by D. F. Jones
Anna coughed and nearly choked on her saliva. “Whoa, hold your horses. You mean Lucifer, as in Satan, the red guy with the pitchfork?”
Ralph sat on the edge of the bathtub. “Yes, one and the same, except Luc is beautiful, probably the most beautiful angel in the universe. He looks nothing like humans imagine him.”
Anna rubbed her face with both hands. “He is beautiful but gives off some seriously bad vibes.”
“He does indeed give off bad vibes. He can also transform himself into human form and often appears as a sainted person or holy man. In 1232, he appeared as the Pope and reveled in torturing humans. Torturing, killing, and making humans suffer is Luc’s favorite pastime. Don’t look at me like that. If I may say so, you and your friends are being protected by one of the best teams from Heaven.”
Anna gasped and brought her hand to her mouth. “You’re talking about the Medieval Inquisition. Was he Pope Gregory IX? Do you know him?”
“Yes, yes, Pope Gregory. He is an evil, wicked angel who loves to torture humans. I’m loath to admit I knew Luc in Heaven. But hold your faith. One day The Creator is going to lock him away in a place with no doors or windows, and Luc will be alone in the Eternal Darkness forever.”
Ralph knelt down before Anna and placed his hands on his thighs. “Anna, I’m telling you all of this to prepare you. You must tell me if you see Luc again or if Ruby has another dream about the dragon. I’m working to verify all the information with my superiors. The time is coming when we’ll work together to win this battle Luc has against your team, and someday we’ll win the war. Okay, I can tell by your eyes that you’re in shock. Anna, your power is strong.”
Anna was frightened and confused. She said quietly, “I sure wish you would’ve given me another day to bask in the glory of making love with the man of my dreams. Now I have to wrap my head around what you’ve said and figure out a way to tell Jerry and the others.”
“No, Anna. Don’t discuss our conversation with the others. At least, not until I have more concrete information about Luc’s plans. I’m sorry I stole your mojo. Go back to Jerry. He’s waking up. I’ll talk to you soon.” Ralph disappeared.
Anna walked slowly back to the front room. Jerry rolled onto his side, reaching for her, and his eyes opened. She said, “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
Jerry opened his arms to her, and she took refuge. “It’s still early. Let’s go back to sleep for another hour or two and then I’ll make pancakes,” he said.
Anna pressed her face against his chest and threw her arm around his waist. “That sounds wonderful.”
Anna closed her eyes. There was absolutely no way she was going back to sleep. If Luc was stalking her, then he was most likely stalking Jerry and her best friends. Anna held onto Jerry’s forearm tightly. Deep down in her gut a burning grew, a desire to fight for the people she loved most in the world. The power of her healing began to tingle in her fingertips. Without her knowledge, Anna emitted a glow of light that surrounded her and Jerry, giving them both a veil of protection against Luc and his demons.
* * *
Ruby studied all afternoon for her Accounting II test on Monday. She was alone in the Bell Street house. Reed had to work late on campus on a new marketing program for next semester. Anna had gone to a hoedown with Jerry, and Sandy was spending the weekend with Brent in Franklin.
Ruby rubbed the tight and achy muscles in her neck. She pushed her homework aside and went into the kitchen for a couple of aspirin. She decided to lie down for a few minutes to keep her headache from getting worse. She’d finish the rest of the chapter on account receivables tomorrow.
Ruby crawled into her bed, pulled the covers up to her chin, and went fetal. A heady mixture of jasmine and vanilla filled the air as she drifted off to sleep. In her dream, Ruby made her way to the room trimmed with pure gold, its crystal walls as clear and as transparent as glass. Up ahead, crimson curtains hung from the ceiling and pooled on the floor. The curtains parted for her to enter. The glow of a thousand flickering candles illuminated her passage to the gossamer screen room. Golden, silk-cushioned seating was arranged in a semicircle around the room.
Inside the screen room, Ruby spotted Seneca and waved, and he smiled at her. He stood behind the cushions in the middle of the room with three completely breathtaking supernatural beings. The gossamer screen covered one wall of the crimson-curtained room. On the screen, caught in a freeze frame, Ruby stood with Sandy, Anna, and Jerry, but they looked several years older. Their facial expressions seemed to be full of sadness. And standing behind them were the supernaturals in the room with her now.
Ruby turned to say something to Seneca, but he answered her telepathically, “You know I’m your guardian angel, but you haven’t met my team. This is Raphael, Anna’s guardian and the lovely angel to your right is Luwenia. She’s Jerry’s guardian, and the big guy hanging around in the back with the sword is Baldric, Sandy’s guardian. We are the guardians and protectors of the Campbell Ridge wards.”
A brilliant light entered the room behind Ruby. She fell face-first to the floor without looking up. The light was from The Creator. The brilliant light hummed with energy radiating into the room and filled the space with such love, in the purest sense of the word. The warmth of His love wrapped around her like a blanket.
The Creator spoke to Ruby telepathically, just like Seneca. “Ruby, I have assembled your team and the battles of life are brewing. Please remain strong and true in your friendships. You will be the glue that keeps your team together. I make way for love, and it is love that keeps your world spinning.”
The light moved over her and out of the room. Ruby glanced up to see only Seneca remained in the room. She joined him, and they sat down on the cushioned seats. He waved his hand, gold like glitter projected toward the screen on the wall. The movie began to play. Ruby watched in utter silence. When the screen faded to white, Ruby turned to face Seneca, and he read her thoughts.
Seneca telepathically answered, “No, I’m sorry. There are some things you cannot change. You have limits even though The Creator favors you. You’re here to observe and be helpful to humans when the opportunity allows. But you’re not allowed to change free will, and neither are we. There are some things even The Creator will not change because he gave humans free will. Be wary of my fallen brother, Luc. He seeks to destroy mankind. He’ll use every advantage to annihilate a human soul, and he has an army of demon angels to help him. Remember, love is the greatest gift and has the most power in our universe. Love is the light, as you’ve seen today. Be witness, Ruby Jane Glenn.”
Seneca drew his fingers over Ruby’s face, and she awoke in her bed. The Creator had handpicked Ruby’s team. Ruby had Sandy, Anna, and Jerry to help her fight the battles that were coming for them in the future.
There was a light knock on her bedroom door. Reed opened it and stepped over to her bed. Ruby smiled up at him and silently gave thanks to The Creator for Reed. He was her rock.
Ruby threw her cover off and scooted over in the bed. “Come and get in with me. I need you to hold me.”
Reed took off his jeans and shirt and crawled into bed beside her. He pushed his arm under her head to cuddle up next to her. “Honey, you’re trembling. Wanna talk about it?”
Ruby drummed her fingers on his pecs and pressed a kiss on his chest. She angled her face to meet his gaze. “I had a dream tonight.”
Reed tensed. She had told him all about her dreams. Heck, he’d been in one of her dreams, and she smiled at that sweet memory.
Reed stroked her back and asked, “Does someone die?”
“Nope, not today.” Ruby’s face nuzzled against the curve of his neck. She stretched her arm across his chest and fell into a deep sleep.
Chapter 6
Don’t Bring Me Down
Spring 1979
Over the next two years, Anna and Jerry were virtually inseparable. If Jerry wasn’t with Anna at the Bell Street house, she was with him at his parents’ farm. They sp
ent every free minute together, at school, going to parties, celebrating holidays, including Ruby’s wedding. After their wedding, Ruby and Reed would often visit at the Bell Street house. When Ruby moved out of the Bell Street house, Jerry unofficially moved in.
Anna’s senior year at MTSU clipped by at a frantic pace, and she began the laborious process of applying to medical schools. At first, all of the schools she applied to were in-state, but after the fall semester had ended, Anna began to apply to every med school in the southeast region. She needed a scholarship and had to expand her possibilities for getting one. Anna and Jerry had discussed her goal of going to medical school, but she neglected to tell him she applied to out-of-state universities.
One evening, Anna came home after having dinner with Jerry and her parents. She and Jerry stepped inside the Bell Street house. Ruby and Reed were sprawled out on the couch watching M*A*S*H, and Sandy was in the kitchen making brownies.
Anna slipped off her shoes. “Hey, Ruby and Reed. I didn’t know you two were coming over tonight. Something smells great.”
Sandy stuck her head in the den and said, “You’re smelling my mama’s brownie recipe, and they’ll be ready in ten minutes.” Sandy ducked back into the kitchen.
Ruby placed her hands on the back of the couch, and Reed placed his chin on Ruby’s shoulder. “We came over to watch M*A*S*H and Sandy cooked supper. Hey, you have some mail, Annabelly.” Ruby winked. Ruby and Sandy both knew she had applied to several out-of-state colleges.
Anna glanced at the large envelope from the University of Florida. Her hands trembled when she stepped over to the mail basket on the side table next to the wall closest to the hallway.
Anna looked anxiously at Jerry, Ruby, and Sandy. She ripped opened the envelope and began to read the letter. “Oh my God. I don’t believe it. I just don’t believe it. They’re offering me a Presidential Scholarship. It’s a full ride.” Anna’s parents were prepared to take out a loan against their home to pay for her medical school, but Anna didn’t want them to do that.
Anna, Sandy, and Ruby screamed at the same time. They were jumping up and down when Anna caught Jerry’s frown. She stopped and said, “Jerry, I didn’t say anything to you because I didn’t think I had a chance in hell of getting it. I still can’t believe it.” Jerry remained quiet and crossed his arms over his chest. Anna noticed his jaw tick. Quietly, Ruby, Reed, and Sandy made a hasty exit into the kitchen.
“Are you mad at me?” Anna couldn’t believe Jerry would be angry. This scholarship was her chance to be a real doctor.
With a frown, he said, “You should’ve talked to me about it, Anna. We’re supposed to get married, remember? Damn it to hell. I want you to live your dream and all, but you didn’t even discuss the possibility of going to Florida.” Jerry’s hands were shaking as she reached out for him, and he backed away from her. “Don’t, Anna. I can’t have you touch me right now.”
With palms up, she said, “Jerry, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to worry you. I didn’t think I had a chance of getting a full ride.”
Jerry’s face turned red, and his nostrils flared as he stepped in closer to her. He yelled, “That’s a crock of shit, and you know it. You didn’t tell me because you didn’t want me to try to talk you out of it. You know I’ve been in negotiations with BCS to sell them several of my software programs. You knew my business plans. I just placed a deposit for office space, and you didn’t have the damn decency to tell me you could be moving? I’m opening my new Tech World in June. You made a life-changing decision without even asking my opinion. So what are you going to do?” He placed his hands on his hips and glared at her.
Okay, so maybe that had been the real reason Anna hadn’t told Jerry. She didn’t want to be talked out of it. But Jerry just yelled at her. He had never done that before. An awkward silence lengthened between them. She was at a crossroads: stay with Jerry in Tennessee or go to medical school in Florida.
Like Alice in Wonderland, she slipped down the rabbit hole, and then she got angry. “I should’ve told you, and yeah, I guess I didn’t want you to talk me out of applying. But how can you even ask me what I’m going to do? You know how hard I’ve been working the last four years to get into medical school. Of course, I’m taking it. I don’t want my parents to mortgage their house when I can go for free. You’re acting like a real dick right now. Do you think your freaking business is any more important than me becoming a doctor?” Jerry hadn’t even congratulated her.
“Well, I may be a dick, but I’m not stupid, and right now, you’re a real bitch.” Jerry turned toward the door, and Anna grabbed his hand. He jerked away. They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, but in reality, it was only seconds. He said, “I guess we just want different things. I thought you wanted a life with me. I thought you would go to school in Tennessee, and I’d start my business, and we’d get married. But now I see that I was wrong.”
Anna poked her forefinger into his chest. “I love you. I do want to marry you. But I want to be a doctor, too. If I can go to school for free, then I’m going to do it, and if you can’t wait for me, then don’t.”
Jerry stormed out of the house and slammed the door in her face.
* * *
Jerry’s body shook with anger as he raced down the steps of Anna’s front porch. He strode to his truck and opened the door, sliding behind the wheel, and peeled out of her driveway. Jerry wanted to kick his own ass. He’d known the day was coming when Anna would leave for medical school. He’d thought at the worst she’d end up in Knoxville, a four-hour drive, not eight to Gainesville. What hurt him the worst was that Anna never indicated one damn time she was applying to out-of-state schools. It was obvious Ruby and Sandy knew all about it.
Driving past campus, Jerry turned onto East Main Street and drove to Faces. Faces was a local disco and bar that drew college students and yuppies. Monday night in the ’Boro (as the locals called it) was Deadsville, but Faces seemed to have a decent crowd by the number of cars in the parking lot. At least, he wouldn’t look like such a loser getting drunk by himself at the bar. He stepped out of the truck, shoved his hands into his pockets, and walked inside.
A huge chandelier hung inside the foyer. The club sported stylishly multi-colored lights and two huge, mirrored disco balls, but no one was on the dance floor. Tonight, the club had its recess lighting set to dim, and white candles sat in glass hurricanes on the tables. The club’s manager played Harry Chapin’s “Taxi” on the stereo. A quick glance around the room showed a smattering of people at different tables, but Jerry didn’t take the time to see if he knew anyone. At the back of the bar, Jerry slid onto one of the high-back cherry bar stools with thick black padded seats.
The bartender, Rod, took a bar towel and wiped down the counter in front of Jerry, then placed a coaster on the dark walnut bar. “Hey, Jerry. What’s up, man? You look like hell.”
Jerry raised his head and growled. He said, “No shit, Sherlock. Sorry, bad night. Give me a shot of Crown and a Heine.”
“You and Anna have a fight or something?” Rod pulled a beer from the cooler and poured Jerry a double.
Jerry grunted and said, “Or something.”
“On me, bro. Let me know if you need to talk.” Rod moved to the other side of the bar as if whatever Jerry had might be contagious.
Jerry knocked out the shot without blinking and chased it with his beer. Heat from the whiskey hit his full stomach. He looked at the green bottle and turned it slowly around in his hands before setting it on the bar. Jerry felt lost.
Someone placed a hand on his shoulder, and Jerry looked up into Rachel Doune’s eyes. She was a knockout in a tight-fitting, light gray tailored suit, and she wore a low-cut, black see-through blouse with a black lace bra. Jerry was a boob man and Rachel’s boobs demanded his attention.
“Getting your eyes full, Mac?” Rachel chuckled and slid onto the barstool beside him, resting her forearm on the bar. Rachel swiveled around in her chair and propped her
black pumps on his chair’s foot rail.
Jerry slowly moved his gaze up her throat and looked into her eyes. With a scowl, he said, “I’m not in the mood for your smart ass remarks, Rachel. Why are you so dressed up?”
Rachel threw her hands up in surrender mode. “I’m sorry. Dad and I donated a couple of fillies to the MTSU Equestrian Society, and I just wrapped up dinner and drinks with the Department Head of Agriculture. He left with a sizeable donation and seemed pretty damn happy. I was heading out the door when I noticed you sitting over here by your lonesome. Where’s the little woman?”
Jerry tensed and waved to Rod, who walked over to him. “Another shot and a Heine and whatever she wants.”
Rachel smiled at Rod, and he straightened his spine and grinned. Rachel said, “Cape Cod, Rod, and please use the Absolut, not the rotgut.” Rachel batted her eyelashes. Rod’s nostrils flared, and he looked like a dog in heat.
Jerry wanted to warn Rod he was flirting with disaster. Rachel was a man-eater. Rod placed the drinks on the bar, leaned in toward Rachel, and said, “You want to hook up later?” Rod was handsome for a dude, Jerry guessed, but not even close to Rachel’s league.
Rachel placed her hand over Rod’s and smiled. “Aw, aren’t you sweet.” She turned away from Rod to face Jerry. She said, “Tell me what happened, Jerry. I’m a very good listener.” Rod threw the bar towel in the sink, frowned at Jerry, and went back to the other side of the bar.
Jerry laughed and took a long pull from his beer. “I think you hurt Hot Rod’s feelings.”