5

Jare-bear?

Jarmiel’s face dropped. “Don’t call me that.”

“Jarmiel’s such a grump, huh?” The new guy asked me. He maneuvered around the table and got on his knees, as no chair was presented to him. A casual smile graced his face as he crossed his arms on the silver slate.

I looked between him and Jarmiel, or Jare-bear, wondering what their dynamic was. Even what he wore didn’t complement his partner in any way. Jarmiel’s had tight, wrinkle-free clothes, while the second angel had a loosened red tie and brown jacket hanging open. A brass, circular pin with a wing inside, sat proudly above his chest pocket.

“You look childish,” Jarmiel muttered.

The other angel tilted his head further into his forearm, still gazing at me. “My name’s Zakiel, but everyone calls me Zak. Nice to meet you again, Jess.”

He used my name correctly as well, even though he hadn’t been present when I’d corrected Jarmiel. How many others were watching our conversation?

His angelic eyes had a more familiar, human, subtleness to them; warm and a deep shade of brown. As if to reaffirm he was an angel, he showed off his wings. They exited the back of his shirt like lightning bolts frozen in time. The glowing element flickered and danced like fire. I expected to burn the closer they got, but the heat they gave was nothing more than a summer’s breeze.

“You were there,” I said, finally remembering, “You found Peter.”

“That’s me,” he said, “I couldn’t help overhearing Jarmiel butcher this interview. Look, she’s scared. This was a weird, one-time occurrence and you didn’t know what you were doin’. Do I have that right?”

I fidgeted, reminding myself not to slip up just because he was attractive. All angels were, but something about Zak messed with my mind. It could’ve been his wavy hair that made him look like a marble statue come to life, but that seemed too shallow a reason for the sudden desire in telling him all of my dark secrets.

“I’ve seen monsters before, but nothing like that,” I said, “And I’ve never…”

“So, you’ve dealt with this kind of thing before?” His face and his tone perked up. “You’re still pretty young.”

“She’s twenty-one,” Jarmiel said under his breath.

“I thought she was twenty—ah,” Zak snapped his fingers together, “Happy birthday!”

“Thanks…” I said, “I know I’m not a child but I haven’t experienced this before. I have seen what your peacekeepers can do.”

Peacekeepers, at least according to the humans, were “unholy” servants to the angels. Supernatural soldiers that defended the New Peace order in an effort to obtain salvation.

At the conclusion of the war, humans were lost. The fear of demon’s returning turned many into demons themselves. Sure, Hell had been defeated, but Heaven and Hell could never truly die. Terra was without order, so the angels accepted responsibility for “healing” humanity. The New Peace. And EXO kept us out of a war with ourselves.

Peacekeepers and purifiers became the new law enforcement project, hunting unlawful beings that surpassed human control. Purifiers are human but gifted with light magic. Blessed, as they say.

EXO was, at its basic principles, a fight of fire with fire. Not to mention, a controversial nightmare. All parties had issues with weaponizing the supernaturals, either wanting more control or no affiliation whatsoever.

“I’m sorry,” Zak said, “It must have been scary for you.”

His crystal eyes could blink at me all they liked. I stared right back and nodded. In a world with demons and angels, charisma became a dangerous tool. Zak’s smile never wavered. If anything, his lips reached higher up his face.

His volume made me jump. “ Still! You saved your friends back there. That’s pretty cool. How’d you do it? That’s all we want to know. We can find out for ourselves, but I’d rather you just tell us.”

Damn. He sounded so kind but that threat was a block of ice.

“I think I’d like my phone call,” I said, “You do that, right?”

“Am I making you uncomfortable?” Zak asked.

“Not at all.” I decided to be just as sly. One of my aunt’s many talents was distrusting everyone, and how to tell if you were being schmoozed. Zak cloaked his cunning with dazzling light but I could still tell. He wasn’t someone to take lightly.

While Jarmiel sighed and rubbed his temples, Zak kept grinning at me like we were in the thick of a chess match.

“Let’s take her in,” he said suddenly.

Both Jarmiel and I expressed our confusion in unison with pinched brows. Zak chuckled at his partner’s bewilderment. “The council said we could recruit ‘special cases’, right?”

The vein in Jarmiel’s forehead returned with a vengeance. “Zakiel… no.”

“Come on. Show some mercy . She has a good heart, you can see.”

Jarmiel shook his head.

“Jarry…” Zak taunted.

“Even if I agreed, there’s paperwork and divine counseling, not to mention the law ,” he snapped, “You can’t keep—”

“Hey, hey, calm down.” Zak fanned his hands, calming Jarmiel’s emotional flames. “I have a good feeling about this one. We’ll go over all the paperwork together. It’ll be fun.”

I interrupted, “Sorry but what are you talking about?”

Jarmiel clenched his hand into a fist. After he simmered down, his piercing stare fell on me again. “You may have your phone call while I have a word with my partner.”

***

Just as he said, Jarmiel gave me a phone while they stepped out. I didn’t trust that they wouldn’t be eavesdropping or recording everything but I needed to speak to my aunt.

I tried the safe number first.

“The number you have reached is out of service, ple—”

I hung up. Naomi wouldn’t have abandoned me. She had to have a plan of some kind. We’d gone over several scenarios, but not many of them involved me in jail.

I’d just have to be patient and look for signs.

After a stunned few minutes of me suffering an internal panic, Jarmiel walked through the door and flattened his tie to his chest, not making eye contact with his beach-haired companion.

Zak stepped the rest of the way inside and shut the door behind him. “No luck?”

Like he didn’t know. Something about his casual tone rubbed me wrong. Yet, I didn’t get the vibe that he wanted to destroy me. Jarmiel on the other hand hadn’t made an effort to speak. He sat stiffly in his spot at the table and I heard his nostrils flaring. Somehow, he was still impossibly beautiful.

I glowered and slid the phone back over to them.

“Sorry, Jess. We ran into the same issue trying to reach your aunt,” Zak said, “I’m sure she’ll find a way to contact you eventually. For now, I’d love to find the best and most fair solution, but we need to be a little more honest with each other first.”

“You want honesty?” I asked, “I think you’re trying to intimidate me into a false confession, which I don’t think is very angelic .”

His wings faded away in an instant, like he had an on-and-off switch.

“Intimidation wasn’t my intent,” he said, “I can’t tell you what to do but , you should know that we already have a good idea of what you are. You’re not leaving here, Jess.”

I bit my tongue until it bled. Was I headed for prison? Helping Peter and his friends was the wrong choice.

Zak raised a finger. “Unless you’ll hear me out?”

“About your special cases?” I asked.

“Uh-huh. Could I see your hand for a moment?”

Oh no.

Could I just refuse? What would happen to an angel if I touched them?

“I’m just making an observation,” Zak said with a tilt of his head, “Nothing more.”

He reached over the table and I instantly felt dizzy. I didn’t move; a silent confession. A single tear slid down my cheek, further signifying my guilt. I tried to be a decent person. Nev er stole anything… Hell , I was a freaking virgin!

Zak waited. His inviting fingers looked like a guillotine. I met his eyes and the air caught in my throat. I didn’t see a valiant warrior anxious to purge me from the face of the earth.

I saw a man who pitied me.

My heart threatened to explode. His brows pulled slightly inward as he watched me suppress more tears. If they knew everything, there shouldn’t have been pity to give. Not to a demon. I carefully brought my hand forward.

His fingers closed around my skin and I shut my eyes, afraid to see what came next. Would he be in pain? Get angry? A rush of heat and adrenaline flew into my chest and shot to my brain. It wasn’t fear I felt, but bliss. Pure, light, and serene.

And then, fear.

When I tried to pull back, his thumb pressed into my palm. He kept his grip without being too harsh. A new wave hit me; like the gust of a warm summer’s breeze. I almost cried a second time and not from the tense situation. Somehow, I just knew. I’d tasted something vital for the first time.

Peter hadn’t given me that rush.

“There.” Zak’s laugh slapped me out of my trance. “Was that so hard?”

I gaped at him. An angel being a callous bastard? Was that even legal?

I waited for him to retract and look at me in disgust. He did neither. Instead, he turned my hand around to examine my knuck les. “You’re an interesting person, Jess. Do you feel threatened by me?”

That earned a long pause with more of him studying the creases in my wrist. My fingers were on fire now, still taking in whatever that man was made of. Even Jarmiel’s interest peaked. He made an expectant turn to his partner, awaiting further report.

“Yes,” I said. That, and I was in complete awe of what he’d made me feel. A tiny knot formed in my stomach, filled with a new and terrible wanting. It was nothing more than a spec but if that yearning or hunger grew…

I gulped, looking back down at Zak’s hand.

“If it were possible, would you harm me in order to escape?” he asked.

“If I had the choice, I’d get to go home without anyone getting hurt.”

“Good answer.” Zak lifted his handsome face. “Unfortunately, I’m not sure that’s going to happen. I can, however, make you an offer. Come with me to EXO. Become a peacekeeper.”

I thought I misheard him at first. EXO, the headquarters for peacekeepers and purifiers, was what Naomi wanted to protect me from. That and the rest of the world. “You actually want me?” I asked.

“You clearly have some untapped potential,” he said, “This offer includes letting us study you, but I think you’ll find it beneficial to you as well.”

He finally let go of my hand which I greedily stuffed back into my lap. Heavy disappointment followed. I already wanted to feel his comforting sensation again.

Jarmiel, who’d barely said a word, entered the conversation. “In some cases, The Council will grant pardon in exchange for service. You will also learn how to use your strengths more responsibly.”

“As opposed to diluting yourself with various… potions.” Zak turned his head down but his eyes remained up. He revealed a velvet pouch from his jacket, only a few centimeters deep, pulled the ties apart, and dipped a finger into its contents. “This was in your house. Lots of it. I mean, it’s pretty advanced alchemy but I doubt it’s doing anything other than poisoning you.”

Sharp words sat behind my clenched teeth.

Naomi wouldn’t poison me .

Zak brought his coated finger out to examine, “Might make a decent dry rub. Is there rosemary in this?”

“Is EXO my only option?” I asked, my jaw still tight.

“I think it’s a pretty good one, considering your lack of alternatives. I mean, if you have the power to help people, why not try?”

The “potential” he wanted me to tap into could be ugly. Demons were violent and ravenous, but aside from my deadly touch, I never felt like one. I didn’t want to bring anyone harm. Although, my touch hadn’t had much of an effect on Zak. If anything, I felt more than he had.

He flattened his elbows against the table and leaned forward. “Look. This is the best I can come up with. Running got you a few months in jail at least, and, to be honest, I think you’ll enjoy EXO a lot more.”

I blushed, feeling embarrassed about my escape for some reason. “What’ll happen to me? Where is EXO even located?”

Zak beamed at me with a ray of heavenly light. “We’d head to Volhold. EXO has a facility for trainees in the central city. You’d have a room and everything.”

“I would live there?”

“Yes.”

Cold nervousness filled my chest.

Volhold … Central yes, but not only that. The big capital city where the majority of the angels resided and not a short drive from home.

“Is living with demon hunters a bit… moronic?” I asked.

“Not if you’re on our side,” Zak flashed a brilliant smile. “Big decision, I know, but we don’t have lots of time to think it over.”

Jarmiel scoffed, seeming to know something I didn’t. I’d only been told the bad about EXO; angels using supernaturals to even the playing field. Naomi said they were forced into it, like me; given a choice between a rock and a hard place. We sign our lives away to the angels in their hopes that all evil will be destroyed, and us along with it.

On the one hand, EXO could help me learn to control my abilities. Something Naomi never offered to do, or maybe she hadn’t known how. Maybe, I could have the freedom I’d been longing for. At the very least, freedom from the constant worry of killing others.

Naomi wasn’t there to save me, anyway. And if she had a plan, that plan could work better without me behind bars.

“Okay,” I said.

***

Angels wasted no time.

It hadn’t even been a full twenty-four hours since the incident and we were already piling into a car, on our way to EXO. As we left the station, Zak reassured me that the handcuffs around my wrists were just for show at that time. Jarmiel followed us quickly, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were all doing something we weren’t supposed to.

We made it out, only receiving simple nods from the guards. Zak shielded me with his body from most onlookers which I found both comforting and confusing. He kept things that way until we reached a black van parked by the curb.

Jarmiel opened its sleek doors. Going to Volhold meant I was leaving home, and a way for Naomi to reach me, behind. If we wanted to see each other again, we’d have to go through EXO. There was so much I needed to ask her. Was there any thing from my past that Naomi knew about and hadn’t told me?

Like my real parents?

I hesitated by the car door. Jarmiel glanced down at his watch, trying to do so subtly but I still noticed. Even if the an gels were anxious to leave, they were being respectfully silent about it.

When Zak offered to remove my handcuffs, my fingers trem bled something terrible. He chuckled. “Deep breaths, Jess. We don’t need you passing out before we even get there.”

He held his thumb over a smooth metal square connecting the cuffs. A light flickered, followed by a high-pitched beeping, and both bracelets popped open. His hand grazed mine and the spark of heat returned. “I won’t put them back on so long as you don’t try and run again, deal?”

“Sure…”

I slid into the back seat, expecting Zak to do the same, but he never got in the car. Jarmiel, however, did and closed off our row. I looked through the filter of glass at the station and gave Haverwick a silent goodbye.

Zak rapped his knuckles on the driver’s side, and the chauffeur rolled the glass down.

“I’ll see you guys there. If you need me…” He pointed upward with a knowing smile and then left.

“What’s that about?” I asked.

Jarmiel answered with a slight shake of his head. “He doesn’t like small, enclosed spaces.”

Zak unfurled the alien lights from his back, creating wings that were double his arm span out of blazing energy. He pushed off from the ground, disappearing from sight.

Our driver shifted gears and we began rolling away. I held back more tears, missing my aunt and crumbling internally about the future. If Namoi were with me, she’d probably say something like “Stay strong.” “Stay in control.” “Don’t be stupid.” “Stay alive.”

I planned on doing just that.