The Gift

by Brenda Trim

  Ren gazed into enchanting gray eyes, wanting to remember this moment forever. She was absolutely correct about one thing. Appreciating life’s blessings. And, he was eternally grateful for the chance encounter with the alluring Arial.

  3

  “What were you thinking?” Raphael thundered, and his meaty fist pounded the top of his desk.

  Arial cringed as the archangel unleashed his fury. Belatedly, she wished she’d ignored Raphael’s summons, given it angered her superior, and brought an end to the greatest high of her long life. The physical encounter with Ren was beyond her wildest imaginings. And, her lips continued to tingle from their shared kiss. It curled her toes and made her lower body yearn for more.

  “I had to go to him. I know you don’t understand my position, but I cannot ignore his pain. It hurts my soul to do so,” Arial confessed.

  Even she didn’t understand the reason Ren’s fate affected her so much. She’d known other charges that never found forgiveness, and she didn’t dwell on them or their lives. Ren impacted Arial on such a deep level it scared her.

  “I have allowed this case to go too far. It’s easy for me to forget that five years is a significant portion of a human’s life. You’re too attached to the male. Therefore, I am removing you from his case. Take a few days, and cleanse your being of these desires,” Raphael ordered. Arial’s eyes popped wide, and her heart raced with panic at hearing his words.

  “No. I can’t abandon him now. Ren needs me,” she pleaded as adrenalin and anxiety coursed through her system.

  “My decision is final, Arial. You are not to visit Ren in person or in his dreams ever again. He is no longer your responsibility. I will assign a new angel. Now, if you will excuse me, I have an important council meeting,” Raphael barked and stood up in a graceful motion that defied his enormous size.

  “No, you can’t do this,” Arial mumbled as tears filled her eyes.

  “It’s already done,” Raphael growled over his shoulder as he abruptly left the office.

  Arial rushed to the doorway and watched Raphael’s massive, white wings bristle as he hurried down the corridor. With one last look over his shoulder, the archangel gave her a look of compassion then disappeared. Arial knew that look. He was going to block Ren from her memory. It was the worst form of punishment for her kind.

  Every angel developed an attachment to their charges, and it was common to check in periodically to see how they were doing. She wouldn’t survive if she forgot about him. She refused to accept Raphael’s decision.

  Arial’s feet were moving before she realized what she was doing. She couldn’t teleport within the archangel’s building without Raphael sensing it. She needed to get outside then go to Ren before he was blocked from her mind forever. Once the barrier was in place, he would be washed entirely from her memory.

  She skidded past a couple Joybringers on her way out of the massive structure and called out an apology as she continued along her way. She was garnering too much attention, but it was impossible to slow her movements. It was imperative she get to Ren before it was too late. As she rushed through the large double-doors, Arial came to a halt when a group of warrior angels came into view. Their massive red wings were like a waving flag, warning her to take it down a notch. Her heart hammered against her chest when they glanced in her direction.

  No way she could safely teleport in front of them. She might as well text Raphael of her plans if she attempted that. The relationship between the archangel and the warriors was one of respect and loyalty, and they would undoubtedly relay the information to Raphael.

  Forcing her feet to slow, Arial walked down the path, making her way closer to the warriors. Lifting a hand, she waved. “Hey, Araton. Something big happening with the demons?” she asked curiously. It wasn’t often such a large group of warriors were seen together unless it was an emergency.

  “Hi, Arial. Anything wrong? You looked terrified a moment ago,” Araton replied, and his brows furrowed in concern.

  Arial smiled at the hulking angel. He was the youngest of three brothers, and his only sister, Illianna, was held captive in Hell for over a century. It was a harrowing time when they were uncertain of Illianna’s whereabouts, and Arial remembered going to Araton on several occasions to consult with him. The male was guilt-ridden and blamed himself for her disappearance.

  “No, nothing wrong. Just got bad news about a charge,” she replied, sticking to the truth since the angel would sense an outright lie.

  “I guess bad news is going around,” Araton muttered. “Ever since Lucifer was freed from the Underworld, more and more demons have crossed the veil to Earth. Higher level ones, at that. Tonight, a group of Emotion-Eaters was seen in Seattle. That fucking city has been a hotbed lately. It’s all we can do to keep Earth’s inhabitants safe.”

  “That’s awful. Now I know why Raphael was in such a hurry. The council must be searching for a way to seal the crossovers,” she mused. “Let me know if there is anything I can do. And, you be careful out there.”

  Araton squeezed her shoulder and thanked her before she hurried on her way. Life had been chaotic and stressful right after the big war but had settled into a routine that changed very little over time, until recently. It began with angel disappearances, like Illianna’s, and escalated from there. Now, it seemed Earth was in danger of being overrun with Dark creatures.

  Once Arial reached the business sector, she ducked into an alley and paused long enough to ensure she wasn’t followed then quickly teleported to Ren’s backyard. The moon was high in the sky, telling her it was well after midnight, and snow flurries cascaded down, adding to the blanket of white on the ground.

  A gust of cold wind swept across her face, and her green robe swirled against her bare legs. It was bitterly cold, and Arial crossed her arms, huddling into the heat of her body.

  Drawn to the soft glow from Ren’s living room, Arial crept to the bushes and peered through the large window. Now that she was here, Arial didn’t know how to approach him. She’d been to his home many times before, but it was different tonight. He’d met her, but didn’t know for sure if she was the angel from his dreams. She wanted to tell him but didn’t know how he’d react. What if it scared him off, or worse, sent him spiraling into his dark world of drug abuse? She’d never forgive herself if that happened.

  Movement caught her eye, and Arial spotted Ren walking toward the sofa. He wore nothing but a pair of sweatpants, and she stared at his muscular chest that was illuminated by the light from the television screen. It was incredibly difficult not to knock on his door, and pick up where they left off on the dance floor. Her mouth watered at the sexy sight, and her body heated as she imagined joining him on the couch.

  And then her gaze snagged on the bare Christmas tree in the corner of the room. It broke her heart. Perhaps she should take the ornaments off her tree and bring them here. Arial imagined the two of them decorating his home together. She was so engrossed in her fantasy that she didn’t notice the danger until it was too late.

  A yelp escaped when Arial caught sight of blazing red eyes set within a shadowy face. It took her a minute to realize the being wasn’t a solid form. It appeared to be made of smoke, with knife-sized claws that glinted in the moonlight. She cursed herself for not attending the warrior angels’ training seminars. After Illianna’s kidnapping, her brothers organized self-defense classes to help others protect themselves.

  Fear consumed Arial as she faced the evil incarnate, and she froze in place. Her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath, and tried to figure out what kind of demon stood a few feet away. Nothing came to mind. Hellhounds and slime demons were easy to spot, as were Behemoth demons, but this creature confounded her.

  “Get away from this human. He is under my protection,” Arial spouted when she realized it was likely there for Ren, and not her. There was no way it would have known she’d show up in this yard.

  A laugh that sounded like the beginnings of a hurricane shook t
he creature’s frame, and goosebumps littered Arial’s arms. She rubbed her flesh and glanced around for a weapon. She could teleport back to Heaven, but that would leave Ren vulnerable. It would be impossible to get help and return before the demon got to Ren. No way she was taking that risk.

  “The human’s emotions pale to yours, my tasty little morsel. I came for him, but I will not leave without you,” the demon rasped. Its voice dripped with malicious intent and coated Arial’s divine power like a sticky tar.

  She recalled her conversation with Araton regarding Emotion Eaters. This must be one of them, Arial thought and made a mental note to tell the warrior angels that Chicago was infected, as well.

  “Oh, you don’t want to eat me. I’m stringy and bitter,” Arial muttered as she inched toward a snow shovel resting against the side of the house.

  “You will feed me well and bring me riches. I might even supplant Mammon and acquire his house. All those enchanted feathers,” the demon boasted. His lascivious leer made her stomach lurch, and her knees tremble. “I can’t wait to pluck them one by one. They will bring top dollar with their purity. And, then there are your skin, blood, and bones. Mmmm.”

  “You won’t lay a finger on me. Your dreams of grandeur are absurd,” Arial blustered right before she lunged for the shovel.

  The demon moved faster than she anticipated and rammed into her, sending her off course before she could lay a hand on the handle. With a loud thump, she landed on the hard, snow-covered ground.

  Excruciating pain lanced through her side and spread through her abdomen. A quick glance explained the reason for her agony. The demon’s claws were embedded deep in her side while his heavy body covered hers. Fear, anger, frustration, worry, and helplessness swamped her. How could a being made of smoke have the force of a locomotive?

  Grabbing a fistful of snow, she threw it toward its glowing red eyes. Shocked, the demon reared up and roared. It sounded like a strong gust of wind and sent a shiver down her spine. Arial scrambled to her hands and knees, reaching for the shovel.

  Her fingers wrapped around the wood handle right before something latched onto her wings, shredding them. She opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out as agony immobilized her. The demon sliced at her green appendages in a flurry of movement. Bloody feathers filled the air then floated to the ground.

  It took monumental effort to ignore the pain, but Arial managed to swing the makeshift weapon, smacking the creature upside its head. Her body was airborne in the blink of an eye as he tossed her toward the fence in the backyard. Arial shouted and spread her wings to fly, but they didn’t budge. She sailed through the air then slammed into a tree trunk.

  A loud crack reverberated in her ears and stole her ability to breathe. Smoke and red eyes barreled down on Arial, and all she could think was he would kill Ren if she failed. Gripping the wood handle with every ounce of strength she could muster, she lifted the shovel as the demon threw itself at her. She felt the implement as it slid past the skin and through its muscle.

  The creature’s piercing screech caused her to curl into a ball, cupping her ears. She’d made a grave mistake, and Ren was going to suffer the consequence. She didn’t have time to react before claws raked down her face, and over her chest. Her vision blurred right as Arial watched a massive fist come toward her.

  Ren, I love you. You deserve forgiveness, and so much more, Arial thought before the creature struck, and her world went black.

  4

  Grabbing the bat next to his couch, Ren surged to his feet and opened the sliding glass door seconds after he heard a shout. It sounded like a woman crying out in pain, but he figured it was a stray cat. They were constantly trying to get inside his trash can.

  Cold air assaulted his bare chest, and Ren shivered. Nothing more brutal than Chicago winters. Before he could turn around and grab his coat, the automatic sensor on his back patio lit up the backyard, and his eyes bulged at the gruesome scene before him.

  Bloody, green feathers littered the snow-covered ground, while a black form hovered over an inert figure near his back fence. It was unlike anything he’d ever seen.

  “Hey, motherfucker. Get off my property right now,” Ren shouted. He immediately forgot the cold and held up the bat, ready to swing.

  “This’ll be fun,” a deep voice replied.

  It was an evil sound, and it grated against his skin. As a recovering addict, Ren had been exposed to the worst of humanity and thought he’d seen it all, but this was beyond belief. He was literally terrified of the man.

  “I don’t know who you are, but you’re trespassing on my property. I’ve called the cops,” Ren bluffed as he jumped down the stairs.

  There was blood all over the snow. It looked like a mass shooting occurred, but all Ren saw was a hint of pink flesh behind the man who was now standing up.

  The guy must be some wacko serial killer, he concluded. Ren’s heart kicked into gear, and his mind raced through his options. He was in big trouble if this maniac got ahold of him. No way that was happening. He’d fight with everything he had before he allowed this sick bastard to kill him.

  “Human police mean nothing to me,” the man snarled as he casually walked toward Ren.

  Ren’s eyes blurred to where he couldn’t focus. Hell of a time to have problems with his vision, he mused. Between one blink and the next, the man was in front of Ren, and he realized how wrong he was about what he was facing. This was no human and his vision was perfectly fine. Holy fucking shit! This couldn’t be real.

  A giant demon stood less than a foot away, and Ren wanted to shout to his neighbor to call the cops. Like the police would arrive before the damage was done, he amended. They were notorious for taking their sweet-ass time when called to the high-crime area.

  Ren hesitated as he tried to grasp reality. He hardly believed what he was seeing. A large, smoky form hovered above the ground. All he could see was two, glowing, red eyes. He questioned if it was a trick of the light or his damaged mind, but either way, it was the middle of the night and this creature had already killed one person.

  Before fear stole his common sense, Ren swung the bat and connected with a solid mass. It surprised the shit out of him. He expected the wooden stick to sail through the hazy form, but it didn’t. Ren took advantage and swung again, putting his body weight into the act. It threw Ren off balance, and he stumbled into the creature, knocking it over.

  When the demon landed in the snow, Ren noticed the end of a stick poking out of its side. Without thinking, Ren grabbed hold and yanked it free then plunged it into the creature’s chest. He aimed for its heart, but the demon moved faster than Ren could track, and the stick lodged higher than he intended.

  In the next breath, the terrifying creature was on its feet and heading toward Ren. Luckily, it moved slower than before, and Ren could track its movements. Was this demon straight from Hell? He prayed it wasn’t the Grim Reaper sent to claim his sin-laden soul.

  “What the hell are you?” Ren blurted as he ducked massive claws.

  While Ren was bent over, he looked to the figure in the snow and saw pink flesh covered in cuts and blood. Those claws on the blurry form were real, Ren surmised. His heart galloped in his chest as realization dawned. The haunting form was, in fact, a demon from the Underworld.

  The bloody green feathers scattered across the yard only added to the column of proof. The demon must’ve killed a dozen giant green birds, along with, the woman. Perhaps the feathers belonged to another devil, and they fought over the woman. Ren didn’t have time to puzzle things out or determine if the woman was alive because the creature suddenly slammed into him from behind.

  The blow landed on his shoulder, and razor-sharp claws sliced furrows through his skin. Ren shouted in pain, his breath escaping in plumes of white. Without pause, Ren hefted the bat and swung. He struck the demon several times then ran away before the creature retaliated.

  When he was several feet away, Ren chanced a glance over his shoulder an
d noticed he injured the creature. Black blood dripped from the demon’s wounds and sizzled when it hit the snow. The ground immediately turned black, and a rotten smell permeated the air.

  “I am your doom, human. Your churning emotions drew me, and I will feast on you before I take my prize and return home a victor,” the creature said.

  Everything about the creature was vile and dark. Even its breaths left black plumes in the air. Subsequently, Ren acknowledged the earlier sound he heard wasn’t another winter storm brewing in the windy city, but the malicious demon. And, here Ren was worried he didn’t have enough firewood for the winter. How he wished that was his biggest problem right now.

  He Lifted the bat, and agony laced through Ren’s back and down his arm. This was no dream, he concluded. And, to think the evening started with such promise. He met Arial at the bar and shared the best kiss of his life.

  The woman was a confusing mix of sweet and shy, yet bold and forward all at the same time. He had no idea what to make of her, but they’d talked and danced with an ease he hadn’t experienced with anyone.

  His relationships with women, if one could call them that, were about sex. Most often, Ren used them to get money for his next fix. He rarely spent much time with them and hadn’t dated in too long to remember. Now, after meeting a woman that ignited him in every way, he was battling a minion sent straight from the boughs of Hell and was likely going to die. How apropos.

  “I should’ve offered to take her home,” Ren muttered aloud.

  She was his angel, even if she wasn’t the angel from his dreams. She looked exactly like the woman that occupied his thoughts for the past several years. That meant something. The certainty of it nearly floored Ren. He and Arial shared something special.

  “I wish you had. More for me to feed on. From the emotions that just raced through your system, it would’ve sustained me for a long time,” the demon barked, jolting Ren from his musings. It wasn’t the time to get lost in thought about Arial.