Days, it had been fourteen days since that battle with the demons. Thanksgiving had come three days ago and Josh still lay here unconscious. Unsure of what to do, they had called Teresa to come in and help.
Teresa flew out on the next flight. One look at Josh and she shook her head. “There’s no way. His spirit is gone, he’s not coming back.”
“Then why would Michael tell her to restore him?” Raum threw his hands up in the air out of frustration.
“I don’t know,” Teresa said. “But then again if I hadn’t seen her teleport I would have told you that was impossible too.”
Hannah closed her eyes and called out to the magic within her. Warmth in her veins soon felt like lava. When she wanted to teleport or become invisible she simply thought it. Well, she had tried countless other things. Things that seemed to be so basic, so easy, and she had came up with a big fat heaping of nothing.
Sitting next to him in bed, she placed her right palm in the center of Josh’s forehead. Purple light leaked from her hand and surrounded his head. Soon her left palm glowed with the magnificent light.
Instinctively she placed her left hand over Josh’s heart. The bodily jerks that happened at the touch of her hand reminded her of those medical shows that she enjoyed watching. The bodily jerks the patient goes through during defibrillation were mirror images of Josh’s bodily movements.
As scared as she was and as much as she wanted to remove her hands, she remained rooted. Minutes passed, or maybe hours had passed, and Josh finally relaxed. Hannah didn’t know whether to remove her hands or leave them in place.
One eye cracked open. His brown eye locked with hers. “You did it.” His voice was hoarse from days with no use.
Happy to see him alive and well she slid her arms under his neck, resting her head on his shoulder. “I didn’t think I’d be able too.”
Catching Raum’s gaze she removed herself from Josh’s bed, backing up so he could hug his brother. Raum settled the chain necklace in the palm of Josh’s hand. “Glad to have you back, brother.”
Seeing the chain reminded Hannah. “Josh, why does your chain say Koravin?”
Josh looked from her to his chain. “Well…that’s my name. Not my birth name, Raum and I are brothers but we were the first Daimon that God created. Koravin means the first protector.”
“Oh. Okay.” Hannah was silent a moment, thinking. Suddenly she sucked in a sharp, surprised breath. Looking at Raum she asked, “At the dance…when I asked about your jacket.” She swallowed. “Were you serious about Aunlyn meaning powerful killer?”
Raum nodded.
“So Aunlyn is your heavenly name then?”
“Yes it is.”
She let out a low whistle. These two were the first Daimon created? How old were they? That would definitely explain their skills. There’s no telling how many years or decades they’ve had to master their fighting techniques.
Teresa approached Josh’s bed and handed him a bottle of water. When had she left to fetch that? “Good to have you back.”
Josh sat up in bed talking about his out of body experience. It was nothing like they show in the movies. He didn’t walk around like a ghost watching everything and everyone around him.
When the demon rammed the blade in Josh’s chest it injured him to the point that he couldn’t use his magic. The demon then ripped his spirit out of his body and locked it away in a spirit box. The box was given to a devil with instructions to hide it in hell.
With his spirit locked away in hell no heavenly creature, other than God himself, should have been able to get to it.
“It was so dark,” Josh said. “I couldn’t see at all but I could hear the screams. Men and women were screaming and begging to be let out, to be shown just an ounce of mercy. Then out of nowhere I heard you, Hannah. I heard you shout release him and my confinement unlocked, releasing my spirit. Your voice guided me out of hell and back into my body.”
Hannah was stunned speechless. Bringing someone’s spirit back from hell after it had been locked away inside of a spirit box, hidden from any holy being, was beyond amazing. “I don’t know what to say. I really have no idea how I did it.”
“Well I’m really proud of you, Hannah. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.” Josh smiled at her, his eyes warm and inviting.
“Thank you,” she said.
“What about Yeqon?” Josh crawled out of bed, walking toward his dresser.
“The king? He left with the promise that he’d be back.” Raum moved away from the dresser so Josh could collect his clothes.
“We need to contact the others,” Josh said grabbing a towel from his closet.
“Agreed, we need to prepare for what’s coming.” Raum made phone call after phone call, notifying the other Daimon and Devada about the threat.
Yeqon would be back. One thing was for sure, this was going to turn into a blood bath.
The start of Armageddon was swiftly approaching.
Hannah sat on the living room floor watching The Notebook play on the television. She was completely drained from the last couple of weeks. She needed some wind down time and there was no better way to relax and enjoy oneself than watching The Notebook.
Teresa dropped her overnight bags by the front door and sat beside her. “Raum cares for you, a lot.”
Hannah could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. “Don’t worry I’d never betray our friendship.”
Teresa opened her mouth, and then closed it. Suddenly her eyes lit up and she laughed so hard that tears ran down her cheeks. Calling out an apology she composed herself. “You think Raum and I are an item?”
Hannah didn’t know what to say. She was pretty sure that her cheeks were crimson by now. “I just assumed.”
“Raum is a great guy,” Teresa said. “I trust him with my life but to date him? Uh, thanks but no thanks.”
“So you and Hannah…?” Raum just let the question hang in the air. He dreaded having this conversation, afraid of what it might do to his heart, but he needed the confirmation.
“What about Hannah and me?” Josh eyed his brother for a moment before understanding hit. “Oh.” He leaned his hip against the dresser. “I won’t lie to you, Raum, I like her. I really like her.”
Raum’s face fell. He didn’t want to blow his relationship with his brother but he wasn’t sure he’d be able to stick around and watch their love blossom either. “I see.”
“No you don’t. I like her but she’s in love with you and that is something that I will not stand in the way of. I can see the connection you two have, it’s special.” Josh smiled. “While I’m gone you should tell her how you feel.”
Hannah hugged Teresa. “Thanks for the talk.”
“Any time.” Teresa picked up her luggage and headed out to the Mustang. “See ya soon.”
Hannah was sad to see her go. With her life tied up in this spiritual warfare she needed another girl around that she could talk to. Giving Josh a quick hug she told him to stay out of danger and to hurry back. He promised to hurry back but she noticed he didn’t say anything about staying out of danger.
Turning her movie back on, Hannah planted herself back on the floor with her bowl of popcorn. She never heard Raum enter the room.
Legs appeared on either side of her. He was sitting behind her, very intimately. She inhaled and his sweet jelly bean scented breath filled her lungs.
Neither one of them moved. They sat in that position during the remainder of the film. As the credits rolled she dared a look behind her. Raum was leaned back, supporting his weight on his hands, staring at her.
That look he gave her took her breath away. “Hi,” she whispered.
“Hi.” He leaned forward and ran the tip of his finger along the top of her hand. Her skin was velvety soft. “So,” he licked his lips, “how do you feel about being my girlfriend?”
Seconds passed and she still hadn’t answered him. She wanted to make him sweat a little. He squeezed his eyes shut and sh
e couldn’t take it anymore. Slowly she leaned in and pressed her lips to his.
His lips were warm and soft under hers. There was no roughness to this kiss, just a slow sweet kiss. One that showed just how much they each cared for one another. Pulling away she cupped his face with her palm. “That was a yes. I want to be your girlfriend.”
“I’m glad.” He wrapped his arms around her, letting her lean into him. This was probably the happiest he had ever felt in his life. For once he was perfectly content.
A buzz drew both of their attentions to the device hidden in her pocket. Hannah fished her cell phone out and looked at the screen. It was a number she didn’t recognize. “Hello?”
“Hannah. Help me,” the voice whispered before the line went dead.
“Daddy?”
Other books by Tich Brewster…
Young Adult:
Angels & Demons series…
Devada
Divulgence
New Adult:
Royal Blood series…
Princesses of the Night
Hold Fast
Betrayal
Contemporary Romance:
Love Redeemed
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tich is an Oklahoma resident and the mother of five. Her passion for reading started at an early age when her Aunt Vicky gave her the novel Heidi for Christmas. She didn’t start writing until middle school, after being inspired by her best friend’s short stories. “Genny’s stories weren’t just great but they inspired me to put my pen and paper to good use.” Tich never thought of publishing her works until working with Teresa on the Royal Blood series.
Find her on the web at www.tichbrewster.com
Devada (Angels & Demons Book 1) Page 11
