Jeremy (Broken Angel #4)

by L. G. Castillo

  “I see you like it very much.” He laughed, rubbing his cheek. “I’d love to give you more, but I have other business to attend to. Think about what I said, Jeremiel. And the invitation stands for you, too, Gabrielle. You won’t be taken for granted when you’re with me.”

  Jeremy rushed to Gabrielle the moment he was released.

  “Are you okay?”

  Gabrielle stood silent next to him, watching Saleos and his brothers disappear into the sky. Her fingers lightly touched her lips.

  “Gabrielle?”

  She shook her head then turned to him. Her face twisted into a scowl.

  “You’ll not speak of this. Is that clear?”

  “Of course not. None of this ever happened.” Not the kiss. Not the video. Not the moment’s hesitation when he thought of Saleos’s offer.

  “They’ve become more powerful. I saw you struggling. I meant no offence by checking in on you.”

  “None taken. I’m glad you did.”

  “I’ll leave you to your duty.” She looked at Welita, and her eyes softened for a moment as she watched her playing with Naomi’s niece. “He’s tempting you. Evil will always find a way to tempt us. You have to fight it. Don’t let the darkness in, Jeremiel.”

  23

  “Uncle Lalo! Uncle Lalo! There’s one over there,” Emma squealed.

  Jeremy pushed thoughts of Saleos and his brothers away as he watched Emma, her red hair flying, chasing after a blinking dot of light. Her high-pitched giggles warmed his heart. He didn’t want to think of the entire day he’d wasted with those assholes. His plan to spend the day with the Durans had been stolen from him. He wanted to focus on the family’s laughter, smiles, and the love shining in their eyes as they talked and ate. These were the memories people held on to when grief took over. People found solace through those memories, and he hoped he would too.

  “Ooh, look, there’s more.” Emma ran past him to a group of fireflies flittering near the tree swing.

  She couldn’t see him anymore. It was bittersweet. On the one hand, it meant she was growing up, but on the other, she wouldn’t see him until it was time for her to go to the other side. He remembered the first time he’d seen Emma sitting on Megan’s lap in a field of wildflowers and holding on to a teddy bear. The adorable girl hadn’t been afraid when she’d seen him in his angel form. She’d flashed a smile, asking if he wanted to take a picture with her.

  He was so relieved that Emma’s burn scars were barely noticeable. Smiling, he thought of the gift his father had given him. Only the archangel of healing had enough power to make those scars disappear. After Lash’s binding ceremony, Lash had pulled him aside and told him of Raphael’s visit with Emma. Raphael had done it to honor a son he thought he’d lost in the Lake of Fire, knowing it would’ve been what he would’ve wanted.

  The night her mother’s house exploded due to a gas leak had been one of the hardest for him. He’d known he shouldn’t have rushed into the house to help them. Naomi’s cries for her brave cousin, who’d rushed into the burning house to save Emma, had torn at his heart. He’d convinced himself that he wasn’t there for Chuy. It hadn’t been Chuy’s time just yet.

  When he’d found Chuy passed out on the floor with his body thrown over Emma’s, it had taken all of his willpower to stop from changing to his human form and carrying them both out. His chest had raged with anguish when he’d seen burns all over her chubby little hands and arms.

  Lalo ran across the yard, waving what looked like a homemade net tied to a stick.

  “I almost got it. I got—” He swished the net down, then smiled triumphantly. “Aha!”

  The firefly flittered away.

  “No way!” Lalo cried.

  “Hurry, Uncle Lalo! It’s getting away!” Emma squealed again.

  Jeremy chuckled as he watched Lalo chase after the bug, swinging the homemade net wildly.

  “Gotcha,” Lalo said as he made one final swing.

  “Let me see.” Emma peered into the net. “We did it! We got one, Aunt Megan.”

  She skipped to the porch, her face beaming.

  “I’ll get a jar for you. You can put the firefly in there,” Megan said. “Chuy, finish cleaning Little Naomi, she’s a mess.”

  Megan placed the toddler on Chuy’s lap along with a box of baby wipes.

  “No problem. Lalo, bring me the hose.” He tugged on Little Naomi’s shirt.

  “Ay, no! Que loco.” Welita leaned over and whacked him on the head.

  “Don’t you dare.” Megan whacked him on the other side of his head.

  “Ow! Okay, okay. I won’t. But hosing her off is faster. Look at her. She looks like she swam in the barbecue sauce.” He held the toddler at arm’s length. Sauce covered her face, arms, and there was even some in her hair. “Besides, she liked it last time.”

  Megan scowled. “That’s the problem. She liked it too much. Now she strips every time Welita and I water the plants.”

  “Oops.” Chuy chuckled.

  Megan rolled her eyes.

  “I love you,” he said as she walked into the house.

  “Look at my firefly, Welita.” Emma took the net from Chuy and held it out for her to see.

  Welita’s brown eyes peered through her glasses. “How pretty, mijita. Your aunt Naomi used to love to catch—what is this?”

  She reached out and felt the material of the homemade net in her hand. Her eyes darted to Lalo.

  “It’s, uh . . .” Lalo took a few steps back, slowly making his way off the porch. “It’s pantyhose.”

  “Where did you get them?”

  Lalo looked to Chuy, who was suddenly very busy cleaning Little Naomi.

  “Your room,” Emma chirped.

  “Chuy told me take them!” Lalo cried.

  “It’s for the kids, Welita. They wanted to catch fireflies and we needed a net.”

  Calmly, Welita leaned over and covered Emma’s ears. She glared at Chuy.

  Chuy’s eyes widened. He gulped and covered the squirming toddler’s ears.

  There was a beat of silence. Then Spanish flew out of Welita’s mouth. Jeremy wished he’d taken up more of the language. He had no clue what she was saying. But by the expression on Chuy’s face, it was probably good that he didn’t understand.

  Chuy apologized profusely. He elbowed Lalo, and Lalo apologized too. When Megan came back outside with an empty jar and saw the net was made from Welita’s pantyhose, they both apologized again.

  Jeremy laughed the entire time. Their faces were just so funny. He couldn’t remember when he’d last laughed so hard.

  It was then Little Naomi turned and looked in his direction. Bright blue eyes framed by curly lashes peered out into the darkness. She tilted her head as she stared at him curiously.

  She can see me.

  Her sauce-stained lips curled into a smile.

  “Come on, messy girl. You need a bath.” Megan scooped her up.

  Little Naomi waved her hand as Megan carried her back into her house.

  Pain ripped through Jeremy’s chest at the simple gesture. Slowly, he waved back at the toddler. In a matter of hours, everything was going to change for this happy and loving family. He would be the one to shatter them. He wished he could warn them what was to come, to give them a chance to say goodbye.

  He looked at Welita. She studied Little Naomi as she waved. Her body stiffened for a moment as she peered into the dark yard in his direction. Relaxing, she nodded and let out a breath. Slowly, she closed her eyes and muttered a prayer.

  She couldn’t see him, yet she sensed his presence. She knew the end was near.

  Jeremy remembered the words he’d told Naomi so long ago. How brave people were the moment before their death. He didn’t think he could be brave like that. When the time had come to face his own death as he’d pulled Lucifer into the Lake of Fire, he hadn’t thought about himself. All he could think about was keeping his brother safe.

  In Welita’s muttered prayers, he heard her asking to k
eep her family safe, praying that her family would not be lost to grief and would be happy.

  And as she continued her prayers, he quietly asked for strength to do what he needed to do.

  * * *

  The ticking made Jeremy want to scream.

  An old-fashioned alarm clock sat on Welita’s nightstand, clicking off the last seconds of her life. Dread built up inside of him with each tick until he felt like he was going to explode.

  He wanted to leave.

  He couldn’t.

  He wanted to cry out.

  He couldn’t.

  Caged in by duty, he stood at the foot of Welita’s bed for hours, watching her sleep. Moonlight streamed onto the bed from the window. Our Lady of Guadalupe candles next to the clock flickered. She looked so peaceful, white hair laid loose across the pillow, thin brown arms folded over her stomach. Her tiny chest rose and fell steadily. He stared at the crucifix necklace around her neck. She’d pulled it out of her pocket and put it on before she’d settled into her bed.

  Everything around her was a reminder of what was important in her life. Photos of her loved ones lined the walls: school photos of Naomi and Chuy from first grade all the way to Naomi’s college graduation; photos of Megan and Chuy’s wedding; a tear-streaked Chuy wearing hospital scrubs, holding baby Naomi; Emma dressed up in an angel costume . . .

  Angel.

  His fists tightened as he fought the urge to scream. The weight of his duty was crushing him.

  He closed his eyes, shutting out reminders of the life she’d lived and focusing on her steady breathing. Welita had so much life in her. She could’ve easily lived another ten or even twenty years. He’d seen many live into their hundreds. She was so good and faithful. Surely, she could have been blessed with many more years with her family.

  Why now? Of all the people in the world, why her? Why—?

  Jeremy’s eyes flashed open. Welita had stopped breathing.

  He watched her chest, willing it to move as the clock marked the seconds.

  Tick.

  Tick.

  Tick.

  Welita sucked in a strangled breath.

  Tears filled his eyes as her breathing slowed, her chest barely moving.

  She had only minutes.

  He went to her side and sank onto the edge of the bed beside her. Hovering his hands over hers, he whispered, “I wish we could’ve met under different circumstances. I wish I could take you to live with Naomi. I wish you could say goodbye.”

  Leaning over her frail body, he kissed the air above her forehead.

  He choked back a sob when her breathing became ragged.

  It’s time.

  Ever so slowly, he stood as if he could hold on to the time rushing past him. His wings unfolded from his body as he lifted his hands. Feather by feather, his wings emerged. He raised his arms, palms facing upward. Inch by inch, he lifted them, spreading them outward until they extended out with his wings.

  He sucked in a breath at the winged shadow on the wall. The shadow wings could have belonged to an angel or demon, there was no way to distinguish them. And in that moment, as he watched Welita’s life force fade away, he wasn’t sure which one he was.

  He jerked back when another pair of shadow wings suddenly appeared next to his. A hand latched onto his shoulder. His feet disappeared from under him as he was shoved him away from the bed. He stumbled backward onto the floor.

  “Jeremy, stop!”

  He gazed up at Naomi. Wild eyes locked with his as she placed herself between him and her grandmother.

  “If you ever loved me, you’ll leave. Now.”

  24

  “Naomi.”

  One word. Her name. It was all Jeremy could say as he gazed into her distraught face. His face filled with raw emotion. She finally saw the truth. He loved her.

  “Please, Jeremy. Let me save her. I can do it.”

  She folded her wings into her body and turned to Welita. She hovered her hands over Welita’s chest, murmuring healing words he’d heard Raphael use so many times.

  “Welita, please, keep breathing. Don’t go. Chuy needs you. Little Naomi and Emma need you.”

  Jeremy stood and walked over to Naomi. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she kept moving her hands over her dying grandmother. Welita was almost gone.

  “Naomi,” his voice croaked.

  “No!” She jerked his hand off her shoulder and angrily brushed the tears from her eyes.

  “She can’t leave. It’s too soon. I won’t be able to see her anymore. I’m not letting you take her away from me. Her family needs her. Don’t you understand?”

  “I do,” he said softly.

  “Then help me. Why isn’t this working? What am I doing wrong?” Her voice was frantic.

  “Seraphs don’t have the power to heal, only archangels. You gave up being an archangel.”

  “I’ll be an archangel, then. I want it back!”

  “It doesn’t work that way.”

  “Why not?” Furious, tear-stained eyes flicked to his. “What’s the use of any of us having angelic powers and not being able to use them? She’s . . . she’s . . .”

  A cold settled in his chest as he watched her struggle to say the dreaded word. Her body shook until finally anguish washed over her face and she broke. “She’s dying, Jeremy. Please, help me save her. Please, you’re an archangel. You can do it. Help her.”

  Her shoulders shook harder when he placed his hands gently over hers and moved them away from Welita.

  “I can’t. My healing powers are limited. I’d give the world to you if I could.”

  He would give her anything. He just couldn’t give her this.

  Dark, wet lashes slowly lifted. Pained eyes gazed into his.

  “This is my world, Jeremy. She is my world. Don’t you understand?”

  “I’m sorry, Naomi.”

  “Of course you don’t.” She snatched her hands out of his. “You don’t know what it feels like to suffer. You’ve always had the world at your feet, whether it was on Heaven or Earth. Everyone loves you. You expect it to just come to you. You’ve never had to fight for it.”

  He did know suffering. He wanted to fight for her. But to fight for her would mean he’d have to fight Lash.

  “Don’t just stand there! Do something!” She slapped his chest. “Do something! Do something!”

  She railed against his chest as she continued to cry for him to stop Welita from dying. His heart breaking, he pulled her into his arms and held her tight.

  There was a sudden whoosh of air, and Lash appeared in the bedroom. Before he could take Naomi, Lash paused in front of the bed startled. Hazel eyes gazed down at Welita. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed thickly.

  Jeremy wished Lash didn’t have to see this. He knew how much Lash had loved Welita, too.

  Tearing himself away from the bed, Lash went to Naomi and gently place his hand on her shoulder. “Naomi.”

  Jeremy hesitated before releasing her, knowing it would be the last time Naomi would let him near her. When he finally let her go, she immediately flew into Lash’s embrace.

  “I can’t do it, Lash. I don’t have the power to bring her back. I’m losing her. Go get Raphael. He’ll do it for you. I know he will,” she said, sobbing into his chest.

  “My love, look at me.” He lifted her head, then cupped her face between his hands. “I love Welita too. I don’t want to lose her either. But—”

  “No . . . Please, Lash. I . . . I can’t . . . I can’t—”

  Welita let out a moan. In an instant, Lash and Naomi rushed to her side.

  “Hold on, Welita. I know you can hear me. I know you can,” Naomi said. “Lash is getting help. Welita?”

  Welita’s chest lifted and slowly lowered. It lifted once more.

  The room stilled as they waited. The clock ticked away the final seconds of a life that would be mourned by all who knew and loved her—Naomi, Chuy, Lalo, Megan, Emma, Lash, and so many more.

  A final
breath rushed out of Welita. Then . . .

  Nothing.

  The clock ticked on.

  “NO! WELITA! NO!”

  Lash held on to Naomi tightly as she reached out her hand to Welita, wailing.

  “Don’t leave! Come back! Come back!”

  Jeremy fought against the crushing weight on his chest. It was agony, pure agony, seeing Naomi and Lash suffer so much. He wanted to go to them and hold them both. He wanted to bring whatever comfort he could. What could he say? His mind swarmed with the words people told each other when a loved one died: She’s in a better place. She lived a long life. But there wasn’t anything he could say that would ease their pain.

  He shifted uncomfortably. He had a job to do. Pushing away the ache in his chest, he called out to his brother.

  “Lash.”

  Red-rimmed eyes looked to him. Understanding what was being asked of him, Lash nodded and carefully moved Naomi to give Jeremy space.

  Naomi buried her head in his chest, fingers digging into Lash’s back as she held onto him. Lash kissed the top of her head and then nodded to Jeremy again.

  Taking a shaky breath, Jeremy flicked his hand. Wind rushed through the room, extinguishing the candlelight.

  “Don’t, Jeremy. Please.”

  He gritted his teeth at Naomi’s heartbreaking plea and pushed himself forward. He had to complete his job. It was too late for Welita. He had to help her to the other side.

  Waving his hand, a small sphere of light appeared in the corner of the room. As he twirled his hand, the sphere grew larger and brighter until the blue-white light filled the room.

  Naomi let out a whimper when he positioned himself in front of Welita. Holding out his hand, palms up, in front of him, he slowly raised them. He murmured ancient words he hadn’t used in a long time. He couldn’t save Welita for Naomi. But this one thing, this he could do.

  As he continued to murmur, a translucent replica of Welita’s body emerged. It hovered over the bed for a moment before it slowly drifted to Naomi.

  Jeremy smiled when he saw Lash’s eyes widen. Welita appeared strong and vibrant. The way she’d looked when Lash had first met her.