Angel's Kiss

by Melanie Tomlin

  Fear rolled off the vampires in waves and the wolves could sense the change. They snapped at the vampires, trying to distract them and make the task of my picking the vamps off easier — they’d realised that helping me could only benefit them.

  “Here’s hoping I’m right and they think I’m one of the good guys,” I mumbled, appearing between the two wolves. They stiffened when they realised I was there, but maintained their positions.

  The vampires snarled, yet not one of them made a move towards us.

  “Check it out,” one of them said mockingly. “A knife on one arm, a feather on the other. What’s she gonna do, knock us down with a feather and tickle us with the knife?” He sniggered. “Who does she think she is — an angel?”

  “Shut up, Adro, she’s dangerous. I don’t want her getting mad at me.”

  It was a voice I recognised.

  I nodded in her direction. “Hey, Shae, how’s things?”

  “Same old, same old, Helena,” she replied, the acid apparent in her voice, “and you?”

  I waved her question away as if it were old news, boring news. “The usual — killing vamps and scaring the shit out of the preacher.”

  “The preacher?” she asked. “You saw the preacher?”

  “Yeah,” I fake-yawned. “I just wanted to make sure he was behaving.”

  “Bet he got a kick out of that,” she laughed.

  I could have almost forgotten we were on different sides of the line. We chatted easily, like old acquaintances, even though she was bitter and twisted.

  I relaxed my stance, my face becoming quite animated. “You should have seen the look on his face when I crushed the bust on his desk into a pile of rubble — with one hand. It was priceless!”

  I heard a low throaty growl beside me. The werewolves were not impressed with my casual banter.

  “Sorry, Shae, it seems the wolves don’t want to be here.” I looked at each vampire in turn. “If you want to live to fight another day, I suggest you leave now.”

  Two vampires turned and fled.

  “Cowards!” Shae yelled after them.

  I gently brushed my fingers through the wolves’ fur, not touching any skin, and their hackles rose. They might be willing to put up with me if it helped them gain their freedom, yet touching them with such familiarity made them angry.

  I let my hands drop and dashed forward, my knife unsheathed and swinging as I reached the first vamp. The wolves struck at the vampires behind me. As the blade finished cutting through the first vamp I swung it in an arc to decapitate the next in line. When my blade struck the second vamp, another one thought to rush me. I’d seen the movement out of the corner of my eye. My free hand darted out — a snake striking — to close around her neck the moment she was within reach. Our eyes met. She could see the hatred mine held and shivered involuntarily. I lifted her into the air, her body dangling like that of a rag doll. I held her there, brandishing the knife at any who sought to stop me, shaking her body gently so that her arms and legs jerked like those of a marionette. You’re my very own puppet on a string!

  Each of the werewolves had killed two vampires — by ripping out their throats — and I was on my third. The four remaining vamps scattered and the wolves took off in hot pursuit.

  “A thank you would be nice!” I yelled after them.

  I checked the bodies. Shae wasn’t among them. Part of me hoped she’d escape the werewolves and part of me hoped they’d catch her. It wasn’t that I bore any animosity towards her. On the contrary, I admired her. Like me, she was a survivor. It’s just that now she was on the wrong side.

  That could have been me, I thought, normally I’m on the wrong side.

  I had two bodies to burn. It would require two trips to the ranch — I couldn’t carry two bodies and two heads! It’d be safer to take the bodies and heads separately, in case they accidentally reattached themselves while I was gone. Maybe I should invest in a builder’s wheelbarrow!

  It only took a minute or so to transport all of the body parts — heads in one pile and bodies in another. I retrieved the matches, lighter fluid and a syringe, then liberally sprayed lighter fluid over the heads and one of the bodies. Three matches, for three body parts.

  The stench from the fire was almost as bad as the stink of the ranch, though I could barely smell that anymore, with my good luck charm strapped to my arm.

  A huge cloud of dark smoke billowed upwards. If the vamps didn’t see it and know what it meant they were dumber than I thought.

  While the flesh popped and burned, I knelt by the remaining body and injected it with the sulphur. I heard a sizzling sound, and before the other parts had completely burned, the body imploded, a pile of ash settling on the ground.

  “Wow, that was fast,” I said.

  “It is, isn’t it?” Danny had appeared on the other side of the body. “When you didn’t turn up after sunset I thought I’d come looking for you. Thought maybe you’d fallen asleep on the job,” he said teasingly. “You’ll turn into a workaholic if you keep this up.”

  I stood up and brushed off as much of the ash as I could.

  “I had an interesting encounter with some vampires and werewolves. I think I made a few friends today.”

  “Really?” he laughed. “You can tell me all about it when we’re back at the cottage.”

  “Shouldn’t we wait until this pile has finished burning?” I asked.

  He waved off my concerns. “Not necessary. There’s nothing close by that will catch fire.”

  Danny took a step towards me, then stopped. His head jerked around. Had he heard something that was outside of my range of hearing? He grabbed my arms roughly and turned me towards him. A look of anger — or was it concern — crossed his face.

  “There’s another angel here,” he whispered urgently. “Do you understand?”

  I nodded my head.

  “If I leave suddenly he’ll be curious. You have to go, now!”

  He let go of me and I transported myself a safe distance away. He hadn’t exactly told me where to go, and I didn’t want to leave him when I knew what was at stake. If this other angel knew about me, well, I’d have to follow him and take care of things… but Danny must never know it was me.

  “Danizriel!” the angel said in a whiny sing-song voice. “Sorry to invade your turf. There have been some strange occurrences in the area. I’ve been trying to locate you for some time to discuss them.”

  “I’ve been busy tracking something, Amrael.” Danny sounded abrupt and to the point. It sounded as if he didn’t have much time for Amrael. I’d have to ask about it later on.

  “And from what I’ve just seen it appears you’ve found it. What was it?” He looked over Danny’s shoulder into the forest, trying to spot me. “Where has it gone?”

  “I don’t know what she is.” He squared his shoulders and lifted his head. I’d seen male animals do something similar in documentaries, to make themselves appear larger and more threatening — an alpha male. “I do know she’s an exceptional hunter and killer, and that she’s not evil.”

  “Then you have nothing to fear, Danizriel.” Amrael gestured towards the forest with his hand. “Bring her back.”

  “I can’t summon her,” Danny said, his dislike of Amrael apparent. “It doesn’t work that way.”

  I appeared directly behind Danny and stepped out to one side.

  “It’s okay, Danizriel,” I didn’t think it would be appropriate to call him Danny in front of another angel — it smacked of intimacy, “I wasn’t far away.”

  “You were listening!” he chided me.

  I nodded my head and turned to look at Amrael. For an angel, he seemed kind of sleazy to me. The type of guy who’d sell his own mother if he was offered enough money for her.

  Amrael stepped forward and reached out his hand. I cringed and drew back.

  “Don’t touch me,” I warned him.

  He pulled his hand back and walked a full circle around me. I felt his gaze burnin
g my body and undressing me, wherever his eyes fell — it was like being violated visually. He came close enough to sniff my hair and listen to my heart beat. He made me feel dirty. Dirty girl, dirty girl!

  He turned to Danny, excited, clapping his hands. “What a find! You do know what you have here, don’t you?”

  “I already said I don’t know what she is.”

  “Hah!” Amrael poked a finger in Danny’s chest and he stiffened in response. “Your superior doesn’t like passing on information, does he.” There was a smugness to his voice. “But then, only a few of the archangels share what they know… want to keep their soldiers informed.”

  Danny was plainly getting tired of Amrael’s attitude. “And, pray tell, what is she then, Amrael, if you are so knowledgeable?”

  Amrael folded his arms across his chest and bounced on the balls of his feet. He was deriving great pleasure from knowing more about me than Danny.

  He said, in his annoying sing-song voice, “An earth-bound angel, plain and simple.”

  Was he lying, just to get a reaction from Danny? Or was it true, there were earth-bound angels and I was one of them?

  “You are going to dispose of her, aren’t you?”

  “What do you mean?” Danny asked.

  “I mean, you have to kill her. If you don’t I will.”

  “Why?”

  “My superior has ordered us to hunt down and destroy earth-bound angels. A very difficult task given most of them are mortal. Until something happens to cause the change from mortal to earth-bound angel we have no way of finding them. But this one — even for an earth-bound angel —” he pointed at me “this one isn’t right. She’s an abomination! Even I, who has tracked these things for centuries, wouldn’t have been able to find this one — abomination that she is.”

  I didn’t like his attitude one bit. I imagined him as an arrogant little pen-pusher, full of self-importance. If it weren’t for the fact that he’d probably taste like Brussels sprouts, I probably would have gone him then and there.

  “She was bitten — while still mortal — by a vampire.”

  “Ah, that would explain it. How ironic,” Amrael laughed, “an evil angel.”

  “You don’t understand, Amrael. She’s not evil. She hunts vampires and destroys them. No mortal blood has passed her lips.”

  “She’s an abomination, an aberration — call her what you will,” Amrael sneered, “and must be destroyed!”

  Danny folded his arms across his chest. “No.”

  “Are you defying archangel edict, Danizriel?” Amrael challenged him.

  Danny stood his ground. “I have no such orders from my superior. I will do nothing until I have consulted with him.”

  “I’ll give you forty-eight hours then. After that, it’s open season on both of you if she’s not dead.”

  “Amrael, as a fellow angel I’m going to pay you the courtesy of issuing you with a warning.” Danny leaned into him and poked a finger at his chest. “If you value your immortal soul, keep away from her.”

  Amrael took a step back. “Is that a threat, Danizriel?”

  “No, Amrael,” Danny sighed. “It is simply a warning.”

  I didn’t like the direction the conversation was taking. Danny was putting me ahead of his duty. While he said he was giving Amrael a warning, it sure as hell sounded like a threat to me. I’d been on the receiving end of enough of them to know.

  I put my hand on Danny’s shoulder and couldn’t resist a final jibe before disappearing, leaving Amrael to wonder how we’d transported without actually moving.

  “See ya! Wouldn’t want to be ya!”

  Back in the cottage I hugged Danny fiercely.

  “I’m causing you a lot of trouble, aren’t I?” I whispered in his ear.

  He nuzzled my hair. “It was my choice. I could have left you where I found you, or killed you there and then. The blame falls squarely on my shoulders.”

  “What are we going to do now?” I asked. “I’ll leave if you want me to, although I think you’ll be in deep shit regardless.”

  “You, Helena, are to stay here. I will consult with my superior to find out the truth about earth-bound angels, and if there is an edict to kill them, why I was not advised about it.”

  19. The Truth Revealed

  My life was hanging in the balance. I didn’t want to be left behind to have my fate decided by others. I wanted a chance to tell my side of the story, and to plead for Danny’s life, before the inevitable death sentence.

  “Danny, I want to come along,” I begged, tugging on this arm. “Please.”

  He shook his head.

  “You can’t. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” He patted my arm reassuringly, knowing I was concerned for his welfare. “And I’m not going to mention you per se. I’m going to find out about earth-bound angels first. When I know more I’ll come back and we can make a decision about what to do together.”

  “How long will you be gone?” I was beginning to feel anxious now. Could I still suffer from anxiety attacks? “That other angel said he’d only give you forty-eight hours.”

  “I hope to be back before then. Don’t worry, he shouldn’t be able to find you here.”

  When I looked to him for an explanation his only answer was, “The cottage and surrounding area is special.”

  Danny hugged me tightly to him and kissed me. He gently pulled my arms from around his waist, kissed each palm and stepped away. My heart fluttered as I watched him leave.

  Weird, I thought, how my heart only behaves differently around him.

  I headed off for a bath, then bed. There wasn’t much else I could do if I was grounded until he returned. I knew it was for my own safety, yet it riled me all the same — like being on a hit list all over again, having to hide and go on the run.

  I drifted off into a restless sleep, where an army of angels descended upon the cottage and razed it to the ground, me still inside and unable to get away. I felt the angel fire lick my body and the searing pain that came with the burning of my flesh. I saw Danny being held by two angels. His body was slumped between them. Blood was slowly trickling from the corner of his mouth, and a gash on his forehead. Why can’t he heal himself? He raised his head before the flames could fully consume me and mouthed three words — I love you.

  I woke up with a start, half expecting to hear the shout of angels in the garden. Would they possibly torture one of their own, if Danny didn’t talk? Had they known about me for a while, and Amrael was part of a well-planned trap?

  I couldn’t get back to sleep. I didn’t feel the need for sleep anyway, so what was the point in trying? I’d only hoped that with sleep, time would pass by quickly and there would be less of a wait for Danny to return. I sat up in the bed, under the covers, and drew my knees up to my chin, hugging my legs.

  If they’ve hurt him, or worse, I thought, no more hunting vampires. I’ll go after them and kill all the angels in heaven!

  The wait was long and agonising. When first light filtered through the trees I dressed and went out into the garden Danny had created for me. I was still far too restless and worried to sit down calmly. I needed to burn off some of the pent-up energy that was building inside of me, threatening to explode.

  The freesias were still flowering, though their season had long passed. I picked them all — an armful of sweet-scented blooms — and took them back to the house. I searched every room expect one — Danny’s room — and could find nothing that would pass for a vase. I laid the flowers in the bathroom basin and half-filled it water — a temporary vase until I could find something better.

  I headed back to the garden. I needed something — anything — that could be used as a vase, or fashioned into one. I spotted a rock that might be suitable, in the rock garden at the back of the cottage. It was about twenty centimetres long and, at its widest, as thick as my calf. It was however, at the bottom of the rockery. If I pulled it out the rockery would most likely collapse. Danny’s handiwork would be ruined.<
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  Using my fingers, I dug a hole in the ground near the rock garden. I compressed the dirt from the hole into small hand-sized balls, until I had twelve of them. As I gently eased out my chosen rock I backfilled the area with the hard balls of dirt. It was a poor substitute for the rock, but at least the wall held. Danny could always fix it later… if there was a later. Don’t think about that now!

  I sat cross-legged on the ground and turned the rock over and over in my hands. One end was flatter than the other. I would use that end as the base. I held the rock in one hand, resting it against my abdomen. I knew the rock was hard and solid, yet it was wet clay in my hands. I used my fingers to shape the body of the vase, making sure it was deep enough for the stems of my flowers. I turned the rock over and over in my hands, trying to smooth out the rough edges.

  I looked up to find the sky had darkened. A storm was coming. I could smell the rain in the air and hear the distant rumble of thunder. Is this a bad omen? I hoped not. I headed inside just as the first drops began to wet the ground.

  The rock vase wasn’t bad for a first attempt. It leaned slightly. Not as pronounced as the leaning tower of Pisa. Obvious nonetheless — let’s just call it modern art. I liked it, regardless of its flaws. Who knew, maybe another career path was opening up to me.

  The only thing that remained to be done to complete the picture was to add flowers and water. When the vase was filled with water and chock-full of freesias I set it on the coffee table in the living room.

  It’s funny the things you think about when you have too much time on your hands. I wondered if I should still refer to the table as a coffee table, given that neither of us drank the stuff. What else would you call it — a book table, a living room table, an oversized foot stool? Why have a coffee table anyway? Why not a couple of lamp tables instead — one at each end of the couch?

  “Stupid coffee table,” I muttered and kicked out at a leg. The leg broke and the coffee table toppled to one side. I reached out to catch the vase before it fell, only to knock it and speed up its journey to the floor, flowers flying everywhere.