“I can communicate to those with whom I drink their blood. If they drink from me, I can choose to share my thoughts with them. I can hold my breath indefinitely. I can release poison or pleasure through my fangs. I can hear everything, jump high, fall and land safely from high distances, see really well, read and learn fast, and heal my body quickly. I can heal others through my blood or saliva. Blood tastes better during an orgasm. I can distinguish who blood belongs to through taste or smell. I can taste and smell alcohol or drugs in human blood. I can control objects with my mind. And never slap a Vampire.”
He laughs at the last one. “I think that is more personal than a legitimate truth. What did he teach you of Angels and Demons?”
“Never drink from another Angel or Demon. . Do not drink from a Vampire who has their protector’s blood in them.”
“Very good. He has taught you well and very quickly. What have you learned from me?” he asks.
I think back. “I know how Vampires were created. I know that only Angels and Demon can kill each other, but a Vampire can send them to Purgatory. You should not banish your own Guardian. I know the sun strengthens you and makes Demons weaker. I know Angels can heal others, yet you refuse to heal me. You taught me that I have wings and how to use them.” I close my eyes and lower my head. “I know that I will have to shoulder the fate of this world.”
“You will not be alone. The Fallen Angels are with you as well as half a legion of Vampires. Their leaders will pledge their alliance to you. The war will be fought by us. Your main concern is the soul of your charge and protecting him. I do not know when this war will occur. You may have centuries to prepare, maybe a millennium, or maybe it could all start tomorrow.”
“Who is the leader of the Vampire army?”
“Jacob,” he tells me. “He is the head of the committee. He represents them all.”
“But Adam is a pure Angel,” I comment.
“You’re right. He is not the leader of the Fallen. I am,” Malachi admits. I realize that both men will be in my life for eternity. I look into his eyes. They are not glowing. Their blue color is shaded in the darkness of the night.
“Do you know who the charge will be?”
“No, no one does. He may already be trapped in Hell or he may not have even been born or created yet. He could be human, Vampire, Angel, or Demon.”
“Who do you need to protect me from now?” I ask, wondering why everyone keeps obsessing about us coupling.
“Those who find out about you will try to kill you before you even get a chance to be a Guardian, Demons especially. That is why you must lie to the committee. Lilith must never know. She is the Demon leader. She is the first human who was turned into a Demon. It is said that Lucifer created her.”
“Is it possible that she knows the identity of the charge?”
“It is possible. She may even aid in his escape in order to start the war. If she does not know him, then she will as soon as the barrier is broken.”
“You keep saying ‘he.’ How do you know my charge is male?”
“Your questions are good. Fallen are the opposite sex and Demons are the same sex. It is to be believed to be that way so that a protector will fall in love with their charge and sacrifice it all in order to save them.”
“You said that you fought my Demon for the right to me. Does that mean she is dead?”
“No. If I struck her down, she would be dead. We fought relentlessly for ten years. She finally surrendered. I could have killed her, but I sent her away to Purgatory. She may even be in the Abyss.
“Can she get out?” I ask.
He pauses. “No one has ever gotten out of the Abyss before. Only the Angel with the key can let them out. He will not release them upon the earth until the end of days. Apollyon is in charge down there. He looks for a way out tirelessly. I do not know for certain if it can be done. It would be a smart tactical move to release your Demon.”
“What do you mean?”
“I would have to face her again. Fight her to the death. I couldn’t be by your side defending you, and you could be left vulnerable.”
“Do you think anyone already knows who I am?”
“Yes,” he says. “We know Jacob thinks you are the foretold. He would not have offered you up to me otherwise. He wants us to couple. It will make you stronger.”
My heart sinks. “How could anyone know? I didn’t even know. Jacob was the only one who knew and now you and I. Jacob wouldn’t betray me.”
“You said Charles and Rebecca attacked you. Arthur and Merlin kept you under powerful spells. It is possible that others knew.”
“Jacob told me that Charles helped him a great deal when I was first kidnapped. I didn’t think that he knew me when he attacked me, but he almost succeeded in killing me with poison. I do not know why he would try to save me one moment years ago only to poison me with his fangs now.”
He raises my head up and looks into my eyes. “You didn’t tell me everything that happened. You only said that he attacked you, not poisoned you. You were so upset that I didn’t want to ask you to explain it then, but I need you to tell me now.”
I want to look away when I tell him, but he will not let go of my chin. I tell him everything that happened. I close my eyes. He leans forward and kisses both my eyelids one by one. The gesture makes me melt inside. My tears fall.
“If Charles drank your blood, then he knows what you are. He knew you were an Angel the moment he swallowed. He couldn’t touch your soul. Sarah would easily be sacrificed in order to kill the prophesied one. Jacob was right to banish him, but if I had known all of this beforehand, I would have killed the Demon.”
Malachi is right, the sooner we couple, the better. “Tomorrow night, you can do whatever it is you have to do to link us together. I am in your hands.” He kisses me softly. Pushing my hair behind my ear, he cups his hand around the back of my neck. His mouth playfully tugs on my lips as his kisses linger even longer. He presses harder against me as his mouth opens wider. I plunge my tongue inside and withdraw it only to do it again. I feel the essence of his light. He flickers for a moment and stops kissing me.
“I have to leave. I am sorry,” he says as he lifts his wing off me, and I rise up to my feet. He stands and shakes the dirt off his feathers. I see a flash of metal underneath his foliage, and I remember the daggers.
“I didn’t feel the steel of your blade when I lay on top of your wing.”
“My layers are thick. I had to surgically attach hooks upon which to hang my weapons. The blades at the tip of my wings are a natural gift of mine.”
“Do they hurt?”
“Always,” he says.
“Why did you do it?”
“I am a warrior Angel, a leader of my race. I cannot risk getting caught with my guard down. I accept the pain graciously. It is my cross to carry.”
“But how can you love so easily?”
“Pleasure through pain is that much sweeter.” His mouth broadens into a perfect smile as he walks to the end of the cave. I see him disappear from the ledge and into the day. I have to avert my eyes from the faint glow. The sun is poisonous, a match that can burn my flesh and boil my blood. I walk over and pick up my bra from the dirt. I dust it off and put it back on. Sitting down against the cool damp rock, I lean back and close my eyes. My sleep is peaceful.
When I wake, it is almost dark. Malachi sits across from me, watching me. He is energized from the sun. He stands up and offers me his hand for assistance. I lock fingers with him and feel his heat and power pulse up my arm. He helps me to my feet. I wonder why he doesn’t have my sweater, but then I think it foolish to put it on since my wings would have difficulty emerging through the fabric. I will have to find a solution. I am not facing an army of Demons in only my bra.
He does not speak, and I remain silent also. We walk together to the ledge. He jumps, and as he falls, I see him transform into an Angel. He really is beautiful. I remember to start the transformation before I leap since
I am slower to take flight. When I feel the burn of my skin and the rustling of my bones, I jump. The pain is just as severe as the first time. I let out a scream as my wings rip out of my shoulders. I take to the air quicker this time.
We head south. Our journey is long, and I am starting to tire. Malachi is getting further and further ahead of me. My wings are getting slower and slower. I drop several feet in the air. Even my lungs are hurting. The air is thinner this high up. I decide to glide down and level off closer to the earth. I soon realize that I am in trouble. The currents are not as strong down below. I have to beat my wings harder and with longer strokes. I want to cry out to Malachi but the air has left my chest. I start to falter to the ground.
My wings are heavy, and I can no longer flap them. I spread them out wide and try to drift down to land. I wobble side to side. My back is aching from the weight. I am going too fast to make a safe landing even for me. As the ground approaches, I fold my wings around my body, hoping to provide a small amount of protection. I close my eyes and take the hit.
I roll several times over. When I open my eyes, I see that I am wrapped in Malachi’s arms and wings. He is hugging me too tightly to his body. I cannot move. The sun is making me sweat beneath him. He isn’t moving either. I pass out again.
The air is cooler now as the day moves into night, but my chest feels heavy. I open my eyes and find Malachi is on top of me, holding me down. I wiggle beneath him.
“Be still,” he says. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you so far last night. I forget that you are new to all this. Are you okay? Do you need to drink of me?”
“My mouth is dry, but I crave water.”
He smiles. “Water is a life source for us Angels, as well as the sun and the air. Demons and Vampires have control of the night, earth, and fire. I saw a river about a mile back. We will go there to drink and recharge.”
He does not call his teaching “lessons” like Jacob did. I think he is to provide me mostly with knowledge. With his time in Heaven and on earth, there is no end to the things he must know. We both return to our natural states as we create a path to the river. Once there, I think we will only drink the water. I do not expect to see him naked this soon. He removes his pants and walks out into the water. His bare ass is highly visible between his wings. I like the sight of him. The water covers his waist; his back is to me. He does not speak to me or tell me what to do. I hesitate, but slowly I remove my jeans. I think about leaving on my bra and panties, but I do not wish to continue the journey with wet underwear. I slide them off and enter the water.
His skin glistens as I approach him. I look down and see that I too have a slight sparkle to my flesh. The water tingles as it refreshes me. I wade out to him and wrap my arms around his waist. I stroke his upper body with my hands. He saved my life by breaking my fall and by encasing me all day in the safety of his wings. It appears that I have a thing for heroes. He enjoys my caresses for a while longer. I press my body against his back. He holds my arms as I hug him. I rest my head upon him. I know that he is mine.
He turns to face me. Taking my upper body in his arms, he leans me back into the water and dips my head below the surface. My hair and body are soaked, but I feel clean and reenergized. I remember the blood on his wing, my blood.
“Open your wings,” I say. He looks at me but complies. Stretching them out and above the water, he flaps them back and forth. I see they are indeed bloody and somewhat dusty. “Lower them into the water.”
“But I will not be able to fly for a little while. What if something happens?”
“Everything will be all right,” I tell him. “We don’t look like we are going anywhere anytime soon.” He dips the tips of his wings into the water and shivers. I take the cool liquid into my cupped hand and raise it to the top of his wing. I clean him, repeating the process over and over until he glimmers in the moonlight once more. When finished, he cups water into his palm and holds it to my mouth and tells me to drink. I do. My body accepts it gratefully. He shakes the excess water from his plumage.
“Thank you,” he says as he picks me up in his arms and carries me to the grass. Laying me down gently, he covers the length of my body with his hard, warm being. Reaching down between my thighs, I find his shaft and massage him to length.
“Wait.” He stops me, and I am confused. This is what he wanted. I am offering myself to him.
He rises to his hands and knees and looks my body over. I do not feel uncomfortable with his gaze. His eyes smolder and begin their heart-melting blue glow. He sits back on his knees and wraps my legs around his arms. Scooting me forward against the blades of grass, he rests my thighs on his shoulders and lowers his head. His wings fold down behind him but do not recede into his body. He doesn’t smell me like Jacob preferred to do beforehand. I open up for him and feel his tongue circling my center. My heart is pounding out of my chest. His touch feels different than I am used to. He takes my pink flesh into his mouth and suckles. I roll my head to the side and part my lips. I moan in pleasure. His tongue continues to invade me. He goes in deep, seeking to draw out my honey. His hands are kneading my thighs.
I think of Jacob. I try not to, but I feel that I am betraying him. I have had but a few lovers and Malachi has had many sexual experiences. He switches up what he is doing, and my thoughts return to him. My hips move with him. A cry escapes my lips. I feel his fingers inside me as he flicks his tongue against my nub. My stomach tingles, and I feel I am on the verge of release. He stops once more. I cry out in displeasure.
“Take me now,” I sigh.
“No.” He lies back down on top of me and covers me with his body. I feel like I am the one being teased, and I do not like it. He strokes my wet hair from my face. Smelling my scent on his lips, I lift my head and hungrily kiss him. I invade his mouth with my tongue. Again I think of Jacob. I feel a burning sensation in my nipple. Malachi is tweaking it hard with his fingers while kneading my breast. I think of Jacob’s bite. Malachi hasn’t even tried to bite me once while pleasing me. My gums ache as my teeth push through to make their sharp points. My mouth opens to draw in a breath. Malachi sees my fangs.
“No,” he says. “No biting.” I close my mouth. I told him he could do anything that he needed to do to make us couple, yet he does not enter me. His fingers slip between my thighs again, and he rubs me with his open palm. His hand glides easily against my slick flesh. He increases his pressure until I cannot take it anymore. I am climbing higher and higher. I close my eyes and see Jacob’s face when I told him that I loved him.
“Open your eyes,” he softly whispers. I blink them open but close them quickly.
“Say my name,” he requests. My thoughts are not in this moment.
“Marion, open your eyes. Do not close them again.” I look into his piercing bright blue eyes.
“Say my name.” He desires for me to call out his name before we go any further.
“Malachi,” I moan.
“Let it go, you have to let him go. This will not work until you do. He is gone. Now what is my name?”
“Malachi.” I draw the letters of his name out longer as my breath is heavy and my bosom heaves against his chest. His palm closes and I feel his thumb rubbing against my clitoris in circles. I grow more and more euphoric. My juices are about to explode. Malachi kisses me and holds my lips to his. I cannot scream as I am closer to my release. I need to get this need out of my body. My eyes blacken, and I pierce his bottom lip with my fang. He lifts his head. He licks the blood from his mouth.
“Cry out my name.” He is demanding in his tone.
My voice carries across the night as I scream out his name over and over. It feels foreign on my tongue. It is not the name that I am used to shouting. He may be mine, but I am not yet his. He knows it. His hand stops once again right before I reach my orgasm. My heart is left beating wildly in my chest and my needs are left unmet. Malachi’s wings stretch out above us before he folds them into his body. He rolls over onto the grass and l
ies on his back. I see that he is still erect, and I still yearn. I roll over and reach out to touch him.
“No,” he says without looking at me.
“Why? I gave you permission.”
“You do not want me yet. Jacob is still too much a part of you. We cannot couple until you let him go in peace. You think that I want to replace him, but that is not my intention. I want you to love me, Marion.” I lie back on the grass and think about what he is asking of me.
“But I do love you. I just love him too. I cannot stop my love for either of you, and I have told him as much.”
“You try to make love to me like a Vampire. We are Angels, and we are to couple as such.” He closes his eyes and places his arms behind his head like a pillow.
“Are you going to sleep?” I ask.
“No, I never sleep,” he informs me. “I have to think.” We lay there in silence for a long time. The moon becomes visible high overhead. I feel him reach down and grab my hand. As he raises it to his lips, I rotate my arm so he can kiss the back of my hand. He twists it back over and clamps his teeth onto my wrist. He sucks in my blood. I just lie there like nothing is happening. If he doesn’t want to make love like a Vampire then why is he doing this to me? I find biting intoxicating. It is my nature. If he had done this while pleasuring me, then we might have coupled already.
I close my eyes. Since I left Jacob’s side two nights ago, I still hear him in my mind and feel him in my body. I know he is slipping away from me now as Malachi drains me. Tears escape my eyes and fall down my temples and into the grass beneath my hair. I am mourning my loss.
I grow weak from blood loss. I try to take my arm away, but he snarls and tugs it deeper into his mouth. He is the one acting like a Vampire. My eyes grow heavy, and I get sleepy. My wrist is wet with his saliva and my blood. I need blood, but I am too weak to try to take it from him. I lose all thoughts.
Chapter 7
When I wake, there is a bright white light encasing me. I do not see or feel Malachi touching me. At first, I think it is the sun. I try to sit up.
Steal Me From Heaven Page 10
