Infernal

by J. Ashburn

  Caleb nodded. “My brothers and sisters. They’re in their spiritual forms. You can see them off and on now because of your hellhound scars.”

  “You mean demons? I can see demons.”

  “You will from time to time. They come up and try to influence humankind. Suggest things. The ones that do that are the lower forms. They do petty things like adultery, stealing from others, coveting, lying—hoping that it will lead to bigger more sinister sins. They can’t actually touch anyone… not like the arch demons.”

  “Well, what can I do?”

  “They can’t hurt you. They can’t do much, they’re barely on this plane of existence.”

  Nick clasped his hands together and cleared his throat. “Right… but how do I turn it off? I don’t want to see these things all the time. They scare me.”

  “You can’t really. It’s going to happen randomly. Remember when you saw my true form and I taught you what to do.”

  Nick nodded. “Yeah, I just need to focus and it will pass.”

  Caleb put his hands on Nick’s shoulders. “Correct. They won’t harm you unless you see one trying to whisper in your ear. If that happens, come and get me.”

  “Okay…” Nick started to laugh, think Caleb was joking but it soon became apparent he wasn’t. “Right. You bet I will.”

  “Good. Just clear your mind of them when you see them. That’s all.”

  “Okay.”

  Rick left the refrigerator and put his arm around his brother. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah I’m fine. It just shook me up. What else am I going to see?”

  “Hopefully nothing,” Micah interrupted. “Hey, let’s make dinner. Sound good?”

  “Can we order pizza?” Rick asked. “We haven’t had it in ages. It will save you from cooking.”

  Micah shook his head. “I thought you guys were avoiding carbs these days?”

  “It’s a splurge day!” Rick beamed. “C’mon, let’s get some pizza.”

  “Okay, okay.” Micah reached for his cell and dialed.

  2.

  The door to Nicki’s condo opened and she appeared in the doorway. She pulled the door shut quickly behind her and approached Micah’s station wagon. Her uniform was wrinkled and her hair was just barely pinned up. She wore no makeup.

  “Hey,” Micah cooed when she got in. “I’m so glad to see you. How are you doing?”

  “I’m feeling much better, thank you.”

  “Oh aren’t we formal.” Micah grinned.

  “Are we going to work or what?”

  “All right, all right, Jesus. Forgive me for caring.”

  “Micah, just drive.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay? You’re awful…”

  “What? Bitchy?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “I’m sorry.” She reached out and took his hand. “I’ve been so tired since getting sick. I don’t know what I’m saying. You’re the best. Don’t ever doubt it. Can we start over?”

  “Of course, babe. We’re thick as thieves.”

  Nicki put on a smile. Micah could tell it was forced. He put the wagon into drive and pulled out of the parking space, heading for the road.

  “Jim’s been asking about you, ya know?”

  “Who?”

  Micah turned and stared at her, he couldn’t help but chuckle. “Jim. You know the guy you were crazy about three or four weeks ago.”

  “Oh yeah…”

  “I ran into him one night when Caleb and I were out to dinner. Jim asked why you hadn’t returned any of his calls or texts. He really likes you, Nicki. What happened?”

  “You know what happened. I got really sick. I wasn’t talking to anyone.”

  “You couldn’t just text him back? I mean, I think he was a little hurt.”

  Nicki rolled her eyes. “I think he’ll live. It’s just not a good time right now.”

  “But really?”

  “You didn’t like it when I butted into your love life…so quit it, okay? You and Caleb seemed to have carried on just fine.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean we were all nearly killed and you guys have gotten over that pretty quickly.”

  “We didn’t just get over it, Nic. We have to be extremely careful. Caleb is always looking over his shoulder. At anytime another demon could come looking for him.”

  “Guess it comes with the territory of loving a demon, huh?”

  “He’s not a demon… he’s not like that. He’s a fallen angel. There’s a difference. He doesn’t damn souls or torture them. He’s trying to make amends for his part in the war with Heaven but it’s not easy. I thought we were past this. Are you not ok with Caleb and me? I know it’s different and probably seems weird. I can’t explain it myself but I do love him. He loves me too. Deep inside he is a good soul. Nicki…Nic?”

  “I’m fine…really I am. I didn’t mean anything. I have nothing against Caleb. It’s just not every day that your best friend is in love with a …a…”

  “Fallen angel.”

  “Yean, right.”

  The rest of the ride to work was very quiet. Micah pulled into hospital parking lot and found a parking space. He shut off the wagon and turned to Nicki.

  “Are we okay?”

  Nicki cracked a smile and nodded. “Of course. I’m sorry. Everything’s going to be all right.” She gave him a quick hug before pushing her way out of the car.

  ###

  Jake filled out some paperwork at the nurse’s station when he noticed Micah and Nicki come in for work. They gave him a wave and headed for the employee break room to stow their lunches and jackets. He stared at Micah, his gaze sweeping up and down his body before focusing on his ass.

  I need him. There’s no one like Micah… no one. Caleb…what about Caleb?

  He slid the paperwork across the desk and headed into the bathroom. At the sink he rinsed his face with some water. He felt hot. A strange burning sensation slithered across his cheeks and down his neck. His chest heaved once or twice before he composed himself.

  Jake looked around the bathroom, checked under the pristinely clean stalls to make sure he was alone. The florescent lights seemed brighter than usual today. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a few pills. Bending over the sink again, he switched on the faucet and swigged some water to glide the pills down.

  “Fucking Caleb. Fucking demon from Hell.”

  His whisper seemed to echo in the bathroom and for a moment Jake thought he heard a voice other than his own. He paused, cocked his head but shrugged it off. He checked himself in the mirror, straightened his clothes, tousled his hair a bit and left.

  He was all smiles as he made his rounds.

  ###

  Caleb sat in front of the computer again but this time he made sure to follow Micah’s advice. He ate two apples, a banana, a bowl of cereal, a handful of crackers, a cookie and drank down a glass of orange juice. He clicked around and browsed various stories and articles. This time he concentrated on poetry and fiction. The love stories and embellishments of Heaven and Hell captured his interest the most.

  The house creaked and Caleb paused. He listened for wind outside but didn’t hear anything. Another creak rattled across the roof. Caleb stood up and the air shifted. It felt different. His skin was ripe with gooseflesh suddenly. A bad feeling settled over him.

  He left the room and headed down the hallway. When he reached the kitchen a shadow crawled over the wall and up to the ceiling. The walls seemed to close in on him and the floor seemed to wobble. Caleb turned to look behind him and at the end of the hall an angel with bright white hair glared at him. Massive white wings stretched out behind him. A lump formed in Caleb’s throat and his heart dropped.

  “You are Infernal,” the angel said. “And I am here to smite thee.”

  “Brother,” Caleb croaked, putting both hands up. “Please, let us speak and—”

  Nehemiah charged before Caleb could finish his plea. He soared down the hallw
ay and crashed into Caleb. The two of them burst through the kitchen door and rolled across the grassy front yard. Nehemiah rolled on top and seized Caleb by the throat.

  Caleb felt the air leaving his human lungs. He struggled and writhed before finally lifting his right leg and kicking the angel off. Nehemiah flapped his wings and floated in the air. Caleb scrambled to his feet as the angel dove down on him but missed.

  “Please!” Caleb cried. “Stop! Let me speak with you.”

  The calls fell on deaf ears. Nehemiah held out his hand and a spiked mace materialized in his grip. He launched himself at Caleb who bolted for the wooded areas behind Micah’s house.

  Nehemiah raced after him, wings flapping hard as he glided right up behind him. Caleb peered over his shoulder and met the angel’s fiery gaze.

  At the last moment, Caleb leaped out of Nehemiah’s path. The mace swiped through the air, taking a hunk out of a tree. The tree wavered, its trunk crumbled and a thunderous crack pealed across the sky. Nehemiah paused as the tree tumbled toward him. He darted out of the way at the last moment.

  Caleb did the same, summoning up his true form. Scales rippled across his body and black wings fanned out from his back. He soared straight up as the crashing tree distracted Nehemiah. It wouldn’t for long.

  Moments later, the divine angel was in hot pursuit, tracking Caleb with all of his efforts. The two of them soared into the sky, whisking through thick cumulus clouds, floating on the air currents before diving again.

  Caleb’s heart pounded as panic surged through him. He wasn’t sure if he had the speed to outrun this angel or if he had the stamina to keep avoiding him. Before long he was in the city and landed on the first building that came into his path. He dashed across the rooftop and hid behind various air conditioning units.

  He heard a thunderbolt overhead and a rush of wind caressed his face. He shifted back into his human form and peeked around the corner. He didn’t see Nehemiah but his panic still grew. An icy cold breeze slid down Caleb’s spine and he turned around suddenly. Nehemiah stood on the roof of the building across from his. The angel wound up and hurled the mace right at him.

  Caleb dove right over the edge of the roof. His hand shifted into a claw and he scaled his way down the face of the building, scratching the glass windows all the way down. A wailing screech assaulted his ears as he fell, gusts of powerful wind threatened to batter him.

  He hit the ground running, into an alley and over a brick wall. He sprung off the top of the wall and landed on the roof of a moving truck. He flattened himself to ride the truck into the thick traffic but saw a shadowy figure with wings sail overhead. Caleb stood up on unsteady legs and leaped from this truck to one moving in the opposite direction. It entered an onramp to the highway. Caleb panted, heaved then coughed all the while wondering if he had eluded the angel hell-bent on ending him.

  He hadn’t.

  Nehemiah appeared in the air above him again. Caleb sprouted his wings and took off but the angel caught him in midair. The two of them crashed through the roof of a semi-trailer truck, landing in a pile of crates filled with glass lamps and chandeliers. The entire inside of the truck echoed with shattering glass and twisting metal. The roar of the street rang in Caleb’s ears. Nehemiah pitched him into the wall then rammed him with his shoulder.

  Caleb raked his claws across Nehemiah’s pristine face, injuring his gorgeous blue eyes. The angel screamed and covered his face. Caleb dropped to the floor, lifted both of his legs and kicked hard. Nehemiah shot backwards, exploding through the truck’s back doors and out into the highway.

  Horns blared, tires screeched. Caleb climbed to the edge of the truck’s rear and saw Nehemiah narrowly escape being run over by an army of cars and trucks. The angel bounced over several cars, and tossed himself over a guardrail. Caleb spread his wings and shot straight up and out of sight.

  The highway erupted into chaos. Vehicles spun across lanes, colliding with each other and before long total gridlock stranded everyone as several accidents jammed all lanes.

  ###

  Micah’s cell rang out as he sat with Nicki in the hospital break room. He glanced at Nicki who seemed in a fog and answered his phone.

  “Hey Cole…what? You’re here now? That’s awesome. Oh my God…that’s awesome. We’ll be right up.”

  Nicki looked at him quizzically.

  A warm tingling sensation swelled in Micah’s chest. His eyes welled and he looked over at Nicki. “I’m an uncle! My nephew was just born.”

  Nicki struggled to form a smile and Micah knew it. “That’s great.”

  “Want to come up and meet him? Sondra is in her room now.”

  “Sure.”

  “Caleb was right… she had a boy. Just like he predicted.” He looked at Nicki and noticed her staring off into space again. “C’mon!” He called to her and held out his hand. “Let’s go see the baby.”

  The two of them took the elevator up to the maternity ward. An awkward silence permeated the entire ride up. Micah reached out and touched Nicki’s hand.

  “Are you okay?”

  She nodded and smiled. “Just tired. Really. I’m okay.”

  “Sure.”

  The elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open with a metallic screech. Micah practically bounced into the hallway. He felt light on his feet, a joy hung over him. He made his way directly to Sondra’s room. His brother Cole was there, sitting by her bedside.

  Cole stood up the moment he saw Micah, his face lit up. Micah didn’t hesitate to go right up and give him a big hug.

  “Congratulations,” Micah said to him. He turned to Sondra. “How are you feeling, mom?”

  “Good, Micah. Thank you.” She cradled the sleeping baby boy in her arms, her lips pressing against his small thatch of dark hair.

  “He’s beautiful,” Micah added.

  “Thank you,” replied Cole. “His name is Zach.”

  “That’s awesome. I love it.”

  Cole looked past his brother to the room’s doorway. “Nicki, c’mon in.”

  Micah turned to look over his shoulder and saw Nicki standing just outside the room, peering in. She hadn’t crossed the room’s threshold. Micah beckoned with his hand. “C’mon in. It’s okay.”

  Nicki stepped cautiously into the room, making her way slowly to the others. She kept a bit of a distance but glanced to Sondra and baby Zach.

  “Congratulations you guys,” she said. “He looks very healthy.”

  Micah glanced at her before turning back to Sondra and Zach.

  “Would you like to hold him?” Sondra asked, looking up at Micah.

  “I’d love to.” Micah reached down and slipped Zach gently into his arms. He stared into his nephew’s eyes and instantly felt a connection. The little one exuded warmth that filled Micah. A shiver actually spilled down his spine and to his extremities. It felt good. A wholesome, innocent feeling enveloped him until he felt something icy invade the moment. Micah looked away from Zach and his gaze met Nicki. She was staring absently. Staring right at Zach. Her eyes never blinked. Her expression was blank. Utterly vacant.

  Micah opened his mouth to say something to her when the crackle of his radio cut him off. The dispatcher alerted him and Nicki to the accidents on the highway. Micah’s heart began beating faster. He handed Zach back to Sondra.

  “We gotta go,” he said to Cole. “Multiple accidents. Nic, you ready?”

  “Absolutely.”

  She left the room before Micah could say goodbye to his brother and sister-in-law. He couldn’t help but sense something was still wrong with her. Micah followed after her as fast as he could.

  “Good luck!” Cole called from the room.

  Micah dashed for the elevator doors as Nicki rushed inside. A bad feeling washed over him.

  ###

  Caleb dropped out of the sky and stumbled onto the hospital parking lot. He scrambled through the ER doors. The nurse at the desk looked up with wide eyes.

  “Sir! You need to
check in here.”

  “Micah,” Caleb called out. “Micah! Is Micah here?”

  “Sir, I need you to calm down and…”

  Jake walked into the waiting room and spotted Caleb. “Hey Caleb,” he rushed to greet him. “You’re hurt. What happened?”

  “I-I—was in an accident. Where is Micah?”

  “I haven’t seen him. I think he’s out on a call. Let me take a look at you. You’re bleeding.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “No, you’re not. Let me take a look at you.”

  “I should go find Micah…”

  Jake took a hold of Caleb’s arm. “I insist.”

  Caleb thought about ripping free and rushing the doors but there were other people around and they were starting to stare. He nodded and walked with Jake to an ER bay.

  Jake drew the curtains and grabbed some antiseptic wipes and bandages. “I’m just going to clean up these lacerations.”

  “This isn’t necessary. I will heal as soon as I rest. You know this about me.”

  “I get it Caleb, it’s just the doctor in me. Now hold still.” He cleaned up the blood on Caleb’s face, head and neck. He wiped his thick arms and wrapped them with some bandages. “Besides, if I make you sit for this then you’ll be resting won’t you? And you’ll heal faster.”

  “I need to go. I need to talk to Micah.”

  “What’s going on? Is Micah all right?”

  “I can’t involve you Jake, it’s too dangerous. It’s better if you don’t know.”

  “I’m just trying to help.”

  “I know. I appreciate it.”

  Jake glanced at the pain medication and syringes on the tray across the room. “Maybe I should give you something for the pain and to calm you down.”

  “The pain is gone. Your human medicines probably wouldn’t have any effect on me. Thank you for your attention. I am fine now.” Caleb pushed himself off the table and yanked the curtain aside.

  “If I see Micah I’ll tell him you were looking for him.”

  Caleb looked back at Jake. Their eyes met and they stared at one another for longest moment. A strange feeling stirred inside of Caleb, a mixture of fear and distrust. Finally he shook it off. “Thank you.” He left the hospital.