The Human Side (The Demon Side Series) (8 page)

Though the people mocked her, she never gave up her campaign against Lucifer, making home life taxing on me. The moment I would walk through the door after work, she would begin grilling me about her brother. Had I seen him? Who did I see him with? Did he say anything to me?

I’d try to talk to her about life outside of our four walls, but she would always find a way to turn the topic back to him. At night, she would pace the living room until the early hours of morning. Whenever I tried to lie with her, my attempts were met with a rebuff. With my patience tried, sexually frustrated, unsure how to fix my marriage, mixed with my wife’s lack of sleep, and paranoia taking its toll, small squabbles between us turned into fiery, violent arguments. I’d punch a wall; she’d throw a vase. I’d restrain her from hitting me; she’d bite me. I’d slam a door; she’d scream at the top of her lungs.

To avoid any more clashes with her, I began working long days, only going home to shower every other day. When that failed to stop the clashes, I took to sleeping at Michael’s and stopping by to check on her once a week, until I simply stopped going home.

It had been weeks since I’d seen her, when Abihail barged into the War Room during our morning meeting. Embarrassed by her sickly, frumpy, and filthy appearance, I snatched her by the arm and dragged her out of the room. Digging in her heels and pulling from me, she begged for me to prepare the troops for Lucifer’s attack.

Though I didn’t believe Lucifer would lead an attack against Father, I wanted nothing more than to get her out of the War Room and stop her from further embarrassing either of us. With the agreement she would go home, eat and shower, I would call the troops to the ready. No sooner had the last of my men gathered in formation, an explosion sounded off in the distance near the gates.

During the battle of the Great Divide, Abihail stood with the Arches, taking Lucifer and his army on. As if she had been a seasoned warrior, Abihail slew traitor after traitor until she stood face to face with her brother. Ready to kill him for his transgressions at the price of her humiliation, she raised her sword at him. Deflecting her blows, he tried coaxing his sister into joining him in ruling the Heavens and Earth.

Infuriated with the denial of his offers, Lucifer struck back at her. Fearing for my wife’s safety, I stepped in, blocking a blow aimed at her head with my shield. As I did so, Abihail came under my arm, slicing Lucifer. As the blade grazed across his skin, a wound not only opened on his chest, but hers as well. Assuming he struck her, I went berserk. I flailed my sword in a blind rage, but my strikes barely grazed him as he danced around each swing.

Tired of playing games, Michael had snuck up behind him and pierced his back when Abihail’s blood-curdling scream echoed over the clash of metal on metal. Spinning on my heels, I turned expecting to find her in the clutches of a traitor. Instead I found her alone on the ground, wounded and crying out in pain. I flashed to her side, pulling her into my lap to inspect her injuries, when again she cried out in agony. Terrified, I looked to Michael when it dawned on me. Every strike Lucifer received manifested on his twin sister, Abihail. To kill him would mean killing her.

As much as I wanted him dead for what he had done, I wouldn’t risk Abihail’s life for the notch on my belt. Flashing to Michael, I stopped his blade from further penetrating Lucifer’s back as I called out for a stand down. My order to retreat may have saved my wife, but it allowed Lucifer, and a third of our ranks, to flee.

We had lost many in the fight, but if it had not been for Abihail seeing Lucifer’s fall long before the rest of us, we might have lost more. For her perseverance despite meeting diversity, she had been given the job of her choosing. Her reputation restored, she took charge of a choir of Seraphim, whose sole purpose was to ensure fertility among humans.

For listening to her and calling the troops, I’d been made a hero and the first leader of the Arches, which came with not only an impressive wing span, but the benefits beyond those of any Earthly king or queen.

Chapter Eleven

At a loss for an idea on how to undo the damage already caused, I did the one thing I knew how to do properly. Clutching my hands together, I prayed.

“Father, have I not done enough yet?”

“No, my son,” Father’s voice whispered in my head.

“What am I to do now? John has forbidden me from seeing her. He is trying to doom me to a life on earth.”

“Is he?”

“Yes. He said it himself.”

“If memory serves me right, John did not disobey me at every turn. John did not receive a choice to give up all of his principals for a chance at love. You made that choice without a thought about the consequences.”

“I know he didn’t but…”

“But what, my son? You push yourself into their lives with no regard for their feelings or safety. You play with the balance of our worlds as if it were nothing more than a game to you, and for what? Your own selfish pride? Can you blame John for being upset with you?”

“No. That’s not what I meant. All that matters to me is finding out if I should wait for her. I must know if any part of her can feel anything for me. If we are not meant to be, then I will accept it and continue on my path, never bothering her again. Please tell me, Father.”

“I cannot give you the answers you are seeking, Rahovart. Only you can. Be well, my son.”

“Father, wait! Father? Father?”

With communication shut down, I had been abandoned with my thoughts and no answers.

The days leading to my return, I fantasized about all the good that would come of it. I would prove myself to Etta, which in turn would cause her to fall madly in love with me. She would forever be mine, and I hers. I would go home to resume my duties and visit her without fear of retribution. Every free moment I had would be spent with Etta. I truly believed we would live happily ever after.

Between John and Tristan, those fantasies had gone up in smoke. With Tristan’s connection to the Divads, his smooth skin, perfect body, great looks, and money, how could I blame Etta for wanting him over my tall, lanky, moneyless, and cruel persona? Hell, I didn’t even want to be near me right now.

The disaster I had created seemed far from a fairytale ending. Like a fool, I jumped the gun with no thought as to what it would mean to the ones involved. Yes, Gabriel insisted he accompany me but I didn’t give him much of a fight.

Heaven’s defenses were now short two Arches during the busiest time of year. Attacks on Etta were not only increasing in number, but had become more brazen. With the guardians pulled from her detail, John had been left to stand alone against any threats, which I’d been sure put a huge target on his back.

I understood John’s anger, but for him to accuse me of only caring about my rank, wings, or an arm charm of a woman—those were the furthest thing from the truth. Etta wasn’t a prize for me to win for the sake of winning. She’d always been much more than that.

When all seemed lost, she had seen a spark of light inside of me. With her determination, faith, and love, she had saved me from a wretched existence. Putting her life on the line, she pulled me from the depths of my inner hell, and she returned me to the path I had long strayed from. Giving her my undying affection for her sacrifices was a small price to pay in return. But that wouldn’t be enough. I needed to give her more. Then it hit me as if I had waited on the tracks for an oncoming train. Suddenly, everything Father and John said made sense. I knew where I had gone wrong, but most importantly, I realized how to clean up after my destructive storm. I would have to leave Etta…for good.

With everything I had, I ran back to the Divads’. Bursting through the door, I found Etta, John, Rene, Tristan, and Gabriel at the dining room table.

“What is it, Brother?” A concerned Gabriel raced from his chair to me at the foyer.

“I know what I have done wrong. You must forgive me, Brother, for what I am doing, but it is the only way to fix what I have done.”

“What are you talking about?”

I slid past Gabriel to the table. Tristan pushed back in his chair as I approached. The black ring around his left eye contrasted against the white strip of bandage across his nose. I had hurt someone who looked out for Etta, as I had failed to do.

“Tristan, I am sorry for attacking you in your home last night. I can make no excuse for my poor behavior. And though I do not expect your forgiveness, I hope you can accept my apology.”

“Apology accepted,” Tristan stammered.

I sensed his hesitation. I should have put him at ease a little more, but he hadn’t made it high enough on my priority list at the moment. With that being said, I turned to John.

“May I speak to you privately?”

John got up from his chair and walked upstairs. On his heels, I followed him into his bedroom. “What do you want, Ra?”

“Look, I get it. I understand why you are upset, and you have every right to be. Take my deal with Father out of the equation. I’ve never cared about my wings, my title as an Arch, or if others envied me because of the woman by my side. I have only ever cared about Etta and her safety. But I realize now, my blind passion has done nothing more than put her in harm’s way. Like you said, every visit cracks the veil, which is why I am leaving. Never again will I try to make contact with her. I am out of her life for good.”

“I realize we got into it pretty heavy earlier, but do you even know what you’re saying, what you’re giving up?”

“I do.”

“You’re going to leave, give up all you worked so hard to gain back in Heaven, live out the rest of your days on Earth and for what? I don’t understand the logic behind your decision.”

“For your family’s safety…for her peace. You all deserve a normal, happy life. I know that now. But if you would like me to stay and help, I will, even if it’s from a distance.”

“I don’t need your help protecting my daughter. That I can handle. So, if you feel you must go, I can’t and won’t try to stop you, but you’ll need help getting set up.” John pulled a shoe box from under his bed. Inside were stacks of money, papers, and identification cards.

“I wasn’t planning on giving these to you guys until Monday. I wanted to sweat you out a bit before deciding to help or not. Here’s an I.D., Social Security card, and about five thousand in cash.”

“I’m not worried about that. I’ll figure it out.”

“Take it. You’ll need it.”

“Daniel Andru Ramen?” I asked as I inspected the cards in my hand.

“I’ve always liked the name Daniel. Etta’s mother wanted to name her Andru if she were born a boy, and Ramen suited you.”

“Thank you for all you have done. I am deeply sorry for all I have put you and your family through.”

“Are you sure about this?”

“I’ve never been more certain in my life. Oh, one more thing before I go. Vetis is your Demon.”

“I know. Gabriel told me.”

“Then this is our farewell.” I put my hand out, half expecting John not to take it.

“Take care of yourself,” he said as he grabbed my hand and pulled me into a brotherly hug goodbye. As I stepped out of the front door, Gabriel followed.

“I am leaving, Brother. You may come with me or stay behind.”

“I had the feeling that is what you decided. Wait for a few minutes. Amy will give you a ride wherever you need to go.”

“So you are staying?”

“I don’t think it’s wise for both us to leave.”

“I will notify you when I settle. Take care of the girls, Brother.”

With a snug embrace that seemed to last a lifetime, we said our goodbyes. I hadn’t a clue where I would go or what I would do as I took off on foot down the road. A new life lay ahead of me, and for the first time I in my existence, I felt truly frightened.

***

Traveling as far as my feet would carry me, I settled into the town of Fredericksburg, Virginia. The passing weeks blurred into one another as they became routine. I moved into a shabby motel, bought a rusty old 1985 Yugo and found a job as a cashier at a local burger stand. I made friends with some of my co-workers, but never pursued any connections outside of my job. When I didn’t have to work, I sat in my room watching television or reading true-crime novels borrowed from the library. My existence had become bland and meek.

One exciting thing in my new life was my weekly Thursday lunch with Gabriel. Watching the clock as I took orders for super-mega-sized burgers and fries, I eagerly waited for my lunch break at two-thirty. Silly as it was, I couldn’t wait to tell him about my small promotion from cashier to cook and the ten-cent hourly raise.

As I punched out for lunch, Gabriel showed up with Amy in tow. Passing an apologetic glance, he ordered his usual barbecue bacon cheeseburger and seasoned fries as I took a table for us outside. Not that I minded Amy being with him, but Thursdays were our days as brothers. If we weren’t sharing stories of past glories or our lives now on Earth, we’d eat in silence to avoid the topic of Etta. I hated to imagine how hard it must be for him living with John, dating Amy, and attending college with the girls. Before his butt touched the grid metal bench of the table, he had un-wrapped his burger and began eating as if he’d been starving for months.

“Since Benjamin here is going to chicken out, I guess I’ll have to do it. Etta wants to see you,” Amy said while Gabriel kept his eyes down on his food. Without a word, I stood up to walk away when she stopped me.

“She’s not doing too good and believes you’re the only one that can help her,” Amy called out.

“I can’t help her.”

Gabriel followed my heels. “She’s out in the van. She just wants to talk to you, Brother.”

“You brought her here?”

“I had no choice. She insisted.”

“Leave now,” I demanded as I walked back into the kitchen. Forget the fact I promised John I would never see her again; I couldn’t look her in the eyes after what I said to her before I left. Making her out to be crazy and calling her a bitch went against every instinct to protect and love her. It also sealed my fate.