“Ignore her,” Mace said, shaking his head. “She’s not that fond of you.”
“What did I ever do to her?”
“Well, as she said, she thinks that you will be the end of me.”
“What does that mean?”
“Well, I am breaking the laws of Heaven being with you. She thinks I will be condemned to Hell for it. Just don’t worry about it.” Mace put his arm around her and led her to the sofa in the living room.
Millie looked around the living room as she flicked the channels on the flat screen TV. The house was old-fashioned but cosy. Even if Angels did not live here, it would still feel safe. Millie tried to eavesdrop on what Mace and Teal were whispering to each other in the kitchen, but she couldn’t make it out. Millie suddenly remembered that she had to call Isabel to tell her that she was okay. Millie stood up. Mace and Teal fell silent.
“I’m going to go outside to call Isabel,” Millie announced
“No, you’re not,” Mace ordered her.
“When Zeke took me back to the prom to get my things, I ran into Isabel. She was really worried about me. I have to call her to say I’m safe.”
“I’ll come with you, then,” Mace said.
“I’m just going outside. This is an Angel safe house, isn’t it?”
“Just stay close to the house,” Mace insisted.
“Yes, your majesty.” Millie then curtsied and went out the front door. She closed the door behind her and called Isabel.
“Hello,” Isabel answered.
“It’s Millie.”
“Oh, thank God. I have been so worried about you. Everything okay? Are you safe?”
“I’m okay and I’m safe.”
“That’s so good to hear. Everyone’s now making their way to the after-party, and heaps of people are asking where the Prom King and Queen have disappeared to.”
“What have you been saying?”
“I’ve just been saying I have no idea where you went to, which is basically true.”
“I’m sorry, Isabel. I will explain everything to you soon—when it is safe.”
“You better explain it to me.”
“I will. Okay?” Millie said, rubbing her forehead.
“Okay. I trust you,” Isabel replied.
“Why are you on your phone, party pooper? Are you calling your mum like the good girl you are?” Michelle said in the background.
“Well, I guess that’s my cue to sign off,” Isabel said, sighing. “Can you call me soon so I’m not worried all the time about you?”
“I promise,” Millie said.
“Thank you. Talk soon. Bye.”
“Bye, Isabel,” Millie said, hanging up the phone. She sighed and went back inside the house.
Millie lay on the couch, fighting the temptation to go to sleep. She wanted to hug and kiss Mace, but he was still busy talking away to Teal. Autumn had wandered in and out of her room a couple of times to see what was happening. Millie felt a vibe that Autumn definitely did not like her.
Finally, her eyes fell shut. She barely woke up an hour later as Mace carried her into bed. He gently placed her under the covers. She felt his kiss on her forehead before she sighed, rolled over, and went back to sleep.
Twelve
Protecting Millie
When Millie woke up, she stretched out her arms and legs, mistakenly hitting Mace. She rolled over and saw that his eyes were closed. He was asleep. He looked so peaceful whilst he slept. Millie watched him for a while, then decided to get out of bed. She made her way to the kitchen and found Autumn cooking something on the stovetop.
“Morning,” Millie said, trying to be nice.
“It would be a pleasant one if you weren’t here,” Autumn replied.
“I could say the same,” Millie said quietly, smiling to herself.
Autumn didn’t answer.
“Where’s Teal?” Millie asked, looking around.
“Not every Angel is going to stick around protecting you all the time.”
“What’s your problem with me?” Millie asked, sick of getting attitude from Autumn.
“Do you honestly want to know?” she said, turning around and stepping closer to where Millie stood.
“Yes, I do,” Millie said, crossing her arms.
“Mace is deeply, madly in love with you. He is breaking the laws of Heaven to be with you.”
“I know he has broken the rules of Heaven for me,” Millie replied.
“You don’t truly understand what is going to happen to him,” Autumn said as her lips started to curl. “He can’t be an Angel of the Lord and be with a human.”
“I know,” Millie said, feeling bad.
“He has to fall, Millie. If he wants to be with you forever, he has to fall from grace.”
“What?”
“He needs to become a Fallen in order to be with you. I don’t want a fellow comrade to fall because he is hopelessly in love with a pitiful human like you,” Autumn said, tending to her food on the stove. “If you truly love him, you will leave him alone.” She stared at Millie.
Millie fell silent. Mace had never told her that. She felt sad and miserable about what Autumn had just said. She knew how much Mace loved God and Heaven. He despised Lucifer and Hell. Millie didn’t want Mace to fall just for her.
“Morning, girls,” Mace said, walking into the kitchen. He immediately sensed the tension in the room. “Have you made us some breakfast?” he asked charmingly.
“Make it yourself,” Autumn said as she took her plate of food into her bedroom and slammed the door behind her.
“Everything okay?” Mace asked, walking over to Millie.
“Yep,” Millie said, hugging Mace tightly.
He hugged her back, concerned. He knew something was up. “You sure?” He kissed the top of her head.
“Yes, I’m sure,” Millie said, burrowing her head in his chest. “Anyway, how was your sleep?”
“It was good. I needed to get my energy to protect my beautiful Millie,” he said softly, kissing her cheek.
Millie just smiled.
They spent all day in the house. They watched TV and talked. Suddenly, Millie’s phone rang. She was in the middle of trying to tickle Mace, but he was too strong.
“No fair,” Millie said in a sad voice.
“I’m just too strong for you,” he teased, kissing her lips.
“Hello,” Millie answered the phone.
“Hello, dear, it’s your mother,” Wendy said.
“Hey, Mum. How are you doing?”
“I’m good--thanks for asking. I just called to say that you’re very lucky to have a boyfriend who would take you away on a surprise vacation.”
“Yeah, very lucky.” Millie rolled her eyes at Mace.
“Where did he take you?”
“Ah, we’re still driving. I have no idea where we are,” Millie said, quickly making up a lie.
“Must be somewhere far. Anyway, I called to say that your father and I are going to be travelling around Europe for a couple of months. We have been planning it for a long time, but we wanted the past couple of weeks so to be focused on you and the prom.”
“Oh, wow. That’s sounds fun.”
“We are actually leaving tomorrow. We didn’t even get to say good-bye to you.”
“It’s fine, Mum. Have a wonderful time with Dad.”
“Thanks, dear. I better go finish packing. Have a wonderful short vacation, Millie.”
“Thank you. Have a great holiday.”
“Bye, Millie.”
“Bye,” Millie said, hanging up the phone. She turned to Mace. “You will not believe what she just said!”
“What did she say?” Mace asked, puzzled.
“Mum and Dad are going away to Europe for a couple of months.”
“That’s really good,” he said with a smile.
“So if we need to get out of here to protect me and what-not, we don’t have to lie to my parents. Oh, it’s great,” Millie said happily.
&nbs
p; “Their timing is pretty good.” Mace kissed her cheek and hopped up to get a glass of water.
Millie suddenly became sad as she remembered what Autumn said.
* * * * *
The rest of the day, she thought about leaving Mace for his protection, but she knew he was her Protector and could easily find her. Millie loved Mace, but she didn’t want him to fall just for her. Demons would still be after her even if she left Mace. She thought about the Demons catching her and bringing her to Hell. She thought it would actually be a good idea--it would keep Mace safe and he wouldn’t have to fall if she was missing or dead.
“You haven’t been fully yourself today,” Mace said, carving up the roast chicken they were having for dinner.
“Sorry. My mind has been elsewhere.” Millie rubbed her temples.
“That’s understandable,” Mace said with a smile.
He gave her a plate of food and they both sat down. They ate in silence, with only the sounds of forks and knives hitting the plate.
“Where’s Autumn?” Millie curiously asked.
“She’s watching her charge.”
“Is she a Protector?”
“Yes, she is. Her charge is a thirteen-year-old boy who decided it would be fun playing with a Ouija board. Now some Fallen are tormenting him.”
“That sounds horrible.”
“As far as Autumn can tell, they’re only messing around with him, but for any human, that would be frightening.”
“I would be scared shitless,” Millie said. Mace laughed.
Autumn came home and stared at Millie and Mace lying on the couch together. She huffed and went straight to her room. Millie looked at Mace as he rolled his eyes. “Isn’t she just great company?” he asked.
“Totally,” Millie replied. “Do you think I will be at school for the last weeks before summer break?” she asked, changing the subject.
“I don’t think you will be, Millie. I’m sorry, but school’s not safe for you anymore.”
“I understand. I’m going to call Isabel, okay? And tell her what’s happening.”
“Just stay close to the house,” Mace said in a worried tone.
“Yes, master,” she replied with a giggle.
Millie walked outside, shutting the door behind her. She found Isabel’s number in her phone and called it.
“Millie! I’m so glad you called.”
“Hey, Isabel, how are you?”
“I had a small hangover today, but besides that, I’m good.”
“How was the after-party?”
“I’m sad to say it was actually great.”
“That’s good to hear,” Millie said, twirling her hair.
“How are you?” Isabel asked, concerned.
“I’m okay at the moment. No need to worry about anything.”
“That’s good to hear,” Isabel said happily. “Are you coming back to school on Monday?”
Millie noticed that the street lamp outside of the house was flickering. She remembered how yesterday it wasn’t working.
“I don’t think I’m coming back to school before summer break,” Millie said, walking towards the light.
“Why? Tell me what’s happening?” Isabel demanded.
“I can’t tell you,” Millie said as she stood in the street, looking at the light. She looked down the street; all of the lights started to flicker.
“I’m just worried. I don’t understand why you’re not coming back to school,” Isabel said. Millie’s body started to shake with cold shivers. She looked towards the house and back at the street. There were now two men standing a great distance away from her. They were both dressed in black. The man on the left was tall with shoulder-length, jet black hair. The man on the right was a little shorter with chin-length, jet black hair.
“I have to go,” Millie said, with panic in her voice.
She heard Isabel yelling “What?!” as she hung up the phone.
* * * * *
Mace felt Millie was in danger. He felt an evil presence. He bolted up from the couch and ran as fast as he could to Millie’s side. He tucked Millie behind him as he saw the two men slowly walking diagonally towards them. He knew they were Fallen Angels. A moment later, Autumn ran out of the house and stood next to Mace. Her eyes studied the men. Their smiles haunted Millie. They were pale, and their eyes were dark. Millie couldn’t make out the pupils.
“What do you want?” Mace asked in a blunt voice.
“I think you know what we want,” the man with the longer hair said.
“You can’t have her,” Mace yelled at them.
“We’ll see about that,” the same man said.
Unexpectedly, Teal landed behind them. “Well, this girl has many bodyguards,” the one with the shorter hair said as he smiled.
“You better leave now,” Teal warned them.
“Or you’ll do what?” the longer-haired one spoke.
“Autumn, fly Millie away from here,” Mace ordered.
“Excuse me?” Autumn whispered back with force. “She’s not my charge.”
“Just do it.” Mace looked fiercely at her.
“Fine,” she said angrily.
“When I count to three, you grab her and go,” he said as he made eye contact with Teal. “One... two... three!”
He charged at the longer-haired one as Teal charged for the other. Autumn’s wings ripped through her shirt as she grabbed Millie from behind. Her wings fluttered, and with a gust of wind, they left solid ground. Millie looked helplessly at the battle that was happening before her feet.
Autumn flew in silence. Millie knew it was hard for Autumn to take care of her since she didn’t even like her. After they were flying for a while, all of a sudden Autumn dropped Millie. Millie tried to scream but nothing came out. With a bang, her body hit water. She reached for the surface, gulped a big breath of air, and looked around. She was in a backyard pool. The sliding door opened at the back of the house, and two women came running out. One of them was tall with long, golden locks that fell down to her hips. The other one was shorter with chin-length, bleached, blonde curls.
“Autumn, what are you doing?” the golden locks one asked.
Autumn landed on the deck besides the pool. “Oops,” she said with a snarly glare. “I must have lost my grip.” Millie’s heart was pumping fast. She was pretty sure Autumn had purposely dropped her, and she had thought Autumn was going to throw her to her death. Her heartbeat echoed through her ears. She took deep breaths to calm down.
The golden locks girl offered Millie a hand, and Millie took it. Gently, the woman pulled her from the pool.
“I’ll get her a towel,” the other woman said, jogging back inside.
“Hey, I’m Lilly,” the first girl said, smiling with her perfect white teeth. Her long, golden locks were luscious and glorious. Her skin glowed in the moonlight, as did Autumn’s. Her light brown eyes were exquisite.
“Hi, I’m Millie.”
“I know exactly who you are,” she said with another smile.
“Really?” Millie asked, standing there in soaked clothes, although she didn’t mind it since the summer heat was rolling in.
“You’re the gossip amongst Angels,” the other woman said, coming back from the house and putting a towel around Millie. “My name is Lexi,” she continued.
Her body was thin and fragile-looking, and her face had small delicate features. Her whole body looked like that of a doll but she still stood a little bit taller than Millie.
“What do you mean ‘gossip’?” Millie continued, mystified.
“You’re the talk amongst Angels. How a Protector fell in love with his charge,” Lexi explained, smiling.
“How romantic,” Lilly said, sighing.
“But the other big thing is that Heaven hasn’t stopped it. He has broken the laws for loving a human.”
“Very interesting,” Lilly added.
“Heaven would have definitely seen it by now. Wonder why they haven’t put a stop to it?” Lexi m
used, rubbing her chin and looking up to the sky.
“Maybe they see how much Mace loves Millie and they’re letting it slip,” Lilly suggested, also looking up to the sky.
“Oh, give it a rest,” Autumn said, stomping inside the house.
“She doesn’t like me that much,” Millie commented.
“Don’t worry about her. She’s always a party pooper,” Lexi reassured her.
“Come on, let’s go inside,” said Lilly with a flick of her long, luscious hair.
“Are you guys Protectors or Guardian Angels?” Millie asked as Lilly passed her a cup of hot chocolate. She took a sip that burnt her tongue. She tightened the towel around her, scared of getting the couch wet.
“We are both Guardian Angels,” Lilly said.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you guys?” Millie asked hesitantly.
“You should never ask a woman’s true age,” Lexi said in a posh voice.
Lilly chimed in. “Well, my human body is twenty-four years old, but I’m 450 years old.”
“Wow,” Millie said, blowing on her hot chocolate.
“And my body is that of an eighteen-year-old, but I am 201 years old,” Lexi said with a smile.
“She’s a young one,” Lilly said with a chuckle.
“Well, at least I don’t have wrinkles like you,” Lexi retorted with a huff.
Lilly just glared at her. Millie couldn’t see a crease on Lilly’s face. It was divine.
“You guys must have seen a lot of stuff in your lives, then,” Millie said, wondering what all they had seen.
“I was at Woodstock,” Lexi said with a chuckle. “That was fun.”
“I couldn’t stand the wars,” Lilly said as her eyes saddened. “It’s sad how Heaven and Hell have constant battles, but when humans fight amongst each other as well, it truly saddens me.”
Millie’s mind went to Mace. He was fighting a battle right now, protecting her. She wondered why he was taking so long to get back to her. Had something happened? Was he hurt? She closed her eyes in pain just thinking about Mace getting hurt.
“He’ll come for you,” Lilly said, smiling kindly, as if she knew what Millie was thinking about. Millie smiled in return.
“True love conquers all,” Lexi said with a smile, too.
“Then why don’t you two fall and find your true loves?” Autumn said harshly, walking into the living room.
White Wings Page 15