Sins of the Fallen

by Karina Espinosa

  17

  My mom grabbed everything we came across, fruits, Chef Boyardee, laundry detergent, cat food—we didn’t even have a cat—and especially the junk food. Yeah, she was stressed.

  “Hey ma, are you okay? You know after what happened on Saturday.” I didn’t want to ask but I couldn’t help but notice the huge brick wall between my parents. She shouldn’t feel alone. She stopped walking and looked at me, letting out a loud sigh.

  “Honey I’m fine. The real question is how are you?”

  “I’m fine.” I looked down at my hands while I twiddled my thumbs, a sign to let her know I wasn’t but just didn’t want to talk about it.

  She enveloped me in her arms. I laid my head in the crook of her neck and inhaled the smell of flowers that I would always associate her with.

  She rubbed my back until I felt relaxed but I knew I had to get it together. Pulling away I tried to give her my most convincing smile and she seemed to fall for it. I had to stop playing the victim and be strong.

  She grabbed a ticket at the Deli for the meat and we stood in a corner away from everyone else to wait our turn with the butcher. Wanting to break the uncomfortable silence I asked, “So ma, how did you and dad meet? It’s obviously not the conventional story you told me as a kid.” She chuckled at my comment and shook her head. Good, I got her out of that funk.

  “Well it’s pretty close. Nothing super crazy but your father was my guardian angel. I like to think he still is.” The thought made her smile. “The first time I came face to face with him was my junior year in college. My friends and I had a little too much to drink and we foolishly got behind the wheel, but before I could close the passenger car door, your father came up to me and asked me not to go. I was so captivated by his smile and angelic features, that without thinking, I got out the car and followed him back to the party. We spent the whole time talking and I rambled on and on about myself and my family and even about college life. He listened so intently, and there was just this spark between us. That night, my friends got into a car accident. Thank goodness it wasn’t severe but just the thought of me almost being in it spooked me. After that I searched high and low for the boy who saved me. He was definitely good at hiding, I’ll give him that, but, I don’t think he could stay away from me either. About a month after the party we finally crossed paths and the rest is history.

  “We fell in love and by my senior year of college, I found out I was pregnant with you and we decided to get married.”

  “I don’t understand, why is dad a fallen angel then?”

  “When the Archangels found out, well they weren’t too happy. Your father was given a choice. He would be pardoned for his sins if he never returned to earth or he could stay with me and fall from heaven. You already know what he chose, but as punishment, you are the only child we can ever bear together,” she said as she turned to me, her hand on my cheek, “which is why you are so important, Max. You have to be patient with your father; you mean the world to us.” Tears were prickling her eyes and all I could do was nod. The anger I felt for whoever did this to my parents made me uneasy and it took every ounce of control I had to keep it at bay.

  How could they do that to two people in love? Was that why Angela was so scared?

  “Number 64!” The butcher yelled out and my mother went over to him.

  18

  My legs burned as I ran my fifth lap around Prospect Park. I couldn’t take much more of this conditioning. It was seriously kicking my butt. Angela ran ahead of me, cutting through the park, and stopped right under the oak tree. She reached for our water bottles and passed me one. Trying to catch my breath, I reached for it like it were the Holy Grail and snatched it from her hands.

  “Slow down Max, you don’t want to puke.” She looked at me with that stern face she’d been giving me lately and I slowed down. She wasn’t even sweating in her yoga pants and t-shirt!

  “I…can’t…breathe…need…water,” I said panting as I fell to the ground.

  “Just take sips and catch your breath. You’re out of shape but you’ll get there.”

  “I don’t get it though, aren’t I some angel hybrid? I should be doing this stuff in my sleep.”

  “Not really. Your abilities have been dormant for seventeen years. They’re just waking up and your body is playing catch up right now.” It made sense, but it still sucked to be so weak. With that in mind, I got up with renewed energy. I won’t be weak, I won’t be the victim.

  “Okay, what’s next?” I asked with conviction, still pissed at her for pointing out my flaws. She got up and dusted off her pants.

  “Let’s keep working on your physical ability. We know it’s fueled by anger but controlling that anger is the tricky part. You have to find something to ease your mind. Something that’s easy to think of in the middle of a rage. It can be a person, an object or even a situation.”

  I pondered that for a moment. Normally, I would have chosen Angela but things had changed. Since the Bahamas, it’d been easier for me to forget her. Especially after Sienna and all the crap she said that made me feel like a speck of dust. I didn’t deserve to have her, no matter how much I felt this magnetic pull whenever she was around. It was too easy for me to be with someone else that maybe what I felt for her was just a silly crush that’s been lingering around for too many years. I have to stop and focus on things that I could control. Like this anger. I just needed to think of how. I was already a calm and laid back person, so this shouldn’t be so hard.

  “Anything yet?” Angela prodded and I rolled my eyes in exasperation.

  “I’m thinking!”

  “Well think a little faster, I’m running out of patience and Emily invited me to family night.” My mouth slacked and I couldn’t believe she was rushing me for family night. But now that she mentioned my mom, I would never want her in harm’s way. She was the most vulnerable one out of all of us.

  “I got it.”

  “Alright, then let’s get started.”

  I prepared to get in a fighting stance when she caught me off guard with a right hook and a knee to my gut. Blocking her next jab, I ducked her punch and got on the offensive with a right hook of my own. As she stumbled to the side, I took the opportunity to let the fire ignite as it coursed up my arms. I thought of my mom in the store the other day and didn’t let it get any further than my elbows. Starting a fire ball, I threw it her way and she promptly ducked so she wouldn’t get hit. And that was how we continued for the next hour or so, playing dodge ball. She was the perfect partner to practice my aim and speed with. If she wasn’t fast enough to get out the way, she could freeze my shots in midair before they hit her.

  Staggering a little to her left, my anger subsided as I thought of my mother and went towards Angela. She was pale in the face and I gripped her elbow so she could catch her balance.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, let’s call it a night.” I hesitated before letting her go. We grabbed our things and walked towards the Jeep.

  I didn’t understand what happened but I didn’t want to overwhelm her either.

  “Why don’t you let me drive?” Without arguing, she handed over her keys and I went around to the driver’s side.

  We made it home in complete silence. Not like there was much travel from the park to the house, but still, the quietness was audible.

  We went straight for the kitchen and my dad saw Angela. They stared at each with such fierceness, almost like they were mentally having a conversation—which I wouldn’t be surprised. Without a word, he strode over to her and steered her to his study. Not wanting to pry, I washed up and helped my mom set up dinner.

  “Can you pass the soy sauce?” Jones asked from across the table.

  “Say the magic word.”

  “Just give me the stupid sauce, Max!” He yelled and a vein pulsed on his neck. His patience was cutting short and I enjoyed taunting him.

  “Nope.” We all sat in the dining room table which was much formal th
an in the kitchen. Everyone looked up from their plates and mom tensed. She was worried we’d start a fight and break her fine china. I wouldn’t let it get that far, but I held on to the soy sauce in defiance.

  “I don’t have time for your petty games, now hand it over,” he sneered and a snicker came from my dad. He was enjoying this. The myriad of emotions that were around the table was amusing and we really needed to spice things up for family night. Ever since my kidnapping, things have been too awkward at dinner.

  Sticking out my tongue, I held the uncapped soy sauce just a hairline away from it.

  “Ifth youth donth say theth mathic erd, I’mth gonna lickthit.” I said with my tongue out.

  “Max stop, that’s gross.” Angela tried to reach for it but I pulled back.

  “Give me the sauce, Max!”

  “Max…” My mom’s eyes had gone wide.

  “Stop being disgusting.”

  “Give me the container!”

  “Max…”

  “Come on stop playing games.”

  “Max…”

  “Give me the damn sauce!” Jones had stood up and slammed his fists on the table. Everything rattled and I saw my mom hold her breath.

  “Please,” he added once he saw how upset he got. I handed him the bottle with a smirk and he snatched it away.

  They might have not understood why I did it, but it didn’t matter. It was something Jones would have done to clear the air and I think my dad caught on to it because he wouldn’t stop smiling.

  My mom brought out dessert and tried to lighten the mood with small talk. My poor mother.

  “Anything new? What’s going on this weekend?” Everyone stayed quiet, even my dad who normally fed in to her rambling. “Max?” She looked at me with those hopeful eyes and I couldn’t help but answer.

  “Uh, yeah I invited my new friend to come with me to battle of the bands.”

  “Oh that’s wonderful, what’s—”

  “That new girl?” Angela asked before my mom could finish.

  “Yeah, her name’s Melanie.”

  “She seems weak.” That got an eyebrow raise from everyone around the table besides her.

  “You don’t know anything about her.” I wouldn’t say weak, just innocent. I mean she’s been homeschooled all her life, of course she was a bit sheltered.

  “Actually, I probably know more about her than you do. It’s my job to find out about the people you’re involved with. And speaking of that, don’t you have a girlfriend already?” I almost choked on my drink. Girlfriend?

  “Uh…no.” I gave her a questioning look and she gave me one right back.

  “What’s that girl’s name? Um…Brianna? Miranda? Oh wait, I’m sorry, isn’t it Sienna?” I paused and felt the blood drain from my face. I didn’t need a mirror to tell me I’d gone pale and it didn’t help that all eyes were on me.

  “Oh, this is priceless; please tell us all about her, Max,” Jones quipped as he handed me the soy sauce that I had never asked for.

  “She’s just a friend,” I said through clenched teeth. How the hell does she know about Sienna?

  “Just a friend? The things you guys were doing didn’t seem so friendly. Do you do that with all your friends?” The heat of my face told me I had gotten over the paleness. Both Jones and my mother spit out their drinks. The insinuation was there and it was pretty obvious what she was implying.

  “That’s enough, Angela. I think we should postpone tonight’s game and any future family nights until further notice. Jones and Max, start clearing the table and cleaning the kitchen.” My dad’s voice was loud and precise. He wasn’t joking anymore, and no one questioned him. We moved around quietly and went our separate ways.

  I started washing, while Jones brought in the rest of the dishes. Once he was done, he stood by me to dry. Through the window, I saw Angela walking in to her house and the lights turned on.

  “You guys went too far tonight,” I said as I relived tonight’s dinner in my head.

  “I know.” I didn’t expect for him to agree with me so it drove me towards my next question.

  “Then why?”

  “Honestly Max, I don’t know anything about that girl, Sienna. I thought she was someone from school that Ang was poking fun at you for.” Feeling frustrated, I slammed the water shut and held on to the kitchen counter. Too many thoughts were running through my mind. The whole time she knew and she hadn’t said a thing. It might have been why her moods had been fluctuating more than usual since we came back, but she had no right to be upset.

  “Max, are you okay? You don’t want to get yourself riled up.”

  “I’m fine.”

  Getting myself straightened out, I turned on the sink again and continued to wash dishes.

  19

  “I have a surprise for you!” My mother yelled as I walked into the kitchen. After a long day at school with two pop quizzes, working at Tina’s and a rough training session with Angela, the last thing I wanted was a surprise. I couldn’t complain though, I was starting to control “the fire,” not fully but we were getting there. It helped that we didn’t talk much, we just trained.

  “Ma, I’m really tired. Can it wait?”

  “No it can’t, come on.” She grabbed my wrist and hauled me out of the kitchen and out the front door. We walked to Angela’s drive way and she yelled “ta-da” giving me her best jazz fingers. I stifled a laugh.

  “Um, what are you ‘ta-daing’ for?”

  “Hello? Earth to Max, what do you see?” She pointed to an all-black F-150 pickup truck. She gave me a “duh” look and I raised an eyebrow at her.

  “Angela got a new truck. Nice.”

  She was growing impatient. “No Max, YOU got a new truck!” I had to do a double take. The only reason I’ve endured three strenuous years at Tina’s was for this truck.

  “How? I still had at least another two grand before I could afford it.”

  “Well since you no longer ride around with Jones and your dear mother needs her car back, I decided to just put in the last amount for you. Honey, I know you’ve been under a lot of stress so I thought it would be nice to sort of give you a bit of your old life back. I hope you don’t mind.” This was why I love this lady. She was always thinking about me even when I didn’t deserve it.

  “Mom, thank you so much, this means the world to me.” I swooped her in my arms and twirled her around, giving her the biggest hug possible.

  “Come on, let’s go for a ride.”

  We drove around town killing gas, and surprisingly I couldn’t wait to pick Melanie up for school tomorrow. I dropped my mom off at our neighbor’s house so they could gossip about God knows what, and came home. My dad was in the living room reading a book and I knew this was the perfect time to talk to him. Jeremiel said to go to him if I needed to so I might as well try. He peered over his glasses and motioned for me to come in.

  “I just wanted to thank you for the truck. I really appreciate it,” I said, thinking this was the perfect way to start the conversation. He cocked his head to the side. Maybe not.

  “You got a truck?” I guess he didn’t know. Oh crap.

  “Yeah, mom put in the last couple grand for it.” He took his glasses off and started cleaning them with the bottom of his shirt.

  “Well, that was nice of her.” He gave me such a sincere smile and for some reason I wanted to wipe it off his face for being such a jerk to my mother these last couple of days.

  I plopped myself on the sofa, showing him I wasn’t going away anytime soon, just as the doorbell rang. We both looked at the clock and it was almost ten at night, too late for visitors.

  “Is your new friend coming over?” Dad asked.

  I shook my head in response and followed him to the door. Standing in front of us was one of the most beautiful women I had ever laid eyes on. She was the same height as me, probably because of the heels she was wearing and her all-black outfit accentuated all her curves. Her platinum blonde hair was pulled into a t
ight ponytail and it was so straight it looked like silk. Aside from everything else, her most demanding feature were her eyes. They were a cold and distant blue that sent shivers down my spine.

  “Xavier, long time no see.” Her white teeth gleamed as she smiled wide at my father, still not noticing me behind him. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

  My father’s hands clenched into fists and I knew this wasn’t good.

  “You are not welcome in my home, Azrael. Leave now!” He tried to sound commanding but that smirk she gave him said he wasn’t fooling her. She pushed past him into the foyer and halted at the sight of me by the stairs.

  “Well what do we have here? I guess I can call off the hound dogs since you’ve fallen right into my lap. Why don’t you come and give your Aunt Azrael a hug?” She opened up her arms but I stayed put. Noticing my demeanor her arms fell to her hips. “Very well then, I guess we’ll just have to do this the hard way.”

  At that my father came to stand in between us. “Son, why don’t you go up to your room and finish your homework.” Really? Homework? He couldn’t be serious. This lady looked dangerous and I know he was not worried about my schoolwork. He must have seen my confused expression and he raised his voice, “Now, Maximillion!” I flinched at his tone and ran up the stairs, taking two steps at a time. Not before hearing her say, “I’ll be up in a minute, Maximillion, don’t worry.”

  Her voice made the hair on the back of my neck stand and I felt helpless in my room. This was the opposite of what I was supposed to be doing. I rushed to my window in hopes that I could see Angela in her house. What I saw was something I didn’t expect. An army of what I assumed were demons, and dozens of them surrounded my home. There was no escape.