I was human, plain, and boring, but now, I’m not and haven’t been for 20 years. You wouldn’t classify me as an Angel, Devil, or Other. I was something closer to a Reincarnate, but not exactly. I can’t die permanently since I did once, and the Almighty God himself put me back on Earth with a lovely supply of new souls to use every time I’m killed. That way, I can keep serving him for eternity, which was explained once by Michael in a way he thought was helpful.
“Let’s say you gain weight, so you have to replace your clothing because it doesn’t fit anymore. Same with a soul, except you die rather than gain weight, and the soul must be replaced,” he said, if I remember right.
I kind of understood, but the mechanics of it were too much for me to wrap my mind around. It was similar to reincarnation, except it was immediate, and I was still fully aware of my surroundings. I could only imagine if hundreds of us died and respawned immediately, poor Death’s head would be spinning!
Michael's melodic voice interrupted my thoughts.
“My oh my. Here comes the wolf of the hour, Ayda. Think you can handle that big boy?” I heard him say, bringing my attention to where he was looking.
It was Cash, coming towards the coffee shop. His large frame and chocolate-colored hair picked up the last rays of sunshine holding on before night took over.
I looked back at Michael and caught myself whispering, “You want me to protect that? That huge thing! Is this a joke Michael?”
“Why? You can’t handle that big puppy?” He just stared at me for a moment and then snickered.
“For the Almighty’s sake Michael, why could that thing need protection? It could eat me for dinner!”
Michael’s thin frame shook from laughter, causing the coffee shop dwellers to pause their coffee sipping, smoking, and peek from the tops of phones and computers. His voice was one of an Angel, that’s for sure. I am being punished, that’s all I could think of at that moment, and the light metal chime on the door rang through the shop.
My skin was seriously ready to take a hike. I wanted to crawl under the table and hug my sneakers. The wolf didn’t hide his aura. It was almost imposing to me. I was sensitive to an Other’s aura, soul, power, you name it, and my skin would tingle. I didn’t have much of an aura. I mainly appeared human. The soul inside me gave off a lullaby-sounding hum if any Other were to check.
I casually glanced over my shoulder to peek at him. From the side, standing at the counter that was below waist high for him, you could see the tractor frame shoulders. He was dressed casually, so that came as a surprise. Most others tend to dress to the nines when even visiting a pharmacy.
I quickly wondered if his lack of joining a pack had something to do with it. Without a pack or a place to belong, some Others tend to swim and look like the normal dredges of human society. Unfortunately, a financial constitution doesn’t extend to those who don’t cater within the walls.
“Approach him cautiously, Ayda. Wolves tend to be jumpy. They can be very protective and full of themselves simultaneously, dear, so you may have to let your personality take a back seat on this one.” I blew a childish raspberry at him. I guess Michael knows me better than I thought.
I could hear the wolf give his order to Beth. She just smiled affectionately at him and nodded. I would have expected straight black that burns going down with bitter results for his coffee choice, but I was wrong. Instead, he chose the same fancy water Michael was drinking and a slice of cherry pie. It made me glance back in question at Michael, pulling a squeak from the pleather, and he just raised his eyebrows with a shrug.
I dug some bills out of my jeans and tossed them toward Michael. I always come prepared with a few ones to cover the coffee. Michael had always preferred cold hard cash to payment apps on the phone.
“Here, for the coffee.”
Michael smiled, gently took the dollar bills, and uncrumpled them with the type of grace only the hands of an Angel could do. Rule of thumb, never owe for even a coffee, even to an Angel.
“Next time, just call me. These little ‘shop on the corner’ meetings are starting to rack up,” I said, acting like it hurt my pocket, but it didn’t.
“Would you answer Ayda? What if it wasn’t about work, but something, much more fun?”
He cracked a sly grin as his buttery soft inquiry leaked through my defenses and started to caress my inner curiosity. I grimaced as I kicked the thought.
I wasn’t Michael’s type of preference for a being. He tended to like ordinary humans, male or female, safer, so he says.
Shaking my head at Michael’s amusing question, I heard Beth tell Cash his order was ready. A moment later, the bell on the door jingled as he went out. I threw a wave at Michael and headed out to do my job.
Gently rushing out after him, cool October air hit me, so my blood started to dance at the feel of it. I started a good pace at a distance from the wolf, keeping to the growing evening shadows the best I could from across the street. Random old-fashioned street lights started to flicker. The smell of food filled the air making my stomach growl. The wind was silently blowing from my back. I forced my eyes upwards for small favors. It must have been later than I thought because traffic from the street had almost stopped except for the occasional bump of a radio blasting as a car drove by.
I pulled my hood up to cover my hair, it was grabbing the wind, so I knew it was best to hide the orange tendrils. Of course, my hair can’t stay one solid color coming back from death, but bright orange was definitely one of my best looks this time.
My complexion varied as well. I suppose it is what it is, but it sucks having a consistent color theme for my wardrobe. That’s why black is best. When working, I tend to stick to tank tops under zipped-up hoodies during the chilly season.
Leather pants are just practical for movement and dragged along the pavement type burns. I always preferred boots, but I was sporting sneakers this time to help my short legs keep up with the wolf’s pace.
Trying to hang back but keep the wolf in my sight, I realized he was aware, too aware, of his surroundings. At one point, he started to slow his pace. He must have realized he was being followed because I noticed the slight turn of his head showing his profile over his shoulder. Seeing this, I ducked on the step to a little shop that shared the sidewalk.
Peering around a window that displayed years of dust and forgotten collections made me toss a sad thought around my brain, people get older, and so do our memories encased in those items. I could see through the glass display that he stopped to turn directly into a 6-story apartment building.
The apartments were pretty new, built in the last seven years. Its brick front faced the street, sitting next to a Chicken and beer joint where I was a regular. I could smell the crispy fried goodness hitting my nose. Later, I whispered out loud.
The bikes chained to the racks on the outside didn’t surprise me. It isn’t an uppity area, but it was reasonably safe. The zigzagged parking lot across the street held several nice cars and a security booth. I didn’t see anyone there, but the property didn’t need security if Cash stayed here.
The doors were spotless and free of random stickers. They had a lock installed on them, but I didn’t hear the jingle of keys when he entered, so I prayed it was unlocked.
Climbing the steps slowly, looking through the glass, I pulled the door open.
He wasn’t in there, so I assumed he took the elevator straight ahead at the end of the newly painted off-white foyer or maybe the door with a sign stating stairs and exit to my right.
I noticed the metal mailbox slots with advertisement fliers peeking out on my left and slid over to it. Such a big building for just having five apartments, I mused.
The mailbox labels were stamped with the apartment number, the first letter of the person’s name, and then the last name. Being only five names, I found two that started with a C. I didn’t know if Cash’s last name was Cornell, but I went with my gut and chose apartment number 101.
I mused if he could be any relation to Cornell Plaza, but living here, I doubted it. Not that this place wasn’t pleasant, but it didn’t scream wealth and success.
I turned to look at the elevator, but something caught my peripheral vision.
The window on the metal door leading to the stairs was empty when I turned my eyes straight at it, but I could have sworn something was just there. I had the feeling of being watched. Taking my chances, I headed to the stairwell door. Curiosity always kills the cat. Luckily, this kitty had more than nine lives.
I turned to Steve, his attitude had pushed me a little too far, and I exploded, “Look, I’m so close to saying screw it and putting you back in the metal box before both our asses become kindling for Angel’s fire. You seem to think proving you innocent is my purpose in life, but you’re wrong, STEVE. I am only doing this because I can’t live with a guilty conscience or the possibility of one!” I was huffing, trying to gather my breath. Rarely did I snap like that, but my cool mindset had flown over the railing and tumbled down several flights of stairs. “I don’t know where the guy is, but this was our only hope, Steve, so please, just be quiet and let me breathe.” He stared at me momentarily and cocked his head before looking at the door marked 2C. I looked, too, and the door was opened with an older man staring at us. “Mr. Arubergy?” He nodded and stuck his head out, looking around. “Come in, come in, hurry now,” he said, waving at us to be quick. “Please remove your shoes. I a
Steve's sudden question made me jump, and he grasped my hand harder, saying, “It’s worse than this. Unlike vampires who can sleep for eternity in solitude or fairies who can use their magic to fill nothingness with light and valuables, demons can only wait and listen, hoping to hear what’s happening outside the nothingness.” A slight shake in his voice made me feel horrible all of a sudden, but I couldn’t play into it no matter how bad I felt, “Well, do the crime, and you’ll eventually do time, Steve. I didn’t make those rules back then, but I still have to follow them today.” “Be lucky you didn’t end up with Groves. He had a basement full of tiny glass boxes that held his bounty captures. They could see out, and he would play reruns of commercials 24/7 on a black-and-white box t.v. for them to watch. Talk about torture. At least Reggie would talk to all of you,” Trixie piped in, obviously not feeling bad for Steve. “Sorry if I don’t seem grateful, but in all respect, I wasn’t supp
After my threat of turning his human body into a skunk, Steve complied, and we headed in my care to Corner of Bliss café. The silence was tolerable other than his constant shifting in the passenger seat, looking around. Finding a place to park was tricky, Corner of Bliss was a hopping little café with free Wi-Fi, and it’d been around long enough to have a mass number of Others that were loyal and frequented the place. Of course, humans always found their way there but were welcomed just the same. “Good morning, dears. What can I... get you?” Beth's pause was expected, she was something Ayda and I could never figure out, so I wasn’t sure if she would sense something about Steve. “Just two coffees, please. Is Trixie still here?” Still staring at Steve, she smiled and nodded toward the café window. Trixie was leaning across the booth’s table and chatting up the new waiter. I can't say I blame him. The guy was gorgeous. “Thanks,” I said while she was staring at Steve. “I don’t thin
I sat up feeling stiff, sore, and sleep deprived as the sound of my phone dinging by my bed woke me, followed by clanking sounds from the kitchen. I checked it and saw that it was Pheral who had messaged me. “Good morning, beautiful. I miss you. Everything is the same here, one meeting after another. I may never see the day when I am free of the pack. I’m sorry.” His message hit home, and I held back my tears. I missed him, too, and my heart ached for his hugs and sweet words when we were alone. Never leave the pack? I may end up threatening Cash to let Pheral go as he promised. Taking a deep breath through my nose, I caught the scent of smoke, and when I heard Steve yell, “Bloody Hell,” followed by the sounds of water, I shot out of bed and went straight into the kitchen. “What are you...” I was asking, but before I could finish, he stammered, “Can’t you see I’m making breakfast?” Seeing burnt eggs in the pan and black toast on a plate made me laugh uncontrollably. “Why a
“He’s in Heaven,” saying it in such an evident tone, Steve shrugged and then looked at Michael. We stared at him with our jaws open before I asked, “In Heaven, how do you know?” “Last I heard, he was dying, and an Angel promised him a one-way pass straight upstairs. But, of course, that was back before I got stuck with that killer driving us around and murdering people. So I assume that’s where he must be,” Steve answered, but it didn’t help us because it wasn’t like Heaven was next door, and we could just knock asking to borrow a dead necromancer. “If it was that simple, Michael could have someone up there locate one of the souls of the women that were murdered and ask her personally. But, unfortunately, there’s a lot more to it, paperwork and approvals. Heaven isn’t just chaos and paradise. They are structured, Steve, so a dead necromancer would be hard to locate without going through the proper channels. And keep in mind, Heaven gets word a demon, especially one that was sentenc
After busying myself around my house and battling dust bunnies, Trixie arrived. “Girl, you don’t even know the chaos that went on while you were kidnapped! That Angel was the only one to keep me informed until Zin finally came to the club two days ago, looking like someone had kicked his puppy. He said Ayda had been transported to Hell, but he wouldn’t elaborate. So what’s going on? How are you, and why didn’t you let me know you were safe?” I hugged him after he shut the door and sat on the couch. “I’m fine, as you can see. But sit next to me, and I will give you the full rundown,” I responded, patting the seat next to me. Trixie was a woman’s hottest wet dream, but he preferred the silent solid type equipped with three legs instead of one. He was carrying a bag and pulled out a beer before lying on the couch next to me. “Alright, spill it, don’t leave out a single detail!” From point A to point Z, I told him about the kidnapping, the wolves and shifters that saved me as
It took about a half hour before Michael popped back in. “Alright, you ready?” I just looked at him and asked, “Where’s the body, Michael?” “I couldn’t bring it with me. It’s at the hospital.” I jumped from the barstool, “At the hospital!? Why didn’t you just snag one from the morgue?” He shook his head, “I can’t do that. If the body is dead, the demon won’t last in it. It’s like a zombie who can’t eat brains.” “Good point, I didn’t think of that. Fine, let’s go to the hospital,” I replied while tucking Steve’s box under my arm. Michael looked at the box again nervously, “I can’t believe I am doing this. If Ayda found out, she’d skin both of us.” “Hush. That’s why she won’t find out. We don’t even know if what Steve said is true.” The Angel shook his head and placed his hand on my shoulder. I closed my eyes, knowing I was about to feel nauseous. I felt the pull of his power, and in the next instance, I could smell antiseptic while the sounds of a hospital filled my ears. I g
“He wasn’t a lower demon, you keep saying ‘Two lower class demons’ every time we talk, and I keep telling you he wasn’t. You’re a poor listener.” Suddenly the fairy piped in, “I’ve heard him say it. He’s right, sweetie. You really don’t listen.” “It’s true, it’s true, he has said it! But all she does is say, ‘If the shoe fits, wear it!’...I don’t even have shoes,” the vampire said, giving his two cents with a whine. All of a sudden, all three of them started talking, and my head was about to explode, “ENOUGH! Look, Steve, all you ever said was that he was stronger than you. Never once did you say he WASN’T a lower class. Fuck, if you knew he wasn’t, then you should have said he wasn’t! How the Hell am I supposed to know what you meant?” I stood there trying to decide. This was so out of the blue I suddenly wished Ayda was here. “You better not be fucking with me, or I’ll turn you into a pair of socks for a monkey!” I returned to the shelf where I kept my relaxing bedtime smoke a
It was dark, and damned streetlights were flickering in and out as I came up the side road by my house. It usually would annoy me, but I stayed feeling content anyway. Ayda was learning to open up. She needed to. Plus, I was safe from that crazy bitch that kidnapped me. Through it all, I’d found the sexy man, or wolf, of my dreams. I was never into dating, let alone sleeping with Others. I was quite against it. However, when I met Pheral for the first time, it was like love at first site. Or was that lust? Either way, his tall, dark, and quiet demeanor swept me out of my striped socks. Did I mention he was sexy? With those almond shaped exotic eyes, he could melt the polar caps. When I pulled up along the stone walls shielding the houses, my heart held a beat, hoping he was there, but I knew he wouldn’t be. Pheral’s boss, and pack leader, Cash, took on their pack as the new Alpha in charge. Pheral was helping with the transition. He isn’t an Alpha, or a Beta, just another wolf. “A