Demonic Angel (A Touch Of Magic)

by Maria Del Sette

  It takes me twenty minutes to wake Analeese. I ended up pouring a glass of water over her which made her jump six feet into the air. I told her we needed to leave and we were going to see mum and that made her wake up mentally as well as physically.

  When I am changed into a hoodie and jeans and have mine and Ana's passports and bags ready, I load them into my little pink Mini Cooper. It was an eighteenth birthday present and I love it, colour and all. Luckily Tessa carries her passport around with her everywhere because she is definitely going to need it now. She places her stuff which was already packed, into my car and then grabs one of my pillows.

  I let Ana bring her pillow and a blanket too for the drive and while she loads them into the car, I pack some snacks and drinks. It's not a long drive to London from here but I want her to be as comfortable as possible. I send a quick text to mum to let her know we are coming early and she responds with: FANTASTIC!! :)

  I lock up the house and giving it one more glance, I drive off with two of my favourite people.

  SIX

  I am glad I am the one driving because it means I focus on driving and the road instead of what is in my head. I don't want to think about that kiss or Jaxon or the kiss with Jaxon. Or that it made me feel as though I was floating in the clouds. Or that my lips are still tingling even now. Nope. Not thinking about it. And I am definitely not thinking about those green eyes. Those mysterious and beautiful sparkling green eyes. Or his smile, the devilish dimple-fied smile. Oh shut up Calissa! Calissa... I can hear him say my name... I shake my head from my thoughts and look down at the clock. Only been driving for ten minutes and I am already spacing out. Come on Cally, you can do this!!

  I turn on the stereo and press play on the CD I have inside. Ed Sheeran's voice fills my car and Tessa and I start singing along. I check the rear-view mirror to see that Ana has drifted off to sleep again. Love her.

  “Crap! Earliest train is at five forty am.” I tell Tessa as I get back into the car after checking out the ticket prices. I have to speak in hushed tones so that I don't wake Ana. “Should we get a hotel for the night and then get the first one out?” I bite my lip and look over at the clock on my dashboard. It is one am now. We could check into the nearest hotel for four hours? Seems pretty pointless to me.

  “Is there any point? Knowing us, we will just sleep through any alarms anyway and do you really want to wake Ana up again?” This is one of the reasons why this girl is my best friend. She is exactly like me inside and out.

  “Yeah, so what should be do for four and a half hours then?” I pull out my phone and look online. “Oh, we could get a ferry?” I suggest.

  “Come on then, no harm in trying.” I start up the car again and we head off towards Dover. We should have checked the Eurostar times before we left but in my defence I was in too much of a hurry to do so.

  We stop at a service station about ten miles away from St. Pancras and Tessa buys us both a few energy drinks each while I fill up the petrol tank. I am going to need it completely full if I am driving from here to Paris. When we are back on the road, Tessa picks up conversation.

  “So, my mum is a witch” She says casually. I take my eyes off the road a for a brief second and look at her in confusion.

  “A witch? Like magical powers, conjuring spells, kind of witch?” Tessa nods. “Are you one?” Tessa shrugs.

  “I don't know, she didn't say. She did say that she is the reason you don't have your angelic powers. She is meeting us at your mum's place in Paris apparently.”

  “Your mum is meeting us in France?” I ask disbelievingly.

  “Yup. She said there are things she just can't do over the phone.” Tessa shrugs as she bites down on her lip. “I haven't seen my mum for nearly three months Cal. I have to admit, I am really excited to see her yet also anxious since she was so neglectful towards me when it came to dad.” I reach over and give her knee a gentle squeeze. We settle into silence and listen to the radio for a little while before Tessa grunts and shuts it off again.

  “Okay enough now. Jaxon and you kissed. How did that happen?” I let out an exasperated breath and think carefully of what I am going to say.

  “Well, he came to warn me about the Underworlders and then admitted he was an incubus. Then he said he needed to test something out and he kissed me.”

  “He admitted he was an incubus? And you were unaffected?” I nod. “How? Is that even possible?” Tessa asks sceptically.

  “No idea babe. Apparently so. When we kissed, I felt giddy but not weak or drained like I was supposed to. He freaked out afterwards and left. I think he was upset that his powers don't work on me.” A smug smile creeps up onto my lips.

  “Ha! That's funny. So... you liked it huh?” I blush.

  “Yeah, I know that is bad because of what he is but at the end of the day, it was an amazing first kiss, Tess. Believe me, my brain has been yelling at me for doing it... There is an internal fight going on up here.” I tap one of my temples.

  “Yeah, he looks like he would be a good kisser. Thing is though, why did you let him?” I frown as I think her question over. I didn't really let him. He surprised me. But I wanted it to happen though... didn't I?

  “Maybe his powers do work on me but because of the angel in me, they operate in a different way?” I reply. That is the most logical explanation I can give. Then why can't I get that kiss out of my mind. Why can't I get him out of my mind? This is why I don't bother with the male species... It is far too confusing.

  “Yeah, maybe.”

  We pull up at the amazing White Cliffs of Dover just after three am. We buy tickets and then board the next ferry. I send my mum a quick text letting her know what is going on and then open up a new message.

  Me: what have u done to me???

  Jaxon: wot u drilling on about now Titch?

  Me: u got in my head... get out!

  Jaxon: Oh did I? ;-) Hmm... nah, think i'll stay thnx

  Me: Dick

  Jaxon: watch ur language missy

  Me: I hate u... just so u know

  Jaxon: then stop texting me and go to sleep?

  Me: Why don't YOU go to sleep?

  Jaxon: Busy planning a murder

  OH MY GOD!!!!!

  Me: F.U

  (I don't swear... this is the closest thing I will get to actually saying the real thing)

  Jaxon: One day babe... I PROMISE!! :-P

  “Who you texting?” Tessa says making me jump and quickly shove my phone into my jeans pocket.

  “Just my mum to let her know what is going on.” I smile sweetly at her but I know she sees right through it. She drops it anyway but I can tell I am in for an earful later. I can see it in the smile that is on her face.

  We wake up Ana as soon as the ferry departs and even though she is groggy, she is overly excited to be on a ferry instead of the Eurostar. She grabs her jumper and chucks it on then the three of us take a walk up to the deck.

  Cold wind hits us the second we step outside. I hug my hoodie closer to me with one hand while the other is gripping on to Ana. It may be dark out but the stars look absolutely amazing. There are so many of them and I can't help but to smile when I look up at them.

  “Cally?” I hear Ana's voice just barely over the strong sound of the wind. I look down at her. “I can see France already.” She points over to the distance and sure enough, there is France. Lights shine left, right and centre and I get even more excited to see my mum.

  The drive from Calais to Paris is a long one when I have been driving for the past four hours on no sleep. Tessa offers to drive but I tell her to get some sleep, which she does, and that I will wake her when I need a break. Ana manages to stay awake for a little while and watches some programs on her tablet. The sound of her giggling at Tom and Jerry's antics, warms my heart. She barely laughs anymore, only whenever she is around Jamie but since he isn't here, I will happily settle with hearing her laugh because of a cartoon. I can't really do much from the front seat now can I? No, not with
out crashing that is.

  I don't really pay attention to any of the scenery because I am scared that I will lose focus on driving. I am so tired but so determined on arriving at my mum's town house tonight.

  The sound of giggling stops after around forty-five minutes and I peek behind me and see Ana snoring away with her mouth hanging open. There is a bit of dribble dripping down the side of her mouth and I can't help but laugh causing both girls to stir.

  I concentrate on the road again and turn up the stereo. This time a band called You Me at Six play through the speakers. Their new album absolutely smashes the rest of their other ones but I do love the others too. I am just singing along to track six when my phone vibrates against my leg. I know I should ignore it but it might be my mum. I slow my speed a bit and slide my phone out from my jeans.

  3 New Messages

  Oh no... This can't be good, surely.

  I open up the first message. Mum: Hey baby, just checking in. Ring me xx

  I send her a quick message saying we are in France and I am about an hour or so away and then open up another message.

  Jaxon: Silent after my last message? Hope you aren't that quiet when the time comes...

  What the hell is wrong with this guy? I open up the next message and wish I hadn't...

  Jaxon: Then again, u will probably be begging me to stop and crying :)

  A smiley face????? Really???? Is he that psychotic??? Oh my God. I pull into a lay-by and park the car. I can't drive right now. That was really disturbing... Should I reply? I shouldn't really. I really want to give him a piece of my mind though. But I shouldn't add fuel to the fire though right? Oh but this fire needs to be extinguished!! Only I can do that? Right? Oh screw it...

  Me: You are sick... Stop messaging me you narcissistic maniac... You tell me to run and then you send me messages like that??? You are deranged!!

  Jaxon: Oh I love a girl with a temper ;) Why aren't u sleeping?? Am I keeping u up??

  Me: Don't flatter yourself... I'm on the road...

  Jaxon: Ur travelling now? I thought u weren't leaving until tomorrow/later today

  Me: Things change

  Jaxon: Where are u?

  Is he seriously asking me where I am after sending those messages? Wow he is more twisted that I thought...

  Me: Nice try dickweed

  Jaxon: I need to know so I can avoid the area on my search (I think he is messing with me... I'm not going to take any chances)

  Me: As if I could ever trust you!

  Jaxon: Can I call you? Wanna hear your voice (See? Why can't he be sweet like that more often? It would make this whole liking him thing a lot easier.) Holy sh-crap... I do like him! Psycho and all... What the hell is wrong with me???????

  Me: k

  I take a quick look at my sleeping best friend and sister and then get out of the car before my phone rings. I shut the car door, and cool air hits my face. It seems to be a lot cooler at four in the morning than I thought it would be. I am glad that I bought along my coat. I get it out of the boot and have just finished shrugging it on when my phone rings. My stomach flutters manically and I have to take a deep breath to stop myself hyperventilating.

  “Hello?” I say, surprised how calm my voice sounds.

  “Now, isn't this a treat.” He sounds funny. Different.

  “Jaxon, are you drunk?”

  He laughs and it sends shivers though my body. “Noo... Okay maybe a little bit.” So that explains the creepy messages then. Or maybe it just explains why he is suddenly so brave to say it. “You aren't in the country. The dial tone changed. Where are you?” He sounds seriously curious now. He knows I am in another country, I don't want him and his Underworlders following me... So I do the only think I can think of... I lie.

  “I am in Ireland. Got the last ferry over. I have family in Limerick so I have taken my sister and Tessa with me to Ireland.” Surely that is believable?

  “Oh that's too bad, I wanted another kiss.” My heart stops. I know he is saying everything he can to reel me in and although it is half working... I will not go there!! Again...

  “Oh your loss... Well I gotta go. Bye.” I hang up before he can say anything and after a deep breath, I turn back to the car and get in. Tessa stirs and opens her eyes when I shut the door and she looks at me.

  “Want me to drive?” She asks during a yawn and rubbing her eyes.

  “Okay.” I reply with a smile. We swap seats and I smile at the thought of not driving anymore. Five hours on the road is agonising when you haven't slept a wink, let alone another hour or so too. Tessa opens up another energy drink and downs half of the can and then we head off again. Still holding my phone in my hand, I drift off thinking of evil green eyes.

  SEVEN

  “Wakey wakey sleepy head, we are here.” Tessa says in a soothing voice. I open my eyes and look at the time on the dash board. Six am. How slow did Tessa drive?? I rub my stinging eyes and undo my seat belt. I blink several times and look out of the window to see that we are in fact sat outside my mother's Paris town house. “Your phone went off a few times but I couldn't check it for you as you had a vice grip on it.” She giggles and I groggily lift my phone in front of my eyes. The bright light on the screen makes me flinch but soon it comes into focus and I see that I have five new messages. Five? What the hell could Jaxon want now? I ignore my phone for a while and shove it into my coat pocket before getting out of the car. I open up the back door and gently shake Ana awake. She wakes with a jolt and then when I tell her where we are, she dives out of the car and up the stairs to my mother's front door. I follow her after grabbing our bags and Tessa does too.

  My mother opens the door the second we reach the top of the stairs and dropping my bags, I run into her waiting arms with Ana.

  Nineteen or not, I still love hugs with my mum. Tessa clears her throat somewhere behind me and I pull away from my mum to look at my best friend. She looks completely uncomfortable.

  “Can we um, go inside?” She asks hesitantly.

  “Of course honey. I am sure the three of you are absolutely shattered after that drive.” Mum leads us inside and I am hit with the warm scent of cinnamon and apple. I inhale deeply and smile. My mother loves her scented candles. She always has the same ones. The town house hasn't changed a bit since I was last here. There is still a deep red carpet running through the hallway to the kitchen and living room. The banisters on the stairs are still a dark brown stained wood. The walls are still painted a plain magnolia with several dark wood framed photographs of myself and Ana decorating the walls. Tessa, not being here before, looks around the house in amazement. We head into the living room and each of us get a big surprise. There on the black leather sofa is my dad and Tessa's mum. Tessa squeals and runs into her mum's arms, tackling her down to the ground. I do the same to my dad. I know it has just been few days, but I feel as if I haven't seen him in weeks.

  “I didn't know you were going to be here dad.” I say into his chest so it ends up coming out muffled. He runs his hand up and down my back in a fatherly gesture and then pulls back.

  “Yeah well, as soon as your mother rang me and told me everything, I got the first flight out. As did Lorraine.” He nods over to wear she is squeezing her youngest daughter with tears in her eyes. I guess it bothered Lorraine not seeing Tessa for over three months just as it did Tessa.

  We take a seat on one of the sofas and my mum sits beside us with Ana on her lap, sucking her thumb? Since when did Ana suck her thumb? I raise an eyebrow at her and then turn my attention back to my mum and dad.

  “I know you are all tired and would prefer to go to sleep, but you can't right now. I promise that the second this is all discussed, you can sleep for the rest of the day if you wish.” My mother says in a strict but calming tone. “We will start with coffee and something to eat and then with your questions Calissa.” I nod and my mother and Lorraine leave the room to busy themselves with making snacks. I look over at Tessa who gives me a watery smile and I give her o
ne back; though I am sure it doesn't reach my eyes.

  Mum and Lorraine return carrying one tray of biscuits and another with mugs of coffee for all of us except Ana who has milk and is taken to her room to sleep by my dad. We wait for him to return and then all eyes are on me. I know this means I should start but I don't even know where. Sensing my hesitation, mum steps in.

  “Cally, why don't you tell us in detail what happened with the Hellhound first and then what Jaxon Cray told you, start to finish.” I nod and take in a deep breath then tell them everything I can.

  “Then he said that there would be Underworlders swarming the village so I needed to leave asap. Now we are here.” I take a sip of my coffee and grimace at the bitter taste. I hate coffee. I have to add like six sugars to it. Ha!

  “Now, I am guessing you want to know why this is happening?” Mum asks with a gentle smile. I nod. “Okay well first of all, you are half angel but that isn't all you are.” She pauses as if thinking what to say. “You are half demon too.” I spit out the nasty coffee and Tessa shrieks. I don't need to look at her to know where my coffee landed but I do anyway and see the dark liquid drip off the end of her nose.

  “Sorry Tess.” I mutter and then turn back to mum. “I am half demon?” She nods. “Are you sure? I don't feel very demonic.” I raise my arms and look down at myself.

  “This is very hard to tell you Calissa. Your dad-”

  “I will tell her Serena.” Dad cuts in. “Cally, baby, I am not biologically your father.” I feel as if the entire world stops in its axis. Not my biological father? He brought me up. Raised me as one his own. Loved me as if I was his. I had no idea. Though I did wonder why I was the only one in the family with amber coloured eyes. Dad and I have no similarities whatsoever. Ana has his small bumpy nose and brown eyes but we both have mum's blonde hair; though mine is slightly darker than both of theirs. Where as dad's hair is brown. I look to my mum for confirmation and she nods sadly.