Chapter 15
Reece decided that the best way to unwind on the evening before Opening Night was a high-stakes poker game at the local bar. It had been a few weeks since he was last there. When he arrived, he sauntered over to a table at the end of the bar. "You guys starting up a game?"
A man, apparently the ring leader of the table, looked up, "We just ended a game and then our fourth man had to leave." The man looked over Reece, "Think you can handle a game?"
"I'd sweep you gentlemen clean, but tonight I'm only here to unwind."
"A boaster, eh?" The man bellowed in laughter. "Let's see if you can sweep us clean as you say."
Reece was about to correct the man, but the look he just received egged him on. "Ok…you asked for it. Deal me in!" Reece sat down at the table as a waitress came by.
"Would you like to order a drink, Sir?"
Reece glanced up, "Sure…a round for all of us."
"Well, looks like you're a big spender." The man whistled. "It's only gonna be more pleasurable to take your money then."
"We shall see." Reece confidently retorted. "Just deal."
The man grunted a protest to being ordered around, but dealt the cards anyway. Within moments the game was underway. While going through the motions, Reece let his mind half wander about Opening Night.
Dinner had been awkward that night. Angel had made it clear that she wasn't interested in conversation. Erik felt terrified, especially after various times he tried to simply either take her hand, steal a kiss or other such nonsense. Her retreat from his advances hadn't gone unnoticed by the others.
As dinner was winding down, Erik was about to turn to Angel for a request. He watched as she stood up and walked out of the room before he had a chance to open his mouth. Araphim had even called out to her, but it went ignored.
"I don't like this, one bit." Andrew replied after she was gone. He turned pointedly to Araphim, "What were you talking about in there?"
Araphim shook his head, "I had thought she had come to terms with what you had told her, Andrew. But it seems that she still needs time."
Erik fiddled with his napkin while the others talked amongst themselves. I can't have Chancellor Cheyvon's presence ruin my planned night. Quickly he glanced up, "Excuse me." And with that he left the room in the direction Angel had gone. He caught up to her in their room. She was in the midst of stuffing some clothes into a duffel bag when he walked in on her. Erik stood frozen in the doorway, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. Angel knew he was there, but didn't stop to acknowledge him. "Angel?" Finally she spared a moment and looked at him. He saw the tears in her eyes.
"Don't. Just don't, Erik." He was unprepared as she slid the ring off her finger and tossed it to his feet. "Screw waiting for clearance. I'm leaving." She turned back to pile more clothes into her bag.
Erik crouched down and picked up the ring, looking at it fearfully before returning his gaze to her. "Please don't leave." Anger then ignited in him when he thought that he'd never get to play for her now…and the fact that she was planning to run away. She shouldered her bag, and reached the doorway. "Stop right now." His forceful tone gave her pause. She stood facing him, slight anger for his interruption. "If you are planning on leaving…at least you can humor me and let me play one last time for you."
"Fine." Angel said nothing more as she sat down on the bed after dropping her bag to the floor at her feet.
Erik set the violin on his chin, and made a speech before playing, "I've been writing this just for you. It's about you. I've titled it…Angel." The notes began softly at first before transforming into something fierce and erotic.
Angel then realized that this was the piece he'd been working on that afternoon she had felt the urge to use her power on him. The memory tore at her heart, but she did not cry. Instead, she was mesmerized by the flow of his hands—swiftly fluttering over the strings and creating the seductive tune. Oh Erik. We may both regret this later on, but… "I'll stay." She knew he heard her, as his response was in the form of a small smile.
Erik played out the whole tune, grateful that she had changed her mind. After a few minutes more, he let the melody drift into silence. Confidently he set his instrument down and approached her. Eagerly, she offered her hand back to him—allowing him to slip the ring back on her finger. "We'll get through this….just trust me."
She nodded before tightly embracing him. It was late now and he could see she was tired. Angel gasped briefly when he scooped her into his arms and gently set her under the covers. "Sleep well tonight, my love." And he placed a kiss on her lips.
He then attempted to leave her side, assuming that she'd want the space after this ordeal. Erik was startled when her hand latched onto his arm, "Stay with me." He found himself unable to deny her wishes. Within moments, he was settling underneath the covers, curling against her tightly.
Andrew, Finn and Tobias followed Araphim outside. "Well I had hoped dinner was more jovial that it turned out."
"Considering the circumstances, it should not have been a surprise, Father Keirnan."
"Your Grace, can you tell us what you and Angel talked about? What made her so upset?" Finn timidly glanced at Araphim.
"Angel verbally exclaimed that she felt my presence here tonight was a foreboding of something terrible." Araphim noticed that his ride was waiting for him at the curb. "Well, gentlemen, dinner was quite interesting at the least." He put his hand on Tobias's shoulder, but addressed them all, "I am quite pleased that you have done your jobs so well. If only I would have not convinced our Sanction to welcome Reece into our group, then these things would have gone so much differently."
"But then we may have never have gotten Angel." Tobias replied.
"Perhaps…perhaps not. There is really no way of knowing, Father Bennett." Araphim bid adieu to them and climbed into the cab. Finn and Tobias claimed exhaustion and headed back inside.
Andrew stared up at the sky for a moment, "I do so hope that Angel's uneasiness is severely unnecessary. May we be ever so ready for whatever comes our way."
"Stay away from me, you damned delinquent!" Jeannette spat at Angel.
Angel merely frowned, not understanding why her power hadn't worked on her mother. "I'm not a delinquent!" Angel shouted back as she stomped her foot.
"Reece, reign in your little delinquent before I murder her!" Jeannette's shout brought him into the room.
"What is going on here?"
"Your little rat here is trying to stir up trouble." She replied.
"Angel, is this true?" He turned to the little girl.
"No, Daddy!" Angel protested. "And I'm not a rat!"
"She tried to use her power on me." Her mother revealed.
Reece turned back to Angel, "In your room. NOW!" Angrily, Angel huffed off, leaving a string of cuss words behind her. "I apologize, Jeannette. Angel was just…"
"Don't you dare apologize for that devil child." She threw a dishrag into the sink. "Honestly, Reece, I don't know why you just don't hand her over to Cheyvon already."
"No way. I'm not handing her off to that madman." Reece shot back. Angel listened in on the argument, instead of having gone back to her room. She had hoped her father would stick up for her. "Angel stays with me. If you don't like it…then just leave."
Jeannette said nothing as she stormed from the room, but Reece knew that she was taking him up on his suggestion. That was the last that Angel had seen of her mother.
"Good…she's finally gone!" Angel boasted as she walked back into the room.
Instead, Reece spun on his heal, "Don't be so quick to cheer. What you did was completely out of line. What have I told you about using your powers on others…especially those you love?!"
"I'm sorry, Daddy!" Angel cried out. "I promise never to use it on those I love. But I didn't love her."
"Of course you do." Reece angrily grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "That was your mother. You only get one and now she's gone." That had made Angel feel slightly bad. "I know you two didn't get along well." Reece suddenly shook his head at her, "Nonetheless, you still need to be punished for breaking my rules."
Angel's eyes slightly opened and she felt tears hit her cheeks. Her muffled cries into her pillow had awoken Erik. "Angel?" She didn't respond to him and he raised himself up on his arm. He reached with his other hand and gently nudged her arm. Again she didn't respond. "Angel, what's wrong?" Finally, he pulled her to face him and she only buried her tear-stained face into his exposed chest. Erik reached around and tightly held her to him. "It's ok, Angel. It was just a nightmare." He rocked her gently.
Finally, she had calmed down enough to speak. "…Erik…" She clung to him. Angel still felt the dread of her concern from Araphim's appearance at dinner the previous night—even though she was repeatedly assured otherwise. She could not shake the fact that something big was going to happen. Angel pulled back slightly and looked Erik straight in the eye, "Never forget that I'll always love you…no matter what happens."
Erik furrowed his brow in concern before softening his gaze at her, "What is this nonsense, Angel? How can I ever forget that you love me?" Angel kissed his bare shoulder. How could she put into words the intense dread she felt? No, she wouldn't express her concerns now. She realized that she should just soak up as much as she could of Erik.
She trailed her hands down his scarred face, continuing over his firm abs. In a whisper she choked out, "Make love to me Erik…slowly and sensually….like it was the first time…" Slowly her eyes wandered up to his. Erik absently nodded before pulling her close to him and kissed her.
Just as he was about to fulfill her desires, an impatient knock on their bedroom door interrupted them. Erik groaned, but Angel called out rudely, "GO AWAY!" But the knocker insisted.
"Angel, that wasn't very nice." Erik reprimanded her and got up to answer the door after making sure he was presentable. "Father Keirnan?"
"Good morning, Erik!" He cheerfully called out. Angel only grunted in anger. "And good morning to you, Angel." Andrew grinned slightly. "What's the problem?"
"You!" Angel spat. "Everyone!"
Andrew frowned but Erik sheepishly explained, "We were…just about to have an intimate moment…"
"Oh, good heavens, forgive me Angel." Andrew quickly turned to her. "But Chancellor Cheyvon wanted to meet with you sometime today—preferably before Skywalker."
Angel sat up, making sure to cover herself properly, "Very well then. I shall humor him." In her anger, she had turned her power on Andrew, "Now leave."
"Yes, of course." Andrew swiftly carried out the command. Only at the bottom of the stairs did he realize what she had just done.
Erik realized right away, "Angel!"
Startled, she turned to him, "What?"
"I can't believe you just did that." He scolded. Angel knew exactly what she did and she neither defended herself nor protested Erik's reaction of it. She merely shrugged. That angered Erik. "Wouldn't Reece be so proud of you now." Those words slipped from him before he could stop himself. Suddenly, Angel was on her feet and had slapped him across the good side of his face.
"How dare you?" Angel clenched her fist at her side, "How could you say such a thing?!" Tears began to form in her eyes and she slowly backed away from him as she shook her head disbelievingly. "Do you think that I want this…this power? I hate it!" She turned and began to dress. "This god damned Prophecy has ruined my life! First I've had to tread carefully about speaking to others—even casually. Then I was duped to believe that the man that started this whole thing was my father—when my real father was killed! And then that very same man is a threat to the relationship I'm trying to normally have!" Angel reached the door by this time, "Cheyvon showed up last night for a reason. I don't know when, where or how…but something big is going to happen. And when it does, you and I will be finished and all your attempts to reach me again will be useless." She walked down the hall, leaving Erik with that foreboding warning.
Next Chapter Soon...