(A/N) Thanks for all the comments I've recieved, That's why I'm updating, I love that I'm not the only one who was, and still is, totally into Cassie/Azazeal! Keep up the positive feedback!!
Cassie sat at the cafe table, chewing on her toss salad, her hand opening the white box that had been wrapped in a blue ribbon. Luckily, Azazeal had mentioned that it was going to be a little boy – not to mention all of the ancient texts, so Cassie knew what colour clothing to buy for the child. She smiled to herslef as her hand ran over the cotton blanket and the warm pajamas.
"Malachi," she whispered, running her hand over the name that had been stitched into the blanket. She rubbed her big stomach with her hand before finishing her salad.
"Ready for the main course, miss?" The waitress asked.
"Yeah, some fish and chips please," Cassie said.
"And you sir?" the waitress asked who ever had suddenly appeared at her side. Cassie whipped around and saw a man with long gold hair tied up in a low pony tail, he wore a black silk shirt and tight blue jeans. Already Cassie knew this was one of Azazeal's followers. Her hand slowly reached fro the knife, and as he sat there like nothing was wrong she caressed the silver handle.
"Just a coffee thank you," he said, his voice smooth. The waitress walked away and his green eyes landed on Cassie's hand on her knife. "Now, now, let's try and be friendly!" he had a heavy european accent.
"What do you want," Cassie asked.
"The name's Baraqiel," he said calmly. "I've been sent to watch over you."
"You mean Azazeal has some one stalking me?" she asked.
"More like protecting," Baraqiel answered. The waitress brought him his coffee and a full glass of diet coke for Cassie. "Ah this looks lovely!" Baraqiel said, inhaling his coffee's steam.
"I thought he would want me dead," Cassie replied, taking a sideways glance at Baraqiel. This was in fact a lie – she and Azazeal shared a bond and Cassie senced his sadness at Cassie's absence, but it never hurt to have it comfirmed by someone.
"On the contrary," Baraqiel said, picking up his coffee. "He loves you more then anyone else, much to everyone's suprise... but you already knew that, didn't you?" he closed his eyes and drank his coffee. Cassie took the oppurtunity to give herself a small smile, dwelling in the happiness that Azazeal's love gave her.
"Maybe I did," Cassie replied coldly once Baraqiel opened his eyes and set down his coffee.
"Here's your fish and chips," said the waitress as she put down Cassie's meal on the table.
"Thank you," Cassie said with a smile. The waitress cast a flirtascious smile at Baraqiel before walking away.
"Well, I know who I'll be doing later," Baraqiel said, Cassie simply rolled her eyes and began cutting up her fish.
"So I was wiating for you at the hospital," Baraqiel said suddenly, Cassie almost chocked on her fish.
"You what?" Cassie spluttered. "What hospital?"
"Don't play dumb – I knew you were planning an appointment with an abortion doctor," said Baraqiel simply. Cassie got a hold of herself and just stared at him. "But you never showed up..."
"Maybe I got held up..." Cassie replied, continuing to eat her meal.
"Yes, possibly, but you haven't returned to yoru dorm room, your ghostly friend is quite worried." Baraqiel said, the mention of Thelma sadened Cassie, but she knew the ghost wouldn't approve, after all – she had that friend form the 20s to keep her company...
"She'll handle it," Cassie replied, looking away from Baraqiel for a moment, when she looked back he was smirking arrogantly – it reminded her of Azazeal.
"You're not going to do it are you?" Baraqiel asked her. She stared at him in silence for a moment then shook her head.
"Are you going to tell Azazeal?" Cassie asked, breathing heavily.
"I have to – if I don't report back, I'm dead." Baraqiel replied. "Don't you want him to know?"
"Maybe I don't want to have it with him?" Cassie replied, trying to hide teh fact it was abdly todl lie by eating some more fish.
"My queen," Baraqiel said suddenly, Cassie started at the term as he grabbed one of her chips. "We both know that isn't true..." he shoved it in his mouth and nodded toward her. "Do you have a compact?" Cassie uncertainly reached into her handbag and brought out a mirror.
"Want to check yourself out, Baraqiel?" Cassie asked with a slight smile.
"No," he said, his hand then reached toward her and hesitated just next to her neck. "May I?" Cassie stared at him with wide eyes then nodded. His hands reached over and lifted her blond hair up above her ear, he then took the mirror ad reflected what was just below her earlobe.
"Have you been noticing a burning sensation there?" he asked.
Cassie nodded then looked into the mirror's reflection, seeing a long line of egyptian that looked familiar, it had been inscribed into her ksin in black ink, she gasped and began to wipe at it, but it didn't go away.
"What does it mean?" she asked Baraqiel as he snapped the compact closed and placed it back down on the table.
"In short – Azazeal," Baraqiel replied. "It's how I knew you love him, it may be black to you, but to me it glows..."
"That's where I've seen it!" Cassie said with a nod. "Azazela has the exact same tattoo in the exact same place."
"It means you btoh love eachother to the point... oh never mind – you'll understand soon enough." Baraqiel said, Cassie arched an eyebrow. "I just think that Azazeal should tell you."
"Right," Cassie said. "I've got a question."
"Shoot," Baraqiel said, sipping his coffee.
"When you get me safely back to Azazeal, what will you do?" she asked.
"I have to protect you at any costs until you give birth to the son," Baraqiel siad. "And then I become your confidant."
"Oh, how fun for you!" Cassie said sarcastically.
"It's a true privilege," Baraqiel replied honestly. "Anyway, it was me or Perie – and you wouldn't like her, she hates you because she loves Azazeal."
"Will that stop?" Cassie asked, suddenly feeling compelled to trust this man with her deepest fears, she leaned in and he, seeming to enjoy her trust, leaned in too.
"Will what, my queen?" he asked.
"The sleeping around." Cassie replied, looking at him through sad eyes.
"As far as I know, it has," Baraqiel replied.
"Oh please," Cassie snorted. "What about Joe?"
"What about her? He dumped her the moment he realsied it hurt you." Baraqiel answered. "I suggested it to him when I heard about the appointment, but he had already done it, the day after you saw him that morning in her room."
They sat quietly for a moment and then Cassie pushed her plate of chips between them once more.
"Would you like some more?" she asked, with a friendly smile.
"Yes please, they are good chips," he siad smiling wide. They quietly chomped down on the chips then Baraqiel spoke once more.
"As I said, I do have to report back to Azazeal eventually, but that's not until tomorrow – then he sends someone after me..." Baraqiel said in complete honesty.
"I would like to get some more shopping done, just to show I'm serious about wanting this..." said Cassie.
"Ok, I have to look out for-" He stopped and sighed. "Well, a day is fine, but you can't return to Medneham – it's too risky."
"Yeah no kidding!" Cassie laughed.
"You know?" Baraqiel asked.
"Know what?" asked Cassie, turnign to him with wide eyes. "I was talking about Thelma being angry..."
"Oh," Baraqiel asked. He silently cursed his loose lips then decided to elaborate. "Suppose you better be cued in."
"You think," Cassie snapped.
"Soon there will be a young girl, well someone who looks young... Anyway, she'll be after you – trying to kill you and the child, I'm suprised she hasn't showed up yet. I need to protect you from her," Baraqiel said. Cassie clasped her hands over her mouth.
"She wants to kill me," she mouthed, looking up and down the street as if she'd suddenly appear.
"Her name is Ella Dean. She is an immortal sent to kill you," Baraqiel answered.
"Ok," Cassie said slowly. "You are so not leaving my side!"
"Of course, my queen," Baraqiel said. They both stood up and Cassie threw some money on the table.
"And Baraqiel," She grabbed her shopping bags and slipped his arm under his. "Call me Cassie."
"Of course – Cassie," he said and they both smiled. Then they began to walk away, Cassie finding Baraqiel presence safe and secure. She knew it was a beginning of something great as he held her close, making sure she was well protected, keeping her safe for Azazeal.
(A/N) So, what do you think? Feel free to tell me...