by Carly Fall
Bella brushed by him into the kitchen. They connected for only a moment, yet, her touch sent a shiver down his spine. Now that they were alone and safe, he longed to take her into his arms and feel her willowy body against him. As he studied her, she looked exactly the same as she had when they’d been lovers centuries ago. Dark hair hung to her shoulders in soft waves, her skin still unmarred and smooth. Her breasts seemed the same, yet, her hips looked slimmer. Perhaps she had become an avid exerciser.
Her hands trembled as she put a water-filled teapot onto the stove, and retrieved two mugs and bags from the cabinet above her. She stared at the pot for a moment as it heated, then turned to him.
“I know you said you’re an Angel of Death, and if you were going to hurt me, you would have already done so. But, how do you know me? Who are you? What’s happening out there?”
He nodded. The time had come for all her questions to be answered. The information would be a lot for her to take in, but she had always been strong. He had no doubt she would be able to handle his strange tale.
“Get your tea, then let’s sit down. I’ll try to explain as much as I can."
* * *
A few minutes later, Bella sat at her dining room table waiting for her guest to explain everything to her. As she stared at him, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she knew this man … or angel … whatever he was. But how?
She couldn’t even believe the things she’d witnessed tonight, and once questioned her own sanity. She reached underneath the table and pinched her thigh to make sure she wasn’t in some strange dream. It hurt, so this was definitely reality. Yet, it all seemed so surreal, so outlandish.
“This evening, the planets Earth, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury all aligned,” Jayden began. “That in itself is an odd occurrence, but there was also a lunar eclipse. These two astrological events have caused the seals of the universe to open, allowing everything inhabiting other spiritual planes and alternate universes to come to Earth.”
She stared at him in disbelief.
“As I said, I am an Angel of Death from Heaven,” he continued. “On my way here, I saw other Heavenly warriors. You saw them as well in the back of your shop. They’ve been sent here to fight the evil that has risen from Hell.”
She cleared her throat and stared down at her tea. Wrapping her hands around the warm mug gave her some comfort. Biting her lip, she longed to tell him what she’d seen, but hesitated at the risk of sounding like a lunatic. Then again, he’d just told her he was an Angel of Death, and spoke of Heavenly warriors. If he could let his crazy fly, so could she. Maybe, just maybe, they weren’t completely nuts.
“I … I, uh, think I saw a vampire, and a woman change into a wolf.”
He nodded, as if she’d announced the weather would be nice tomorrow.
“Your eyes didn’t deceive you, Bella. Like I said, all the seals have been broken. Did you notice the ghosts on our way here? Some have returned to complete unfinished business, or to right any wrongs they may have committed while alive. Others are here for revenge. You’ve already borne witness to vampires, a demon, angels, and werewolves. Thankfully, the seals will close in seven days—at midnight on Halloween.”
“What happens then?” Bella asked, anxiously.
“Whatever beings are still here on Earth will stay. If humans have gone to another plane, they will be trapped there. Last time this happened, almost everyone ended up where they should have been. A few stragglers got caught in the wrong universe, but not many.”
She recalled the legend of a pack of werewolves living in the forest outside of town. “This happened before?”
He nodded. “Yes, before this area had been settled. The Native Americans who once lived here suffered terribly as they fought against the supernatural entities.”
Taking a sip of her tea, the burning sensation in her mouth and throat also let her know she was situated in reality. “How do you know that?”
“I was here.”
Surprise shot through her. “You were here?”
His smile conveyed warmth and understanding, as if he could comprehend how amazing and unreal everything he said seemed.
“Yes. But more on that later, okay?”
At this point, the details didn’t matter. She felt her head might soon explode, and apparently, she had some evil monster after her. “What about that … demon? What was his name?”
Jayden’s nostrils flared, and hate flashed in his dark eyes. “Ulric.”
“You said that he’d killed me before?”
He nodded and placed his forearms on the table.
“This is your second life, Bella. In your first life, you lived in medieval times as Arabella Wissant of House Garin, Princess of Porthaethwidge, daughter of Prince Alistair Wissant. Your father, the heir to the throne, married you off to Ulric Bayton of House Cromer, Prince of Praegan.”
Since her mother had taught medieval history before retiring, Bella knew arranged marriages had been common all those centuries ago, but she still found it hard to believe it actually happened when she really considered it. Her stomach turned at the thought.
“Married me off?”
“Yes. He hoped to accomplish two things. First, he wanted to solidify the peace between House Garin and House Cromer, who had been known to feud. The marriage would secure the treaty, ensuring that the peace would not only hold, but last. Second, he hoped that being married would calm, what he considered, your uncultivated ways, and turn you into a proper lady.”
As she stared at him, her head began to swim, almost as if her mind tried to find a distant memory.
“And as my husband … Ulric … he killed me?”
Anger flashed in his eyes again, and his hands curled into fists. “With his bare hands. The man was a monster.”
Taking another sip of tea, she tried to process his story thus far, and found it difficult to do so.
“What did he mean when he said you failed to protect me before?”
Jayden hung his head. Standing, he paced the length of the table. “I think that part of the story would be better told tomorrow, after you’ve rested.”
At his words, she realized how exhausted she had become, and yawned. Apparently, her adrenaline had ebbed. She felt like she had taken in too much information already, so maybe tomorrow would be a better day to hear the rest of the tale.
She stood and put her cup into the sink, glancing at him still standing by the table. “Are you sure Ulric won’t be back tonight?”
Saying his name stirred something within her. Goosebumps traveled over her skin, and her stomach lurched. She suddenly felt very uncomfortable, and looked around the house fully expecting the demon to show himself at any moment.
Jayden shook his head and came into the kitchen. As he crossed his arms over his big barrel chest, she had the oddest need to go to him and have him embrace her; to feel those strong arms hold her, and have him tell her everything would be fine. In fact, it was almost a fight to keep herself right where she stood.
“Honestly, no. He will come back—of that I have no doubt. But, I will watch over you while you sleep. I’ll fight him to the death if I must to keep you safe.”
How chivalrous. He almost sounded like some type of prince himself. “I’m having a hard time believing all of this.”
“I don’t blame you.”
They stared at each other for a beat, and as she looked into his ebony gaze, heat rose in her cheeks, washing through her limbs.
He moved away from her, stepping aside so she could pass him. “Go now, Bella. Go to sleep. I’ll answer the rest of your questions in the morning. Rest assured, you will see the sun rise on another day. I’ll be watching over you all night from outside.”
She nodded, and walked down the short hallway to her bedroom. Closing the door, she leaned her back against it.
Logically, as a single woman she should be very uncomfortable going to bed with a strange man in her house, but emotionally, she felt very reas
sured by Jayden’s presence. That feeling of recognition only seemed to grow stronger with each passing minute, and her whole being told her that she could trust him, that she would be safe with him. Therefore, she’d throw logic to the side and go with her gut.
As she undressed, she went over the night’s events. Vampires. Angels. Werewolves. A previous life. It all seemed so surreal, so fantastic, but the reality of the situation was she had either lost her mind and resided in some alternate universe, or everything she’d seen tonight had been real.
Both options terrified her.
Furthermore, some of what Jayden had said about her so-called first life rang true. It was as if her mind scrambled to remember a movie she’d seen long ago, but the memories lay just outside of her grasp. It scared her almost as much as possibly losing her sanity did.
As she pulled the comforter up to her chin, her whole body shook. A lone tear slipped down her cheek. She’d never felt more afraid, confused, or alone in her whole life.
4
Jayden went outside, locked the door, and slipped the key in his pocket, wishing he had his wings. The archangel Michael had said he wouldn’t be able to fly once he touched the ground, but having his feathers would be so much easier.
The roof seemed to be the most pragmatic place to watch over Bella. That way, he’d have a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of the surroundings. After taking a walk around the house, he decided his best bet would be to stand on the porch railing and haul himself up onto the shingles.
Once up there, he climbed to the peak and carefully surveyed the area. He didn’t feel Ulric’s presence, but knew it would only be a matter of time before the demon became bored with his current proclivities and came looking for Bella.
Sitting down, he leaned against the chimney. Bella had taken everything much better than he’d expected, but perhaps she was in shock. However, she’d always been mentally strong, and he supposed she’d simply absorbed his words and would let them percolate around in her beautiful head. Then, in the morning, she would have many, many questions.
It seemed so right to be with her now, and he knew a part of her recognized him. He could see it in her gaze. Yes, she was confused and wary, just as she should be. However, somewhere deep inside her, she knew she could trust him, just as she’d figured out all those centuries ago.
He grinned, thinking of the first time they’d been officially introduced.
* * *
He’d been summoned to her father’s solar, his palms sweaty as he considered what on Earth the prince would want with him.
He followed a maid down the damp corridor to the private rooms of the royal family, a place he’d never been. A rush muffled the echo of his boots while the many torches provided excellent lighting. As the servant knocked on the door, he studied the painting of Princess Arabella upon the wall.
She stared down at him, her dark gaze full of fire. A small smile played on her lips as if she held one of the world’s best-kept secrets, or knew a joke no one else was privy to. She wore an emerald gown, her décolletage smooth and unmarred.
He marveled at her beauty; however, he also knew it didn’t compare to seeing the Princess in person.
“Enter!” the prince called from inside.
The maid opened the double doors, and the first thing that caught his eye had been Princess Arabella standing by the window, looking forlorn, her arms crossing her chest. She glanced over at him for a moment, and he found it hard to look away. She wore her black hair in loose waves around her shoulders, the light from the window making her skin gleam. For a moment, he thought he’d been taken to the wrong room, but then glancing to his right, he saw her father, Prince Alistair, his face red, his lips pursed as he smoothed out his doublet.
He dropped to his knee and bowed his head. “Your Grace, you have summoned me?”
“Yes, Sir Jayden. May I present my daughter, Princess Arabella.”
He stood as she turned to him. Walking over to her, his breath caught in his throat at her beauty. A small smile played on her lush lips as she extended her hand. He took it and bowed before her, kissing the air just above her second knuckle. “Your Grace, you look quite lovely on this fine day.”
Her voice came out as a demure purr. “Thank you.”
“Sir Jayden, please come sit with me,” the Prince ordered, motioning to two chairs by the window.
He did as he’d been asked, and met the prince’s gaze.
Taking the chair to the prince’s left, he waited to be told why he’d been summoned as he absently wiped his sweaty palms on his breeches.
The prince sighed. “As you may know, my daughter is now of age to marry. However, it would seem she suffers from a bit of an unruly nature. I have asked the Sergeant at Arms who he thought to be the most trustworthy among the knights, and your name fell from his lips.”
Jayden cringed. The Sergeant of Arms seemed as if he walked with a stick up his arse. He avoided drunkenness, didn’t utter profanities, gamble, or take up with any women, claiming the practices to be ungodly. Jayden, on the other hand, enjoyed all those proclivities, and often butted heads with the Sergeant at Arms. He did his best not to attract attention to himself in order to escape the man’s scrutiny.
However, last night, the Sergeant had caught him brawling in town after a few too many ales. He had promised Jayden he would pay for his indiscretions, and apparently, this was to be his punishment.
He couldn’t imagine what Prince Alistair could want with him concerning his daughter. Whatever the prince had in mind, the Sergeant had only chosen him as recompense for his supposed ignoble behavior.
“Despite my best efforts, my daughter has always been a bit willful. At ten years of age, she let the horses out of the stable, proclaiming she wanted them to run free. At ten and six, she dressed as a lad, of all things, and worked as a stable boy for a few days until she was exposed to be a female. These are only two misdeeds in a long line of others. I have been able to keep these things from becoming public knowledge because of her young age, but now that she is of age …”
The prince shook his head, as if his daughter must be the biggest disgrace he’d ever imagined. Jayden glanced over at her, experiencing pity for her as her father spoke of her in such a negative light while she stood within hearing distance.
“I am assigning you as my daughter’s personal guard until such time as a match can be made for her. She is not to get into any trouble. None of the men being considered as suitors will marry her if word of her behavior becomes widespread. She should be learning how to manage her own keep someday, not mucking around in the stalls.”
He nodded, unable to meet the prince’s gaze. If he only knew half the truth! Just last night, while he’d been at the whorehouse drinking ale and deciding what wench would take him to bed, he’d seen the princess peeking through the window in rapt attention. She’d watched the men drinking and singing, the whores joining in as their bosoms spilled from their gowns. She had been wrapped in a black cloak, and he would never have recognized her if he hadn’t caught a glimpse of those dark eyes.
More than once, he’d also noticed her watching the knights practice their jousting in the bailey. She’d stand atop the castle’s inner wall, partially hidden, while holding a book, or whatever bit of sewing she was supposed to be attending to. However, her attention had not been on the pages in front of her or her needle, but on the men practicing their swordsmanship. He wondered if she stared at them and wished to learn to fight, or if there might be one knight who held her interest.
“You are to follow her everywhere and ensure she does nothing to embarrass our family name, or ruin my chances at making a suitable match.”
The prince stared off into the distance for a moment as if he were in deep thought, then he spoke again. “Perhaps I should have wed again after her mother’s death, so she could have grown up as a proper lady. Her lady’s maid, Agnes, has done the best she can with her, attempting to teach her the finer points of royal etique
tte, but there is only so much a maid can teach a princess. Now, I must get her married off to a man who is strong enough to tame her.”
Anger railed through him when he turned his gaze back toward the princess. Her head hung from her shoulders in what he assumed to be shame. However, far be it for him to tell the prince he shouldn’t speak of his daughter in such a way.
“I understand this is a peculiar request, Sir Jayden, but I agree with Sergeant. You are an honorable man, one that saved my life during the battle of Woodhaerst. I know I can trust you to keep an eye on my daughter until I can find a suitable match.”
Yes, he had saved the prince’s life during that battle. He’d plunged his sword deep into the heart of a man who had almost done the same to the prince as he lay on the ground.
The prince stood. “Do you understand your assignment?”
He rose to his feet and bowed his head, trying to hide his dismay at the horrid task given to him. “Yes, your Grace.”
“Very well. Arabella, you are dismissed.”
She turned and walked out of the solar without another glance back, her head held high.
He followed.
She continued down the hall and rounded a corner, finally stopping at another door.
Turning to him, she gave him a wicked grin, her dark eyes glimmering with mischief. “Will you be joining me while I bathe, use the privy, and take a rest as well, Sir Jayden?”
Shocked at the personal nature of her question, he took a step back. “Of course not. I shall wait for you right outside this door.”
“Very well. I wish to go into the village later and purchase some cloth, as it seems to be so important that I learn my stitches correctly.”
He noted the venom dripping from her voice and could not fault her for it, all things considered.