The music wasn’t for the benefit of the show, it was simply part of the dream. I looked back at Gabriel, realizing I was once again in one of his dreams. This must have been the part of his past that he’d been reluctant to share with me earlier. My heart broke as he made eye contact with me. I could see the shame and fear in his eyes.
“Dammit Lily, how did you get here?” His voice was that of his 42 year old self and it sent shivers down my spine. He stood up and I cringed as I could see welts all over his body as though he had recently been whipped. His wings, those inky black beautiful wings I had seen in my last dream, spread out fiercely behind him. I could feel his anger at me coming off in waves and there was a blood red tint around the edges of his wings signaling that anger.
I couldn’t find my voice so I shrugged and slowly shook my head. I had no idea how I kept entering his dreams uninvited. Our connection must go deeper than either of us had realized. I walked over to the cage, trying not to be frightened by his wings and stuck my hand through the bars. He grasped my hand in his and pulled me closer.
“I love you,” he whispered. The applause came again and startled us both and causing us to jump apart. Loud and heavy footsteps started down the hall towards us and Gabriel began to shake.
“He’s coming Lily, I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. I promise I’ll find you if he gets to you before me. I’ll do whatever it takes, kitten. NOW RUN!” he screamed. A force hit me and I was knocked backwards through what looked like a dark tunnel, away from Gabriel. I screamed “NOOOO!” and sat up with a start. I looked around not recognizing my surroundings and brought my fist to my mouth, stifling another scream. It took me a minute to realize I was in my new place. I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself.
My phone vibrated with a new text message and it was from Gabriel. It only had one word in it: RUN. I tried calling him right away. It went right to voicemail. I heard my doorknob being jiggled and I jumped out of bed. I grabbed my phone and purse and a sweater, locked the cats in the bathroom with their food and litter boxes, and jumped out the open window. I had no idea what was happening or where I was even going to go, but I was definitely taking Gabriel’s command seriously. Right as I made my way to my car, a giant hand clamped over my mouth while an even bigger arm wrapped around my waist.
“We meet again, my fat slut,” came a familiar voice, causing my stomach to clench in fear. I recognized that voice from the night I first talked to Gabriel. Oh god, he’s come to finish what he started. I began to shake as that disgusting voice filled my head.
“Oh no love, I’ve simply used this body as a vessel. I’m not going to harm you, so long as you do exactly as I tell you. Easy enough, right love?” I nodded my consent as he turned me around to face him. His eyes were the exact same shade as Gabriel’s, but, where love filled Gabriel’s, hate and death filled his.
“That boy has something that belongs to me, and you’re going to help me get it back,” said Gabriel’s father, Azael was his name. He then proceeded to bind my hands, gag me, and blindfold me with a flick of his wrist. I started to struggle, trying to pull my hands free and scream at the same time, when I heard his voice inside my head.
“It will do you no good to fight it my dear. You’ll only hurt yourself.” Chills ran down my spine and I struggled to think about something to calm myself. I pictured Gabriel, dressed in his gray suit, holding a glass of wine and smiling that secret smile he saved just for me. Taking a few deep breaths, I was able to stop the urge to scream and held still.
Azael pulled me around to the passenger side of the car and shoved me roughly into the seat. Moments later we were speeding down the road. Half of me prayed that Gabriel would find me, but the other half of me knew this was a trap and prayed that he wouldn’t. His life meant so much more than mine. He had been through so much and deserved his happily ever after. I silently cursed his father and whoever had let him out of heaven. I tried paying attention to all the turns we were making, like I had seen in all the crime shows, but I was terrible with directions on a normal trip, let alone a blindfolded one.
We came to an abrupt stop and I slammed up against the seatbelt, bruising my collarbone. I sucked in a sharp breath, trying not to make any noise. Hearing the door open, I braced myself for Azael’s cruel touch. He yanked me from the car and all but dragged me across a cement lot and into a musty smelling building. The smell of rotting trash attacked my nose and I tried desperately not to gag. He pushed me onto the ground and I lost my balance, hitting my head on what must have been a wall. I could feel the skin break and the blood start to trickle down into my ear. Slowly I righted myself and sat down with my back against the wall. Thankfully my hands were bound in front of me so it made it easier to keep my bearings.
I felt him remove my cell phone from my pocket and saw a flash through my blindfold. The bastard had taken my picture! He was definitely going to bait Gabriel into trying to save me. I heard the text message send and heard his quiet laughter.
“One thing all men in love have in common? They are predictably stupid. He will come to save you and I will finally have a chance to take what rightly belongs to me.” I started to protest and Azael was in front of me in a flash, the back of his hand connecting with my cheek, slamming my head back into the wall. The blood that was trickling was now flowing freely and my face started to throb. I whimpered quietly, raising my knees to my chest, trying to make myself as small as possible.
“Don’t bother, stupid girl. I’ve no interest in your pathetic attempt at changing my mind. Once Gabriel’s soul belongs to me, I will be the most powerful angel in heaven and will be able to claim whatever I want, including the throne. So now, we wait.”
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed, it could have been five minutes, it could have been five hours. I was in and out of consciousness, feeling the loss of blood. I heard a creaky door open and smelled a familiar cologne. My head snapped up and I tried to stand up, protesting through the gag tied around my face. My blindfold came off, followed by the gag, and I started screaming at Gabriel to run. No one paid me any attention. Gabriel and his father were staring each other down and I could see the anger coming off of Gabriel in hot, thick ripples in the air. Azael had opened his wings and they were the same inky black that I had seen on Gabriel in my dream. They fluttered softly in excitement, as Azael began to pace.
“Hello, dear son.”
*****
Gabriel
“I’m not your son, you disgusting piece of shit. Let her go before I tear you limb from limb.”
“Oh Gabriel, I’m not interested in her. It’s you I need. It turns out tearing your wings off and keeping them for my own was only half of what I needed. Although, it did feel mighty good to feel someone struggle, to feed off their fear again. Perhaps I’ll play with her a little more, and this time you can watch.”
“Over my dead body!” I shouted as I charged towards my father. I shouted at Lily to stay back as I ran full speed, preparing to tackle Azael. Then my father did something completely unexpected, he actually pulled out a gun. I had had this weird notion in my head that he would do something otherworldly to try to kill me, not something so…so…so human.
There was no way I would survive a gunshot. I knew I was completely unprotected, and that I more human than angel now that Azael had my wings. But I had to do something to protect Lily. As Azael raised the gun to my heart, Lily ran full speed between us. I heard the gunfire and I shouted her name. I briefly wondered if she hadn’t made it in time, then I felt something hot and wet touch my chest as I caught Lily. Time stood still as I laid her down and wrestled the gun from my father’s hands, turned it on him, and shot him in the temple. It must have been some sort of special gun, as there was no blood spatter or anything. My last thought as I rushed over to check on Lily was “Please don’t take her from me.”
3 Months Later
*****
Gabriel
I stared at her lying in the hospital bed. She looked s
o frail and gaunt. Not her normal, beautiful shade of pale. Her cheeks had lost that rosy glow that I had fallen for the first time I saw her. Listening to the beeps and pulses of the hospital machines, I silently cursed the heavens for putting her in this place. I never should have left her that night. I knew, as soon as I had seen that porcelain angel, that my father was somehow involved.
He had been lurking around for months, undetected because he was in a human form. Now he was finally dead and I couldn’t even rejoice. My Lily had been asleep for three months. Three months of lying by her side, holding her hand, kissing her soft lips, and praying to a God I shouldn’t even believe in after He let this happen. I’d never gotten to show her how much I truly loved her. I didn’t want to scare her off completely. I may have been around for over two years, but had only been with her for a few weeks. She was so fragile after Ryan left. I feared that if I pushed her, she’d crumble under the weight of my love.
I kept thinking about that beautiful day in the woods when I told her what I was and how strong she had been. How open minded and forgiving and loving. And how completely fucking sexy she looked tied to that tree. It had taken so much restraint not to bury myself in her the moment I heard that first moan when I placed the clamp on her large nipple. Oh god, her nipples…they reminded me of Hershey Kisses, perky and sweet and begging to be bitten.
I reveled in the leather of my belt slightly digging into her wrists and how completely helpless she had been. She was at my mercy, bending to my will, and she had loved every minute of it. I shook my head sadly, looking up at her peaceful face once more. The doctor had told me last night that she was brain dead, that there was no hope, and that the machines were keeping her alive. I refused to believe that the universe could be so cruel.
How could someone perform the ultimate sacrifice and end up like this? Was I being punished for killing my father? He had deserved it, and heaven was better off without him. I had prayed and prayed, hoping that someone up there would hear me. But because of what I was, I doubt anyone was listening. Lily’s family had given up on her last month. They had come to say their goodbyes while I begged them not to. They couldn’t take the waiting anymore.
Since then I had begged Lily each day to wake up, to smile at me, to kiss me, to yell at me for invading her thoughts, anything. I pleaded with her while holding her face in my hands, asking her to open her eyes and look at me. I had even yelled at her, trying to get to her have some sort of reaction, any reaction at all. Nothing. Today was the day they were going to turn the machines off. Today was the day I was going to lose her forever. And there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.
I leaned over and kissed her lips once more, sliding my tongue over them softly, memorizing her taste, and breathing heavily as I thought of all the things we would never share or experience. I let the tears fall, finally letting her go.
“Goodbye Kitten, I love you,” I whispered as my tears fell onto her face. I kissed her cheek and went to stand up and suddenly the machines started going crazy. Lil’s eyes shot open and she began struggling against the breathing tube. I screamed for a nurse and grabbed her face, forcing her to look at me.
“Hold on Lily, you have to calm down. You’re making yourself choke on the breathing tube, calm down kitten.” She finally looked up into my eyes and stopped thrashing. Her eyes filled with tears as she recognized me, and I leaned down and began kissing her all over her face. She wrapped her arms around me and held on tightly. I whispered reassurances in her ear, telling her a nurse was coming and that everything was going to be ok.
A nurse and doctor rushed in, checking the machine readouts and her pulse and blood pressure. I stepped away slightly, but refused to let go of her hand. I was so afraid I was dreaming this that I wasn’t about to let go. The nurse and doctor spoke in hushed tones and agreed to remove the breathing tube. Stepping completely out of the way so they could do their thing, I watched Lily like a hawk, checking for any signs that I was going to lose her again. After the tube was out, the nurse gave her a small drink of water. The doctor looked up at me with a look of wonderment.
“It would seem that her vitals are all back to normal,” he said. “She may just make a full recovery. I’d like to keep her here another night or two for observation, but if all goes well, you can take her home soon.”
Rushing back to her side, I grabbed her hand and nodded at the doctor. I was too overcome to speak any coherent words. This could all be a cruel dream, I could be asleep right now, dreaming that she’s made a full recovery. In reality she could still be in a coma and the doctors would be in any minute to pull the plug.
“This isn’t a dream, Gabriel,” Lily said softly. She had turned her head to look at me and a look of confusion flitted across both of our faces.
“I’ll let you two catch up. The nurse will be by in an hour or two to check on her. Please make sure she rests,” the doctor said and he and the nurse stepped out.
“Did you just read my thoughts?” I asked out loud.
“I’m not sure,” she said, “think of something else.” I couldn’t help it, I pictured her up against the tree as I buried myself in her over and over.
She smiled that wicked smile I loved and whispered, “I’d like to do that again soon.” I wrapped my arms around her as best as I could with all the IV’s and wires in the way, trying to hold myself together.
“I thought I’d lost you, kitten. They were pulling the plug today.”
“I was dreaming about you, Gabriel, that you had rescued me from a prison. I had been there for a really long time, but then you found me and took me home and bathed me. That’s when I woke up, after the bath.”
“I honestly have no idea what happened, love. One moment you were lost and the next you were here. I actually started crying, which I’ve never done. I cried on you as I said goodbye.”
“You’re like the Phoenix, Gabriel! You rose from the ashes of your childhood and your tears can heal wounds! You must have shared your power of reading thoughts with me too!” I was speechless. Lily was right. I remembered an incident from my childhood when I had cried over a stray dog that had been hurt. I had held him so he wouldn’t die alone and scared, but then he recovered and stayed by my side until he died of old age. I had thought it was a miracle…turns out it was.
“I know it’s soon Lily, but I love you. I’ve loved you for over two years and I will love you until you no longer walk this earth. Please be mine. I want you, heart, mind, and soul.”
“What about my body, Gabriel?” she asked with a smirk, licking her lips, “don’t you want that too?”
I growled softly as I gently pushed her over and climbed into bed with her. I placed my lips on her throat and bit down, “That’s already mine, kitten.”
She giggled and looked me in the eye, “Gabriel, you shattered my world the moment you stepped into it in that classroom. Everything about my life has changed for the better. I’ve been yours since that first kiss and I always will be.” I nipped her lips and snuggled closer to her, thinking of all the wicked things I wanted to do to her as soon as she was well enough.
“As you wish,” she whispered.
The End
Thank You
Thank you to the following amazeballs people for your love and support and patience with my crazy journey of writing my first novel:
My Sister – I love you.
My Brother – Thank you for making me laugh.
My Husband – for everything.
My Cats, Dickens, Moe, and Munchkin – for being cats.
My Hoochie Mamas – for absolu-fucking-lutely believing in me no matter what.
My friends and family – for your love and cheering me on.
My Facebook Friends and Family – for liking all my crazy statuses and posts.
All My Fellow Indie Authors, Cover Creators, Bloggers, Editors, Proofreaders, Formatters, Event Planners - for the strength you gave me to keep going.
Debra Anastasia – for your unending
love and patience with all my questions and help-seeking at all hours of the night and day, as well as the inspiring and amazing books you’ve written that made me want to put my own stories to pen and paper.
Jasinda Wilder – for your never ending love, patience, and encouragement on this author journey, as well as my health journey.
Finally, to YOU, the reader – for spending your hard earned money on my story, for spending your precious free time on my story, and for loving to read. I heart you.
About the Author
Hailing from the Midwest, Rhiannon Jean had finally decided to listen to the voices in her head and put their stories on paper. She loves cats, cupcakes, Netflix, tequila, writing, crafting, music, singing too loudly with the car radio, dancing, shoes, tattoos and correcting people's grammar.
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