by Aron Lewes
“I want Mom...” Isaiah struggles to get the words out, “to be alright...” Pain flickers across his face as he finishes, “when I'm gone.”
With a heavy sob, Ruth scoops her son into her arms. Her trembling fingers caress his bald head as she cradles him.
We all know Isaiah's short on time—but we didn't know how short. While his mom is holding him, he flatlines again.
Isaiah just died in his mom's arms. I'm stunned. For a few seconds, I can't move or blink.
I'm so wrecked by the entire scene, I can't hold back my tears anymore. I fling myself at Taishi—who's on his feet now—and wrap my arms around him. Hugging my stern instructor is probably the craziest thing I've ever done, but I had to do it. I have this sudden, desperate need to be close to someone.
Taishi surprises me. He not only hugs me back, he hugs me tightly. When I feel his chin resting on top of my head, I cry even harder.
“It's okay, Riley-chan,” Taishi whispers to me. “Look.”
I release Taishi and turn around. Little Isaiah is standing beside his bed, looking slightly confused. That's exactly how I felt when I first died. It's really shocking to see your corpse.
Taishi directs my attention to the tall, handsome black man who's suddenly appeared in the room. “That's Isaiah's father,” my instructor whispers to me. “He died in a car crash two years ago.”
When Isaiah runs into his father's arms, I lose it again. As Ruth rocks Isaiah's dead body in her arms, the father captures Isaiah's spirit in a huge hug.
“He'll be alright,” Taishi whispers reassuringly. “It isn't so bad to go Home, is it? And he gets to be with his father.”
“Yeah...” I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand. How is Taishi not crying? Taishi tears must be even more rare than Taishi smiles. “I feel bad for Ruth, though. She just lost her son.”
“True. But you know they'll be reunited someday, so there's no reason to be sad.” Taishi's trying to cheer me up, which seems pretty out of character for him. “On the bright side, at least our mission was a success.”
I forgot about Santa Claus! When I check on Miles, he looks just as sad as I do.
“How can you find the bright side in a horrible situation, Taishi?” I ask with a roll of my eyes. “Seriously... how?”
“Because I don't think it's horrible.” When Taishi glances at the reunited father and son, his lips are lifted by the tiniest of smiles. “The mother will grow stronger from this, and the father gets to be with his son. In my opinion... all is well.”
When I reach Home, I'm an emotional wreck. After the mission with Isaiah, I feel like I want to lay down and sleep forever.
If only I could sleep. To be honest, sleep is pretty high on the list of things I miss. There was nothing better than burrowing under my blankets and losing myself for awhile. Alyx and I do have beds, but they're a little pointless. You can get cozy in them, but sleep never happens. And it hurts. It's like having permanent insomnia.
When I enter my room, I expect to find Alyx. Instead, I find Jophiel, and he's laying in my bed.
I rub my eyes to make sure I'm not dreaming. If I'm the student, and Jophiel's like the principal, it makes sense that he would want to check my progress. But you know what doesn't make sense? The fact that he's in my bed. I think he just threw our professional relationship out the window.
God, he looks even more gorgeous than usual. His golden hair is adorably windswept, his shirt is half-unbuttoned, and his many freckles are practically begging for kisses. Should I be having these thoughts about an angel? No, probably not. But I have no shame.
“Leigh!” Jophiel exclaims as he rises from bed. “I've been waiting on you for awhile. I hope you don't mind that I made myself comfortable?”
“Uh... no.” I'm telling the truth. I really don't mind. But it's still a little weird. “Where's Alyx?”
“Your roommate is finishing up her mission. Or rather... failing at her mission,” Jophiel's lips dip into a frown as he updates me. As he stalks around the room, his eyes pass over the many Regal Crimson posters. Alyx has basically wallpapered our room in them. “I think you need a new roommate, Leigh. You need someone a little less immature. You need someone who's on the same level as you. You need a...” Before he finishes, his downturned lips flip into a grin. “You need a kindred spirit, so to speak.”
“Maybe,” I halfheartedly agree. “I like Alyx, though.”
“You might like her, but she's nothing like you. I'm concerned for her. Alyx needs a reason to care. That's why she took her own life in the mortals' world. She's never had a reason to care, so she seeks out menial pleasures to fill the holes in her heart.” When Jophiel stops walking, he's standing right next to me. “But enough about Alyx! I'd rather talk about you, Leigh. For such a young spirit, you're very levelheaded and wise.”
“Thanks.” I try to match his grin. “That was supposed to be a compliment, right? You're not trying to say I'm boring or anything?”
“No.” Jophiel chuckles at my question. “Not at all. Actually, you're far from boring. I like to be around you.”
Jophiel's words are killing me. His British accent is killing me. He smells like mint, and that's killing me too. Archangel Jophiel is giving me a slow second death. This unconscionably beautiful man is standing in my bedroom, and I somehow haven't swooned.
“If I could, I would even join you on your missions,” Jophiel continues. “Taishi Nakamura is a lucky man.”
“You, uh...” When I try to talk, my words temporarily die in my throat. His close proximity is making it difficult to speak. “You can't accompany me on missions?”
“No. Unfortunately, angels aren't allowed to assist their students. They aren't supposed to, anyway. And they aren't allowed to be biased... even though I am.”
“So... you like me more than Alyx?” I ask the question and hold my breath.
Jophiel's answer almost puts me in a heavenly grave. “I like you more than anyone, dear.”
Wow. What am I supposed to say now? How am I supposed to reply to that? “That's quite a bias, then. I didn't realize you liked me that much.”
“Well... I do.” Jophiel suddenly spins away from me. Now that I'm looking at his back, I'm wondering what he would look like with wings. “And I... I shouldn't have said that.”
“No!” I practically shout at him. “I like that you said it. I, uh... I really like you too, Jophiel.” The word like doesn't even begin to describe the extent of my feelings. It's too weak and too sweet. Lust would be more appropriate.
“Do you?” When he faces my direction again, I realize he's blushing too. Even his ears are a little bit red, which is beyond adorable. “I don't know how to explain it, Leigh. As soon as I saw you in the back of the classroom, struggling to manifest a banana, I knew you were special. I was drawn to you. I wanted to see you succeed, and I wanted to see a smile on your face.”
Everything about this entire moment is unbelievable. There aren't enough words to express how completely and utterly shocked I am. I've been crushing on Jophiel since moment one, and I had no idea he was crushing on me too. This is surreal. If I could still sleep, I would think I was dreaming.
Jophiel's unbelievable speech continues. “I was drawn to the sweetness of your character. I was fascinated by your purity. It's been a long time since I've felt this way about anyone.”
“Really?” After all that, all I can manage is a one-word answer. I probably sound like an idiot.
“I've been celibate for three thousand years.”
My jaw drops at his unexpected confession. “Really?”
“Yes.” Jophiel's answer is accompanied by a chuckle—and it's a nervous chuckle. “I made a vow to myself a long time ago. I never wanted to succumb to the carnal parts of my nature. Many angels make this vow.”
For a third time in a row, all I can say is “Really?” My loss for words is seriously frustrating.
“What I feel for you... hasn't happened to me in centuries. I can't stop thinkin
g about you, Leigh. I don't want to stop thinking about you.”
I can't stop thinking about you either. That's what I want to say, but my tongue is truly tied. Besides, for some weird reason, Taishi's face keeps flashing into my mind.
“Have I shocked you?” Jophiel asks. “Perhaps I've said too much?”
“No, I'm glad you said all this.” If I was even a little bit brave, I would reach for his hand right now. “Honestly, Jophiel, I feel exactly the same way.”
“Ugh! You're terrible, Leigh! You're an awful, awful girl. You're really testing me!” He playfully throws up a fist. “I don't want to break my vow of celibacy, but you're making it very difficult.”
Of course, I want him to break it, but there's no way I could tell him that.
“If I can't stand it...” As he speaks, Jophiel sweeps a lock of my hair behind my ear. “If I absolutely cannot hold out... would you mind if I indulged myself in a kiss?”
“I think I could live with that.” My answer is perfect. It's slightly witty and a little bit flirty.
“That's good to know. But for now, I should really drag myself away.” Jophiel slides to the door, putting an end to our perfect moment.
I still can't believe it actually happened. I can't believe he was standing in front of me, confessing his feelings. I always thought Jophiel was totally unattainable.
Apparently, I was wrong.
The next day, I'm still reeling from my encounter with Jophiel. The handsome Archangel has usurped every thought in my head. Alyx and I are in our beds, killing time with our LightTabs. I'm glad she can't see my screen, because I'm searching for shirtless pictures of Jophiel. Believe it or not, they exist.
It's Alyx's fault. She's the one who put the thought in my head. When she mentioned the shirtless picture of Archangel Michael, I started wondering if other Archangels posed for shirtless pictures. That's when I fell down the rabbit hole. I've been staring at Jophiel's lean, muscular chest for more time than I care to admit. He's not hulking like Michael, but he definitely looks good. Actually, I'm not into hulking muscles, so Jophiel is perfect.
When Alyx suddenly speaks, she makes me jump. If she knew what I was looking at right now, I'd be embarrassed for the rest of my afterlife.
“Do you think I could get Wilma Dawes to take me to a Regal Crimson concert?” she asks. “If I promised to work really hard on our next mission, do you think she would take me? It could be my reward.”
“I don't know,” I answer with a shrug. “You'd have to ask her.”
“Maybe it would be too hardcore for her? I mean... she's pretty old, and she grew up in a different era,” Alyx muses. “Still... she's pretty frustrated with me for not putting any effort into the spirit guide stuff. If I play my cards right, maybe I could get her to agree to this.”
I continue our conversation while drooling over Jophiel pics. I still can't believe he would like me. The Archangels are like celebrities here. “Have you learned how to warp yet?”
“No. Have you?”
“Yeah.” I have to consciously sweep a grin from my lips. Even though Alyx used to brag to me about her advanced manifestation skills, I don't want to look like a gloater.
“Aww. Seriously?” Alex whines. “If I knew how to warp, my life would be so much easier. Hell, I could probably make it to the Regal Crimson concert on my own!” Suddenly, she's crossing her arms and pouting like a petulant little girl. “Your instructor's better than mine. It's totally not fair! He's hotter than mine, too. Like... way, way hotter.”
A lot of people seem envious of my time with Taishi. Now that he's softened up a bit, I'm starting to understand why they would envy me. He's got a lot of experience, and I've never met anyone more determined.
Alyx isn't interested in his experience, though. When she pulls up a picture of Taishi Nakamura in an unbuttoned black shirt, I almost choke.
“Daaaaamn girl! You get to hang out with that all day!” Alyx exclaims. “I seriously hate you right now.”
“Um... why are there pictures of Taishi on the LightTab? He's not one of the Archangels.”
“No, but he's close. Look!” She pulls up information on a site I've never visited. “Taishi's got over three hundred thousand fans on Spirit Sanctum.”
“What's Spirit Sanctum?”
“Oh my god, you've never heard of it? Spirits can make fanpages for angels and—”
A sudden knock interrupts Alyx's explanation. When I answer the door, I almost gasp. It's Taishi, and he's dressed like a cowboy.
It takes me a moment to absorb his unusual clothes. He's wearing a form-fitting black vest over a crisp white shirt. His pants are black too, and there's a huge metal buckle on his belt. He's also wearing a studded cowboy hat, black leather gloves, and there are two guns holstered at his hips. I wonder if they're real?
“Hello, Riley-san.” Taishi sounds a bit bored when he greets me. “These clothes should tell you where we're going today.”
Before I can answer, I get a message on my LightTab. It's from Alyx.
Your boy is looking hot as hell.
With a nervous chuckle, I quickly close the message and focus on Taishi. “Are we going to the Wild West?” I ask.
“We are. We're heading to the year 1880. As you might imagine, our human charge will be a bit different this time.”
Another message from Alyx flashes across my screen.
Seriously... cowboy clothes? I'm shook af. Taishi is so hot, I am literally crying on the inside.
I barely have time to check my message before Alyx speaks up. “Hey, Taishi. We were just looking at this picture of you.” With no regard for my future embarrassment, she shows him the picture on her screen. It's the picture where his shirt's unbuttoned.
“That's... interesting,” he replies, looking a bit sheepish.
“Alyx was looking at the picture,” I correct her. I don't want my instructor to think I'm crushing on him.
“Pfft! As if you weren't looking at it too!”
“But it's on your LightTab!” I argue.
“Yeah, but you liked it. Admit it. You think he's hot.”
If I could resurrect Alyx and choke the life out of her, I would. Believe me, I would.
“You're pretty close to becoming an angel, aren't you?” Alyx asks my instructor. “That's why you've got so many fans, right?”
“I am close. I'm one hundred and fifty-six credits away from angel status. And because my rating is rather... high... I'll actually be an Archangel.” Taishi seems a bit reluctant to boast. “Has anyone told you ladies about the thousandth mission?”
“No.” Alyx replies first, then she manifests a lollipop and sticks it in her mouth. “Tell us, Mr. Nakamura.”
Mr. Nakamura? That sounds so wrong, especially from Alyx.
“After you've completed your thousandth mission, whether your rating is high or low, you have to make a choice,” Taishi tells us. “Either you can continue your spirit work and aim for angel status, or you can be resurrected in the mortals' world. You can enter a new life without any memories of your old one.”
“Wow. Why did no one tell us this?” Alyx complains. “That seems like an important piece of information.”
“It is,” Taishi agrees. “You're a long way off, of course, but it's something to consider. Anyway... are you ready, Riley-san?”
I can't even look at him right now. Ever since Alyx showed him the picture, I've been staring at the floor. “Uhh... yeah. Sure. Do you think I should change my clothes?”
“If you want to. You're certainly welcome to do so.”
I do a quick search for “cowgirl” on the LightTab, hoping for some inspiration. While I'm looking at pictures of my potential new clothes, I get another message from Alyx.
I just decided something. Your instructor is hotter than any of the Archangels. For real. I just changed your contact name from Leigh to Lucky Bitch.
I trash her message and go back to choosing clothes. When I finally find my inspiration, I close my eyes an
d manifest some jeans, a plaid shirt, and a ten gallon hat.
As soon as I'm dressed, Taishi doesn't wait for me to tell him I'm ready. He grabs my wrist and whisks me down to earth. As we drift through space, he seems quieter than usual. So am I. Alyx's semi-shirtless picture of Taishi has killed our camaraderie. I hate her right now.
When we reach our destination, my eyes swell. We arrived in the middle of a hanging. There's a guy with a noose around his neck, and a small crowd is waiting for him to drop.
“What's this?” I whisper to my instructor.
“This... isn't what I expected.” Taishi's teeth clench as he checks his LightTab. “Riley-san, that is our charge.”
“Who?”
“Him.” Taishi points at the curly-haired cowboy with the rope around his neck. “He's the one we're supposed to help. His name's Jamie Weston, he's twenty-six years old... and apparently, he's been sentenced to death.”
“You weren't expecting this?”
“No.” Rare worry creases my instructor's brow.
Our charge is standing on a barrel. At any moment, his executioner could kick the barrel, and Jamie would swing. “Why are they hanging him? Do you have any idea?” I ask.
“Well, he's an outlaw,” Taishi reveals, sighing heavily. “He's robbed banks and trains... and he set fire to a mayor's house. This mission is supposed to teach you a very specific lesson, Riley-san. You might not always agree with your charges, but you still have to support them.”
“Okay.” I can't stop staring at the rope around Jamie's neck. “To begin with, we should probably try to prevent his death.”
“Obviously,” Taishi agrees. “Do you have any ideas?”
“None. Literally none.” Taishi's better at this, so I think I'll leave it up to him.
To my surprise, Taishi sprouts wings. They're not the same as angel wings. They're smaller and grayish. They're more like a pigeon's than a dove's. Sensing my confusion, he explains, “You get your wings after your three thousandth mission.”