I screamed wordlessly in their hand. I tired to pull away, but their wings wrapped tighter around me. I could feel them trying to get through my barrier. It felt like there were fingers pressing on the soft tissues of my brain.
Adrenaline coursed through my veins. Because flight was impossible I opted for fight. I bent my leg and rammed my knee into his gut.
"Nuh." He gasped. His grip loosened and I was able to pull free. I shoved his chest and darted around him. I started running again toward my apartment. Wait, I don't want him to know where I live.
"No!" He shouted.
I saw thin black tendrils outlined by the lights from the street wrap around in front of me. My arms snapped to my sides as they tightened around me. My thighs were pinned together. I started to scream again. A tendril wrapped over my mouth.
I dug into my power and released a pulse of white light. The tendrils dissolved into nothing.
Arms grabbed my biceps. He spun me around and pressed against a brick wall.
"Don't scream." He said. It was Aidan.
"Yay right." I hissed.
"Don't you knee me again either." He added
"You're not the boss of me." I said between clenched teeth.
"Listen to me." He said. "I'm not part of the fallen."
"Lair." I hissed. "None of the other angels gave a damn about me."
"I'm sorry." He said. I couldn't see his face. "I was born after that time. My parents told me about what happened. I feel bad about what happened and want to make amends by helping you."
I narrowed my eyes at him, even though he probably couldn't see. "I don't trust you."
"Listen to me, you're in danger."
My gut sank. "What do you mean?"
"The fallen know what city you live in and sooner or later they will find out who you are." He said, releasing his tight grip on my arms.
"What interest could they possibly have with me?" I asked. "My parents are…" I looked down at the ground. "They can't use me to punish my parents for killing their leader."
Sadness was coming in waves from him. Maybe he was genuine, maybe meaning unlikely.
"There's a rumor going around in the realm that Androcles can be resurrected by you." He said.
I felt a chill pass through me. "That's impossible."
"Nothing is impossible for someone pure evil." He said. He turned his head and glanced around.
Anger boiled in veins. "Do they really think I would help resurrected that murdering, evil bastard?" I hissed.
He faced me. "According to rumor, it won't be willingly."
I shivered. I began to feel sick. Fear was plugging up my throat. Even though my mind was telling me that there could be a chance that he's lying, my intuition was reminding me of the nightmare I had and how for some strange reason I had relieved a memory that before had been carefully sealed away in the back of my mind. This was just too coincidental.
I started trembling. "They'll never go away." I spat. "They'll leave me alone!" Hot tears pressed in my eyes. I was drained, emotional and physically.
He pulled me into his arms and hugged me tightly. His wings wrapped comfortingly around me. It brought on a sweet memory from my past. My parents would both hug me like this. I miss them so much. Why did they have leave me all alone?
I wrapped my arms around him. He petted my hair and kissed the top of my head.
"I have to go." He said. "I'll be missed soon. Be careful, please."
He let me go and I watched him melt away into the darkness. A darkness angel.
I slumped against the wall and sat down with my legs pulled up to my chest. I trembled slightly. What did he mean it probably wouldn't be willingly? What was their plan to free Androcles?
I heard a pathetic mewling. I turned and saw a tiny kitten with its pink mouth stretched wide as it whined pitifully. It had a black muzzle, ears, tail, a long black stripe down its spine and one black paw on its white body. Its eyes were a silvery color. It was fluffy, but I could see its ribs. Behind it were two feline bodies, a black and white cat. I could sense no life from them.
I felt a terrible sinking in my stomach. Black and white; darkness and light. A kitten who was a mix of the two.
I shook my head. I was acting foolish. This was just a coincidence.
"Come here kitty." I said. I uncurled and reached out to him. "Kitty, kitty."
It narrowed its eyes at me and gave me the kitty glare. It flattened its ears at me and sniffed my fingers. It stretched and curved its back under my nails. He was so cute.
He hopped into my lap and stared up at me.
"Guess I'm taking you home, huh?" I asked.
It meowed at me. I didn't look at the other two cats as I picked him up and started walking for my apartment. I pulled my keys out of a pocket and unlocked the door.
I flicked on the light and looked around. It looked like no one had been here looking for me. I shut the door with my foot and tossed the sandals in the corner by the door.
I wrinkled my nose at the smell of garbage and looked down at the likely source. "You need a bath little man."
It looked at me and meowed. He must be hungry.
"I'll feed you after a bath." I promised. I put him in a basket that held newspapers and college advertisements.
I walked into my bedroom and shed the dress. I dug into my dresser and pulled out an old gray t-shirt and a pair of sweat pants. I grabbed a rubber band and pulled my hair into a sloppy bun on my head.
I didn't have a bathtub and the bathroom sink wasn't deep enough. I grimaced. It was going to have to be bathed in my kitchen sink.
"I'll bleach it later." I decided. I grabbed a bottle of hand soap from the bathroom and walked out into the kitchen/living room. The kitten was on the counter and was sniffing around.
I walked over to the double sink and put the stopper in one of them. I turned on the water to warm. I poured a long string of pinky-orange soap into the clear water and white foam immediately filled the sink.
The kitten walked over and stared at the bubbles. I picked him up and lifted his tail. It was a him.
"Hmm, now what am I going to name you?" I asked him, putting him back on the counter. I tested the water and shut it off. He swiped at a bubble near the edge. A piece of foam stuck on his paw. He licked it and then shook his head. I began opening and closing his mouth like it didn't taste too good. He began shaking his paw and flinging bubble everywhere.
"Come here dirty boy." I laughed. I picked him up and plunged him into the soapy water.
He meowed shrilly and dug his tiny claws into my hand. His eyes were wide as they looked up at me.
"Sh, it's all right baby boy." I said. I held him in one hand and was lathering with the other. I could feel his vertebrae and the hard tiny bodies of fleas. He kept whining.
I picked him up and he dug his back claws into my arm. I winced and then laughed.
"You look like a drowned rat." I said. Streams of water came off of him and he looked like one pissed off kitty. I put him in the empty sink and turned the facet on to wash off the soap.
He meowed like I was torturing him.
"Almost down bubway." I said.
I reached and drained the other sink. I zapped the living fleas with a small spark of electricity. Maybe I'll super bleach the sink. I grabbed a towel off the rack and wrapped it around him. I dried him, rubbing his fur the wrong way. I looked in my fridge and found some ham.
I would have to go to Wal-Mart. I glanced at the clock. They were probably still open.
I carried him to my bathroom and shut the door behind us. It was tile so any accidents would easily be cleaned up. I set him down and he ran to hide behind the toilet. I opened the plastic Tupperware container and pulled out the last bit of ham. I shredded it into small pieces and made a small pile on the floor. I poured water into the bowl and set it next to the ham.
He immediately ran from his hiding spot and began gobbling down the ham. I scratched his spine and he bent his back and purred causing him to choke a bit on the food.
"Slow down." I whispered. "It's not going anywhere." Pity welled in my heart for this tiny little creature. I felt connected despite the difference of species. If those were its parents, then he was an orphan like me. Only he probably didn't have his own kind kicking him out of his home realm and throwing him at the mercy of another realm that before he had only watched from above.
I raked my hands through my hair. Aidan's appearance and warning had messed with my mind more than I'll admit. He looked at me and meowed. Instead of being mad there was a worried expression on his face.
"Jack." I said.
"Mer-row?" He tilted his head to the side.
"It's your name." I explained.
He put his leg in the air and began licking his butt. I snorted and smiled.
"Glad you like it." I said. I got up. Partially wondering why I was talking to this kitten. Evidently I wasn't having enough social outlet. I got up and left the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. I walked into the kitchen and put my wallet into my pocket. It would take too long to walk, and Aidan did warn me that I was in danger.
I focused my mind on a dark alley near Wal-Mart. The air began to shimmer like on a hot day. There was a soft crack and I was in the alley with Wal-Mart staring right at me.
I walked in quickly. The night seemed very hostile like thousands of eyes were watching me. There was a spasm in my muscles as I walked down the aisles picking up a litter box, kitty litter, kitten formula, food bowls, and kitten food. I even found a cute little toy for him.
I paid for the stuff and took the bags out to the alley where I teleported back home.
I let him out of the bathroom. I stuff the litter box in between the toilet and the sink with him watching me. As soon as I was done, he walked over and sniffed the litter.
I walked back into the kitchen and put the bowls down and poured a little food and water into them.
When I was pulling back on my pajamas, I suddenly remembered my nightmare. A cold sweat broke over my skin and I began to tremble slightly. I was afraid to sleep, to dream about my past and relive that dark hour.
I curled up in my bed, shaking, and staring at the shadows, waiting for sleep to unwillingly take me. Jack hopped into the bed and made me jump.
I sighed. "What are you doing goober?" He curled up into a ball next to my stomach and fell asleep.
He purred softly and I let sleep take me.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
The newly christened kitten Jack opened his eyes and twitched his ears. He could hear someone in this room besides the female Hindwalker.
Jack and his parents had escaped from a burning Hindwalker den. His parents suffered mortally burns and died almost instantly after escaping. He had watched the girl and some male messing around in the alley. At first he thought they were fighting, but then they acted like most couples that came down in the alley. The male left and he drew attention to himself so the female would notice him.
He regretted as soon as she plunged him into water when they got to her den. How could this sweet, kind-hearted soul ever do that to him? He'll grudgingly admit it did make him feel better, but it wasn't worth it.
His ears twitched and he stood up. A shadow moved near the door and it was Hindwalker height. He arched his back and puffed out his fur knowing that this thing, whatever would run in terror at his size. He hissed.
"Peace little one." A wise voice said.
Jack narrowed his eyes and hissed again. A figure stepped from the darkness and to the bed. He had white hair and out of his back were white wings.
Jack blinked. Was this creature some kind of giant bird? The creature walked up to the bed and scratched his head with Hindwalker fingers. There was a flash of something shiny. His parents had always warned him about Hindwalkers and shiny objects. It never ended well. He stepped back and his hind leg stepped into the girl's stomach. She mumbled and rolled onto her stomach.
"I mean her no harm little feline." He said. He took the long shiny object and set it next to the girl. He stared at her. "She looks just like her mother. She has her father's hair color though." He muttered. He turned to the cat. Jack looked up him, his pale eyes reflective.
The Bird-like Hindwalker put a finger in between the cat's eyes. Jack felt a rush in his brain.
The angel spoke in an ancient tongue that no one, but the Ancient ones knew. "You are now my eyes and ears, watch over her."
Jack blinked and bowed his head. "As you wish Ancient one." He said.
"Thank you." The angel vanished.
Jack curled up against the girl-angel. He knew this girl was important, but how was unknown. What was known was that she would go through many trails, this is what the angel told him when he was given the ability of speech.
He wondering if getting a bath would be the worst thing he would face with this angel as his owner.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"Latia." A man's voice said.
I turned from heavens, which were currently randomly switching between night and day, and my mouth dropped.
My father held up his hand for silence. "I only have short time. Do you remember my weapon? The sword made of sky iron and star fire?"
I nodded. I resisted, with greatly difficult, the urge to run to my father and hug him.
"I entrusted it with an Elder." He continued. "It should be delivered to you now."
"Me?" I asked. "But, I don't know how to use it. I've never used a weapon before."
"You will learn." He said simply. "Remember, it can take the form of any weapon you can think of."
His form shifted. "My time is up." His bright blue eyes looked very sad as he stared at me and I wanted to cry since he seemed unable to. I felt a tear rolling down my face.
"Dad." I croaked.
I was suddenly in his arms. I hugged him tightly even though it felt like he would explode in a puff of molecules if I did so. He kissed the top of my head.
"We never wanted to leave you." He said. "We never would have, but it was the only way for us to protect you."
I sobbed in his chest. "I wasn't worth it. I was never worth your lives!"
"Never think that." He said harshly, but his voice was fading. Him and the area surrounding us were going black. It felt like I was going blind. "You were more than worth it. We would die as many horrible and brutally deaths possible, if you could be kept safe."
I remembered Aidan's warning. "Wait, can Androcles be freed? How can he? Why do they need me?"
All I felt was the hot, prickling sensation of anger and then nothing.
I blinked and realized my face was buried in my pillow. I lifted my head and saw the sun shining in through the window. I felt a warm, ball of weight curled up near my hand, which was on the other pillow on my bed. I looked over and saw Jack sleeping soundly with his tail over his nose. Below that pillow was a long silver-white sword with ice blue gems in the hilt.
I rolled over and sat in my bed staring at it. Jack raised his head and blinked sleepily at me.
"Good morning."
"Shit!" I leapt out of bed and stood at the edge staring at the kitten. He uncurled slowly and arched his back, stretching his toes as he stretched.
"Language, Latia, you are an angel." He said as he sat down and wrapped his tail around his paws. His voice and manner of speaking seemed too sophisticated for his tiny kitty body.
"Well, I wake up after a dream were I talked to my dead father to find that the kitten I rescued can talk!"
He chuckled. "I couldn't talk when you first found me, but an Elder came last night to deliver the sword and he made me his eyes and ears."
An Elder? Elder was the title given to the oldest of angels. They were the ones who delivered God's messages to us. They kept the realm in balance and were pretty much in charge. I fell to my knees so I could look him in the eyes. "Who?"
He tilted his head to the side like he was thinking. He then shook his head. "Sorry, I can't tell you."
I blew my bangs out of my face. I tried to peer into his mind. My jaw dropped off when I found a block.
"He knows that I could be a source of information for your enemies." Jack said smoothly. "He gave me a barrier that is impenetrable."
I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. "This day is already too weird and it's only," I glanced at my clock. "Ten o'clock." I sighed and thumped my head on the mattress. "I need coffee."
"Coffee stunts your growth." Jack said. "And it's not wise to get addict to caffeine."
I scowled at him. "You are not my parent." I stood up and walked to the kitchen. "And you're a lot younger than me so why should I listen to you?"
The cat shook his head. "Of all the angels in heaven, this is the one?" He looked at the ceiling. "Glad you're in charge and not me." He hopped down and followed the angel into the kitchen.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Vanessa pressed the button on the security panel. The other girls stood and waited.
"Yes?" The voice of their mentor said.
"It's us." Serena said.
The magnetic lock buzzed and Jimena pulled the door opened. The girls walked through the lobby and into the elevator. They got off the elevator at the fourth floor. They walked down the walkway to Maggie's apartment. The door opened once they got there.
She wasn't in her retired schoolteacher design. She looked like she did all those eons ago when she was a young girl in Greece. She invited them in. They gathered around her kitchen table and she served tea.
"I'm sure you girls are here about the fallen angel." She said.
They looked at her. They knew they should know that nothing could really surprise Maggie, but they couldn't help being a little surprised she knew.
"Yes." Jimena said calmly. "Stanton told us about her. She's Angela Dawn and she goes to our school."
Maggie looked very serious. "That's not good. Her parents killed the leader of Atrox's fallen angels and the Atrox will want revenge for what has happened."
"Stanton said that the fallen angels can revive their leader with her." Vanessa said.
Serena sat silently in her chair, feeling very depressed. She shook her head, she couldn't let Stanton distract her.
"If this is true, this could be very bad for us." Maggie said. "Angels are very powerful, as powerful as a demon if not more powerful." She looked at them. "This angel is particularly important. She is the daughter of light and darkness. She will have a power beyond imagination."
The other girls looked at each other. "What should we do?"
"I would assume after all she's been through that she will not place her trust in someone easily. But we need to do all we can to help her and keep her safe from the fallen and the Atrox."
"Should we confront her with what we know?" Serena asked.
Maggie looked thoughtful. "It would be a good idea. She's bound to find out that you know any way. If you tell her then she'll be less likely to panic and run off right into danger."
They nodded.
"Does anyone know what she does on Saturdays?" Vanessa asked.
Catty shrugged. "We could swing by her house and see if she's there."
"It's the only thing we can do." Tianna added.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"Have you gotten your shots?" I asked Jack while I was eating cookie dough ice cream.
He looked at me. He shook his head. "Ice cream isn't a good breakfast meal and I don't need shots."
"It's technically lunch time." I argued, putting another spoonful in my mouth.
"It's not a good meal period." He said.
I snorted. "I'm an angel. Sugar won't do anything." I put another spoonful in my mouth in a defiant manner.
He dipped his head and sighed. "There's obviously no use arguing with you."
"Nope." I said.
He tilted his head to the side. "I should go." He ran off the counter and to the window were he jumped out and vanished.
I frowned, but continued with eating my ice cream.
I heard a knock on my door. I walked to the door with my ice cream and opened it.
Aidan stood on the other side with a smile on his face. I remembered last night and my muscles tensed, unsure whether or not to trust him.
He looked at the ice cream and smirked. "That isn't a very healthy breakfast."
I groaned. "You are not the boss of me." I thought about shutting the door in his face. "Why are you here?" I asked, leaning against the door jam.
His eyes swept down my pajamaed form. "Did you just roll out of bed?"
"Maybe." I said. "Why are you here?" I repeated.
"Just making sure you're okay." He said, his eyes were soft and nice. They made my stomach squiggle. He reached out and touched my cheek. I batted it away.
"Did I say you could touch me?" I asked.
"The words didn't come out of your mouth, but your eyes said I could." He said, a smile crept on his face. An arrogant aura was coming off him. He knew how my body was reacting to his. Damn hormones. And yes, it's not just human teenagers who suffer through this.
My heart did this awkward thump and my skin felt flushed. What the hell was he doing to me? Maybe he had the gift of healing also and he was making my body react to him by messing with my hormones. I gritted my teeth and thought about kneeing him in his tender boy area.
"You want to go out flying?" He asked.
"It's the middle of the day." I blurted.
"You do know how to teleport?" He asked. He walked into my apartment.
"Yes." I said. He looked around. "Out."
"You're very rude." He said. "We angels are supposed to kind and courteous to our guests." He grinned at me.
"I don't trust most angels anymore." I said bitterly.
He looked sadly at me. Anger prickled through me. "Get out." I hissed. "Please." I added.
He looked at me and then walked up and put his hands on my arms. He looked me right in the eye and I felt my cheeks burning.
"Please, coming flying with me. You should really being flying often. You don't want to get soft especially if the fallen is coming after you." He reminded me softly. A crooked smile crossed his face. "Besides, I need you to protect me."
"Me?" I squeaked rather stupidly. "Why do you need my protection?"
"It's unwise to go out alone in these dark times." He said. He had a sad puppy dogface. "Please." He put his chin on my shoulder and whispered in my ear. "Please. You're not going to be cruel and make me beg on my knees are you?"
My skin burned. "All right. I'll go get dressed." I shut the door and locked it. "Wait here." I said.
He looked thoughtful and grinned prevertedly. "Maybe I don't want to wait here."
I smacked him. "Damn pervert."
He laughed. "You shouldn't cuss, you are an angel."
"You shouldn't be a pervert, you are an angel." I retorted.
He laughed.
I walked into my room and shut the door firmly. I found a backless halter top and a pair of artfully ripped jeans. I pulled on a pair of black boots and brushed my hair. I took off the bracelet and put it in a locked jewelry box. My wings burst from my back with a sharp aching pain. I stretched the stiff muscles and walked back out.
Aidan had his wings too. I noticed a shell necklace was missing from his neck. They were pitch black and stuck neatly out of his shoulder blades and in the middle of his back there was a curling tattoo. Then I realized he had taken off his shirt. He had deeply tanned skin that was a bronzy gold, like the type of tan everyone tries to achieve. I blushed.
He turned around and I saw that he had an eight pack. Oh God help me. My ears have been burned off. He laughed, knowing exactly what was causing my embarrassment.
"'S not funny." I murmured. "Get a shirt on."
"Why?" He asked. "It's easier to fly without a shirt on."
"Get over it and put your shirt back on." I said. I looked away and tried to quell the squiggles and butterflies in my stomach and the heat and tingling that was spreading everywhere. "Do you have the gift of healing?"
"Yes."
My head snapped up and I glared at him. "Then stop it!"
He frowned. He looked very confused. "Stop what?"
"Stop making my body act all…funny." I said. I felt stupid for saying it and even more embarrassed. Damn him.
He walked over to me until I could feel the sweet heat radiating off his skin. His eyes were smoldering and I forgot why I hated him. Hell, I forgot how to breathe. "I'm not doing anything, on purpose." He wrapped his arms around me.
I pushed on his chest. "Let me go."
He grinned. "You say that a lot. I'm just teleporting."
I could feel the change in the air and the room blurred. My skin felt cool and moist and the air smelled like night. Before my apartment completely disappeared, I thought I heard someone knocking on my door.
