by A L Williams
His hands brushed the revealed skin at my waist and I moaned, trembling with need that I had never experienced before. He swallowed my groans and then kissed my cheek. When he slid down to my neck, nibbling at my flesh, I offered it to him and bit my lip to keep the sounds in. I ran my hands over his bald head, peeking through my heavy eyelids. A scorch mark was spreading across the wall. I tensed and jumped to my feet.
What are you doing?
I eyed his groin and pressed my palm against my hard cock through my jeans. The outline of his dick was visible through his slacks, pushing against his zipper. My heart pounded in my chest. I backed away when he stood, inching closer. “What— ?” he started.
“Please go,” I said.
“James— ” he started.
I turned. “I can’t. Please go.” Silence followed.
“I’m sorry,” he said, standing up. The door closed with a loud click.
Releasing a shuttered breath. I turned and fell face first onto my bed. I I rolled over and glanced at the burn on the wall, still sizzling. I covered my face with my hand.What the hell?
What the hell?
That was close.
What’s wrong with me?
You want him.
You want him.
I groaned and sat up. I peered at my end table and reached for the bundle of papers, wrapped in cowhide, that was my mother's journal. She had taken the risk and taught herself to read, even with the threat of a beating. I stroked the worn leather, my fingers tracing the rough letter B etched into the material. I had saved it from the fire, but never read a single word. My stomach turned. “It should have been me.” I tossed it back on the table.
I touched my mouth, the feeling of his lips lingering. What was happening to me? I had to stay away from him even though he set my senses on fire.
And the worst part was, I wanted to burn.
Chapter Eight
Andrew
I stood outside, the warm rain pouring down my face and drenching my clothes. I rubbed my arm, the spot stinging as my hands dragged across it.
What was that?
I pushed off the pillar, stepping through rocks onto the pavement and kicking pebbles on the cement. Grabbing my soaked umbrella, I walked to the door. Creeping in, I studied the studio bathed in shadow and found Mr. Miller curled into himself on the bed, his eyes squeezed shut and his brows furrowed. After glancing down at the burn on my arm, I walked over to the bed. I leaned down, brushing a lock from his face. My stomach fluttered. I scanned the room, then looked at Mr. Miller again as a whine of distress escaped his lips.
Whatever happened?
I furrowed my brow.
It's none of your business.
Leave him alone.
Frowning, I walked into his kitchen, grabbed a chair, and placed it at his side. Sitting down, I watched him, unsure why I wasn’t leaving. I studied him for a long time until my body grew heavy and my vision blurred.
My eyes shot open, and I sat up straight and scanned the room, lost and disoriented. When my head cleared, I peered at Mr. Miller who was still in a deep slumber; the blankets wrinkled under him. My gaze landed on the clock and I frowned. An hour had passed. Taking the chair back into the kitchen, I glanced around at the simple floor plan. There were no pictures on the walls or trinkets signifying that someone lived here. A soft snore drifted from his lips, his chest rising and falling when I returned to his side. I spotted his keyring, with only a few tarnished gold keys, aimlessly thrown. I snagged them, slipping out the door.
Jogging to my car, rain, puddles splattering as I ran through them. Once in the driver’s seat, I gripped the steering wheel and the look of fear in his eyes flashed in my mind. I stared at the windshield for a moment, streams flowing down the glass. Pulling away from the complex, the building faded into a blur in the downpour.
I found myself parked outside a grocery store, the parking lot desolate except for a few scattered vehicles. Grabbing a cart, I strolled down the lit aisles, my footsteps loud in the empty establishment. I peered down at the mark that still burned a little. Mr. Miller had powers. That was why he was so distant. Now his lack of records made sense.
I studied the shelves of food and then moved on to the next aisle, contemplating what to get or even what he would like. After a few minutes, I decided on burgers and grabbed a bag of frozen burger patties from the fridge. I searched through multiple aisles for all the other items I needed. When I had everything, I proceeded towards the front of the store to checkout. Many questions ran through me as I approached the cashier.
Where was he born?
How old was he?
What was he?
I paid and walked through the sliding doors.
Tucking the grocery bags into my trunk, I got in and leaned my head against the wheel.
What are you doing?
I sat up straight and left.
I didn’t know the answer to any of these questions, but I knew one thing: he needed me, even if he didn’t want to admit it. The day I would always remember slipped to the front of my thoughts.
She laid in a bed covered in sweat, the white sheet damp and her skin clammy. She gazed at me, squeezing my hand. My heart grew tight, the back of my eyes burning.
“Je t'aime mon beau garçon.” I love you, my beautiful boy.
“I love you too, Mama,” I said. She continued to smile at me as the light faded from her eyes and they closed. I shook, tears streaming down my face.
I love you, my beautiful boy…
My chest started to ache when the memory faded. When I got back to Mr. Miller’s, I gathered the groceries and, with the bags wrapped around my wrist. I entered the apartment and stopped. I stopped in my tracks. Mr. Miller stood in the middle of the room with a towel hung low on his hips, gaping at me.
~
I hadn’t heard from James since that night at his apartment. I had tried to figure out a way to apologize or to at least talk to him. My nerves grew worse as the days stretched on. Ben had asked what was going on and when I told him he had suggested I just give it time. When we reached Friday, I was still unsure of what to do. A knock caught my attention. “Come in,” I said. Ben stepped inside the room. I snagged my things and we went to our cars. I shook my head as he jumped in a shiny blue Porsche. I studied the car. “Another one?”
He grinned. “It looked so lonely on the car lot.”
I glared at him. “You couldn’t stick with your previous car.”
He shrugged. “Dh ’fhàs mi sgìth” I got bored.
I rolled my eyes. “Where are we going?”
He started his car. “A church on the Southside.” I closed the door and I followed him, the building shrinking into old buildings with cracked bricks and foggy windows.
People walked along the sunbaked sidewalks and sat at benches, waiting for the bus. Cars sped back and forth, the sun beaming down and sending waves of heat in the distance. We passed Mexican food trucks with canopies, white tables, and chairs parked on dirt lots and piñatas hung in front of shop entrances, swaying in the hot wind.
We pulled into a catholic church, the roof pointed to the sky, ending at the highest point with a bell ringing with each swing. When we got out of our cars, a woman dressed in modest clothing hurried over.
We entered the church and walked down an aisle between pews made of wood. We continued to a door tucked to the side with a pulpit with a choir lot behind it. At the end of the hall we stopped, stepping inside a small office with bookshelves holding bibles and religious text. “Thank you so much for coming. Would you like some water?” she said.
I shook my head. “No, thank you.”
Ben crossed his legs. “Why did you ask for us?”
She furrowed her brows. “Father Rodrìguez has gone missing.”
I tilted my head. I pulled out a notepad of paper and wrote the name down. “When did you last see him?”
She leaned against the wooden desk. “Four days ago.”
I looked at h
er. “When you saw him was there anything off that you can remember?”
She frowned. “Yes, he…” I waited, pressing the pen against the notepad.
Ben smiled and a soft blush spread across her cheeks. “He was what?”
She played with her hands against her long skirt. “He was saying strange things. He kept claiming that an angel came to him.”
I snapped my head up, glancing over at Ben, his lips thin. Turning back to the woman, I leaned forward. “Did he tell you what the angel said?”
“He told me that the angel gave him a task to end the spawn of Satan,” she said.
I scribbled that information down, my heart pounding in my chest. “Where did you last see him?”
She stared out the window, the hot sun sending beams of light along our skin. “He was downtown near a coffee shop. He had taken me there with him to watch some man and then we came back.” She glanced down at the floor. “I thought nothing of it, or I would have called you sooner.”
My insides tightened. “You did nothing wrong. It’s okay.”
She stared up at me, her gaze shimmering with tears. “Do you think he would hurt anyone?”
I grimaced. “I don’t know. Do you have a photo of him?” She nodded and grabbed a frame off the wall, I examined it, seeing her standing next to a priest, a wide grin on her face with two people on each of their side, who looked very similar to both of them. I frowned. “Thank you for your help, Mrs. Rodrìguez. We’ll be in touch.”
She nodded again with a sad smile. “Please bring him home.”
I smiled at her. “We will do everything in our power.” After saying our goodbyes, we left.
In the parking lot, Ben leaned against his car with his arms crossed in front of his chest. “Will he attack the boy?”
I put my arm on the top of my car and jerked it back, the metal hot from the sizzling sun. “I don’t know, but I should go warn him.”
He grinned. “An excuse to visit him, albeit a good one.”
I glared at him. “I’ll see you back at work.”
He chuckled. “Don’t be desperate. It's unattractive.” He hopped in his car and sped away. I slipped inside my car and sighed, leaning against my hot seat. My stomach fluttered. This was business, but I had to admit I wanted to see him again and apologize.
Chapter Nine
James
At a gym near downtown, just outside of the busy clubs and bars, I pushed my body up, sweat dripping onto my hands. My mind drifted to the previous night when Andrew and I had shared a meal. I frowned, quickening my pushups. His mouth had felt so good. Why did he feel so goddamn good?
The building was lit by fluorescent lights along the wall; the windows revealing the city streets, a wash of cars passing on the road. I continued my push-ups, working out my body until my arms wobbled.
When I pulled myself from the floor to my feet, I took a long drink from my water bottle and ran my arm across my face, wiping away the gathered sweat. I walked around an assortment of gym equipment, picking the squat rack.
I worked my legs until my body ached, the stress of recent events fading. Working out was something I rarely did, but the cutting wasn’t helping as much anymore. I completed one final squat and then grabbed my duffle bag, walking out of the gym with a nod to the remaining employee.
Buildings rose and fell as I drove to an art supply store. I walked through the establishment, spotting only a few people and staff preparing to close for the night. Lucifer and Andrew bounced around in my mind, making my head throb. Both of them had complicated my life, and I still hadn't figured out what to do. I purchased a few tubes of paint and exited, clerks waving goodbye and locking the doors. A putrid odor pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up to find the source. My eyes landed on a man dressed in robes of a priest, swaying towards me..
“Son of the fallen,” he said, slurring each word. He dragged himself closer, looking at me with foggy, unfocused eyes. My fingers began to tingle. He bared his teeth in a frightening smile, running at me.
I dropped the bag of paints as flames erupted around me, knocking him back. My heart raced as he stumbled to his feet. He charged towards me again, grabbing at me. His flesh burned, bubbling and melting away. The stench filled my nose and my eyes watered. I fought against him, trying to escape him and the memory. The flames seared his skin, but he proceeded to grab at me as if he didn’t feel a thing.
My heart slammed against my chest, and my skin grew clammy. I fought to breathe as I struggled harder against him. He got a hold of my neck and, as he squeezed, the flames spread. A tornado of fire enveloped us, swirling and crackling. The world spun around me, everything fading into heat and chaos. I felt my body hit the ground as a loud scream echoed in my ears. I backed up, the world spinning.
A black BMW sped up, skidding to a stop near me, red and blue lights flash in the dashboard. Andrew climbed out as another vehicle pulled up next to his. Detective Skyler got out. They looked around frowning at the burned building. “I— I didn’t—” I stuttered, moving back. “What happened?” Detective Skyler asked. My stomach twisted.
Andrew turned at me, his eyes soft. “It will be okay.” He stepped closer. I turned and ran, moving as fast as I could, and jumped in my car after grabbing my keys from the ground. I needed to get away. It was time to leave.
~
The sky grew dark, and the wind whistled through the air. I sped down the road, my heart slamming against my chest, desperate to put space between myself and the scene. My shoulders shook as I pulled to the side of the road, buckets of water bombarding of the car as I laid my head down on the steering wheel.
The odor of burning rubber pulled me from the chaos of my mind. My hands slide and I stared at the warped wheel. I looked out of the windshield, at the streams of rain sliding down the glass, and took a deep breath.
The engine roared with the sky when I started it and I took off again. When I hit the highway, my thoughts drifted to the sympathy in Andrew's gaze.
Why do I keep hurting people?
Transparent streaks slid down the window, blurring the traffic that rushed by. I continued down I-10, growing closer to Phoenix. Dusty mountains rose and fell dotted with scattered cacti stretching on forever, the landscape wet from the falling rain. My stomach growled and I looked at the nearing exit. I spotted a fast-food restaurant and pulled into the drive-thru and ordered, parking in the empty lot. Gazing down at the warm bag in my lap, heat spread through my thighs. After I ate, I looked out at the highway, the cracked asphalt illuminated by streaks of white and red flashing light.
Where was I going now?
I would have to find a job and an apartment. Again. Wariness settled over me as a small ache rolled through my skull. I thought of Hayley, Corbin, Andrew, and even Detective Skyler—what if Gabriel comes after them, looking for me?
This is how you stay safe.
My heart pounded, a storm raging inside of me.
This is what you wanted.
My shoulders trembled as the sky flashed, the shadows flickering.
Is it?
Hayley’s voice drifted over me as I squeezed my eyes closed. A memory from two years ago flowed through my mind.
“Jamie!” She ran up from behind me. I jumped, and my fingers began to tingle. She jerked back, her eyes wide. “Ow!” she said, as she held her burned wrist to her chest. I peered at her, seeing a small burn darkened her ivory skin. Panic rose in my gut. She rubbed her burned skin. “What was that?”
“I— ” I started, searching my brain for something to tell her.
“Hmmm. How strange.” She shrugged. “Sorry I scared you.” She moved closer, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug. My body stiffened.
The memory faded away and Hayley's laughter trailed through my mind. A single tear slid down my cheek as I stared at nothing.
It's for the best.
I love you, Jamie.
My stomach churned as the world closed in. I jumped out of the car, rain hitting m
e as I sprinted to the building. My clothes grew heavy. My back hit the glass under the restaurant roof. I looked up, leaning against the cold damp brick.
You can't run from this.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and started at Hayley's number. I gripped it and then shoved it in my pocket.
Walking across the deserted parking lot and a chill ran down my spine. I shook it off. When I reached my car, I heard something move, and I followed the sound. A woman moved out of the shadows into the light of the tall lamp poles scattered through the lot. Her eyes were clouded and her mouth slack. “Spawn!” she yelled rushing towards me.
I backed into my car, my skin tingling. She pressed into me, her strength surprising. I struggled, shoving her and trying not to hurt her. She grabbed me by my neck and catapulted me across the lot. I slid, landing on my face with a grunt, and stumbled back to my feet, wiping the blood off my lip. “I don’t want to fight you.” The tingle intensified as flames danced under my skin, my body shaking as I tried to hold it at bay.
She ran at me once again with unnatural speed, grabbing me by my arm. She pulled and threw me again. I hit a pole and bent it in half, glass shards falling around me. I groaned struggling to stand this time, chest aching and my breathing fast. Once I was on my feet, she appeared at my side, knocking me back. She puckered her lips, jets of fire spurting towards me. I darted to the side, ducking away from the heat. The pole melted, bending further to the ground.
My blood boiled as flames surrounded me, swirling in a torrent of fury. A yellow and red glow spread across the parking lot, the asphalt bubbling. “There it is,” she said. I frowned, the fire pulsing as it spun. She dashed at me and the fire grew, whipping around and knocking her down.
She stood, her skin red and blistered, melting away from her body. My head reeled as the inferno raged. The restaurant burst into flames, running along the structure. The woman began to laugh, the sound painful. “Living up to your father’s legacy.”
