by Scott Speer
Sierra sauntered away, her hips sliding smoothly under her four-thousand-dollar dress.
“What’d she say?” Maddy asked.
“Something strange. . Never mind,” Jacks said, leading Maddy down the hallway. He tried to put a smile on his face to put her at ease. “Ready?”
For Maddy, stepping into the party was literally like crossing into another world. It was, without a doubt, the strangest place she had ever been. The room was a kind of lounge furnished with mismatched lime-green and orange couches, deer-antler chandeliers, and pink and white chairs of every shape and description. There were life-size plastic pigs for tables and horses for lamps. Nothing matched, and the more Maddy looked, nothing made any sense either.
And then, there were the mirrors. They hung everywhere, in every different shape and size, reflecting warped and twisted images of the passing guests. Like they were inside some kind of gigantic fun house.
Jacks’s presence seemed to fill the party immediately.
Angels offered hearty congratulations and posed with him for pictures. Maddy recognized faces she had seen on billboards during her walks to school and on ANN at the diner.
They were all actually here now , and so close she could reach out and touch them.
Jacks took Maddy over to where a long serving table had been laid. Even the buffet was bizarre . There was food to drink and drinks to chew. Trays of desserts had been set out that looked more like modern art than anything edible.
All around Maddy, the Angels indulged themselves. They munched on foie gras cotton candy and devoured drizzly, melting bonbons. They toasted one another and let the drinks spill over their lips and drip down their chins. A waitress offered Maddy a frozen cocktail that was literally smoking, which she took and then discreetly set down on a pig.
Jacks looked over at Maddy. “Do you like it?”
Maddy saw there were a few humans, Protections. She thought she recognized Sarah, last year’s American Protection winner, standing around awkwardly, no one talking to her. None of the humans were with the Angels like Maddy was. They were hanging out, but there still seemed to be a bright line of separation between them and the Immortals.
Just getting invited as a Protection would be enough, though, to get blog coverage that Gwen would’ve killed for.
“Godspeed, get over here!” a burly voice called out from the bar.
“Come on,” Jacks said to Maddy, lighting up. “I want to introduce you to someone.”
Over at the bar Jacks embraced an athletic-looking Angel with dark, glassy eyes and a great smile. Maddy found it slightly overwhelming, how good-looking they all were.
“Where have you been, man?” Mitch asked, his tone slightly rebellious. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“I want you to meet someone,” Jacks said. He turned to Maddy. “Mitch, meet Maddy. Maddy, this is my best friend, Mitch.” The Angel looked at Maddy with an expression that bordered at first on sheer bewilderment. His eyes searched hers, as if trying to place her. Finally, he gave a half-smile and reached out his hand.
“Hi, Maddy,” he said. “It’s nice to meet you.” His tone was polite but guarded.
“It’s really nice to meet you too,” Maddy said. But as she shifted her gaze, she saw Mitch shoot a quick, questioning glance at Jacks. Maddy wondered what that meant.
“Mitch and I go all the way back to Basic Flying together,” Jacks said. “But seriously, I don’t know why I keep this guy around sometimes.” Jacks threw his arm around Mitch and punched him hard on the shoulder.
“It’s because I keep the world’s most famous Angel sane, believe me, Maddy,” Mitch said. “Jacks is like a brother to me.”
Across the room, Steven and Sierra were talking to a few of the other nominees. In contrast to Sierra, Steven was squat and muscular, looking almost military. The twins noticed Jackson, and brother and sister gave an irritated glance back toward Jacks. They moved away in the room with a few of the other soon-to-be Guardians.
“Sierra just told me, ‘can’t wait for your star.’ What was that supposed to mean? She was serious too, almost crazy, you should’ve seen her eyes,” Jacks said to Mitch.
“Don’t worry about them, bro,” Mitch said. “They’re just mad because rumor is Sierra might get posted to Korea for her first two years before being able to come back to Angel City as a full Guardian. Oh yeah, and the fact that the NAS is promoting you every chance they get. Can’t win ’em all.” Mitch smiled and signaled to the bartender. “Well, now that you’re here, dude, let’s get some shots and celebrate. Maddy, are you joining us?”
Maddy shook her head. “Thanks, but I’m not drinking tonight.” She had decided earlier she already had enough to deal with without getting drunk for the first time.
Mitch shrugged, appearing almost relieved, and turned to Jacks.
“Ah, me neither,” Jacks said. “I think Maddy and I are just going to. . walk around a bit. But I’ll catch up to you later, man. Cool?”
Surprise flickered across Mitch’s face, followed by what seemed like a flash of jealousy and finally concern.
“All right. . have fun, you two,” he said mechanically.
They said their goodbyes and turned to leave. Maddy froze.
Walking up to her was the most beautiful girl she had ever seen.
Maddy stared in awe at the approaching Angel in her Chanel sequined black-chain dress and matching Chanel shoes. She didn’t even know it was possible to be so. . perfect. From her flawless skin to her elegant, imposing figure to her shampoo-commercial hair and piercing green eyes, she was so radiant she was almost glowing with supernatural splendor. There was no mistaking her. It was Vivian Holycross. Even with her cheeks stained with tears and mascara, Vivian was the most magnificent creature Maddy had ever seen.
“What do you think you’re doing here?” Vivian hissed at Maddy as she stormed up.
“Hey, Viv,” Jacks said, startled. His glance flashed to Vivian’s swollen, furious eyes. “Let me introduce you to Maddy—”
Vivian ignored him. “Take a look around yourself, Maddy,” she snarled. “You’re not one of us, are you? You don’t belong here. Why don’t you just save yourself the embarrassment and leave?”
Maddy was a statue. Her total awe of this girl had mixed with her panic and the result was utter paralysis.
“Hey, relax, Vivian,” Jacks said, his tone angry. “I invited her.”
Vivian took a step forward and sneered in Maddy’s face. “Do have any idea what’s going on here? Or how important this all is? Jacks will be saving lives starting Friday.
As a Guardian Angel. But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
Jacks stepped forward to put a stop to Vivian’s attack but stopped when he saw Maddy’s face. Maddy had leveled a gaze of such quiet confidence at Vivian that the lady Angel instinctively took a step backward.
“Well, let’s see,” Maddy said, anger loosening her tongue. The words just came. “I know Jacks brought me here tonight and that he didn’t bring you. I also know that I met Jacks before I knew he was a famous Angel, and now that I do know, I still don’t care. And that’s because I like him for him, not because he’s a celebrity and not because he’s going to do wonders for my publicity. But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you, Viv?”
Jacks looked like he was working to suppress a smile.
Vivian’s expression twisted with hate. Then she looked at Jacks, and her face softened. “You know what, Jacks? I get this, too. A little scandalous fling before all the responsibility, right? Fine. Have fun.” She scoffed. “But remember, once you get that Divine Ring, you’re mine.” Then a smile crept across her lips, and she turned to Maddy. “And Maddy? If you’re hoping to become his Protection someday, just trust me,” she said, and smirked at Maddy’s outfit, “you can’t afford him.” With that she spun on her heel and was gone.
“That went well,” Mitch said. He must have heard the whole thing. “I’ll make sure V
ivian doesn’t kill anyone,” he said, and disappeared into the crowd.
“I’m sorry,” Jacks said, taking Maddy’s elbow and shaking his head. “Vivian gets kind of jealous.”
Maddy stared incredulously. “Vivian is jealous of me?” She looked at her hands and was surprised to realize they were shaking. The realization of what had happened was still only just sinking in. Vivian might be a fantastic bitch, but Maddy knew she was probably right.
“I shouldn’t have come,” she said finally.
“What?” Jacks’s face darkened in frustration. “Listen to me, Maddy. You belong here because I say you belong here, and in case you didn’t notice, this is my party. Please,”
he said, more softly, “don’t let it ruin your night. In fact, I’m going to make sure it doesn’t. Come on.”
“Where?” Maddy asked, but Jacks had already taken her by the hand and was pulling her toward a crowd of Angels in another part of the room. A DJ was spinning in one corner, and all of a sudden Maddy’s heels were clacking against a wooden floor. She looked down. It was a dance floor.
“Dance with me,” Jacks said.
Maddy’s heart boomed like a thunderclap. She had never, in truth, danced with a boy before. At her middle school commencement she had let Tom Watson hold her by his fingertips, and they had swayed back and forth to “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” but she wasn’t going to count that.
“Jacks, I can’t,” she insisted. “I don’t know how.”
“It’s easy,” he assured her. “Just follow me.”
The Angel took her in his arms. She felt his hands trace around the curves of her hips and meet at the small of her back. Then he pulled her into his body, and she lost all resistance. It was irresistible. Maddy’s breath came is shallow gasps as she breathed him in. She had to reach up on her toes to wrap her arms around his shoulders and then lace her fingers around his neck. Jacks stepped smoothly and began to lead her, and to Maddy’s astonishment, she followed. It was nothing like she thought it would be. It was somehow, impossibly, effortless.
And they were dancing.
She couldn’t feel the floor anymore, but she didn’t need to. There was something instinctive, almost inevitable about the way she was moving with him. Even other Angels had stopped and were watching them now. There was no denying it — Maddy and Jacks were a vision. Like they were supposed to be holding on to each other. Like they were meant to be.
Jacks pulled back from her, just slightly. “You look so beautiful,” he said softly, his eyes dancing in the light. He brought her close again.
Maddy felt that same electricity beginning to move through her, just like the energy she had sensed in the back room of the diner and when the two of them had gone flying. From Jacks’s glinting eyes, which he never took away from hers, she could tell he felt it as well.
Yet something was different this time. Somehow, something had changed. As much as she might try, Maddy was surprised to realize she couldn’t completely let herself go, lose herself in the moment.
Was it Vivian’s words still ringing in her ears? Maybe.
But if she was honest with herself, it was more than just that. It was everything about the night — the decadent party, Mitch’s distrustful expression, even the discussion in the car on the way over. Something was wrong about the whole situation. Or at least, there was something wrong about her in it. Vivian’s words reverberated in her head. You don’t belong here.
As much as she hated herself for it, she couldn’t help but agree. She unlaced her fingers from around Jacks’s neck.
“What wrong?” Jacks asked, his eyes still drunk with the electricity of their connection.
“Why did you invite me here, Jacks?” Maddy asked.
“Tell me the truth.”
Jacks looked at her with a questioning expression.
“Remember? I told you I would help you get out a little. You know, live life.” He gestured around the room, smiling to her. “It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?” Maddy bit her lip. He reached for her, but she stepped away from him.
“I’m sorry,” she said abruptly, “I just. I can’t do this.”
She turned without meeting his gaze and walked quickly away.
She didn’t know where she was going, or even really why. She just had to get out. She saw the twinkling patio through the back door with its shimmering, turquoise pool and headed toward it. She had just gotten outside when Jacks caught up to her.
“What’s wrong?” he said, spinning her around. “Is this still about what Vivian said?”
“It’s the truth, Jacks,” Maddy said bitterly. “I don’t care what Vivian thinks. . but she’s not exactly wrong, is she? We’re different. We don’t see things the same way.”
Jacks’s eyes searched Maddy’s face. “What do you mean?”
“Well, first of all, don’t you see how unfair all this is?”
she blurted. “How selfish? Do you think everyone lives this way?”
“No, of course I don’t!” he said. He spun his arm to the party. “But it’s part of my Commissioning, Maddy. This is how it’s always done. I don’t have any control over it. And besides”—his expression grew hurt—“you’re making it sound like this is all somehow a bad thing, when Angels are the greatest force for good in the entire world.”
“Yeah, maybe for executives and their kids!” she countered. “Certainly not for anyone I know.”
Jacks felt punched in the gut. He had been trying so hard to show her something — how he felt. And she was throwing it in his face yet again.
“Don’t you have anything to say?” Maddy said. Jacks remained silent, bowing his head slowly and turning away.
Sounds from the party inside filled the silence. After a few moments he spoke.
“Honestly, Maddy, sometimes I really don’t get you. I take you out to a party anyone else would kill to go to, and you’re unhappy about it.” He shook his head. “In fact, you think the whole thing is unfair. There’s no pleasing you.”
“Would you save me, Jacks?”
It came out in a rush.
All of a sudden Maddy realized it was the nagging she had felt deep inside her. It was this single question. It had been gnawing at her ever since he had come to pick her up earlier in the night.
Jacks’s eyes darted to hers, intent, then looked away.
“If you were my Protection, yes.”
“No. As I am now, tonight,” Maddy pressed. “If something were to happen, would you save me?” When she spoke again, her voice was gravelly and raw. “Would you come for me, Jackson?”
He just stood there. Maddy watched a procession of emotions move across Jacks’s face like rolling thunder.
Anger. Annoyance. Doubt. Even sadness?
Finally, he spoke.
“I’m sorry. It doesn’t work that way, Maddy,” he murmured.
The words cut like a knife.
“It’s just not allowed,” Jacks said, carefully. “As Angels our duty is to our Protections.”
Maddy blinked back the first threat of tears.
“Protections? You mean rich people,” she muttered.
“This isn’t even up to me. It’s just the way things are,”
Jacks said.
“That’s ridiculous!” she shrieked. “It’s your choice!”
“It’s not! Look, if we just went around saving random people. .” He paused, his eyes burning. “I mean, my family has to eat too, you know!”
“Your family eats all too well,” Maddy snapped.
“Do you think this is a game?” he said, his tone low and intense. The frustration and bitterness welled up quickly. “Tomorrow I’m being Commissioned, and I’m no longer just Jackson Godspeed. Or even just an Angel. I’m a Guardian. I have people’s lives in my hands. Do you have any idea of the responsibility that comes with that? Or the pressure?”
“What I know,” Maddy said curtly, “is that if I could do what you do, I would use my power to help as many people as I could. I
wouldn’t use it to get rich.” A few traitor-ous tears spilled over her cheeks, and she wiped them quickly away. “I would save people because it’s the right thing to do.” Her smile was bittersweet. “I guess that’s what makes me human.”
“Maddy,” Jacks said, his voice like stone, “you don’t know what they would do to me.”
“I don’t care,” she said hatefully. She could feel the rage welling up inside her, an uncontrollable anger, and if she didn’t get out of there quickly, who knew what might happen. With fury coursing through her veins, she made up her mind and glared at him. “I’m sorry, Jacks, I shouldn’t have come tonight. The truth is I don’t want anything to do with any of this, and that has to include you. If you were ever my friend at all, you’ll stay away from me and just leave me alone.”
“You don’t—” Jacks began to speak, his eyes in pain as he looked at the girl across from him, but then he stopped himself. He was quiet for a moment, then nodded. His face was bleak and unreadable. “You’re right,” he said. “I guess it’s for the best. To tell you the truth, I really don’t know why I bothered anyway.” His words twisted in her gut.
Maddy turned without saying anything else and ran.
She ran through the party and then out to the front of the hotel. The glamorous arrival had long since closed, and workers were now unceremoniously unstapling the red 267/587
carpet and rolling it up. Maddy spotted a lone taxi sitting along the curb and ran to it.
She waited until they had pulled away from the hotel to let the real tears flow.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Jacks walked through his darkened house, not stopping until he had reached his room and gone inside. He closed the door silently so as to not wake anyone and flipped on the light.
Mark was sitting on the edge of his bed, waiting. He still wore his suit from earlier in the day, but it was unkempt now, his jacket laid next to him on the bed, his shirt collar unbuttoned, the tie drooping in a loose knot around his neck. He had rolled his sleeves up and sat with his hands on his knees.
