“Yeah, well, I’m used to looking like a fool when it comes to my visions,” I said between hiccups of laughter. “I never know what stupid thing I’m gonna have to do—it’s a job requirement.”
***
When Chay brought me home that evening, the hobgoblins were sitting in the driveway.
“Should I just run over them and save us the trouble?”
“Sure. Why not?” I shrugged a shoulder.
“‘Kay.”
They darted out of the way and ran into the backyard.
“They’re fast little things considering how stumpy their legs are,” Chay said with a laugh.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t think something so round and fat could move like that without rolling.”
“Do you want to go see what they want?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I have a headache already. I just want to go inside and climb into bed with two aspirin.”
Chay got out of the car and walked around to open my door. Sliding out, I sucked in a sharp breath. Jake was sitting in the shadows on my front porch.
“I think I’ll use the side door.” I flicked my gaze in Jake’s direction.
“Ah. Good call.”
“Milayna,” Jake called.
I ignored him and walked to the door at the side of the house. There stood Lily and Shayla.
Great. Jake and the bitchy duo. Can things get any better tonight?
“Looks like our night is going to end with a bang.” I looked up at Chay. His jaw was working.
“Literally,” I said with a sigh. “What’s up, guys? Just normal troublemaking?” I called to the three of them.
“Azazel sent us,” Jake said.
“And? I gotta say, I’m getting bored with the whole Azazel thing.”
“He wants you.”
“He can’t get to my powers, Jake. You know that, and he knows that.”
“You can still join his side. Use your powers for him,” Lily said.
“Not gonna happen. It didn’t happen three months ago, and it won’t happen now. And it’s getting pretty pathetic that he keeps sending you here to beg.”
“You know he’s sent someone.” Lily looked at her perfectly groomed fingernails. Those suckers hurt in a fight.
“So I’ve heard.”
Chay stepped in front of me, shielding me from them, but I nudged him out of the way. I wasn’t scared of them. I didn’t particularly want to end up in a fight, because they hurt like hell. But I wasn’t afraid of Jake or his crew. Well, maybe of Jake.
“Your little angel friend can’t protect you,” Lily said.
“I don’t know where you get off thinking I need protection. Last I knew, I turned eighteen. Azazel missed his opportunity—”
“For your powers. He didn’t miss his opportunity to end your life. It’s true he can’t do it himself, but he can… hire it out.”
“And that’s what he’s done? Hired a hit man to take me out?” I laughed hard at the thought.
“Yes,” Jake answered and walked toward Chay and me.
Chay looked over his shoulder and squeezed my fingers. I followed his gaze. Steven and Rod walked up the drive toward us.
Five of them. Two of us. Not good odds. Not good at all.
“Hey,” Drew said, walking toward the house from Muriel’s. Muriel was right on his heels. “Jen’s on her way.”
“I’m here,” Jen said, coming around the house from the backyard. “I was just listening to the babblings of the goblin fools back there. So… what’s up?”
“Threats. Just empty, pathetic threats.” I looked at Jake, careful not to meet his gaze straight on. I didn’t want my power to kick in. I was still learning how to control it—how to turn it on and off. I knew what feeling I would read from him. I didn’t need my connection to tell me. Jake was evil. Pure evil.
“Oh, Azazel, he’s so great. He’ll treat you like a princess. He’ll make your life wonderful,” Jen said in a singsong voice, mocking Jake and Lily.
“Jen,” Chay said under his breath. “Shut up. Antagonizing them won’t help anything. I don’t feel like fighting tonight.”
The front door opened, and Xavier walked out. “What’s going on?”
That seems to be the question everyone is asking.
Jake sucker punched him when he walked outside. Xavier hit the cement floor of the porch hard. He didn’t get up.
“Wuss,” Chay said with a chuckle. I shot him a dirty look.
“So are we fighting now or what? It’s too cold to stand around and do nothing,” Drew complained.
“Sure, why not.” Jake ran toward me and grabbed my arm, jerking me away from Chay.
Chay lunged at Jake. Rod grabbed Chay and jammed his knee in his gut. He landed another good punch to the face. I saw everyone in their own fights. Muriel and Jen were against Shayla and Lily. Steven and Rod were pitted against Chay and Drew.
That left Jake and me. I don’t know what I ever did to Jake, but he seemed to have it out for me. He always made a special effort to make sure it was us against each other—and he had no qualms about hitting girls. Of course, I didn’t have a problem hitting him either.
He threw a kick, but my freaky angel powers kicked in—of which I was entirely grateful—and his movements were in slow motion. I saw what he planned to do before he did it and blocked his kick, taking a hard hit on my forearm. He moved to jab my side. I saw it coming. The majority of the impact I absorbed with a block, but he got a good hit in. The pain rushed in as my breath whooshed out of my body. While I was still reeling from the jab to the side, he backhanded me hard across the face.
I had the ability to feel what others were thinking. I knew what Jake planned before he did it, and I was able to block most of his hits. But I was still learning how to use my powers. They were strong, but still new to me. That was why I didn’t see what was coming next.
I hit him under the chin with a palm-heel strike, feeling his teeth clamp together. He grabbed a handful of my hair and kicked me in the side. I crumpled to my knees.
“That’s what I like to see… you on your knees in front of me.”
He jerked me up by my hair. I bit my lip, trying not to cry out in pain. He got off on that. He loved causing pain, but he loved hearing the cries of those he hurt more.
I tried to jab him in the face, but he grabbed me with his free hand and twisted me around. My back to his chest, he wrapped his arm around my neck, holding me in a chokehold. I clawed at his arm, trying to stomp on his insole, but he lifted me off the ground. He balled one fist in my hair and pressed my head harder against the arm around my neck.
My lungs burned from lack of oxygen; my throat screamed in pain where he squeezed it closed. Stars blinked in front of my eyes, and I knew I was just seconds away from losing consciousness. My feet flailed wildly, trying to hit him. Grabbing at his face and arms, I clawed at him, digging my fingernails into his flesh to cause as much pain as possible. I could feel his skin rip when I dug into his arm. I felt the mushy, bloody mass collecting under my nails. It didn’t faze him. He laughed as the fight left my body and my movements became sluggish, weak.
I was dying.
Something hit the side of me hard. Jake grunted and dropped me. Landing on all fours, I gasped for air. I crawled to the porch, coughing as I sucked in as much air as my body would hold. When I looked over my shoulder, I saw Xavier and Chay. Xavier held Jake from the back while Chay punched him in the face… once… twice… three times. Blood and spit flew from Jake’s mouth. Chay’s face was red, the muscles corded in his neck and arms. His body shook with rage as he hit Jake over and over.
“Chay!” My voice was gravelly. It cracked when I called out to him. “Chay, stop.”
Sirens sounded in the distance. The Evils pulled themselves together and took off down the road. Jake, his face bloodied and already swelling, looked at me and spit a wad of mucus and blood.
“It’s coming. Your time is coming, Milayna,” Jake slurred before slinking into
the shadows.
Chay rushed to me. Sliding his arm under the back of my knees and the other around my back, he lifted me off the ground. “Are you okay?” He carried me in the house and laid me on the couch in the family room. “Can you talk?”
“Yeah,” I whispered.
“Doesn’t sound like it to me.” Drew walked over and looked down at me. He held a wet washcloth to his eye to staunch the blood flow from a cut.
“Chay…”
“What, Milayna?” He knelt next to me and put his ear close to my mouth so he could hear me.
“You’re bleeding all over me.”
He laughed. “I think you’re gonna be fine.”
I shook my head. I was beginning to think it would never be over—I wasn’t going to be fine. Azazel should have been out of my life for good after I turned eighteen. But he was back and we were fighting senseless fights, beating each other until none of us could see straight.
What’s the point?
“I’m not fine. This isn’t fine.” I waved my hand around the room, taking in everyone’s injuries. “This shit should be over. But I’m starting to think it’ll never be done.”
“We’re gonna finish it this time. Whatever is going on, whoever he’s sent to hurt you, we’re gonna take them out.” Chay ran a finger down the side of my face. “We need to get you cleaned up before your parents get home. You’ll scare your mother. You’ve already got bruises around your neck.”
“Who is higher than Azazel? Who would supersede his power?” I asked no one in particular.
“I don’t know,” Xavier answered. “But I’ll do some research and find out.”
“Shouldn’t you know these things? You’re an angel; these are your enemies. Shouldn’t you know who they are?” Chay turned and glared at him. “I find it kinda weird that you know so little about who we’re fighting.”
Xavier didn’t answer right away. He rocked back on his heels, clasping his hands behind his back. “Even angels don’t know everything about Hell.”
12
The Mall
Monday and Tuesday, I got a free pass to stay home from school thanks to Jake. The bruising around my neck left no doubt what had happened and rather than get a call from the school’s principal about abuse, my parents opted to let me stay home. I’d missed so much school my senior year that I was worried they wouldn’t let me graduate.
Monday morning, I went downstairs and poured a bowl of cereal. After I splashed some milk on it, I plopped down in front of the television. I was looking forward to watching cheesy soap operas all day. I liked to make fun of them. Secretly, I loved watching them.
“Don’t get too comfortable,” my mom said. She’d taken the days off from work so I wouldn’t be alone. “We are going to do a little spring cleaning while you’re home.”
I groaned. I would’ve rather been at school. We moved every piece of furniture and vacuumed underneath, washed every window and blind, wiped down the baseboards, and the kitchen cabinets. By the time we were done Tuesday evening, every inch of the house had been scrubbed, mopped, and polished.
I’d never wanted to go to school so much in my life.
Wednesday, I was able to cover the bruising with makeup and a turtleneck sweater.
“Hey.” Chay smiled when I walked into Chemistry class that morning. “I didn’t expect to see you here today.”
“Yeah, well, when you don’t call or text for two days, it’s kinda hard to keep up with schedules,” I said, irritation rolling off my tongue.
“I texted you last night.”
“Yeah, after I did you!”
“I’m not arguing with you, Milayna. I’m sorry I didn’t text you every second of my day. Lord knows the sun revolves around you.”
His words stung. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Forget it. I’ll show you what we’re doing today.” Pulling out his book and notes, he told me what homework I missed and what lab we were doing that morning. I tried to listen, but I was too preoccupied by what he’d said to really pay attention.
About midway through class, I felt a kick under my seat. I turned around and saw a white piece of paper teetering on the edge of the table. Grabbing it, I turned in my seat before the teacher spotted me, or God forbid, the note.
Everything okay? Xavier wrote.
Yeah. Just peachy.
I turned, quickly sliding the note across the table toward Xavier. He lifted his hand and caught it before anyone saw. Anyone except Chay.
“Stop passing notes to him,” he whispered between clenched teeth.
“Why? You’re not talking to me.”
“Whatever.”
“Whatever,” I mocked. He was quickly climbing my bitch-o-meter.
I felt a second kick under my seat. I didn’t turn; I just reached behind me and slipped the piece of paper off the table.
Wanna talk about it?
Not really, I answered.
The note passing went back and forth the entire class period. Chay grew more and more irritated with me with each note.
“Are you going to help with this lab or pass notes?” he snapped.
“Both.”
He rolled his eyes.
“What the hell is the matter with you?” I yelled after class.
“Just a bad coupla days,” Chay answered.
“What did I do?”
“Nothing.”
“Then stop taking it out on me and try talking next time.” I turned and walked away.
“Milayna, hold up.”
I stopped in the hallway, my back facing him. He stopped behind me and kissed the hollow behind my ear, sending electrified shivers down my body. “I’m sorry. I acted like a jerk.”
“Yeah, you kinda did.”
“How can I make it up to you?” He walked in front of me, his blue-green eyes sparkling when his gaze met mine. My power decided to kick in, and I felt the electrical current run through my body along my nerve endings. It reached out to Chay and moved over him, but instead of stopping and creating a bridge to his feelings, it kept moving, searching.
That’s weird. That’s only happened once before—when Steven switched sides.
I realized he was waiting for an answer, so I pulled my thoughts together and tried to ignore the current buzzing between us. “First, don’t do it again. And second, carry my books.” I gave him a small smile.
He licked his lips before pulling his bottom one between his teeth and looking at the ceiling like he was thinking. “Hmm, that’s a lot to ask.” He slipped the strap of my messenger bag off my shoulder and hefted it over his. “But for you, I think I can manage.”
The rest of the school day went by smoothly. It wasn’t until that evening that things got really interesting.
Chay had dinner at my house. Then he helped me catch up with my chemistry homework. I’d only missed two days of school, but it seemed like I had five days of work to do.
We sat at the kitchen table, hunched over our books, when I heard scurrying outside. I looked up and saw the nose of a hobgoblin pressed against the dining room window.
I sighed. “For the love of shitballs.”
“What?” Chay sat up in his chair. “I smell sulfur.”
“Because we have company.”
We watched the five hobgoblins run through the backyard like kids who’d forgotten to take their Ritalin. I recognized two of the five, Friendly and Scarface. The other three I’d never seen before, although it was hard to tell. They all looked alike.
“What are you doing here?” I yelled to Scarface. He stood in the middle of the yard staring at Chay and me, while the other four goblins ran around him, screeching in their high-pitched voices.
“We bring good tidings of great joy… oh wait, that’s a different story,” he said with a scowl. “We have a message. He said he’ll see you all soon. He’s looking forward to meeting you.”
Friendly ran over and tried to shimmy up Chay’s leg. He kicked him across the yard. The goblin
squealed in delight as he sailed through the air, rolling head over heels.
“Who are you talking about? I’ve met Azazel. You and I keep having this same conversation. Either tell me something I don’t know or go to Hell.”
“I’m just reminding you. He’s here. You know, don’t you? You know who’s going to kill you. You just won’t admit it… it’s true. It’s him.”
“Get outta here.” I walked into the house and slammed the door behind me. The goblins disappeared one by one.
***
Saturday morning. I drummed my fingers on my nightstand, waiting for Chay to answer the phone. It was ten in the morning; I knew he was awake.
“Hi,” he said when he picked up.
“Hey, sleeping in?”
“No, I was just in the living room. Didn’t know the phone was ringing until my dad told me. What’s up?” Chay asked.
“Are you coming for breakfast this morning?”
“I can’t today. I have some chores to do this morning for my dad.”
“Oh. Okay.” Disappointment flooded me. Chay never missed a Saturday breakfast. “Um, Drew and Muriel asked us to go with them to the mall this afternoon. Wanna go?” I thought he’d say yes. We very rarely gave up a chance to spend time together.
“I can’t. Too much homework.”
He’s lying.
“I thought you were all set with homework?”
“I forgot something.” His voice sounded flat, distant.
I twisted my quilt around my finger. “Okay, I guess I’ll tell them another time.”
“Yeah. I gotta go. I’ll talk to you later.” He hung up before I could say anything more. I pulled the phone from my ear and stared at it.
No goodbye, no I love you, no nothing. What’s up with him?
I called Muriel to tell her Chay and I weren’t going to go with her and Drew to the mall. She insisted I go anyway.
“Who cares if he’s not coming? We still want you to,” she whined.
“Muriel, I’d feel like a third wheel.”
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