Fallen Angel - Prequel To Nathaniel Teen Angel

by Patricia Puddle

  ***

  Ramiel put his arm around Nathaniel’s shoulder. “Eloise is three weeks old now and there’s been no sign of Devlin or Lucifer. Maybe you should stop worrying so much.”

  Nathaniel glanced at the clock and frowned. “It’s not Lucifer I’m worried about. I can smell him a mile away. It’s Devlin I’m concerned about. There are too many places where he could hide in this hospital. I’m just glad Madeline is being released from the hospital today. I’ll relax more when Eloise is safely in her own home.”

  “Looks like we won’t have to wait,” said Ramiel, pointing at Eloise’s father, walking in with a suitcase.

  Nathaniel smiled. “That’s great.”

  Matthew O’Connor kissed his wife on the cheek, then picked up his baby daughter. “I can’t wait to have you both home at long last, Maddie.”

  Madeline beamed. “Me too, honey, and Doctor Green’s already signed our release, so we’re ready to go.”

  “Wonderful,” he said, gazing at his daughter. “It looks like you’ve already dressed her, so let’s get going.”

  “I have to wrap a blanket around her first,” said Madeline, lifting Eloise back into her arms.

  While Matthew packed everything into the suitcase, a nurse walked in with a wheelchair.

  “Good morning, Mrs O’Connor. I’m here to take you down to your car.”

  Madeline scowled. “Oh, I can walk.”

  The nurse smiled. “Sorry, Mrs O’Connor, but it’s Hospital rules.”

  Rolling her eyes, Madeline handed Eloise to Matthew, then sat in the wheelchair. “Give her back to me now, honey. You have the bags to carry.”

  When Eloise was safely in Madeline’s arms, the nurse pushed the wheelchair out the door and headed towards the lift. Nathaniel followed close by, but just before he slipped into the lift, he peered up and down the corridor to make sure Devlin wasn’t sneaking about. Once the doors had closed and they were descending, Nathaniel gazed at Eloise. She was awake and seemed to be staring right at him, and for a split second, he could have sworn she smiled. Shaking his head, he followed everyone out to the exit. It was too early to make a full psychic connection with her yet. It was just wishful thinking that she could actually see him.

  While waiting for the car to come around to the entrance, Nathaniel glanced around.

  Ramiel smiled. “I don’t think you have to worry about Devlin turning up here. He wouldn’t risk it, not with the two of us protecting Eloise.”

  “Maybe, but like I said, I don’t trust him.” Nathaniel scanned the sky and roof tops. “He could be anywhere at any time.”

  Once Eloise was strapped into her baby capsule in the back seat, Nathaniel and Ramiel sat with her in-between them. As they rumbled out of the car park, Nathaniel began to relax. At least Devlin wouldn’t bother trying to get to her on the way home. He’d more likely wait until Ramiel wasn’t around.

  “You can fly over to the O’Connor’s property if you’d like a break,” said Ramiel. “I think you need one.”

  Nathaniel shook his head. “Thanks anyway, but I’ll stay with Eloise. It’s too risky. And I won’t be going on joy flights at night either. Not after what Devlin threatened.”

  “That’s a shame,” said Ramiel. “I know how much you love your night flights and you haven’t been anywhere for three weeks.”

  “Ah well, I’d better get used to it,” said Nathaniel. “Like you, I have to do my duties, and Eloise is a special case.”

  “I guess so,” said Ramiel.

  Glancing out the window at the busy morning traffic, Nathaniel sighed. He knew that as soon as they reached the O’Connor’s house, he’d have to be on guard every second if he was to keep Eloise safe from harm. He gazed down at her. Her long lashes were fluttering as her eyes moved beneath closed lids. He guessed she was dreaming and he knew it wouldn’t be long now before he’d be able to communicate with her psyche, then he could give her advice and warn her of danger. But for now, he’d just have to watch her. He turned to Ramiel. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Devlin isn’t already at the O’Connor’s. He knows they lived in Creed Valley, so he could be hiding somewhere. Anyway, what’s their place like?”

  “Their house is at the end of a cul-de-sac, and it’s surrounded by forest.”

  “Oh, great. That’s all I need.”

  “I understand your concern, Nathaniel, but there’s really no need to stress. Michael found out where Devlin was when Eloise was born and he reprimanded him. Plus Devlin has a new ward now, so hopefully he’ll be too busy to bother you.”

  Nathaniel raised a brow. “Oh, where was he?”

  Ramiel rolled his eyes. “Apparently, he was on the Gold Coast watching a surfing championship, though it’s more likely he was ogling the bikini girls.”

  As they sped onto the highway, Nathaniel sighed. Knowing Devlin had tried to talk to him about his problems a few weeks ago, he felt guilty he hadn’t tried to help him more. Though he couldn’t understand why Michael still trusted Devlin after what he’d done.

  “You’re very quiet, Nathaniel,” said Ramiel.

  “I was just wondering why Michael gave Devlin another ward after he risked Eloise’s life. He should have made him go to rehab instead.”

  “You’re right, but if someone’s forced into rehab, it doesn’t work. They have to want to change their ways. Anyway, maybe Devlin had some counselling before taking on a new ward.”

  Nathaniel waved his hand in the air. “I don’t believe that, not after the way he carried on when he saw Eloise. He’s too bitter and angry and you should’ve seen the way he was ogling the nurses. I doubt counselling would help him.”

  Ramiel sighed. “Hopefully, he regrets what he did and he’s just getting on with his job.”

  “Maybe, but I wish I knew where he was based. I don’t trust him and I never will, not after what he said.”

  “I heard he was sent to Queensland so that he wouldn’t cross paths with you when the children go to school.”

  “Well, from what you’ve just told me about him perving on girls on the Gold Coast, I bet that’s what he’ll be doing in Queensland. It’s always hot there and the beaches are full of bikini girls all year round.”

  “Not if Michael talked him into going to rehab first.”

  “That’s highly unlikely. Devlin’s a poor loser and he’ll just keep trying to get Eloise back. He used to have a hissy fit if I beat him at flying races. He’d sulk for hours. He’s like a human child in some ways.”

  Ramiel chuckled. “Sorry to laugh, but imagining that big muscly angel acting like that is hilarious.”

  Nathaniel smirked. “Oh, that’s another thing he used to compete with. He was forever comparing our physiques. I could never understand that. But you’re right, Ramiel. Devlin is funny and I miss that side of him.”

  “You two look so much alike, if it wasn’t for your curly hair and different eye colour, you could easily be mistaken for Devlin. And if you were human, you’d be mistaken for brothers.”

  “Yeah, well it hurts because I felt like Devlin was my brother. We were best friends. That’s what’s so sad about the whole thing.”

  Ramiel nodded. “Just try to chill out while you can and worry about Devlin when you have to.”

  “You’re right. I will.” Gazing out of the window, Nathaniel pondered on the times he’d zoomed across the ocean with Devlin and how they’d slowed down and flown above dolphins and whales as they travelled along the beautiful East Coast of New South Wales. The car suddenly swerved around a corner, snapping him out of his reverie. When he checked on Eloise, her eyes fluttered open, but she soon drifted back to sleep.

  After travelling along a coast road for five minutes, Matthew turned a corner and pulled into a driveway at the end of a cul-de-sac.

  Nathaniel peered out at the surrounding forest. “It’s certainly peaceful around here.”

  “Yes,” said Ramiel. “The O’Connor’s bought this house a year ago. It’s is a bit rundown, but it’s sur
rounded by five acres of land and only minutes to the beach.”

  “It’s a lovely place to bring up a child,” said Nathaniel. “But having a house surrounded by trees makes it easy for the likes of Devlin to sneak around unnoticed.”

  “True, but I haven’t seen anyone in the year I’ve been here.”

  “But you weren’t with Madeline twenty-four hours a day, were you?”

  Ramiel shook his head. “Of course not. I had other wards to attend to as well, and now I have two new ones. But I’m hoping that you’ll help me out from time to time, especially since Michael has taken you off the register.”

  Nathaniel’s brows knitted together. “Yes, and that’s a shame since there’s a shortage of guardians, but I have to protect Eloise twenty-four-seven. There’s no way I could do that if I had other wards as well.”

  “No,” said Ramiel. “Not with Lucifer so keen to have her soul.”

  “But what about Madeline? With so many wards, how are you going to protect her as well?”

  “I’m glad you asked because I was about to ask you a favour.”

  “Oh, what is it?”

  “Would you be able to guard Madeline for me when I go to attend to my other wards?”

  “Sure, if I’m to be here twenty-four-seven, that shouldn’t be a problem. And if there’s an emergency I can’t handle, I’ll send for you.”

  “Thanks,” said Ramiel. “That takes the pressure off. You won’t mind if I take off today, then? I have a lot of catching up to do. Gabriel’s been guiding my wards for three weeks while I’ve been at the hospital.”

  “Of course, go ahead.” Nathaniel smiled. He was pleased he could help, but disappointed Ramiel wouldn’t be around for company, especially after losing his best friend. Minding a baby with no one to talk to could make an angel pretty restless.