“Master, they were delirious―the blood was too strong. We tried to detoxify them, but that didn’t work. Our final decision was to nail them and place them outside to burn. They are slowly frying as we speak.”
The Master looked at Andrew the Guard. He placed his hand on his shoulder.
“Andrew, I want you and the men to quickly take them down. That is not how we treat our own. Feed them from our donors. They need something to counteract that strong blood, something that will taint it. Find Chum Chum and tell him to help you round up a few humans; he knows how many we will need to reverse this. After that, seal their mouths closed so they cannot attack anyone. Lock them up in individual cells. We will have to wait this out; the effects will eventually wear off. We do not kill our own if we can save them first, always remember that. They are loyal and I will not resort to killing them. If my plan does not succeed, then we will do it your way. We’ll put them out of their misery and give them a death of honor,” said the Master.
“Yes, Master,” Andrew nodded and then disappeared through the door as fast as lightning.
“Apologies for the wait, but as you can see a Master’s work is never done,” said Master Anu as his footsteps grew closer to his kneeling party.
“Please, please, everyone rise.” Keiko and the Englishman stood up; Angel struggled to get on her feet because she was still zip tied.
“Can I get a little help here?” asked Angel, struggling. Keiko and the Englishman grabbed Angel by the arm and pulled her up. The Englishman removed the zip ties.
“We apologize for the restraints Master, but she started to get a bit testy,” explained the Englishman.
“Sammy, I have no problem. You do what is best,” the Master replied.
Angel turned to Sammy, “Really, your name is Sammy? I thought you would have had a cooler name than something I would have called my dog.”
Sammy smiled at Angel, “Oh sweetie, be careful. I sure bite like one,” he threatened.
Angel rolled her eyes and turned her attention to the Master. He was remarkably gorgeous. His chestnut skin, bright brown eyes, and long black hair were a definite woman magnet. His manly chin held a slight shadow of hair; his eyebrows were perfectly aligned with his slightly slanted eyes. Anu’s chiseled cheekbones, luscious full lips, and straight white teeth captured Angel’s full attention. She couldn’t quite put her finger on Anu’s ethnicity. In her mind, she guessed he was descended from a Native American tribe or from some exotic island. Either way, he was a model of perfection.
Anu didn’t wear a black suit or attire like anyone in the house. He wore khaki-colored summer pants, a white T-shirt that showed off his defined muscular chest, and no shoes. There was no question that he kept himself in superb physical condition. Angel surmised that Master Anu couldn’t be more than 25 years old. That triggered her defense mechanism to react in an unsettling manner.
“Oh, what the fuck is this?” remarked Angel after she realized she was gawking at a young man.
“You cannot be the almighty Master that all these people are fearing. I mean, look at you. You’re just a child. Probably some high school drop-out who had a vision to rule the world and actually think you’re doing it.”
Angel began to ramble and ridicule Anu. She couldn’t understand how his two goons, Keiko and Sammy, were more intimidating. She knew she was testing his patience, but she didn’t care. She was intentionally making him angrier by the second.
“I’ve had enough of this. I’m ready to go. You people have done nothing but waste my valuable time.”
Master Anu stared at Angel with a blank expression and said nothing. He walked calmly over to the table and began pouring wine into the glasses. Both Sammy and Keiko quickly glanced at each other, then stared at Angel with an “Oh, look what you’ve done now” facial expression.
“What?” whispered Angel angrily.
The Master returned holding two glasses and handed them to his humble staff.
“Thank you, Master,” they said in unison and nodded their heads.
“Wine for my daughter and something special for my Lieutenant,” stated Master Anu, changing the hostile tune in the room. He then casually walked over to Angel; he was inches from her face, staring into her eyes. He grabbed her chin, and she swatted his hand off without thinking. Master Anu then grabbed Angel by the neck with speed she didn’t anticipate. He started squeezing softly. Angel froze in fright until she tried grabbing, punching, and clawing at Anu’s hands to let her go. She failed miserably. Angel continued to stare into Anu’s bright brown eyes. The strength of his grip on her small, fragile neck produced intense panic throughout her body.
“Feisty, aren’t we?“ Angel could feel Anu’s grip slowly tightening with each word. “Let me help you understand who I am now that I have your undivided attention. My name is Master Anu Du’Shun of the Carib Indian Tribe and leader of the Du’Shun line. While in MY home you will refer to me as Master Anu, Master, or if I like you enough, just Anu. I am NOT, by any means, a CHILD, so never address me as such. I am Master of this house and of the people who follow ME,” Anu explained, raising his voice in authority. He stared deeper into Angel’s eyes as if burning a hole in her soul. Panic, anxiety, and fear mixed all in one shot up her spine. She gasped for air as he continued, “You WILL RESPECT ME,” he said between clenched teeth.
Anu loosened his grip on Angel’s throat and pulled her closer toward him; his heavy breathing mixed with anger caused a strange popping sound to echo from his mouth. Angel stood completely still for a few seconds glaring at the sharp, gleaming, white objects that protruded from Anu’s mouth, resting on his bottom lip. It took a few more seconds for Angel’s brain to register what had happened. She frantically pulled herself out of Anu’s now loose grip. She nearly fell backwards; but Sammy caught her and held on to her arm tightly, making sure she couldn’t run away. She felt sick to her stomach and weak in her knees, then she fainted.
Guards drinking blood, everyone wearing all black as if any other color was too much for their eyes, guards frying in the sun―she realized she was trapped in a nest of monsters and was going to die. The only thing she knew about Anu’s kind was from the fictional stories she’d read or seen on TV. Now, standing in front of her, was a real live one. Angel opened her eyes moments later to Anu, Sammy, and Keiko standing over her. Keiko quickly grabbed Angel by the arm. She stood up and took the opportunity to cover her neck quickly, not wanting Anu to see her pulsing vein.
He watched Angel humorously. “Relax, I’m not here to eat you and neither is Sammy.”
Angel looked at Sammy and became terrified.
“Are you...what he is?” she asked in a quivering tone.
“What? Do you mean angry?” responded Sammy jokingly.
Angel began to shed tears. “A Va...va…,”
“Oh, for goodness sake, please do not call us by the V name. It’s so ancient,” shot Sammy.
Angel continued holding her neck nervously, not knowing what to do.
“Angel, you really need to relax,” stated Keiko. “It’s safe to put your hands down.”
Angel ignored Keiko’s comment; nothing was helping her feel safe. Anu observed Angel and continued to speak, hoping things would settle down.
“It still bothers me how people cannot get over me being Master because of my youthful appearance. Granted, I became who I am at a very young age. However, in my time, twenty-five was considered an elder considering many didn’t live past thirty. I’m over two-thousand years old. I have gained much knowledge during my lifetime. A Master does not need to be elderly to rule. A Master needs to have intelligence, strength, leadership, and, most importantly, power,” said Anu staring sternly at Angel.
“I...I..I’m sorry,” was all Angel could mutter.
Master Anu, again, walked toward the table next to his throne. He came back with two more glasses and handed one to Angel; he kept the other for himself.
“Please, have some wine and let’s start from the be
ginning and pretend none of this hostility has happened,” he said, smiling. “I hate having to be that person.”
Angel looked silently, wiping the tears streaming down her face. She couldn’t stop her hands from trembling. She raised the glass to her lips, downed the red wine, and gazed at Master Anu while holding an empty glass. Anu took the glasses from his humble staff and Angel, walked patiently back to the table, and then returned.
“Angel, I am going to tell you things that you are not ready to hear but you will have to handle. For starters, I am a researcher, a scientist, and a collector of information about the supernatural. I study and observe those who are not human or of my kind. As you already know, I am a paranormal being and a very powerful one. Sammy is one also and Keiko is, well...she isn’t like us, she’s different.”
Angel glanced at Keiko, who was standing beside her still as a statue.
Master Anu walked over to Keiko and stroked her cheek. “My daughter is exceptionally unique.”
Keiko embraced the stroke and smiled at her Master as if she was daddy’s little girl enjoying her father’s affection.
“My daughter can move things with her mind. She has the ability to stop things in motion and she is strong. It’s fascinating how a young girl can have so much power. Every day I am learning her limits and potential. Keiko is centuries old; she stopped aging at 19 and; after much research, I discovered that there is something in her blood that has blocked her from aging and prevents her organs from shutting down.”
Angel glanced at Keiko, “Can she die?”
Master Anu answered Angel honestly, “Yes. Every supernatural has its weakness.”
“Angel, you are here because you hold a power inside you that is extremely rare and so resilient that you, yourself, do not fully understand it. You think you are a human with special abilities. In reality, you are the strongest force of nature there is. You, my beautiful Angel, are exactly what your name describes. You are a real-life angel.”
Angel gasped, not knowing what to think.
“You were created to watch over your trusty angels and guide them toward protecting the humans from unnatural evil forces in this world―unnatural evil, like the devil’s demons or beings like myself.”
The feeling of confusion washed over Angel. Her mind was racing with questions, but she could only blurt out a few before she rambled into justifying her humanity. “Forgive me, Master Anu, but who created me? God? And where are my wings? Do I have wings? I’m sure I’m not the angel you’re looking for. If I’m the saver of human beings, how come I did a shitty job at protecting my husband? I’m no one special. I’m just a widowed financial consultant from New York City with two children. I own a home, I pay my taxes, I don’t date; I live a regular boring life,” she blabbed anxiously.
Master Anu raised his right eyebrow and folded his arms. “This is remarkable, how you convinced yourself that your human life is real.”
He stared at Angel intently, “NO, you’re an angel. I make no mistake. You’re a creation from the heavens itself, and you do have wings." He continued, “Angels on earth take on a human form. It makes it easier for them to blend in and remain undetectable from evil. You can be anyone, but the only ones who can see your true form is another angel or a human close to death.”
Something clicked inside Angel’s head, that’s why Theo thought he saw an angel, she thought.
“But, Angel, you have lost your reality and without, you, “the Queen”, all the little angels didn’t know who to answer to and the world turned upside down. That isn’t completely your fault, though. This place was a cesspool before your creation. However, something tragic has happened to you that has kept you trapped inside your humanity. But, before I get into my theories I need to show you something.”
He took a step back and clapped his hands so loudly that it left Angel’s ears slightly ringing. The rear doors by the throne flew open and two guards stepped out with a man that was clearly J.C.
8
The Truth
Tears welled in Angel’s eyes at the sight of her best friend and colleague, Juan Carlos. He walked in looking as sharp as usual in his pearl-grey suit. His Italian leather shoes echoed on the hardwood floors as he made his way confidently toward the center of the room. J.C. gave Angel a worried glance, then focused his attention on Master Anu. What’s happening, Angel thought, confused. J.C. approached the Master and kneeled, not thinking twice about wrinkling his slacks. Angel couldn’t believe her eyes.
“They know each other?” questioned Angel to whomever was listening; no one answered.
Master Anu patted J.C.’s shoulder and gestured to him to rise. They hugged a warm embrace and smiled at each other.
“You did well, old chap,” stated Anu, approvingly.
“Did you think I would let you down?” replied J.C.
“Not once.”
“J.C., what’s going on?” Angel interrupted.
J.C turned to Angel and opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He clasped his hands together and then grabbed her hands in his.
“Angel, you have to forgive me,” he pleaded worriedly.
“What have you done?” she nervously questioned. Angel’s uneasiness began to unnerve her. She asked questions with hopes of receiving answers.
“Did you help him bring me here? I think...”
J.C. interrupted Angel before she could go any further. “I want to let you know I never intended to hurt you or the kids. You will be safe here, trust me,” he spoke with sincerity in his voice.
“I don’t work for G&S. Master Anu used his connections to get me into the company. I work for Master Anu as a tracker. I track supernatural beings. My mission was to track the Angel in NYC. It was simple―find Angel, report, and get her. You were my assignment.”
“What?” replied Angel, shaking her head in disbelief. “All this time I was an assignment?” her voice trembled. “So, all the holiday dinners, family trips, and confiding in you were all lies? Your wife? Your girls? Are they real? Or all lies just so you could bring me back to him?” She pointed to Master Anu who was watching J.C. and Angel converse as if he was watching a soap opera plot unravel.
“No, not all of it was lies,” answered J.C.
“My wife and my daughters are real, so were the family dinners. As I got to know you, I’ve grown close to you. I love you like my own daughter, Angel. I know in my heart the Master can help you. You would have never come on your own if I had told you the truth. You’re lost; I know it.”
“You don’t know shit!” retorted Angel. “I trusted you. You were my friend.”
J.C. sighed deeply and proceeded. “Angel, my Grandmother in Cuba, the one with the visions I told you about, she was one of your lost angels. I had seen what your disappearance had done to her. It drove her mad. She turned into an old woman talking to walls, looking for a way out. I didn’t understand any of it until I met Master Anu many years ago when my daughters were born. One of my girls has special abilities. She can read minds; it’s incredible. An angel gene she inherited from my Grandmother. Do you know what our government would do to her if they found out what she can do?”
Angel listened to J.C. but was growing restless.
“Angel, I wished so badly that my mission had not been you. My selfish side wanted to protect you, but I couldn’t jeopardize my daughter. As long as I work for Master Anu, he protects her and my family. That holiday dinner at my house confirmed you were the Angel. My daughter said she couldn’t read your thoughts, but she had seen the real you. She confirmed you were the one, the true Queen. It was only a matter of time before you showed your true form. Which you did when you almost killed Theo to protect me.”
Angel grew furious at J.C. She couldn’t believe she’d been tricked. He was the only person she trusted after her husband’s death. She felt betrayed, used, and alone. Her anger got the better of her as J.C.’s last remark hit a nerve. She walked closer to him and pointed her finger at his chest,
�
��Well, fucking excuse me if I was killing someone on behalf of the man I considered family. Instead of you talking to me, you sold me out to a pack of...a pack of…Vampires.”
Sammy grew disgusted at hearing the word vampire and let out a low growl. Keiko squeezed his hand to calm him. Angel ignored everyone around her as she zeroed in on J.C.
“I thought I could trust you. You were the only one who knew everything about the children, my husband, my visions, and me. You betrayed my trust.” She backed away and displayed tears of despair and anger. “I don’t think I can ever forgive you.”
She turned to Master Anu angrily, “I’m over this conversation, Master Anu. Please get him out of my sight.”
Keiko chuckled under her breath. Master Anu smiled and walked over to J.C. casually, pleased at Angel’s contempt.
“The woman has spoken like a true Queen. Don’t you think, Juan Carlos?”
J.C. looked at Angel as tears formed in his eyes.
Angel began to feel guilty and horrible for speaking like that to him; but she dismissed these feelings and thought logically, No “family” of mine would ever have sold me out.
“Yes, spoken like a true Queen, indeed. I hope one day you can forgive me, Queen,” said J.C.
Angel remained silent. The loud clapping of Anu’s hands interrupted the stares between them.
Two guards entered to meet the Master; they bowed and rose.
“Please, escort J.C. on the first flight out,” Anu ordered.
“J.C., your work was excellent, as usual. You are always one hundred and ten percent efficient. I’ve added a bonus to your payment for your trouble―I know this assignment was more difficult than normal. I’ll have another assignment for you in a few weeks, so be on standby. I hope you don’t get seasick. This mission requires some fishing. There is a mermaid I’ve been tailing off the Ivory Coast. It’s time to bring her in.”
J.C. nodded his head in agreement. “No worries, fishing is my specialty,” he complied as he bowed his head. He walked away with the guards, not taking another look back at Angel. Deep down, he was going to miss the staged life he was given―working a regular job and interacting with hardworking, normal people. He was going to miss his office, clients, co-workers, and the relationship he created with Angel. The taste of having a routine and being around his own kind, not worrying about paranormals, was where he eagerly longed to return. However, he could not risk losing his daughter, not even for Angel. This was his human life now, and no one would understand it. He exited the room quietly without a wave or goodbye.
Trapped Inside Humanity Page 9