Alice took a step back. Angel of death? Does he kill people? Oh, why is this my life?
“What… what’s that supposed to mean?” she asked.
“It means I bring death to the world. Humans don’t see me unless they’re about to die. I can allow anyone to see me if I so wish it, but I don’t care for the company of mortals.”
The implications of what he’d just told her made her head hurt. This evening was too much for her to process all at once. How had she gone from having a breakup to being told Heaven and angels are real? She’d seen evidence of it in front of her.
Am I about to die?
“No, Alice, you’re not going to die. We should discuss this inside.”
He began to descend the steps into the bar. She hurried after him, not wanting to get stuck out there alone. The only person who could give her answers was the arrogant angel. She needed them desperately if only to stop the whirling thoughts in her head.
“But you just said people can’t see you unless you let them. I’m going to look like I’m talking to myself.”
She certainly didn’t need people thinking she was nuts on top of everything else.
“Have a little faith.”
He ignored the woman at the coat check, tugging open the door and striding into the bar. It was a modern looking place with a laid-back atmosphere. Azrael stood at the bar. She stepped up next to him, her head turned up towards his face. The confidence and poise which encompassed him was intimidating, but she couldn’t let him ruffle her any further.
“Won’t everyone know what you are?”
“No.”
Does he ever give more than short answers? How am I supposed to understand any of this?
A woman with dark hair approached them.
“What can I get you?” she asked, looking directly at the angel.
“What would you suggest for someone whose boyfriend has just cheated on them?” he replied.
Alice’s mouth dropped open. What the hell? Did he really just say that? What is wrong with him?
The woman raised an eyebrow.
“I know just the thing.”
She turned away to set about mixing the drink. Alice wanted to hit him.
“You can’t go around telling people that,” she said.
“Why not?”
“Because it’s private… and… and embarrassing.”
Does he actually have any idea how to behave around humans? I don’t know what his deal is.
He turned to her, his green eyes curious.
“You didn’t seem to object to telling me.”
She was silent. She hadn’t wanted to tell him, but by some sort of compulsion, she felt the need to be honest. And I wish I hadn’t now.
The woman set a drink in front of her. It was bright blue with a strawberry hooked over the top.
“And for you?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
“That’ll be seven eighty then.”
He turned to Alice expectantly.
“What? You want me to pay for my own drink. You’re the one who asked me here.”
She dug around in her handbag, huffing. Honestly, why did I even agree to this in the first place? She dug out some money and handed it to the bartender.
“I have no need for what passes as currency in your world, usually,” he said when the bartender returned, handing Alice her change.
She glared up at the angel. She was beginning to regret ever sitting down on that stupid park bench. He walked away over to an empty booth in the corner leaving her to follow behind. He set her overnight bag down and sat, folding one leg over the other. She slid into the booth next to him.
“Go on, ask your questions,” he said, waving a hand at her.
“Why are we here?”
“They cater for supernatural types here. Fewer humans, less dealing with their idiocy.”
“Wait, what?”
He shook his head, rolling his eyes.
“Did you not stop to think if angels exist then what other things might be lurking in the dark corners of the night?” He pointed to the bartender. “She’s a vampire. Over in the corner, there are some werewolves and to your right, a fae or two.”
She looked at each of the people he’d indicated. They looked normal to her until she realised the woman at the bar was grinning. She had fangs. Full on fangs. She turned away, taking a huge gulp of the blue liquid to calm her nerves. It burnt on the way down. She spluttered a little.
“Shit, that’s strong.”
She had no idea what was in it. She glanced back at the angel. He was watching her impassively.
“Explain this death thing to me. You said I wasn’t about to die.”
“You’re not. There’s nothing special about you, yet you can see me. I do not know what to make of you.”
Nothing special? Of all the arrogant, irritating men… angels I could’ve run into.
“Is that why you decided I was worth giving your precious time to?”
“Yes.”
At least he was honest. She was done with liars like Jason. It was pretty much the only thing the angel had going for him other than his looks.
“In fact, I’ve decided to keep you.”
Her mouth dropped open.
Keep me? What is he on about now?
“Yes, until I work out why you can see me, I shan’t let you out of my sight.”
This was getting really ridiculous now. She wasn’t going anywhere else with him.
“I don’t remember signing up to be your human pet.”
“I didn’t say you had a choice.”
She blinked.
Who does he think he is?
“You know who I am.”
“Stop listening to my thoughts.”
He chuckled, his green eyes lighting up for a moment.
“Stop thinking about me.”
She folded her arms across her chest. I should just leave. Except where was she going to go? She didn’t want to go back home to Jason. And she still had questions. She fiddled with the glass. Something about Azrael set her on edge.
“Why are you on Earth?”
“Because He commanded it.”
He? Oh wait, he’s talking about God.
“And what, you just have to obey?”
“It’s beyond your mortal comprehension.”
She took another sip of the blue drink, grimacing as it went down. The alcohol was beginning to dull her senses a little. She sat back, looking at him intently. His high cheekbones and pouty lips were more than she could take.
I wish he wasn’t so stunning. It’s distracting. A bit like looking up at a shooting star. The rare brilliance of it is a sight to behold.
His eyebrow raised. She knew he’d heard that, but she decided she didn’t care. He clearly knew he was attractive.
“What else can you do then?”
It seemed like a pertinent question. She might never get another chance to speak to an angel.
“As an angel?”
“Well, yes. I mean, aren’t you like all powerful beings?”
“We possess varying strengths and qualities. A scribe does not require the same level of abilities as an Archangel.”
Why is he being so vague?
“That didn’t answer my question.”
“Explaining such things to mortals is tiresome.”
If he wasn’t going to explain things, then why did he even want her here? Nothing made sense any longer.
“Fine. What do you want to talk about then?”
“Nothing as such.”
She wanted to squeal in frustration. She knocked back the rest of her drink, not caring that her throat was on fire. If he was going to be obnoxious, she wasn’t sticking around. She was about to grab her bag so she could leave when his hand curled around her arm.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Away from you for starters.”
He pulled her towards him before cupping her cheek with his soft hand. He brushed her hair from her face.
“Sleep, Alice.”
She didn’t want to obey him, but her body went slack. She slumped in the booth. He held her head, staring down at her with those intense green eyes.
“I’m not letting you leave.”
She closed her eyes as sleep tugged her under.
§
When Alice came to, she was lying in a strange bed. She turned her head. Azrael was standing with his back to her, one hand placed against a window frame, looking down at something below.
“Welcome back to the land of the living,” he said.
She sat up. Her head felt funny. The sunlight was streaming in through the window, illuminating his auburn hair. Her breath caught in her throat. Oh man! Why? Why can’t I look away?
“What did you do to me?”
“Sent you to sleep.”
Her glasses were sitting on the bedside table. She pulled them on. She could see him more clearly. It was worse. Much worse. In the sunlight, he really looked like an angel. A stunningly attractive angel who I apparently can’t stop looking at. What is wrong with me?
“So, what, because I wanted to leave, you thought it was acceptable to put me to sleep so I wouldn’t escape?”
“Your presumption is correct.”
She launched a pillow at his head, which he reached out and caught deftly.
“Are you always this grumpy in the morning?”
“Wouldn’t you be if someone decided they wanted to hold you prisoner?”
“You’re not a prisoner, Alice.”
“Well, it feels like it.”
She folded her arms across her chest.
“You said you had nowhere else to go, did you not?”
That’s hardly the point. She shuffled off the bed. He’d taken her shoes off but left her in her clothes. Her bag was sitting on a chair in the corner. She went over to it, pulling out her hairbrush and makeup wipes. Her heart thundered.
I’m a frigging prisoner. How did I get in this situation?
She knew better than to object further. She wasn’t dealing with just anyone. Azrael was an angel. She was pretty sure if she tried to run away, he’d just bring her back. There wasn’t much she could do about it. There was a mirror nearby. She had severe bed hair. Tackling the chestnut coloured mess until it was in some semblance of order, she then removed her makeup. Staring at her grey eyes, she put her glasses back on. She wished she’d thought to bring her contacts.
She turned back to Azrael who hadn’t moved from his spot by the window. There was something sad about him. She went over and stood next to him, staring down at the street far below them.
“Where exactly are we?” she asked.
“Close to the Barbican.”
“Why would you want to live in the city?”
“I have no wish to be here at all. It is merely convenient.”
“Are you not able to return home?”
“No.”
His tone brokered no further questions.
He can’t return to Heaven. How long has he been stuck here?
He didn’t seem to be in the mood to comment on her thoughts. She shuffled away, picking up her purse and pulling her phone out. There was a message from Chris.
‘Call me when you’re free!’
She checked the time before she fired a message back. She was going to be late for work if she didn’t get a move on.
‘Will do after work, love yah.’
She looked up at Azrael again.
“I need to go to work.”
“I told you, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
“I don’t know what type of shit you lot do up in Heaven, but on Earth, this is kidnapping and following me around, stalking.”
He turned to her. There was nothing in his expression which gave away his reaction.
“Fine, I’ll take you to work. Happy?”
She wasn’t, but she didn’t voice that out loud. She turned away, digging through her bag. She was glad she’d packed a set of clothes for work, but she needed to go home and get the rest.
I don’t want to see Jason, but I need my stuff. Still, I don’t need Mr High and Mighty getting involved.
“If you want your things, you merely have to ask.”
“Stop reading my mind and what do you mean I just have to ask?”
He strode over to her, taking her face in his hand. She froze, quite unable to move with him staring down at her. The attention of an angel, an Archangel, was disconcerting on so many levels. She could feel the power radiating from him. She felt something brushing, rustling through her mind.
“I’m more than just a perfect figure, Alice,” he said.
He stepped back. Scattered all around the room were her things. Her mouth dropped open.
How is that even possible?
She looked up at the angel. He had a smug smile on his face.
“Um… wait… you, oh. Jason is going to wonder what the hell happened.”
“I didn’t think you cared about the cheater any longer.”
She wished she didn’t care anymore. Jason was a dick.
“It only happened yesterday. Feelings just don’t go away on a whim.”
“Mortals… Always with your emotions.”
“So what, you’d rather us be robots?”
“At least you wouldn’t cry all over me when you realise you’re going to die. Humans are far too messy.”
She threw her hands up. Talking to him was impossible. If he didn’t like being near ‘mortals’, as he so lovingly called them, why did he want to keep her around?
“Well, that’s too bad for you then, isn’t it? You’re the one who doesn’t want to leave me alone. Boohoo, pity the poor angel stuck with the silly human girl.”
He turned away, rolling his eyes.
Yeah, well, serves you right, mate.
“Where’s the bathroom?”
“Over there.”
He waved to a door behind her. She marched in. Her clothes fell out of her hands. It was huge. There were floor to ceiling windows looking out over London and a bath set in the middle of the room. A large shower situated on the left and a vanity with twin sinks on the right.
“Holy shit.”
“I like open spaces.”
She jumped at the sound of his voice. He’d followed her in.
“Um, I came in here to get changed.”
“And?”
“Oh, just go away. Haven’t you heard of the term privacy?”
“I’m not allowing you out of my sight.”
“I’m literally in the next room. Where do you think I’ll go? I’m not about to jump out of a window to escape you. I’m not stupid even if you think I am.”
He looked as though he was about to argue with her further before he turned on his heel and left her to it. She stuck her fingers up at his retreating back. She didn’t care what he said, she was essentially his prisoner. She hurriedly stripped out of her clothes and saw to her needs before he decided to change his mind about leaving her alone.
When she walked back out into the bedroom in a fresh set of clothes, it no longer looked like a bombsite with all her stuff scattered around. She walked over to the floor to ceiling sliding doors and checked inside. Her clothes were neatly folded and hung up on hangers next to his. Everything he owned was tailored to perfection.
Oh, this is his bedroom. Why would he put my stuff in here?
“It is mine, but I don’t sleep often,” he said.
“I don’t remember agreeing to stay here with you.”
“Agreement implies choice.”
This wasn’t getting her anywhere. It was clear he wasn’t going to let her go any time soon. It wasn’t as if she could think of anywhere else to stay. She couldn’t go crawling back to her parents. It would be mortifying to admit what Jason had done. There was also the little factor of the angel who apparently wasn’t going to let her out of his sight.
“You know what, you’re impossible, but whatever. Let’s just go. I’m going to be late as it is.”