Forbidden (25 page)

“They can’t help you now, Paulson the Pervert. You shoulda left those poor kids alone, ’cause now you’re mine. And tonight, you begin reaping what you sowed.” She laughed and pushed his pale shivering image away. “Toot-a-loo boys!” she called to her audience, and sauntered off, tugging the imprint by the ankle like a wayward kite. Gary’s tortured cries scraped against the night sky as they faded into nothing.

Jamael sat on the dirty white linoleum with his head in his hands. Raph and Gabe wanted to comfort him, to reassure him that he wouldn’t be responsible for the man’s death, but they remained in place, staring at their brother. Michael knew they wanted answers about Sophia and her ability to see into
both
spirit worlds. And Michael was finally ready to unburden his secret, but not in the company of demons.

“The show is over,” he told Dante. “You can leave now.” Michael rarely stuck around to watch reapers work, and he was disgusted by Teriza’s theatrics. It was disturbing to see the dark side of humanity get its due, however deserving. But he wouldn’t leave Jamael until the demons had gone.

Dante laughed. “I think I would like to see the second act. You know, the one where two guardians turn on their brother for keeping secrets?” He smiled against Michael’s flat stare. “I haven’t seen this one before, but let me speculate on the plot. There is a beautiful human girl, played by, hmm … let’s call her Sophia, shall we? Sophia comes upon a loser guardian angel called Michael Patronus while he is working on some pathetic human. What’s this? She sees him in spirit form? He is stunned and doesn’t know what to say.” Dante faked surprise. “Enter Degan the soul seeker who is out trolling for souls. Sophia sees him as well. More surprise and confusion! After all, a mere human should not have the ability to see into the spirit world. But more disturbing, this human can see into
both
spirit worlds, and this can only be dangerous. However, loser Guardian Michael withholds this vital information from his brothers because …”

Dante paused dramatically, and the air hummed with spiritual energy. He strolled around Michael, pondering the possibilities.
Why would a guardian keep secrets from another guardian?
They worked as a team, relying on each another. Trust was pivotal to their work; it should be without question. But why then …

It must be Sophia. Dante remembered the peculiar way Michael behaved around her. How he tracked her aura throughout the school when he couldn’t see her. And how he tried to take her away in the park. Michael’s behavior was not just protectiveness; it was too possessive, too … 
human
.

A spark of awareness came to Dante. He stared hard at Michael, releasing his
demon to infiltrate Michael’s subconscious. Michael folded his arms, posturing his indifference to Dante’s games. Persuasion was stopped cold, and Dante shrugged without surprise.

“Fine then,” he said as though they had been speaking aloud. He stepped closer and lowered his voice so Wolfgang and the others couldn’t hear. “Let me tell you what is on
my
mind. Whatever you think is happening with Sophia, whatever attachment you may have developed with her … you will not interfere with me. Do you understand, guardian? Sophia belongs to
me
.”

“Kill her and you lose her soul, and you know it,” Michael said through his teeth.

“She is already mine and I will have her. Any. Way. I. Like—”

Michael suddenly backhanded Dante across the cheek. His head snapped to the side and his hair fell into his eyes.

Raph and Gabe gasped in shock. They flashed to Michael’s side, palming the daggers at their hips. They braced themselves for what would have to be a swift and deadly retaliation.

Vaughn and Wolfgang flinched at the unexpected attack. They had never seen anyone strike Dante before, and they watched eagerly for his response. Like the others, they assumed it would be quick and brutal.

Michael’s eyes were hard crystal prisms and energy pulsated from him. Barely able to maintain control, he lowered his hands as sharp fetching rose on the back of his forearms. He was ready. He wanted this.

Dante touched his lip and came away with black blood. Despite his cool demeanor, Persuasion raged inside him, emitting a low, guttural growl. Dante steeled himself against the urge clawing up his chest. He glared at Michael with a mixture of hatred and triumph. It was as he suspected, and he gave a strained chuckle.

“If I didn’t know better, guardian, I would say that felt like
jealousy
.”

Raph and Gabe bristled at the statement. There was a moment of silence as Michael made his decision. Things had gone sideways, no point in stopping now.

“I will take Sophia’s soul myself before I let you touch it,” he announced to the horror of his brothers. It was a monumental threat no angel would think of uttering. The demons, too, were shocked and reached for their weapons, but Dante raised a hand, staying them.

“What’s the matter, Dante?” Michael taunted. “You know guardians don’t have first strike against demons. I took it anyway. You’re free to attack. Let’s go.” He opened his arms, giving Dante an opportunity. His fetching tightened, ready to slice the demon’s throat.

“Nice try, guardian. But you see, I have no plans to return so soon. That
is
what you want, yes? By provoking me?” He laughed in Michael’s face. “No, as a matter of fact, I am just getting started in Haven Hurst. By the time I finish with Sophia, she will
beg
me to Take her soul. And
that
is a promise.”

Affliction began twirling Vaughn’s daggers across his palms, and Impatience elongated Wolfgang’s fingernails into claws. Dante knew they were on the brink and struggling to control their demons. A fight with guardians would ease their needs. But it could send them all below, and that was a risk Dante would not take.

“Easy, boys, I think Michael has all the demons he can handle at the moment. Don’t you,
angel
?” He spit black blood at Michael’s feet. “Seeing shades of gray, are we? I wonder what The Council would say about your obsession with Sophia. Not to mention what the Grigori will think.” Dante’s eyes danced at Michael’s surprise. “Yes, we have not forgotten about them. Rather a ruthless band of angels, even for Fallen ones, don’t you think?” He laughed against Michael’s elevated rage. “With jealousy like yours, I would say you have already succumbed to the first forbidden emotion: desire. Not that I blame you; Sophia is rather beautiful. But if the Grigori and the Halos find out,
you
are likely to become the prey.” Dante turned to leave and glanced at Raph and Gabe. “Keep him away from Sophia. If he crosses me again, I will drag him down with me. And you do not want to know what they do to guardians in Hell.”

“Don’t threaten us, demon,” Raph sneered. “We’ll send you down to the pit where you belong. I hear the Death Bunker is bloody this time of year.”

Wolfgang pointed his dagger-like claw at Raph and growled, “We’ll see you there, boy.”

Dante grabbed Wolfgang’s arm, and the demons stepped back, slowly fading until they were gone.

Chapter 23

The Use of Fowl Language and Then One Giant Leap for Me

It’s seven o’clock on the morning of the festival and the town square is already crowded with volunteers and committee members checking booths and last-minute changes. All four roads around the park are barricaded and packed with booths not yet open. The pony ride apparatus is ready and waiting for ponies. The petting zoo is finally under control, goats secure inside.

Uriel is in charge of any and all animals and has his hands full. I peer over the fence at him in mucking boots, jeans, and a flannel shirt. Goats and sheep surround him, anxious for the smelly oat mixture he’s pouring into a trough.

“Morning,” I call from behind.

“Morning, Sophia,” he says without looking up.

That was weird
. I’ve never even spoken to him before. How the heck did he know it was me?

“You got animal duty at the festival, huh?”

“I like animals,” Uriel states the obvious. He shoves his gloves into his back pocket and winds his way through the small herd. “Where are you working?”

“I’m mostly taking photos. You know, all the booths and events. Ribbon ceremonies, musical groups, stuff like that. So anyway, I was wondering, when’s a good time to take some photos here?”

We watch the animals devour the buffet while he thinks. “Hmm, mornings are better, when they’re eating, I guess.” I nod, making a mental note. Then he says, “So, when are you walking the ducks over?”

My eyebrows shoot up and I laugh. “Well, nobody’s ever asked me
that
before. What ducks?”

“Norah and Gracie’s ducks. Bailey said you guys were walking them over this morning.”

He is serious.

“Oh, I didn’t know I was on duck-walking duty. I’ll have to check with Bailey on that.”

“Make sure you do. I’d like to get Siegfried and Roy acclimated with the other animals. You know, to avoid any territorial issues before the peahens arrive.”

Again, he is serious.

“Siegfried and Roy are ducks?” I ask, and he shrugs sheepishly and then we both laugh. After a moment, I let my eyes wander around the square, contemplating how to ask where Michael might be working. I clear my throat and act all nonchalant. “So, I heard your family provides the horses for the pony rides.”

“Just Michael. And there’s only six ponies this year. But they’re a huge hit. All the children love it when he brings them out. They’re so gentle and well-behaved.”

“The children?”

“No, the ponies.” He laughs, and it sounds like something you’d hear in Santa’s workshop.

My pocket vibrates and I check a text.
Momzilla vs Baileyanator!
pops on the screen. Uh-oh.

I tell Uriel I’ll come around another morning for a photo op, and then head to Bailey’s B and B.

It’s a red and white Victorian home converted into a small hotel. Tall and thin, it has a narrow porch, white columns, and a balcony over the porch. A white picket fence borders the lawn, giving the property a homey feel. It’s cozy and adorable and completely booked for the duration.

I arrive just as Bailey is shimmying down a drainpipe next to an open window. She takes hold of the lattice covered with vines and works her way down. She lets go, sticks the landing, and brushes her hands clean. A professional.

“Hey.” She nods.

“What’s up?”

“I gave Momzilla some slight myth-information about a test score. She wants to ground me but I told her I’ve got obligations coming out the wazoo today.” She pushes through the side gate and we cut across the neighbor’s lawn without a backward glance.

I match her stride as she picks up speed. “But your grades are okay? You’re still on track for college?” Bailey is destined for Columbia University, and I have serious college envy.

“Shit, Sophia, you sound like my mom. Grades are fine. I’m fine. Well ahead of the curve. Plus, I’ve got three letters of recommendation in the works, so chill.” She gives
me a look that says I should worry about my own grades.

I do. All the freaking time.

“Well, anyway. You won’t believe what Uriel just said to me.”

“Uh … he wants to Faceboink you?”

I don’t even want to know what that means, so I explain about the ducks.

She laughs. “What the hell do you think we’re doing now?”

Up the next driveway is Norah and Gracie’s house. Gracie ushers us around back where their pet ducks live in a mini oasis complete with a tiny pool and two hammocks.
Jeez, I wanna be a duck
.

We each take a duck by the leash and the four of us waddle up the walk. Bailey isn’t fazed by what we’re doing, but I’m laughing hysterically on the inside.

It doesn’t take long to reach the park; the ducks seem to know the way. As we cross the lawn, we spot Duffy monkeying up the flagpole. He’s wearing a rainbow propeller hat with a NY Jets jersey. Apparently, “somebody” tied a pair of sneaks to the flag, and Duffy has been ordered to retrieve them. Mayor Jones is standing below with his hands on his hips and a scowl on his face. Duffy drops a shoe and nearly hits the mayor on his bald spot. The mayor wails in surprise and startles the ducks. Their heads rise up like ET and they start quacking and flapping erratically.

Duffy yells down, “Hey, shut the
duck
up!”

Bailey yells up, “
You
shut the duck up!”

We laugh, but Mayor Jones is flustered by the uproar and can’t be sure if it was obscene or not. He threatens to give us community service if we don’t get to work.

Bailey and I release the ducks into Uriel’s capable hands and we are free to go. As we bisect the square heading to the café, we’re bombarded with “Good morning” and “Hello” from every direction. Shop owners are especially happy, anticipating the customer rush from the festival. Giant signs in their windows scream
OPEN!
like angry text messages.

I discreetly scope out the square for Michael. I haven’t seen him much since that bizarre conversation at last week’s football game, when he basically told me to stay away from Dante like a jealous boyfriend. And then, nothing. He doesn’t talk to me. He doesn’t look at me. He doesn’t plan time to work on astronomy. He comes and goes from each class like a shadow, and sometimes doesn’t come at all. I don’t know what to think.

Bailey and I troop into the café, wait at the counter while Mollie the barista makes what she thinks we should drink, and then head to the back. Holden and Rachel are sitting intimately close on the couch, so I steer Bailey to a table against the brick wall. It’s not too crowded; most of the seniors are busy putting last-minute touches on their booths.

When we get settled, I’m too quiet and Bailey’s radar picks up my mood.

“Hey, lamb chop, why so saaaad?” She says
sad
like a bleating sheep, and I smile vaguely at the lame joke.

I’m hesitant to explain, still trying to figure out my feelings for Michael. Sometimes I sense a unique connection to him, like that night on the hill before things got weird. Sometimes I have an overwhelming physical need to be with him,
need
being the watchword; it consumes me until I’m trembling and flushed. I wake in the middle of the night covered in sweat. Other times I remember how he spoke to me, how bossy he comes across, how radical his mood swings. And I get infuriated all over again. Mostly I try not to feel anything. I am terrified of letting myself fall in love. I am scared of getting hurt. I don’t know how other girls do it, fall so deeply only to crash and burn. There has been so much pain in my life already, I’m afraid the next heartbreak will send me over the edge.