Ablaze (2 page)

As he paid the landlord a year’s rent in cash to keep his mouth shut and signed some stupid papers, he thought back to when she took him to where the boy was hidden. Sam was fifteen and belligerent as hell with that adolescent testosterone thing going on.

“Who’s this?” Sam asked eyeing Penn up and down.

“He’s going to help us.” Hailey’s voice was like a bubbling stream. “His name in Penn.”

“Why, I can take care of us just fine,” Sam snapped.

“This is supposed to be the redemption of man, this gangly kid?” Penn asked with amusement.

“I’m tougher than I look, you dillweed.” The boy bunched his fist at his side and took a fighting stance. “You want to try me; I can take you down.”

Penn grinned. He knew how he must look to the boy. He was six foot five easy, and he could spit in the top of the human’s head, yet he was willing to fight.

“What’s he supposed to do for this accursed earth?” Penn asked.

Hailey beamed up at him, and at the point he felt his breath catch. “His words are magic; he can uplift many and change the views of the powerful. Even now when he writes, it speaks volumes.”

He watched the blush work up Sam’s face to the roots of his dirty-blond hair. “It’s nothing like she says; I don’t even know why she puts up with me. I’m just a street rat.”

Penn saw a serious case of teenage crush going on, and for some strange reason, jealously reared up in his chest.
Fuck.
He was jealous of some crushing fifteen-year-old. Penn had to remind himself that he was a damn high-level demon of hell, and he did not feel emotions, especially toward some angel that he took. Yet he was there, and as she took his hand and led him farther in the room, he felt…wanted.

“He is not a street rat; his homelessness is not of his own doing, and I have infinite joy in being his protector and taking care of him,” Hailey said. “I shall be right back. I need to change into human clothing.”

Both their eyes watched her leave until Sam’s zeroed back in on him. “So you trying to pick up an angel; you know she is an actual to goodness higher being, right?”

Penn snapped his fingers and fire danced at the tip. He saw Sam’s eyes widen in astonishment. “I know that, kid, and I’m a goddamn demon.”

“You mean from hell?” Sam asked.

“No from Disney,” Penn snapped. “Of course I’m from hell.”

“You forgot to mention that not only you’re a demon but a prick too,” Sam retorted. The boy showed no fear at all.

Penn busted out laughing. “I like you, kid.”

“I’m thrilled. Can’t you tell?” Sam rolled his eyes and walked away. “Why are you hanging with Hailey? Aren’t you two supposed to be enemies?”

“If you think I want to be here, kid, you’re wrong,” he’d practically snarled.

He watched the boy try to make himself bigger by standing straight and puffing out his chest. “Then why are you here? You should put those feet to the bricks.”

It was then he spoke the truth, and it hit him in waves. “If I could I would, but I…I can’t leave her. Listen, kid, there’s too much you don’t understand. Just get used to seeing me around.”

Hailey came back out, and she smiled at both of them, and he felt himself melt under the absolute perfection of her. She was wearing jeans and a baby blue sweater, and nothing looked more perfect on a woman. Yeah he couldn’t leave her, not even if he wanted to. He let the memory fade as the landlord chattered merrily.

He took the keys from the beaming landlord who was practically dancing at his payday. Getting cash upfront was not a usual thing on this side of town. Coming down the back stairs in the alley behind the Chinese restaurant, he could smell the two-day old garbage and piss. He hated the fact that now he had to live like the gutter was his home. But to be with Hailey he would probably have rented a refrigerator box on the corner.
This is so fucked up.
He dematerialized easily and homed in on her. The movement between time and space was easy for him. When he phased into the park where they were sitting on a bench eating a pretzel, Sam literally jumped from the bench.

“Dude, seriously when you do that it freaks me out. Can’t you announce yourself or something?” Sam demanded to know.”

“No,” Penn replied and raised an eyebrow in Hailey’s direction as she bit into the pretzel and practically glowed. “Are you enjoying that?”

She smiled up at him. “Yes, I am. Thank you for asking. I think I’ve found a fondness for these pretzel things, and ice cream and donuts, oh, and chocolate. They are all so delicious.”

Sam shook his head. “I keep telling her if she keeps eating junk food she is going to get a sick stomach.”

Penn smiled ruefully. “She’s an angel; I doubt that will happen. Let her enjoy her food.”

He had to admit it was one of the rare times lately he saw her true innocence. Most of the time when he was around she shut down cold, and there was nothing colder than when an angel would not give you the time of day. And why would she? He was a demon, a lower being not good enough to even stand in her presence. Plus he literally took her innocence on that roof weeks ago. She probably felt dirty just being around him knowing what she had to do to keep the boy safe.

“I’m done now. Did you secure us new accommodations?” Hailey asked as she stood.

Penn nodded. “Yes, when we get there we can put up the appropriate runes and protections to keep us hidden from demons or angels.”

“Hold onto me, Sam. I’ll take you there,” Hailey said with a smile.

“I can take the boy,” Penn said gruffly. He didn’t want to admit it, but he hated the thought of anyone touching her.

“No!” she said sharply. “He is my charge; I’ll take care of him.”

“Fuck it, Hailey, if I wanted to kill him or hand him over, I could’ve done it at any point and redeemed myself in the underworld,” Penn snapped. “Crap, I can break your scrawny neck and take him.”

She raised her head in defiance. “Then why haven’t you? I tell you right now you would have a fight on your hands. Again I ask why haven’t you, Penn?”

Hailey had put him on the spot, and they both knew it. The feelings were there, the love, but he couldn’t admit it; the words stuck in his throat.

“It suits me not to at this time.” Penn shrugged.

“This is why you will not take him,” Hailey replied. “Who knows when your mood might change for the worse.” She beckoned to Sam who wrapped his hands around her neck. “Lead the way to our new home.”

With a soft growl, Penn dematerialized from the park. He knew she could follow him just by the stream of his power alone. They ended up in the back alley behind the Chinese place, and while Hailey kept her face bland, Sam wrinkled his nose in disgust.

“You just keep finding us the greatest places to stay,” Sam said sarcastically.

“If you think you can do better, boy, and stay off the grid go ahead,” Penn replied. “Let’s see how long you can survive without our intervention.”

“Listen, you ass, I was taking care of myself long before Hailey came into the picture,” Sam snapped. “I like her, you are a douche bag.”

“Okay, please don’t argue. Let’s go upstairs, and I’ll make some dinner,” Hailey said excitedly.

“No!”

The frantic shout came from both of them. He and the human boy might not share a fondness for each other, but they could agree on one thing. Hailey couldn’t cook, and while they tried to take a few bites just to see the happy look on her face, stomaching another tuna macaroni and cheese with anchovies was not in the cards for either of them. The look of confusion and disappointment on her face almost had him rethinking their refusal. So he made up an excuse quickly in his head.

“We’ve all had a long day. Why don’t we get some takeout from downstairs?” Penn suggested with smile. “You haven’t tried Chinese food yet.”

Hailey clapped her hands. “Okay that sounds fun, but tomorrow remind me to make you guys my dinner again. I think I might make chicken too. I’m going to go look around.”

“You do that. We’ll grab the food and some blankets and stuff from the little store on the corner,” Penn called behind her as she walked into the bedroom. He turned to Sam. “I’m breaking the stove.”

“Please do, break it good, or I’ll end up in the ER.” Sam sighed. “I always wanted a home-cooked meal, but this is so not it.”

“Let’s go get the stuff.” Penn walked over to the small kitchen and pulled the fridge back with an easy move. He disconnected the gas and melted the nozzle so it couldn’t be turned. Then he made sure to destroy the pipe that led from the stove. She wouldn’t be cooking for a while. This time he and the boy took the stairs.

“You’re pretty strong,” Sam commented.

“Yeah so what?” Penn said.

“Jeez, it’s a compliment, dude; I mean Hailey is just as strong as you.” Sam pushed his hand in his pockets as they walked.

“I seriously doubt it, but, um, thanks,” Penn replied.

“You dig her, man, so why don’t you romance her or something?” The boy posed the question as they walked to the corner.

Penn snorted. “I hardly need advice on sexual matters from a boy. You probably never even tasted a woman’s lips.”

“Hey, I’ve kissed plenty of girls, and I’m not talking about sex,” Sam said. “I’m fifteen and know the difference between that and love. Obviously you don’t. You look at Hailey like she’s some kind of meat on a plate. And all she probably needs is for you to be gentle and kind.”

Penn sighed. “Kid, I’m a demon; there’s nothing kind about me.”

“Then why the fuck are you with us, man? Seriously, I don’t get you. You show up and then you’re here griping about not wanting to be here,” Sam groused. “Either you’re with us and you get the fuck over it, or you go.”

Penn growled and lifted the boy off his feet by the scruff of his coat. He shook him like he was a rag doll. “I’ll kill anyone who talks to me like you are now.”

“Then you should do it and go back to your sulfur cave, demon.” The boy’s voice changed, and Penn narrowed his eyes. Sam shook his head and then glared at him. “Put me down, fuckhead.”

He dropped the boy to the pavement. “What just went on there with your voice?”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about, man.” Sam hunched his shoulders and turned, but Penn grabbed him again.

“Yeah you do. I wondered why both heaven and hell would want a kid who was just good with some words.” Penn grabbed his chin and lifted the boy’s face so he could search his hazel eyes. “There’s more to this, and I bet the little angel back there has some clues too.”

“You leave her out of this.” Sam wrenched his face free of Penn’s grasp.

“Kid, you tell me I need to care about her then fine. I’ll be nicer or whatever.” Penn grabbed him again by the shoulders. “But you’ve gotta talk to her, well both of us. Let us know what the fuck is in you, why you’re such a commodity, or all of our asses are dead. You got me?”

“Yeah, I got you. Let’s get this shit and go back upstairs to the apartment before Hailey worries and starts blinking all over the place.” Sam moved with furious steps down the street, and Penn looked at him before he followed.

Something was off about the kid, and when they got back to the safe house, he would find out what. He picked up blankets and sheets, anything they would need to make the place livable. He pulled a wad of hundreds from his pocket, and the cashier’s eyes widened in surprise, and so did Sam’s. Penn said nothing, and together they lugged everything to the apartment, including the food.

Hailey whirled around when they opened the door. “I was beginning to worry.”

“I told you,” Sam said to Penn.

“Maybe you should tell us a lot more things,” Penn replied and dropped the bag. “The boy has something in him, something more than just human, and I can’t scent him.”

“What are you talking about?” Hailey pulled Sam closer and put a protective arm around him.

She’s worse than a mother bear with a cub.
Penn gritted his teeth against the urge to ask her where his comforting caress was. Could he long for a touch he’d only had once? It seemed he could because it was his main thought.

“He got mad at me…”

“He lifted me by my collar and shook me!” Sam accused.

“Yeah whatever, kid. The point being when he got mad and he spoke to me, I could hear another voice mingled with his,” Penn explained. “Something is inside him, another part of his nature; this is why both sides want him so much.”

“Is this true, Sam?” Hailey looked at him and cupped his cheek gently. “We need to know, honey, so we can protect you.”

Sam pushed away from her roughly. “I don’t know what I am, okay? I just know that I can tell people things and they listen. I know my mom was scared of me when she put me in the system.”

“I can check,” Hailey said, and Sam began to struggle. Penn watched her calm the boy. “I won’t hurt you. From the time I came to you in your heart, you knew I would protect you. Let me help you; let’s find out who you really are.”

Sam swallowed and nodded. Penn had to admit the boy had bravery in him that he’d seen in very few humans. Hailey sat him down in an old chair of the small kitchen dinette and rubbed her hands. She closed her eyes, and the glow that emanated from her hurt his eyes, yet Penn couldn’t look away. Her hands glowed strongest when she placed them on Sam’s chest. The boy gasped and arched away from his seat. Penn knew that her power was racing through the boy and wished he could feel it. Wished that she could burn him from the inside out with one touch. It went on for only a moment, but it felt as if minutes ticked by. She pulled away suddenly gasping and looked at Sam with wide eyes of astonishment.

“It’s not possible, its not…” she stammered.

“What’s wrong with me; who am I?” Sam demanded.

“Jesus, what did you see, Hailey?” Penn asked.

“He’s human, and yet he is us,” Hailey breathed. Son to the archangel Gabriel from a human mother and the mark…the mark of the higher ones, the soldiers, is on his heart.”

“You are fucking kidding me; he’s a hybrid?” Penn asked.

“A nephilim, one of the most powerful; he will turn the tide when the time comes, lead human…” Hailey stopped herself and bowed low. “I will protect you with all that I am.”