“Good morning, Denise.” Marcus didn’t even look her way as he said it.
She gasped and locked eyes with Logan. He smirked and grabbed a towel to wipe his sweat.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Logan took a drink of his water and walked toward her.
“You did not interrupt. We were finishing up.” He was now standing in front of her and she had a hard time looking at his face with his chest so close to her. That necklace was beautiful up close. It looked to have diamonds surrounding the stone. The color looked bright compared to his chest. Her eyes took in the ridges and contours of his chest.
“Hungry?”
“God yes,” she whispered and then looked up embarrassed.
He smirked and walked into the house. She looked over at Marcus who barked a laugh and lifted a water bottle in salute. Mortified, she followed him inside. When she arrived in the kitchen, he had already put on his shirt, and she was a little upset that she missed him putting it on. He walked over to the oven and pulled out a platter of bacon and eggs and sat it on the island. He pulled a fruit platter from the fridge and sat it there also. A pitcher of orange juice was already sitting out as well as a pot of coffee.
“Your cook did this?”
“Yes. She usually cooks early. She knows that we like to start our days early.”
“It looks amazing.”
“Help yourself.”
She walked over and took the plate that he was offering and turned to get her food. She could feel his eyes on her as she stepped in front of him. His body was close as he brushed past her to grab the orange juice. The tension between them was thick, and she wanted to tear his clothes off. She cleared her throat and peeked under her lashes at him. She walked to the closest stool and sat down. He stayed where he was and crossed his feet at the ankle while leaning on the counter. This was going to be harder than she thought.
68
Mary woke up and looked around. There was something wrong, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Something was testing the wards on the house, and it wasn’t the angels. They had a different feel. She quickly got out of bed and ran to her mom who was in the kitchen.
“Mom? Can you feel that?”
Rebecca sipped her tea and nodded.
“It’s been happening all night. I don’t know what it is, but we have got to get prepared. I don’t want to call Marcus until we know what we are dealing with.”
Mary nodded. “I agree. Mom, I’m scared.”
“Me too, baby. Me too.”
69
Jeriah was pissed off. He had sent that angel to get more help, and he still hadn’t come back. This is what he gets for relying on anyone else to do his work. He got ready to ascend himself, when he felt something tugging on his mind. He was confused at first, but then it got stronger. He sat down and closed his eyes. He opened himself up to whatever was trying to reach him. It could be his departed comrade. He was brought to a dark street. It didn’t look familiar as he looked around. At first, he didn’t see anyone and then a man with a black suit was there in front of him.
“Hello, Brother.”
Jeriah was confused. He had never seen this man before. Plus, he was an angel so he would have no brothers on earth. The man laughed, and that laugh made Jeriah stand straight. His eyes widened and he took a step back. This was pure evil standing in front of him.
“Lucifer?”
The man bowed and smiled a sinister smile at him.
“Seems that you have a problem.”
“No, I don’t.”
Lucifer laughed again and shook his head.
“Tsk. Tsk. You angels are all the same. High and mighty until you fall.”
“I’m not fallen. I am going to rule heaven.”
The walls of his mind shook with the laughter from Lucifer.
“You actually think that you have a chance to take on dear old daddy? Oh, this is rich.”
“I know what I’m doing.”
“And what is that? Losing your help?”
Lucifer pointed to the side, and Jeriah saw Simeon screaming in agony.
“Seems as though daddy didn’t want your friend here back in heaven. He let me have him, and I am in love with the goodness that is still trying to stay inside of him. It’s so…tasty.”
Jeriah was at a loss for words. He shook his head rapidly at the sight of Simeon’s suffering.
“Like I said. You need help and I want revenge.”
“How? What do you want from me?”
“I want to make daddy pay and for your help, I’ll give you the girl.”
“How? She’s powerful and I can’t get close.”
“If there is one thing that daddy cherishes, it’s his disgusting humans.”
“I don’t want to kill any humans.”
“You don’t have to. I have my demons, and they will do it for you. Let them cause havoc, and I guarantee that dear old dad will send his beloved angels here to help. While they are distracted, you get the girl and whatever measly power you think you will receive. Your god doesn’t care for you, but I will. Let me help you get what you want.”
Jeriah didn’t know what to do. He wanted to move up to the third tier, and this could be a way to do it. No blood would be on his hands either. Something inside of him was screaming not to trust Lucifer, but it was just too tempting.
He smiled. “I’ll do it.”
Lucifer smiled. “Of course, you will.”
70
After breakfast, Denise took a shower and met Logan in the gardens. She found him in the middle of the great circle. He eyed her as she approached and smiled. She sat down in front of him and let out a breath.
“I’ve only meditated with Grandmother so I’m a little nervous.”
“Don’t be. Just free your mind. You never know, you could get the answers that you seek.”
She smiled and closed her eyes. Before she could concentrate, she felt the panic through her bond with Mary. She jumped up and looked around. Logan followed suit and took her hands.
“Denise? What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. Something is wrong with Mary.”
He ran over to his jacket and pulled his phone from his pocket. He handed it to her.
“Call her.”
Her hands shook as she dialed the number. Mary picked up on the first ring.
“Logan!”
“No, it’s Denise. Mary, what’s wrong?”
“Denise, I don’t know. Something is trying to get in, and it’s snapping the wards one by one.”
“I’m coming.”
“No! Don’t come here. We don’t know what it is, but we can’t let it get to you.”
“So, I’m just supposed to sit here and wait for something to happen to you?”
“For right now, yes. We have to see what we are dealing with.”
“I don’t like this.”
“Me neither, but Mom is trying to get a feel for what it is.”
Logan took the phone from Denise.
“Mary, it’s Logan. I’ll get with my dad and we can get a portal for you to come here.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to my mom, and we’ll call you back.”
“Okay, we will await your call.”
The line disconnected and Denise looked at Logan nervously. He took her hand and started leading her out.
“Come on, we’ve got to go and tell my father.”
They ran to Marcus’ study, where he and Sabastian were laughing at a move that Sabastian had made in chess. They both looked up as Logan and Denise ran into the room.
“Father. Mary and her family are in trouble. Something is trying to break down the wards.”
Marcus stood quickly and looked at them both.
“What was said?”
Denise let go of Logan’s hand and stepped forward.
“She said that she feels something trying to get in, and they are stripping the wards one at a time.”
Marcus nodded and
closed his eyes and focused on the wards that he placed on Mary’s house. When his eyes opened back up, he looked sternly at Logan.
“We have to get them out of there. Demons.”
Denise sucked in a breath. “Demons? Why?”
“I don’t know but they are in danger.”
“Father, how do you know that it’s a demon?”
“The spell that I put on the outside ward has a signature retainer on it. If it is touched, it leaves the signature of the one who has touched it. This demon is Andromalius. He goes after thieves and the wicked. I believe they are trying to get to Analise. They will kill anyone in their way.”
“I knew that she was bad news.” Denise scowled and looked up at Logan. “We should leave her there for them and just get Mary and her family out.”
Marcus shook his head. “If they are trying to get to you, they could use her.”
“She doesn’t know where you live.”
“I know, but she knows things about Mary and her family. They could use that to get to you.”
“I don’t like this.”
“Neither do I, but we have to get them out of there.”
71
Lucifer sent one of his trusted demons to retrieve the lying witch. Jeriah had told him of how she and her boytoy kidnapped the angel. They could use her to get this daughter of an angel and he could keep on his quest to start the war that he’s always wanted. He would play on her fears and see where he could get a way in.
Mary and her family entered the portal and came out into Marcus’s living room. Denise ran and hugged Mary. Rebecca walked over and hugged Marcus. Grandmother ushered a scared Analise into the room. Logan walked over and stared down at her.
“I’ll be watching you closely.”
Analise looked away. She was scared to tell anyone that she had started hearing voices last night. Whispers of how she should give them up. How she should not believe that they have her best interest at heart. She couldn’t tell them anything or she would be out on her own and she was just too scared. She just had to keep those thoughts at bay.
72
That night, they showed Grandmother and Analise to their room. They didn’t trust Analise to be by herself in their home. Marcus took the rest of them to the gardens to talk. They had to figure out what was happening. If demons were involved, this was way more than just trying to get to Denise. They sat on the benches as Marcus stood in the middle. He ran a hand through his hair and let out a strong breath.
“This is crazy. How could an angel be working with demons?” Marcus looked to Rebecca for help and she just shook her head.
Denise looked over at Logan nervously. Just a little while ago, she had no clue about angels and demons. She was at a loss and learning on the fly. She looked up at the glass ceiling and gasped. They all followed her eyes and Marcus cursed. It was nighttime, so you would expect the sky to be dark, but it wasn’t. The clouds that were above their heads were red and the lightning that coursed through them lit them up brighter.
“This isn’t good,” Sabastian stated.
Denise stood up and looked at Mary.
“Remember when Assan told me that I can come to him? I don’t know how he did it. I need to find him. He may know what this is.”
Mary walked over to her and took her hands.
“You can do this. Just open your mind and go where he showed you.”
“It can’t be that simple.”
“Yes, it can. You just have to trust yourself. You can do this Dee. We need you to do this.”
“No pressure, huh?” She smiled.
Mary hugged her. “You’ve got this. We will protect you.”
Denise nodded and looked at Logan. He gave her a small smile of encouragement.
“Can you come with me?”
Logan looked astonished that she asked him when her best friend was standing there. He quickly stood and walked over to her. He led her down the path to the water. He knew that she was more comfortable there. They sat on the bench, and he placed an arm around her waist as they sat and faced the water. She looked up into his eyes and he could see the fear in her eyes.
“I’m right here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She nodded and closed her eyes. She tried to focus, but her brain was moving too fast. Logan shifted himself to face her and took her hands.
“Denise?” She opened her eyes. “Concentrate on my voice. Don’t listen to anything else but me.” She nodded and closed her eyes. He started to hum, and she focused on the monotone pitch of his voice. It was soothing, and she felt her hands loosen in his as she continued to focus. She could feel her thoughts melting away as she opened her mind and then she didn’t hear his voice anymore. She saw stars that moved quickly around her and then she heard the water. This water flow was so peaceful. She looked down into the water and saw her reflection. She remembered this place. She looked up quickly and there he stood. Assan was smiling brightly as their eyes connected.
“You did it! I’m so proud of you.”
She ran over and hugged him.
“I didn’t think that I could. I’m so scared.”
“I know child, but I’ve got you.”
She let him go and looked into his face.
“Do you know what’s happening?”
“Not everything but a shift has happened.”
“A shift? Like what?”
“God has moved the bottom tier up. They are all Guardians now. Something is about to happen on earth, and they are preparing for war.”
“A demon tried to get to Mary. We have no idea why. What do we do?”
“You must prepare for what is to come. I daresay that evil has touched a part of heaven, and we felt it up here. Whatever is to come, you are a key part of it. I will continue to petition God to let me come and help you, but until then, you must protect yourself.”
“But how? What am I supposed to do?”
“I cannot tell you that because I do not know. Just know that you will know what to do when the time comes. God makes no mistakes.”
“Dad? Did I see what I thought I saw when mom died?”
He smiled. “You did. She is here. There is no need to worry child, she is safe.”
She felt lighter in knowing. She hugged him around his waist, and he kissed the top of her head.
“I’m so proud of you my daughter. Be safe.”
She smiled and nodded and started to drift. When she opened her eyes, Logan was cradling her in his arms. She looked up into his face and smiled.
“Welcome back.” He smirked.
She sat up and looked around. “Thanks.”
“Did you get to where you wanted? Did you see him?”
She smiled wide and nodded. “Come on, I’ll fill you in with the others.”
73
When Denise and Logan came back down the path, everyone stood and looked at them expectantly. Mary walked over and took Denise’s hands.
“Are you okay?”
Denise nodded and gave her hands a squeeze. She walked past her and to the middle of the circle.
“So, I saw my dad. He says that he’s not sure why the demons are here, but heaven is shifting. The lower tier is gone.” The Guardians that stood behind the guys all sucked in a breath. Denise gave them a small smile. “They have all been made into Guardians. The humans are under attack and they need as many Guardians as possible. He’s trying to get down here, but God still isn’t allowing it, so we’re on our own.”
Marcus ran a hand through his hair and looked at his sons.
“This is crazy, but the good news is we can stop demons. Let’s go and prepare ourselves, and, Rebecca, keep an eye on Analise.”
Rebecca nodded and they all dispersed. Logan walked Denise back to her room before going to be with his father.
“You just call for me and I will be here.”
“Thank you, Logan.”
He bent down and kissed her. She watched him walk away and closed her door. Just as she sat d
own, there was a small knock. Mary poked her head in and smiled.
“I’m so glad to see you. I hate that it’s like this, but I’m still glad to see you.”
“Me too. What is going on with the cleansing for Analise?”
“Nana was waiting to hear from the others in our coven. They were going to come and help her with it, but then we came under attack.”
“Has she said anything?”
“No. She’s been quiet.”
“I still don’t trust her.”
“Neither do I. At least we have her here with us.”
“Yeah. I guess.
74
Analise could feel the fingers gliding up her back as she lay on her stomach. Her skin quivered as the fingers moved up to her neck. She felt the weight of the body on her as she moaned under his touch.
“Tell me where you are. Tell me so that I can make you feel like you’ve never felt before.”
“I don’t know where I am.”
“Tell me who is with you.”
His other hand stroked up her thigh, and her legs parted slightly to give him access. Her breath hitched as his fingers made contact.
“Mmm. Don’t you want to finish this?”
“I-I don’t even know who you are.”
His fingers kept stroking, and she went to lift her head. A hand gripped her head and pushed her head back down and she started to panic because she couldn’t move.
“Stop! You’re hurting me!”
Angel’s Fury Page 13