Jeremy (Broken Angel #4)

by L. G. Castillo

  Jeremy lifted his hand slightly in greeting. A mixture of emotions washed over him. He was happy to see the fun-loving Uri, but at the same time he wasn’t ready to leave. He was just getting used to being back to his old self again.

  He brought the glass to his mouth, taking a sip of his drink, before he whispered softly. He knew even from this distance, Uri would be able to hear him.

  “Are you here for me?”

  “Not really,” Uri said.

  “Then why—?”

  Jeremy choked on his drink when Uri looked over in Kai and Samuel’s direction.

  “You’re not . . . you can’t be here for . . .” He couldn’t even say the words. Uri was here on assignment. In his absence, Uri had taken over duties as archangel of death.

  “Who?” His hand shook as he took another drink.

  “You know I can’t tell you.” Uri’s face twisted, looking sadly at Jeremy. Then, as if being called, he jerked his head up. “Sorry, my friend.”

  With a flick of his wings, Uri soared into the sky and disappeared.

  “Jeremy? Yoo-hoo! Earth to Jeremy!” Sammy slapped his chest.

  “Sorry. What did you say?”

  “Mom said we’re going hiking tomorrow. Wanna come?”

  “You and Kai are both invited to join us,” Samuel added.

  “I have to work tomorrow,” Kai grumbled.

  “How about you, Jeremy? Have you been to Waimea Canyon yet?” Lani asked.

  “No.” He looked at Leilani’s hopeful eyes. All he could think about was why Uri was here. He knew it was forbidden to intervene when it was someone’s time to go. Even though Kai rubbed him the wrong way, he didn’t want the boy’s life to end. And Samuel . . . he hoped with all his heart he was wrong. Leilani had already lost one father. As strong as she pretended to be, he didn’t think she could take losing another.

  His chest ached as he watched Samuel kiss the top of Leilani’s head and she playfully swatted him away. She might lose him, and there was nothing he could do about it.

  Was there?

  So this was what it felt like, the crushing weight on your chest of wanting to protect someone innocent from the inevitable, yet knowing it was against your duty. This was why Lash had risked everything to save the little girl, Jane Sutherland.

  He had to know who Uri had come for. He was sure he could get the information out of him somehow.

  “Thanks for the offer, but I have plans for tomorrow.”

  17

  Sitting on his motorcycle down the street from Leilani’s house, Jeremy searched the dark skies for Uri. The neighborhood was still, with only the sound of palm leaves rustling in the breeze. He took turns watching between Leilani’s house and Kai’s, thankful that his house was across the street.

  As he waited for Uri to appear, he noticed he’d spent most of the night expecting him to show up at Kai’s place. Guilt gnawed at him when he realized he hoped Uri was there for Kai and not Samuel. What kind of an archangel was he to be thinking like that? There was something seriously wrong with him.

  The moment light began to fill the sky, the front door to Leilani’s house flew open. Sammy dashed out with a backpack in one hand and a juice box in the other, yelling, “Hurry up, guys.”

  Chuckling, Jeremy pushed his motorcycle deeper into the areca palms he was hiding in. He wanted so badly to join them. He wanted to help Samuel carry the large red cooler he was struggling with. He wanted to take the booster seat from Leilani’s hands and place it in the back of the SUV for Sammy. And God help him, he wanted to stand in Lani’s place and hug Leilani in thanks, thanks for teaching him to surf, thanks for being a great friend, thanks for making him laugh . . . thanks for helping me find myself again.

  As they drove away, he let out a breath of relief. So far so good; Uri was nowhere in sight. He waited a minute before he revved the bike’s engine and took off after Samuel. He kept his distance as they headed to the canyon.

  It was turning into a beautiful day, just like it was every day on the garden island. He slowed down to take in the glorious morning. He didn’t know how he’d decided to come to Kauai. Of all the places he could’ve gone to, something had brought him there. Was it fate? Maybe. Whatever it was, he was glad he was here. He wasn’t sure for how much longer.

  He heard Leilani groan. Immediately, he focused his attention on their SUV. Samuel had turned up the radio’s volume, and “Build Me Up Buttercup” blasted through the speakers. Her parents and Sammy sang along to the song. He could see Sammy holding up his juice box, swaying it back and forth. Lani turned to the backseat, urging Leilani to sing along. When she finally joined in, he smiled, surprised by her deep, soulful voice.

  The chorus of happy voices filled his head as if he were sitting beside them. He sang along, bobbing his head and tapping a finger on the handlebar as he watched the SUV drive up the hill’s winding road.

  Between the radio and the singing voices, he heard it. He jolted and the bike veered to the right. Quickly, he straightened out.

  You’re hearing things. It’s not him.

  Holding his breath, he listened for the sound again. He heard the wind whistling against his ears, blood rushing through his head, and then . . . there it was. Inch by tortuous inch, his lashes lifted to the sound above.

  Wings flapping.

  Uri’s wings.

  Then there was the sound of a sports car, its engine revving fast as it sped down the hill. Everything was a sea of heart-pounding sounds, the shifting of the sports car’s gears, Leilani and Sammy’s sweet voices, and their parents’ laughter.

  Everything happened all at once. With his angel eyes, he saw every single detail as if each second that passed was a minute.

  The black sports car zoomed around the corner. A man’s balding head ducked down, gazing at his cell phone, his thumb moving over the tiny screen. And in that one second, one heartbeat, the car drifted into the oncoming lane.

  “Leilani!” Jeremy yelled.

  Samuel swerved as the sports car careened toward them head on. The driver looked up, his eyes wide with panic. Turning the steering wheel too late, he nicked the front bumper of Samuel’s SUV.

  “No!” Jeremy cried as the SUV sailed into the air.

  He sped toward them, their screaming voices ripping his heart in two. He watched in horror as the SUV smashed onto the pavement. Glass and metal exploded into thousands of pieces as the SUV flipped over and over again until it stopped upside down.

  He was so focused on Leilani’s family, he didn’t see the spinning sports car heading in his direction.

  A wall of black metal slammed into him. Pain hammered his body as he flew helplessly through the air. A loud crack reverberated through the still air as he crashed into a tree.

  And then . . . silence.

  Jeremy groaned when he regained consciousness.

  Where am I? What . . .?

  “Leilani. Sammy.” He jolted up in a panic. His legs felt like jelly and they immediately gave way. He fell to his knees as pain rushed through him. He braced himself against the tree and tried to stand. As an angel, he healed fast and knew the pain would last a couple of minutes.

  He limped over to the SUV. A strong odor filled his nostrils when he approached the SUV.

  “Leilani? Sammy?”

  “Jeremy,” Samuel groaned. “Where did you come—Oh, my head.”

  “Don’t move. I’ll get you out.”

  “No. Get Sammy and Leilani. Lani, are you okay?” Samuel shook her.

  “The kids? Are the kids okay?” she asked frantically as her fingers fumbled on the belt. “I can’t get this off. Leilani! Sammy! Say something.”

  “Something.”

  “Oh, thank God, Sammy,” Lani said. “What about Leilani?”

  “She’s sleeping, Mom,” Sammy said.

  “Oh God! Jeremy, get them out!”

  Jeremy rushed to the back. Leilani lay motionless, her body still strapped in. The door was crushed.

  “Leilani
, wake up!” He ripped the door open, not caring who saw him. He pushed on the belt buckle. It wouldn’t budge. He ripped the seatbelt off her, and she fell into his arms.

  “I’ll be right back.” Gently, he carried her a few feet away from the car and placed her down. A sob filled his chest as he brushed the blood from her forehead.

  “Wake up, Leilani.” He patted her cheeks. “Please wake up.”

  He smelled the odor again. It was stronger.

  Gas!

  “Jeremy!” Samuel screamed.

  He whirled around. The SUV was on fire.

  No! They can’t die like this. Not them. Not like this.

  He ran to Sammy’s side, ripped off the door, and snatched him out of the SUV. This family was not going to die. He wasn’t going to let them.

  “Mom! Dad!” Sammy yelled when Jeremy placed him next to Leilani.

  “Don’t worry, buddy. I’ll get them. Wait here. Don’t move.”

  “The car’s on fire! Leilani, wake up. Please,” Sammy sobbed.

  “She’ll be okay. I promise. I’ll be right back. Stay—”

  There was a loud explosion. Quickly, he threw his body over Leilani and Sammy. Red heat seared over every inch of his back. He clenched his jaw, fighting back the hellish scream stuck in his throat. He was strong. He could take the pain.

  “Mommy! Daddy!”

  Jeremy clawed his hands into the soft ground as Sammy’s tiny hands lashed against his chest, calling out for his parents. A guttural sob escaped Jeremy’s throat, his heart breaking at the sound of Sammy’s cries.

  When the flash of heat finally dissipated, Jeremy grabbed Sammy’s arms and looked intently into Sammy’s frightened eyes. “Stay with Leilani, and cover your eyes. Now!”

  Weeping, Sammy did what he was told. He prayed Sammy would keep his eyes covered as he ran toward the SUV, which was now a fireball. In one swift movement, he dove into the fire. Flames danced on his flesh like a million pins pricking his skin as he ripped the door open and yanked Lani out and then Samuel.

  Panting, he pulled them away from the inferno. The pain was so immense he could barely breathe. The skin on his face, hands, and arms flared an angry red. He couldn’t scream now. His pain was nothing. He’d heal.

  When he placed them at a safe distance, he glanced back at Sammy, praying he wasn’t seeing this. Sammy still had his eyes covered, and he had his face buried into Leilani’s chest, quietly sobbing.

  “Keep your eyes closed, buddy. I have them. I’ll take care of them,” he said as he gently placed his finger against Lani and then Samuel’s wrists.

  “Okay.” Sammy’s muffled voice cracked.

  His hands shook as he looked over Lani and Samuel. Their bodies were covered in severe burns. They were unrecognizable. But their pulses were there . . . barely.

  He had the power to help Sammy’s parents. In his angel form, he could heal them. He didn’t have enough power to heal them as well as Raphael did, but enough to give them a fighting chance to live.

  He stood up ready to change.

  “Jeremy,” Uri’s voice spoke from behind him.

  He didn’t turn. He didn’t want to see Uri. He didn’t want to face the truth.

  “It’s time to go home.”

  “Let me help them. Please,” Jeremy whispered, pressing his shoulders painfully inward preparing to release his wings.

  “I can’t let you do that.” Uri placed a hand on his shoulder.

  “No!”

  Leaping into the air, Jeremy spun around, flicking open his powerful wings. He landed in front of Uri, nostrils flaring as he gazed at his friend.

  “He doesn’t have to die,” Jeremy seethed, his voice low enough where only Uri could hear him.

  “It has already been decided for them.” Uri’s voice was soft. “You know this is what must be done.”

  “Them? You’re here to take both of them?”

  There was a beat of silence as Jeremy gazed into Uri’s sorrowful blue eyes.

  “I’m sorry, my friend.”

  Jeremy sucked in a breath. Images of Sammy’s smiles and Leilani’s chocolate-stained face flashed through his mind. They couldn’t lose their parents. Leilani had already lost a father. This would break her.

  “Stand aside, Jeremy.”

  Jeremy turned to Sammy. His muffled voice alternated between crying for his parents and for Leilani to wake up. Leilani lay as if sleeping peacefully on a bed of lush grass.

  Turning back to Uri, he took a threatening step forward. He let out his chest, spanning his powerful wings to their fullest length, the wings of one of the most powerful archangels.

  “No.”

  18

  Jeremy leaned against the doorframe of the small hospital room, watching over Leilani and Sammy. An older woman, who Sammy called Auntie Anela, slept in chair next to his bed.

  In their angel form, he and Uri had followed the ambulances to the hospital. As they flew, Uri had kept darting nervous glances at him, worried he would do something to intervene with his job. Uri hadn’t needed to worry. The moment his hand had touched Uri’s chest to shove him away from Lani and Samuel, he’d known he couldn’t go through with it. Centuries working as the archangel of death were entrenched deep within him. It was not for him to decide who would live or die. No matter how difficult it was, the job must be done. Uri had been given this assignment in his place, and it was his job to step aside. Jeremy had always done what he was told. He’d never questioned it. It was his duty.

  He wasn’t going to stop Uri from doing his job, but there was no way he was leaving before he made sure Sammy and Leilani were okay. While Uri was in the ICU doing his duty, Jeremy waited in their hospital room.

  When the doctor had come in and told their aunt that Leilani and Sammy would be fine, he’d finally been able to relax. Leilani had a mild concussion and Sammy had only a few cuts and bruises. He was thankful for the doctor’s words. It was what she’d said last that stuck with him.

  “They’re young. They’ll heal fast,” she’d said.

  How long does it take for a heart to heal—if ever? He gazed at the clock on the wall, watching the hand tick away the seconds, seconds that flew by, bringing Sammy and Leilani closer to a new world. A world without their parents. A world of grief. A world he knew little about.

  He’d never lost anyone close to him that he could remember. He vaguely remembered his ancient history. He didn’t know how he’d transitioned from being on Earth to being in Heaven. Perhaps he’d experienced the death of someone close to him when he was on Earth. He didn’t know. He wondered if he could survive the anguish he’d seen on the humans’ faces after they’d lost a loved one. Maybe the suppression of his memories had been a gift after all.

  After completing an assignment, it was rare for him to stay around long enough to see the aftermath of what he’d done. For those who were near the end of their life, he saw bravery, acceptance, peace, and then great joy when they saw him in his angelic form and realized where they were being sent. There was always a bit of sadness about missing loved ones. But mostly there was joy and the knowledge that someday their family would cross over too and be reunited.

  He had to focus on the joy of those who crossed over, because watching what happened to those left behind was unbearable. Whether it was someone crying an endless river of tears or empty eyes staring out into nothingness, he felt their pain. Sometimes it was so intense, it took his breath away. He wondered how humans could live through that kind of agony.

  He walked to Leilani’s bedside. Gently, he motioned his hand over her hair, wishing he were in his human form so he could touch her one last time.

  “I’m so sorry, my brave friend,” he whispered.

  She was so full of life. It broke his heart to think what this would do to her.

  “Jeremy?”

  He jerked his head up at the sound of Sammy’s voice.

  He can see me.

  Tucking his wings into him, he went to Sammy’s side. It was r
are for others to be able to see him unless they were near death. Sometimes animals and young children could see angels, but even then it was only special people who could see.

  He smiled. Sammy was special. It shouldn’t have been a surprise that he was able to see him in his angel form.

  “Hey, buddy. How’re you feeling?”

  “My head hurts. You look funny.”

  Jeremy glanced over at Sammy’s sleeping aunt and Leilani. He leaned over Sammy and whispered, “What else did you have in that juice box? You can tell me.”

  Sammy giggled. “It was just juice.”

  “Uh-huh, riiiight.”

  “I’m only five.”

  His chest ached as baby blue eyes twinkled back at him. He knew as soon as Uri was done, he’d have to leave with him. He was going to miss Sammy.

  “Leilani’s still sleeping,” he said. “The doc says she’s going to be okay.”

  “What about Mom and Dad?”

  He swallowed thickly as Sammy’s trusting eyes gazed up at him. He couldn’t tell him. He couldn’t be the one to break the little boy’s heart.

  Tears welled in Sammy’s eyes when he didn’t respond.

  “Are they’re sleeping too?” Sammy’s voice squeaked.

  “Yes.”

  “They’re not going to wake up.”

  Jeremy closed his eyes, the pain in his chest intensifying. Sammy knew. So young, yet so wise. Slowly, he opened them and said the one word that almost crushed him.

  “No.”

  Sammy’s bottom lip quivered as a tear rolled down his right cheek. “Is Leilani gonna wake up?”

  “Yes, she will—soon. I promise.”

  “Okay.” His face scrunched up, and he let out a sob. His head dipped onto his chest. Teardrops splashed onto his bedsheet.

  “It’ll be okay, little man. Your aunt will take care of you. You’re not alone.” Jeremy reached out his hands, wishing he could hold him.

  Someone cleared his throat, and Jeremy looked up. Uri stood at the door, his eyes red rimmed.

  “We have to leave,” Uri said.

  “No, you can’t leave,” Sammy sobbed.