Milayna's Angel

by Michelle K. Pickett

  Momentarily distracted, I lost the connection with the demi-demon’s thoughts. He walked toward the hole, jabbing at me, forcing me to back up. He pushed me closer and closer to the pit. I could feel the heat, hear the screams and moans of the damned. The smell made me gag. The guy threw a punch, I ducked under his arm and sidestepped, turning from the pit. He tripped over the mound of dirt surrounding it and fell in. I cringed at his screams as he fell.

  I glanced at the house and drew in a sharp breath. Edward was on the porch, trying to force his way into the house. He hit my mother hard across the face, and she fell to the ground, dazed. He darted into the house. I ran after him, but the demi-demon who’d fallen into the hole crawled out and grabbed my ankle, tripping me.

  I heard more screaming from the house, and knew I needed to help defend it from Edward. Rolling to my back, I kicked the guy holding my ankle hard on the side of the head. He went down. I heard another scream, and my gaze swung to the house. Benjamin. Edward was pulling him to the pit. His strides were faster and longer. Ben couldn’t keep up. Edward dragged him behind him. Ben tried to pull away, his small hands pushing at Edward’s larger, stronger ones.

  “Daddy!” Ben screamed, tears running down his face.

  I quickly looked around. My dad was fighting off a much younger demi-demon and having trouble doing it. The side of his face was bleeding and he held his side, his face distorted in pain.

  I heard Benjamin scream again, a long, high-pitched wail followed by sobs. He kicked and pulled away from Edward, but a seven-year-old was no match for the much older and stronger demi-demon.

  Edward bent down to hand Benjamin to the demon waiting in the opening of the pit. I jumped up, slipped, but caught myself before I fell. Running toward the hole, I grabbed at the dagger strapped to my ankle as I went. I lunged myself at the pit, sliding on my stomach across the slippery snow toward the glowing hole, the dagger in my hand.

  Chay saw Edward with Benjamin and kicked Jake so hard in the gut that they both fell to the ground. Chay rolled toward the pit, his arms outstretched. Edward let go of Benjamin. The demon’s arms wrapped around him. I skidded to a stop. Chay grabbed Ben’s arms just as I stabbed the demon’s shoulder with the dagger. It howled in pain before it disappeared in a plume of black ash.

  Ben dangled over the glowing, yellow pit. Another pair of sickly gray arms reached up and grabbed his feet. Chay tried to roll away from the hole, pulling Benjamin with him. But lying on his back in the slippery snow and mud, he couldn’t get any leverage. The demon yanked at Ben, causing Chay to slide closer to the pit’s opening. Ben screamed my name.

  “Hurry, Milayna,” Chay said through gritted teeth.

  I bent the top part of my body into the pit and stabbed the second demon in the side, killing it. Chay rolled away from the pit’s opening, taking Ben with him. They were safe. I still dangled head-first in the opening leading straight to Hell. A third demon crawled up the side of the pit, a grotesque smile on its face.

  “We’ve been waiting for you, Milayna,” it hissed through its dagger-like teeth. “It’s time to come home.”

  I held up the dagger, turning it in my hand so the yellow glow of Hell’s fire sparkled off the jewels. A rainbow colored the sides of the pit. The demon screamed at the sight of the dagger and backed away.

  I felt someone pulling me out of the hole. Slowly, they dragged me up and away from the demon. I kept the dagger in plain sight, and it stayed frozen in place while I was pulled to safety.

  A scream sounded from the pit. The earth began to shake and the dirt moved. The mounds fell like invisible hands were pushing them, filling in the pit. Little by little, the glowing, yellow depths disappeared, taking the demons with it.

  The fight was over. It was meant to distract us so the demons could grab Benjamin. They failed. There was no reason to keep fighting, so the pit filled and the demi-demons and Evils melded into the black night.

  Chay carried Ben into the house. My dad ran to my mother and helped her into the house. The rest of us filed inside behind them. Uncle Rory rushed to my aunt, whose face was bleeding where Edward clocked her after pushing past my mother and into the house.

  “Milayna,” Ben cried and reached out to me. I took him from Chay and cradled him to me. He cried against my shoulder. For every one of his tears that fell, I grew angrier and my resolve strengthened.

  Abaddon is gonna pay for what he’s doing to my family. Even if I have to fight for the rest of my life, I will kill him.

  25

  My Murderer

  Saturday morning, we all gathered around the kitchen table at Muriel’s house. We were having our traditional family breakfast. My mom and aunt made a huge meal of omelets and fresh fruit. I’d just plopped a large omelet on my plate and sat down next to Ben—who hadn’t left my side since the fight the night before—when the doorbell rang.

  “I’ll get it,” I said. Ben grabbed my hand. I bent and kissed the top of his head. “I’ll be right back, frog freckle.”

  “’Kay,” he said, letting go of me.

  I opened the door and froze.

  What in the world is he doing here?

  “You don’t look too bad this morning. I thought you’d be more banged up.” He smiled.

  “You look like Hell,” I said.

  He laughed. I loved that sound.

  “Are you having your traditional breakfast this morning?” Chay asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Can I stay?”

  “Why?” I blurted.

  “I wanted to check on Benjamin. I thought I could play some video games with him.”

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea, Chay. It isn’t even our house.”

  He hooked his thumbs through the belt loops on his faded jeans and looked down at his feet. A lock of hair fell over his forehead, and my hand automatically started to reach out to smooth it back in place. I stopped before I touched him. Fisting my fingers, I put my hand behind my back.

  “You’re probably right. Will you tell him—?”

  “Chay!” Ben yelled and threw himself at Chay in a huge hug. “C’mon, we’re having breakfast.” Benjamin pulled at Chay’s hand.

  Chay hesitated. He looked at me and shook his head. “I can’t—”

  “He can’t wait to beat you in that new video game you got,” I said with a smile. I moved to let Chay pass.

  “Thanks,” he whispered when he walked by.

  I shrugged. “I did it for Ben.” After the night Ben had, I was willing to do just about anything for him.

  Everyone was happy to see Chay, and my mother immediately set a plate in front of him piled high with food. I was the only one confused by his appearance. He ate and talked with everyone, laughing and joking like nothing was wrong. Like he belonged. Like he never broke my heart.

  After breakfast, he played video games with Benjamin most of the afternoon. I tried to stay clear of him, but Ben wouldn’t let me out of his sight, so I was forced to spend the day with Chay—the one I loved but who didn’t love me. The one who kissed me until my head spun and I couldn’t see straight, and then told me it was a mistake. The one I hated… loved. The one who confused the hell out of me.

  The one who had visions of killing me.

  Finally, when we were getting ready to sit down for dinner, Chay told Ben he had to leave.

  “Can’t you stay and eat with us?” Ben asked.

  “You’re more than welcome to stay,” my aunt chimed in.

  No, he’s not!

  “I can’t. My grandparents are coming over for dinner tonight, but thank you.”

  “Bummer,” Ben muttered.

  Yay!

  “Milayna, walk me out?”

  Ugh. You know where the door is.

  “Sure.” I walked beside him to the door, trying not to inhale in his direction. He smelled so good. I tried not to look at him. He looked amazing. I tried not to look at his arms. They felt so good around me. I tried not to glance at his lips. They caressed m
y skin like silk. I tried not to think about how great he was with Ben. How he’d played game after game with him that afternoon. My heart softened a little toward him, and I found it hard to remember why I was mad at him. “Thanks,” I muttered. It nearly killed me to have to thank him.

  “For what?”

  I shrugged. “Being so good with Benjamin.”

  “He had a rough night. I thought it might take his mind off things.”

  “Yeah.” I stood with my hands in my pockets, rising forward on the balls of my feet before leaning back.

  Chay grabbed my arm, pulling me outside with him. He guided me away from the door and out of sight of the window. Cupping my face in his hands, he kissed me. I closed my eyes and felt his fingers thread through my hair. His tongue grazed my lips—I leaned into him.

  “Whatcha doin’, Milayna?” Friendly asked. My two hobgoblin buddies sat on the chairs beside us on the porch.

  The spell broken, I turned my head away from Chay. He let his hands fall away and muttered a curse.

  “Another mistake,” I bit out, throwing his words from Monday night back at him.

  “No,” he said.

  “Then what?”

  He rubbed his hands up and down his face. “I don’t know. I can’t be with you, but I can’t stay away.”

  “You are so confusing, Chay. You can’t have it both ways. You either want to be with me or you don’t.”

  He reached out and picked up the chain around my neck, pulling it until the ring slipped over the collar of my sweatshirt. “I saw this the other night. And I knew then that I wanted you. And as mad as you are at me… you want me too. I don’t like being apart, Milayna. I wish things could be different.”

  “What things?”

  “I… it’s me—”

  “Oh, don’t give me that ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ crap. If you’re going to tell me there’s no chance for us, then at least come up with a better excuse than that.”

  “I have my reasons,” he said, and I shoved his arm away.

  “Milayna,” Friendly called.

  “What?” I snapped.

  “Wanna play?”

  “No.”

  “Abaddon does,” Scarface said. “He’s here. It’s time. Right, Chay?”

  “Go back to Hell,” Chay ground out, taking a step toward the hobgoblins. They disappeared with a laugh.

  “What was that about?”

  “I don’t know.” Chay rubbed his hand over the back of his head. I knew he was lying. Whatever was going on with him was about to come to an end. Whatever he was hiding was about to be revealed.

  Is he working for Abaddon? Is he the one the goblins keep telling me is coming? Is he the one Abaddon sent to kill me?

  ***

  That night, Rod and Jake stood in the shadows, staring at the house like they had nearly every night. I stood at the picture window, looking back at them. I had been sleeping soundly—no nightmares for a change—but something woke me. I knew they’d be there. I could sense their presence. Evil.

  Chay was also out there. I could hear the boards creak as he paced the porch. I watched him walk by the window. He didn’t know I was there, or if he did, he didn’t acknowledge me.

  Walking to the door, I unlocked it. I knew it was a bad idea, but I wanted to be with him. After the warnings of the hobgoblins, I should’ve known not to let him in. I ignored the part of my brain that told me I was being an idiot and stuck my head out the storm door.

  “Chay. Come inside.”

  He looked at me so long that I thought he was going to say no, but he nodded once and walked to the door. I moved so he could walk inside without touching me.

  “Thanks. It’s freezing out there.”

  I shut the door after him and sat down on the couch. He followed, sitting next to me. Our thighs brushed against each other. I turned to tell him to scoot over—there was plenty of room on the couch, so he didn’t need to sit so close to me. But that wasn’t what I did. Instead, when I looked at him, I reached out, grabbed his face, and pulled it to me. I kissed him—he kissed back.

  My hands dropped from his face to his shoulders, sliding down his arms and down his thighs. He groaned and leaned forward, putting his hand behind my neck, holding me to him.

  “Chay…” I sighed when he placed an openmouthed kiss on my neck, his tongue gliding across my skin.

  I pulled back, getting on my knees. Moving myself onto his lap, I put one leg on each side of him. I lowered myself against him. I could feel him against me, leaving no question what his body craved from me. Pushing his shirt up, I ran my fingers over his chest, lower to his abs, and lower still, pulling a low groan from him.

  Our kisses grew bolder, harder, almost desperate. He skimmed his hands under my shirt and up my spine, before moving them around me and skimming his fingertips against the sides of my breasts. I gasped and shivered.

  His mouth never left mine. Cupping my rear, he rolled me onto my back. He leaned over me, kissing me deeply, his tongue slipping between my lips and tangled with mine. His hand ran up and down the inside of my leg. It tickled in all the right places and I arched toward him, losing myself in the haze of longing, wanting him to keep kissing me, touching me… and then I felt the click of a snap and reality slammed into me, stealing my breath.

  I knew I was in trouble.

  I scrambled out from under him, falling on the floor. Standing, I backed away. I should have screamed, but my voice wouldn’t work. Maybe it was shock or disbelief. Either way, I stood staring at him as he slowly climbed off the couch, my dagger in his hand.

  It happened much like in my visions. He advanced on me, the dagger twirling in his hand. Light from the streetlights outside glinted off the blade.

  “Chay,” I whispered.

  His eyes were vacant, glazed over like a drug addict high on his poison of choice. He didn’t acknowledge me.

  “Chay,” I yelled, trying to break through the trance-like state he was in. He blinked. A flash of recognition sparked in his eyes before they dulled, and he continued taking small steps toward me.

  My eyes dropped to the knife and back to his. “You don’t have to do this. Fight it, Chay. Fight the vision.”

  Nothing.

  His movements were methodical, almost robotic. It wasn’t Chay. Something was driving him, something stronger than a normal vision. A demi-angel’s visions were designed to protect, not to harm. This was something different.

  “I’m sorry, Milayna,” he said quietly. “It has to be this way.”

  I shook my head and licked my dry lips. “No, no, it doesn’t. You don’t want to do this.”

  “I have to.”

  “Why?”

  “He says it must be done, and I’m the one that has to do it.”

  “You can fight him. You’re stronger than Abaddon,” I screamed. I backed up as he walked closer and closer to me. The knife was aimed at my gut.

  I stumbled into the wall behind me. He turned the knife over and over in his hand. I watched closely. He wasn’t gripping the knife as it turned; it was lying in the palm of his hand. I hit his arm and knocked it out of his grasp. He looked at the knife lying on the floor. His face filled with rage.

  He backhanded me across the face before shoving me hard against the wall. My head bounced off it with a thud. With one hand pressing my shoulder against the wall, he leaned his hip against me, pinning me. He put his forearm over my throat and pressed, choking me. My chest burned, and my head was pounding to the beat of my heart, which was racing in my chest. Clawing at his arms, I tried to push them away. I reached for his face, but his arms were too long, I couldn’t reach far enough to do any damage. My head started to swim and stars blinked in front of my eyes.

  I reached my hand toward the dagger lying on the floor. It vibrated. I could feel the electrical shocks run through my fingers as I focused my power on the dagger. It flew from the floor and straight into my hand. I gripped it tightly.

  I can’t stab him.

&n
bsp; My blood rushed behind my ears, and the stars floating across my vision grew. My time was running out. I sliced the blade of the knife across Chay’s forearm.

  Looking down at the blood oozing from the cut, he swore. He pressed against my throat even harder, and I felt myself weakening. My attempts to fight him grew clumsy. The dagger slipped from my limp fingers.

  The room started to gray out around the edges. The graying got bigger and bigger until I could only see a small circle. In it, I saw Chay’s face as he strangled me, as he watched me die.

  I heard my dad yell for Chay to stop, just as his arm was ripped from my neck. I took in large gulps of air, bending over so I didn’t pass out.

  “Milayna! Are you okay?” my dad yelled.

  My hand at my throat, I nodded. When I looked up, I saw my dad behind Chay, his arms locked around Chay’s, pulling them behind him. Uncle Rory stood in front of Chay, his hands on his shoulders, pushing him back. Chay’s eyes never left mine as he fought against my dad and uncle.

  “Fight it.” My voice cracked. “Fight the vision.”

  I walked to where he struggled against my dad and uncle, placing my hands on either side of his face. He stopped struggling, still looking into my eyes.

  “Chay, I love you,” I whispered. “Fight. You’re stronger than him.”

  I felt electricity build along my nerve endings and move toward Chay. It reached out to him. I kept my gaze on his. I wanted to create a bridge. I needed to know what was in his head—what he was feeling. The surge poked around his face and chest, looking for a point of contact. I gritted my teeth.

  Damn it! I’m looking him dead in the eyes. This should work.

  Still, the pulse moved around his face, searching but finding nothing.

  “Do you hear me? I love you. You’re stronger than this.” I gave his head a small shake to emphasize my point.

  He looked at me and blinked. For the briefest second, I saw the real Chay break through. The electrical pulse grabbed onto him. His emotions slammed into me: Confusion. Love. Fear.