Abomination (The Path to Redempton Book 1)

by Kimbra Swain

  “Well, Chito, the two of us old men should probably get out of here. Let these two have some alone time,” he winked over to me. I just smiled back at him.

  Chito laughed, “Milton Trujillo, you do realize there is more than sex to a relationship, right?”

  “At my age Chito, sex is the only thing that matters.”

  “You are too old,” Chito accused.

  “The hell I am not. In fact, I need to get back to Boulder, there is a lovely young woman waiting for me there,” he stood up and bowed to Mwenye and Chito. He blew me a kiss, and I just shook my head. “Miss Vanessa, if you get bored, you come on out to Boulder. I’ll let you meet my new little friend.”

  “You are too kind sir, but I am quite well here,” I explained. What old Milt didn’t know was that I sent Miss Samantha Taylor to him. I kept an eye on Miss Davenport as well as the old man. I smiled at my cleverness.

  Mwenye stood and shook his hand. Chito also stood, and they exchanged a few words then both of them were gone. I gathered up the glasses, and went to the kitchen. I rinsed them out and placed them in the dishwasher. Mwenye came up behind me and whispered in my ear. “I’m going out for a bit, my love.”

  “Oh, okay,” I said shyly. I was not going to pry. I had no desire to provoke him.

  “Get some rest. I won’t be back for a little while,” he explained and pressed against my back. He leaned to my ear again and kissed it, and then my neck. I moaned. I hoped he would not leave. But he backed away, picked up a suit coat from the closet and went out the front door. I sighed. I knew where he was going. Perhaps it was good he decided not to involve me in his darker activities. I walked down the hallway to the bedroom. I removed my dress and shoes. I slipped in the bed and waited silently for him to return. I missed him.

  The best I could figure, it was just before noon on the island. George waited for me as I entered the house. “Welcome, Master Duarte. Thank you for coming.”

  “Hey. Where is she?” Refusing to admit it to myself, I was eager to see her.

  “She’s still out walking,” he said, “Please come with me.”

  In the distance, I could hear thunder. “Storm coming?” I asked.

  “Yes sir, there is,” he said. He walked to the room across from the sitting room. There was a beautiful wooden bar there. The recliners looked extra comfortable. “Can I offer you a drink or a cigar?”

  “A cigar? She has cigars?” I said. He picked up a small humidor and held it up to me. He lifted the glass lid and the tobacco smell wafted up to my nose.

  “I don’t smoke, but that’s impressive,” I said.

  “Please sit,” he said and motioned to the recliners. I sat down. It was real leather and worn perfectly. I enjoyed the comfort for a moment, then a large clap of thunder rumbled the house.

  “Is she out there in this?” I asked looking toward the double doors that led to the patio.

  “She is out on the property, but I believe the storm will pass around us. She is in no danger,” he assured me.

  “If you say so. Why did you need me here? What can I do for you, George?”

  “You can stay out of Boulder, drinking alone in unfamiliar bars. Especially if you are going alone.”

  I sat stunned. “How do you know about that?”

  “You prayed for help.”

  “I didn’t actually. I never got the words out and the shadow guy split.”

  “You were in very deep danger. One of my former brethren interrupted a very unfortunate situation. You must take better care, and pay more attention to your surroundings. I know that the two of you aren’t on good terms, but losing you even at this point would be devastating to her. I think it’s best that you don’t go back into Boulder alone. It might be best to avoid it altogether.”

  “I agree. I didn’t think any of it out clearly. Sunday was a mess,” I said.

  “Want to talk about it?” he asked. He appeared very fatherly to me. He looked at me not with disdain or disappointment. He clearly seemed concerned about me.

  “After leaving I was propositioned by a Fae goddess, threatened by a Greek titan, drank from a glass that I didn’t pay for, watched an extremely young woman get in an expensive car with a much older man, and had a shadow man try to kidnap me. I think that about covers it,” I said.

  He didn’t seem surprised, but then he sat back in the chair. He seemed to relax for just a moment. “Theodoard threatened you?”

  “Heh, yeah. I hate to admit it, but I almost wet my pants.”

  “He is formidable, especially when it comes to Abigail. But I can assure you, if he thought you were any danger to his granddaughter, you would have never left that office alive,” he said firmly.

  “That doesn’t make me feel any better, George.”

  “No, I suppose not, but it is a compliment in a way. He allowed you to return to her, and here you are.”

  “George, I’m here because you gave me the impression something was wrong.”

  “Something is wrong.”

  “Well, what is it? Please stop toying with me,” I pleaded.

  “She wants to apologize. I’m just giving her the opportunity to do it. She’s too stubborn to do it herself. I’m interfering,” he admitted.

  I couldn’t help but laugh at him. “The non-interference thing is conditional?”

  “If I chose it to be, I just have to be able to explain it. Officially, I brought you here to discuss the bill for having her car detailed. It is my understanding that you left it in quite the mess.”

  “George, you do beat all.” He smiled. I got up and walked to the window. I could see the storm in the distance. We seemed to be just on the edge of it. “I’ll admit it, George. I am eager to see her. To talk and clear the air. It has been a burden on me since I left. We left things very badly.”

  “We all say things we do not mean when we are frustrated and confused. And when we are scared. She opened a whole new world to you. It happened rather quickly. I cannot say I approved of her method, but she knows that. She also has done you no wrong, sir.”

  “No. She hasn’t. Not really. For so long I’ve worked at the Agency. Living each day, each the same way. It was comfortable and easy. I liked it that way,” I said.

  “Humans are creatures of habit. I know you’ve heard that, but it is absolutely true. But the world is always changing and humans always adapt. It’s the way they were made and created. Free thought, free will, adaptation and for the most part, a sense to strive to be better or better the world.”

  “Not everyone is that way, George,” I said. His ideals sounded pretty lofty considering he once was an Angel of God. Perhaps he was blind to the darkness in all of us.

  “No son, I am not blind to it.”

  “That’s weird, George. You shouldn’t do that in public,” I teased him.

  “No, Master Duarte, I won’t. I do see the whole picture. I know that good is greater than evil, and hope is within every creature. Even the darkest hearts have hopes.” I wasn’t sure I agreed with him considering the evil that was in our world. Evils that most people did not know existed. The thunder got louder, and lightning flashed across the sky in ribbons of light. I had waited as long as I could. I wanted to talk to Abigail.

  “Where is she, George?” I could tell he started to give me a vague answer and then he shut his mouth. He seemed to zone out for a moment. I thought maybe he was having a stroke on me. It was like those commercials you hear on the radio. His eyes focused back on me.

  “She is in the chapel. But sir, I am concerned about her. It was not simply a lure to get you here. She hasn’t eaten since your last meal together. I believe she will make herself ill, if you both do not reach an understanding one way or the other.”

  I smiled and put my hand on his shoulder, “Thanks. Don’t worry. I am here now.” My instincts have always been to care for other beings, especially those as unique as Abigail Davenport.

  I walked out the door swiftly. I didn’t want to seem too over eager if sh
e returned from her walk as I went out. I tried to seem casual and calm. It worried me too, that she hadn’t eaten. My refusal of her job offer had affected her far more than I expected it to do. I knew in my heart that I should not have refused her. No matter what she was, her body was human and blood sugar can do bad things when you haven’t eaten for some time. Add in the stress over the last few days and it would be a wonder that she was not comatose. I walked down the arched corridor and stood in awe of the storm. We were on the edge of it. Lightning flashed in the distance and the rumble of thunder followed after a moment or two. The clouds swirled dark and grey. I don’t think I’ve seen anything more ominous. I looked down the hill to where the little chapel sat. Just then a huge bolt of lightning struck the ground just outside the church. I threw my arms in front of my face and turned away in an utter survival reaction. I turned back to the church. Had she been outside the church? I could not tell from this distance.

  “No.” I took off running. The strike landed extremely close to the chapel. She could be inside hurt or worse if she had been standing outside of it. “Madre de Dios, no, please no.” I pleaded as I ran and placed my hand on my crucifix. The chapel sat a good half mile away. I wasn’t running fast enough. Out of pure instinct, I focused on the jaguar inside of me. I gently pulled on the tether to the spirit world, and quickly morphed into my beast. The shift was easier than I’d ever tried before, something about this place was unusual. Unlike most shifters, my shift was like ripping open a small piece of the spirit world, and I would switch my body with my spirit animal. No ripping of clothes and destroyed shoes. And thankfully no nakedness at the shift back. I picked up speed on all fours. I dug into the earth with my claws and rounded the last row of vines to see her standing there outside the church staring at the storm. I dug deeper into the earth to slow my sprint to a walk. I stopped about 10 feet away from her. She hadn’t turned to look at me. She still focused on the storm. The wind gently blew her hair around her face and her dress around her legs. Then I noticed it, her face glowed with strange iridescence. Like the powder girls put on their faces to go out to the clubs and bars, she practically glowed. I grew more concerned. I stepped closer to her. I could smell honeysuckle and cinnamon. Her heart beat calm and steady as usual. The most important thing I noticed standing here in my jaguar form was that I had no instinct or desire to harm her. No animal urge to rip her to shreds. I waited for her to respond to me. I controlled the beast. She started to turn toward me, and stopped suddenly. She tilted her head sideways and said, “Tadeas, is that you?”

  The storm began to recede, and I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. I slowly turned and there before me was a sleek black cat. His yellow eyes showed concern and patience. He had to be over 200 lbs and about a foot and a half tall at the shoulder. His structure was lean and muscular. His spots, even though he was black, could still be seen lining his body from head to tail. He was magnificent. Had he wanted to strike, I am sure there would be nothing I could do to stop him. Instead he waited for me to recognize him. “Tadeas, is that you?”

  I felt a sharp tug on the environment around me. A small exertion of magic and he morphed back into the handsome Hispanic man I knew. Why was he here? And why had he shifted? He shuffled his feet and looked down. This made me hurt. Surely, he knew what a powerful gift he had. “How many jaguar shifters do you know, Abby?” he asked quietly.

  “Just you,” I responded. He looked up to me. His human green eyes studied me. I suppose he was gauging when I’d start yelling at him again.

  “I saw the lightning hit very close to the church. George said you were out here. I panicked and shifted to get here quicker. Seems pretty crazy, I guess.”

  I walked closer to him, and swayed a bit. I put my arms out to steady myself. He leaned forward on his toes ready to lunge if I fell. I looked up at him and shook my head. “No, I’m fine. It’s not crazy. Thank you for your concern for my well-being.”

  “I don’t think you are fine. Your face is covered is some kind of weird makeup.”

  “What?” I put my hand up to my face, then looked at it. I didn’t see anything. He stepped closer to me.

  “George said you have not eaten, and he told me you should before you got sick.”

  “I ate food yesterday when you were here,” I said. He stepped closer still. His eyes filled with concern.

  “I was here two days ago Abby. It’s Tuesday just before noon.”

  “No. It’s Monday,” I argued but then thought. I must have slept completely through Monday. No wonder George made the statement about eating. He watched me put it all together. I looked up at him, “I guess I’ve lost time.”

  “Yeah. I think so. Let’s get back to the house. Get you some food,” he put his hand out to me, and I just stared at it. He came here for whatever reason. He ran to aid me if I was hurt. He shifted into the jaguar even though I know he feared it so. And now he wanted to help me to the house, because my blood sugar took a nosedive. I swallowed my pride.

  “I am so very sorry for the things I said to you,” I said sincerely. I didn’t want to add anything to it. It needed to be simple and clear. No lofty explanations. An absolute apology.

  “I know. I am, as well,” he returned it in the same manner. “Now please, let's go back to the house. We have plenty of time to talk. You are worrying me. You look very unwell.”

  I turned back to the church. Remembering that Gabriel was just here. Did he do something to my face? I turned back around to Tadeas. I turned too fast. I felt myself waiver with vertigo.

  “Abby, dammit.” I heard him say as everything went black.

  I woke up on the couch in the sitting room. My head was on a pillow. George hovered at the end of the couch. Tadeas sat on the couch next to me. He studied my face. I looked back at George.

  “Just stay for a bit okay? George has fruit here, and you are going to eat it.”

  “Yeah, yeah. I just didn’t realize I slept through Monday or I would have eaten. Why are both of you looking at me like that?” They continued to stare.

  “Abigail, you have a visitor,” George stated, not asking. Tadeas looked back at him and then at me.

  “Someone got on the island, but I thought,” he stopped.

  “Yes,” I said quietly. “Gabriel.”

  “Who is Gabriel? How did he get on the island? Are wards compromised?” he asked in quick succession.

  I tried to raise up. He gently pushed me back down and shook his head.

  “I’m fine.”

  “And I don’t care. Lay down until you eat something.”

  “Then give me something to eat.” He shoved the bowl of fruit at me and glared. “Bite me,” I added out of simple childish pleasure. I’m not sure where he got the impression he could order me around, but I didn’t have the energy to fight him on it.

  “Mature. Very nice.” he scolded. I ate the fruit, and handed him the bowl. He handed it to George. “More please, George.”

  “No, I want real food,” I said. “May I please have permission to sit up now, daddy?” I poked my lip out at him. Finally, the serious stare broke, and he smiled. He started to stand up, and I put my hand on his leg and shook my head no. The truth was I still felt pretty groggy. I didn’t want him to move in case I got woozy again. I make stupid jokes when I’m out of sorts. I put my palms on either side of me, and pushed myself up to a seated position with my legs still laying on the couch.

  “Gabriel?” he prompted.

  “Gabriel, as in The Gabriel,” I explained.

  George came back in the room and this time he had a platter of meats, cheese, crackers, and fruit. “Did he touch you, Abby?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I said and pointed to the crackers and cheese. Tadeas handed me some of it. “He put his hand on my chin,” I lifted my head and showed them my chin.

  Tadeas leaned in and looked. He took his thumb and barely brushed my chin. I shivered at the touch. “You have a strange mark there. Like you were burned, and it left a sca
r.” He looked back at George, and George nodded. Tadeas turned back to me, “What did he say?”

  “I looked in his eyes, and,” I paused. I stopped and finished chewing the crackers and cheese. They both watched me closely. I didn’t want to repeat what I saw. The terrible, heartbreaking and extremely tragic vision flooded my mind again. I felt Tadeas take my hand.

  “And what?”

  “A vision,” said George, “of the future.”

  I winced. No, it would not be the future if I had anything to do with it. I closed my eyes and spoke, “I saw the world in chaos. The continents broken off at the edges, and whole cities fell into the oceans. People died by the millions. I could hear them screaming and crying for help as they sank into the dark depths of the sea.”

  “Madre de Dios,” he said and crossed himself. He turned back to George. “Is it for real? Can we stop it?”

  “We?” I said. He ignored me.

  “He would not have shown her if he didn’t think she could prevent it,” George stated flatly. He sat down in the chair facing the couch, and his eyes went out of focus. I never understood what he was doing, but I always left him alone when it happened.

  Tadeas looked at me. “We will stop it, right?”

  I repeated, “We?”

  He looked serious and squeezed my hand, “Yes, we.”

  I squeezed back. A rush of relief flowed over me. Finally, I could get back to business. I sighed.

  “But I’ve got the feeling I’m going to lose my entrails in the process,” he smiled weakly.

  “What?”

  “Gregory.”