Fallen Angel (Gabriel and Kadie Book 1)

by Tamsin Baker

  Movement to the right caught my eye and I watched my little disappearing witch sneak along the street, a dark scarf pulled tight over her abundant hair. But I could sense her, like a burning beacon in a dark sea. To me, it was obvious that her hair flamed for all to see and it was clever of her to hide it at night when the Demons were out. I wondered why she didn’t just dye it to hide such an obvious part of her identity. I could understand wanting to hold onto something so innately her. Maybe the Demons could find her regardless, so why change in the first place?

  I liked it. I’m glad she had it. It sure as hell made it easier for me to spot her, anyway.

  I jumped off my perch and hit the cement, keeping my invisibility engaged like a shield so she couldn’t see me. I didn’t want her running off again.

  Unfortunately, my plan didn’t work as I’d anticipated. She looked straight at me and bolted for her front door, shoving the key in to the lock and attempting to get inside before I could get to her.

  How can she see me?

  If she achieved her aim, that wouldn’t be great for me. All paranormals were restricted from crossing the threshold of a human house, unless personally invited in.

  I flew faster across the road and reached out to her with outstretched fingers, desperate not to lose her once more. My hand closed around her thin shoulder and something completely unexpected happened. Desire poured through my belly like hot, molten honey.

  Immediate, fast and intoxicating.

  Damn. How long’s it been since I felt that?

  Kadie twisted around and attacked without warning, swinging her fist at me with practiced precision. I ducked and weaved her punch, my reflexes faster than any human, and held tight to the shoulder I’d grabbed.

  I’m still invisible. How is this possible?

  She cried out with rage as she swung again, this time with surprising accuracy and I had to catch her hand with mine. Tingles pulsed along my palm and my desire mixed with fear for her safety.

  “I have three years of self-defense class under my belt, asshole. I could do much worse to you with my mouth.”

  Honestly, I wanted to see just what she could do to me with her mouth besides recite spells, but I couldn’t let her or this overpowering sensation of desire for her distract me from what I came to do.

  I glared at her with all my might. We needed to get inside, and quickly. “Stop fighting me. I’m here to help you.”

  She snarled up at me, her clear blue eyes throwing chips of ice like an Eskimo. “Yeah, right. Just like all the others.”

  She wasn’t physically fighting me anymore, but I could still feel the anger pouring through her veins like fire. I wondered if it was her magic. It was time to cut to the chase with her. “Kadie, I’m a Guardian Angel. I’m here to help.”

  She glared at me and pulled her shoulder out of my grasp with a sharp twist. Obviously, like all the other Targets before her, she didn’t believe me.

  “I’ll prove it to you,” I offered, as I spread my black wings out to their full breadth and prepared myself to fly up into the air and prove to her that I was what I said.

  It was a risk, of course. If she dashed inside, I wouldn’t be able to speak to her until she came out again. But it was a risk I was willing to take for this Target to believe me.

  Before I could launch up and into the air, her eyes grew to the size of the full moon. She shouldn’t have been able to see my wings, or me, for that matter. My invisibility was still up around me, and even when it wasn’t, my wings were an extension of my celestial self and were usually completely invisible to humans.

  How is this possible? She can see them.

  Kadie had once again broken the rules I believed were written in stone.

  Her mouth opened and shut a few times, then she shook herself and asked. “Um... Why are your wings black? I always assumed they’d be white.”

  I cringed. I’d never had to tell my Targets the full story of why I was on Earth guarding them, because they’d never seen my wings.

  But Kadie could, and I hated the answer that would have to come through my lips soon enough.

  However, the fact that she was willing to engage in this dialogue rather than threaten me or run inside was promising.

  “Because... I’m a Fallen Angel... working on Earth, earning my way back into Heaven.”

  I’d expected a negative reaction of sorts. More questions, a frown, a gasp, anything except what I got.

  For some reason, Kadie’s shoulders relaxed when I said those words and her mouth lifted up at the sides into a soft smile. She looked cute, and impishly cheeky.

  What on Earth?

  “You’re trying to earn your way back into Heaven? What’d you do to get kicked out?”

  That was not a question for her to ask, nor an answer for a human to know.

  But I found myself telling the story, despite my misgivings. I liked to tell myself it was because I needed her to trust me. I needed her to believe me so we could both go inside and I could do my job. But deep down, it was more than that. “I was part of a love triangle that went wrong.”

  Simple enough.

  I shook myself and clamped down hard on my jaw to stop myself from revealing it all. Tabitha had been right. This woman definitely had some Witch in her. That probably explained why she could see me beneath the invisibility shield. And compel me to tell her things I didn’t feel particularly comfortable talking about in the first place.

  “How long have you been down here?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest, quirking her head to the side as though she were truly interested. The light in the porch archway flickered but she didn’t even notice it. Her focus was solely on me.

  Why am I the only one answering all the questions?

  “Five hundred years.”

  She whistled. “Damn, that’s a long time.”

  I blew my breath out of my nose in a puff. I’d met a lot of unusual people in my time on Earth, but this strange little human took the cake.

  I glanced to my left and right. I didn’t like us being out in the open, especially in the darkness. I needed to get her to invite me in. She no longer looked afraid of me or the situation she was in. Instead, there was a curiosity and an offbeat sense of humor I wasn’t sure I enjoyed.

  “It is. A very long time. Now, can we go inside?” I gestured to her house and she narrowed her eyes at me, as though she was debating something. Probably on whether or not she should trust me. There was nothing more I could do, so I hoped what I had offered her was enough.

  Finally, she shrugged.

  “I’ll let you in so that you can explain to me what’s been going on with my world lately, but if you do anything to hurt me... you’ll regret it.”

  Her spirit made me smile. “I know. And I won’t betray your trust. I promise.”

  She opened the purple-painted front door and walked inside like she didn’t have a care in the world. I was stuck to the mat like someone had glued my boots down.

  I leaned forward to test the power of the force-field around her house and the strangest pain shimmied down my chest. Like the knife of God. I shuddered. No way could I push through that one. It would throw me out onto the road like a piece of garbage, even if I did manage to get a step or two inside.

  “You know I can’t come in, right?” I called out to her just as my awareness prickled with the feeling that Demons were on their way.

  Heat teased my back like candle wax dripping down my spine. A sure-fire sign.

  Kadie popped her head around the corner again, her beautiful red hair now framing her face. She must have taken her scarf off. “What do you mean?” she asked.

  Ah, so she doesn’t know.

  “You have to invite me in, then I can pass over the threshold.”

  A pretty smile spread across her face. “Oh. Angel, come in.”

  The threat of pain fell away as though it had never been. I stepped through the entrance with ease and walked inside the small house. I had to duck my hea
d to get beneath the door frame and she stared up at me with those beautiful blue eyes that reminded me of the crystal lakes back home.

  I let myself become about six feet tall and reduced my breadth in proportion. I stood only a few inches taller than her now, and she smiled up at me with a wonder that I hadn’t seen in too long to remember.

  “You want a drink?” she asked as she slid her shoes off and grabbed a sweater from the couch to pull on over her bare arms.

  Nighttime had arrived and with it, the chill of the dark. I felt the cold but it didn’t affect me the way it affected humans and, apparently, witches.

  “No, thank you.” Angels didn’t need to eat or drink.

  I’d spent years on Earth jealous of human appetites, craving the taste of food.

  Kadie bustled around the small kitchen and I stood by the worn sofa. What sort of Witch was she? She’d put up talisman to ward off evil spirits, but no unusual scents, no candles or herbs that dictated her potion strength. She didn’t seem typical in any way.

  She poured herself a steaming hot drink of some sort and came back into the living room. “Sit, Angel. Please. And tell me why you were following me.”

  She curled up on the couch like a cat, with her legs tucked beneath her. I made myself sit awkwardly in the recliner. I’d much prefer to stand, but there seemed to be an etiquette here and she would be more comfortable with me sitting, I knew.

  In this early phase of guardianship I needed to develop a kinship, a trust with my Target. I needed them to entrust their safety, their life, unto me. And that took some work, more times than not.

  I looked at her as I sat down and our gazes snapped together with that familiarity I was beginning to relax into. There wasn’t an easy way to say this, so I may as well just get it out of the way. “You’re in grave danger, Kadie.”

  She didn’t falter, nor give me any indication that she understood. Her hand lifted the cup to her lips and she took a sip as though I hadn’t spoken. Perhaps she hadn’t heard me?

  “Don’t you understand? Demons want you dead.”

  Well, it was worse than that, but she didn’t need to know all the ins and outs of the underworld in our first meeting.

  Our gazes clashed again as Kadie looked at me, and arousal snaked through my bloodstream like a slithery serpent, hot and lightning fast.

  Damn it. Stop that.

  I dug my fingers into my thighs and tried to focus on the meeting at hand, and not the adorable way she ran her tongue along her bottom lip.

  She would taste soooo good.

  Kadie settled back into the couch as though getting comfortable for a long chat. “I understand, but why? I’m a nobody.”

  My new Target appeared too calm and a shiver of nerves danced through me at her almost-unhuman demeanor.

  “What are you?” I couldn’t help but ask. Tabitha told me some, but I wanted answers. And, I thought, if she could question me incessantly about me being an Angel, certainly I could do the same to her.

  Her eyes flashed a strange silver at me. She wasn’t offended, exactly, but curious. “What do you mean?”

  “Fairy, Witch, Warlock? A cross of some sort of Vampire, perhaps? There’s some paranormal in you. You shouldn’t have been able to see me at all when we were outside just now, let alone see my wings. They are invisible to all, except those from the Hell dimension.”

  Oh, hell no. She couldn’t be.

  She laughed loudly at that one. “Hell dimension? What are you talking about, Angel?”

  This was beginning to feel like a set-up. She seemed too odd, too beautiful. The attraction between us too strong. I couldn’t seem to dampen it down.

  There was magic at work here.

  “Why did you let me in here?” I asked, my eyes narrowing in suspicion. Was this a test to see if I could avoid temptation? No matter what beautiful human they threw at me, I had always been able to resist. She would be no exception.

  She slid her feet to the floor and iced me with her eyes once again. It was strange and fascinating to watch as her demeanor completely changed in merely an instant. “Me? You showed me your wings! Told me you were here to help me, and now you’re questioning my motives? Get fucked.”

  Her language made me gape. Not the usual response I received when I came to help a human in need. I was more accustomed to blind adoration after I saved them from the Demons.

  Such a strange little human.

  I took a deep breath and forced my hands to relax. “I think we should start again. Kadie. I was told that your life is in danger, and I’m here to help.”

  She nodded, as though agreeing with me. “Well, it is. I’m pretty sure. I keep seeing these weird, black shadowy things following me, but they don’t come into the house.”

  “They can’t.”

  Thank the Gods, or all humans would be royally screwed.

  She snorted in humor. “That’s a comfort to know...now. I’ve lost a week’s worth of sleep over that one.”

  I ignored the jibe. It wasn’t my fault that Tabitha hadn’t contacted me earlier. “Well, we need to work out why they want you. Which, to be honest, I don’t understand yet.”

  She shrugged, a frown marring her beautiful face. “I have no idea. I mean...I have some abilities. I’ve always been able to foretell future events, and I can read people pretty well, but that’s it.”

  The Demons generally track people who are integral to the continuation of the human species. Scientists, doctors, peace makers.

  “Ha. That’s not me at all. I’m a hairdresser.”

  I stared at her without saying a word. Had she just read my thoughts and answered them as though I’d spoken?

  She was definitely not my normal Target.

  “I own my own business, maybe one of my clients has a link to me...” She let her voice trail off, her eyes focused on the carpet as though searching in her mind for a reason behind these attacks.

  “I doubt it. They obviously want you specifically.” And with mind-reading abilities and being able to see me in Angel form, she had stronger powers than she realized.

  “Then what’s the plan?” she asked, her keen gaze slicing through my resistance once again.

  She had beautiful skin... I could only imagine how pink her nipples were beneath her blouse. Damn it! Concentrate!

  “The plan... I’ll camp out and watch. Guard you day and night. At the moment we don’t know if they’re going to attack soon, or if they’re only doing reconnaissance. They don’t like to step out of the shadows for just anyone. They need to be certain that you’re special. So, I’ll watch for an attack, and if they attempt to grab you, I’ll kill them.”

  A heavy silence hung in the room as she stared at me.

  “Are you serious?” she asked, gaping at me as though I were crazy. Not an unusual reaction for a human. I’d had a lot worse through time.

  “Of course.” I gave a curt nod and shifted as the weight of the sword at my back made itself known. I’d been a warrior in Heaven, and I used my skills on Earth just as well.

  Her gaze slid away. “Okay... what do you want me to do, then?”

  Finally, some common sense and a question I was familiar with. “I want you to stay indoors at night and do exactly what I say, when I say it.”

  Her mouth twisted up and I knew I was in trouble. “No. That’s not going to happen. I’m sorry. I volunteer at the soup kitchen at night and I can’t give that up. I know that sounds trite and maybe even stupid, but these people are depending on me and I refuse to hide just because Demons might be out to get me.”

  I gave her my most serious stare, lowering my eyebrows and leaning forward on my chair. “This is your life, Kadie. This isn’t a joke.”

  She shrugged nonchalantly. “I understand that, but surely this is a better idea than just hiding and waiting. If I draw them out, surely you can save me from them?”

  “I can...” Of course, but that isn’t the point. My job would be a lot easier if she would stay safe while I found th
ose that hunted her. Although she may be right about drawing them out into the open... I’d never tried that deliberately before.

  “Great,” she said with a happy, dismissive tone. “Do you need a place to sleep, Angel? I have a spare bedroom. It’s not huge, but...”

  I cocked my head and stared at her, not impressed with her flippant attitude so far. “You trust too easily. That could be a fatal flaw.”

  She stood up with a fluid grace and looked down her nose at me. Damn, she was beautiful with her hair flowing around her like that.

  “I read people, very well. If I’m honest... more than well. I know you’re speaking the truth. Now, I’m going to make some dinner and head to bed. Are you staying, or are you going out to do whatever Angels do?”

  I stood up and maintained my stunted height for her convenience. “I have a prior engagement, so I’ll be leaving for a little while. Don’t die before I get back.”

  Her lips quirked into an amused smile. “Lucky for you, it’s my night off, Angel.”

  “It’s Gabriel.”

  Kadie grinned. “Of course, it is. Goodnight, Gabriel.”

  She swept back into the kitchen and with my loins aching, I walked back out into the cold night air for some relief. I had to speak to Tabitha. She’d told me this woman was important and may earn me my place back into Heaven.

  But how?

  They’re probably throwing my perfect sexual partner at me in a test to see if I can survive the temptation.

  A smile tilted up my lips as I took to the sky. Tabitha may be right about this one, because it was not going to be easy keeping the beautiful, confident, Kadie alive.

  Or me out of her bed.

  Chapter 4.

  My frustration boiled over as I paced around Tabitha’s kitchen. I didn’t like being in situations where I didn’t know what to expect. Surprises irked me. I didn’t like feeling foolish, especially in front of a human. My Angel Agent had been less than helpful so far. This was supposed to be her job, wasn’t it?