Enigma

by Leslie Drennan

  “Yeah, for sure. I know how you feel. I was there not so long ago myself. Go ahead, and I’ll be there in twenty minutes, okay? I’ve gotta make this is okay with Avan.”

  “I don’t know that I’m ever gonna get used to grown up Mattie.”

  “Sure you will. I’m pretty sure forever is plenty of time. See you soon,” I said, walking back into Spirits as Lena headed to her car.

  Explaining to Avan that I was going to drink a coke with Lena was not at all an easy task. He was more than against the idea and had already briefed Dorian, Declan, Alex, Trev, and Bradley on the situation of her showing up and me wanting to talk to her. All six of them were like guard dogs ready to pounce on an intruder. Knowing they were not going to be able to control my decision only added to their frustration and protectiveness. I made it clear to them that I knew how to get their attention with my bracelet the very second I felt any threat at all.

  I had hoped that it would ease their minds to know I would alert them, but it did not seem to help any. They were all sitting in a circle of leather chairs in our normal corner, looking at anything but me. Avan told me they, along with every other employee, would be staying right where they were until I got back, since it was clear I would not be changing my mind. I kissed him on the cheek and nodded as I headed for the door.

  In the car, I continued shutting off access to my thoughts so that I could gather my composure. Truthfully, I was a little surprised by Lena myself. Knowing how she felt in a state of confusion, learning there are other things in existence that most people talk about but you never see or experience can be alarming. Then to find out you are one of these things or that you are the offspring of them adds a completely new element to the shock value of it all. I blocked the words that Natasha and Avan had said from my mind, trying to forget that I had ever heard them.

  I needed to find out if she knew what happened to Allen or if she knew where he was—that had to be my concern right now. I could not worry who approved or disapproved of how I was going about finding out the information I needed. I was the ultimate angel, and they were just going to have to deal with it! I could handle myself. Why was everyone so over protective? If Lena left because she knew her dad was evil, then she was not a threat to anyone or me! That meant she was on our side!

  Pulling into the parking lot, I ran inside to the elevator, pushing the button that was for the thirteenth floor as I waited patiently for the elevator to ascend. It just occurred to me that I had not actually told Avan where I was meeting Lena. Oh well, I would only be here for a little while so no big deal, right? I only planned to stay long enough to give Lena some comfort and gather some sort of insight as to where she might think Allen was. If anyone knew anything that could help us find him, it had to be Lena. She and her dad used to be so close that I had no reason to believe she would not have seen or heard something before she left.

  As the elevator opened to the thirteenth floor, I saw the wall plaque, letting me know I should go left for rooms 1300-1330. The even-numbered rooms were on the right side, and it did not take long to locate 1306. Stopping in front of the door, I noticed it was ajar.

  “Hello?” I asked as I popped my head inside.

  Lena didn’t answer, but I saw the bathroom door shut with the light on underneath, so I figured she was taking care of business and left the suite door open for me. Walking in and shutting the door behind me, I made sure to lock it to prevent her dad or any of his wonderful friends from barging in if they found out where Lena was.

  Walking through the room to sit on the bed, I noticed that everything appeared to be untouched without even so much as a purse or bag anywhere. It was as if Lena had just checked in with no suitcases or clothes. She must have been telling the truth about keeping everything low key if she was too hurried to bring a suitcase with her. That meant this was just a stop along the way to her next location or that she was taking every precaution in the event that she had to leave at a moment’s notice.

  I had just reached for the remote when a dark feeling swept over me so strongly that I froze before I touched it. The unmistakable darkness filled the room from the floor to the ceiling, making it feel cold and constricting, like being squeezed inside the coils of a python, making it impossible to catch my breath. I heard the bathroom door open and knew it was too late to make a run for the suite door. When I turned to look at the hall, my heart sank, as I had to face the fact that I had fallen right into Damron’s trap.

  Ian had a devious smile on his face, telling me he was enjoying being the tiger sneaking up on his helpless prey. How could I not have seen this coming? I had done exactly what Natasha and everyone else had warned me not to do! I was not careful and I let my stupid human emotion get the best of me. Lena was never my friend, and I had known that for a long time now. Why would I fall for her teary-eyed apology in the parking lot?

  I did not deserve to be an angel of this magnitude, and I kept proving it repeatedly with my idiocy. I should have known better and been able to sense that there was something more to Lena showing up tonight. I should have questioned her motives rather than automatically assumed that the raising of a maniacal father making her the selfish, narcissist she had become had simply tainted her.

  “Well hello, Angel. That is the correct title, isn’t it?” Ian asked slyly. “Or is it Mrs. Angel, judging by the ring on your finger?”

  “It’s Mattie, and my personal life is none of your business!”

  “That’s cute that you think that! So do you look hot like those lingerie models on the commercials when you get undressed with those white fluffy wings? Oh wait, that’s right you’re still human,” Ian stated as I tried to block his perverted thoughts from entering my mind to no avail.

  “You are sick, Ian!”

  “Aww, careful, Angel. That one hurt!” Ian said mockingly, rubbing the spot on his chest where his heart would be located, if he had one.

  “Where is Lena?”

  “Lena’s not here, sorry. It’s just that you and I have some unfinished business, and I thought it might be more enjoyable if it were just the two of us. But hey, if you dig people watching, we can make that happen.”

  “Nothing will be happening, you perverted jerk! I’m leaving!” I shouted as I stood to leave.

  “On the contrary, you aren’t going anywhere!” Ian said as he pushed me down onto the bed with such force I started coughing.

  “Keep your hands off me!”

  “Sorry, Angel, that’s not part of the deal. Sexy outfit too. You just made this so easy for me, didn’t you? You look smokin’, you come alone, you come inside even when Lena didn’t answer, and you even locked the door! It’s like you came here intentionally, ready to fall into my arms and create a new life with me,” Ian said as he traced my face with his icy finger.

  “I did no such thing! I will never give into you for any reason! I would rather die than be anywhere near you!”

  “Aww Angel baby, unfortunately that isn’t a choice for you. You should just get used to the fact that from now until all eternity you will be having my children, so lie down and pretend you’re having fun. This won’t take long! Oh and by the way, you won’t need this anymore!” Ian shouted near my face as he ripped my charm bracelet from my wrist, throwing it across the room.

  “No! Leave me alone! Rape! Avan! Please hear me! Get off me! Help! Somebody! Please! Help me! No! Avan!” I started screaming repeatedly while tears rolled out of my eyes. Ian pinned me down, holding my wrists so hard they were already bruising.

  “Shut your mouth and do this the easy way! Do not make me do this the hard way! You have the rest of eternity to get used to this, but for right now I want you to tell me you love me and you want me!” Ian said as he licked the side of my face.

  “Never!” I screamed as I spit in his face.

  “You are not the only angel here! Do not cross me. You have no idea who you are dealing with! You should show some respect for the father of your children!” Ian said angrily before rais
ing his arm and backhanding me across my left cheek.

  I had never given much thought that dark angels had heightened strength as well, but the pain in the left side of my face instantly let me know that they did. I could already feel the start of swelling and was sure I would have a black eye to go along with it. The good thing was that if I made it out of here and back to safety, it would heal quickly.

  Ian kept kissing me so hard my lips stung and hurt almost as bad as the side of my face did, making me wish there was some way I could reach my bracelet to get someone a message to come help me. I knew there was no getting out of this alone; I needed help. I started praying to God as my tears flowed so heavily I couldn’t see. I was trying to push Ian away, and even though I had heightened strength as well, my emotions distracted me. Being in a naturally weakened human body, all I could accomplish was to make him angry, causing him to hit me more. I felt the blows from his fists coming one right after another over my entire body. Falling to the floor, I felt his foot connect with my rib cage, lifting me off the floor a few inches then landing back on it again.

  “Eventually, your weak human body is gonna succumb to unconsciousness when you can’t take any more pain, Matalyn! I told you that you really didn’t want to do this the hard way, but you just had to push it didn’t you! That’s okay, you couldn’t just be a good girl and enjoy it, could you? Well, now you’re gonna get more than you thought you were! Once you pass out I’m gonna have fun with you for hours!” Ian yelled.

  I was to the point where I was numb and could not feel the blows anymore, but that did not stop him. I didn’t pass out, though. For the first time in my life, I could feel warm, sticky blood flowing from my body. I felt it on my face, neck, shoulders, arms, back, stomach, and ribcage as I could tell my injuries were extensive. Due to the numbness of my body, I never felt my ring burning as it glowed on my hand until I heard the pounding at the door. I forced my eyes open just in time to see the door fly off the hinges, landing on the floor five feet from me as Avan stood in the doorway with five people behind him.

  “Is that blood?” Dorian asked inquisitively.

  “It has to be. It’s all over her!” Trev responded.

  “Get her back to Angel Towers! He’s mine!” Avan shouted angrily as I heard their footsteps tromp over the broken door on the ground.

  “Careful, we’ll pick her up on three,” Alex said to the others.

  “No, I’m not leaving without Avan,” I managed to whisper.

  “Mattie, you’re not gonna want to stick around to watch this. You have never seen Avan like this! To be honest, we have never seen Avan like this and I don’t think he wants you to!” Bradley said, pushing my hair back off my forehead.

  “I’m not leaving without him,” I repeated as I opened my eyes as far as I could to make eye contact with Bradley.

  “Fine. Declan, go get me some towels!” Bradley shouted.

  Within seconds, I felt pressure from Declan, Dorian, Alex, Trev, and Bradley all holding towels to the multiple wounds all over my body to try to stop the bleeding. I felt them switching the towels periodically for new ones as the old ones became saturated; they were trying to be so gentle, not knowing that I no longer had any feeling left in most of the nerve endings in my body where the wounds were. I opened my eyes to look up at Bradley and noticed a concerned and worried look on his face; a tear rolled down his cheek while he applied pressure to my neck.

  Reaching for a new towel, I caught sight of the soaked towel he threw aside covered in what looked like pure liquid silver. I could not help but remember the angel blood I had seen before that was red with traces of silver on the walls at Allen’s office. Why was there no red? My blood was pure silver, and this was the first time I had ever seen it.

  “Who do you think you are to inflict injuries to Matalyn?” Avan’s voice reverberated through the room.

  “Oh no, are you the husband? I should warn you that I’m not human, so this may not be a fair fight!” Ian smirked.

  “I know it won’t be, but not because I’m human. An Angel’s Promise connects Matalyn and me! It is more than a marriage. It’s an eternal bond, and you just made the worst decision of your existence!” Avan corrected him.

  “I doubt that! I am second in command of hell’s army now, so you have nothing on me!”

  “You just crossed a line you never should have drawn!” Avan said, so low that it was barely audible but with a force that made the furniture and wall hangings shake.

  The next thing I saw was incredible; Avan shoved Ian so hard he flew backward off the floor, crashing into the mirror above the cheap, walnut, hotel dresser mounted on the wall, shattering the pieces. Ian fell onto the dresser, leaving streaks of red with silver and a dark shimmer that smelled bitter. He laughed with a dark undertone.

  “Is that all you’ve got, fluffy?” Ian asked, looking up at Avan.

  Without a word, Avan grabbed Ian, slinging him back across the room, straight through the wall into the bathroom, where he proceeded to walk through the hole in the wall and deliver more loud and destructive blows as he used Ian like a ragdoll. Before passing out all I could see were several holes in the walls, broken glass, dark angel blood, and my group of heroes that had just saved my life.

  CHAPTER 19

  When I woke up, I was in my bed and it was daylight outside. Sitting up, I felt my face, which still felt sore, but nothing was swollen. I tried to stand up, but that was not a good decision, as my legs went right out from under me like wet noodles. Responding to the loud thud, Avan entered the room, picking me up off the floor and placing me back into bed without saying a word.

  “Okay, I know you’re mad and I’m not exactly your favorite person right now, but can you kind of give me a ballpark of how mad you are? Say, like, between one and ten?”

  “Mattie, you did exactly what I told you not to do. They could have taken you and I never would have seen you again. Not to mention you never let me know you needed us like you promised to!”

  “So that’s like a three right?” I asked, hoping he would crack a smile, but it did not happen.

  “This is really serious, Mattie! I could have lost you!”

  “I know, and I’m sorry. I knew better, I did, but I just wanted to believe Lena was not bad. I wanted to believe she actually cared and was not part of them. If you could have seen her when she apologized—”

  “I would have if you hadn’t shut me out! I could have seen and prevented many things that happened! Mattie, you are extraordinary, but you were not raised as an angel. You are new at this, and I was created specifically to protect you and be by your side. I guess you really cannot comprehend what that means. That means you are my job!” Avan shouted, startling me as this was the first time I ever heard him raise his voice.

  “Oh, so that’s what this is to you? A job? You conned me into an Angel’s Promise so your job would be easier?”

  “That isn’t what I meant,” Avan added with a sigh.

  “Sounds like that’s exactly what you meant to me! So what is this some Black Ops assignment and you did whatever you possibly could to make me think you actually loved me so that I would just stay right beside you and make your job a piece of cake?” I asked, trying to fight back the tears.

  “No, Mattie, I am in love with you! You have to believe that! It isn’t just a job; I just can’t go through eternity without you! You cannot imagine what it felt like to know it could have ended that way. Then I saw you lying there covered in blood, beaten so badly that you were barely recognizable. I did not know if he had gotten what he wanted from you or not. I have never wanted to kill someone or something before, but I did, Mattie! I wanted to kill Ian! I did not know a heavenly angel could even have the desire to kill, but I did because I knew he had harmed you! I cannot handle the thought of anyone coming near you that could hurt you.

  “Mattie, he hurt you bad! I have never seen anyone hurt that bad! I am so in love with you and when you hurt, I hurt. I’m sorry. I just feel like
I failed because he was able to get to you. I should have followed you from the beginning, but I didn’t want to make you lose trust in me. Sometimes when you love someone you have to protect, your emotions get in the way of what you are supposed to be doing. You worry about the other person trusting you and being happy,” Avan explained.

  “Really?” I questioned.

  “Yes, really!” Avan assured me.

  “So I’m not just a project that you are in charge of?”

  “Absolutely not, and for what it’s worth, I wasn’t mad at you. I was worried about losing you,” Avan said as he kissed me on the forehead.

  It took another week before I could get out of bed by myself, and even then, I was still sore. I felt as if I had dropped from the top of the Eiffel Tower and hit every piece of metal on the way down before splatting on the cement, becoming nothing more than a puddle of sticky stuff that passersby stepped in and had to wipe from the soles of their shoes. In addition, I still had black eyes that shadowed the tops of my cheekbones. Avan had been wonderful enough to have Lorenzo come by to cook every meal for me, so at least I got some tasty food out of the deal.

  I asked Avan to make sure the rest of my heroes came by when they got done at Spirits this evening since I felt better physically. Mentally I was a mess; I felt like I owed everyone a personal apology for putting them in a bad situation. I knew all of this was my fault as usual, and they came through as they had promised they would from the day I met them. I could not help but feel that something was still missing, though. Then it dawned on me that I was rubbing my wrist. My bracelet was gone.

  Thinking back over the course of the past week and a half, I realized I had not had it on when I woke up. My charm bracelet had not been on my wrist since the night at the hotel when Ian ripped it from my wrist and threw it. It must have been left it in the floor in room 1306 or in the pile of rubble that was left of it. I had passed out before I had known we left, and it was not exactly the first thought on my mind when I was bleeding profusely. Unfortunately, now my bracelet was gone forever. My ring was still on my finger, so I knew Avan had not taken my jewelry off while I slept. It saddened me to think I lost something that important, even though I knew it was not my fault. At that point I could do nothing. I was going to have to learn how to communicate more effectively in other ways.