by Unknown
“What do you think of our angelic visitor?” I asked Daniel.
He turned and looked across. “He’s an angel, how bad can he be?” he laughed. I grunted and walked away.
Agnes was now dancing with Matthew as Imogen and Morgan twirled around beside them and Beth and Lauren were deep in conversation. I felt a little like an outsider. Geordie and I were the only ones not really related in one form or another. I looked down to Geordie’s seat to gauge his reaction. He wasn’t there.
What was the little fucker up to now?
I walked into the house, making my way to the kitchen. Sure enough, he had climbed up on to the bench and was working his way through the cheeses and bread rolls we had prepared for the barbeque.
“Aren’t you meant to be on a diet?” I snapped at him as he looked up guiltily, his cheeks bulging and sauce dripping down the front of his shirt.
“Keep ya voice doon, she’ll hear ye,” he stuttered in panic, spitting bits of cheese all over the place. I stepped forward and made a grab for him but he dodged away and vaulted off the bench. He sailed through the air and landed on the table, skittering across the surface and sliding closer and closer to the edge. I thought he would go straight over the side but he managed to hang on by the skin of his fingertips. I advanced on him as he dangled, trying to hook his leg up and save himself from falling.
“You stupid little twerp, you’re going to do yourself an injury!” I folded my arms and glared at him.
“Well giz a hand, man!” One arm fell away and he swung violently. He threw his arm back up and managed to secure his grip.
“Why should I?” I glared at him.
“Howay man Nat, a cannit hauld on much longa!” He tried hooking his leg over the edge again but his portly little stomach kept getting in the way. Just as I reached across to rescue him, something clicked and the secret drawer popped open, pulling Geordie’s fingers away from the surface and he slid backwards, freefalling with a look of panic on his face.
I caught him mid-flight and his little finger nails dug into the top of my index finger, piercing the skin, as he clung to me in panic. A trickle of blood made its way to the surface as I dropped him none too gently back on to the table.
I shook my hand to get rid of the sting and looked down at the contents of the drawer. This was where we’d hidden the vials containing the spirits of the witch finders and I looked in, surprised to see one vial still in there. I’d forgotten all about it. It was the demon that had taken possession of Lauren and we’d trapped him, thinking we could trade for Matthew’s soul.
Catching his breath and clutching his chest, Geordie’s eyes followed mine to the drawer. His eyes lit up and he put his hands on his lips, staring at the vial with a huge smile on his face.
“You’ve been holding out on me, Nat! You’ve got a secret stash!”
I knew instinctively he thought this was alcohol. As he jumped into the drawer and reached for the vial I snatched it up. All we needed was this little idiot freeing the demon then the party would really kick off!
“Don’t ever touch this, it’s not alcohol,” I snapped at him as the blood from my finger stained the cork.
“What’s going on in here?” Selina stood at the door, hands on hips and glaring at us both. She looked at the vial in my hand and her face went white.
“We still have that?” she asked.
I looked at her in amazement. “What were we going to do with it? Throw it in the rubbish?”
“Don’t’ be a smart arse, it doesn’t suit you,” Selina scowled at me.
I looked down at the vial in my hand. “I’m going to find somewhere safe to store this in case wee man here decides he wants to find out for real it’s not brandy!”
I transported and materialised in my room at Lauren’s house to hide the vial. I looked around and wondered where would be the best place to put it, deciding to shove it in the bedside table drawer until I could get Daniel to deal with it more appropriately. I yanked the drawer open and placed the vial carefully on top of a pile of papers, closing the drawer as if it contained nitro-glycerine and would explode at the drop of a hat. I looked at the closed drawer and wondered at the wisdom of leaving it unlocked. I’d just have to keep my eyes on Geordie until we had it dealt with.
When I transported back, Selina was giving Geordie hell in the kitchen for breaking his diet so I left her to it and walked back outside to join the others.
I took a seat on the grass, crossing my legs and sucking my finger to stop the blood flow. It healed instantly and I smiled in satisfaction just as Zerachiel pushed a glass towards my face.
I snatched it out of his hand, ungratefully and glared at him. Unconcerned, he smiled and dropped down beside me, clutching his own drink.
“So if you’re an angel, how come you don’t have wings?” I asked at last, looking over at Imogen as she did cartwheels across the garden. I felt him smile.
“If you’re a demon, how come you don’t?” he asked. Touché. Daft question, really. I wasn’t giving him an inch though.
“I was banished, what’s your excuse?” I looked at him.
Big mistake.
His eyes were twinkling at me and they sucked me in until all I could see was his face. I inhaled sharply and then felt my cheeks turn pink. What the fuck? I was embarrassed? That never happened.
“My wings are there, but I choose when to make them visible. I won’t need them at a party, will I Natalia?”
I wondered if he was asking if I planned to cause any trouble then I wondered what he would do if I did. My nether regions tingled painfully. I didn’t reply but looked back at Lauren who was now three sheets to the wind and laughing loudly at something Beth had said. I looked sideways at Zerachiel who was still looking at me, a grin on his face and his blue eyes twinkling with mischief. I broke eye contact immediately and looked across at the others.
“So why were you banished? Trying to overthrow the Devil were we?” He smiled and his eyes twinkled again. I wanted to smash his handsome face in.
“Listen Saccharine, I’m really not interested in striking up a friendship with an angel, so why don’t you pick on someone your own size?”
“It’s Zerachiel, and no one’s ever complained about my size before.” He grinned and wiggled his eyebrow at me. I almost swallowed my tonsils. This guy was an angel? I was seriously confused; he would have made a great demon.
“Oh? I think Saccharine suits you better, it means fake sweetness.” I turned away, watching the others.
Zerachiel chuckled. “So I take it you think I’m both sweet and fake? Trust me, Natalia, there’s nothing fake about me, so how about you just call me sugar?” He hid his smile in his glass as he took another drink. I was tempted to tip it over his head but Agnes was watching me like a hawk to make sure I behaved and I didn’t want to disappoint her.
“So why are you here?” I asked him finally, ignoring his comment and looking at him again. The eyes were still there. Holy fuck.
“I thought it might be fun, consorting with the enemy for a change.” He smiled and reached across, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lightly touching my skin and burning a trail across my cheek. The demon in me roared and I reined her in, wiping away the feel of his touch with my fingers.
“Keep your hands to yourself, Saccharine…” I snapped, “…or you might find yourself short of a finger or two!”
“Food’s served!” Daniel banged a metal tray of chicken down on to the glass table top and a mad scramble ensued. I jumped up, grateful for the interruption, and walked away from him towards the others. I was so not getting involved with an angel.
By the end of the night, Geordie was snoring in his armchair, his trousers unbuttoned to accommodate his bulging stomach. He’d eaten his own body weight in chicken and made himself sick, much to Selina’s annoyance.
The party was still in full swing with the girls a little drunk and still dancing on the lawn. They’d roped in Zerachiel and for an angel, he
had some filthy moves. Try as I might to ignore him, my eyes kept searching him out.
Zerachiel hadn’t approached me again all evening and I wasn’t sure if I was relieved or not. I’d felt him staring at me several times and I’d willed myself not to catch his eye. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.
I looked across at Daniel and Lauren, who were talking with Matthew. Beth and Agnes were sitting in a cluster to their left, arguing over potions and Selina was listening avidly, trying to pick up some tips. One look at Selina and I knew she was drunk. Lucky bitch. At least she didn’t have far to fall in to bed as she was stopping the night with Lauren and Daniel.
I walked across to join them just as Selina turned on Agnes. “So come on, Agnes, tell us, how did you and Matthew meet?” Matthew grinned over the tops of their heads and came and sat down to join in the conversation.
“You going to tell them, Agnes, or shall I?” he asked, his eyes gleaming. Agnes blushed and I almost swallowed my tonsils. I’d never seen her embarrassed before.
“It was all perfectly innocent!” she exclaimed, glaring at Matthew who burst out laughing, his entire body shaking with mirth.
“The first time I saw Agnes, she was naked as a jaybird,” he started and Agnes wacked him in the arm.
“I was getting washed in the stream and you were spying on me, you mean. Pervert!”
“Yes, and me a married man,” he laughed. “Mind you…” he turned to Lauren and winked, ”..my wife didn’t understand me!” Lauren flushed red and laughed. “She told you I said that? Agnes, that’s awful!” Agnes flipped her finger and stuck out her tongue. Matthew just laughed.
“Yes,” he continued, “…it was a beautiful summer’s day and I thought to myself, why not do a spot of fishing? I caught more than I bargained for, that day, let me tell you. One look at that luscious arse and I was the fish, caught hook line and sinker!” He grabbed Agnes by the backside and she squealed with delight.
“So how did you end up getting together?” Selina pushed.
“He joined my coven,” Agnes said. “After weeks of skirting around each other he decided to try and push things along with a love potion. Pity for him the drinks got mixed up and ninety five year old Beattie drank the lot. It took us weeks before we finally realised why she’d suddenly taken to wearing bustier tops and following him about town.”
Daniel chuckled at the tale, rubbing his fingers through Lauren’s hair. “So you’ve always had a thing for the older woman, then Matthew?” he asked, laughing at the look of shock on Agnes’ face.
“Actually, I don’t see what you see, son, I see the nubile young sex goddess I left behind 400 years ago,” he leaned over the kissed Agnes soundly on the lips to a round of ahhs from the growing crowd.
I felt a strange sadness settle over me as I watched them. So this was love? I looked up and caught Zerachiel looking at me with a strange expression on his face. I turned away and drained my glass, walking across to the table to put it down with the growing pile of plates containing half eaten food and empty beer cans.
I realised I was ready to make my way back to Lauren’s. I’d drunk enough brandy to sink a ship and was annoyed that it hadn’t had the desire effect. I was still standing.
I decided not to break up the party but just to slip away and I transported myself back home without saying goodbye.
I stood at the foot of the bed and looked down at my leathers, instantly transforming them into a siren red lace-up negligee, transparent and sexy as hell, and then collapsed on to my bed. I was hoping that it might life my mood. It didn’t. Sadness wasn’t something I experienced very often but I brushed it off and decided to go to sleep.
I pulled the covers over myself and lowered my head to the pillow, closing my eyes ready for sleep to take me. Suddenly, there was a loud bang and it sounded like it had come from the kitchen. I sat up quickly and listened.
“Natalia!”
It was Agnes. What the hell was she doing here? I climbed back out of bed and changed the negligee for pyjama bottoms and a t-shit then made my way down stairs.
I walked in to the kitchen to see Agnes swaying next to the upturned kitchen table.
“Why did you leave without saying goodbye? I wanted to talk to you,” Agnes slurred, putting her hands on her hips. Her cheeks were flushed, a dead giveaway that she’d had more than a little too much to drink. I walked over to the table and set it back on its legs then turned to the kettle and switched it on.
“So you decided to come and look for me? What was so important?” I asked, pulling the lid of the coffee jar.
She huffed and pulled a chair out to take a seat. Unfortunately, her aim was off and she landed on the floor. I ignored her and took two cups out of the cupboard. When I turned back, she was sitting looking comfortable with her legs crossed and her chin resting on her hand. Her hair sticking up at odd angles was the only indication that anything unusual had actually happened.
“I just wanted to see how you were getting on, I’ve missed you,” she said, pushing her specs back up her nose.
“Yeah, right,” I said, not believing her for a second as I stood the coffee carefully in front of her. “Careful, it’s hot.”
“I can’t drink it.” She looked wistfully at the cup. Damn, I forgot about that. I snatched the cup up and took a seat, leaving the other coffee on the bench. I was about to take a drink when the sad look on her face stopped me in my tracks. Bloody hell, this caring about people was quickly getting old. I stood up and walked across the kitchen, tipping the coffee into the sink.
“Alright, missy, I’m just going to come right out with it. I’m worried about you. No friends other than Selina and Lauren, you’ve already said you’re bored… I’m scared you’re going to decide to go back to Hell.”
“Why would you worry about that? You know that Hell is my home; I will have to go back one day. Hopefully when Satan has forgotten about the whole snowball incident.” I walked back and sat opposite her.
“Have you noticed anything about yourself, Natalia?” she looked at me with a puzzled expression on her face.
I looked back. Blank.
“No, what?”
“The more time you spend here, the more human you’re becoming. You’re learning to be compassionate.”
I stood up quickly and the chair slammed down on to the floor behind me.
“Take that back!” I snapped as she looked at me triumphantly.
“What’s so wrong with that? Are you telling me you were happier the way you were?” She pushed her specs back up her nose.
“Agnes, I belong in Hell. There is no room in Hell for compassion, believe me.” I could feel my eyes glowing red with anger and I tried desperately to take control of my emotions. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt Agnes. Oh shit! She was right!
I felt the blood drain from my face and Agnes ran round the side of the table, picking up my chair and helping me to sit.
“I know it’s a shock. Just take your time, breathe!” she coached. She started doing a weird blowing thing with her mouth “shhhhhhhhh shhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhooooooooo, shhhhhhhhh shhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhooooooooo”
I looked at her in disbelief.
“Agnes, I’m in shock, not labour,” I snapped.
I could see the relief on her face as she took her seat, carefully concentrating so as not to land on her arse again. I was grateful for that at least, I’d had enough of seeing her knickers to last me a lifetime.
“Look Natalia, I know you think about going back to Hell but is that really the place for you? You have options.”
“What options, Agnes? There’s only there or here. That’s it!” I stood up and walked to the cupboard, pulling out the brandy and taking a swig right from the bottle. I turned on Agnes as a thought suddenly occurred to me.
“If you can’t eat or drink, how come you’re drunk?” I asked.
She went blood red and fidgeted with her fingers. “I have to enter the body of someone who’s already drunk
to get the effects.”
“Oh? And who obliged you?”
“Selina, but don’t tell her. She was having some pretty wicked thoughts about Zerachiel at the time and I wouldn’t want to embarrass the girl.”
I laughed but felt a strange disquiet in my stomach at her words. Selina and Zerachiel? Why I cared was beyond me, it wasn’t as though anything could happen between us. He was the enemy.
“…and while we’re on the subject…” she continued, looking away and pushing her specs up, a sure sign she was up to something.
“We are not on the subject, Agnes; we are not talking about that…that…angel!” I felt my eyes glowing red again in warning but she wasn’t looking at me.
“…he thinks you have potential,” she finished, pursing her lips and crossing her arms.
“Oh, I just bet he does!” I snorted and took another swig of brandy.
“Not in that way, silly, as in potential for redemption. You do know what he does, don’t you?”
“He’s an angel, what’s there to know?” I took a seat opposite her.
“He’s God’s watcher on earth and he transports souls for judgment. He also looks out for children whose parents are sinners, just like you.”
“My parents are DEMONS, they’re supposed to sin,” I snapped.
“Beside the point, no need for you to follow in their footsteps.” She sat up primly.
“Agnes, we are not having this conversation. I am beyond redemption and I absolutely do not want to go to heaven.”
“Firstly, you are not beyond redemption and secondly, why not?”
“Because I don’t!”
“You’ve got to have a reason and I’m not leaving until you spit it out.” She folded her arms to make a point and stared at me, her glasses askew and her hair still sticking up.
I sighed and sat back in the chair.
“Look Agnes, I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but honestly, heaven is not the place for me. I’m no good. I enjoy seeing people suffer!”
“Oh? What about if it was Lauren? Or Selina? Would you enjoy that?”
I stared into her eyes and thought about what she was saying. Anger burned in my stomach at the thought and I had to admit, she had a point.