by Sammi Cee
Caedmon’s only response is a dark chuckle. As I’m turning back to finally deal with dear old uncle, I hesitate while passing my eyes over Chip. “You’re going to take care of Denny, then?” he asks.
I nod, and exhale loudly. “Then whatever you need to do to me is fine. I can take it and I know I deserve it.”
“Yeah, see, take him,” Denny’s uncle says as he backs away from me, stumbling on his own two feet to fall backward on his butt, then scooting back as fast as he can. “Please don’t kill me.”
“Oh, never,” I purr. “Death is too much of a reward for you.” Then I fall over the top of him with my wings fully extended, wrapping him up. It takes only seconds for his will to completely break.
Standing back up, I’m faced with a babbling, stuttering man-child. He points up at me laughing like a hyena, “I couldn’t help it... I had to... You don’t understand... No one understands... My brother had to die… Where’s all my money… I need those people or I have no money… I like money...”
“What the hell?” Chip asks.
Caedmon drops a very dead Gio to the ground and walks over, wiping his forearm across his bloody mouth as he approaches. “That is what happens to your mind when the wings of a fallen angel make you face yourself. Where Ophaniel’s,” and he points to our magnificent friend still spread out in all his glory, “wings bring light and peace. Azorath’s allow no light to filter through. You have to deal with your own soul or spirit.” He makes a rotating motion above his head. “Whatever… bottom line, he didn’t stand a chance.” Looking up to Ophaniel, he cackles, “Did you see how fast that one fell?”
Rushing away from them, I head straight to Denny’s side. When I reach them, his eyes are closed, and his breathing is raspy. Running a finger down the side of his face, careful to not touch any of the bruising, I look up to the blonde cradling his head. “Thank you for helping him. I’m so sorry I didn’t ask yesterday, but what’s your name?”
Startled eyes meet mine, before a faint smile crosses her lips. “Many people call me many things, but my mom named me Theresa.”
“Theresa, it’s lovely to make your acquaintance. For me for my rudeness yesterday, but how did you end up with them?”
“Well, when I saw that big ugly meathead pushing this cute little guy around, I knew this had to be who you were trying to get to see. So I jumped into the elevator with them before the doors closed and started screaming at him for hurting this guy. They basically made me come after that. I wasn’t sure if I was gonna die or what, but you showed so much concern for him yesterday, I hoped you’d be here to rescue him. And then me, too.”
Denny doesn’t open his eyes, but his hand reaches out, so I clutch it in mine. “Azorath?”
“Yes, baby. I’m right here.”
“Your wings are beautiful. I caught a glimpse just for a second.” Warmth flows through me knowing that my mate appreciates my wings.
“Thank you, baby.”
“Are the people safe? Did we win?”
“Of course, we did,” Caedmon grumbles from behind me. The corners of Denny’s mouth lift minutely.
“And Chip? Did you save Chip?”
“I’m right here, Denny. Thank you for whatever you said to your… uh, thank you for allowing me to live.”
Before another word is said, Ophaniel is with us. “Okay, guys. We have to get out of here before security comes around. I’m going to make a call to the police station as soon as we’re far enough away, so you two,” he points at Theresa and Chip, “need to get back to the hotel and maybe hole up together so you can be each other’s alibis. Azorath, pick up your mate and let’s get out of here before those people start getting off the bus.”
I quickly obey since I’m not thinking straight while staring at Denny’s battered body, and we swiftly move toward the fence. Before parting with Theresa and Chip on the sidewalk, I say, “Never speak of this to anyone. Be well.”
Denny’s eyes remain closed, but he says, “Thank you.” I’m not sure if he’s talking to Chip for the years of staying around to watch over him, or to Theresa for taking care of him for the last few minutes, but they both say, “You’re welcome,” before rushing the opposite direction we’re headed.
“Hey, Denny. Guess what?” Ophaniel asks.
“What?” Denny breathes out.
“You guys pulled into the parking lot exactly seven minutes ago. How kick ass are we?”
And to Denny’s small bubble of laughter, we make our way to Deo, our demon unicorn so that we can go to Highvale.
16
Denny
“Why won’t you come with us, Ophaniel?”
“Because I don’t want to. He’s your friend, there’s no reason I have to go with you two to see him.”
“But Cash is awesome. Please, come with us,” I beg.
“No, you and Azorath go and have a lovely lunch. I’m fine here,” Ophaniel says, with a dismissive flick of his wrist in my direction.
“Fine. Whatever.
As I join Azorath on the front steps of our house, he asks, “You couldn’t get him to come this time, either, huh?”
“No.” Pouting, I look up at Azorath. “I still don’t understand why he didn’t meet Cash the night we crossed over into Highvale.”
“I already told you, babe. I have no idea. You were beaten to shit and barely conscious. I wasn’t paying a whole lot of attention to anyone, but you.”
“But don’t you think that it’s only polite for Ophaniel to get to know Cash since his house contains the door into your realm? Besides, he’s a medium and already knew about the supe world. It’s not like he’d be revealing himself and breaking the laws or anything.”
Azorath chuckles next to me as he reaches down to grab my hand. “I still don’t think he’s forgiven me that I hadn’t actually shown you my angel form when he came into your hotel as angel. I mean, technically, you still thought I was crazy, so I didn’t actually reveal supes to you, Ophi did.”
I join in with his laughter as we stroll to my new friend’s house, observing the changing leaves on the trees that line the road. Fall has officially arrived here in Highvale, and just like the change of the season, so much has changed in my life since I met Azorath.
My Aunt Rhonda and I are no longer under my uncle’s domineering control, for one. When the authorities picked him up, his babbling got him put straight into a mental facility, leaving all of their accounts and the business to Aunt Rhonda. She immediately reached out to Chip, and from what she’s said, he’s helping her figure out what to do with the company. As for the money, she kept enough to live for a few years, gave me some of it, but then donated the rest to a charity that deals with human trafficking. She said she didn’t want his dirty money, and that is should go somewhere to help people. We both cackle at how much it would piss him off he was coherent enough to understand.
I’m sure she’ll divorce him eventually, but for right now, she’s just happy to be able to breathe. And I’m happy to have family in my life, again. Neither of us will ever get over what his greed cost our family, and I’ll always mourn the loss of my parents, but at least I have Azorath in my corner now, too. He says that times will get tough sooner than later, but for right now, all the layers of supernatural powers that exist in Highvale should keep us hidden from those that would care in his realm. It’s weird to find out that the place I grew up is full of things outside the ordinary. There are mediums, and people who see ghosts, and Cash even says there’s a teenage girl who’s a dreamwalker, she just doesn’t know it, yet.
Having friends again is awesome, too. Caedmon is cranky, but there is something underlying with the vampire that makes me think he’s really just lonely. And Ophaniel is a riot. We laugh together constantly. That’s why I’m so upset I can’t get him to come over and meet my new friend, Cash. Even though Cash didn’t have a tyrannical uncle controlling his life, it seems like he was as lonely before I came through the door in his house and into his life, as I was. He’s a
n odd little guy, sorta like me, but he speaks with the dead. And where I’m knowledgeable about computers, he loves books. His library is ridiculous. Azorath thinks it’s fortunate that we ended up in Highvale because now I have another human to talk to about all the new things I’m learning.
The thing I regret most about the night my uncle’s plans were foiled and he lost his mind is that I was so beaten up and out of it that I didn’t technically get to meet Deo or observe any of Uchawilume, Azorath’s home, as we went from door to door. Azorath keeps trying to explain to me how the whole door system works, but it makes no sense. He told me I’ll understand better once we use them again, but for now, he doesn’t want me anywhere near his realm. He says our scents are starting to intertwine and those from his realm would pick right up on it. There’s so much I don’t understand, but—
You’ll understand all soon enough, Denny. You’re going to help Azorath lead the rebellion to take my people back. One by one my creations are going to find their soul-mates, and they’ll all flock to you.
Azorath squeezes my hand. “Was my creator speaking to you, again?”
Tilting my head toward, I ask, “Yes, how’d you know?”
Letting go of my hand, he puts his around me and pulls me in tight as we continue you walking. “You always get this expression of awe on your face when you hear his voice.”
“Well, Azorath. You have to admit. It’s pretty cool having some ancient dude who created all kinds of supernatural beings wanting to talk to you throughout the day.”
His husky chuckle washes over me. I’ll never take this life for granted. “Hey, baby?”
“Yeah?” I ask.
“I love you.” Then he presses his lips to the top of my head.
Wrapping my arm around his waist, I get as close to him as I can before saying, “I love you, too.” He kisses the top of my head, again. It’s not the first time we’ve said it to each other. It didn’t shock Azorath nearly as much as it did me how quickly our feelings developed. However, with the mating bond, I shouldn’t have been surprised. All I can think as Cash’s house comes into view is that I have definitely fallen for my angel.
About the Author
Sammi Cee is a proud mom of two teenage girls and a pup. As a lover of romance in whatever form it’s packaged, she finds there is so much strength when we embrace our differences as well as our similarities. Sammi loves diversity and is excited to have the ability to share all types of people as they come together and connect and love.
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