by KC Bellinger
“Yes. I know he is an angel.” A bead of sweat dripped off the priest’s chin, and his normal healthy glow had paled. “I’ve heard of them existing here on earth, but till now I thought it was a rumor. I figured it was said to put a little peace into troubled hearts, like your uncle, Whitney—he believed. In fact, the last time I saw him he said an angel needed his help.”
“Casper helped an angel. Tresian was a very dear friend of mine and to all of my family. I don’t believe I would be alive if it wasn’t for him.”
The thought of Tresian battling Ateil, the demon minion that killed my mother, sobered me up and calmed my hormones.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there.” Rhys bowed his head, and his voice was barely audible. “I should have been, but there were other Hours, Night Hours, in trouble and I knew you had protection.” This time Rhys took my hand firmly into his. He removed his glasses with his free hand and peered into my eyes. “Please, forgive me.”
I gulped and nodded. How could I not?
“So, are there other Night Hours?”
“No,” Rhys replied sullenly. “They are all dead.” He took a deep breath and continued, “Night Hours were my idea. There were no other angels involved and they did not favor me for creating them. But the other Hours were failing and reproducing demon offspring, like your younger sister. I thought if they couldn’t breed, then they wouldn’t be looked upon as a prize to the demons. However, in doing so, the Night Hours became more powerful and more willing to assist me in destroying the most evil of spirits. You are the youngest and the last.”
Shocked, I motioned for him to continue.
“Jaiten knew all along what you were. He kept you in Aster to be safe from other master demons. However, you weren’t much of a threat.” He snorted. “You aided him in many of your young adventures. That is how I knew he wouldn’t harm you—he was your friend, if not something more. I believe you love him, although he is incapable of loving you back. You are getting strong, and he knows you are keeping secrets from him, especially now, since the angels’ mark has appeared. He wants you to give up the name of your angel, so he can destroy me. He will do anything to see this through.”
“How…” my voice trailed off.
“How do I know?” Rhys asked, finishing my thought.
I nodded.
“He is young and easily read—no, I don’t read minds. It is all in his face. He may look older because he can take the face of whoever he chooses. It is a pretty face, isn’t it? Round and sweet, like a cherub. And those dimples, well, you get the picture.
“If he showed up looking like me, would you have befriended him as quickly?”
I shook my head and then instantly regretted it.
Rhys grinned at my frowning face.
“Ah, don’t be upset. I could change if I wanted to, but would you want to see something I am not?”
“No. I love the way you look.” I admitted, and it was true, every line in his face was a part of him, and it took my breath away.
He smiled affectionately, but his eyes were wistful like something was missing.
Father Bucheli cleared his throat, interrupting a rather intimate moment between me and Rhys. “What does this have to do with me?”
“Father,” Rhys turned, redirecting his attention to the priest. “You are in danger. Whitney now bears the mark on her eye. If you look closely, you can see a cross at the edge of her iris. Anybody passing by cannot see it, but if someone suspects it, she is in deep trouble. I monitor most of the demons in the city and mostly, they aren’t malevolent. There is a clan that belongs to Amelia and Curtis Strong that knows what Whitney is now and they all know she has seen her angel. They believe that angel is somewhere in the church’s vicinity. They believe the angel to be you.”
“That is ridiculous! I don’t have the eyes or the sheer elegance you possess.”
“And no one can know this, but I fear they suspect it is you and may kill you, regardless. I cannot let them know it is me, not now. Father, there are other lives involved here, angels that may suffer. The seasons are already getting confused—I watched the sea rise too early today. If these angels are not recovered, this could be the end of life on earth. Father, do we have an agreement? You must not leave?” Rhys asked in an air of finality.
“Of course, I will stay inside the compound.”
“Rhys, how will we know he is safe?” I looked up at the stained-glass figures of apostles and prophets lining the windowed ceiling. They quivered skittishly in the red flame. “Can’t they still get in here if they say they want to repent?”
“Yes, but if you choose to, you could cast a protection spell on the cathedral grounds. Everyone would be a little safer, the nuns, the priests, the children,”—Rhys coughed—“and your friend, Justin.”
I frowned at him. He had to know he was the only one I wanted now. “Yes, there is no question; of course I’ll do it.”
“It comes with a price, though. You have never gone against the demon. So, your eyes will darken. They will turn slowly at first, but you can guarantee it won’t go unnoticed by Jaiten and the others.”
My eyes were so far from the flat gray Dustyn’s eyes had become. They were vibrant and I loved the shade of sapphire blue, but that was merely a color. My life was about to change drastically and it would start with them.
“One more thing before I return to the bar.” Rhys swung his arm behind the wooden pew and gently played with strands of my hair. “There are seven items of power. Father, I was hoping you may have known or seen one of them. This is the oldest church on the west coast, it was founded in the early seventeen hundreds about the time the items disappeared.”
“I heard about a bowl a saint drank from to see God and receive messages. Someone supposedly buried the saint and the bowl under the catacombs. There are many tunnels under the church for the parishioners to safely flee to the ocean. I’m sure most have been destroyed by now,” Father Bucheli’s voice cracked. He seemed tired and the shock still registered in his bloodshot eyes.
“Good, Whitney, I need you to find that bowl tomorrow. Take someone with you if you need to. Tell them you want to explore the tunnels or whatever you need to say to get down there and explore it.”
“I can do it now,” I said excitedly.
“No. Tonight you must find Jaiten. Find out what you can about the Hour and the angels that have gone missing. Maybe he knows where the other relics are as well. I will alert my staff to watch you, so wear the cloak. If you go missing or anything happens, I’ll know.” Rhys got up to stand.
He then helped the priest onto his wobbly feet and Father Bucheli genuflected as he exited the pew.
“Thank you, Father.”
“No, it is I who thank you for watching over our city, and Whitney, thank you as well.”
I nodded.
The priest took off his reading glasses and rubbed frantically at his eyes like he half expected to wake up from a dream. Rhys and I smiled at him. He shook his head and turned to leave.
Rhys towered over me as I refused to get out of the pew. “What is it, Whitney?”
He offered me his hand and pulled me up onto my feet. Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around him. He smoothed back my hair and kissed my forehead.
“Was it like this with the other Night Hours?” I asked, dreading the answer.
“Never.” Rhys swallowed hard and cupped my face in his hands. “Not even close.”
“Then why me?” I whispered.
“I’ve asked that same question but I still haven’t gotten an answer.” Rhys brought me close to his chest.
I smelled the leather from his jacket through the years of wear and demon scent. “Rhys, what other items are out there? In case something happens to me and the Strongs and their demons possess one of them.”
Rhys threw an arm around me as we walked down the church aisle. “The ring and the cloak are in our possession.”
We stopped at the heavy glass door.
“The
quartz spear was said to have been damaged, but still viable. I haven’t seen it in centuries, so I doubt they have it. Of course, there is the bowl, which I’m hoping is still buried here. The last three are the cuff, the stone, and the rope.”
“The rope?”
“Yes, it is one of the relics that was created by an angel. It is a mixture of feathers and hair from an archangel. It can change shape and length. If it’s cut, the main body will regenerate again. It can hold anything, even the angel that created it,” Rhys’s voice shivered.
“That must be how they are holding the angels.”
“I believe so.”
“Is there any way to cut through it or destroy it?”
“The ring.” Rhys raised his hand. The crooked tooth gleamed like a weapon in the wavering light.
Chapter 12
I walked back to my cabin alone. Stopping by cabin 12, I peered into the window to see Justin at his desk. His stove was lit and the smell of hot chocolate turned my stomach.
I heard my name being called from the street side of the wall. Jaiten was beckoning me. How would I ever suppress my anger toward him? He’d know as soon as he saw me I no longer trusted him, needed him, or wanted him. Anything we once had was over.
I screamed in my head, trying to free a bit of frustration before letting him know I was coming. In the end, I reached out mentally and pulled on his shaggy hair playfully. He was inches from the front gate, and my gesture alerted him I’d be there shortly.
“You aren’t mad at me?” Jaiten lifted the hood of the cloak to look into my eyes.
Forcefully, I shook my head. He dropped the hood before my eyes could deceive me. Jaiten took a step back to study me. I flung my arms around his neck and buried my face in his chest.
“No, I’m not mad. I was just scared, Jaiten. Why did we have to go there?”
“Because they can help you uncover what you are, Whit. Honestly, I never thought they would hurt you. I want to help you figure out who you are, that’s all,” he lied.
I always knew when he was lying—his otherwise dark and narrow eyebrows rose as if they were smiling, taunting me.
He tried to pry my arms from his neck, but I clung on tighter. “Please don’t let go now, Jaiten. I’m scared I’ll lose you.”
“I’m never letting you go. I promise you that. Someone will have to destroy me before that ever happens.”
Jaiten sighed and lifted me into the air. He spun me around, and I forced out a giggle. Bringing me close to his chest, he held me for a moment, squeezing just a little too tight. I didn’t flinch.
“No one is ever taking you from me.”
“Good,” I whispered into his ear then kissed the lobe dangling in front of my lips. A tingle trickled down my spine. I couldn’t stop myself from loving him, but I’d learned I could still hate someone I loved. Dustyn taught me that, too.
“I brought you something.” Jaiten lowered me onto my feet.
I clapped my hands together in excitement.
He pointed to a deserted parking lot on the campus and my car was sitting there, recently cleaned.
“Oh, thank you. I didn’t want to go back to that place.”
“And you never have to.” Jaiten crossed his heart with a quick motion and dropped the corners of his eyes in apology.
One week ago I would have fallen for this, all of it. I never doubted him until now.
“That’s not all, come on.” He led me to the car and opened the passenger door like a gentleman. There was a bouquet of red and white lilies on the seat and the interior of the car smelled like spring.
“They’re my favorite.”
Jaiten arched his eyebrows playfully.
“Yes, I forgive you,” I added, knowing exactly what he wanted by the slight change in his facial expression. “So, what’s on the agenda for tonight?” I asked, as he picked up the flowers and ushered me into the car.
“I just want to spend some quality time with my best girl.” He flashed his dimpled grin.
“Are there others?” I teased then pouted my lips and crossed my arms over my chest like a spoiled child. It was an old game we’d played since he’d arrived in Aster.
“Plenty, but I’d leave them all behind for you,” he said and removed the hood from my head. “Tell me, do you still not like the cloak?”
I shook my head, avoiding his gaze, and climbed inside the car.
We drove around for a while. The sun had set and the city was awake for Saturday night.
“Want to go to a club?” he asked, pulling up to a line of young adults waiting to enter a building.
“No, how about we go get something to drink and take a walk on the beach,” I suggested.
He pulled the car out onto the deserted highway and headed north.
***
We stopped at a small restaurant with a deck overlooking the ocean. It was chillier than it had been just two days ago when we’d arrived in Timber Grove but I was warm in the cloak. We took a table at the edge of the water-stained deck. Since it was so cold, we were the only patrons eating outside.
“Jaiten, where do you stay when I’m at the cathedral?” Back in Aster, he stayed in an old cabin that had survived many fires and vandalism.
“I stay with them,” he answered, swirling the tea in his mug. His eyes didn’t meet mine. “I don’t have anywhere else to go,” he said before I could protest.
“Okay. What do they want from me?”
“Pretty much what they told you; they want your help, and they want me to coerce you into giving it. They know you are a Night Hour but they don’t know your strength or your abilities. That’s what they want to help you discover.” His gaze shifted from the cooling drink to me. “We all know that is what you are now—you have the mark. Who is he, Whit?” he asked compassionately, his red eyes scanned me, searching for the truth.
“I guess I’ve seen him … or her. I don’t know who it is though. I’ve met a lot of people at the school and in the church.” And at the bar. I knew for a fact Jaiten couldn’t read minds. “Sorry, but whoever it is doesn’t want me to know.”
“That makes sense,” Jaiten agreed. “Will you tell me when you know?” He leaned close to me and slid his hand under my hair and tickled the back of my neck with a finger.
“Why not? I don’t have any loyalties to him … or her. Whoever it is hasn’t helped me yet, and I don’t think they plan to help me now.” I scooted my chair closer to him.
“Why do you think your angel might be a female?” Jaiten brought his free hand to my face and traced my jawline.
“Do you know who it is? Have you seen him … or her … ever?” I crawled into his lap, abandoning my chair altogether.
“No, but Locke and Simone are pretty sure it is a male. One angel created all the Night Hours.” He breathed heavily against my lips.
“Where are the other Night Hours, Jai? Have they seen any?” I whispered my words as my mouth grazed his.
“Dead,” he said, then kissed my bottom lip.
“Who killed them?” I drew my tongue out and licked the corner of his mouth.
“They did.” His mouth swallowed my next question.
He answered everything I already knew. I needed more.
I fought my urge to continue the kiss and pulled away. My lips felt bruised and I fumbled for the next question. I ran a hand down his gray, silk shirt. I undid the top button and kissed him lightly on the chest. I felt him shiver underneath me. He never would have allowed this much petting in the past, he’d always pushed me away when I tried for more. He wasn’t pushing me away now.
“Do they know who my angel is?” I asked in between kisses, still unbuttoning his shirt.
“No.” He gulped. “They have their suspicions though.”
“Who?” I felt him tense and I withdrew my tongue and slid it around his collarbone.
“The priest.”
“Oh.”
Rhys was right. They didn’t know and, unfortunately for Father Bucheli,
it would have to stay that way. “He’s a good man, please don’t hurt him.” I grazed my teeth up his neck till I found his ear.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Jaiten took a turn, nuzzling my neck. His nips were sharper than mine, his canine tooth sinking too deeply to be playful.
“Will they kill me?” I asked when he came up for air.
“Over my dead body.” His nostrils flared and his red eyes burned with passion. “Should we go somewhere else?”
“I’d love to but, Jai,” I cooed in his ear, “you’ve always stopped me in the past. What’s different tonight?”
“I needed to mark you,” he answered gravely, resting his cheek against mine.
“What?” I flung his face away and jumped out of his lap. I glared at him, but he wasn’t looking at me.
“Had to, Whit. If those demons get their hands on you, I could lose you to them.” He got up and came over to me. Both of his arms wrapped around my stunned body. “I planned on doing it somewhere special. Believe it or not, I did plan on asking you. But I had no choice.”
“What the hell does it mean?” I hissed, pounding on his bare chest to free myself but it was useless.
“It means that no other demon can become your companion. It means you are important to me.”
“Funny, because I love you.” This time, I pulled out of his grip. “And you tell me I’m important to you?” I rubbed frantically at the spot on my neck where he was kissing me. There was a slight cut and it felt sticky.
“I cannot say those words to you and you know it!” Jaiten barked.
“I want to go back to the church.”
“Fine, go back! You have your car now. You don’t need me to take you there!” he spat.
“Fine.” I turned to walk down the stairs into the damp sand. The worn slats moaned under my feet. I couldn’t slow or I’d stop. I didn’t want to lose him, but I already had. The day he left me to fend off the Strongs alone. If only there’d been a hint of sorrow or regret in his face when Amelia attacked me, I would have understood. But there hadn’t been. Everything he did tonight was just for show; to con me back to him.