Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Jasmine woke in her bed unsure of how she got there but fairly thankful. Her head was killing her, pounding away at her temple as she struggled to get up out the bed. A knock on the door caused her to moan as she placed the pillows over her. Jasmine didn’t even know what time it was, but the person persisted. She just read the mind of who it was, Xavier, and she groaned again not in the mood for him today.

“Come on Peters we have another case.” Xavier shouted. “One you may want to look into.”

She hopped up remembering she had an entire conversation with a Dark Angel. She touched her hands and her face unsure as to what to do now that she clearly went against an Angel's wishes. Somehow, unconsciously she had disobeyed a direct order from an Angel. She was truly going to be screwed for life.

“It is almost too bad you can’t heal yourself.”

Jasmine jumped at the words, the trumpets sounded again and the wings filled the room as she jumped out of the bed with a scream.

“Jasmine?” Xavier began to get worried then. “Open up, you alright?”

Her heart beat loudly and pure fear shook her core. “Am I dying?” The Angel smirked as he held his hands in front of his body in an elegant manner, wings tucked in so they wouldn’t be as intimidating to her. “I mean I know I disobeyed you yesterday, but that wasn’t...I wasn’t…”

“Stop talking.” The Angel rose his hand up to halt her. She frowned at the gesture.

“Excuse me?”

“There is no need to fear. I haven’t come to collect your soul at all. I’m here to do the opposite in fact. The Almighty wants you watched over and carefully guarded.”

Jasmine shook her head. “No, no, no! I don’t need a stuck up Angel like you watching my every move. That’s even worse than dying.”

The Angel laughed. “Stuck up is something I have never been called before. You are quite interesting.”

The door then burst open to reveal Xavier guns out and ready to shoot someone. Jasmine looked over at the Angel who just leaned casually against the wall, watching him with his gun pointed, almost laughing.

“I heard you scream you okay?” Xavier asked, putting his gun away.

“Yeah bad dream. Just let me get dressed and we can go. You need me to watch you interview the witness right? One of the mobsters?” She began gathering clothes as the Angel towered over Xavier, sniffing him.

“Stop!” She screamed causing Xavier to look confused.

“I’m not doing anything.” He protested.

“Just get out so I can get dressed.”

Xavier held his hands up while walking out of the room. She sighed looking deadly at the Angel. “Who are you?” She asked in a much lower tone.

“I’m Gabriel, God’s warrior, one of the many carriers of souls.”

“Well Gabriel, whatever,” His eyebrows rose at her clear disrespect. “I have a job to do so just go away and let me focus.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?” Jasmine asked through clenched teeth as frustration started to take over as she snatched up some clothes.

“It was a direct order.”

“Okay well I order you to go away. I don’t need watching over, thank you.”

That only caused Gabriel to scoff. “That’s the thing with your kind. You believe your word is more powerful than the Almighty’s, but I assure you it isn’t. I don’t take orders from you or any other human. If you wish for me to go away then you will have to ask the Almighty yourself.”

Jasmine frowned, knowing there was no way she was going to talk to God after clearly disobeying one of his Angel’s orders. “Then don’t interfere with my work. If I can see you how do I know others can’t? I don’t need you following me around like this.”

“I have orders to watch over you. Do you not know what has happened? The consequences of your actions?”

Jasmine looked confused. ”Consequences? I just helped her…”

“No you didn’t. Debra Jenkins was supposed to die yesterday. The only thing you have done is allowed demons to roam and take over her body.” Gabriel replied, leaning against the wall again.

Jasmine looked concerned then. “Demons? They exist too?” Of course they had to if Angels did. There couldn’t be good if there wasn’t evil. Her thought continued to travel as she went into her bathroom to get dressed. She turned as she took off her shirt to see Gabriel near the door scaring her again.

“Can you give me two minutes of privacy!” She screamed covering her breast from his eyes, but he didn’t even look a bit interested in her naked body.

“Maybe you misunderstood me.” Gabriel replied, holding his hands behind his back. “You cannot leave my sight.”

“Jasmine, I’m starting to worry now. Who are you talking too?” Xavier asked, knocking on the bathroom door.

Jasmine opened it to be spiteful once she placed her shirt back on. She pointed to Gabriel, but Xavier saw nothing there. “There is a dark Angel here believe it or not. I will explain everything once we are in the car.”

“Dark Angel?”

“Just give me two minutes.” She closed the door now irritated she had to undress and shower in front of God’s Angels. Would he look at her body or would he even notice her? Did she want him to notice her? The mere thought of being followed and placed into this mess was already daunting enough. This was by far the worse punishment God had done to her besides taking her mother.

“Officer Xavier Adams. He must really have affection for you.” Gabriel addressed. “Humans who are in love are very intriguing to me. The lengths people go-to for the ones they love. The same as the Almighty would. He truly did possess your kind with his likeness.” His eyes stared at Jasmine in a sort of sad manner before he turned to look at the ground.

“Yes well...I suppose the devil gave us his likeness as well. A lot of people on earth are just…” She sighed, unsure of telling him too much and getting in her feelings. “I don’t want to talk about my personal business. Do you have boundaries in heaven or are you this all the time.”

Gabriel shrugged. “I am from heaven. Your earthly boundaries mean nothing to me.”

Jasmine rolled her eyes and washed up placing the shower curtain far enough so Gabriel wouldn’t see anything. Once she was freshened up she grabbed her jacket and walked out to the car with Xavier, feeling a bit awkward once they were confined inside. Gabriel sat on top of the car as he drove to the police station.

“Amelia helped draw a picture of some of her attackers last night. She is still a bit frazzled, but some men picked up some suspects. I need you to read their minds and tell me we got at least one of those sons of bitches.” Xavier explained as he kept his eyes on the road.

Jasmine just nodded. “Yeah sure. No problem.”

They were quiet for a moment then. That awkward silence lingered a little too long.

“So about the other night. I’m sorry, okay. I know I made things weird between us, but I want you to know that I do love you Jasmine, in a friendly way. Not like I love Teresa obviously.”

Jasmine scoffed looking out the window as he lied to her. Gabriel’s wings were hanging off the sides. “It’s fine. Don’t bring it up again.”

They were quiet again. “So this Angel you said you were talking to...is that like your new gift or something or…”

“I wish I knew. I wasn’t ever able to see them before now. But apparently I’m in trouble with the man upstairs.” Jasmine explained. “I ruined his intended design.” She looked at her hands then. “I never thought I would say I actually miss the days I could just read people’s minds. This new thing is becoming way too much.”

“Yes, but if you have it then that must mean you were meant to have it. Because God is all-knowing. He would know what is going to happen and why before it happens.” Xavier argued.

“He is correct.”

Jasmine gasped holding her chest as she scared Xavier. “What?”

“He is in your backseat now. Gabriel that is what I meant about boundaries. Can you announce yourself before just popping up?” Her heart finally calmed itself as Gabriel folded his arms.

“He is right you know. The Almighty has a plan. The problem with this plan is that the Almighty tells no one what is going on. It’s just another lesson.” He sighed, looking up at the ceiling shaking his head. “I figure as such.”

“What is he saying? Is he...scary? What does he look like?” Xavier asked, nervous. “Should I bow?”

Jasmine looked at Gabriel in his bright green sparkling eyes that didn’t seem to look real like people thought about her. He seemed to be glowing too much for her to make out his ethnicity. He was an Angel after all. How could she describe a celestial being to a normal person? Her stomach did a funny flip as she looked away from him back to the road.

“No. you aren’t even supposed to know he exists. I am breaking another rule just by telling you.” She replied instead, trying to save her time of explaining.

“No you aren’t.” Gabriel smirked, debunking her excuse. Causing her to look deadly at him. “Telling people about Angels has never been a rule. We are in the bibles and other books that your religious leaders follow so you haven’t broken any laws. Just do not try and rise him from the dead and you’re fine.” Great even the Angel was making a joke at her expense.

“You should feel special Jasmine. Having an actual Angel following you and one you can see makes you someone so special. I knew it all along you know.” Xavier boosted with the compliments before he got out the car. Jasmine followed him into the police station with Gabriel walking beside her. He looked around as if he felt something disturbing and uneasy.

“Something isn’t right…” He whispered mostly to himself, but Jasmine overheard him.

“I feel it too. What is that?”

They both stopped communicating once inside the police station as they walked into a room where several men were lined up to be interrogated. Jasmine stood by on the other side of the glass staring at the men in the lineup. Gabriel watched her as he could see her powers flow out of her body and into the minds of the men there. He had to admit he was impressed and she filled his mind with curiosity and intrigue.

The mind of the first man was counting some numbers in his head, most likely a phone number. The second was thinking about the drugs he had on his person that he would go to jail for life for. He wasn’t the guy who hurt Amelia. Then she studied the third person in the middle, who seemed to not be thinking about anything as her powers couldn’t penetrate his mind. This was odd to Jasmine. She never met a mind she couldn’t read, but then she looked up to Gabriel as he was staring at the man in the middle with recognition. She couldn’t read his mind. She didn’t even think to try until now.

“I can’t…” A blast shook the room then as Xavier yelled for Jasmine but was thrown back by an unseen force out the room until the door closed behind him locking Jasmine inside. She fell back along the wall, grunting as her fragile body hit the wall with a hard thud. Gabriel was there leaning down beside her.

“You alright?” He asked concerned, looking around the room for the culprit.

“What was that?” Jasmine asked holding her head. She stood up looking out to the mirror that was once there now shattered as the men from the lineup were ducking down except the one in the middle. He stood on the edge of the window screen head tilted with his eyes squinted.

“Gabriel, Gods warrior and carrier of souls. You come to collect?” The man’s voice was clearly demonic and deep with rasp of dark force spewing from his mouth. Jasmine’s eyes widened. If there were Angels why couldn’t she believe it when she saw a demon.

“You are with Malakith’s army. Clearly you are breaking the rules here. Release that body or you will have to deal with the consequences.”

The demon laughed as Jasmine thought she would hyperventilate. Before she knew it she ran to the door to break free, but a shot came from the demon aimed for her, but Gabriel grabbed her wrist pulling her out of the way of the unseen blade.

“Jasmine!” Xavier fought hard on the other side to break the door down to help her.

Gabriel held Jasmine in his arms using his wings to deflect blades the demon was throwing at him. Jasmine closed her eyes cowering under Gabriel’s body as she held onto his armor on his chest. Gabriel turned quickly throwing a piece of his wing into the demon’s shoulder causing him to fall back from over the glass.

Gabriel took the opportunity to quickly pull open the shut the door nearly throwing Xavier inside, tossing Jasmine at him forcefully as he pushed them back closing the door again. For whatever the reason these demons wanted her and The Almighty wanted her  protected, he could do nothing other than to fulfill his duty. He turned back to get punched in the face by the demon leaving the dark matter on his jaw as he went for another punch, Gabriel dodged leaning back kicking the demon back to the wall as he hit with a thud.

“Talk now demon. Why are you after Jasmine?” He yanked the demon by the human’s clothes collar. He only smiled.

“Aren’t you too?” Gabriel punched him with a right hook. “You Angels know nothing about what goes on in this earthly realm do you? You all are too busy to see that we have already won the war and we don’t need dead souls to win it either.”

Anger took over Gabriel as he turned his wings, slicing the demon’s throat with its sharp edge. The demon gurgled and dark blood flowed from its mouth and through the cut. The oily substance disappeared underground as the man the host possessed was laid out unconscious. Officers rushed in once the dark matter was clear, but Gabriel’s face seemed too dissatisfied to let the demon’s action slide. First this powerful woman and now demons who were running human bodies roamed. If what the demon said was true, the Angel’s had been blind to what was really happening, but why would the Almighty not inform them, prepare them? He needed answers.

Jasmine walked back into the room looking at him and for some reason, he felt so relieved she was unharmed. It seemed she wanted to ask him so many questions, but waited until the others weren’t in the room.

“What the hell happened here?” The chief asked as he searched the room. “Someone put this guy in cuffs and clean this mess up.” He looked directly at Xavier and Jasmine. “You too in my office now.”

Jasmine and Xavier followed him and so did Gabriel once the officers placed the man under the demon possession in cuffs. The chief slammed the door after they were inside. Tension apparently running high as Xavier was the first to defend Jasmine.

“What the hell was that?” The chief asked, pointing to the scene.

“He attacked Jasmine. What else is there to explain?” Xavier asked, offended.

“Are you hurt at all Jasmine?” The chief asked more calmly then.

She shook her head unable to speak for the first time. She had nothing to say. Her eyes just looked down to the ground and when they did look up she only saw Gabriel there, looking worriedly at her. There were many things she wanted to ask him and say to him. Everything was happening all at once. She could usually handle it but it seemed to happen to her back to back now, the demon was the worst of it all.

“Is that man who attacked,” the Chief looked at the files on his desk. “Rolio Grayson?”

Xavier nodded. “I was looking over his case files and I believe we got the right guy. Jasmine here was making sure for me. We need to question him right away. This attack is a clear indication that something bigger is going down. Starting with Amelia France and her family. They are the closest we have to even getting to the mafia boss.”

The chief sighed placing his hands over his face. “I still will have to investigate what happened. Question him and do what you must to put an end to this quickly.” He dismissed them as Xavier grabbed Jasmine’s arm, gently.

“I need to go question him. I need you okay. Are you good?”

“Yeah I’m fine.” She lied, nodding.

Xavier wasn’t even buying it. “Later we need to talk about what really happened.” He replied walking off to the interrogation room. Jasmine only glanced at Gabriel while Xavier walked off standing beside Jasmine.

“You know what’s going on don’t you?” She whispered. “The demon is he gone?”

“Yes.” Gabriel replied simply.

Jasmine sighed and walked into the room trying to gain her confidence back. Her nerve endings were rattled and there was a pounding in her head that matched her heart. What had she gotten herself into really? And what would it take to get her out of it?

Xavier splashed water on Rolio as he gasped and looked around confused. “Where am I?” He asked frantically. “Who are you?”

“I’m detective Adams and this is my partner, Consulting Detective Peters.” Xavier sat in front of him as he held a file in his hand. Jasmine only stood over him, now able to read his thoughts clearly. The last thing he remembered was seeing Amelia at the club where she was kidnapped from, after that his memories went blank.

“Amelia France, you know her?” Jasmine asked, arms folded.

“Amelia? Is this what this is about?” Rolio asked, super confused.

“You dug her in a grave and left her for dead, Rolio. We found your DNA all over the body.” Xavier threw down some pictures then. “And just now you attacked my colleague here. So you better start talking or I have every right to lock your sorry ass up for life.” Xavier placed his hands down on the table leaning to Rolio, telling half-truths to get him to confess.

“I didn’t touch her,” Rolio said confessing. “Please, I didn’t attack anybody.”

Jasmine’s eyes squinted then looking at Gabriel as he circled the man. Gabriel made a note in his mental mind regarding the tattoo on his neck. It looked more like a brand of a demon. “He is lying. He knows something. The demon didn’t possess him until afterward.” Gabriel informed, indulging in Jasmine’s and Xavier’s interrogation to learn more himself. Whatever case they were working were in direct lines with the demons and their plot to win the celestial war.

“He’s lying. He was with some men at the club before Amelia was kidnapped by them.” Jasmine informed Xavier, arms folded. “Who hired you to kidnap her?” She asked to Rolio now. He gulped seeing on her face she saw right through him.

“Our boss wanted her dead. I’m just a low-level thug. I don’t operate within the inner circles.” Rolio exposed, shaking and looking around paranoid.

Xavier grabbed his collar then. “Give me names. Who do you know are in this inner circle?”

“Chase Fallon. He is a higher level than I am. Ask him.”

Jasmine and Xavier looked at each other with a nod. Xavier placed him forcefully back in his chair. “You better hope to God that you aren’t lying to me.” Xavier grabbed the folders and the files from off the table and walked out with Jasmine.

“I have to go get Chase Fallon and question him.” He informed her. “Go home and rest and wait for me there please. We need to talk about what happened.”

Jasmine nodded, grateful for the chance to be alone to talk to Gabriel as she ordered a Lyft to take her home. She threw her keys on the counter and pulled off her coat, hands still a bit shaky. Gabriel walked into her apartment, wings down and tucked, still thinking about the events.

“I know you have so many questions. I cannot answer them all for even I do not know what is going on.” He said, shamefully.

“Why was the demon trying to attack me?” She asked sitting on the couch.

Gabriel sighed in a deep thought. “That is something I’m not certain of. Perhaps your gifts have triggered them to come after you. It’s not impossible that if The Almighty has taken interest in you that now so has Lucifer. The celestial war has been fought for millennia. We were told everything was fine and that we were winning, well we were under the assumption we were.”

“Celestial war? The battle between God and the devil for our souls.” Jasmine stood, running a shaky hand through her hair as she started to laugh. “I can’t believe this. How did I even get involved in this? Yesterday I was just a freak but now…”

“Whatever reason you are now on the demon’s radar. It makes sense that you helped them get the upper hand with Amelia and Debra. They were supposed to come to heaven with me, but instead, now the demons have a chance to get to them before we do.”

Jasmine hit her thighs with her hands. “Okay so what do I do now? Go back and kill them? I’m not a murderer.” She argued. “I would never kill anyone.”

“I have to go. Do not go anywhere or do anything until I return.”

“What wait!” Jasmine grabbed his hand to pull him back to her. “I can’t defend myself against Demons. What if they attack again?”

Gabriel looked at his hand that she touched causing her to quickly pull away from him. “The Almighty is with you.” Was his last words before shooting into the air disappearing as he did so.