Spider Web

by Danielle James

  “So, to make a long story short, I know that whatever it is, you, me, and several others, are all going to be involved. I thought it might just be easier to just come here myself and let you know. It will be easier if we are all together.”

  “I think you lost me,” Nick said. This little woman was going on at about a hundred miles an hour and for all intents and purposes, wasn’t making a damn bit of sense to him. “How did you know who I am, and who are the others?”

  Jolice studied his face before answering. Nick was more attractive than he had been in her vision. He was tall, at least six foot, wavy blonde hair that just kissed the tops of his broad shoulders, and an aristocratic nose settled between two very green eyes. His skin was lightly tanned, the result of being out in the sun. Daywalkers and Nightwalkers were so different and yet, so much alike. Vampires were not all the myths led them on to be. Yeah, they drink blood. But they don’t have to bite to get it. In fact, it’s frowned upon unless permission is given. And not all had to avoid the sun. Even Nightwalkers could stand a little sun. It just made them weak. Daywalkers were as close to human as possible; except for the blood drinking, and the extra powers. Nick quirked one light brow, as if to remind her that he still wanted an answer.

  “I have visions sometimes,” Jolice reminded him again. “I saw you at the office where you work. I did a little research and found out your name. It’s amazing what one can find out on the internet.”

  “And the others?” he reminded her.

  “Well, I don’t exactly have names for them yet,” she reluctantly admitted. “I saw Phoenix in a vision, as well as Victor and Rachel. Is she your mother, by the way? The only other information I have is that we are to find a soul that shouldn’t be, a fallen angel, a heart of gold, and a multi-shifter. That’s all I got.”

  “I don’t know,” Nick said, rubbing his eyes. “It’s a lot to swallow.” He shook his head. This woman shows up in the wee hours of the night, telling him all this, and from the look on her pretty face, she expected him to swallow it, hook, line and sinker. Not so fast.

  “What is this bad stuff going on?”

  “Evil,” she replied. “Pure, sadistic, evil. I don’t know the plan yet, but I will when the time is right. I just know that I had to come here.”

  “My dad is out on business tonight,” Nick told her. “He will be back in the morning. You should discuss this with him.” He rose to his feet and started to walk to the door. “I will be sure to let him know that you plan to stop by.”

  Jolice laughed. “Oh, no. I’m not leaving here. You’re stuck with me. Just show me where I can put my stuff and I’ll leave you alone so you can sleep.” She stood and picked up her suitcase. “It won’t do you any good to argue,” she added. “I won’t be any trouble.”

  He wasn’t going to get rid of her. She was planning to stay. Nick was tired and she was stubborn. He focused his tired brain to try and get a read on her. He felt no malice from her; in fact, he only felt her wish to help. With an exasperated sigh, he motioned to the stairs. “Follow me,” he grumbled. He led Jolice up the flight of stairs to an empty guest room. Once she was settled, Nick picked up his phone from the dresser where it was charging and dialed his father’s number.

  “Dad,” he said into the receiver when Victor’s voicemail picked up, “I just wanted to let you know that we have company. She can explain it to you when you get home.” He hung up and dialed another number.

  Phoenix was soaring through the air at a gentle pace, taking in the scent of brine and sand when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He touched down softly on the beach and relished the feel of sand under his feet for a second before he answered. “Yeah?”

  “Hey,” Nick’s voice replied. “I wanted to ask you something.”

  “Shoot,” Phoenix replied.

  “I thought no one knew about you,” he said.

  “What do you mean?” Phoenix asked, all of his senses on alert. No one was supposed to know about him; except for Nick and his family. All the other humans that knew him were long dead.

  “A woman showed up on my doorstep tonight,” Nick explained. “She knew who I was, Father, and you. She said she couldn’t wait to meet you. I didn’t tell her anything, but I think she knows more than she should. Are you sure you haven’t been seen?”

  “Yeah. I’ll be home soon,” Phoenix said. “What did she want?”

  “Says we are all involved in some big thing that’s going to happen. Says there will be more people coming. It’s pretty wild. I’ll let her tell you about it.”

  “Right. So I will be there in a few.”

  “Yeah, I’m going back to bed. See you,” Nick said, before hanging up.

  Phoenix shut his phone and stuffed it back in his pocket. He rubbed his large hands over his face and then through his long hair. How had this woman known about him? Sure, vampires and weres had been living out in the open for some time, but not all mythological creatures had seen fit to expose themselves. Humans weren’t ready for that. How would they feel about demons and shifters; or him? Phoenix was the most elusive of all the mythological creatures. He liked it that way.

  He snapped his wings open and shot into the sky. This woman could be trouble. He knew that Nick could take care of himself, but still, Phoenix wanted to be nearby just in case. He turned south and headed for the mansion that Nick and his family, and now Phoenix, called home.

  Phoenix had been friends with Nick and his father for years now, and he thought of them as his family. He had never had family before. And he’d be damned if he was going to let anyone hurt them.

  He flew at high speed back to the house, his mind a whirl. A human who knew; it just wasn’t possible. He glided on the air, smooth as silk, until his home was in view. Then, he descended gently and took a quick tour around the property, a habit he had formed recently, making sure no one was there that wasn’t supposed to be. Then Phoenix peered through the guest room window.

  A petite woman with unruly brown curls was unpacking her suitcase, humming a little tune as she worked. She looked light as a feather, and those eyes didn’t appear to hold one ounce of malice. Just then, she turned toward the window, saw him, and let out a gut curdling scream.

  Phoenix jumped back from the window, his wings beating against the air in an effort to hold him in place. The little woman jerked the curtains closed and he could hear her footsteps as she ran through the house. So... maybe not the best first impression...but who cared? She was an intruder in their home as far as Phoenix was concerned.

  He dropped down and stormed in the front door. He had to find out who this woman was, what she was doing in the house, and how she knew about him. She was, if nothing else, a security risk; a weak link in the wall that he had so carefully erected around himself. Just as he stomped his way into the foyer, he was met by the woman, who was not smiling. Instead, she was scowling and looking at him as if he were the intruder.

  “Who the hell are you?” she demanded of him, her hands on her slim hips.

  “I should be asking you the same thing,” Phoenix snarled back. “What are you doing here and how the fuck did you know about me?”

  Jolice looked at the man in front of her. He almost fit the bill for the Phoenix. He was so very tall, but instead of the gorgeous hunk from her vision, this man had long grey hair. His face was worn, wrinkled from time and weather, and his wings! They were actually pretty pathetic looking. Yes, they were the right color, if muted a bit, but there were feathers dropping at his feet and they were sporting quite a few bare spots.

  But when Jolice studied his face, she knew he was the same man. His eyes told her everything she needed to know. They were so intense, dark orange, and shimmered as if the irises themselves were on fire. She walked up to him and turned her face way up to study him. Centuries of knowledge stared back at her from those strange, beautiful eyes. “Phoenix?” she asked in an uncharacteristically timid voice.

  “Yeah, I’m Phoenix,” he answered, his voice booming. “Wh
o the fuck are you?”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  August

  Louisville, Kentucky

  “It’s a good thing we don’t gain weight,” Michael mumbled around a mouthful of kung-pow chicken.

  “Uh huh,” Gabriel responded, his own mouth full of dumplings. The Asian restaurant was packed full, a line waiting outside the door. “So, how are things with Shannon?” he asked after swallowing.

  “I have been good, keeping my distance.”

  “That’s good. Now, if you’ll excuse me, there is a fresh pot of pork on the buffet, and it is just calling my name.” Gabriel stood as he was talking, already headed back to the buffet line. This was the normal Saturday, the two friends meeting at Chow Young’s for lunch. They would eat their fill of fried rice and chicken, shrimp, and anything else on the bar. It was one of their favorite things to do. Eat.

  Michael was trying not to rush. After the encounter in the bathroom two weeks earlier, he had tried desperately to keep Shannon off his mind. He had even been avoiding her; not that he wouldn’t know if she was in trouble, but it made him feel like he was slacking on the job. But it was more important to let her live her life than to interfere, and that was exactly what he feared he would do. He did check on her every single day after lunch. And it was nearly time.

  Gabriel plopped back down into his chair with a plate in one hand and a bowl of something in the other. When he set it on the table, the liquid splashed over the side of the bowl.

  “Careful, that’s wasting perfectly good soup!” Michael warned.

  “Don’t think I won’t clean it up,” Gabriel replied, slurping the liquid out of the bowl. It smelled strongly of onions, but Michael didn’t dare ask.

  “Watch this,” Michael said mischievously. He placed his hand over his mouth lightly, and made a sound that seemed to come from the back of the restaurant. It was strikingly close to that of a cat in a fight. Almost every head in the restaurant looked up, their expressions ranging from confused to downright horror.

  “You should be ashamed of yourself,” Gabriel laughed. Michael agreed. He should be, but he wasn’t.

  “So, about tonight,” Michael started, but didn’t finish. A familiar feeling in his gut seized his attention. It was a knotted, sickening feeling. “Never mind, I have to go,” he said as he bolted from his seat and ran for the door. Shannon was in trouble. He had no idea what, but he could sense it, loud and clear. Once safely around the corner of the restaurant, he shimmered and disappeared.

  Guardian angels do not have to know specifically where their charge is in order to find them. Michael concentrated on Shannon, knowing his body would automatically go to her. He could always sense her, he could always find her. When she was in danger, he didn’t even really have to concentrate. It was how he was made.

  Shannon was in her apartment. It was Saturday and her shift didn’t start until later in the afternoon. She was pacing the floor trying her best to ignore the knocking at her door.

  “Come on, Baby. Let me in!” Robert’s disembodied voice called. “I know you’re home. Just open the door and we can talk about it.”

  Shannon took two steps toward the door, and then stopped. “Don’t do it,” Michael whispered to her mind. She shook her head and silently went to the couch.

  “Shannon! Open this door!” he shouted from the hall. “Don’t do this! Don’t make me have to be this way.”

  Shannon stood her ground. Michael watched her intently, noticing the quickness of her breath, the slight tremble in her hands. She gazed at the phone on the table beside the couch. She was wondering if she should call the police. Her unsteady hand reached for it, but stopped. Instead, she lifted a magazine from the table and pretended to read it. Just go away, she thought; but eyed her gun lying on the table next to the phone. She hoped she wouldn’t have to use it.

  The banging on the door got louder. Michael knew he wasn’t going away. Michael popped out into the hallway. Robert was pounding on the door, his fists striking it in unison, his face contorted with rage. Michael knew this was bad. Very bad.

  He slipped back into Shannon’s living room and whispered to her to call the police. Before she could get the phone in her hand, the lock on her front door broke. Robert came crashing into the apartment, shoving the door out of the way.

  “What the hell is wrong with you!” he spat. “I told you to let me in!”

  “And I told you to leave me alone. The police are on the way,” she sneered at him. She was standing, prepared. Her feet were shoulder width apart, her arms at her sides, ready to fight if she had too. Her gun still laid unnoticed by Robert on the end table. She debated turning her back on him long enough to grab for it.

  Robert growled in anger and closed the distance between them. His hand shot out and slapped her face so hard that she reeled back. Shannon regained her balance and stood her ground.

  “Duck!” Michael told her, and she did, just missing Robert’s fist flying past her head. He was crazy! Robert swung again, this time connecting with the side of her head. Shannon fell back onto the couch and rolled to her side. She grabbed her gun from the table and pointed it directly at Robert’s forehead.

  “You gonna shoot me?” he sneered. “Well, go ahead then,” he taunted.

  “I don’t want to kill you, Robert. Just turn around and leave. No one will ever be the wiser. Just leave, now.”

  “You and I both know you have never shot anyone. You have no intentions of firing that thing on me.”

  “I will shoot you Robert.”

  “Like hell!” he shouted and lunged for her. He was right. She wouldn’t shoot him. He grabbed the gun and tried to wrestle it out of her hands. She brought her knee up hard just as he gained control of her weapon. He raised it and took aim at Shannon.

  Michael could stand it no more.

  He materialized between Shannon and Robert.

  “What the..” Robert said, wide eyed and open mouthed.

  “Leave,” Michael commanded, “Now. And don’t ever come back.”

  “I don’t know who you are buddy, but this is none of your business. I suggest you leave before I tear you apart!” Robert glared at Michael, waving the gun at him.

  “Try, if you think you can.” Robert cocked the gun, but Michael caught his wrist in a flash movement too fast for Robert to see. A loud crack signaled the breaking of Robert’s wrist in Michael’s hand. The gun clattered to the floor. Robert’s eyes went wide and an oath escaped his lips. The look on his face went from angry to surprise to finally, sheer terror. “Get out.” Michael released his arm.

  Robert decided it was better to listen than to get another broken bone. He cradled his broken wrist with his good hand, turned tail, and ran from the apartment.

  “Bullies always run away,” Michael mused out loud. He turned to face Shannon. She was standing against the wall, staring in disbelief.

  “What are you?” she stammered. Michael smiled, and then realized she was staring not at his face, but at something just over his head. He did a quick assessment, and then realized what she saw.

  Michael stood before his charge in true form. In his haste to save her from Robert, Michael hadn’t even bothered to conceal his wings. They were arched out behind him in all of their twelve foot glory. They reached about two feet over his head, and six feet out on either side. It was a normal stance for an angel preparing for battle. It made the angel seem bigger and more menacing to his opponent. Michael could only think of one thing to say. “Shit.”

  Michael paced his apartment. He swore and wrung his hands. His wings flittered and jerked. Gabriel hadn’t shown up to chastise him for several days, which could only mean that he had been instructed not to. Michael knew there was someone else coming to visit. A visit he didn’t want.

  Why wasn’t he more careful? He could have come through the door; he could have concealed his wings. There was no excuse for his oversight, and he knew it. Angels are not permitted to show their true form to humans, and Michael knew he
would be punished. He would go to trial, of course. He would get the chance to explain his actions. Maybe the fates could erase Shannon’s memory of the event. The fates were not unreasonable. They saw over everything, everywhere, all the time. They were the law, the sheriff, the judge, jury, and executioners. There was only one who had power over the fates. That would be God.

  The thought sent a chill down Michael’s spine. Shannon might be very accepting, after the initial shock wore off. He had only explained the bare minimum to Shannon at her apartment. She was angry and felt as if Michael had deceived her. And he had, in a way; lied by omitting important information. He knew she would come to terms with it. Perhaps she would be of no consequence to the collective angel psyche. She was an honest, respectable young woman and would never betray them. Maybe they would let her retain her knowledge; he doubted it very seriously. He would be lucky to remain her guardian. Most likely, he would be removed. Gabriel. That’s who he would request to take his place.

  He was interrupted by a light knock at the door. It was no angel; they didn’t need doors. Michael opened it only slightly, just enough to see who was there.

  Shannon stood in front of the door. “Can I come in?”

  Michael pushed the door the rest of the way open, wordlessly inviting her in. She looked awful. Her hair was tangled, wisps escaping from her ponytail. Her eyes were swollen and red as if she hadn’t slept, dark rings surrounding them. She was wearing an old pair of sweat pants and a white t-shirt. Her eyes met his momentarily, and then she walked past him into the room. He never thought when he told her where he lived that she would ever end up on his doorstep.