ACT 2

Chapter 10

It was just after midnight two days before Agent Sim's arrival in Louisianna, that Angel turned the van onto Decatur St nestled in the French Quarter of New Orleans, the headlights reflecting on the windows at the corner. He scanned ahead a few yards and found a good spot and pulled the van to the side of the street. Shifting into park, Angel turned off the headlights.

Charlotte had been quiet almost the entire drive and Angel had not tried to initiate much conversation. They spoke mostly at rest stops and gas stations and it was pretty much just about who got to go the bathroom first and how much chocolate Angel had to get.

The silence ate at Angel's heart. The bond between had taken a punch, and he wondered if they'd get that back. The drive didn't do much to ease his worry. Hopefully, Cassie would be able to help. He'd called her in the morning as they were packing up the van and told her he was coming to stay a few days with her, and had something important he needed her help with. Cassie asked what it was about but Angel asked her to wait. She'd agreed and told him she would wait up for him.

When he clicked the headlights off, Charlotte lifted her head off the window shed been propped against, resting. and looked around, "Are we here?"

"Almost." Angel tapped the wheel, organizing all the jumbled thoughts he'd had all day and turned to Charlotte with a decision, "Cassie lives above her shop a block away. When we get there, I'm going to go up first and tell her about you. Not about your powers but that I found you a couple of weeks ago with no memories of who you are so I took you in. It's a flimsy story but I just need her to know the basics until she meets you."

"Thank you for saying 'power' and not 'demon'." The small switch told her he was trying not to add to her wounded emotions, and it meant a lot to her.

Angel nodded, "That's another reason why I'm going to hold back some details at first. See, I spent my life dismissing Cassie's passion for witchcraft and the supernatural. It caused tension when we were kids and then she left early because our parents were strict Catholics and preached at her until she couldn't take it, anymore. I should have been more supportive."

He takes a deep breath through his nose, releasing a soft sigh, and then adds with a light grin, "But, since she harped on me for years that she had 'the gift', I want to see it in action, for real. I want to see how she reacts to meeting you. See if she senses your power."

"I don't want to frighten her."

"In that regard, trust me that Cassie does not frighten easy. If she's as powerful as she's claimed to me over the years, then if anything, she's going to be very curious. Will you be okay with her scrutiny?"

"I need it. I want her to dig at me, ask anything she wishes as long as it helps me remember myself."

"Good. I want that, too." The tone of his voice was thick. He truly hoped Cassie could help. He felt that Charlotte had so much more to her, and it was all good. Starting the van up, he pulled out and drove to the corner, turning right and coasting about twenty yards to park in front of his sister's shop with her apartment above. He takes the key out of the ignition and pockets it, opening the door, "I won't be long."

"Should I get in the back and go invisible?" She looked out the window, seeing a few people still out enjoying the warm night.

"No, it's okay. You have nothing to hide, here." Charlotte smiled at that, "Just lock the doors."

She did as Angel asked after he'd slid out of the van and shut the door. She watched Angel walk around the van to stand on the sidewalk in front of what she assumed was Cassie's shop. Her eyes drew up the sidewalk to the door and the sign above it announcing the store as :Charmed, I'm Sure: and smiled softly.

Angel looked over his shoulder and gave Charlotte a nod and walked to the side door and rang the buzzer. A moment later, a click of the lock told him it was open and he pulled the door wide and stepped through. Walking up the stairs, he reached the landing and saw two doors, one to the left and one to the right and turned left. He knocked.

He heard the shuffle of a lock and a click, and light flooded out from the room as the door opened and there stood his sister, Cassie Collins, dressed in a soft green top with a white shawl around her shoulders and black leggings hugging her slender legs. Her brown eyes sparkled at him and her hair was tied up behind her in a braid, wearing a beautiful crystal amulet.

"Hey, sis."

Cassie stepped forward and pulled Angel into an embrace. "I'm so sorry about last night."

Angel absorbed the embrace and support, squeezing back, then broke the hug, "Thanks, sis, I.. I wish I'd gotten there in time."

"Is that why you wanted to come stay for a few days? Finally take a little time for yourself?"

"Funny enough, I'm not here for me. I have something I need to tell you."

Cassie stepped aside for Angel to come in and asked if he wanted anything to drink. Angel noticed a small selection of liquor on one of Cassie's cabinets but opted instead for some green tea. She prepped their teas and handed one hot cup to him and sat down at the rectangle kitchen table to his right.

Angel then went on to tell his modified story about Charlotte.

.

.

Outside in the van, Charlotte yawned loudly. She hadn't gotten much rest on the drive as her mind kept repeating the night before mixed with worry that Cassie wouldn't be able to help her. She cursed herself for putting this off for so long but the missions were more important. Then Angel became very important to her and her love for him meant she needed to know herself and she deeply hoped the answer would give them the freedom to be together.

Another yawn told her to stop and take care of herself and she submitted to the pull and rested her head against the window again, and allowed the cloak of sleep to drape over her. She didn't know how long she'd been out when she was brought out by a soft tap at her window. Opening her eyes, she saw Angel's soft face and couldn't help but smile warmly back. She unlocked the door and he opened it up.

"Are you ready?"

The smile wavered, "I think so."

"Be brave, Charlotte, Cassie already promised to do everything in her power to help."

He helped her down to the cobblestone sidewalk, and lead her up to Cassie's apartment. He opened the door and stepped through, with Cassie standing from the kitchen table to come over to greet them.

"Cassie, this is Charlotte. Charlotte, my sister Cassie Collins."

Charlotte found herself blushing, sudden shyness making her drop her eyes submissively. Cassie was a strong presence and she felt power. Cassie, taking Charlotte' hand, smiled with sincere warmth, "It is such a pleasure to meet you, Charlie."

The shyness helped sooth her reply, but her emotions bristled at the butchering of her name and she looked up with a polite but bold correction, "It's Charlotte."

Cassie smirked at Charlotte' reaction, but the smile waned as she too felt power in the air., The hairs on the back of her neck rose and an unseen tinge of electric force traveled between their coupled hands. She looked at Angel who was watching the interchange with keen interest.

Letting Charlotte's hand go, "I'm sorry, sweetie, I didn't mean to offend." Turning to Angel, "Will you help me gather some of my items from the shop?" Back to Charlotte, "There's water on the kitchen table for you. Have a seat and we'll be right back, okay?"

The warmth of the greeting was now mixed with tension but Charlotte nodded and went to sit down. Cassie motioned for Angel to follow her and he did. Cassie moved swiftly down the stairs and with a key in her hand whisked from somewhere on her person, quickly unlocked the door and ushered him through. Once he was past her in the shop, she stepped in, turned and locked the door and spun around at Angel.

"Kevin! Do you have any idea at all what you have up there?" Cassie hissed.

Angel feigned ignorance, but was impressed and told himself a lot of apologies were going to happen soon, "What do you mean, Sis?"

"I felt power. Real supernatural power from her. She's not human!"

Angel knew he needed to ask the next question even though he felt he knew the answer, "Does she feel evil to you?"

Cassie blinked. What a weird question, and then she looked at him fully, "You know!"

"I knew from the first night I found her"

Closing her eyes, Cassie sighed, "You wanted to see if I was as real I've tried to convince you for all these years."

"I'm sorry, Sis, but yes. My faith, beliefs, everything I've always thought I've known has been thrown in a blender and I wanted to see how you'd react to her. I owe you years of apologies. You are real, and yes, Charlotte's a demon."

Cassie looked up knowing now a demon was sitting at her kitchen table, sipping ice water. She thought on the meeting and holding Charlotte's hand in hers, how she blushed, looked shy but also defended her name. None of it felt off, none of it felt bad.

None of it felt evil.

"I felt power, Kevin, raw power more than anything I've ever felt before and trust me, I've dealt in a lot of power over the years. But evil? No. Strength, energy and even what felt like real love…"

She looked at Angel at that, "But I have to admit that I only feel goodness in her. I was taken aback and worried about you, so I had to get you away and ask."

"I firmly believed all of that before coming here but your affirmation is a bonus." Angel said, "She doesn't know who she is or where she's from, but she is growing and learning to harness new powers and tricks on a steady level the past few months, and who knows what else she has yet to discover."

"Months? You told me you.."

Cutting Cassie off, Angel looked apologetic, "I lied. I didn't want to have to explain too much before you got to meet her."

The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place for Cassie quickly. Her brother may be the smartest Collins in the family but she was a very close second and it dawned on her, "She's the reason you've been clearing missions so quickly. She's been helping you."

Angel nodded, "She saved the boy in the river, the girls at the farmhouse and helped me apprehend a lot of bad people by using her powers."

"How is it no one's found her out?"

"Invisibility is one of her gifts."

"Wow." Cassie whistled, "I mean, I know a great deal about demonology, but I've never even considered that one could be so.. so… pure. It throws out so much of the academia. But, I gotta ask you. Do you think it's a good idea she rediscover herself? What if the real her is hidden under the sweetness and she's…"

Angel held up his hand, "I though that the first night, too, sis but she had every chance to kill me the first time she turned. If you'd heard her scared voice coming out of that thing, the fear of rejection? No, I trust her and I trust that the real Charlotte will be as amazing as this one is. Do you think you can help?"

"I don't know, but I promised you I'd try and I will." She paused, thinking, "Give me tomorrow to look over my books and call up some friends as well as commune with the Frequencies. I wont' tell anyone but I do have questions I need to get answers to so I have an idea where to start. With a normal person, I'd use my crystals and some natural remedies and meditation techniques, but this is a whole new world for me."

"We need a day to throw away. I'll take her out to explore the French Quarter, I think she'll love the chance to let loose after the what happened last night." Angel's meaning was doubled but Cassie assumed it was just the loss of the girl and nodded.

"Great idea. I'll show her around my store after it closes and explain some of what I plan to use, so she gets comfortable with me. I'm going to have to text my assistant to see if she'll come in on her day off so I can do research." Cassie offers a smile, "So, let's go have a proper introduction, shall we?"

Angel nodded and they went back upstairs. Charlotte looked up as they entered and she stood, the power in the air had returned with Cassie and she was on guard. Cassie walked briskly over to Charlotte and held out her hand again, and Charlotte tentatively took it.

"Charlie." Cassie purposely teased, seeing Charlotte's black eyes flicker red, and grasped her power and continued, "I am so very pleased and honored to meet you. Angel's told me everything about you and I promise you I will try to help you in any way possible."

Charlotte asked Angel with a look if everything meant everything and he nodded.

"You're not afraid?"

"Angel's not. So why should I be? I sensed your power when you came in. I was concerned then, which is why I whisked Angel off to help me, but the fact is the power I'm sensing is pure. You may be a demon by name, but I'm confident the real you isn't evil. We'll find out, either way, when we get your memories back."

Charlotte sniffed, her eyes wet and she lowered her head, "I'm scared."

Cassie stepped forward and pulled Charlotte into an embrace, one that told Charlotte she was safe and in the arms of someone who truly cared and she wept quietly, as the pain and fear she'd been bottling up drained away.

"I know, sweetie, there are so many questions to be answered, but we'll find them, together. Okay?"

Charlotte nodded against Cassie's shoulder.

Angel spoke up, "I haven't been here since you moved locations and I didn't ask you about how many bedrooms you had, since I kept Charlotte a secret, but.. sleeping arrangements?"

Cassie smirked, "It's obvious. I get my room, Charlotte gets the guest room and you.."

"Couch. Right. At least it's not a pair of chairs."

Cassie's eyebrows lifted in humored curiosity but instead said, "I'll get you some blankets and pillows. Feel free to shower before bed. I took mine earlier. Plenty of hot water for you both in turn. I'm going to retire now, so I can be up at the crack of dawn and text my assistant and start on research."

Cassie gave Charlotte a motherly peck on her forehead, and lifted her chin, "Let your mind be free tonight, Hun, and dream wonders."

The softness and kindness felt familiar, the same familiarity when Angel had first asked her name and it made her feel safe. She nodded and smiled softly, "I think I can. Thank you, Cassie."

"Good. Your room is the door at the end of the hallway on the left. Bathroom's on the right. The room is made up, so just make yourself at home." She let go of Charlotte and walked to the hall way closet and pulled out two blankets and pillows she had stored. She gave them to Angel then bid the pair goodnight and added to not clean up, as she'll do that in the morning, and closed her bedroom door.

Charlotte watched the door close and looked to Angel, "You can shower first. I'll go check out my new room."

Angel shook his head, "I'm going to get some sleep now. I'm too tired to move. You go. I know you love losing yourself in the hot water until it's gone. You can have the longest hot shower you need, okay?"

Charlotte wasn't sure if she wanted to lose herself in the hot water again for a while but was grateful to be able to go wash up and scrub away some of her pain. She also realized in that moment it would be the first time she'd be sleeping alone and it made her heart ache a bit. She nodded at his offer and went up to him and slipped her arms around his waist and squeezed, silently telling him she forgave him. He squeezed back. They parted and Charlotte went to check out her room and then take a very long, very hot shower.

Angel dropped to the couch and took off his boots and socks and settled down under the blanket, laying his head back against the soft featherly pillow. He let out a sigh, letting all the tension that he'd collected on the drive slip away and promptly fell asleep.

*****************END CHAPTER******************