later.” He shot a glance at Bell. “My father is Leviathan, one of the seven Princes of Hell. My mom is Isis.”

Her eyebrows crinkled in a question. “The Egyptian goddess Isis?”

“Yeah. She has a lot of titles. Some call her one of the four protectors. She has too many to name all of them.”

Angel flung herself back on the bed, her arms flopping to her sides. “Fucking great. Not only do I have to meet your parents looking like this. Your father’s a goddamn prince and your mother’s a goddess.”

“Hey, your grandma’s a voodoo queen. Maybe it’ll win you some points.” Bell stifled a giggle, straightening quickly when Jacque growled. “Look. I’ll go back down and keep everyone entertained. Y’all gotta come down. I have to catch up with your mom anyway. It’s been a while since we talked.” The glare Angel shot Bell could frighten Medusa solid.

Jacque gathered Angel off the bed. She slumped in his arms in protest. He laid his full weight on her and ground his pelvis into her. Kissing the hollow of her neck, he felt her quiver underneath him.

He whispered softly in her ear, “We can stay here, and I can make you forget my parents are downstairs. Eventually we have to go down, and when we do everyone will know why we were delayed.”

She squirmed under him and pushed at his shoulders, trying to escape. He tasted her lips hungrily before freeing her. The fire in her eyes made him want to keep her trapped in bed, ravishing her body.

She rolled off the bed and ran to the closet. “You’re such an ass. I should’ve left you to burn in Hell.”

“What’re you doing?”

“Changing. I can’t meet your mom in jeans.”

“It doesn’t matter. Let’s just get going.” He dragged her from the closet. “Oh. I apologize in advance for my mom.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“You’ll see,” he said, guiding her down the stairs.

***

Voices floated up from the living room, sounding like a party brewing. She took in a deep breath before descending down the stairs. When they reached the others, she resisted the urge to run and hide. Jacque’s hand at the small of her back comforted her and acted as a brace keeping her steady.

A statuesque woman poised beside the armchair. Her flawless radiance glowed under the setting sun. She spoke with authority and grace. She and Marie chatted like ladies of the court. This was Jacque’s mother and to Angel’s pleasure, she stood as far away from Bell as physically possible.

The men huddled by the bar, drinks in hand. She wouldn’t have had a problem identifying Jacque’s father, even in a crowd. Both men had emerald eyes with the intensity of an exploding star. They reminded her of an NBA star mixed with a WWE wrestler. Jacque took the best his parents had to offer and combined them into a spectacular specimen of a man. Demon, she corrected herself.

The conversation died as she and Jacque entered the room. His mother came to him and embraced him. Even as he towered over her, she still exuded power and strength. Angel noticed a softer side as Isis’s love for Jacque shone in her eyes. Angel could only dream of having the same kind of love from her mother. The goddess released her hold, but held his hand like she thought he might escape. Angel knew the feeling well.

Jacque’s father, like most men, refused public displays of affection. He slapped Jacque across the shoulder as if to say, “He’s my boy.” Angel envied the interaction. Her mother could care less about her, and she never knew her father. All she knew was the memory of her father burned a hole in her mother’s heart every time she looked at Angel.

Jacque moved to stand behind her. “Mom, Dad. This is Angel.”

His mother examined every inch of her, narrowing her dark brown eyes in scrutiny. “Yes, we’ve heard a lot about you. Jacque seems quite taken with you.”

Angel backed a little closer to Jacque for protection, from what she didn’t know. “It’s nice to meet you both. I... I just wish it was under better circumstances,” she stammered like a babbling idiot.

“This is a mess you’ve created here.” The words stung like salt in a wound.

Jacque came to her defense. “Mom. Cut it out. This isn’t Angel’s fault. You know how crazy Luc is.”

“At least she had the decency to get you back from Death.”

Angel fought her tears. She couldn’t break down in front of this woman. She refused to give her the satisfaction.

“Watch how you speak to my granddaughter,” Marie interjected. “She didn’t mean for any of this to happen, and she risked everything to save your son. You will treat her with some respect.” The two ladies challenged one another.

Lightning flashed through the horizon. Power surged through the room. “I owe no mortal respect. I would watch how
you
speak to
me!
” Angel couldn’t decipher which woman caused the bolt.

“Okay. Timeout.” Jacque stepped in the middle of the two, making a T-motion with his hands. “Mom...don’t disrespect Angel. She’s important to me.”

Her heart sang. For the first time in her life, someone other than Faith took up for her. Love surrounded her.

“I’m not sure what to call you. Goddess? Isis? Ma’am? I’d never hurt Jacque on purpose. I know I’ve caused a lot of problems. It was because I refused to be used by Lucifer again. I wasn’t going to turn Laurent over to him. Now I have to pay a price. This is not a price I asked anyone else to contribute to.” It took all her determination to face Jacque’s mother. She was an intimidating presence, one used to being worshipped.

“You have fortitude, young one. You might be just what my son needs. Balance. We shall see. Now, how can we assist with this situation with Luc? He is really getting out of hand. Someone must put him back in his place.”

Isis turned with a swish of her dress, dismissing Angel. Isabella cursed under her breath. Hugging Angel close to him, Jacque relaxed. Angel smiled. Round one went in her favor.

Angel beamed with a confidence she had never experienced before. She held her head higher. Not even on her most beautiful days on the runway was she filled with this kind of joy. For the first time in her life, she respected herself and expected the same from others. The people in the room cared about her and not her beauty or money, just her.

Now her life was worth living, she had to figure out a way to salvage it. This battle with the Devil wasn’t going to be simple. She was clueless beyond knowing how to entice people to help. She would leave the logistics and strategy to the military people.
G.I. Jane
, she was not.

“Etienne, how many others have agreed to help?” she asked, talking about the one thing she understood.

“We have a few covens of vampires and witches. The rougarou or werewolves have agreed to join. Luc has been after their pack leader for centuries. They will be strong allies. We have a few rogue Supes who offered to help at a price.”

She slid back into the club chair, twirling a strand of hair. “We’re going to need more help if we plan to beat the Devil.”

“The legions belonged to me for a long time. I know some of my soldiers will help us.” Jacque sat on the arm of her chair. She leaned her head to rest on his side.

“I talked to some of them and they agreed. I’m sure more will join once they know you’re back,” Laurent chimed in.

“I know Ra, Amun, and Ma’at will help. They owe me a favor, and Lucifer is not their favorite person. Your father will gather as many demons as he can get to join the cause. Call us when you have everyone assembled and ready to discuss strategy.” With those words, Isis and Jacque’s father vanished.

“We may be able to get some more help,” the archs announced, putting on their coats.

“Okay, for right now we work on gathering as many as we can to fight. Etienne, can you secure a place large enough for all of us to meet? Let’s say in three days.” Angel waited for his reply.

“Sure,” Etienne answered.

“Okay, we have a lot of work to do in a short amount of time. Let’s get this party started.” She stood, taking Jacque's hand. Everyone disbursed, leaving her alone with Jacque.

***

Rising, Jacque gazed down at Angel. Her weariness reflected in her smile. Jacque figured standing up for herself was a challenge for Angel, one he doubted she’d been successful at many times before. Although she took a giant leap, insecurities lurked in the shadows of her mind. He needed to take things slow.

He picked her up and her arms circled around his neck. She rested her head against his chest. Her sweet aroma wafted to his nostrils, teasing his senses. Her scent had followed him, kept him company in the bland nothingness of purgatory. He carried her to the bedroom, lowered himself on the bed, and cradled her in his arms. She peered up with cocoa eyes and brushed the backs of her fingers down his cheek. The heat of her touch seared his skin. He caught her fingers in his hand and brought them gently across his lips. He released her hand and ran his thumb along her bottom lip, feeling its petal-soft texture. She quivered under his touch as her hands explored the planes of his chest.

He wanted to surround her in his love and secure her in happiness. He hadn’t realized how broken she was, even before her accident. She came into herself today. His duty was to make sure she didn’t disappear again. This was new territory for him. He spent years trying to knock Bell down off her self-made pedestal. The women of the Underworld were born with an extra dose of self-esteem, building someone up was going to be different.

He loved her dark hair cascading around her face. Untying the black band holding her hair, he grinned, watching her shake her hair loose from the ponytail. Playfully, he threw her to the mattress, rolling on top of her. The sparkle in her smile softened him like a soothing melody. He trapped both her hands above her head, kissed the base of her neck, and tasted the skin along her collarbone.

“Let me go.” She squirmed.

“Make me.” His tongue lapped the swells emerging from the deep V-neck of her tee. He gathered both her hand in his left and used the right to slide her shirt up over her head, exposing perfect breasts shielded by thin purple lace. He flicked his tongue at her right nipple through the material, watching it harden instantly.