Leilani: uh, do you mean shopping?
Auntie: Yes, stripping.
Auntie: strip
Auntie: stripe
Auntie: shopping!
Leilani’s laugh echoed in the room. Auntie’s inability to text made for very interesting conversations.
Leilani: what do you want me to get?
Auntie: milk, eggs, and asshole juice
Auntie: ass
Auntie: as
Auntie: apple juice. stupid phone
Leilani: Ok got it. :)
Auntie: don’t forget to use condoms
Auntie: COUPONS!!
Auntie: I need a nap.
“Yes, Auntie, you really do,” Leilani said to the screen.
“Hey, Leilani! Can I go with Kai to watch Interstellar Explosion?”
“Sammy!” Leilani yelped, startled as Sammy ran into the restroom. The spray can and the phone flew out of her hands.
Plop!
“Eww,” he said, staring into the toilet bowl. “Your phone is in the toilet.”
“And whose fault do you think that is?” She stared down at the phone. Even with gloves on, she was debating whether or not to stick her hands in the water.
“Yours.” He blinked with a blank expression on his face.
She scowled. He was losing his baby fat and looking more like a prepubescent teen. To make things worse, he was also mouthing off more. Maybe she could ask Jeremy to have a talk with him.
“Well, can I?”
“Can you what?” She held her breath and in one swoop snatched the phone out of the water. Holding it at arm’s length, she took it to the sink.
“Go with Kai to see Interstellar Explosion. All my friends have seen it already.”
Interstellar Explosion was the hottest new sci-fi movie about aliens invading Earth. Sammy had been bugging her to take him to see it for weeks. Alien movies were not her thing. They gave her the creeps.
“He’s working,” she said as she patted her phone with a paper towel. She didn’t know why she was bothering. It was pretty much toast. Maybe she could get a bowl of rice. She’d heard the dry rice would help absorb the water and it might work again.
“He got off early. Please, Leilani.”
Damn it! Sammy was giving her those puppy dog eyes again. She hated it when he did that. He knew exactly how to get her to say yes.
“Besides, you’ve been busy with Jeremy all week.”
Crap! He was right.
“Fine. But have Kai bring you back before my shift ends!” He was halfway out the door before she’d finished her sentence.
She sighed and looked down at her phone again. She sprayed it with disinfectant and wrapped it with a paper towel before sticking it in her pocket. She picked up the overflowing wastebasket and went outside.
She’d been neglecting Sammy over the past week. She didn’t want to be one of those girls who was so engrossed with a new boyfriend that she forgot everyone else. As she walked outside to the trash container, she made a mental list of activities they could do as a family.
Family. The word warmed her heart.
She slapped down the top of the dumpster. They could go camping next weekend. She’d need to ask Mr. Hu, though. There was no way Candy would let her off.
Leilani shivered as a cold chill suddenly hit her. The sunlight dimmed, and she looked up. Dark clouds rolled across the sky. She blinked, wondering if she was imagining things. The clouds didn’t look real. It was as if they were hiding something. It looked like the beginning scene of the Interstellar Explosion movie trailer.
There was a sudden loud flapping sound, and a flock of birds surged to the sky. Slowly, she walked to the lanai, following the birds as they flew inland. She shivered again when a cool breeze blew through the patio, making the tablecloths flutter.
Every fiber in her body was freaking out. Something was off, but she couldn’t figure out what. She looked around the restaurant. People were eating, drinking, and enjoying themselves. Mr. Hu was moving from table to table, telling the same lame jokes. Candy was entertaining a group of attractive male tourists. Everything appeared normal.
She looked out into the horizon at the darkening sky and chuckled. She was going nuts. The disinfectant spray’s fumes must’ve gotten to her. For one crazy moment, the word ‘aliens’ had actually crossed her mind. It was just a little rain. And if she didn’t want to get soaked, she’d better stop her nonsense and toss the other trash bags into the dumpster.
She walked back inside, pushing away the lingering ominous feeling.
24
Jeremy squinted, turning the koa wood at different angles, trying to get a better look at his creation.
“This looks like a hibiscus flower, right?” he asked an older man wearing flip-flops and a straw hat who was passing by.
Over the last two hours, Jeremy had been sitting on the beach, determined to turn the piece of wood into a flower. He wanted to give Leilani something special. He’d gone to what seemed like every jewelry store on the island, but nothing seemed good enough for her. When he’d seen a vendor selling koa jewelry, he’d known it would be perfect for her, and it would be even more special if he made it himself. Three nights, five bandaged fingers, and fourteen pieces of wood later, he thought he’d finally made the perfect pendant.
“Well, now, let’s see there.” The man reached into his front shirt pocket, pulling out a pair of glasses. “Well, I’ll be. That sure does. Good job, son. Is this for your girl?”
“You bet. I plan on giving it to her tonight.”
“Well, she’s one lucky girl.”
“I’m the lucky one,” Jeremy said as the man waved and continued walking down the beach.
Very lucky. Jeremy smiled as he picked up the woodcarving tools and placed them in his pocket. All he needed now was a chain to hang the pendant. He couldn’t wait to see Leilani’s face when he placed it around her neck.
His life was perfect. After the nightmare he’d had the other night, he had decided not to think about what would happen in the far-off future. He was going to live for today and enjoy every single minute with Leilani and Sammy. The only plans he’d made were to help Leilani go to college. He’d worry about the rest later.
Standing, he wiped the sand off his shorts and headed up the beach to a side street where he’d parked his car. He was surprised that other than the older man he’d run across, there wasn’t anyone else around. Typically, there were at least a dozen families on the beach at this time of the day.
He looked off into the horizon, taking in the beauty of the island. The sun was on his back, its heat caressing him. Inhaling, he took in the fresh salty air. It invigorated him. Yep, life wasn’t bad at all for a banished archangel. He was even getting used to not having angelic vision and hearing. He didn’t need it. He had Leilani’s love.
“Going for a stroll, Jeremiel?”
Jeremy froze at the sound of the familiar voice. It was faint, almost as if he had imagined it. He scanned the beach. There was no one around.
Shaking his head, he continued walking.
“Is that a way to greet a friend?”
There was no denying the voice that came from directly behind him. It was Joab.
Okay. Be chill. Baldy doesn’t know I don’t have any powers.
Turning slowly to face Joab, Jeremy asked, “Friends? When are archangels ever friends with the fallen?”
“Since you became one.”
Blood rushed from Jeremy’s face.
“What’s wrong, Jeremiel?” Joab’s lips curled into a smug smile. “Did you think we wouldn’t find out? Tsk. Tsk. You underestimate us again, my dear friend.”
“What do you want, Joab?” he growled between gritted teeth.
“It’s not what I want, but what you want.”
“I want nothing from you.”
“Oh really?”
Jeremy swallowed nervously as Joab closed the space between them. He held his chin up, glaring into Joab’s black eyes
. He wasn’t giving in to Baldy’s scare tactics.
“Come with me, and Saleos can give you your heart’s desire. You won’t even have to trample through the Vegas desert.”
Jeremy balked as the image of him walking through the desert in search of Saleos popped into his mind. How could Joab know that? It was just a dream. Joab couldn’t possibly know about that.
“But I do know. And so does Saleos.”
Did Joab just read his mind? Jeremy schooled his face, pushing the crazy thought away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Ah, but you do. We know you were banished and stripped of all your powers. Saleos is giving you one last chance to change your mind.”
“I don’t want to hear it. Save your breath.” He had to leave the island. Now. He didn’t want Joab anywhere near Leilani and Sammy.
“He wants you to be second in command. You’ll be one of the most powerful angels again.”
Jeremy stopped.
“Well, well. That got your attention, didn’t it? Admit it. You are one of us. You always have been.”
“No!” Jeremy spun around. “I’m not like you.”
Joab approached him, holding Jeremy’s gaze.
“You are. You believe as we do. Angels are the chosen, not humans. Humans are weak, and we were meant to rule over them. You’ll be a god among men once again. It is your rightful place. Don’t tell me you don’t want that.”
He was about to say that he could live without his powers when Naomi’s voice spoke in the back of his mind.
All you care about is your precious archangel status and being worshipped by everyone who sees you . . . Can you give up your powers, the gifts that make you great?
He swallowed thickly, fighting against the words that came dangerously close to the truth. As he stared into Joab’s black eyes, he saw his reflection—an empty shell desperate to be filled.
God, help him. Joab was right. He missed the power. He missed the admiration. He wanted it back. He was like them, only worse. He had hidden behind his archangel status.
“I see you’re finally admitting it to yourself. I can only imagine how difficult it’s been for you lately, having to live like a human. We know that you hold on to that wahine of yours because no one else will have you.”
Joab pouted, shaking his head. Then he smiled and clapped his hands.
“But that will soon be rectified. You’ll get your powers back and you can even keep the girl . . . after she is changed, of course. Don’t worry. The process is not too painful.”
“Don’t you dare touch her!” Leilani was all that was good. He would die before he let them even get close to her.
Jeremy lunged after him. In a blur, Joab’s thick arm wrapped around Jeremy’s neck in a chokehold. Jeremy clawed at the immovable arm of steel, barely able to breathe.
“Don’t be stupid,” Joab growled, tightening his hold. “Saleos will give you everything.”
“Leave . . . her . . . alone.” He could barely get the words out. He couldn’t breathe.
“Idiot!” Joab shoved him away. Jeremy fell forward, gasping for air. Before he was able to stand, Joab reached down and clasped his hands around Jeremy’s head, lifting him.
“What are you doing?” Jeremy squirmed, trying to get loose. He could barely move as hands of steel crushed into his temples.
“You don’t want to miss this.” Joab gripped his head tightly as he murmured in Hebrew the commands for sight and sound.
Jeremy jolted. His feet twitched as Joab held him in midair like a rag doll. His eyes rolled uncontrollably. This was it. He was dying.
Joab pressed harder. Jeremy screamed. He could hear the cracking of his skull. It was on the verge of shattering.
Then it suddenly grew dark, and everything was quiet.
“Open your eyes and see the world for what it will become.”
Jeremy opened his eyes. He could see. It was like the cloudy veil of his human eyesight had been lifted, and his angelic eyesight had been restored. In the distance, he saw a lone seagull soaring through the air. He could hear the bird’s wings flapping.
For the briefest moment, he was happy. He had his powers back. Then dread hit the pit of his stomach when he realized that Joab was in his angel form and the dark angel’s black wings curled around both of them like a cage.
“Take it away. I don’t want anything from you,” Jeremy said.
“Soon, but for now”—Joab snatched his head, turning it to the right—“see what happens to the weak.”
In the distance, there was another pair of black wings headed in their direction. Then another and another. From the depths in the dark clouds, dozens of demon angels swirled around.
They’re coming! Leilani. Sammy. He squirmed, trying to loosen Joab’s hold.
Joab laughed. “Do you actually think I would give you your angelic strength back? I was given strict orders to make sure that you can see and hear everything. That’s all.”
Ignoring Joab’s words, Jeremy pounded against the winged cage until his fists were streaked with blood. He had to get back to Leilani.
There was a soft familiar moan coming from the distance. He stopped and he gasped at what he saw. Gabrielle lay limp in Saleos’s arms.
“Let go!” He bucked back. Joab laughed again as Jeremy’s fists had no effect on him.
He stood helpless as Saleos flew closer. What had they done to her?
Her hair lay in tangled strands, hanging over a face marred with dirt and blood. The tips of her beautiful wings were charred black. One wing appeared to be almost half torn from her body. Her gown had been ripped into shreds.
“Damn you!” Jeremy cried.
“Damn me? Ha! It’s you who will be damned. Look at what you’ve done to the poor girl. It was easy enough to catch her. She was watching over you, trying to protect you. Did you know that?”
Jeremy looked at him in shock.
“I guess not. So now that you know, what does it feel like to have your dear friend pay for your sins?”
Jeremy hung his head. He couldn’t bear to see what they’d done to Gabrielle. She’d always been so kind and understanding. She didn’t deserve this.
“This day just keeps getting better and better,” Joab said, his voice lilted with glee. “Look up, Jeremiel. Your pet’s here.”
“Hey, Jeremy. Whatcha lookin’ at?”
Oh my god. Sammy! Jeremy’s head snapped up.
“Don’t move, buddy. Stay where you are.”
“Really, Jeremiel? Distance won’t help your pet if we decide to take him with us,” Joab said.
Jether, followed by a dozen dark angels, swarmed near Saleos. They all gazed down at Sammy, waiting for their master’s instructions.
“If you even think about touching him—”
“Touch who?” Sammy looked at him curiously. “And why are you standing funny?”
Because this damn demon won’t loosen his grip. Jeremy was thankful Sammy no longer had the ability to see angels. He had to play it cool for Sammy and somehow convince him to leave. Jeremy could feel the smirk on Joab’s face as he relaxed his shoulders and dropped his arms.
“Nothing. I was just looking for uh . . . seashells. Hey, why don’t you head on back to the restaurant? It’s gonna rain soon.” He forced a grin.
“It rains all the time.” Sammy took a step toward him.
“Come here, pet. Come to your master,” Saleos’s voice whispered in the distance.
“No!” Jeremy snapped.
Sammy’s eyes widened. Jeremy clenched his jaw as he heard Saleos chuckle.
“Hey, sorry, buddy. Didn’t mean to snap at you. Just do me a solid and stay put, okay?”
“’kay.” Sammy looked down, brushing his foot along the sand.
“My, my. What an obedient pet you have,” Joab said.
“Shut up,” Jeremy growled under his breath.
He gazed from Sammy to Saleos, torn between getting Sammy to safety and wanting to help Gabrielle,
who still lay helpless in Saleos’s arms. Even if he could somehow get away from Joab, he couldn’t fly. There had to be something he could do.
As if reading his mind, Saleos’s voice drifted down to him. “There is.”
Jeremy scanned the sky. It was a sea of dark angels. There was no way out, not without hurting Sammy or Gabrielle. He couldn’t risk either of them.
“Well?” Saleos’s black eyes gleamed, waiting for his answer.
Jeremy held his breath when he saw Gabrielle ever so slowly lift her head. Pained eyes looked to Jeremy’s. “Don’t, Jeremiel,” she gasped. “Promise.”
“I promise,” he said. Relief flooded her face. Then her head lolled back, and her body went limp again.
“You are a fool, Jeremiel, just like your father,” Saleos rumbled as thunder cracked through the sky. His dark eyes held on to Jeremy’s as he slowly trailed his fingers down Gabrielle’s delicate neck and behind her shoulder until he was stroking her snowy wings. Then, curling his lips into a wicked smile, he ripped her wing and flung it into the ocean.
Gabrielle’s head lurched back. Her face twisted as she let out a bloodcurdling scream.
“No,” he sobbed as her screams pierced his heart.
“Jeremy, what’s wrong? It’s only thunder,” Sammy said.
Jeremy bit down on his tongue, swallowing the agony he felt as Gabrielle continued to scream in agony.
“Yeah, I know. I’m just feeling a little sick, that’s all. I’ll be with you in a—”
Gabrielle let out another scream. Jeremy’s stomach rolled as Saleos slowly ripped her remaining wing from her body. When there was only a fragment of the tattered wing left, Saleos held her away from him, dangling her high above the dark clouds.
“I’m done with the two of you. Jether, put an end to their miserable lives.”
And then Saleos let her go.
Jether swooped after Gabrielle with his black sword aimed at her head.
Jeremy slammed hard against Joab’s winged-cage as Gabrielle clawed empty air. He felt so helpless. There was nothing he could do, even if he could get to her. He was as weak as a human. All he could do was watch in horror as Jether pulled back his arm, ready to strike.
Golden Angel: (Broken Angel #5) Page 12
