by A. J. Norris
“Wasn’t talking to you.”
You must comply or die.
“What are you talking about?” he growled.
Fail and you’ll find out. Veronica is no more. Amalya got away…Julia slips further and further from your grasp.
The deep voice he’d always considered to be male now sounded feminine.
“Get out of my head!” he bellowed. Several of his more sensitive females whimpered and covered their ears. Suzie screamed for another reason.
CHAPTER
FORTY-FOUR
Julia
“What am I going to do with you?” he’d said.
Julia could think of a lot of things Raz could do to her. “You can do anything you want to me.”
Ra’zael smiled and looked heavenward. A heady chuckle left his throat. “Anything? You may want to reconsider that statement.”
All sorts of scenarios danced around inside her mind, things involving rope and leather. Fantasies, yes, but fun to think about. “Uhhh…”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” The angel laughed quietly. She eased back into the seat and decided to change the subject; after all, he’d just taken her virginity. No sense in being greedy.
“Why are your wings gray?” she asked. “Do you have Abaddon’s poison in you?”
“Taint. I never allowed him to kiss me, and as far as I know he didn’t.” He shrugged. “Wings get dingy for lots of reasons. Probably because I was in Netherworld so long. I did bad shit.”
“Yeah, but to bad people, right?”
“Mostly.”
“Like what?”
Raz made an aggravated sounding growl. “Arghh…Julia. What’s this obsession you have with wanting to know the specifics? I thought I was a demon and acted accordingly.”
“Just curious.” She shoved her hands inside the front pouch pocket of her sweatshirt. The wad of cash from the Demon Ruler burned her palms. Julia took deep breaths as guilt panged her black heart. She focused on Raz’s chest and tried to match his breathing pattern—steady and rhythmic. Only his inhales and exhales were too long and the train car started spinning.
“You all right?”
Her head bobbled. “Hm…wha…”
“I asked if you were all right.”
“F-Fine…don’t I l-look all righ…” Julia’s words slurred and trailed off.
She woke up cradled in his arms. For someone who didn’t like to be touched, he certainly did a lot of touching. Not being able to resist, she reached up with her hand to cup his cheek. He veered his head away.
“Don’t,” he snapped.
Her bottom lip quivered. Why did she care? She was a monster.
He looked over his shoulder at the chair next to him. “Sorry,” he mumbled.
“What was that…that sounded like an apology,” Julia said softly. He guided her head to his chest and she sighed.
“What’s going to happen after we find the amulet?” My amulet.
“What do you mean?” he asked and relaxed his head back on the seat. “Let’s worry about getting the necklace back first then we’ll talk afterward.”
I can’t talk later; I have to kill you.
Julia wasn’t planning to murder him. At least, she hoped she wouldn’t have to if they got the amulet back. The possessor of the talisman was invincible. She pictured the markings carved into the metal. Chad thought they were Druidic in origin. What an idiot. Sold it to a museum!
Julia needed to be careful though. Ra’zael wanted to destroy the medallion, not wear the thing around his neck. He would never let her keep it. Her gaze flipped up to his face; his eyes were closed.
“You know there’s a good chance we’ll have to steal the amulet.”
“That’s not a problem. I’m more worried about Maurice’s guys showing up,” he said.
She snorted. “You can count on that.”
***
The conductor made an announcement the train would be pulling into Union Station in five minutes. Julia nudged Ra’zael awake.
He yawned. “Are we there yet?”
She grinned. She and her twin used take turns asking that every summer on the way to the campgrounds to annoy their father. “Yes, come on.”
They ambled up the aisle and exited the train at the end of the platform. Julia’s fingers felt the edges of the cash in her pocket.
Gawd. What have I done?
The angel walked in front of her, the tips of his feathers skimming the cement. Hers would too if the feathers ever filled in properly. Ra’zael had this sort of swagger that caused his wings to shift with every step. She never thought wings were sexy. Actually she’d never even thought about wings, period. Until now.
In the presence of humans, wings looked translucent to angels, but were invisible to human eyes. Just to check that no one could see them, she glanced over her shoulder. Yep. See-through. She stroked one of the feathers. It felt corporeal to her.
Outside the train depot, Raz hailed one of the waiting taxis. Julia leaned in to talk to the driver. “Can you take us to the Hyatt on Michigan Avenue?”
“Uh huh, hop in.”
She wagged her eyebrows at her angel. The only response he gave was to get into the cab. Adept at settling her wings without much hassle, Julia wasn’t. Raz simply sat down like nothing impeded him. Maybe she could kill him. The only sounds on the trip to the hotel were road and traffic noises. Julia hadn’t slept on the train at all. Every time she tried to, her mind brought up images of her best friend’s dying face. The expression one of terror, knowing she wouldn’t be attending her junior prom on that coming Saturday. The horrific car accident left them hanging by their seat belts upside down. Blood dripped from Salina’s mouth. The crimson streaked over her nose and forehead. They hung for a long time until the police finally showed up. Her older model car wasn’t equipped with airbags. Julia survived. Her friend died during surgery from too many internal injuries.
The hospital tested Julia’s blood alcohol level. Not good. She was charged with DUI and vehicular manslaughter. Fortunately, before the end of the trial, her lawyer was smart enough to make her take a guilty plea in exchange for a lesser offense conviction from the DA. Julia had worn the amulet the during the entire trial—her lucky charm. Even though she said all the right things on the witness stand and her letter to Salina’s parents, read aloud in court, brought tears to everyone’s eyes, all she could think about was how grateful she wasn’t the one who died. She missed Salina. Every day.
The brakes squeaked and the yellow cab parked alongside the curb in front of the hotel. Julia stepped from the sedan and took a deep breath. Exhaust fumes met her nose. The revolving door swept them inside the tall building. After registering, they took the elevator to their floor and located the room.
Julia made an excuse and shut herself in the bathroom. She didn’t have to go, she just wanted to get away from Raz’s suspicious eyes. Okay, maybe she was being paranoid. Angels didn’t hurt people, they helped people. And look, he had already helped her by taking her virginity. She never let herself get close to anyone long enough to give it up. If you couldn’t trust an angel, who could you trust?
Oh, Ra’zael…Julia wanted to hate him. But couldn’t. She wanted to be rid of him. She needed the amulet all to herself. Death didn’t matter. She still craved its power.
Peering in the mirror above the sink, she whispered at the reflection, “You have to kill him, remember.” The door opened behind her and she pivoted, wild-eyed.
“Raz, I—”
His lips pressed against hers.
CHAPTER
FORTY-FIVE
Ra’zael
Raz waited out in the bedroom. Julia had gone into the bathroom fifteen minutes ago. What was she doing in there? He’d grown stiff thinking about how it felt to be inside her. The angel knew he had a limited time to be with her. His instincts told him she wanted the amulet back for keeps. The actualization would destroy her, or worse—finally give Abaddon his hundredth female to comp
lete his harem. With the last piece, he could rise to full power, be anything he wanted, and release the native beasts into this realm, turning them into evil humans. Earth would become Hell.
“Oh, Deus.” He would have no choice but to kill her, if that happened. Oh, who was he kidding? He’d have to ask a Warrior to do it.
Ra’zael was a Guardian angel not a Redeemer. What was Deus thinking, putting him in charge of this? He couldn’t fight for shit. He looked menacing with deep set eyes and a brooding demeanor but he wasn’t a lion, he was more like a declawed cat that thought he still had nails. Humans and demons were easy to put in their place, but other angels, Julia…no way. Now that he knew the truth of his origin, he couldn’t pretend to be something he wasn’t. He wasn’t equipped for this. At. All. He only hoped his female wouldn’t figure out she could run over him.
He stalked to the bathroom and twisted the knob. Julia spun around. Raz zeroed in on her mouth. The sweet taste of Taint reminded him of spiced rum. She parted her lips for his tongue. He broke his private oath to never kiss anyone again. They didn’t have much more time and he wanted all of her right now. Wrapping his muscular arms around her, he picked her up and walked backward toward the bed. They didn’t make it. He positioned her on her hands and knees on the floor. He lowered his jeans. She gasped when he yanked her pants down her thighs. With no time to waste, he plunged past her pink folds.
“Oh, God,” she whimpered.
“I. Need. You. Right. Now,” he said with each thrust.
“You have me.”
Raz didn’t hold back like he did on the train. He propped himself up on his hands. Julia’s arms gave out and he pinned her to the carpet with his hips, driving her hard. He was a mad scientist and she was his crazy experiment. Sweat beaded then ran down his back and made their bodies slick.
“Ra’zael. Oh. God!”
Her inner walls pulsed all around his cock. “Oh, Deus. Julia…oh, oh.” His orgasm surged forth. He shuddered over and over until nothing was left. As his breathing slowed, he rested his forehead between her wings.
CHAPTER
FORTY-SIX
Hazel
Hazel read the sign on the office suite door. “What are we doing here, Mom?”
“I’m worried about you.” Creases lined the older woman’s face.
“I told you, there’s nothing wrong with me. I’m not crazy.” Hazel exhaled loudly.
“Hazel…please, talk to the doctor. Humor me.”
“All right. If this will get you off my back.”
Genevieve led her inside the office. There was a small waiting room with four mauve chairs positioned along a wall and another wooden door across the cramped space. Her mother rang a buzzer on the wall under another sign that read: ‘At your appointment time, please push the button below.’
A woman’s voice came over an intercom system. “Are you here for an appointment?”
Why else would we be here?
“Yes, Genevieve and Hazel Stevens here to see Dr. Kaya Sato.”
“Her name is the only one on the door,” Hazel muttered. The door opened and an Asian woman about the age of her grandmother appeared. She smiled. The tiny woman’s perfume tickled her nose. The scent was White Diamonds or something equally as allergy-induced-asthma-worthy.
“Hi, I’m Dr. Sato, please come in.” She stepped aside to let them enter. “Have a seat.”
Hazel’s eyes traveled around the room. Two oversized burgundy leather chairs sat directly across from a desk. The doctor seemed to shrink from the enormous size of the desk. She clasped her hands and rested them on top. “What brings you here today?”
“As I explained on the phone,” Genevieve began, “my daughter has been…seeing things.”
“That’s not true.” Hazel glared at her mother then looked at the doctor. “I haven’t been seeing things. Really.”
“Yes you have. Don’t lie,” her mother scolded.
“I’m not.”
The doctor watched their exchange. Her lips formed a thin line. “Hazel, why don’t you tell me in your own words why you’ve come to see me.”
“First of all, I didn’t come to see you. I was dragged, no, tricked into coming here.” Hazel folded her arms across her chest.
“And second?” Dr. Sato asked.
“What?”
“Well, you said, first of all.”
Hazel glanced at the ceiling. Seriously? “I don’t need to be here.”
“Your mother is concerned about you.”
“She can be concerned all she wants. She never listens to me. I know what I saw. Hell, I’ve had full conversations with her.”
“With who?”
“You know who. I’m sure my mother filled you in on all the details.”
“I’d like to hear who, from you.”
“Why, so you can try to convince me that I sound nuts?”
“Do you think you’re, to use your word, ‘nuts?’”
“No.” Hazel rose from her chair and paced behind her mother. Floor to ceiling bookcases framed the door. Hundreds of hardbound and paperback books lined most of the shelves except for one. A glass angel figurine collection sat on that shelf. She focused her stare at one statue in particular. The wings were open but not fully stretched wide and the head tilted heavenward. “Do you believe in angels?” she asked the doctor.
“They’re a lovely thought.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“Hazel, don’t be rude,” her mother chided. Hazel ignored her, turned toward the desk to face the doctor, but found the petite woman had moved and stood next to her.
Dr. Sato regarded her with a kind expression. “I take it you do?”
Tears welled in Hazel’s eyes. She tried not to cry, she really did. Her head nodded. “I do,” she whispered.
“Sometimes we want to believe something so badly we think we are seeing what we want, but it isn’t there.”
Hazel sighed. “Uh uh. Amalya’s real.”
“She was a real person, yes, and she died in a horrific way, but—”
“You never answered my question. Do you believe in angels?” Hazel stayed where she was even though the woman had invaded her personal space. This discussion she wouldn’t back away from.
“Yes. I suppose I do.”
“Amalya’s an angel. Although, she isn’t like what you would think. Her feathers are black.”
“Feathers?”
Hazel splayed her palms out. “Her wings?”
Dr. Sato nodded. “Oh, of course. What does she say to you? Say she’s doing here?”
“That we shouldn’t see each other…that it’s not healthy. See, she’s not supposed to visit with people from her past.”
“Sounds like good advice. No way my sister would’ve said that,” Genevieve interjected.
“Not helping, Mom. Anyway, I told her, technically I’m not from her past, because we never met before she died. So it’s—”
“Amalya was troubled for as long as I can remember,” Genevieve cut in.
Hazel rolled her eyes. “Do you blame her? I see how Grandma treats you. I can just imagine what it was like growing up with her for a mother.”
Her mother’s jaw dropped. “You don’t know what you talking about, Grandma was a great mother.”
No. She wasn’t, Hazel mouthed at the doctor and shook her head. “She’s cold and you know it. Picks at you constantly. I was relieved when she moved to Florida.”
Her mother had the nerve to act surprised. “How can you say that?”
“It’s true.”
The room fell silent. During the quiet, the doctor returned to her chair behind the desk. Genevieve refused to look at anyone. Instead, she played with her dark hair.
“What else has Amalya told you?” the doctor asked.
Hazel couldn’t tell if the doctor was actually interested or playing along with what she thought was a delusion. “That my mother would never believe that she’s an angel and that she’s as stubborn as
a mule. In fact, Mule was her nickname for my mother.”
“Is this true? Is that the nickname your sister gave you?” the doctor asked.
“Yes. But that doesn’t prove anything.”
“You’re right and I didn’t say it did,” Dr. Sato replied. “Did you ever share this information with your daughter?”
“No,” Hazel said. “She’s hardly ever talked about her sister and when she did, she certainly didn’t tell me about that.”
Her mother kept her mouth shut.
The doctor leaned back in her chair. “Hmm. It seems the two of you have some issues to work out. I’m also interested in hearing more about your grandma and that relationship.”
Hazel sighed. “Look, I realize that you may or may not believe my aunt is an angel and honestly, I don’t care. Can I go now?”
“If that’s what you would like. But I’d like to speak to your mother privately before you go.”
“I’ll be out in the waiting room.” Hazel left the room but didn’t completely close the door; she wanted to hear what this woman had to say to her mother. She opened and let the outer shut to fool them into thinking she’d gone down to the car to wait or something.
“Mrs. Stevens, I believe your daughter is suffering from brief reactive psychosis. I would need to see her a few more times to diagnose her properly. This sort of thing can occur after a major stressful event or trauma. Have there been any recent deaths in the family or among her friends?”
I’m not psychotic.
Hazel covered her mouth with her hand. She wanted to scream.
“Not that I know of. I mean, none in our family.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, did your father pass away?”
“Not recently, if that’s what you’re getting at, Hazel was about eight or nine.”
“Is there a history of depression or mental illness in your family?”
“No.”
This is ridiculous…let’s go. Hazel stepped away from the door and left the suite for real this time. She wandered down the hallway toward the bank of elevators. A mirror hung on the wall between the them. “You’re not crazy,” she said to her reflection. “What you saw was real.”