Chosen Soul

by S Lawrence

  I swallow the rush of emotions. I want to deny it but can’t. I’ve always played more than the others. Men. Women. Both. I have no limits. I’ve been driven by my desires. So the idea of destiny deciding for me... I can’t figure out how I feel about it.

  “My…” he swallows as if in disgust, and I know who he is about to talk about. “Father was...is many things but one thing He always did right was soulmates and destiny. If He created this person for you, then everything you are worrying about will work out.”

  I turn my head to look directly into his ancient eyes and I feel something settle but still I ask the question that is haunting me. “What if He didn’t create them?”

  “Who would have then?” He seems confused at the thought, and I wonder if maybe my idea is completely wrong.

  “I don’t know. I just thought He was gone by then, when Caliel wrote the prophecy.” His brow furrows at my words.

  “Well, some believe every soul was created at once and they all just wait until it is their time to be born,” he says as the elevator slows and then stops.

  “What do you believe?” I ask as the door slides open and the smell of food hits my nose.

  I look around and see Lillian in the kitchen pulling something from the oven. “Perfect timing,” she calls out as she straightens.

  She uses her foot to push the oven door closed and turns, hands wrapped in some ridiculous oven mitts with half naked cowboys on them. Her apron was equally ridiculous with a bare chested man wearing a kilt.

  Luc tries to hide his laughter in a cough but fails miserably.

  “Where in the fucking world did you find those?” I question her.

  “Oh my God, Torryn showed me this website called Etsy. He gave me his credit card and told me to get whatever I want.” She waves her hands up and down her body, glee stamped on her face. “This is just the beginning. I have so much stuff coming. I found you something too.”

  Her maniacal grin frightens me. Why? Because I know I’d never hurt her feelings, so I’ll be wearing something hideous soon.

  “It smells really good.” Luc saves me from lying to her.

  “I made plenty. I wasn’t sure who would be stopping by.” She frowns, looking out the wall of windows, while we both wait to see what she might say. Lillian’s powers have been growing and changing since she died and was brought back. “I…” She shakes her head, turning her face back to us. I hate that she forces a smile. “I just had a feeling but I guess I was wrong.” She turns to get a large spoon, and we both hear her mumble to herself. “The music was so loud. I was so sure.”

  She moves to her right, reaching up to pull plates from the cabinet before turning back to us once more.

  “Sweetheart, you don’t need to worry. We will find her. I will find her.” I move around the island, placing my arm around her shoulder and pulling her close to my side. “I promise.”

  She leans her head against me. “Get off my girl,” Torryn shouts across the room as he emerges from the hall.

  “Torryn.” He grins at me, eyebrows raised. “Shut the hell up.”

  She shakes her head at him but giggles when his gaze stumbles to a halt on her apron. “What is that?”

  “You told me get whatever I want.” She steps away from me and I take her hand, twirling her so he can take it all in.

  “That’s what you chose?” Her grins fades a little until he continues. “I love it. We need to get one with me on it.” He waggles his eyebrows.

  She breaks free and races into his arms. I ignore them and scoop out whatever she has cooked onto a couple plates, pushing one to the King of Hell.

  “Hold on. You need the bread,” she calls out as she unwraps from around Torryn. “Come on, my love.”

  She skips ahead a few steps as he just stands with a dumb look on his face. When he looks at me after a minute, he shrugs.

  “Never gets old. Hard to believe it still, brother.” His voice is pitched so she doesn’t hear it. His words make me swallow hard.

  Luc keeps her attention as we both try to compose ourselves. Evander strolls in, further dividing her attention as Torryn moves in behind her, looking at us over her head. I nod at my friend, my brother, letting go of the aggravation at their behavior.

  “How’d it go tonight, Dagen?” Evander’s voice pulls me from the edge of a deep pit of longing and jealousy.

  “I looked everywhere. Up and down the strip, over and over. Like I told Luc, though, I don’t know what I’m looking for. We only found Lillian because of Caliel. I was going to have a drink but I ended up putting a drunk girl in my car and having Joe take her home.” I shake my head. “She was funny,” I murmur.

  When I look up, they are all staring at me. A couple have forks halfway to their mouths. “What?”

  “She was funny?” Torryn questions as he shoves the fork in his mouth. “Like how?”

  “I don’t know. She said I smelled like burnt brownies or almost burnt.” Lillian’s eyes widen.

  I roll my eyes as all four of them draw a deep breath.

  “I don’t smell anything.” Evander shrugs as he grabs a plate and scoops the food on it. “Well, other than this chicken stuff.”

  “Chicken stuff,” Lillian huffs. “It’s from-scratch chicken pot pie.”

  “It’s delicious, angel.” Torryn glares at boss.

  “I didn’t mean it was bad. I just didn’t know what it was. I’m so sorry, Lillian.”

  “It’s okay, Evander.” She smiles as she elbows Torryn. “I was just kidding.”

  She leans close to me and drags a huge breath into her lungs through her nose. Her eyebrows draw together, and her head tilts to the side slightly.

  “I hadn’t noticed. It’s faint but yeah, just a hint of chocolate.” She exhales as she steps closer.

  Torryn growls as she buries her face against my chest and draws another breath. She doesn’t move but instead shakes her hand behind her back at him. He quiets instantly.

  Luc is watching her closely. Silent.

  Finally, he speaks to her. “Did you ever smell it before? Since you’ve been staying here?”

  She straightens, and I watch as her mind goes over the last few weeks. She turns her face to him. “No.”

  “Never?” She shakes her head at his next question.

  “Never,” she replies, looking back at me, and her eyes widen as she looks back at him once more. “Do you think?”

  “I do.” Myself and the other two left out of their conversation look back and forth between them.

  “Can either of you fucking share?” I bark and she jumps. “Sorry, Lill.”

  She looks up at me, and I see something that makes my stomach tighten. “I think either you saw her tonight or you were at least very close to her. Like close enough to have touched her.”

  “No fucking way.” I can feel my head shaking in denial.

  “I bet it was Funny Girl,” Torryn mumbles around a mouth of pot pie.

  I look at Lucifer and he nods. “She did smell it. I can’t. Neither can the other two with dicks in this room.”

  “Your dad, Luc. Gross.” She waits to see if we get her absolutely terrible joke.

  Luc grimaces, but ever supportive Torryn chuckles. Evander shakes his head. I choose to ignore her and pace away. I understand what Lillian was trying to do but if they are right, I held her in my arms and sent her away.

  Pulling out my phone, I scroll through my contacts until Joe’s name appears. I hit the screen, thinking once again I miss the satisfaction of old phones that you could angrily pound on or even the really old rotary style that you could whip around.

  “Boss?” Joe’s groggy voice pulls my mind away from the rant of phone styles.

  “Joe, I need the address I gave you for the girl.” I can hear him moving in his bed, the rustle of covers, and even the sound of him rubbing his hand over his face and hair as he tries to pull the information from his foggy brain.

  Finally he rattles off the address, and after he finishes
it, he continues, “You need me to bring the car around?”

  He’s a good man. “No, Joe. Go back to bed and take the night off.”

  “You sure, Boss?” I can tell he wants to argue. He has long thought he needs to take care of me. Why, I have no idea.

  “I’m sure, Joe. Spend some time with your family.” I hang up before he can argue more.

  When I turn back to the room, they are all watching me. I stride over to the table where I had thrown my keys yesterday afternoon. Just as I’m picking them up, a small hand wraps around my forearm.

  “Before you race over there, might I suggest just taking a bit of time to figure out what to say?” I stare at her, dumbfounded. Wait? Is she insane? She sees something on my face. “Just hold on. Do you remember what happened after you dropped your bomb on me?”

  Technically, I wasn’t there for the full fallout but I get what she’s saying. The keys clank back down on the dark marble table top.

  “What do you suggest?” I huff out on a breath.

  “Come eat. Take a shower. Rest.” I open my mouth, but she raises her hand. “Dagen. You said she was wasted, so she’s probably unconscious. Would you want some strange man, even if he smells great, busting into your home and telling you that you might be a descendant of Archangels and your destiny is to fight fallen angels?”

  She has a point. I stomp over to the counter and fling myself onto a stool like a sullen toddler. I don’t have to be happy that she’s right. I shovel the food Evander pushes in front of me into my face. It’s good.

  The only sounds for many minutes are silverware hitting ceramic and chewing. Finally, I can take no more.

  “So what should I say?” I’m looking at Lillian. “What would have made it easier for you?” The words suddenly make me feel guilty.

  I hadn’t thought about it, the trauma I might have caused her with my blunt revelation of her destiny.

  “I’m sorry.” Reaching across, I grip her hand in mine, squeezing it before quickly releasing it.

  She’s on her feet in an instant and at my side in the next, wrapping her arms around me. The move doesn’t surprise me at all. Torryn had told me about her hugging… hugging Luc. I mean, who hugs the Devil?

  “It’s alright, Dagen,” she whispers then continues louder, “but I, at least, knew of angels. We must assume she has no idea of angels, other than in the biblical sense.”

  Evander nods in agreement. “Our biggest concern at this moment is keeping the Fallen from locating her.”

  “You have her address. Did you get a name?” Torryn asks as he pushes back from the bar and holds his hand out to Lillian.

  She smiles gently as she finally unwinds her arms from me. I return it and lean down, kissing her hair just before she steps away to take his hand. She lets him pull her in between his legs. He wraps her in his arms, and she rests her head against his chest as she leans back against him.

  “Just her first name. Charlie.” I should have taken more of a look in her bag.

  He kisses Lillian on the side of the neck before squeezing out from behind her. “I should be able to find something.”

  Lillian takes his place on the stool, watching as he strolls across the wide living room and disappearing down the hall. He returns in minutes, his computer in his hand.

  If he can feel our eyes on him as he sits on the couch and leans over the tablet after he places it on the coffee table, he gives no indication. He types and types as screens flash.

  My patience stretches to a breaking point. “Dessert?” Lillian’s voice startles me. I am so hyper focused on Torryn. “I made pie.”

  “It sounds lovely,” Luc responds for us all as he stands and moves to help. I watch as he scoops coffee into the coffee maker. The King of Hell is making coffee. Surreal to say the least.

  Lillian cuts the pie and places a piece on a plate for each of us. The coffee is ready quickly, and as Luc pours it into cups, she gathers milk and sugar from the small refrigerator. I’m surprised at the things now in residence in the small kitchen.

  I always eat at one of the restaurants in the hotel or local places off the strip. She is making this a home. I glance around and notice pillows and blankets I’ve never seen before on the couches. Small things but it no longer feels like a hotel room really.

  A home. A family.

  My jaw clenches and stomach rolls as images of dark blood pooling around their bodies flash through my mind. The last time I had come into a home with a family, that’s what I found.

  The Fallen had found them first.

  Chapter 3

  CHARLIE

  Oh my God, my head.

  Rolling over, I grimace as my stomach heaves, hot acid bubbling up my throat. Please don’t throw up, I chant over and over in my head as I slap my hand over my mouth and squeeze my eyes tightly closed as a sliver of sunlight lands directly on my eyes.

  I think my retinas are seared and my skull is splitting open like Zeus. Maybe a goddess is about to spring out.

  “Oh good, you’re awake.”

  “Stop screaming,” I whisper.

  “I’m not. What happened? You never get drunk and you certainly never let some delicious sounding man send you home in a car.” Cherry’s voice is like a cheese grater rubbing over my brain.

  The edge of the bed dips and just that small movement sets off my stomach. A cold rag touches my forehead, then covers my eyes, and I want to kiss her. Instead I croak out a thank you.

  She forces a glass into my hand, and the smell hits my nose. I shake my head. “Yes, drink it. You know it will help.”

  She’s right, but it smelled like what I imagine a corpse might and it tasted like salty roadkill.

  “Is she awake?” Fuck, are they incapable of talking at a normal level?

  Swallowing at least ten times to prepare myself, I bring the glass to my lips. “It’s best if you just chug it, doll,” Connor says near my head as he lifts the rag from my eyes.

  I blink and try to focus on his face beneath the leftovers of last night’s makeup. He smiles as he uses a finger to tip the glass. I gulp as my stomach heaves over and over.

  Finally, hours later, or so it feels like, the glass is empty. I press my lips together as hard as I can, willing the vomit half up my throat to go away.

  “So?” They are both staring at me, and I push up, taking deep breaths as the rolling in my stomach slows.

  They wait impatiently for me to recover some. The pounding in my head eases slightly, and I release a breath through my mouth. Cherry grimaces as she thrusts back from me.

  “Sorry.” I’m not.

  “I think that breath just melted my falsies.” I smile as she fans in front of her face.

  “That’s because of that shit you made me drink.”

  “No girl, that stuff just saved you.” She raises a brow, daring me to argue.

  “Who cares? Tell me about this man,” Connor demands.

  “What man?” I frown and try to pull up anything from the end of last night, forcing myself to skip over what drove me to drink in the first place. “Hand me the remote.”

  “What man? What man?” Cherry yells. “He used your phone. Called my number to find out your address.”

  “And you gave it to him?” I yell. I grab my head. Shit, that hurt.

  “Umm, yes, you were passed out. Did you want to stay with him?” I’ve hurt her feelings.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.” I have a moment of clarity and I can almost picture him. “He smelled so good.”

  “Really? Like what, exactly?” They both lean in.

  “It sounds stupid now, but all I could think of was brownies that were baked just a little too long.” I roll my eyes at my own words.

  “Ooo, like chocolate and fire.” Connor’s eyes glaze over a bit. “And where did you meet him?”

  “The Rosina at the Venetian.” They wait for more details; I don’t really have any to give.

  Cherry’s head tilts to one side after a minute
and she pops the gum that is ever present in her mouth. “Why were you there? You don’t ever go to the strip after a show.”

  Connor glances between us, and even though he doesn’t say anything, I can feel the concern coming off him in waves. He’s the first person I met when I got here. He got me a job at Flex when he convinced them to let me sing. He might not know why but he knows I was running.

  I can’t tell them.

  I push the power button on the remote I’m still holding, and the twelve o’clock news is on.

  “What in the world?” Connor is staring past Cherry. “That’s Flex.” His head swivels back to me slowly. “Were you there?”

  I shake my head as tears threaten. The news anchor is speaking.

  “The murder happened around midnight, the police think. They aren’t sure of the motive, but the gruesome nature has caused them to issue a warning. It is unclear if it was a hate crime, but one officer did comment that the killer had been vicious. We will keep you informed of any updates as we get them.”

  The screen changes back to the studio and the anchor at the desk says something about tragedy, but I’m not listening. Instead the memories from last night are roaring in my head.

  I hear Connor speaking and realize he’s on the phone. I didn’t even notice he had gotten up, but now he’s in the hallway right outside my door.

  “Cherry. Cherry?” She shakes her head and looks at me.

  “Sorry. I just… That could have been you.” It should have been.

  “Could you give me a few minutes? I want to shower.” She nods, standing slowly before bending at the waist and wrapping me in her arms for a very quick, very tight hug.

  I stay on the bed until she closes the door. When I hear the latch click, I push up, crossing the room to the bathroom. I turn on the shower and while the water heats, I return to the bed. Leaning over, I brace a hand on the mattress as I reach underneath. I find the bag I put there when I moved in and drag it out.

  I had hoped I wouldn’t need it again or at least, not so soon.

  It’s time to go.

  I won’t lead them to another family.