by Tish Thawer
Death's sneer was hidden from Holli's view.
What did he expect? For me to fall for this lame attempt to seduce me into some kinky three-way with an intimate dinner and good food? Hell no! Besides, he should be used to my rejections by now. Or, maybe he was just rubbing my face in all the extravagance I'd missed out on by turning him down all those times. Oh well!
"I'm glad to hear it," Death replied. "Also, I have news that I think will interest you."
I tilted my head and let a fake smile rest upon my lips.
"I saw Garrett today. He was walking back from that donut shop you two like to frequent. He seemed to be lost in thought, but healthy enough. Be sure to ask him about his disappearance when you leave here tomorrow night; I'll be interested to hear what he has to say."
My inner light started to build and I clenched my fists.
Son of a bitch!
This asshole certainly knew a thing or two about torture; it was going to kill me not to be able to reach Garrett for another twenty-four hours. Looks like Death won this tête-à-tête after all.
"Thanks for the information. I'll be sure to do just that." My tone was sharp and I couldn't care less. Death could explain to Holli why this bit of news upset me so much; I was done playing house with the odd couple from Hell.
I'd forced myself to lay down and sleep the moment Death magically cleared the remnants of our glorious feast and bid Holli goodnight with a disgustingly passionate kiss. It was no surprise when that kiss and her never-ending giggles became a recurring theme in my nightmare.
Today I'd asked Holli for some time alone, giving her the excuse that I was worried about Garrett. Thankfully, she didn't pry and I was able to spend the day walking through the gardens of her fake fairytale castle.
By the time I'd wandered through the maze of roses, tulips, and my favorites––peonies, I'd started to feel a bit better. Which, of course, was the perfect time for Death to make an appearance.
"What do you think of the home I've created for Holli?"
I didn't hesitate in my response. "It's lovely, but I don't understand the need for it. If you'd just let her mingle with the rest of the Reapers, this entire ruse wouldn't be necessary. What is it that you're really trying to hide?"
The edge of his thin lip twitched and I knew I'd struck a chord.
"Do you think I'd let you stay with Holli and wander around here if I had anything to hide."
That was the million dollar question, wasn't it? And by him saying those words out loud, it was also the answer. Yes. Death did have something to hide and it was evident by how hard he was trying to prove otherwise.
"Do you want to tell me about the 'Phenom Room'?" I inquired.
"The what?" he asked, his tone amused.
"The room where you pull the phenoms inside."
"It's simply so Holli can practice her flying. She enjoys having something to interact with during her training."
"That brings up another question. Why train her to fight? And what in the world could a tiny little girl protect the almighty Death from?"
The air between us vibrated just before Death struck me across the face.
I grabbed my cheek, stunned.
My wings flared and I prepared to defend myself.
"There. Now you look like you've spent two days being punished for your crime. Go home, Raven. I'm sure Garrett is waiting for you with bated breath."
Death disappeared before I could respond.
When I pushed back through the portal, Holli was waiting outside on the balcony. "Looks like we can get out of the room now," she said as I joined her.
"Yes. Death has instructed me it's time I return home."
Holli turned in my direction, her eyes widening at the site of my blossoming black eye, no doubt. The fact that she didn't say anything spoke volumes. She reached out and hugged me. I allowed it, but reciprocated in half-measures, wrapping my one arm around her shoulders and giving them a slight squeeze. "See you back on the job, I guess," I offered.
"Yes, I guess so. And I hope Garrett's okay."
"Thanks." I gathered my things and reached to open the door. It was still locked. I turned back to Holli and shrugged. She smiled and gestured to the balcony.
I waved goodbye and took to the sky. As I looked back, I couldn't deny that my feelings towards her had softened slightly, but that didn't change the fact that she was still my number one source for information.
Sorry, Holli, but thanks for the info.
18
The instant I glided through my window I knew Garrett was waiting inside. How he got there, however, I wasn't sure since my door was still locked from when I'd left before.
I threw my things on the bed and raced into the living room. He was sitting on the couch, his smile like the breaking dawn after a long winter's night, warming me and bringing tears to my eyes. When he saw my face, however, things got serious. "What the hell happened to you?" he demanded.
What happened to me? He was the one who passed out, got sick, then disappeared.
"Death happened. What about you? Are you okay? Where did he take you?" I moved to sit on the coffee table in front of him.
He squinted and got that cute grin he always wore when he was confused. "I'm not sure what you mean. Death didn't do anything to me."
Hmph. Maybe Death erased his memory. Was that even possible?
"What's the last thing you remember?" I pried.
"Well, I remember closing shop on Friday, then heading to Digger's to grab some food for us. After that it's a bit of a blur, but when I woke up it was Saturday afternoon and I was here...in your bed." He wiggled his eyebrows, teasing at the implication of his words.
"As if." I laughed and threw myself into his arms for a quick hug. "Well, I for one think Death is totally fucking with us. When you didn't show up for our meeting Friday night I flew out to find you and you were laid out on the road, surrounded by Reapers. I brought you back here when your fever spiked, but before I could help you, you disappeared."
"Seriously?" He stood up and started pacing. "Wow. I don't remember anything like that. After I woke up here, I grabbed your spare key from the credenza, went to get some donuts and headed to my house to clean up. I came back this afternoon and let myself in. Figured I'd wait for you to get back from whatever gathering mission you were on." He scrubbed his hand over his head. "I seriously passed out in front of a bunch of Reapers? Who?"
"Shit, I don't remember. Peters was there, Richardson, Monamoa, and I think Levine and maybe Crawley."
Garrett lost all color in his face and flopped back down on the couch. "What do you think happened to me? You said I had a fever...how's that even possible."
"That's what I'm saying. I think Death did this and erased your memory. Who else could hurt you and cause you to simply disappear into thin air?"
Garrett's eyes snapped to mine.
"What?" I demanded.
"Nothing. Just let it go, okay?"
"Um...no. I won't just let it go. What aren't you telling me?"
"Do you remember when I said I thought I had an idea and that if I was right it would be really bad?" he rambled.
"Yes."
"Well, I think I'm right, and it's definitely really bad. So bad, they took the memories of what I found out."
"They? Who are you talking about?"
Garrett looked around the room, raising his eyes to the ceiling.
"Garrett, tell me!"
"I can't."
I jumped up, flexing my fingers, ready to punch something until I got answers. I couldn't believe that Garrett had information but was choosing to leave me in the dark.
"Why won't you tell me? I can handle it. I swear."
"No. Raven. You can't. That's what I'm trying to say. Leave it be. Just do your job and let things lie."
What the hell is wrong with him? It wasn't like Garrett to give up when there was a bread crumb to follow. And now, with the introduction of some mysterious "they," I was surprised he wasn't r
acing out my front door and straight to Death's castle to hound him for answers right this very second.
I placed my hands on the bricks of the fireplace and let my head drop. I needed to calm down, but apparently that wasn't in the cards. My wings flared, knocking a vase off the mantle. I was pissed and there was no hiding it. When my inner light reached its peak, Garrett rushed forward and grabbed me. We were both catapulted through space, arriving in Heaven seconds later.
"That's why I couldn't tell you. I knew you wouldn't be able to come here without getting pissed off and igniting your inner light." Garrett's tone was excited and rang with a cocky, I-told-you-so, vibe.
I looked around the white expanse, shocked that this was his intended destination. "Oh."
"You asked who else could hurt me and make me disappear?" He gestured towards the golden gates of Heaven. "Well...here you go!"
"No way! Are you telling me Heaven has somehow become involved with whatever secret Death is keeping and you figured it out?"
"I'm not sure, but that is the only thing that makes sense. Plus, I have this nagging feeling of feathers tickling me in unmentionable places," he joked.
I laughed out loud.
"Okay. We're here, so who do we talk to?"
"Me." A booming voice echoed behind us.
I spun around to see an extremely large male angel stalking in our direction. A chill ran through me when I saw the sword in his hand, but it was the thick muscles and bronzed skin peeking out from under his robe that did me in.
He was gorgeous. Dark hair, pure white wings, and violet-blue eyes––he radiated warmth as if he'd been formed from a piece of the sun.
Wow! Am I drooling?
Yep. I sure was.
"My name is Michael and I'm surprised to see you both here." He looked between the two of us and after leveling me with his gaze, turned back to Garrett. "I thought the block we put on your mind would have remained in place better than this."
"So I was right, Heaven is involved," Garrett remarked.
"Yes. There are things at work that neither of you can be privy to. The knowledge could affect the outcome and we cannot veer off course. Death has forced our hand and we are fighting back but it's imperative that he not learn of our involvement." He paused to look in my direction again, effectively making my knees go weak. "Raven, you're very important, so I need to ask that you do as Garrett instructed and just let things lie. Your time will come and all will be revealed."
He reached out to stroke my cheek. I closed my eyes and let my head lull to the side, pressing into his hand. I'd basically become a bobble-head doll, melting at this man's touch. What the heck?
Garrett coughed into his fist while trying––but failing––to hide his smile. "We won't say a word."
Michael turned and nodded in Garrett's direction, but didn't remove his hand from my face. When he looked back at me, his gaze pierced my soul.
We were locked in some strange emotional pull, unspoken, but completely intense. I couldn't move. I wondered if he saw me as a simple girl––a tool to use in his heavenly plan, or was it the woman he'd aroused within me that had captured his attention?
My question was answered when he leaned down, bringing his mouth to mine. The soft pressure sent tiny sparks into my lips, plumping them just for him. My body moved closer of its own accord––my brain completely detached from the motion. Michael never hesitated. He pulled me close, wrapping his arm around my lower back and increased the intensity of our kiss. By the time he set me back on the ground, I had to work to untangle my hands from his hair.
"I'll be in touch," was all he said before a bright light burst and Michael disappeared.
Garrett and I stood, staring at one another, then his boisterous laugh filled the space between us. "Oh my God...you just made out with the Archangel Michael," Garrett exclaimed.
I opened my mouth to respond but was instead sent plummeting back through space and into my living room.
"Raven. Are you okay?" Garrett's voice sounded strained.
"Yes. I think so. What happened?" I asked, completely confused as to why I was lying on the floor.
"I'm not sure, but this is the second time I've woken up in your apartment without any idea of how I got here."
19
After conducting a full-scale interrogation on each other we decided there wasn't anything left to do but get back to our normal routines. No matter how hard we tried, we were only left with more questions as to what had happened and how we'd both ended up on the floor, completely dazed and confused.
The work week had started and I was on duty again. The familiarity felt good and I used it as sort of a meditation.
I stood in a stark hospital room, waiting for my next retrieval, and let memories of my human life flood my mind. I'd made my career out of caring for the sick, so to now be the one who escorted them to their final destinies was nothing less than a gift. As much as I disliked Death, I was still honored by the position he'd given me.
The young boy who'd lost his battle with cancer lay covered by a thin sheet. His parents sobbed, struggling to say their final goodbyes. I brushed the back of my hand over my cheeks, trying to stop the free-flow of tears. This was something I'd witnessed again and again, but it was always difficult when the soul was that of a child.
Just before the young man's spirit lifted from his body I began to witness highlights of his short life. The first memory was that of his mother and father in a loving embrace. The second was that of his sister graduating high school, a proud smile on her face. The third and final was that of the doctors and nurses who'd helped him deal with his illness, their kind faces and loving hearts impacting the boy's psyche. I took his hand when his soul emerged and repeated my usual phrase. "Please don't fear me. I'm only here to help you find peace."
His joyous smile filled my heart and suddenly I could no longer breathe.
Literally.
I tried to inhale but couldn't. My lungs were already filled to capacity. Within seconds I was on the verge of panic and then exhaled.
A thick thread of white smoke escaped my lips and entered the boy's mouth. His eyes grew wide.
The foggy substance continued to flow into him and I felt his spirit pull away from me. I prepared to throw out my Reaper ribbons to keep him from running, but before they fully extended, the young man's soul returned to his physical body.
I stared and gaped.
His body began to glow from the inside out, expelling the same pearly white mist out his pores––the mist he'd ingested from me.
I took a step forward, hovering over the hospital bed to get a closer look. His chest began to rise and color flooded his cheeks.
He took a breath.
The machines went wild and I went blank.
What the HELL is happening?
Doctors and nurses raced into to the room, while the boy's parents were forced to gather outside the door. I watched the chaos, my thoughts a swirl of wonderful impossibilities. When the machines fell silent and the final order had been shouted, the boy's parents rushed forward, embracing their newly revived son in a flurry of prayers and tears.
Hell had nothing to do with this; this was a freakin' miracle.
20
I paced Garrett's apartment, waiting for him to dismiss the last two Reapers and lock the door. The second he opened the night drop with a wave of his hand, I started in. "Garrett! I'm telling you I just brought a kid back to life. As in, I literally breathed life into him."
"What in the world are you talking about, Raven? He was just probably another white-lighter."
White-lighters were people who died for a brief moment, which afforded them the chance to see the white-light before returning to their bodies. It happened occasionally, but not very often.
"No. He wasn't a white-lighter. He actually came to me but instead of my light building to open the portal, my lungs were filled with a weird cloudy mist that came out my mouth and flowed into his. It filled him up and he retur
ned to his body and Came. Back. To. Life." I stressed each of my last words.
Garrett never stopped scribbling, tallying the days counts.
"Garrett!!" I slammed my hand down on his desk. "I'm serious. Something strange is happening to me."
Garrett dropped his pen and looked up. "Raven, relax. If something is happening to you, it's probably just another new perk."
"I don't think so. I know something's up but I'm not sure it has anything to do with Death." I began to pace his study again, taking a brief moment to randomly ponder how his rug stayed in such good shape with all the traffic it saw. "I'm not even sure my dreams are a perk. I've never talked to him about it and he's never brought it up."
"Maybe you should just ask him," Garrett rationalized.
I shook my head, contemplating the suggestion. "I don't think so. I have this weird feeling that my dreams and now this 'mist thing' are somehow connected. I just need to figure out how."
"Sounds like a plan. Are you still keeping your dream journal?" Garrett asked.
I lowered my head. "No."
"Well, maybe you should start again, because if the two things are related, it may be the only way to figure out how or why you have these new 'abilities' and where they came from."
He was right. I'd need to start keeping track of the faces I saw in my dreams and notate the events that happened during their retrievals.
Three days passed before I was able to write something interesting in my journal. I'd seen plenty of faces in my dreams yet their retrievals were nothing like the miracle boy's––until today.
Last night I'd dreamt of an old man, and when we'd come face-to-face, his elderly gaze was as peaceful as the memories of his life that played across my mind. When I'd reached for his outstretched hand, I felt the familiar tug that indicated the mist in my lungs had started to build. Sure enough, when I tried to breathe in, I couldn't. Then, just like last time, I exhaled and the cloudy substance flowed from me to him in a steady stream. I moved closer, placing my hand on his face, mesmerized while the last filaments of vapor entered his mouth.
