An Angel's Ascent (10 page)

They were all in their thirties or so, dressed with care and style. They were trying to be skater boys I guess, wannabes. Loose stylish jeans, tee shirts with skate boards or random sayings, silver unadorned chains, ball caps, and skater shoes. They either were gamers, skaters, or were trying to blend in. One had pierced ears, gauged so that you could stick your finger all the way through. That was just gross to me. Why would anyone do that to themselves? Multi holes in your ears were one thing, but to stretch it out like that was just beyond me.

They smiled at each other knowing I was screwed, or would be soon, and advanced on me. I realized a fight was in order, I had absolutely no choice. In order to win this I had to kill or completely incapacitate, which would kill someone if I made one little fatal mistake. Not having to protect myself from humans in a while was really wishful thinking on my part.

The leader moved closer as I studied him. He moved slowly judging me as well. From his movements, I could tell he’d killed before, probably raped as well, like he intended to do with me. He knew what he was doing. I didn’t think he was quite as lethal as me, but he’d slow me down and give the others time to strike. Ah, elfin hell… where were your friends when you really needed them?

The boys had a plan. They were confident they could knock me unconscious and carry me to a waiting vehicle and off to wherever they’d done this before.

The shorter aggressive one was emoting dark and vile feelings, apparently not his first time.

Yet wait, the second was a little less enthused with the plan it seemed, and maybe I could appeal to him for help. The third was determined and anxious to get going. He seemed annoyed with the second guy, presumably because his heart was not fully in it. I hoped I was reading them right.

I positioned myself in a familiar pose. It spoke volumes to the men in between my exit and me. The leader, I called him Snake because he reminded me of one, struck first. I blocked easily and brought my clenched hand up, around, and into his throat. He staggered back choking but was replaced by his right-hand man, the short one. He held a very nasty looking knife, wickedly sharp.

I realized they had not prepared for a girl like me, or they’d have had a gun, or they were stupid. I was hoping the latter. I needed it to be the latter. Maybe they were confident they didn’t need a gun when it was three to one in their favor.

I waited a few seconds, quickly debating what I should do next. Threaten, bluff, or kick ass.

“
My date will be looking for me. I suggest you try some other woman, someone a little more your type.”

Snake laughed, the other I would call Stupid, rolled his eyes in disbelief. The third looked behind him, I guess hoping someone would stop this. He would not disobey, but he wouldn’t stop anyone who tried to interfere either.

Damn, well let’s get this over with, I thought…

I initiated the attack by dropping swiftly and taking the third’s legs out from beneath him, while the other two lunged. I continued through and jumped up bringing my leg into Stupid’s midsection. Snake moved back, realizing too late I would not be their typical victim. More talking might stall them until help arrived.

“
I’m sure if we talk to the manager that something can be arranged...” I tried again.

They helped each other up. Snake was furious at being attacked. Most girls scream, making it a lot more fun for them.

I laughed at him and waved him forward with two fingers. They would not leave now, if only because I could recognize their faces.

They glared for a second, but Stupid and Scared backed up and shook their heads in denial. Snake’s jaw dropped, and he looked up. I was confused. My trick could not have worked.

“
That won’t be necessary Angel. These guys are going to leave you alone, isn't that right boys?”

I jumped when I realized Aries was suddenly behind me. There was nothing but walls, so where had he come from? He would have had to jump down over forty odd feet or more. I wasn't going to question that. I was just glad he was here. This made me realize my dream had come true. I had a hero, well maybe.

Stop fantasizing Angel and be happy you got saved. You lived to save another day. Such ironic moron logic, I told myself.

“
Yeah, we’re just going to…” and they took off. They must’ve seen him drop.

“
Thank you,” I said turning to him. He was only a foot away. How had I not sensed him? His aura screamed not human at me. Yet I wanted to climb right into his arms. My mind said, run, while my body said stay.

“
Go back inside now,” he said before flashing away. One moment he was there and the other he was gone. I stood there shocked, looking up and behind me, trying to figure out where he’d come from. There was nothing there, just walls like I thought. I slowly walked back to the corner of the building and turned to find Aries jogging back up the alley. He had blood on the knuckles of both hands, and he was blocking me from sensing what he was feeling. Blocking me?

He stopped and turned back to me.

“
I told you to go back inside.”

I just stared in wonder at him.

“
Why did you follow me? You could’ve been hurt.” There was panic and indecision coming in waves off of him, as he turned realizing I was not following orders. I could feel what he was feeling again.

“
Better question is what are you? I know you’re not human, and you know I know, so don’t avoid the question. Besides, I was doing fairly well on my own.” Yeah I exaggerated a little.

“
I just saved you and you’re going to debate what question we should discuss? I admit you were holding your own back there, but you were outnumbered.” He was baffled and must’ve dropped his shields just enough for me to get in. He knew most women would be grateful. A hint of awe hit me, if I was correct.

“
I said thank you. I could’ve handled them on my own though,” I said brazenly. Was I trying to hit a nerve? Possibly keeping his attention a bit longer? Maybe a little, but what I wanted more was answers, answers he didn’t want to share.

“
I don’t think the trick was going to work on them, eventually you would’ve been hurt,” he said.

Had he been watching me wherever he had jumped from? He was right of course. Someone would’ve been hurt, seriously if not fatally.

“
Fine, don’t tell me what you are, but you should know I see through your glamour. You’re not angel or demon, but you’re also not human. I’ve never met anything but those three. I know you’re not one of those.” I replied, tapping my boot.

I pushed my hair back and took a deep breath to calm my over-anxious heart. I was going to need serious therapy after this. Ha as if, who could I explain all this too? Yes, Doctor I’m an Empath and I kill demons and there’s this band that’s not human who can make me feel like exploding or melting. You think I need a strait jacket? Sure I need some vacation time why not…

“
I can’t discuss this here in an alley with you.”

“
Well then let’s go back inside,” I said turning to go back in.

“
First, I don’t think you could have handled them, and second those mort... I mean people inside could overhear us. Do you always walk into dark alleys like that?” He said stopping me. His touch making me tingly in all the wrong places, whichever way you looked at it.

“
I won’t argue with you. If you don’t want to talk to me anymore I’ll just let you get back to brooding over your problem. The problem that you and the band are disagreeing on, dating humans...I think honestly it’s all moot anyway, seeing as the human already knows about you. Maybe I don‘t have those same feelings as you…”

I pulled away, out of his grasp, which had loosened, as his face dropped. He stared until I grabbed the door handle hoping I was not locked out and had to walk all the way back around. Then he was instantly there blocking me.

“
Come with me.” Okay, I thought to myself, no argument here.

Aries grabbed my arm again and pulled me after him. It was taking everything I had to convince myself not to go back inside as it was.

Mr. Subtle opened the door on a small sports car and waited for me to get in.

“
I don’t ride with strangers,” I said, thinking I will with you though.

“
We are not 'riding', and if you want answers you’ll get in.”

I got in. That was the whole reason I had followed him out here and nearly got kidnapped and raped.

I watched his perfect body walk around and get in. He didn’t talk at first. Just sat there, staring ahead at nothing in particular.

“
No I’m not human, but neither are you.”

“
Yes I am!” I said indignantly, my voice a little high. How could he not see that? I was a witch, but that didn’t make me something inhuman. Did it?

“
Actually, you’re some kind of half breed or hybrid. That's why you can sense others and perform magic, witch. One of your parents wasn't human. I don’t know what they were, but they weren't human. You might even be fey.”

I gulped fairies? Hee hee that could explain my small size, I thought to myself. Maybe the legendary cartoon fairy really was my cousin; two or three times removed.

“
You haven’t met a fairy yet? Not surprising, their glamour, as you call it, is strong.” He replied with a suspicious smile. I could not look into his eyes without drowning.

“
That doesn't answer my question,” my voice was still slightly squeaky. Breathe, just breathe.

“
I’m immortal.”

Really, I laughed to myself, rolling my eyes.

“
Yeah, I know that, but what kind?” I asked.

“
In human terms a vampire, maybe a siren, I don’t know. My guess is a vampire, and we play mind tricks as it’s called. Our music is compelling. We are searching for a particular person. Our music is supposed to call her to us, as it seems… to have happened here,” he said slowly.

He looked sad at that thought, and I wondered what it meant.

He explained more about vampires, what was myth and wasn’t. Wow Hollywood was off on a lot of things it seemed. Forget trying to stop a vampire, much less slow it down. Nothing worked except a machine gun, flamethrower, beheading, or silver through the heart. Wood would stun one for about five seconds, then it would be extremely pissed, so wood was not an option. I guess that is why vampires were not really known, because of the low mortality rate of those who got too close.

“
You’re attracted to me because, I won’t say what we refer to it as, but I called you. Those are the slightly less offensive words.” He said. Aries seemed reluctant to say them. Well, I wanted to know; I might be a virgin, but my virtue was stained. I had read a lot of trashy romance and seen my fair share of naked men, on TV.

“
What are the actual terms?” I asked, clearly not giving up.

He sighed and laid his head down on the steering wheel.

“
I mind fucked you. Not literally of course, but meaning I messed with your senses. I have so much control over my voice alone that you’re unable to do anything but what I wish. I don‘t like doing it. It messes with peoples’ free will. We sing, much like the mythical sirens, to enchant that one woman who's fated to become our savior. It seems to be you, for you came when I called.”

I realized that last part was true in more than one way…

“
Well that’s not true, because I wanted to go sit with Michael earlier and get a drink, which had nothing to do with you. You’re not controlling me with your voice.”

He looked up from the wheel and sideways at me, as if to say, really?

“
I can control it, to a degree, and actually, you’d been entranced almost two hours, and I felt you needed a break. I’m not going to make you dance to your death. That’s why your friend is upset. He feels you are; I guess, attracted to me and not him. You felt his jealousy right?” He asked staring out the front windshield. He said it like it was an offense to be attracted to me.

“
I agree I’m attracted, but it’s not because of what you say.” I felt a little smug. I wasn’t insane, maybe he was, but I did not believe all this bull.

“
So you’re not this foretold heroine?” He asked quietly, seeming as if in pain. Why would it upset him if I was this person he spoke of?

I wanted to be whatever made us closer, despite the absurdity of it all somehow I knew he was telling the truth. Well, hell, I guess I was in trouble.

“
I’m an antique's expert and Wiccan who’s also nearly a master of three types of martial arts, and embarrassingly enough, a virgin. So if this thing is true, then maybe, yeah I could be.” I replied nonchalantly. Did I want to be this person they searched for if it meant changing my life?

He sat back and sighed. Remorse clung to him like a second skin. Damn.

“
I might not be perfect for the job, but that’s not my fault. Choose someone else if I’m not good enough.” Now that had me pissed, and I started to get out. He could find another person to play super heroes with. I didn’t ask for this.

I didn’t get very far though.

He reached for me and pulled me back in before I even had the door all the way open and my foot on the ground. A shock ran from his arm to mine and made us both jump. No person on earth had ever done that. I instantly fell into a well of emotion. Hunger, weariness, confusion, pain, and some sense of humble protector were swirling deep within him. I jerked my hand away. I didn’t want to feel this. Nausea swelled up; I gagged at the onslaught of emotion. My pulse raced and my heart nearly beat its way out of my chest. Holy shit, too much, it was too much.