I must be dreaming again because I'm back in the clouds, but instead of a comfy white bed to lie on, I'm soaring through the sky. Though it's a wonderful feeling, I was hoping to dream about the mystery man again, then maybe I could finally see his face. As I ascend higher and higher, an icy cold wind takes my breath away and my ears start popping. I swallow to clear them and open my eyes.
Shoot! I'm not dreaming. I really am in the sky—and I'm not alone. I'm in the arms of an angel—a beautiful strong angel with huge silver wings. My heart beating like a drum, I hold on tight to his powerful shoulders and gaze into his brilliant blue eyes.
He smiles. “Hello, Miss Beautiful.”
I blink twice. “Seal, you're … you're an angel? Did Devlin kill you?”
He squeezes me to his bare chest, his arms rippling with muscles, then he kisses my eyes, my cheeks, my hair. “No, Eloise, Devlin didn't kill me. I've always been an angel, your guardian angel.”
Oh my God! A thrill runs through me. He doesn't have a girlfriend? I'm Miss Beautiful? I gulp. “Am I in heaven? Did the bird eat me?”
Seal throws his head back and laughs. “No, babe, there was no bird. It was me who saved you. Devlin kidnapped me when I came to the party to look for you. He drugged me, then took me to his dungeon, but I found a way to change back into an angel and rescue you.”
My mind is spinning and I can't work out if I'm dreaming or awake. As I pinch my arm to see if it hurts, I glance below. Holy crap! We're so high up and I can see the ocean miles below us. “This is way scary,” I yell. “Don't drop me.”
“Don't worry, honey,” he whispers into my ear. “I won't let you go.”
I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment, then as I start to feel secure in his grip, I peek out. When he ascends upwards, his enormous wings flap in the breeze. It's so quiet up here, there's nothing but the sound of his wings and the wind in my ears. As we zoom over the clouds, my silver comb drops out of my hair and my curls fall in waves around my shoulders and whips across my face.
“Hold on tight to my arms,” he shouts, then he soars high above the clouds and over the top of a magnificent rainbow, then as he flutters down the other side, I gasp as we descend onto a familiar white cloud.
As he lays me softly down, I gaze at his beautiful face and smile. I can't believe I'm actually on the feather bed from my dreams, and lying next to me is the mystery man, my very own angel with a body to die for. His bare thighs are burning through the tears in his ripped denim jeans, sending my pulse racing with desire. I've surely died and gone to heaven. As tears of joy gather in my eyes, he takes me in his arms and kisses them away. “Don't cry, Eloise. No one can harm you here.”
I melt into his bare chest and inhale his sweet scent. “I'm not crying because I'm sad. I'm happy because I'm here with you, Seal. The moment I saw you on the beach, I had a feeling you were the boy from my dreams, but I would never have guessed you were an angel. I'm so happy Devlin didn't harm you.”
He squeezes me tight. “Eloise, you've no idea how relieved I am now that you're away from that monster, and Father Luke. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you.”
“But it wouldn't have been your fault, Seal. You begged me not to go to that party with Tom. I should've listened to you. I put my own life in danger, as well as yours.”
He looks deep into my eyes. “Eloise, I'm your guardian angel. I've been watching over you and keeping you from danger since the day you were born. It's my responsibility to make sure nothing happens to you, so I would be to blame, not you.”
My jaw drops. “So it was you who saved me from all those near accidents?”
He grins. “Yes, you little klutz, you certainly kept me busy.”
I smile. “You saved me from the car in the fog?”
He sighs. “Now, that was scary. I only just managed to blow you out of the way in time.”
I chuckle. “Did you throw the cricket ball at Tom's window, too?”
He frowns. “I most certainly did.”
“Oh my goodness. You've seen everything.” I blush at the thought of it.
He holds my face between his hands and kisses the tip of my nose. “You've done nothing to be ashamed of, Eloise, though I can't say the same about myself.”
“What do you mean?”
Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath, then he looks at me. “The reason you found me naked on the beach was because God burnt my wings off with a bolt of lightning, then I fell from the sky into the ocean.”
I sit upright. “You're kidding. No wonder you were unconscious. But why did God burn your wings off, and how did you get them back?”
He takes my hands in his. “It's a long story, so listen carefully. It has to do with Devlin, Tom and you.”
The mention of Devlin's name gives me the creeps and I start to shiver. “What does Tom have to do with Devlin? They don't even know each other.”
“That's right. They only recently met. You see, Devlin is also a fallen angel.
“What?” I hold my mouth. “How can that evil man be an angel?”
“Eloise, listen to me carefully.” He puts a finger on my lips to stop me from interrupting him. “Before I tell you about Devlin, I have to explain something.”
Sitting cross-legged, I face him. “Okay.”
He looks at me for a long moment, his eyes serious. “Your paternal grandfather is a fallen angel.”
“What? How can my dad’s father be an angel?”
Seal shakes his head. “No, Eloise. He’s a fallen angel. He lost his wings because he yearned for physical pleasures and succumbed to temptation.”
“Does my father know?”
“No, he doesn't, but his father isn’t exactly bad. It goes back to the sixties when a group of angels lost their wings after seeking human pleasure in a commune of hippies. These hippies were into free love and three angels that were guarding some of these wild teens decided they'd prefer to join them. Of course they lost their wings for breaking the law, and your grandfather was one of them. So you see, Eloise, you’re your father is the result of the union between a fallen angel and a human girl.”
I blink. This is hard to comprehend. “So my dad’s father is a fallen angel, but what about his mother? Does she know her husband used to be an angel?”
“No, and your grandfather probably has no memory of it either. He just lives a normal life as a human. When angels lose their wings, they can become human, or live on earth as a demon. Your grandfather chose to be a good man, not a demon.”
My head is spinning as I try to understand it all. “Can he become an angel again?”
“No. He lost God's trust for that position. He had children. If you lose your wings, you have to earn them back, usually before you have children.”
“So let me get this straight. Devlin is a fallen angel and is now human and can have kids? What did he do wrong? Why did he kidnap me? And what about you, Seal? Why did you lose your wings? And how come you got yours back and Devlin didn't?”
Seal looks at me and sighs. “Devlin wanted to be assigned as your guardian angel because it's a privilege for an angel to guard the bloodline of another angel. But I was chosen and Devlin has hated me ever since. His envy, low self-esteem, and yearning for revenge upon me corrupted him. And as you grew up and became more beautiful, he was determined to have you in whatever way he could. But angels can't have physical relationships with humans, not unless they possess a human body. So whenever Tom was alone with you, Devlin took over his body.”
I hold my head. “Hang on a minute. So every time Tom got a little carried away with me, it was really Devlin possessing his body?”
“I'm afraid so, but only when Tom was alone with you, like at his home and in your bedroom.”
“So when Tom took me to his house, it was really Devlin?”
“Yes, but I don't know when Devlin took over, you'd know better. His personality would change. I'm your guardian angel, so I sense when you're in danger and just turn up. When I
got to Tom's house, he was pulling your clothes off, or should I say, Devlin was. I made the cricket ball go through the window to distract him, then you snatched the iPad. What a great idea. I was so proud of you. Devlin uses Tom's iPad to find out his plans, so he wouldn't have wanted it broken. I was so relieved when you got away from him."
“So Tom's not so bad after all? Was it Tom or Devlin fighting with you on my front lawn?”
“I had amnesia then, but I suspect it was Devlin, and Tom.”
“But the time Tom sneaked into my bedroom, I was dreaming about the faceless mystery man, which is you. I was kissing you, Seal. Then I woke and found Tom in my room, and he said I was kissing him, not the other way around.” I stare at Seal, confused.
Seal blushes and kneels on the bed in front of me. “I told you I'm not innocent.” He looks away, then back into my eyes. “That night when Tom came in to your bedroom, Devlin was waiting and watching outside your window. I was doing my guardian angel duties and watching you from up here. I sensed you were in danger and when Devlin possessed Tom's body, I tried to wake you by communicating with your unconscious mind, to warn you. But when Devlin started kissing you, you thought he was some mystery man in your dream and instead of pushing him away, you kissed him back. I had to stop Devlin from raping you, so I flew into Tom's body and forced him out. I struck him with a lightning bolt and burned his wings off.”
I hold my face. “Oh, my god, Seal, I thought I was kissing you, but you did nothing wrong. You saved me.”
He looks at his finger, and then gazes at me through long dark lashes. “Yes, but when Devlin left Tom's body, I didn't. The temptation for that one kiss was just too much for me. I've been in love with you for so long that once I felt what it was like to physically hold you in my arms, I got a bit carried away; especially when you kissed me back. Your scent intoxicated me and your skin was so soft and smooth, and if it wasn't for Matilda jumping between us, who knows what would have happened, especially if you’d kissed me back.”
So Seal really does love me? I tingle all over and blush with pleasure at his words. I giggle. “No wonder I was enjoying that dream so much.”
“Yes, but look what happened. I lost my wings just like Devlin, but I also lost my memory. Then as a man, I fell in love with you all over again, but when my memory came back and I saw Devlin was a human, I realised I could no longer protect you from him. He was in your garden, spying on you, waiting for an opportunity to meet you in person. I realised the only way to help you was to beg for God’s forgiveness and get my wings back.”
I frown. “Was that when you ran off into the wood in the rain? That was so sad.”
“Yes. God told me that because I hadn't actually had sex with you, I could earn my wings back by proving I could resist the temptation of you. I had to earn his trust again. He said I was to stay with you until your parents came home, but I wasn't allowed to touch or kiss you. You see, Eloise, I didn't push you away because I had a girlfriend, or because I didn't feel anything for you. It was because I love you so much and I wanted to save you. It was so hard to resist you when you were so near, especially with Tom and Devlin both trying to make out with you.”
I hug him close. “I didn't want them, Seal. I only wanted you. I only went to the party with Tom to make you jealous.”
He grips my arms and looks deep into my eyes. “But it didn't matter that you didn't want them. Devlin was determined to have you, not matter what. I had no powers other than the strength of a man, and you know now what he's capable of. So you see I had to sacrifice our relationship in order to get my wings back—so I could protect you.”
I look into his eyes, my heart pummelling, panic setting in. “You sacrificed our relationship? What does that mean, Seal?”
He wraps his arms around me. “Oh, Eloise, I so wanted to stay human and be with you, but if I had, you would still be with Devlin as a prisoner in his castle. There would've been no way for me to find you. You see Devlin tricked me. He knew if he possessed Tom's body and tried to make love to you that I would stop him and burn his wings off. That's what he wanted. He yearned to be sent to earth as a man, then he could experience the physical pleasures that humans have. He fell in love with you, too, but he's jealous and vain. He wanted you to love him, not Tom, not me. Plus he wanted his revenge on me, which he surely got.”
“How come Devlin’s got blood feathers on his back, but you didn’t have any?”
“Because when I burned Devlin’s wings off, he got away before I finished destroying them properly. So his feathers have started growing back. That was my other big mistake. I was too busy kissing you and he got away. But I doubt he’ll let his wings grow back again because he wants to stay human so he can have you as his wife. Plus if they ever did grow back, they’d be black and he could never get into heaven with them.
“Okay, but Devlin's just a man and you're an angel, so how has he won?”
Seal looks at me with a tear in his eye. “He sold his soul to the devil; joined Lucifer, the first and most evil fallen angel of all, the ruler of all the bad fallen angels and demons. Devlin offered himself to Lucifer, and in return, he asked that Lucifer give him the power to get his revenge on me. Lucifer was happy with that because he would love Devlin to marry you because any child you have with Devlin will join him and Lucifer, and all the other dark angels and demons that roam the earth causing evil and destruction.”
I press my hands to my face. “What? But I won't marry Devlin. He can't make me. You'll stop him, Seal. You will, won't you?”
“Of course I will. Why do you think I came back to being an angel? Lucifer gave Devlin riches, a castle, money, power. As a man I wouldn't stand a chance against him.”
Clasping my hands together, I bite my knuckle. “Oh my god. Where is Lucifer? Does he roam around on earth? Is he visible?”
“Lucifer is The Devil himself and can manifest himself in human form; possess people. Do you know what exorcism means?”
I nod. “Of course, but I didn't believe it was real. This is so scary. Why did I have to be a descendant of some lusty angel?”
Seal raises a brow. “What like me?”
He lusts for me? Smiling, I lay my head on his chest. “Oh, Seal, I'm so sorry I caused you so much trouble. It was me that kept kissing you, not the other way around. I fell in love with you the moment I set eyes on you.” I smile and hug myself. “Do you lust after me, Seal? Say you do?”
He strokes my hair. “Angels aren’t supposed to lust after humans, Eloise. They're supposed to know better. Anyway, I was given a chance to redeem myself.” He points over his shoulder to his beautiful silver feathers.
I wrap my arms around his waist. “It's all so scary. I'm so lucky you're here to protect me.”
“Eloise, you're stronger than you think. You've already stood up to Devlin, and to Lucifer. You'll be fine.”
“I've never seen Lucifer.”
Seal looks at me. “Yes, you have. He's disguised as Devlin's father, the priest.”
My eyes grow wide and a chill runs up my spine. “Father Luke is The Devil? Crap, I can see how he tricks people. He just looked like a sleazy old git. Not a demon or devil. But this is all too much to think about. I can't get my head around it all.”
Seal hugs me tight. “Just relax for a while. You've had such a bad ordeal. Why don't you lie down and sleep for a bit?”
I look at him, but his eyes are sad, and I have this horrible feeling of impending doom again. Then I remember what he said a few moments ago. My heart sinks as I realise what he meant. Franticly, I press my hands on his bare chest. “Kiss me, Seal.”
Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath, when he opens them, they’re glazed with sadness. “No, Eloise. You know I can't kiss you.”
My lip quivers. “But, Seal, you just said you loved me.”
He grabs my arms and holds me away from him. “It doesn’t mean I don't love you. I do. I love you more than anything in the universe, but I am committed to God. I told you,
angels are not allowed to have a physical relationship with humans or they lose their wings. I can't do that and put your life in danger. And I'm not Seal, I'm Nathaniel, Angel of Fire. I'm here to guide and protect you from danger, nothing more.”
Closing my eyes, I cover my ears with my hands. I don't want to hear what he's telling me.
He pulls my hands away. “Look at me, Eloise,” he demands.
I stare imploringly at him. Then I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss his cheek. “No! No! Please don't tell me you can't come back to me? No! I can't live without you. Please, Seal, say you'll come back with me.”
He hugs me close. “I'm so sorry, Eloise. I didn't mean to hurt you. You're my whole world. But if I'm to protect you from Devlin and Lucifer, I have to stay here. Please don't make it harder for me.” He looks into my eyes, into my soul. “You know how much I love you and want to be with you, but if I lose my wings again, I'll never get them back. Please, Eloise, say you understand?”
I stare at him, shocked, dumb founded. “You're not coming back, are you?”
He shakes his head. “No, Eloise. I'm not. But I'll be with you always. I'll be watching over you, and whenever you're in trouble. I'll be there, just know that.”
I'm sob into my hands. I'm heartbroken, I can't breathe and I gasp for air.
“Please don't cry, Eloise.” He wraps his arms around my shoulders to comfort me.
I push him away. “You may be an angel, but you're no different than Tom and Devlin. You were just after one thing, and you didn't even think I was worth fighting for. You're just interested in your ego and winning some battle with Devlin. Well, you've conquered him now and got your trophy, you don't need me anymore. Go back to your heavenly duties, but you can count me out. I don't want you watching over me, ever. Just leave me to live my life on my own. Go and find some other idiot to fall in love with you, then you can have another challenge. Now, take me home or I'll jump off this cloud.”
“Oh, Eloise, please, it's not like that at all. I do love you, but you have to understand how dangerous Devlin can be. I need my wings and my powers to protect you, not for my ego. Do you remember when I went outside to fetch wood for the fire?”
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