Praefatio: A Novel (12 page)

I was trying to recall the vision I’d had, to remember what happened next, but it wouldn’t come to me.

Jenny, run
.

She froze as huge dogs came up behind her, snarling menacingly. She practiced the “stand still and it won’t bite” rule before frantically gathering her cell phone and stuffing it into her already full purse. I told her she carried too much junk in that tiny bag!

The dogs sniffed her, inhaling deeply, then howled as she screamed. They began circling and drooling, seemingly savoring the fear that dripped from her body in beads of sweat despite the coolness in the air.

I had to get closer, and wished I could be invisible so I could get down there without them noticing me. I had no desire to fight off wild dogs, but I wanted to save Jenny. And so I lowered myself in their midst next to Jenny and waited for what was to come.

On the ground, I saw things more clearly. Giants at least twenty feet tall with bulging muscles on every limb, and grim expressions, as if it pained them to move too quickly, came charging out from the woods, motioning with their hands to the dogs. The pounding of huge feet shook us; the roar of their grunts was thunderous in the air.
Oh crap
. The largest one charged me and extended its fangs. It was unnecessary, since I was already terrified. The dogs continued to bark and snarl, but had retreated a bit, giving the giants room.

Adrenaline raced through me like shards of sharp glass under my skin. I pulled my arms into my chest, pivoted my hip, extended my leg out to the side with force, and kicked him in the knee. The evil thing stumbled, bewildered. His huge arm swung in my direction and knocked me to the ground. Another giant came out of nowhere and was about to stomp on my stomach. His foot was the length of my leg. Remi appeared in a ring of fire. I rolled on my side, then stood, wings involuntarily extended. While Remi and the giant fought, encircled by Remi’s fire, I flew to the head height of the other one. I was like a mosquito compared to him, flitting around his face. He made an unsuccessful grab at me, first with one hand and then the other. I managed to fly fast enough to avoid his clumsy grasp.

The other giant fell to the ground in a loud crash, defeated by Remi and smoking from the flames. He landed on one of the dogs, who whimpered beneath the enormous creature.

Between stomps, I heard Jenny’s screams and cries. I continued flying around the giant’s head, making him spin around faster and faster. He faltered, his eyes, head, and body all moving in different directions. He was dizzy. Oldest trick in the book, and it worked.

The giant hit the ground with a thump, then Remi, sword in hand, sliced its head off. The other dog ran to the head and licked at the pool of blood.
Gross.

Remi looked completely different, but still like Remi, only he was shrouded in light; his skin looked like it was glowing from the inside. It was then I realized Jenny couldn’t see him. I didn’t even know if she could see me.

“See me, Jenny,” I whispered as I retracted my wings and walked toward her.

“Oh God, Grace!” she screamed as she ran toward me with arms outstretched in this crazy, frantic jog. She hugged my neck.

I embraced her quickly, then turned her around and placed her behind me to shield her from an approaching group of …
snakes
. They fell out of the trees and onto the ground in waves. Immediately, they lunged and hissed, spewing venom.

I jumped back, grabbed Jenny, expanded my wings, and flew into the air. But not before nine snakes bit into my feet and tried slithering up our legs.
Not again
!

The snakes seemed heavier than they should have been. They pulled me closer to the ground. More snakes attached to my wings, entwining with the delicate feathers. All I could do was twist and try to shake them off. But it was Jenny who fell, right into the pit of hundreds of snakes that had now made their way into the clearing.

Remi was on the ground, slashing and burning snakes that made whimpering sounds, as if human, upon meeting Remi’s blade. He sent a worried look in my direction before turning his sights on the others.

I lowered myself into the midst of them as, one by one, arrows struck the snakes from all directions. I turned instinctively to my left to see an albino angel dressed in gold and white armor. He looked like he was about twelve years old.
Where’d you come from
?

I was able to get to Jenny, thanks to Remi and the tiny angel. “Thanks, kid!” I nodded to the immaculately dressed angel, who returned my nod, then disappeared.

Then Gavin emerged with his unmistakable saunter from that same wooded area, giant, fully-extended black wings behind him. The remaining snakes retreated into the woods. Tears formed in my eyes as I surveyed the burning snakes, dead giants, and poor Jenny. She’d been bitten several times and didn’t look like she would make it.

Remi rushed him, grabbing Gavin by the neck as I covered Jenny, intending to put her to sleep as Remi had done me when we were attacked. I figured she wouldn’t remember much, and it was the least we owed her. I closed her fear-frozen eyes and laid her head to the side. “Sleep.”

Gavin smiled at me, making me forget for a split second the horror of the immediate situation. No doubt, my world was stranger, but I did not have time to think about that. I had to save Gavin from Remi’s rage.

“Leave her alone,” Remi ordered through gritted teeth.

I looked behind myself at Jenny. She was shivering, slumped on the ground. Her skin looked yellow.

Remi released Gavin’s neck, and I ran to put myself between them. I didn’t make it in time. Disgust shaded Remi’s face as he moved closer to me. He placed his wings at his sides, looked from me to Gavin, and said, “If I see you or any of those disgusting creatures anywhere near Jenny or her family, I
will
kill you.”

The thought of Remi committing any act so intentionally violent brought tears to my eyes. The idea that Gavin was responsible for this attack pushed the tears down my face.

Gavin took a protective step in front of me, dripping with confidence. He seemed like Goliath to Remi’s David.

“So much
affection
for a …
human
. Careful
,
Remiel
. You may be more like me than you think. To care for humans is
death
.” Gavin seemed to enjoy the use of the word “death.”

“I’m nothing like you, and I never will be!” Remi spat back.

“Ah,” Gavin said as calm as ever. “But you are, or at least you will be, brother. It’s only a matter of time. Look at you, falling all over yourself for that worthless nothing of a girl. You disgrace us all.”

Gavin walked away, but Remi charged after him. I gasped. Remi would die if Gavin attacked him while he was in human form.

Gavin turned sharply and grabbed Remi by the throat as Remi transitioned from human to angel. It was too late. Gavin’s enormous black wings partially obscured my view. Fear gripped me.

“I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you right now, in front of Grace and your evil circus freaks. I swear I’ll take what little life you have left, and believe me, my sister will be better for it.” Remi forced the words out, even though he could hardly breathe. His inferior wings refused to fully expand behind him. He grabbed a dagger that Gavin must not have thought he’d be able to reach, and managed to get it up under Gavin’s chin. Gavin flapped his wings, the sound of which echoed into the open space.

“Release him, let’s go. No one’s killing anyone tonight,” I ordered, not fully certain that was the case. I had become dizzy. My stomach cramped. How much longer I could remain on my feet I didn’t know.

Jenny was shaking violently and frothing at the mouth. That was all it took for Remi to forget about Gavin. He lowered his dagger, and Gavin released him. Remi rushed past me and cradled Jenny in his arms, rocking back and forth, retracting his sagging wings.

I watched as Remi stood and carried Jenny away. He left without saying a word to me. Then everything went blurry, my vision faltered, and I fell to the ground.

Praefatio

Book 3, Chapter 5

Once the most cherished and adored Angel, Rosa, asked The Divine One for a daughter. Intending to show appreciation for her, He gave Rosa twin girls. And she was overwhelmed with joy. When the time came to fulfill a prophecy, The Divine One asked Rosa for one of her daughters to be born on Earth as a human, the one with the purest heart. The other would remain in the Heavens until such time a purpose could be found for her; or so it was believed.

Praefatio

Book 3, Chapter 6

Awakened, she became alive, strong, and ready for battle. She was what the prophecy had foretold. And all of the Heavens rejoiced as the Angels were called forth to assist her. Archangels, Virtues, and Thrones prepared for her arrival and the difficulties that would befall her.

The Archangel gave credence to Fear as she read. Betrayal, Denial, and Deceit followed. For the one who was changed was intentionally cruel. It was a vision of things to come, and she devised a plan to prevent it.

In the Arms of the Angel

His room was not at all like I expected. Three walls, painted a stark white, and an accent wall in blood-red framing an alcove, which housed an oversized custom-made king bed. Across from the door were floor-to-ceiling windows divided by French doors that led to an expansive garden with a private pool, hot tub, koi pond, and recording studio.

Two intricate white stone carvings hung on the opposite wall, casting shadows and catching the light, which made them appear to have color. The carving on the left depicted a woman playing a mandolin while children danced at her feet. On the right, a male angel with giant wings caressed the neck of a woman while staring longingly into her eyes. It reminded me of Tyler from
Praefatio.

Then the one on the right changed, I swear. I blinked and then blinked again. The angel and the woman were walking. He was noticeably taller than she was, and she seemed to resemble me. A smile, then tears—angry tears—rained down her face and dripped to the wood floor. She turned toward me as if she knew I was there, watching. She kneeled and scooped up two babies. I started sobbing, uncontrollably. It hurt. My stomach wrenched. The angel took one of the babies, and blood spilled out of the carving and onto the floor. The woman fell to the ground.
Oh God
.

“Please, help me,” I whispered. The room spun. I instinctively reached out and touched her. I wanted to hold her, to comfort her. I felt connected to her and cut off from her equally.

“Rest. It’s OK. Everything will be OK,” Gavin said.

I must have fallen asleep. I opened my eyes, and the woman, the man, and the babies were gone. I must have dreamed them. I inhaled deeply. The luxury that surrounded me was on the level of ridiculous, but I was too far gone to appreciate it.

Mother.
The thought seeped into my head and died. I wasn’t able to bring it back to life. Not then.

The ceiling was an exact replica of
The Creation of Adam
in the Sistine Chapel. On the right side of the bed sat a glass nightstand with a white orchid on it. On the left, a white leather high-backed chair with overstuffed arms and a black cashmere throw slung over its back.

Gavin smiled down at me as I took in the rest of the room. I may have stopped breathing when my eyes grazed his guitars.

“I’ve been gathering pieces for a long time.” Gavin’s pride was clear in the way he made sure to place or hang each one for optimal viewing. He looked from me to the marvelous display of stringed instruments on the wall, then back at me. “That one there, that’s a lute.” He pointed and said, “The one next to it is called a pandura. It’s like a lute, but from ancient Greece. That’s a vihuela from Spain. You play it with a plectrum. And that one in the far corner is a sitar. It comes from India. I love to play that one especially. I can play something for you if you like.”

“Um, maybe another time. I’m pretty beat,” was all I could manage.

In the far left corner, a small alcove housed a harp and Gavin’s famous custom-made red Fender Strat, its clear fret board adorned with small black angel wings rumored to be made from the blood and wings of a real Fallen Angel. A rumor I suspected was actually true.

I lay back into the overstuffed down pillows and let out a sigh. I didn’t know what to say or feel. Thousands of girls would kill to be in Gavin’s bed, and yet I was feeling something other than what I thought I would. Turning my back on my brother and Jenny was not something I’d counted on. I was irrationally in love with Gavin’s voice, and the person behind the voice was not at all what I’d imagined. I barely knew him. And the things I did know were unsettling at best.

I closed my eyes for a little while. When they opened again, Gavin was there, concern creasing his forehead.

“You should have some tea,” he said. It was more of an order than a suggestion. “You are going to need all of your strength today.” Placing a hand under my chin, he brought a cup to my lips. I took a small sip.

Caramel, mint, and chocolate with a hint of almond mixed together in a hot blend of pure joy. The aroma of all the flavors blending together was enough to make me consider becoming a tea drinker. I inhaled deeply before taking another sip, a much bigger one this time. Gavin smiled.

Much as I wanted to, I couldn’t stare into his eyes all day. The confrontation with Remi was on my mind, and I needed answers. After taking two more quick sips of tea, I went for it.

“Gavin,” I began. But before I could get any more words out, he put his index finger to my lips and silenced me. With his other hand, he placed the tea tray on the nightstand next to the bed. My pulse raced from anticipation. Gavin placed his arm around me and laid my head on his chest. So much for the inquisition I had planned. Thoughts left my head as if swept away by a broom.

I immediately relaxed against the firmness of his body, wanting to forget what had gotten me so worked up only moments ago. But something wouldn’t let me be. “I wanted to ask you something,” I eeked out.