An Angel's Ascent (17 page)

Nate went to grab my arm, I assume to drag me away from Aries, but one moment I was there and the next behind Aries with him choking Nathanial. I came around and tried to stop him, but I froze when I noticed his eyes. They were solid black with only a thin ice blue outline. The eye thing seriously distracted me. I lost control of my breathing.

“
DON'T. EVER. PUT. YOUR. HANDS. ON. HER… I will slowly remove your skin and make you choke on it until you beg the gods to save you!” Aries large hands wrapped so tightly, squeezing, I thought Nathan’s head would snap right off. His face was changing colors. I was beginning to believe Aries could be a very dangerous man when provoked, like now. He was feeling so many emotions at once I couldn’t keep up.

“
Aries, stop your killing him, I don’t think he intended to hurt me...” I said desperate. I in no way liked Nate, but I didn’t wish his death either. Okay, I might have fantasized about it once or twice. I had to make Aries stop though, if this man went to prison for murder, then I’d never get my answers.

“
Your mine Angel, not this bag of worthless, waste of flesh here,” he released Nathan and threw him into the brick wall so hard it shook the foundation. He was on him in the same instant, faster than my mind could contemplate it with both hands on either side of Nate’s head. This man was definitely not human.

I knew I needed to step in; there were anger, jealousy, and hurt feelings from Aries, among others, and I felt only my reassurance that I was indeed his, and unhurt, would calm him. He was an immortal, so I knew physically I couldn’t stop him. He’d only been protecting me. My heart said hero... I had to calm this beautiful, scary beast of mine.

“
I'm alright, okay, I’m with you right now, not him. Hold me. I need you to hold me.”

I had stepped into his way, ducking under his arm, and was putting my own arms around his waist. He looked down at me, and I saw his eyes slowly fade back to normal. I could totally thank whatever made his eyes so exotic and insanely gorgeous.

“
You’re not human, man!” Nathanial had just made his deathbed, out of jealousy and fear.

“
Nate just shut up and go home. You don’t know what you’re talking about; you’re just mad because he made you look so bad.”

He gave me one sad puppy dog look which caused Aries to growl from within my arms; then Nate put his tail between his legs and left. He was hurt and confused, angry and scared. I think he would go home and play it off as a bad dream. He wouldn't ever call or see me again though, thank god.

Aries had relaxed when Nathan moved off. Regret and worry replaced his earlier feelings. I assumed he was worried I’d be scared of him, now that he was calming down. Or that I wouldn’t care anymore. He felt confused by all of this, but unwilling to let me go. He finally released me after I told him to follow me.

I unlocked and reset the alarm before I tugged him into the store, and took his hand leading him to my stock room. He followed soundlessly, staring into my eyes when he could, worried.

I turned into him as we crossed the threshold and kissed his madly. He responded quickly. His lips found their way to my neck. I pulled back and looked at him. My own emotions threatened to spill. I was quickly becoming aroused. Emotions with Aries were overwhelming on such a drastic scale. I laid my head on his chest and sighed.

“
Thank you for standing up to him and trying to protect me. I’m grateful you have my back whenever I need it. But I’ll rarely need it. Just knowing your there makes me feel safe. I can handle myself most of the time. So please let me try to handle situations like that.” I tried an approach that was not condescending or reproachful. I didn’t want him feeling tortured about this or worried I felt any different about him.

“
I understand,” he said looking down at his feet. This huge mystifying man never needed to hang his head before anyone, least of all me. I placed my hands on each side of his jaw and lifted his face, but also brought it down to where I was on my tip toes trying to kiss him. He realized my intentions and picked me up crushing me to him. I wanted to cry because of the feelings of self-doubt in him, feelings that had been there long before me, but more intense because of me. I wanted to hold him, but I was just too small. Physically he was undeniably impenetrable, emotionally he was broken. Such a strong man broken like this was inexcusable, completely wrong and made me sick.

“
The box is over here,” I said pushing myself off him. I didn’t want to let go, to leave him. Something pulled me away, as strong as the emotions that pulled me to him. I was torn, but my questions about all of this needed an answer.

He followed me over to it. I began to get the same feelings as before while I pulled the wrappings off.

I lifted the dagger, only to feel my knees buckle, my head being thrown back, and my sense of self being tossed into a dark corner of my mind. It was the most horrifying experience of my life, the sense of self-loss, the ripping of soul from body. I was an entity only now, my body possessed by something else, something so much greater than myself. I screamed my injustice at it, scared that it would turn the power that seeped from it in waves on me, making me feel helpless and empty. I was nothing, less than nothing compared to this being. A goddess!

I was a mass of feelings and knowledge, nothing else. A soul perhaps, but bodiless all the same, and I felt weak and broken, in a very different way than Aries. Not even a tenth of a second had passed. I wanted to fight back with all my heart, but it was useless. What could I, little useless me, do against Her.

“
Aries you have done well, I’m reborn once more to continue my work, this vessel shall be the door to salvation, I’m ready for my mate, you. Let us consummate my return with our joining. It is time!”

I felt the words come from my mouth, but they weren’t mine. Kali had stolen my strength. She now controlled me. Lust erupted in my loins and stomach as she reached for Aries. I felt jealousy of my own rip through me as she touched him. My soul recognized his within his body and wanted him. No one else was to have him, but me! How could things come to this in such a short time? Me jealous of another woman, days ago I’d have scoffed at this.

“
Quiet human, he’s mine. You are, but the tool I’ll use. He’s always been mine. And always will be. You can cooperate, or I can throw your soul into oblivion. I want my world back. This earth cannot take any more abuse. I’ve suffered for eons at the hands of humans and other beings. I now have the power to correct the damage. Either you help, or you leave! The choice is yours.”

Aries couldn’t hear our internal conversation. I struggled to decide. I wanted my body back that much I knew. In the end, I knew the choice wasn’t that, but fate.

“
Let’s bargain Kali... he is your creation yes, but he is mine otherwise. I want to keep him. I’ll do as you ask, be your tool, but allow me to do your work. You know I have the strength or you wouldn’t have chosen me. I wish to enjoy the pleasure of body. I’ll help you if, and only if, you let me do this my way.” I wasn’t about to sit back and watch while she did strange things with my body.

Kali paused inward, and outward. She seemed to struggle with herself. She knew what I spoke was the truth.

“
I will do this mortal. I can at any time retake your body. My soul has lain here with yours all this time, dormant; I’ve waited for many lifetimes for such a moment, a vessel. I can wait a while longer. Not much, though, I want my land back. My body’s dying and if I don’t save her, then the world, as you know it perishes. I cannot allow that. My animals suffer needlessly. I feel their pain, as they scream in terror and pain. I wish for a human body of my own. With the mating of this body, I will be conceived.

“
I’ll cleanse the world and bring forth a new type of human, one more suited to my will, one who’ll worship this world, not wallow in its treasures and be greedy. The mortals of this age have forgotten me and my wrath so see that you don’t.”

“
Thank you Kali. Give me some time, I promise I’ll hurry. If Aries is my mate, and I bond physically with him, and all this is true... I want to love first, not because of some destiny or power beyond me, but because I love him…”

“
Do you not know this body, your emotions? You love him as strongly as he loves you. Be confidant that there is no truer of a love.” Her voice was rich with power, and made me feel small. When she said this I knew it was true, whatever had blinded me with fear was gone. I did love Aries. He was mine, and I wanted the world to know. If I slept with him then my child would be a goddess, one capable of anything, carrying the power to destroy or create, could I do this? Was I ready for such responsibility? The alternative was definitely no.

I felt like I’d lost my mind. Was this really my reality? Would I rather do taxes and die an old woman? The reader in me craved an adventure such as this.

“
Aries, I will return one day to you and the others. Tell them, I am grateful of their obedience and patience. For that, they will be rewarded. I had forgotten what emotions were, and through this vessel, I see that there are some humans that are still good, still worthy of life. I must meditate on this. Your friends are free to be with the lovers of their choice without losing their powers. If this vessel, Angel, dies then so do all of you...”

CHAPTER TEN

She faded from me. I was in control of my body again. As before, I couldn’t sense her, maybe because she had no emotions. I shivered at the memory of being so helpless, so tiny compared her. I tested myself. I was bordering shock, my mind not wanting to accept the truth of all of this, the cruelty of my own situation. Too much and in such a short time…

I needed a moment. Stars danced before my eyes as I made my way to the chair fondling the dagger still in my hands. I was strong, capable of handling this, like everything else I had in my past. If demons could exist in my world then why couldn’t all of this? My sanity was on the verge of collapsing, closing out all the weirdness around me. My heart shuddered, and I knew I could face this.

I could sense his need for me sexually, as I had for him. There was no doubt now that I was the reincarnation of Kali. She would in the not so distant future be my daughter. As bizarre as that sounded, I had no choice but to accept it was the truth.

I knew I loved this man, and yes a child with him someday. I basically had nine months to become ready to nurture a child. I knew deep down though, she would not be like other children. Hell I wouldn’t be a normal mother. From what I gathered I’d be some warrior queen and would not just take on single demons, but much, much more. Armies of them…

I returned the dagger to its sheath and box. I sighed as I realized that tonight I would no longer be a virgin. I wanted this on many levels, and on others I was scared. I’d never done more than kiss a man. I had the basic fundamentals of sex, of intimacy. I had read books, watched movies. The heat in my abdomen was spreading.

I pulled him with me upstairs. I didn’t know how to do this, and I guess he sensed this, and that I was nervous. He picked me up and then laid me in my bed. He held me for some time, allowing me to think it through. He knew as well as I that I had no choice in this, maybe time. He caressed my hip and thigh, staring into my eyes. I had not known him for long, but it didn’t matter. He was my soul mate. My heart and my soul knew that. In every life, he had been there, loving me, protecting me, as he would in this one.

“
I love you, Angel.” He whispered this closing his eyes, worried I wouldn’t say it.

“
I love you, too.” I thought it would be weird saying it but it felt right, like I’d been holding it in. He rolled me towards him, and his lips found mine. It didn’t take long to get me excited. I pulled him closer to me and wrapped my legs around his hips. My body seemed to have a mind of its own. It knew what it wanted, and my shyness wasn't going to stop it. It had waited almost twenty-one years for this and I was ready.

He cupped my butt and pulled my pelvis against his bulging manhood. I could feel how ready he was for me. I was quickly becoming aroused. If this were a mistake, then it would be a mistake I could live with. Ah, the sensations a body could live through. Who knew?

“
Angel?” he murmured gently into my ear.

“
Hmm...” I murmured breathlessly. I kissed him and moved my hands over his rock hard arms leisurely finding myself lost in an emotional tide.

“
Are you sure? We don’t have to; I can figure out what she told you. She wants us to bring her into this world, as our child. If we... wow... if... if we do this... then wait...” He attempted, stuttering from the extreme emotional rollercoaster we were on. Apparently I was making it hard for him to think…

He moved back to let us think things through. Inhale, exhale, inhale, breath…

“
Angel, if we do this, then we have nine months until the end of the world. All hell breaks through, and the destroyer will uncreate things. There will be panic and chaos. Maybe we should give it at least a few days. I’m sure she’ll wait that long.”

I was fighting the emotions between not just myself, but him as well, it was too much to handle. I heard his words, and there was something just out of reach in my thoughts, teasing, waiting until it was too late to help. He was right though, as my breathing slowed due to the ceasefire on the petting then I was able to think. Breathe. Breathe, girl. I growled aggressively, but it was not effective mainly due to the fact that I don’t look threatening.