Angels in Turquoise Skies

by Debbie R. Cummings

  "I know. I shouldn't be with you until you make your choice."

  She glanced around. "Do they, up there, watch?"

  He shrugged. "Sometimes. I never worried about it before."

  "Do angels fall in love?"

  "Yes, I'm sorry about last night. This is the first time I truly fell in love with someone."

  A smile came to her lips. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again.

  Chapter Twelve

  Torr walked through the bookstore, on Monday morning, drinking a cup of coffee. He had to fend off Tabitha's advances at the counter. That was an odd situation for him. Even odder was that neither Zachariah nor his sister were here. Rosemarie, her guardian angel was glaring at her the entire time. He glanced at his watch. It was still early.

  Leah marched into view with a scowl on her face. "I can't believe you would show up here after the other night."

  His lips formed a pout. "I'm not such a bad guy."

  "Isn't that what demons are?" She poked her finger in his chest. "You wanted me to steal that man's wallet."

  "He could afford it." Irritation filled him. "What has that angel been telling you?" I knew that goody-goody wouldn't give up and fly home.

  "I shouldn't talk about that with you. It's not good to gossip."

  "Will your angel get mad? I didn't think that was allowed."

  Her hands went to her hips. "What do you want?"

  "I wanted to see you." His hand caressed her cheek. "I could teach you things he'd never be allowed to."

  She moved away from him.

  "Do you realize you can use your powers to get whatever you want?"

  "There are rules."

  "You're listening too closely to that angel. There's no harm in a little fun."

  "I didn't think my powers worked that way."

  "Haven't you been paying attention? You're Timon McCloud's daughter. He was one powerful angel. Nobody messed with him. You could have the universe at your feet if you wanted. You could be queen of the world." He snapped his fingers. A slip of paper appeared in his hands. "Or win the lottery, for starters."

  She shook her head. "I'm not greedy."

  "Everyone wants to win the lottery. Just think, you could have your own bookstore chain. Picture Darlington or Blanco Bookstores all over the world. You could bring the joy of books to millions of people." He waved his hand. A map appeared in front of her with red dots on it. "That's the locations of your stores, owned by you."

  She reached out and touched it.

  "It's your dream. With your winnings from the lottery, you can make it happen." He snapped his fingers. The paper and the map both vanished. "Why don't you try it? I know you want to." His voice was like velvet. "Think about today's lottery numbers and bring the paper to your hands."

  The thought was very tempting. She held up her hand and closed her eyes.

  "That's it," he coaxed.

  The bell above the door brought her out of the enchantment he skillfully wove. She shook her head and opened her eyes.

  Crap! I almost had her. Torr snapped his fingers, trying to get back her attention. "Let's go somewhere else." He grabbed her arm.

  "Hello Leah," Zach said. "Get lost Torr."

  She shook free at the sound of the angel's voice.

  He folded his arms over his chest. "I don't want to."

  Zach took Leah's hand and pulled her behind him. "I don't care what you want, demon. You better leave."

  "You can't order me around, Aurelius. This is a public place." The two men stood nose to nose.

  "The odds are now tilted in our favor." Saffron appeared in front of him. "I suggest you go."

  Torr looked the woman angel up and down. Why does she have to be on that side? "So? It isn't over yet." He vanished with a scowl on his face.

  ****

  Leah shook her head. Everything was so unreal, like a dream. For a moment, she was losing control. "What was going on?"

  Zach placed his hands on her upper arms. His eyes were full of love and concern. "Are you okay?"

  She nodded. "I guess. I never felt anything like that before." The fog from her brain was lifting. Did Torr put a spell on her? She remembered something about expanding the bookstore and the lottery. But not much else.

  "Don't let him near you again," he said in a stern and commanding tone.

  "I didn't mean to. He has a way of sneaking up on me. I've been trying to avoid him."

  "Being sneaky is one of his dark talents. Don't listen to him."

  "It's easy for you to say. You're not mortal."

  He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "You have a higher resistance to him than you think." His voice was soft and gentle.

  "Great, just what I need."

  He moved back a step. "What?"

  She poked her index finger into his chest. "You're the jealous type."

  Saffron laughed.

  "No, I'm not. I've been trained all of my life to deal with his kind," Zach said with a frown. "You're new to the game. I don't want to lose you."

  "I'm not defenseless."

  Tabitha strutted over to Leah. "I need to speak with you in the back." She turned and stomped away.

  Zach kissed her lips. "I'll see you later. Dinner tonight?"

  Leah nodded.

  Tabitha tapped her foot with a scowl on her face.

  Leah sighed and followed her to the storage room. A gut feeling told her, a lecture was coming. This was odd, since she was the older sister. That wouldn't stop Tabitha.

  Her younger sister slammed the door. "What is your problem? You've been so snotty since you started seeing Zach."

  Leah squinted. "I have not." She moved forward. "Keep your voice down. There are customers out there."

  She threw up her hands. "You and your new boyfriend basically kicked Torr out. That wasn't nice."

  "He was trying to tempt me." To do evil. Leah held onto the last three words. Her sister wouldn't understand what was really going on. She wasn't sure if she was allowed to tell her. "He's not as nice as you think."

  "You won't let him." Her mouth gaped as she fanned herself. "He's such a hot guy. What woman wouldn't be tempted?"

  She's been taken in by his act. "Tabitha, do me a favor. Please, stay away from him."

  Tabitha's hands went to her hips. "No, I won't." Her mouth quirked up in a sassy expression. "I might ask him out the next time he comes in here."

  Leah met her gaze. "Don't, you'll regret it."

  "I'll regret not doing it." Tabitha began to walk away.

  Leah blocked her path. "Please listen to me, Tabitha. Torr is a very dangerous man."

  "Whatever." She stormed out of the back room.

  Leah let out a sigh of regret. She looked up at the ceiling. "Please watch out for her. She doesn't understand what she's doing."

  ****

  Zach flew around the city. Flying always cleared his head. He didn't mean to be so rough on Leah. But he didn't want to lose her, especially to Torr. She still doesn't realize how dangerous demons can be. She was right. I was jealous. The assignment got too personal. I shouldn't have let it, but it did. He also knew he couldn't get serious with Leah until she made the choice to use her powers for good or evil. Direct interference was prohibited also. He could teach her about her powers, tell her about her father and that was it? Zach didn't want to think about what he would do if she chose to use her power for evil. He broke those rules. I might have to stand before a jury committee. I don't regret what I've done here. Something told him Leah needed him.

  ****

  Leah shook her head. Across the room, her sister scowled at her. That bothered her. They have argued before. It was nothing this serious before. I'll have to ask Zach or Saffron what Torr could do to her. She walked around the store and began to straighten things up. She made her way from the sci-fi to the romance section when she felt tingling sensation.

  "Got any ideas since we're standing in the romance section?" a familiar voice asked.

>   She shook her head. Not again. This guy is unreal. She glanced at her watch. Why is time moving so slow today? "Not with you. Why are you here again?"

  Torr leaned against the bookshelf. "I wanted to see if you wanted to go out tonight."

  "No." she said in a firm voice.

  "I'm hurt by that." His hand went to his chest in mock pain. "You need to loosen up."

  She rolled her eyes as she picked up a book that was out of place. "No, thank you." She strolled over to the other section. "I almost got into trouble because of you."

  He followed. "With that angel? Oh please. Forget about him. I could show you what fun you can have without rules." His body was close to hers. "That time could be very pleasurable for you." He grabbed her. "It would be a night you'd never forget." His lips crushed her in a rough kiss. He trailed kisses down her neck to her collar bone. It was hot where his lips touched.

  "Let go of me." She struggled in an octopus like grip. I wish Zach was here. The angel's kiss felt right to her. He seemed to care about her. Torr seemed like all he did was take what he wanted without regard for anything else. She stomped on his foot.

  The demon hissed in pain. "What was that for? What's wrong with you?"

  She backed up, holding the book up as a shield. "Do you even care for me?"

  "What?" He stared at her for a moment. "You're a nice looking woman. You've got a good body."

  "You didn't answer my question."

  "Weren't you enjoying yourself?"

  "No. I need more than just the physical."

  "I know many women who'd fight each other to be with me."

  "Go find one of them." She walked away from him. Within a few seconds, she felt him breathing down her neck. "Why can't you go back to wherever you came from?"

  "Relax, you might have some fun."

  She turned around him to face him. "Go away!" Her voice echoed through the store. Torr landed against the wall. Her eyes widened. "What was that?"

  "I guess you don't need me after all." Zach stood a few feet from her. "You have the angel's siren."

  Leah didn't see him come in. She rushed to his arms. "You're back."

  "I sensed you." He stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head.

  Tabitha came running out to them. "What was that noise?"

  Zach waved his hand in front of Tabitha. "You heard nothing. I came back to see Leah." He leaned down to a trembling Leah and kissed her lips.

  "Get a room," Tabitha said.

  "Be quiet," Leah snapped back.

  Tabitha folded her arms over her chest. "It's dead in here. You might as well go. I can watch the place."

  Leah gazed up at Zach.

  "Do you want to go flying?" he whispered in her ear.

  She nodded. They left the store, hand in hand.

  ****

  Torr brushed himself off as he got up. Her powers are advancing too fast. Plus, she doesn't have the potential to be a demon. She's a goody-goody, just like the Aurelius. He glanced around and didn't see Tabitha. So much for that. There's no reason to hang around here. He walked out of the store. The sun shone down on him. I failed in my mission. It'll be awhile before I see it again. He unzipped his jacket. Maybe I can stall Enzo in my punishment. He glanced at the restaurant down the street. I might as well enjoy my time remaining here and get some fried chicken.

  ****

  Leah led Zach behind the building. No one was around.

  "Ready?" he asked.

  "Yeah." They turned invisible as they rose in the air, holding hands. The spring air was chilly yet exhilarating. Birds flew around them, giving them no notice. She thought that the birds might have been able to sense them. They just flew ahead in formation. If someone told me a few days ago I'd be able to fly, I would've thought they were crazy. But here I am. My voice back at the bookstore. I'd never heard anything like it before. So many strange new things since I met Zach. According to him, I was born with these powers. "That thing I just did. What was it called again?"

  "The angel's siren." His voice was calm. It didn't seem bothered at what she did.

  "Can you do that?"

  "No, each angel has different powers. You inherited that ability from your father."

  She pondered for a moment. "All Norman can do is sing off-key."

  "No, I meant Timon."

  "It's difficult to believe that the man who raised me isn't my biological father."

  "You must never tell him." He reached over and caressed her cheek. "You're special."

  It would break Norman's heart if I told him the truth. He'd probably react like my mother and not believe me. A DNA test would provide the evidence. I can't put Mom or him through that. She looked down at the passing earth under them. It's beautiful up here and I never need to be afraid of heights again. "Why didn't you warn me of that power sooner?"

  "I wasn't sure if you would get it. I got my father's powers. Saffron got my mother's."

  "What are your powers?"

  He moved them up to avoid a cloud. "My powers are flying, transporting, and lightning bolts."

  "Lightning bolts?"

  "I don't have to use it that often. I might have to with Torr. It's not something I can do in public. It has a tendency to freak out mortals."

  Leah had seen sci-fi television shows and movies. Seeing it in real life could be scary. "How do I control this new power?"

  "With practice."

  "Who taught you?"

  "My parents."

  How lucky. All of the years, I never knew about angels. I thought I was an ordinary person, living life. Now, I'm an angel.

  Zach grabbed her hand. "Come on."

  They rode a wind current up and landed on a cloud. She thought she would be cold up here, but she wasn't. The sky was all theirs.

  "Wasn't that fun?" he asked.

  "Yeah." She wondered if Torr came back after she and Zach left. Would he bother her sister?

  "Maybe we should land." Zach pulled her closer to him. They landed in a field by the park.

  He tilted her chin up and gazed into her eyes. "Something else is bothering you."

  "It's Tabitha. Before Torr came back, she told me she's going to ask Torr out the next time she sees him."

  He closed his eyes. "I sense he's gone from the bookstore." A frown came to his lips. "We can't let her get involved with him."

  "I know. I tried to warn her without telling her the truth. She won't listen." She ran her hand through his hair. "Can she become a demon?"

  He had a faraway look in his eyes. "It's possible. He might go after her since he's having trouble turning you."

  Panic filled her. "Can't we stop him?"

  He shook his head. "We can't interfere with free will." He rubbed his jaw. "I can't put a protection shield around the bookstore because it's a public place." His gaze returned to her.

  "Thank you, Zach."

  He smiled. "No problem."

  "Zach, I know I shouldn't say this." She looked down, then back at him. "I love you."

  He passionately kissed her lips. "I love you too." He released her. "I need to teach you to use your powers, in case Torr or any other demons attack you."

  She looked around.

  "Don't worry. No other mortals are around."

  "Let's begin training with the angel siren."

  Chapter Thirteen

  Torr laid on the king-size bed and flipped through the channels on television. "Why is there nothing ever on?" He raided the hotel mini-bar to go with his fried chicken. Too bad I can't get drunk on mortal alcohol. All he got was a little buzz, but not enough to enjoy himself.

  A short man with a shaved head appeared in front of the television. With a wave of his hand, the curtains closed.

  "What did you do that for?" Torr demanded.

  The short man sneered. "I don't like the sun."

  "You're not a vampire."

  "No, I'm a messenger demon sent by Enzo to check on you." He glanced around the room. "Are you alone?"

  Unfortun
ately. Torr nodded and let out a curse. "Don't you guys ever ring a doorbell or knock?" The lower messenger demon's head reminded him of a large, pale bowling ball. He didn't care to know his name. Messenger demons came and went. They were usually the first ones for other demons to take their anger out on. A few advanced. But that was rare. Torr was grateful he never did that.

  The lower demon laughed, before his expression turned serious. "Enzo wants to know if you brought the woman over to our side yet."

  "Tell him, these things sometimes take time." You wouldn't know anything about that.

  The demon moved closer. "He's been more patient with you than he would've been any other demon."

  Sure, he has. "I appreciate his patience." In truth, Torr wanted to spit in Enzo's face.

  "He also wants a progress report at his office now."

  Torr winced. He hated making reports. That was a punishment unto itself. "I'm on my way to see Leah now."

  A smirk appeared on the lower demon's round face. "Liar."

  Torr rose off of the bed and grabbed his jacket off of the post. "Isn't that what we do?"

  "He said now."

  "Can't he give me a few more days? She's a stubborn one." I've sunk to a new low. I can't believe I'm trying to bargain with a messenger demon.

  He shook his head, before disappearing in smoke.

  "Show off! We can all do that!" That demon is acting too arrogant for a messenger. I better go see Enzo and see what's up. I can't take the chance of ignoring the summons in case he was telling the truth. Torr snapped his fingers and transported himself to the dark realm. "You wanted to see me?"

  Enzo was typing furiously on the computer in front of him. Monitors of the mortal realm were on the walls in front of him. "No! I'm busy!" Flames formed in his demon boss' eyes as he looked up. "Why aren't you in the mortal realm?"

  Torr took a few steps back. "Because you summoned me here via messenger demon."

  "I did not! Why isn't the woman with you?" Enzo asked. "I thought you could charm her."