Nine Lives (The Katran Legacy)

by Karin De Havin

***

  True to its name, Angel City had every imaginable type of angel flying through the sky. There were chubby cherubim, statuesque Archangels and beautiful Guardian angels. The sky also held strange giant glowing wheels and flames that would look a lot more at home in Hell.

  “Hey, Cel, what are those things next to the cherubs? They’re hovering so close they’re making me nervous. ”

  “Oh, those guys are cool. They’re Virtues and Dominions.”

  Miss Know-it-all. “You must have aced Sunday School.”

  She gave me a smile. “Well, you obviously didn’t.”

  “Nope. Too busy playing Nintendo under the table. So, what are those things?”

  She laughed. “Not all angels take human form.”

  I pointed to a large creature that flew nearby. It sported six sets of wings with eyes peering out from between the feathers. So many eyes staring at me made my mouth go dry. “I suppose that scary beast is an angel too. Total horror film material. You sure we’re not in Hell?”

  She cringed at the vision in the sky. “Yikes. So that’s what a Seraphim looks like.”

  The eye’s swiveled in between the feathers, honing in on me. “What…do they do?”

  “They’re the guardians of Heaven.”

  Blaine tugged on Celery’s sleeve. “Dude, look, something’s glowing between your tits.”

  She shoved Blaine’s hand away. “Perv.” Celery reached down the front of her dress and held up the small tablet computer she found on the spaceship set. “Wow, look at this.”

  We huddled around the device. Different colored markers spread out over a map like a grid.

  Austin shouted, “It’s a GPS!”

  Celery took a few steps forward and we watched the purple mark as it moved across the screen. “O.M.G he’s right. Man, did we score. This is going to show us where to find everything on the list!”

  Several of the cute little cherub angels formed a circle above us and applauded. Gold confetti showered from the sky. A Frisbee-like object with a high-tech camera zoomed directly toward us. My answer as to how they were going to broadcast the contest.

  Blaine waved at the camera. “Hey, everybody, we’ve got this in the bag.”

  I wished I had his confidence, but I’d learned Junior Heaven always managed to suck the joy out of moments like these. “Look, guys, we better head out. Even though Team Force doesn’t have a GPS, they found a clue too. Maybe something even more valuable.”

  Blaine punched me in the arm. “Do you have to be such a downer?”

  Austin unrolled the scavenger list Palmer gave him. “We better read the directions.”

  Instructions for the Angel City Scavenger Hunt:

  Each item is worth ten points. Ten bonus points to the team that brings everything on the list back before the time is up.

  1. Collect Marilyn Monroe’s signature.

  2. Find a Celestial Medallion.

  3. Pluck two foot feathers from a Seraphim Angel.

  4. Find a Devil bobble head doll.

  The whole team must be present when you return with the items. You have exactly two hours—starting now!

  Before Austin could finish, a loud gong rang out. “Bong.”

  Once the loud noise died down, a robotic male voice filled the air. “T-minus one hour and fifty seconds.”

  A large digital watch materialized on Blaine’s wrist. “Being the captain rules!”

  Celery held up her fist just inches from his face. “Oh, get over yourself. We’ve got to make a plan and fast. This stuff is going to be impossible to find. Even with the GPS, we could still lose.”

  I remained stuck on the first item. “I can’t believe Marilyn Monroe is here. I watched all her movies growing up. My gramp adored her.”

  A puzzled look crossed Austin’s face. “Think I might have seen pictures of her. Sort of fat actress from the fifty’s?”

  I rolled my eyes. “You’re kidding, right?”

  Blaine waved me away. His watch beeped, letting us know another ten minutes had gone by. “I don’t care about some old lady. We’ve got this.”

  Austin gave him a shove. “Right. Like finding a Devil bobble head doll will be a cinch in Heaven.”

  I flashed back to my time with Lucy in Mr. Pollor’s Out of this World Emporium. “Maybe not. Celery, can I have the GPS?”

  Maybe Mr. Pollor had a chain of stores all over Junior Heaven—even in Angel City. I scanned the markers blinking on the grid. A red dot had the initials PWE underneath. “I’ve got an idea. Follow me.”

  Skater Boys grumbled, but Celery cut them off. “I’ll trust T’s instincts over yours any time.”

  I’d be taking a risk becoming the team leader, but someone had to. Blaine was useless. If I wanted to make it back to Earth, I needed to do everything I could to make sure we won. Luckily for me, the odds were looking good. The GPS red dot showed we were just a few blocks away. A camera disc materialized and followed right behind us. We raced down a boulevard lined with expensive shops just like Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Strange. Everything seemed untouched by the decay that had taken over the rest of Junior Heaven. The store windows were mirror perfect—crack free.

  The angels had expensive tastes. Luxury items filled the displays. Channel purses, Coach shoes all made of exotic high-tech materials—and gold—lots of gold. It seemed odd the angels would be shopaholics. Yet the city told me they needed a twelve-step program.

  Skater Boys did nothing but fight the whole way. Austin punched Blaine in the arm. “Why did we leave our boards behind at Mrs. Schwartz’s house? We could get there so much faster on wheels.”

  “Dude, you were the one who said they were too heavy.”

  So I wasn’t the only one to leave something precious behind at Schwartz’s.

  Celery covered her ears. “And they say girls gripe a lot.”

  Blaine nudged her shoulder. “Dude, did you just call me a girl?”

  Had I suddenly been transported back to third grade? I moved between them, trying to block the camera from getting a close-up. “Look, guys, we just have one more block to go. Can you keep it together until then?”

  “Sure.” Austin hooked my arm. “Let’s find the Devil doll. Still can’t believe what angels find cool. Worse than my sister and her Hello Kitty collection.”

  I waited for a squadron of angels to fly down and cart him away for making fun of them. The sky remained feather free. I held up the GPS but the signal kept fading in and out. “Guys, I think we should go this way.” I instantly regretted my choice when I faced a brick wall.

  Blaine pointed out the obvious. “Dude, that’s a dead end.”

  The GPS blinked to life. “Sorry, my bad. I meant this way.” The team reluctantly followed my lead. I’d better step up my game if I wanted to stay team leader. We turned the corner and the store loomed large—almost taking up the entire block. A huge bronze sign declared: Mr. Pollor’s Out of this World Emporium. I pointed to the brick building. “If there’s a Devil anywhere in Angel City, I bet it’s in there.”

  Celery trotted up next to me. “The place looks like something from another time. Like the eighteen eighties.”

  Austin and Blaine ran inside right behind us. We sucked in our breaths. Endless shelves packed full of everything from the latest bestsellers to picnic baskets stuffed with goodies for the perfect getaway filled the first floor. My vision blurred, totally overwhelmed by the brightly colored merchandise. “How are we going to find the Devil doll when there is so much stuff?”

  Celery’s face lit up. “Look at all the angels wearing designer gowns loaded down with shopping bags full of expensive loot. How cool.”

  They seemed less than thrilled we’d invaded their city. They scooted around us like we had Ebola.

  “At least I don’t see Team Force yet.” Blaine had the nerve to push one of the angels aside. “Look, over here.”

  We ran to a display labeled: Everything You Need To Keep Your Human In Line.

  Celery p
icked up a manual. “This makes us sound worse than training a pet.” She read, “’One must be cautious when first approaching your charge. Carefully read their mind. Don’t let them see you, as they frighten easily.’”

  Austin held up a T-Shirt. “Stupid Human Here.”

  Not amused, I pulled the book out of Celery’s hands. I pointed to Blaine’s watch that beeped loudly. Another minute gone. “Okay, guys, I know this stuff is funny but we’re wasting time. We have to find the doll, like now.”

  Celery grabbed my arm. “Right, sorry. Let’s snag it before the boys do. I’ll head to the second floor. You see what’s here.”

  Celery ran for the stairs with a camera disc following right behind her. I passed Blaine and Austin, still laughing it up over the T-shirts. Blaine’s watch ticked loudly in my ears. Why did the idiot have to be picked team leader? Celery and I were the reliable ones. I should just walk over and rip the watch right off his wrist. Instead, I had to rely on my internal clock—and it ticked very fast.

  I moved toward the back of the store, with a camera hovering overhead. Where did that one come from? Nothing like having the audience watch me screw up. No. The dolls had to be here somewhere. Then it hit me—they’d be in the basement. Sure enough I found a set of stairs in the corner. I raced down the steps, the camera following close behind. I knew I’d found the right spot when the temperature rose by ten degrees and the walls were painted a vibrant red-orange. Fake cellophane flames slapped against back-lit plexi-glass. You’d think in Junior Heaven the effects would be mind-blowing, but Mr. Pollor’s Emporium really did belong in the past.

  I sped by several T-shirt displays and wished I could pick up a few—my favorite, “Devil or Angel, You Decide.” Nope. I was on a mission. Finally, the doll display sat on the far wall. Every imaginable type of Devil doll lined up before me. Blue and fluorescent purple Devils screamed for my attention, yet I moved on. I shook the shelves one by one until the bobble heads bounced back and forth at the end of the display. Unbelievable. The camera sat waiting at the end of the display for me. I picked up a Devil Betty Boop bobble head. She sat on a rock with flames around it in a skimpy black bikini. Hard to imagine an angel ever buying such a thing. Yet the shelves were packed full.

  A loud female voice reverberated against the walls. T-minus one hour and twenty-five minutes, ten seconds.

  Crap. Better kick my hunt into high gear. I ran my hand down the shelf until it landed on just what I’d been looking for. A red Devil sat on a black throne with flames at his feet. He held up a white scroll that read: “Come on Down!” I grabbed his bobbing head and held it up so the camera lens could zoom in on my prize. Then I ran upstairs to find Celery. My internal clock told me we must have blown through at least a half an hour by now. “Hey, girlfriend, where are you?” I didn’t want to broadcast the news I’d found the doll in case Team Force showed up on the scene.

  She came flying down the stairs, a camera in hot pursuit. “Did you get it?”

  “Yep.” I held up the Devil by its bobble head. “Time’s slipping away. Let’s ditch the guys and head for the next place.”

  “I’m all for that. I left them upstairs playing a stupid pinball game. They act like we have all the time in Heaven.”

  “Forget them. Let’s go pay for this. Wait a second—I don’t have any money.”

  Celery laughed. “Always the Newbie. We don’t need money. You just take what you want and leave.” She cracked a smile. “This is Heaven after all.”

  She had a point. I remembered back at the Pavilion we didn’t need tickets to go on the rides. “Right. I keep forgetting.” A smile crossed my face as I waltzed out of the store with the Devil doll and no one stopped me.

  A camera zoomed in as Celery held out the GPS. “Looks like the next place is about ten blocks away. Let’s go.”

  We jogged along the streets with confidence. We’d been so lucky to find the GPS at the last contest. We would have been sunk without it. Two members of Team Force sped past us, heading toward the Emporium. “Do you think they have some kind of special map? What if they’ve already found a couple of things on the list?”

  Celery scrunched up her face. “Then we’re screwed.”

  She was right. No sense worrying about the competition. We had a list and we needed to get everything on it. Counting on Blaine and Austin would be stupid. We turned right, then left, and then right again as the streets became a blur. So much for having a moment to enjoy the untouched beauty of the city. I picked up the pace, trying to keep up with Celery. Who knew she’d be in such good shape.

  Her finger shook as she pointed to a sign on a solid white marble storefront. “Look, this is it. ‘Celestial Mines, Jewelry, Medallions and Statuary.’ This is going to be so cool!”

  “Are you, like, super into jewelry?”

  She laughed. “No, silly. Here’s where we get to use our costumes.”

  The camera zoomed in on my puzzled face. I wanted to swat it away like an annoying pest. I couldn't wait for the contest to be over. No more having everything I did under a microscope for everyone in Heaven to see.

  Celery waved the instructions in front of me. “Party time.”

  “You’re torturing me. You know I haven’t had a chance to read the instructions.”

  “Watch me.” She ran her hand along the rings of her costume. “You just push this tiny button right below the third ring.”

  My eyes grew large as the ring turned from pink to purple and the metal objects danced on the shelves. “Wow. It’s a magnet!”

  Celery cracked a smile. “I said you’d be stoked.”

  “Get closer. Maybe one of them is the Celestial Medallion.”

  Celery moved along the back wall and all the metal statues and medallions shook, but none of them flew toward the costume. “This isn’t going to be as easy as I thought. Maybe if you turn your ring on, we’ll have enough power to find it.”

  A camera zoomed in as I reached down and counted the rings on the dress. “One, two, three…four…Oh shit!”

  My body tingled all over and my hands turned as translucent as an onionskin. I tried to call out for Celery’s help but I’d lost my voice. Not again.

  Her face changed from mild amusement to horror. “O.M.G T, you pushed the wrong button. You’re almost invisible.” She threw her arms around my ghostly body. “Stop! Don’t go…”

  Chapter Two

  Marilyn Moment

  What just happened? I could see Celery but she couldn’t see me. Had I tuned into a ghost? I felt so cold…and very alone. Maybe if I pushed the button again I’d materialize. My hand shook as I reached down to the fourth ring. Nothing happened. My hand went straight through. Was I stuck being a ghost for eternity?

  The camera zoomed in as Celery’s eyes welled up. “T, come back.”

  Our chance of winning the contest vanished with a slip of my finger. Flashing on every ghost movie I’d ever seen, I searched for a way to communicate with Celery. I floated over and blew in her ear.

  She swatted at her face. “What the hell was that?”

  The camera zoomed in while Celery’s mouth quickly filled with soap suds. It couldn’t see me. Free of the cameras at last!

  Celery spit out the suds, just missing me. “Hey, watch it. I can’t believe you cursed in Heaven. You're the one who’s always scolding everyone else.”

  “Who’s that?” Celery’s eyes grew large as her head whirled around, trying to find where my voice came from. “What’s going on?”

  “Cel, it’s me.”

  “O.M.G, T?”

  “Yes.”

  A tear dripped down Celery’s face. “Thank God you’re okay.”

  “If being a ghost is okay—guess I am.”

  Celery’s eyes darted around. “Maybe it’ll wear off.”

  She might be right, but we couldn’t wait around to find out. I pushed back my fears as my internal clock reminded me we had about an hour left. “Look, we might still have enough time to win.”


  She nodded. “Right. This is kinda cool. Never thought I’d have a ghost as a friend.” She reached out to try and touch me. “What the H, let’s go for it.” She tapped on the GPS. “I think Marilyn Monroe is only a few blocks away. She’s on the move. We better go.”

  I floated next to Celery as we wound our way through the streets. Angels loaded down with shopping bags moved from store to store. I floated along the sidewalk until I was right in front of a tall blond angel. She kept walking and past, right through my body. A rush of energy made my skin tingle—like I just drank ten Cokes. I’d just melded with a heavenly creature. How cool. What else could I do?

  Could I move something like the ghosts in films shuffled around furniture? I floated over to a display board in front of a clothing store. With all my might, I tried to push it over but my hands went straight through. Darn. There had to be another way. I concentrated on the display board. “Move!” It lifted a foot off the ground. “Hey, Cel, look at this.”

  Celery kept walking down the street. She couldn’t hear me this far away. As much as I wanted to see what other powers I had, I couldn’t let my best friend down again. I raced forward until I caught up with her.

  Charming brownstones framed by maple trees lined the boulevard. Reminded me of Gramercy Park in New York. I still couldn’t get over the fact Angel City continued to show no signs of decay. No broken windows or crumbling buildings. Everything gleamed like the city had just been built. Could the angels have some special power that protected their city?

  Celery seemed oblivious to the perfection of the buildings. We turned the corner and she stopped dead in her tracks. “O.M.G. It’s old time celebrity heaven!”

  Just a few feet ahead of us stood Paul Newman having an animated conversation with Heath Ledger. They hadn’t aged since the prime of their movie careers. I guess even in Heaven celebrities got special treatment. They were privileged adults like Schwartz said. That meant they could pick how they wanted to look. The rest of us didn’t have a choice. Around here kids always got the short stick.

  Celery pointed toward the actors. “Why don’t you go listen in?”