Demonic Angel (A Touch Of Magic)

by Maria Del Sette

  “OH MY GOD!!” She laughs. I fly her around in a large circle and then to the edge of the barrier Lorraine put on the field. I am just about to turn around when something catches my eye. The Jaxon double. He is heading directly to the field. I know Tessa hears my thoughts because she tenses up in my arms. I make a sharp turn and go back on myself until we are hovering a few feet above my mum. When mum sees the panic on our faces, the smile she is wearing disappears almost instantly.

  “Jaxon double. Coming this way.” I all but yell. I slowly sink to the floor and Tessa releases me. “Sorry it got cut short Tess.” I bite the inside of my cheek and tuck my wings away.

  “Don't worry. We may have bigger fish to fry.” Her face turns serious and I turn into the direction Jaxon number two was walking towards. Lorraine stands with her index and middle fingers to her temples while my mum tries to stand in front of me. Tessa is beside me, clutching onto my hand. I know it is for support but I don't really need it right now. I panicked when I saw him and now I kind of want to test out my Supernatural powers.

  “The barrier is down ladies.” Lorraine says. “I haven't got the energy to keep it up. All of the hexes this past fortnight have ruined me.” She sighs. I look over at her and she does indeed look drained. “Tessa, if this Jaxon double is a threat, I want you and Calissa to run. With Calissa's speed and your abilities, you will be back at the house in minutes.” She turns to my mum. “You okay to teleport with me Serena?” Mum nods and keeps her eyes focused on the route Jaxon number two is coming from.

  It takes a while but soon, he emerges from the bushes and heads straight for us. I tense up, as does Tessa who is pressed against my left arm. He gets around thirty feet away from us and stops. A small smile plays on his lips and he takes a few more steps towards us. He is soon close enough for me to see the differences between him and Jaxon. Yes his hair is longer and he wears gothic clothes but its his eyes that astound me more than anything. They are red. Not green or hazel or blue. Red. My heart rate picks up. I think this over to Tessa who gives me a confused look.

  “No they aren't.” She whispers. “They look brown to me.” Now I am the one confused. Why do they look red to me and not her?

  “Mum?” I hiss in a low voice so he can't hear me. “What colour are his eyes?”

  “Um. Red.” Oh so it must be a succuba thing. Or a demon thing. Tessa shrugs to herself and then focuses back on the Jaxon double who is still slowly approaching us.

  “Bonjour.” He says with a smile. “

  belle journée.” (Beautiful day).

  “Bonjour. Parlez-vous anglais?” My mother asks him with a forced smile.

  “Yes, I do speak English.” Jaxon double replies in an American accent. He looks the four of us over and his smile grows as soon as his eyes land on me. “I have been following your scent for weeks. I haven't been able to find you but today, I could smell you from a mile off.” He is talking to me. I gulp.

  “Excuse me?” I ask, playing dumb.

  “I do apologise. Let me introduce myself, my name is Crillin.” He gives an expectant smile and I force myself not to laugh at his name. Mum clears her throat.

  “Yes well, I am Simone, this is my daughter Clara and my cousin Lorna and her daughter Talia. What did you mean about following my daughters scent?” She raises an eyebrow and though it looks stiff, she means business. I love how she uses the fake names Tessa and I would give us all when we were children and playing with our Barbie's. How mum remembered that I have no idea. Crillin shuffles on his feet and frowns.

  “Well I first smelt the scent in the flea market and I can say I have never smelt anything like it. I just had to find out what it was. I managed to smell it again on the boarder of Paris and then it vanished. It was like you disappeared off the face of the Earth.” Thank you Lorraine's hex. “Then today, I smelt you again. It was only for around five minutes but I had to check it out so came here and well, here you are.” He must have caught my scent before Lorraine put the barrier up over the field. Brilliant. Why couldn't I smell like a rose instead of an angel? Roses are common. Angels, not so much.

  “Okay, so what do you want with me?” I question. Not trusting him whatsoever.

  “Nothing really. Just wanted to see what gave off that smell. I am going to guess and say you are half angel?” I don't respond. I just stare at him, expressionless. He chuckles and it grates me to the core. His laugh is nothing like Jaxon's. “If it helps, I can tell you what I am?” I lift my right shoulder a tad before dropping it again. “I am a slave.” My eyes bug out of my head. I look to my mum and she gestures that she doesn't know what he means either.

  “Not a nice way to talk about yourself.” Tessa comments and I pinch my lips together to stop from laughing.

  “An elf?” Lorraine answers for us all. I frown at what she calls him. Crillin nods. “Hmm... you do realise that the body you are imitating is another demon's right?” Imitating? I eye Crillin again. I thought elves were tiny things with pointy ears and curly shoes. Boy was I wrong. Then again, he is mimicking a demon so who knows what he really looks like.

  “Oh I know. You can only imitate those you kill.” My heart stops and I feel as if my stomach is about to fall out of my butt. I try to cover it up by forcing myself to breathe but it hitches. I clenched my hands into a fist. Jaxon, dead? Oh God, no. Tessa looks at me in the corner of her eye. She heard me. Stupid power! “So are you here on vacation or long term?” He asks my mother.

  “Um. Long term. I am sorry, did you say kill?” She squints her eyes at him.

  “Yes. An incubus I do believe. This was a year or so ago.” He smirks as if the memory pleases him. I guess it must. Though what he says doesn't make sense. I was only with that incubus two weeks ago. He most definitely was not dead. I relax a bit knowing Crillin is lying.

  “Oh that is a shame. He was very attractive I see.” I look Crillin up and down. Tessa's eyes snap to mine. Go along with it. “What colour eyes did he have? Were they red like yours?”

  “Um, yeah. Exactly like mine actually.” I nod and give him a soft smile that doesn't reach his eyes. “So, what are you lot then? Obviously she's a half angel. Are you human?” He asks my mum whose jaw ticks.

  “No, witch. In fact we are all witches, including Clara.” She inclines her head towards me. Crillin's eyebrows shoot up and he looks kind of scared.

  “I had no idea.” His eyes flick between us all and then he takes a step back. It is then that I realise that Lorraine has a ball of fire in one of her hands and she is bouncing it up and down as if it is an ordinary ball.

  “If you don't mind, we are on a family day trip.” Mum spits and Crillin gulps before he starts to walk backwards.

  “Of course. How rude of me. Have a nice day.” He gives us a half hearted attempt at a wave and then turns on his heels and dashes away. When we are all sure that he can no longer hear us, mum turns to me.

  “This isn't good Cally. Most elves are personal pets to Underworld Leaders. If he has found your scent and now seen you...” She trails off and closes her eyes.

  “He will pass on his information and the army of Underworlders looking for you in England? Well they will be here. We need to move.” I nod at Lorraine's information and we make a head back to the house.

  “If he can mimic anyone he kills. How is he looking like Jaxon?” Tessa inquires when we get inside the house.

  “No idea Tess. He was over beyond creepy though. Anyway, I am going to take a shower.” Before Tessa can respond, I run up the steps, two at a time and slam my bedroom door. I enter my adjoining bathroom and turn on the shower before retrieving my phone from the bedside cabinet. I haven't felt the need to use it since I blocked Jaxon's number two weeks ago. I turn it on and wait for it to load while I try and steady myself. Once it has finished loading, I scroll through my contacts, find the number I need and hit dial.

  “I have a problem.”

  TWELVE

  “Slow down Titch. Take a breath. Don't mess yourself.” Sti
ll cocky I see.

  “Oh shut up Jaxon! This is serious. I was out with my family when a you lookalike turned up. He said he has been following my scent for the past two weeks and now he has found me Jax.” Again with the Jax, Cally? “He said his name was Crillin and he is a-”

  “An elf.” Jaxon finishes for me. His voice sounds tense. “Does he know your name?”

  “What has that got to do with anything?” I snap.

  “Just answer the question Calissa.”

  “No.” I sigh. “We gave him fake names.”

  “Okay, good. Where are you now?” I debate whether or not to tell him where I am since this is Jaxon we are talking about. The incubus that wants to devour me and my soul. However, I am stronger now and can fight him if worst comes to worst.

  “I'm in a house.” Vague.

  “You're not going to tell me, are you?” I shake my head and then realise that he cannot see me.

  “No offence but do you blame me if I don't?” He chuckles and I realise just how much I have missed his laugh. The normal one, not the demonic one.

  “No, I suppose I don't. Just answer me one thing; are you safe?”

  “Yes. We are hidden at the moment.” Lorraine's words come back to bite me in the arse. We will be hidden for two weeks. “Oh sh-crap. No. We aren't hidden anymore. There was a hex on the house but it only lasts two weeks. Those two weeks end today.”

  “Shit! Where are you Titch?” I don't think he is actually asking me, I think he is asking himself.

  “Oh my gosh...I know you want me dead too, I know it is your duty; your job. You, I can somehow handle. An Elf and whatever Underworld Leaders he has with him? I don't think I can handle that.” I whisper. He is silent for a moment and then I hear him take a deep breath.

  “It isn't him you should be scared of. Crillin won't kill you. He will bring you to one of our highest Elders. Where as I am supposed to just kill you in anyway I see fit.”

  “Oh that's comforting.” I comment blankly. He snorts.

  “Calissa, you are a Nephilim. The only one alive by the look of things. The Elder that Crillin works for has it out for angels and their kin. And powerful fairies but that's irrelevant right now.”

  “What will he do to me?” I croak.

  “Torture you.” Subtle. “Look, I am only telling you this because I hate Crillin and despite my demonic devices, I kind of like you. You are... interesting. If I had my way, you'd be mine to keep as a pet.” He laughs and I know he is trying to make light of another downright terrible situation but I just can't find it in me to smile; let alone laugh. He takes my silence the right way for once. He groans and then growls. “Ugh! I wish it didn't have to be this way!” My brows dip in confusion.

  “Be what way?”

  “Don't worry. Um... I figure you are still in another country?”

  “Yeah. I am not telling you where though. I'd kill you first.”

  “Aren't angels meant to be all holy and spiritual and against fighting?” He cackles and I roll my eyes.

  “Not this one.”

  “Well, I will find you. I always get what I want Calissa Bond.” He goes quiet for a moment and then sucks in a ragged breath. “Titch? Be safe okay.” He hangs up on me and I don't know how to feel about it. I decide to send him a quick message to see how he reacts. DON'T JUDGE ME FOR THIS.

  Me: Still think about your lips, I will be picturing your lips on mine while I shower. I smile as I hit send and then place my phone onto the counter before stripping down and stepping into the shower.

  Bad thing about being able to fly... Not noticing the flies that land in your hair. I have just washed out like eighteen of them from my waist length locks. It is truly disgusting. I ended up washing my hair three times and combing through my hair twice to ensure they have all gone. I step out of the shower and wrap myself in a pink fluffy towel. I see my phone flashing and I smile to myself. I pick it up and open the new message.

  Jaxon: In the shower huh? Do I get a pic?

  Me: No!

  Jaxon: Too bad. For the record, I think about that kiss every minute of every day.

  Oh my lord. My heart soars higher than I did earlier on today. My mouth goes dry and my fingers ache to type back.

  Me: If you weren't going to kill me, I could so go for it again It is risky, me sending this but it is also fun to mess with him. Oh don't lie to yourself Calissa Rose Bond. You are loving this... Oh, hello brain, you argumentative thing you. Okay, I am having an internal conversation with my brain. If that isn't weird... My phone buzzes in my hand.

  Jaxon: Don't say things like that Titch

  Me: Or what?

  Jaxon: I cant break the rules… Rules? I scowl at my phone.

  Me: Elaborate?

  He doesn't reply for a good ten minutes so I return to my bedroom and start to get dressed. A lot of my clothes have had to be altered for my wings to have easy access for movement, much to my dismay. I decide to wear a black, off the shoulder, long sleeved top and a pair of dark wash skinny jeans. The back of the top is low dipped so I didn't need to alter this one. I slip on some socks and then my knee length, high-heeled boots. I run a brush through my damp hair and pile it up into a messy bun on the top of my head. Applying a bit of mascara, I am ready. Oh I should explain what I am doing.

  My mum thought it would be best if we all slept as if we are going to leave in the middle of the night. So, as uncomfortable as it is, I sleep fully dressed. At least for now.

  I have an emergency bag packed with altered tops and underwear etc. You know, just in case. Mum, Tessa and Lorraine have the same.

  In mum's opinion, Ana and dad will always be protected due to them being human. Yet, to be on the safe side, mum has purchased a plane ticket for each of them to Mexico, where dad's sister Kim lives. The ticket runs out in six months time. They have a bag packed and ready too. We have thought of everything.

  Or rather, mum has.

  I am just about to leave the bedroom and head down for some food when my phone vibrates from the bed. I grab it and read the latest message.

  Jaxon: don't tell me things like that Calissa. U have no idea how many times I have thought about giving this mission up and just doing shit with u in my own way. It is completely against the rules if I decide to not kill u so DONT SAY THINGS LIKE THAT!

  The single most serious message he has ever sent me. And I want to so badly tell him to not kill me and be with me instead but I think against it. I don't want him to get into trouble. Or do I? No, no I really don't. So to throw him off again I send him three words.

  Me: I was lying

  I shove my phone inside my back pocket and head downstairs, towards the smell of cooking food. Mmm.

  “So, I spoke to Jaxon.” I say after dinner and when Ana is in bed. Everyone's eyes snap over to me. “He said that Crillin works for an Elder that has it in for angels and their kin and he wants a Nephilim to torture. Guess we found out who the other group of Underworlders out to get me are.”

  “You aren't exactly a Nephilim though Cal.” Tessa clarifies. I give her a look that says 'duh' and she blushes.

  “Yes Tessa, but they don't know that.” Lorraine states. “Well, what did he say after that?” I think back to my conversation with him and my face heats up. Tessa raises an eyebrow and smirks at me and I curse myself for thinking so carelessly about Jaxon.

  “He told me to be safe.” I tell them. My dad, who insisted he be apart of this discussion glowers and tuts while my mum has confusion written all over her face.

  “The hex is now down. We will no longer be able to hide. They are going to track my scent back to here and there is nothing I can do to stop them mum.” I exclaim.

  “We run.” I blink at my dads words. “Don't look at me like that Calissa Rose Bond. It makes sense, for now. We run. Ana and I will go to Mexico. The four of you, I don't know, Scotland?” I scrunch up my face.

  “I don't want to go to Scotland dad.” The whiny teen I keep locked away inside of me, peeks thro
ugh.

  “Then where do you suggest Cally?” He bites back causing me to blanch. He has never spoken to me like that before. Mum notices the shock on my face and narrows her eyes at dad.

  “Home.” Mum chimes.

  “Huh?” The rest of us say at the same time.

  “We will go home. They have already searched the house I bet, so they won't expect us back there. At least there, we have connections.” Mum looks over at Lorraine who clarifies this theory with a nod.

  Lorraine told us last week that back home she has her family, who are witches, that will be on our side and she knows of a few demons that have been banished from the Underworld and do their own thing. Ones that would happily go against the Elders. Mum said she has one or two people that she could try but wouldn't explain further.

  “Are you sure Serena?” Dad asks carefully.

  “Positive. If we can hold them off for two days at least, that is easily enough time to gather more alliances.” Mum turns to me. “Do everything you can to try and convince Caroline Cray to help us out. I know Jaxon is her stepson but she will help us. Mara's don't care about rules.” Stepson? I thought Jaxon just called her Caroline because he was just a disrespectful son.

  “What is a mara?” Tessa asks.

  “A nightmare.” Mum replies. Tessa's eyes bug out of her head and then she smiles.