by Lisa Olsen
Adam reached up to trace his fingers along the side of my face which was starting to lose the glow of Grace. “He didn’t want angels breeding with human women, the offspring were considered monstrous.”
Not exactly what girl likes to hear for pillow talk, and my eyes flew wide with alarm. “Actual monsters with giant heads and big, pointy teeth and stuff?”
“Ah… not exactly, though some of the Nephilim were a little scary looking by human standards. Mostly I think He didn’t want that kind of power in anything closer to a human form.”
“Nephilim.” I was only barely aware of the word, not much about what it meant, but resolved to Google it later when I was alone. “So, if you and I, if we had a baby…” If it was possible for angels to breed with human women, it seemed to follow that Adam and I could produce offspring. It was what Azazael was counting on to be reborn. I could see the helpless look of uncertainty in his eyes though, and that more than anything put a lid on my panic for the moment. I put a finger to his lips to keep him from replying. “No, I get it… I’m new.”
There was no point in speculating, and I was far away from even thinking about starting a family. Dimly I recalled the prophecy that mentioned something about a new race of men, but there was no way of knowing what that really meant and if it would even come to pass. Adam’s lips curved into a smile against my finger and he caught it between his teeth, tongue swirling over the sensitive pad. It was distracting enough to make me lose my train of thought, but I soon found my way back to what I wanted to ask him.
“You were willing to risk it though? Being cast out in order to take a human wife?”
Adam nodded, linking his fingers through mine. “I didn’t think He’d have her killed. I thought we’d live together in exile, but as long as we were together, it wouldn’t matter. Of course I was an idiot. I didn’t know anything about what it meant to live as a man. I had no idea how to do the simplest of things, how to split wood, thatch a roof, butcher a goat.”
“Butcher a goat?” My brows rose in surprise. It was impossible to imagine him doing any of those things.
“Hey, don’t knock it until you try it. Mariah could take simple food and transform it into… something magical. Good enough to make the angels weep.” It was hard for me to think of Adam weeping over food or anything else for that matter. It was a different side to him he was letting me see, and I wondered how long it would last.
“Were you there when… when Raziel came for her?” I asked gently.
“No.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up painful memories…”
His face shuttered for a moment and I thought he would either push me away or change the subject with a sarcastic comment. Instead he looked up at me with a grim smile. “It’s okay, you deserve to know what happened.”
Chapter Fifteen
“Sam came first when he was given the task. But as soon as he met Mariah, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. That’s when he told me what the plan was, and that’s how I first found out she was carrying my son.”
“That’s why He sent Sam after her, because He didn’t want another Nephilim born?” I gasped.
“That, and apparently our happiness was a thorn in His side. At least that was Nathanael’s interpretation of it. I wasn’t supposed to enjoy my punishment quite so much.” There was bitterness in his voice, and I stroked the back of his hand with my thumb, trying to soothe him through that small contact.
“Sam… he was a total basket case when he was cast out of Heaven though. You think he’s tortured and moody now, you should have seen him when his sin of disobedience was fresh. It was all I could do to keep him from ending it all, and he might have, before I reminded him it was an even bigger sin. I was with him when Raziel came. I hadn’t expected them to come again so quickly, or I wouldn’t have left her. Guess I haven’t learned anything about keeping a woman safe since then, have I?” He looked up at me with such pain behind those bright blue eyes, and I pulled him close, resting his head against my chest.
“I’m sorry for you both,” I murmured into his hair. “But that doesn’t mean anything like that is going to happen to me.”
“You’re damned right it’s not. We’re not having any kids for one thing, so put that idea right out of your head.”
I mashed my lips together to keep the retort from slipping out in response to that particularly blunt remark. He was upset, I could understand that, and I kept my voice as neutral as possible. “Trust me, just because I asked that one question about children, the last thing I want is to have your baby right now.” I thought that would set his mind at ease, but instead he rolled onto his side, propping his head up.
“What’s so bad about having my baby?” he demanded.
“Nothing. I said right now, I don’t want to have anyone’s baby right now.”
“But you do want to have children someday though, right?”
I couldn’t tell if that was an accusation or if he wanted reassurance, and I studied his face carefully before I replied. “Do you really think this is the best time to have this conversation?”
“I’m sorry,” Adam fell back against the pillow with a groan, laying an arm across his eyes. “The idea of anything happening to you makes me a little…”
“Crazy insane?” I pressed a kiss to his chest, snuggling a little closer to him. “Yeah, I can understand that, but my situation is completely different. I’m thinking if the Big Guy didn’t strike me down for having the Grace in the first place, I must be part of whatever His plan is, right? Who knows, we might even be destined to be M.F.E.O.,” I chuckled, laying my head against his shoulder. “I’ve never felt anything like that before, what passed between us. Have you?”
Adam kissed the top of my head, his fingers sifting through my hair lazily. “No, that was a first for me too.”
“You’ve pretty much ruined me for all other men, you know that, don’t you?” How could I ever accept anything less?
“Ruined you for all other men, I like the sound of that.” I could hear his voice swelling with pride, but in that instant it brought to mind other men – namely Ben. Technically I was still dating Ben even though our last conversation had been a fight, and a little groan of dismay escaped me. “That bothers you?”
“No, I think I’m long overdue for a talk with Ben.”
“Oh, that guy, don’t tell me you’re still dating that jerk.”
“He’s not a jerk, he’s…” Okay, so he had been acting a little jerky lately, but I still felt the need to defend him in his absence. After all, none of it was easy for him to deal with, I was sure. “He’s been under a lot of stress lately, mostly because of me. And what do I do? I sneak around behind his back, first in Midian and now here with you… I’m like the worst girlfriend on the planet.”
“A little debauchery never hurt anyone.”
“Take advice from a man who’s spent more than a thousand years wallowing in the gutter? Yeah, I think I’ll pass.” I poked him lightly in the ribs and he captured my hand, bringing it up to his lips.
“I could talk to him for you, if you like.”
“Oh yeah, that’d go over well,” a roll of the eyes was given. I could picture how that conversation would go. “You’d be lucky to escape without getting shot. No, I can handle it.”
“I’d get shot for you, it’d be worth it to see the look on his face when he realizes he’s lost you once and for all to Cousin Adam,” he grinned up at me and I had to shake my head. Even being obnoxious I still loved him more than I probably should.
“And you wonder why you have so many enemies,” I sighed. “But I should be the one to talk to him. I’ll take care of it when I get back, I promise.”
“Good. Then I won’t have to take matters into my own hands.”
He sure sounded bossy. “Since when did you get to be so possessive?”
“You’re the one who wanted me to live dangerously and openly claim you. Well, I’m claiming you, and that means I prot
ect what’s mine. If you don’t speak to him, I will. And I can guarantee I won’t be at all concerned with letting him down gently.”
“I told you I’ll tell him myself,” I insisted, trying to head off that particular line of thought. “I think on some level he already knows, that’s part of why he’s been so prickly lately. But either way I owe him an explanation.”
“Just tell him I’ve ruined you for all other men, that should be easy enough for even him to understand.”
“I will tell him… that it’s for the best for us to both agree that it’s not working out, and that we should try to stay friends.”
“And that you belong to me.”
“And that my heart is already spoken for.” I rephrased it a little more diplomatically, but I had to admit, the idea of belonging to him didn’t suck. “Does this mean I’ll see more of you when we get back to the real world, or are you gonna keep hiding out here in the Ether?”
“I resent the implication that I’m in any way hiding out here,” he frowned. “I’m laying in wait.”
“For Azazael?”
“Yep, the bastard’s been laying low and this isn’t the easiest place to try and find someone unless they call you.”
“I could always help. He might come to me if I call him.”
“Nope, no way, not a chance in hell.” Adam sat up, the sheet falling to his waist as he leaned against the headboard. “I am not using you as bait.”
“You’d be right there to protect me…”
“No deal.”
I scooted up next to him so I didn’t have to crane my neck, sitting cross legged as I faced him. “Where does that leave us exactly? You’re stuck in here until further notice and I wait for you, alone?” That didn’t sound like much of an improvement to me.
“I’ll still see you at night.” His eyes sparked with promise and I wasn’t immune to the power of that gaze. That part was definitely an improvement. “And as soon as I take care of Azazael, I’ll come to you. Deal?” It was a good thing he didn’t need sleep, it sounded like he’d be a very busy boy.
“What will you do to Azazael if you find him?” I wondered aloud. Short of killing him, I wasn’t sure how to keep him from bothering me, and I didn’t want Adam to get into trouble with anyone for taking that kind of action. After all, if God had wanted to punish Azazael by death he would have ordered it. He might not like his plans upset.
Adam gave me an easy half-shrug. “I’ll take care of it, don’t worry about it.”
“Don’t worry my pretty little head about it?” I didn’t like the sound of that. It implied that he didn’t think I could handle it. “Adam, if you’re going to do something dangerous, I want to know about it.”
With a sigh he picked up my hand and tumbled me into his lap. “And I’d rather you remained ignorant of nasty little details like that. Plausible deniability, you understand? If anyone has to take the heat over any fallout it should be me, and only me.”
“But if you’re doing it on my behalf…”
“You’re already dealing with way too much right now, let me take care of this for you. No questions asked, okay?”
“But…”
“I’m gonna do it anyway, you might as well get used to it,” he grinned and I found myself pouting up at him, hating that he was so damned appealing while I was trying to work up a good argument.
“Tell me again why I’m in love with you?” I finally sighed in resignation.
“Beats the hell outta me.”
*
When I woke up around noon, I felt pleasantly groggy, in a bit of a fog I guess you could call it. Actually, considering all the drinks, I should have had a splitting headache, but I felt pretty great. It probably had more to do with a certain fallen angel than anything else, but it was also nice to have a restful night’s sleep in my own bed. I woke up feeling like there was nothing I couldn’t handle. Demons? No problem, bring ‘em on!
The sound of laughter caught my attention as I daydreamed between the sheets, and I stepped into my fuzzy slippers and matching robe before venturing into the living room. Sam sat on the couch, swaddled in a comfy blanket, while Daphne sat beside him, holding up a steaming mug. For a moment I watched them together, the gentle way she took care of him, blowing across the top of the mug before bringing it to his lips, and the way his eyes never left her face. I had almost decided to retreat back into the bedroom to give them a little more privacy when Daphne spotted me.
“Hey there, sleeping beauty, glad to see you’ve finally decided to join us in the land of the living.”
“Hi guys, sorry, I was um… sleeping.” I decided not to go into more detail than that in present company, though I fully expected Daphne to wrangle the basic details out of me later. “How are you feeling today, Sam?” I asked, with not a small amount of trepidation, remembering how sick he’d gotten on the first beer he’d tried.
“I am a little under the weather, thank you, but Daphne has been very kind in tending to me. She insists if I imbibe soup it will cure me.” He nodded towards the mug that held the telltale golden soup, little noodle stars floating at the top.
“I could help you with that you know.” I wiggled my fingers at him but he shook his head to my surprise.
“Thank you, no, I’ll be fine.”
“That must be some good soup…” I decided to give it a pass though in favor of strong coffee. “What brings you over here, Daph?” Was she there to see Sam?
“Don’t you remember? You said we should get together and do some early Christmas shopping before the malls get too crazy. But I figured you needed your beauty sleep when I saw the shape poor Sam was in.” She leaned forward with the mug again and Sam sipped at it dutifully.
“Oh, shopping, right!” I’d completely forgotten. I still wasn’t even ready for Thanksgiving let alone Christmas. Which reminded me… I had to call Ben. “Give me a minute to get some coffee. I’ll hop in the shower and I’ll be good to go.”
“No rush, I’m sure the stores will still be open when we get there,” Daphne smiled and that’s when it hit me. She was totally into Sam. I knew he was a little taken with her, but I had no idea she was interested in him that way.
“Okay.” I puttered around in the kitchen, making my coffee and toasted a cinnamon raisin bagel with peanut butter, watching them surreptitiously. I don’t think they even noticed when I took my coffee cup and retreated to the bathroom for that shower. While I stood under the hot spray of water, I tried to decide how I felt about the new development.
On the one hand I was happy for them, Sam needed more friends to link him to the current age and Daphne could definitely stand to go out with a decent guy for a change. At the same time, I knew she’d be in for a lot of frustration in dealing with his… issues. Deciding in the end it wasn’t up to me whether they wanted to explore a relationship or not, I focused on the shower and finding some comfortable clothes to wear for the shopping wars.
With a quick glance at the clock, I picked up the phone, dialing Ben’s cellphone number. With any luck he’d be grabbing lunch and have a few minutes to talk. As the phone rang, I ran over a few different opening lines in my head, trying to decide what tone to go for. Nothing too cheerful, but nothing too grave either. I wanted to see him in person to have ‘the talk’, but I didn’t want to give him the impression I was ready to kiss and make up either. It turned out to be a moot point though as his voicemail picked up, and I left him a message to give me a call when he had a chance.
“So… mall or outlet stores? Or secret option number three?” I asked as I stepped out of the bedroom to find Daphne sitting in the living room all alone, paging through a magazine. “What happened to Sam?”
“I have no idea. He got a strange look on his face, muttered a few words of an apology, and he was out of here before I could think to ask him where he was going,” she shrugged, and I could see the disappointment etched on her features.
“I’m sorry, Daph, I thought about inviting him to go with
us too. But maybe this is a good thing? It’ll be a girls’ day out, you and me and an orgy of consumerism. What do you say?” I grinned encouragingly and she laughed.
“I don’t think I can afford an orgy, but I might be able to manage a threesome until my bonus check comes.”
“That’s the spirit!” With that, we got on the road, deciding to take Daphne’s car since it was more reliable than mine. I was a serious bargain hunter myself, and hoping to find some good deals to help stretch my tight budget as well. I already knew what I wanted to get for Matty, but I was still saving up for that. Mom’s gift I always bought online so I could have it shipped directly to her. That left plenty of gifts to be bought for Daphne, Parker, and everyone at work.
I’d planned to look for something for Ben too, but that would have to wait until I had a better idea of whether or not he was still on speaking terms with me after our conversation. The question also begged, what did you buy a fallen angel for Christmas? I had two of them to shop for, their tastes as different as night and day.
I had to give myself a mental boot to the head for dwelling on what to buy Adam for Christmas when I hadn’t even broken up with Ben yet. What kind of a person was I?
“You’re awfully quiet today,” Daphne observed after she got on the freeway and I gave her a distracted smile.
“Sorry, I guess I was lost in my own little world there for a bit. Hey, remind me later to look for a leather repair kit for the couch. It’s starting to rip by one of the seams on the arm.”
“Your couch isn’t made of leather.”
“Glue is glue,” I shrugged, looking out the window as something caught the edge of my attention, but was gone too quick for me to process what it was.
