by C. L. Coffey
I perched on the edge of the bed and hesitated at pulling out a beignet. These things came loaded with sugar and I, unlike Cupid, had reservations about getting it all over his bedspread.
“If you don’t eat that, I will,” Cupid shrugged. I looked over at him and didn’t doubt the statement. I found the best compromise I could and ripped the bag open, using it as a plate. Cupid watched me eat for a while, then leaned back and stretched his long and skinny legs out. “So what’s up?”
“Nothing,” I shrugged.
Cupid stared at me, unblinking. Then he took a deep breath. “Do you know what are truly fascinating? Rivers,” he said, without waiting for a response from me. “Not the stuff in it, but how they form. I’ve watched them all form, carving their routes through the landscape.”
I stared blankly at him, trying to work out if he was leading with an analogy and how it worked with me. I was assuming I was the river, and then he changed the topic.
“And compost,” Cupid said. “How you can watch something break down over time-”
“How do I get Michael to let me call one of my friends to tell her what happened to me?” I blurted out.
Cupid looked puzzled. “You can’t. And why would you want to?”
“I need someone to talk to,” I muttered.
Cupid cocked his head at me, and then leaned forward, offering a powdered covered hand for a handshake. I looked at it in confusion. “Hi Angel, I’m Cupid.”
“I know,” I pointed out.
“Then you know you can talk to me,” he said. “Michael is big and grumpy, but I’m not. I’m kinda like a teddy bear. But I’m not, because I’m tall and sexy; kick butt at archery, and my head’s not full of cotton wool. I do like hugs though. I also like Stephen Amell. I could be his teddy bear.”
“I don’t doubt any of that for one moment, and I’m confident Stephen Amell would like you as his teddy bear. The thing is, you are an angel. Albeit a very sexy and modest one,” I quickly added before he could object. I pulled my legs up underneath me. “I miss college, and I can’t believe there came a point in my life where I’m admitting this, but I miss writing assignments. I miss being able to crush on a guy and know that I could go up to him and ask him out if I wanted to. You know? Human stuff.”
“You know not all guys are off limits to you, right?” Cupid asked me.
“What does that mean exactly?” I asked. “There’s going to be someone out there for me with a giant neon sign saying I’m the one?” I frowned. “Or are you telling me I get dibs on the saints?” Veronica had said that saints weren’t human or angelic. “Are any of them still single?”
“You need to look a little closer to home,” Cupid grinned.
“Paddy, while exceptionally pretty, is not my type. She’s also not single,” I pointed out, taking a bite of the beignet. I froze, things suddenly clicking into place, and then started choking. “Cupid, are you talking about Michael?” I asked him, hoping, that he would burst out laughing at the absurd question. “Have I been on a date with Michael? Was taking me to Paris his attempt to take me on a date?”
Cupid didn’t laugh.
He grinned.
“Cupid,” I said, carefully. “Don’t play cupid. Michael doesn’t see me that way.”
Cupid folded his arms, looking fractionally offended at my words. “The fact that humans remain ridiculously unaware is why I ‘play cupid’.”
“I’m not human anymore. And he’s…” I trailed off.
“Your superior?” Cupid suggested. “Because that won’t always be the case.”
I chewed at my lower lip. I was still feeling down about the prospect of not being able to be with Joshua, that I couldn’t even look at Michael like that. “Don’t push this one, Cupid,” I sighed. When Cupid grinned at me I rolled my eyes at him and left him in his room.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Different Types of Demon
With the exception of saving Joshua’s life, the next three days followed a very similar pattern. After breakfast I was spending my mornings with Cupid. We had finally graduated onto multiple targets, and I was no longer standing on the spot to hit them. For lunch, I returned to Paris with Michael where he took me to the Arc de Triomphe and a host of other Parisian landmarks, all while submerging me in their history. I learned about the French Revolution, and even the current political system. I would then return to New Orleans in the late afternoon, where I would resume my training with Raphael.
It wasn’t until I was making my way through the lasagna piled high on my plate that I remembered the plans that Veronica and I had made, and that was only because she dropped into the chair opposite, and gave me a pointed look. “Oh, fluffy ducks!” I exclaimed.
“I’ll give you fluffy ducks,” Veronica growled at me. “You are supposed to be investigating Bee’s,” she reminded me.
I set my fork down. “I will go see Ty,” I sighed. I abandoned what was left of my lunch and went straight to my room, quickly showering and changing. As Cupid and I had wrapped up for lunch, Michael and Raphael had both appeared to tell me that they had business to take care of that afternoon and probably wouldn’t be back until late evening. With the afternoon to do as I wished, I left the convent and took a short walk to Bourbon Street.
Although it was busier than last time I had been there, for another Wednesday afternoon it was still rather quiet. I couldn’t help but stand on the corner, watching the main doors of Bee’s. It was one of the bars that closed during the day, but I was tempted to try my luck and see if I could break in. I didn’t.
Instead I walked into Qube. I waited patiently for Ty to finish serving, sliding onto a vacant stool. He spotted me, nodded his head in acknowledgement, and moved on to a couple that had been waiting before me. I grabbed one of the papers which had been left on the bar and pulled it towards me. The headline read ‘Luke Goddard to Kick Off World Tour from New Orleans’.
I had no idea who Luke Goddard was, but that wasn’t why I had grabbed the paper. In the bottom corner of the front page was another news story. ‘Three Bodies in Three Weeks’. A pang of guilt hit me. Joshua was technically still my charge and I still hadn’t spoken to Michael since I had walked away from him.
“I didn’t think you were coming back,” Ty told me.
I looked up. “I’m sorry, I got busy with,” I shrugged. “Work?” I offered lamely.
Ty frowned slightly but didn’t comment. Instead his attention was distracted by the previous day’s bruises, which already beginning to fade away. “What the hell happened to you?” he demanded, reaching for my arm.
I sat back, keeping my arm out of his reach, and shrugged. “I’m fine. I came to see if the ID was ready.”
His eyes narrowed. “You know, I don’t actually know your name,” he told me suddenly.
My mouth flapped open and closed a couple of times before I realized he was right. At no point had I ever actually introduced myself. “Angel,” I told him, offering my hand.
He took it, grinning as he shook it. “Your ID isn’t ready,” he told me. “Quality takes time. However, the… acquaintance who is making it has promised me it will be ready for Saturday.” He glanced behind at the clock before turning back to me. “I’m done in ten minutes. Are you free this afternoon?”
I told him I was, and waited for him to finish his shift. We left the bar and I followed him a few blocks over to the banks of the Mississippi and one of the sheltered lookout points. I found a quiet corner and stared out over the river. “What exactly is this project?" I asked Ty as he set up his camera.
Ty flicked the cover off the lens and paused. “Would you mind if I didn’t tell you?” he asked me. “It’s just I don’t want to say anything which could affect how you are in the pictures.”
“I guess,” I agreed, suddenly feeling awkward. I glanced over my outfit. Suddenly I wished I’d paid a little more attention to what I was wearing, especially considering I was having my photo taken. “Do you need me to change?”
“I’m sorry,” I said, smoothing my hands over my skirt. “I’ve just never done this before.”
Ty took a step back and tilted his head slightly. “I know I mentioned it before, but I really do have a girlfriend, you know? This isn’t some really lame attempt to try and pick you up.” When I hesitated, he slipped his hand into his back pocket and pulled out his phone, finding something on it, and handing it over. I took it, staring at the picture of him with his arm wrapped around a pretty girl with an immaculate bob. “Claudia and I have been together for five months now.”
“It’s not that,” I assured him. Despite Veronica’s comments, I wasn’t interested, and even if he turned out to be a weirdo, I was already dead, and more than capable of fending off a would-be attacker – although I really didn’t get that vibe from him. It was more of the fact that I had no experience at modeling.
Ty rubbed his hand over his jaw before allowing the strap around his neck to bear the weight of the camera. He led me over to the railing and leaned against it, looking out over the water. “What do you want to do when you finish college?” he asked me.
Given that I was never going to finish college, I didn’t know how to answer that. Even if I was going to finish college, I still didn’t know how to answer that. I gave my best noncommittal shrug. “I don’t know. How about you?”
Ty gave me a grin. “I graduate in January. I should be going to grad school.”
I nodded at the camera. “Photography?”
Ty let out a deep sigh, and ran his hand through his hair. “I’m still undecided,” he finally admitted.
“Is this where you tell me you’re that bad at photography and that my face is the only thing that is going to save your project?” I asked him, giving him a cheeky grin.
He laughed and picked up the camera, and started taking pictures. “They’re not award-winning, but my photos aren’t that bad,” he responded, clicking away. “So don’t worry too much: my grade, and ultimately my future, is not dependent on you.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “My father wants me to go into to the family business.”
I completely forgot all about the camera and turned to stare out over the water, focusing my attention on a slow moving barge. “Do you want to go into the family business?” I asked.
“I’m not really sure if I’ve got any choice in the matter,” Ty admitted quietly. “I think my future has already been decided for me.”
“What does your mother think of it?” I asked.
“My father brought me up,” Ty muttered. His tone had changed, and I glanced over at him. Instead of taking my picture, he was staring out at the barge I had been focused on. “My mom ...” Ty sighed sadly. “She left when I was little.”
“I’m sorry,” I told him. I was starting to see that Ty and I had a few things in common, but I couldn’t work out how to put it into words.
“I don’t really remember her, but dad said she had problems, and it was for the best. Ever since then, it has just been me and dad,” Ty explained.
“What does your dad do?” I asked. At Ty’s puzzled look, I shrugged. “You said he wants you to go into the family business: what is the family business? Saving people? Hunting things?” Apparently Ty didn’t watch that show. “If it were me, and my dad was an accountant, that wouldn’t be a great job. But, if he was a chocolate tester, I could live with that.”
That earned me a small smile. Ty shook his head. “Let’s just say, he raises money, and organizes events.”
“Is that your way of saying he does charity, or he’s into something completely illegal?” I asked, starting to chuckle. The laughter died in my throat and I didn’t hear what Ty replied with. Radio Joshua had suddenly jumped from comfortable background levels, to a loud emergency broadcast. He was in trouble.
“Angel?” Ty clicked his fingers in front of my face. “Is everything all right?”
My eyes came to focus on Ty’s concerned gray ones. “I’m really sorry, but I have to go.”
“Angel?” Ty’s hand came to rest on my shoulder. “Seriously? Is everything okay? Is there anything I can do?”
I shook my head, and forced a smile. “I’m sorry,” I repeated. “I’ve just remembered something I’ve got to do.”
Ty took a step back and pulled his camera off. “Was it this? Because I swear, my intentions are only to take your photograph, and if you don’t feel comfortable, we don’t have to do this.”
“I promise, Ty, I don’t mind doing this,” I assured him. “But I do have to go. Maybe, I could find you tomorrow?”
“Sure,” Ty agreed, although he didn’t look convinced. As Radio Joshua sent another emergency broadcast, I gave Ty a smile and left. I would just have to call in later to prove I was being serious.
* * *
Joshua was back in the bar where I had first met him: The Salty Dog. It was still early, and combined with the fact the bar was at the opposite end to Canal Street, it was still relatively quiet. I ignored the looks I was getting from the small group at the bar, and walked past them, into the back. With a sigh, I realized that Joshua was in the bathroom. Given that the feeling of pain I was tuned into wasn’t disappearing, I pushed the door open and stepped into the small room.
I haven’t been in many men’s bathrooms, but on the odd occasion I had (I’d been drunk and not paying enough attention), I had come to learn they all shared the same unpleasant smell. This one was no different. There were two cubicles in the far corner, and several urinals opposite the door. On the wall that shared the door were a handful of wash basins and underneath one of them was Joshua. “Joshua!” I exclaimed, darting over. I could smell the alcohol on him before he opened his mouth.
“Angel?” he returned, blinking up at me. His blue eyes were dark, and ringed with red, and he seemed to be struggling to see me clearly.
“What are you doing down there?” I asked him, crouching down next to him. “You’re bleeding,” I blurted out, spotting the split lip. Joshua stared at me in confusion before raising his hand from the floor and touching his lip. “Don’t do that,” I snapped at him, cringing as I tried to ignore the state of the floor. “What happened?”
He groaned, pushing me back as he reached up for the sink and tried to pull himself to his feet. I leaped forward, helping him up. “I’m fine,” he shot at me, trying to push me away.
“Looks like it,” I muttered, dodging the arm and using it against him as I ducked under it and took his weight.
“You’re not looking so hot yourself, darlin’,” he informed me.
“How about we get you to bed?” I suggested.
“Only if you’re joining me,” he returned with his infamous smirk.
I chose to ignore him and led him out of the bar. Until I started walking in the direction of Canal Street to hail down a cab, he was compliant. When he worked out where we were going, he began to resist. “Joshua, I can’t carry you home,” I told him. “I need to get us in a cab.”
“My car,” he told me.
I snorted. “You are not driving anywhere,” I informed him.
I thought he was going to fight me on that, but the reasonable side of him won out, and he plucked his car keys from his pocket and thrust them at me. “You drive her.”
I blinked, but took the keys. “And where is it parked?”
“She,” he corrected me.
“Fine,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Where is she parked?”
Joshua stood upright, pulling himself off my shoulder. He swayed for a moment, and then looked up and down the street. “This way,” he announced suddenly, pulling me down a side street.
To give him credit, he led me to the car. I unlocked it and watched as he climbed into the passenger seat. As soon as his seatbelt was securely fastened, I hurried around and slipped in behind the wheel. I started the engine and the radio began blasting out a country song I didn’t recognize. I shot Joshua a dis
approving glare before leaning over and turning it down.
“My car, my radio,” Joshua snapped at me, turning it back up.
I took a deep breath but decided that I wasn’t going to fight him. If nothing else, it would keep away any awkward conversation that I knew was coming. Instead, I navigated the early evening traffic, ignoring the fact I could feel Joshua’s gaze boring into the side of my head, and made my way to the north-easterly part of the city.
“How do you know where I live?” he asked me, suspiciously.
I rolled my eyes. “Maybe from the time you brought me here a few weeks ago?” I muttered, pulling into his apartment complex and straight into his assigned parking spot. “How’d you split your lip?” I asked, giving him a pointed look as I killed the engine.
For a time the only sound in the car was our breathing. Finally, Joshua cocked his head, taking in my appearance. “What are you wearing?” His confused expression turned into a suspicious one. “Because it looks like you’ve just been on a date.”
“Come on,” I muttered instead, pulling the door open. I made my way around to his side of the car and opened his door for him, offering out my hand.
He took it, and I pulled him out, using my hip to close the door. By the time I had glanced back up from locking his car, I realized he was just standing there, watching me. “What are you doing here?” he asked me.
I frowned. It was a good question, really, but the answer as simple. “I’m trying to keep you out of trouble. Looks like I was too late though,” I added, nodding at his lip.
Slowly, he ran his tongue over his lip, pausing slightly on the cut, all the while staring at my own lips. Then his eyes flicked up to meet mine. “You could kiss it better, you know.”
Trust me when I say, I really, really wanted to. But rules were rules. So I reacted in the only way I knew how to with Joshua. I swiped his forearm. “Quit with the flirting,” I scolded him.