“No. Wrong answer. I’m going to go get her. She needs a friendly face right now. She’s covering for me at work – it’s the least I can do.” She grabbed her own purse and shoved her feet in her sneakers. When Caleb made to protest, she cut him off. “After what you told me earlier today, I think you owe me.”
He grumbled but didn’t disagree. Instead he grabbed his car keys. “Fine. But I’m going to have Gav meet us there in case we run into trouble.”
✽✽✽
The night club was giant; the ground level was taken up mostly by the dance floor but there was also an upfront stage and white leather lounge furniture spread around the sides. A wrap around balcony made for a more intimate second floor. The crowd on the dance floor was so thick that anyone could get lost in the strobe lights, the insistent beat of the music and the glitter. Sweaty, perfumed bodies undulated all around, speaking in a timeless form of communication of their most primitive desires.
“Where do you think she is?” Caleb shouted through the noise.
“The manager’s office, probably. She used his phone,” Grace answered.
“Gav just texted that he’s coming in now. He’ll wait for us at the entrance while we go get her. Let me ask where the office is. Don’t move.”
Caleb stepped over to the bar while Grace waited. In those few seconds, a man stopped in front of her. He might as well have been a wall. She had to look up to see his face. Her mouth parted slightly in surprise at its perfection. His eyes glistened darkly, framing an impeccably straight nose that led to a sparkling smile and a strong jaw.
“A beautiful girl like you shouldn’t be alone in a place like this,” he said, pulling gently on his sports coat as if to indicate he was there to solve that problem. Well wasn’t he smug.
Before she could even formulate a response, Caleb was already beside her, a hand on her shoulder. “She is NOT alone.”
“Why hello, old friend. What a coincidence, meeting you here,” the man said.
“You two know each other?” Grace asked. This was unexpected. She looked from Caleb’s angry face to Daemon’s smirking one. The tension between the two men was visible.
“Oh, we go way back. Don’t we.” With feigned hurt the man added, “I’m surprised you never mentioned me.”
“We both know this was no coincidence,” Caleb’s voice was only one notch above a growl. “Why are you here?”
“I wanted to see what you were up to. I was concerned. You’ve been a hard fellow to track down.”
“Daemon, get the fuck out of here before I make you,” Caleb said. Daemon put his two hands in the air and shrugged innocently, then turned his attention to Grace.
“You know, you’re welcome to come home with me instead. I’m sure I could show you a much better time than this old stick in the mud.” He winked.
She looked him square in the eye. “That’s doubtful.”
“Oh, she’s a feisty one, Caleb. I like it. I can see why you’ve been so obsessed with her.” Caleb made to grab his arm, but Daemon stepped back. “Alright, alright. Chill out buddy. I was just leaving.”
Right before Daemon walked away, however, he leaned in and whispered in Grace’s ear, “Caleb has many secrets. Has he told them all to you? I wonder…”. Daemon walked a few steps away and then added, “Oh, I think your friend might be looking for this. You should tell her to be more careful in clubs.”
Grace reflexively caught the object he’d pulled from inside his jacket and tossed at her. It was Annalise’s crossbody clutch. When she raised her head, Daemon was gone.
Caleb’s face contorted with rage before he schooled his features back into a semblance of calm. “Let’s go get your friend.”
“How much danger are we in right now?” She asked, reading his looks.
“You have no idea.”
As they walked toward the office, Grace’s mind raced with worry, not for herself, but for Annalise. If she had dragged her into this, she’d never forgive herself. As they approached the crowded dancefloor, Caleb took her hand. Even though he tugged at her urgently, it was still warm and comforting.
“We need to get out of here as fast as possible. When we get to the office, I’ll stand watch outside the door while you go in. We can’t take her back with us, it’s not safe for her to be with you. We’ll have Gav take her home.”
“What if that guy, Daemon, goes there? He had her stuff. He knows where she lives!” Grace panicked.
“He only used her to get to you. I don’t think he’ll try it again. He knows we’ll be suspicious now and keep an eye on her. But tell her whatever. Tell her we put him in custody, or anything you think she’ll believe.”
As soon as they reached the door, he released her hand. She ignored the impulse to grab it right back. Instead, she entered the office prepared to once again lie to her friend’s face.
“Hey,” Grace walked over and gave Annalise a hug.
“I can’t believe you came. I didn’t want to ask but I’m so glad. Your guards let you come, then?”
“They’re outside. Let’s just say I didn’t really give them a choice,” Grace said.
“Thanks, Gracie.”
“I have something for you.” Grace handed Annalise her purse. She stared at it, turning it over.
“How…”
“When we came in and asked where the office was, Caleb, one of my guards, noticed some guy look around quickly and then lift something out of a coat on a barstool. Turned out he hadn’t been satisfied with just your purse. He’s in custody now.”
“Oh my God, Gracie, you’re like, my guardian angel. I don’t know how to thank you.”
“There’s no need.” She smiled. “Listen, my guards think its safest for everyone if we split up. So, if it’s okay with you, one of them, Gav, is going to escort you home. And the other is going to bring me back to the apartment where I’m staying.”
“Oooh, I get a bodyguard?! Is he cute? Is he single?” Annalise said.
“Cute doesn’t even cover it, but honestly, I don’t know if he’s single,” Grace answered.
“Well we’ll find out, won’t we,” Annalise giggled. Her eyes gleamed mischievously.
Grace shook her head and rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help but laugh. At least her friend’s night had drastically improved.
✽✽✽
On the way home, Caleb didn’t seem keen on speaking. Instead of talking, Grace replayed the night in her head, and something Annalise had said stuck with her. Guardian angel. Were angels a thing? She was burning to know but she let him have his quiet.
As soon as the apartment door closed behind them, however, she was all over it.
“Do angels exist?”
He froze midstride. “What did you say?”
“I asked you if angels existed.”
“What makes you ask that?” He turned around; his brow furrowed.
“Something Annalise said, but that’s beside the point. Answer the question.”
He hesitated. “I don’t know, maybe, maybe not. Demons are my department.”
“Then why did you act all weird about the question?” Grace pushed. She sensed he was once again trying to skirt the truth.
“It’s just not the first question I expected you to ask after what happened tonight, that’s all.”
It certainly seemed a smooth enough answer, but she knew Caleb was even better at bending the truth than she was. “Do you swear you are telling the truth? You really don’t know?”
“Why does this matter so much to you?” He asked.
“Do you realize the implications if they do exist?” Grace raised her eyebrows. Like, hello, how could he not? Angels, heaven, God? It was a game changer. “So?”
“I really don’t.” He paused when she glared at him then added, “I swear.”
Grace sighed. It would have been nice to know, but it didn’t surprise her. Maybe they did exist, after all, if demons, why not angels, but she supposed that just because Caleb dealt in demons didn�
�t mean he would know anything about any other supposedly mythical creatures.
“How about we discuss a much more serious and relevant topic,” he said, as he approached her.
“Which is?”
“Daemon. Do you have any idea how dangerous he is? What he could’ve done to you?” His voice started to rise. “We should have never gone to that stupid nightclub.”
“Annalise needed me. And it’s a good thing we did. She wasn’t safe with him around.”
“She would’ve been fine. He used her as bait, and you fell for it. He got exactly what he wanted.” Caleb started pacing. Grace was going to point out that he fell for Daemon’s deception too but thought better of it. “I have tried so hard to keep you safe, to protect you from all of the evil that has been thundering down upon you from the moment you put that damn ring on. And you guilted me into taking you out, against my better judgement.”
Now he was getting on her nerves. “I did what I had to. For my friend. I’d do it again. That’s what you do for people you care about. And I didn’t have to try hard to guilt you. Apparently, you were feeling guilty enough to go along without much protest. Next time, think about telling me the truth in the first place.”
“You don’t get it!” He threw his hands in the air. “Daemon sold his soul a long time ago. He will do anything for power, or to prove a point. He’s unpredictable and has nothing to lose. If it suited him, he’d kill you without hesitation. I don’t know what game he’s playing but were in much deeper than I thought.” He grabbed her upper arms. “Jesus, Grace, when I saw Daemon in front of you, I…” He faltered.
Grace lifted a hand to his cheek, empathy swiftly replacing anger. He was worried about her. “I am alright, Caleb. I am here, hale and whole.”
He covered her hand with his own. “And I am trying to keep it that way, the only way I know how.”
Her eyes caught his. “I’m sorry I scared you,” she whispered, awestruck by the raw emotions he’d just laid bare.
He leaned in closer, touching his forehead to hers. “I’m sorry I got angry with you.”
Then he kissed her. Gently at first, his lips encompassing her own. They were soft and warm, like the first rays of sun on a bright summer morning. She gave herself over to the tenderness of his feather-light kisses, savoring each one. When his tongue delicately glided over the seam of her lips, she parted them with a sigh, happy to allow him to coax hers into a slow dance of sensation.
This kiss was different from the others they’d shared. One that started innocently enough, but moment by moment built, almost undetectably, into an inferno. Passion rose from deep within her, swirling around them; it was intoxicating. But it wasn’t just the physical sensations making this kiss so different from others.
Despite the danger that lurked around every corner, she had never felt as safe as she did enfolded in his strong arms. She had also never felt as alive as she did when he was around her. Whether they were sitting silently together or fighting demons, chatting playfully or kissing passionately, she was eager to experience every aspect of life with him. She wanted to explore the world and face life’s joys and challenges with him. She wanted to come home to him every night, eat together, share their days’ stories. She wanted to cuddle by a fire sipping hot cocoa. She wanted to lay on a blanket in the sand and watch the sunrise. She wanted… she wanted a life with him. Her whole life.
Oh boy, she realized, with both delight and distress. This kiss was different, this moment was different, everything about this was different… because she loved him. She was so surprised by the thought, she pulled out of the kiss for a moment and looked at him.
“Are you alright?” He asked, concern tightening his brow.
“I, it’s just, I realized that I …”
A noise behind her made Caleb’s eyes dart away. She spun, ready to act. But it was only Gav coming in the door. Emotions still reeling, it took her a moment to notice Gav wasn’t his usual, tidy and proper self. He looked startled and confused. He stood there, three buttons undone on his wrinkled, partially untucked dress shirt, more disheveled than she’d ever seen him.
“What the hell happened to you? And why are you sparkling?” Caleb asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. Grace stifled a giggle.
“He’s covered in glitter,” Grace answered Caleb. “You got glitter bombed on the dance floor, didn’t you?”
“The dance floor? What would he have been doing on the dance floor?” Caleb said incredulous.
“She insisted upon one additional dance, to celebrate,” Gav said blankly.
“Who? Annalise?” Caleb asked.
Grace laughed. That was Annalise. She’d want to get one more dance in to dispel the bad vibes of the evening—particularly if she had such an attractive man within her reach.
“I only entered the dance area in order to best protect her. She asserted that I would draw further attention if I did not participate in the dancing.” He said. Even Caleb chuckled at that.
“Did you get her back to her apartment without trouble?” Grace asked.
“Yes, she is secure. I will return to the vicinity of her current location in order to ensure her safety for the evening.”
“Thank you, Gav,” she said approaching him, “I really appreciate it.” She gave him a friendly hug. He awkwardly returned it, obviously not used to it. As she pulled away, she noticed a patch of bright red on his cheek. Had he been hurt?
“What happened here?!” she said. She turned his cheek to get a better look. Hopefully, it was just a light bruise and not something more serious. When she got closer, she covered her mouth in disbelief. “That’s lipstick.” It was, in fact, the exact shade Annalise had been wearing that evening.
“Excuse me, you said it’s what?” Caleb said, even though he’d clearly heard her. They both turned to look at Gav.
He cleared his throat. “Upon departing, Miss Annalise thought it an appropriate gesture of gratitude.” His face reddened. “I did not realize that she had left an imprint. I shall go remove it at once, then return to my post,” He quickly left without meeting either of their gazes.
Grace turned to Caleb. Catching his eye, the giggle fit she’d been preventing began to bubble forth despite her best efforts to contain it.
“Your friend must be quite something to shake Gav’s cage like that,” Caleb smiled at her.
“You have no idea. Annalise is a remarkable woman. I’d love for you to get to know her someday.” She moved to stand in front of him again. Something dark flashed across his eyes, but it was gone as fast as it had come.
“I would like that,” he said softly. “What was it you were going to tell me, before our, um, interruption?” He tilted his head in the direction Gav had gone.
All the courage the wonder of her discovery had brought drained right out of her. How could she just blurt something out like that? They’d only known each other for a handful of days. If she told him she loved him, he was sure to think she was crazy and run for the hills.
“Oh, um nothing. I don’t remember. Gav’s entrance was a little distracting.” She tried to laugh it off. “I’m sure I’ll remember it eventually.”
“Alright then. It’s late and we’ve had an eventful night. Why don’t you try to get some sleep? I have to go check with my sources. I’ll make sure someone is posted downstairs.”
“I could go with you, then you wouldn’t have to worry about me,” Grace offered.
“Nice try,” he said, already at the door. “Get some sleep.”
✽✽✽
In contrast to their usual habits, the Council had received Kalev almost as soon as he had arrived outside of the chambers. He suspected that declaring he had news of Daemon had sparked their interest (or their ire) enough to want to see him right away. He was not the only one who’d suffered the sting of Daemon’s betrayal.
Although it was well over eight centuries ago, it could’ve been yesterday that he and Daemon had been standing together outside these very cou
ncil chambers, waiting for assignments. They’d help each other if a situation got particularly risky, and sometimes, when they had down time, they’d go hunting demons together.
Gavriel had chided them for their recklessness but had never turned them in to the Council for breaking protocol. Gavriel had been distant in those days, a well-seasoned Messenger that had been on his way to a further promotion. He didn’t even report to the same council as Kalev and Daemon. Kalev had been sure that it would only be a matter of a few more centuries at most until Gavriel was promoted to a station well above where Kalev would likely ever see him again. He was so proper, so law-abiding, so self-sacrificing, so good, that it had been puzzling to both him and Daemon that Gavriel wasn’t already back in Heaven.
Thinking back on those times, Kalev realized that his lack of emotions then had made his existence mind numbingly dull. At the time, he hadn’t known anything else, and had seen the strong emotions of humans as fickle, and pointless — a weakness that they could only overcome through death.
It was with both confusion and shock that he had witnessed Daemon become more and more human-like over the course of a century. Unfortunately, he’d only displayed the worst traits that mankind had to offer. He had become angry, bitter and resentful, although Kalev didn’t understand why. Shortly thereafter, the Council had informed Kalev that Daemon had made some sort of deal with Lucifer. Like most of the other angels he had acquaintance with, none of them had ever heard of an angel going to the other side after the lines had been drawn at the time of the Fall. Even the most stoic of them had mourned losing Daemon that way.
In the centuries since, while Kalev had heard rumors of Daemon every now and then, he had not seen him again until tonight. While he may have done a respectable job of keeping a cool façade, inside a maelstrom of anger had raged. After so many years fighting against Lucifer and his demons, of fighting for the righteous cause of God, Daemon had turned his back on Him, the angels and mankind for no apparent reason. He had wanted to bombard him with questions, to force an answer from him; instead he had kept calm and rescued Grace. There had been no question, not a moment’s hesitation, about what his only priority had been.
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