She Speaks to Angels (28 page)

“
So, they weren’t as powerful as most demons?”

“
There are many kinds of demons, Ali. Some are fanged demons. Some are pure Dark Angels. Some are Were Creatures.”

“
Were Creatures?”

“
What did Kian tell you anyway? Apparently not enough!”

“
He told me the rules.”

“
But he didn’t explain them very well, I see.” I didn’t say anything. To me Kian was perfect. She shifted her weight and continued. “Were Creatures come out of Dark Angels who have been intimate with many humans. When the Dark Angel loses his wings, they’re replaced with fur.”

“
So, when Angelfire is intimate or kills a human, they lose...but when a Dark Angel does the same thing they gain a power?” I fumed, and kicked the wall with my heel.

“
Not exactly. See, Fanged Demons and Were Creatures are not as powerful as Angelfire or Dark Angels.”

“
Then what do they gain by breaking the rules?” Wrinkles marked my forehead as I pressed my back against the brick wall, trying to understand. A chilly breeze brushed past us.

“
They don’t necessarily gain anything. That is not what motivates them. The darkness is an immersing force, and once they become a part of it, it is almost impossible for them to be redeemed. The darkness sucks you in further and further. Many Dark Angels simply cannot help themselves; they have to break the rules. The penalty is that they lose power. They become a different animal, a weaker animal.”

A light bulb went off in my head. “That is why I could hurt that demon in the alley?”

“
Exactly. And that is why Dameon is a much stronger foe. He is pure Dark Angel, and…”

“
And what?”

“
And Sammael thinks he has figured out why Dameon is stronger than any other Dark Angel, why Azrael wanted to take him in particular from the orphanage.”

“
Why?”

“
I’m not sure if I’m supposed to tell you...if Kian wanted to keep it a secret.”

“
Come on Lucianda.” I nudged her in the shoulder with my forefinger. “I would tell you.” I felt a kinship with Lucianda that I didn’t have with my other girlfriends. Not that the friendship I had with Molly or Jennifer could be measured against Lucianda; our relationship was simply different, on a different level because of what we had been through together and the knowledge of this angel-world that we shared.

The pleading in my eyes finally convinced her, and Lucianda drew closer to me and spoke almost in a whisper. “Sammael believes that Dameon is Azrael’s son.”

“
His son?”

“
Shh!” Lucianda clasped her hand over my mouth. “Sammael believes that some time ago, Azrael picked a human to mate with, and she gave birth to Dameon.”

“
Wouldn’t that make him...”

“
Half-blooded, king-demon? Yep. See, most demons are born out of the rebellion of becoming Angelfire, following Earthly temptations. Sammael actually worried about Kian for a bit. Afraid Kian might turn.”

“
OMG!”

“
But Kian didn’t. His feelings of not belonging simply led him to you...not to Azrael.”

I sighed and felt a weight of both honor and responsibility. What if I ever left Kian? Would that break him? I couldn’t even fathom ever leaving Kian. Heck, he’d better not ever leave me! But the thought nagged the corners of my mind.

“
But Dameon?”

“
Dameon was born directly from a demon. That ensured his demonship. Since his father is the king of the demons, he is essentially the prince, or king-to-be.”

“
And Azrael? Does he still have wings? I mean since he mated with a human and all?”

“
We don’t know for sure. No one has seen him in seventeen years, not since he took Dameon captive. But we suspect he has a partial wing and a body partially covered with fur. He has only mated with one human as far as we know. That would not completely take away his wings, but he would be deplumed to some degree.”

“
Wow! This world gets more complicated the more I learn.”

“
I’m actually surprised by how little you do know. I thought Kian shared more with you.”

“
I think Kian wants to protect me, and that means sometimes keeping me in the dark. I mean...the demon that wants to kill me is not only a Dark Angel, but the king-demon’s son! A powerful demon! A demon who will be king!” Saying the words aloud made them echo in my head and made me feel dizzy for a moment. I grabbed the wall and closed my eyes.

“
You alright?” Lucianda offered strength by putting her hand on my shoulder.

“
I think I just felt the weight of the world I now live in.”

“
We’d better get home. I don’t want to worry Jacob or Kian.”

“
And where are they, anyway? We almost get our asses kicked, and they are congregating in the mansion somewhere? What if Dameon had attacked?” I felt my face get hot red.

“
I’m sure one or both of them are up in the skies watching out for us.” Lucianda looked skyward, and I saw a twinkle of a white wing before it disappeared behind a cloud. “They don’t come down unless absolutely necessary. And since you are with me, well, I’ve got things handled.”

We strolled down the sidewalk. “You’ve been doing this a long time?”

“
Yes.”

“
So, you could show me a few tricks?”

“
Sure. Why not? You’re going to have to learn to fight better if you’re going to stay alive.” Lucianda flung her pony tailed hair as she fast-walked. I had to struggle to keep up with her long legs.

“
How about here? On the streets?” Pointing to the next alley, I waited for Lucianda, and then she nodded.

When we went around the corner, I rushed down the street, but Lucianda stood at the entryway. “Why don’t we pretend I am a demon, and I have you trapped. You need to get out of the alley alive. You have to get past me and onto the main road.”

“
Alright,” I agreed hesitantly.

A sliver of moonlight provided the only light on the street. The two lampposts appeared broken. The air grew colder and quieter.

Glaring at Lucianda, I found it hard to look at her as an enemy. So far she had shared secrets with me, helped me ride a bike, kept me company, almost split a pizza with me, and saved my butt in a demon fight. She had quickly become a best friend. But when I noticed the change in her demeanor from the playful girl I knew on the streets back to the stoic woman who sat across from me at the mansion banquet, I sensed this fight would be for real.

I had to give my all or lose.

Taking a deep breath, I surveyed the alleyway for the boundary walls, windows, loose objects on the street, and the distance from where I stood to the exit. I listened to every movement Lucianda made. Her combat-booted foot took a step forward. A puff of wind blew her hair back. Even her flowery perfume seemed heightened by my sense of smell.

But this is what I wanted, what I asked for.

Stealthily, I tiptoed forward, hoping she didn’t see or hear me. I barely saw her. I kept near the edge of the wall, because I knew that the wall would guide me out of this dark alley. When I thought I had crawled close enough to pounce on her, she jumped on top of me.

I stumbled as we rolled down the street in some kind of mock cat fight. Tossing and turning, Lucianda didn’t give an inch. When she agreed to this fight, she meant it. I guess she had to; after all, demons didn’t show mercy, either.

Slapping my cheek, she woke me up to the reality I had agreed to. “Damn, Lucianda!” But she kept quiet and held my arms tightly with her strong hands. For a woman who appeared elegant, French, and soft like velvet, she sure could throw a punch and hold her own. Her ninja-like persona emerged, and she went into full combat mode.

Keeping my hands close to my chest, I protected myself as I waited for my opportunity to hit her. Then came my chance. A space broke between us momentarily, and I swung hard. My fist hit her shoulder and pushed her back an inch. With that gap, I kicked my legs and knocked her back, freeing myself. Flinging myself upward, I stood a bit wobbly, but balanced myself quickly.

I felt the air rush around me as Lucianda swung past me.

Gripping her passing arm, I swung her around and slung her to the ground. Lunging on top of her, or what I thought to be her, I landed on a lumpy box. The crunch of the cardboard let me know I had missed, and Lucianda instantly landed on my back. She had me pinned face down this time. I had grown to know this position well. Dameon had had me in this posture more than once.

Ugh! I sighed. Then out of nowhere, two lights beamed, descending from the sky. The lights came into focus as they landed beside Lucianda and me. Kian and Jacob. Of course Jacob couldn’t fly with shredded wings and so Kian held him up as he had once with me until they landed. they both glowed of bronze angel skin. Kian’s amber eyes settled angrily on Lucianda.

“
What the heck are you doing to Ali?” He sounded on the offense; if she didn’t have a good explanation he might have taken her down then and there.

Jacob slid in behind Lucianda as a protective boyfriend would, pulling her off me and keeping his hands on her shoulders as his aqua-green pupils narrowed on Kian. “Don’t even try it.”

Shaking my head, I almost laughed, but only mustered a half-smile. “No, no, no! Lucianda and I were play-fighting. I asked her to help me become a better fighter.”

“
You what? No, no, Ali! You are not fighting anyone. That’s what I am for.” Kian entwined his fingers in mine.

“
You mean that is what you were for when Dameon attacked me at The Edge Dance Club? You mean that is what you were for tonight when two demons attacked us in the alley?” I pushed him back.

“
Jacob watched you at The Edge, and you snuck off tonight without me....and still I watched you all night! Did you really think you could wander away without me knowing.” He asked without really wanting me to answer. More rhetorical. “If Lucianda hadn’t had it all under control, I would have stepped in.”

“
And what if one day you can’t? I want to know how to fight for myself.
Need
to know how!”

“
She’s right, man.” Jacob agreed as he brushed some dirt off Lucianda’s clothing. She had managed to dirty herself in all the brawls tonight.

Kian stood still and quiet; he looked as if he were twisted in agony. After pondering the three intense stares on him, he finally agreed hesitantly. “Fine, but I will train her.”

Consequences

Kian
dropped me off at my front door with a kiss on the cheek. A single feather fell from his full plume. Mom waited for me in her rocking chair in the living room as I snuck inside late. Glancing at the clock I saw the little hand at eleven.

“
I thought I told you ten o‘clock. Was I not clear enough, Ali?” Mom stood and scurried over to me as if I might vanish at any moment. “I don’t like having to worry about you, and you didn’t even call to let me know you’d be late.”

“
I’m sorry.” I said slowly, as if the words would somehow mean more. I really felt bad, but what could I have done?

“
You’re sorry? Where were you? Why didn’t you call?”

Samuel turned on the light in the kitchen, and his glare swept over my scraped body.

“
And what is this!” Mom gently placed her forefinger over the rip in my shirt and pointed to my scraped cheek and scratched hand. “What happened?”

Samuel raced into the room like a god cop. He’d already changed and wore his pajamas. He didn’t look nearly as intimidating.

“
What’s going on?” Samuel inquired as the cell phone on his pajama belt buzzed.

“
That is what I’m trying to figure out,” Mom added.

“
It’s nothing.” I cradled myself with crossed arms. “Lucianda and I went bike riding at the Riverside Trail. I fell a couple times. That’s all!” I said defensively as I marched toward the stairs.

“
Lucianda? Who is Lucianda? I thought you were going out with Kian?”

Samuel answered his cell in the background as I answered Mom harshly. “Lucianda is Kian’s friend. I met her today. What’s the big deal?” My foot hit the first stair.

“
What is the big deal!? You are covered with bruises and scrapes and are an hour late with no phone call!” Mom put the guilt on heavily. “I’ve been worried sick.”

Samuel looked me up and down, and his quizzical expression told me he’d have questions for me later, but for now I had been saved by the buzzer. “I’m sorry, but I have to get going. There was a double murder in Manhattan that I have to investigate.”

“
A double murder in Manhattan? Isn’t that where the Riverside Trail is located!?” Mom panicked.

“
I guess so.” I shrugged. “I’m sure we weren’t anywhere near it.” I put my foot on the second stair step as Samuel ran past me upstairs to his room to change back into his uniform. “So, why didn’t you call me?”

“
I just lost track of time, Mom. I’m really, really sorry. How many times do I have to say it? It happens.”

“
Not to you. You’ve never missed a call if you were going to be late.”

She was right. I couldn’t argue with her anymore. I needed my space. I was growing up, becoming a part of a world she didn’t understand. But I couldn’t just treat her like some stranger, either.