Between (14 page)

“
Now that our reunion is over, let’s talk about our plan. Claudia goes back. Michelle and Gracie will try to lure Aliah’s followers to us. We’ll capture them and force them to take us to him. It will require team work. You must trust each other or our efforts will be wasted. Is this clear with all?”

“
Yes,” Austin agreed.

“
Yes,” Michael nodded.

“
Good. Michael, you need to report to Phillip and make sure he agrees with our deal. I do not want him to hold this against me. Austin will take Claudia back home.”

“
May I have a moment with Claudia alone?” Michael asked.

“
Yes, of course, but make it quick,” Katherine replied. They all followed behind her, out the door.

Chapter Eleven

“
Claudia,” Michael whisked me in his arms, holding me ever so tenderly.

I melted in his arms and my feelings of anger and jealousy faded. It had been some time since we had a moment like this together.

“
I want to explain,” he said.

“
Tell me who she is,” I demanded, sounding like a jealous girlfriend. I couldn’t believe how harsh my words came out of my mouth.

“
You’re mad at me.”

I released myself from his hold and walked toward the window. I changed the subject.

“
Who is Aliah?”

“
Aliah was one of God’s first angels. A life time ago, the Royal Council stripped a group of fallen souls and Aliah took their bodies. These fallen became spirits without their bodies. Spirits are like what you would call a ghost. They can’t harm you unless they enter through a vessel, a living being. This is the reason why Aliah was known as the demon spirit creator. He was supposed to place their bodies and souls in the deepest part of the Abyss so the two could be joined to be punished. Instead, he hid the bodies and allowed these fallen to become spirits. We were told that he allowed many to escape to enter your world. When the Royal Council found out, he was accused of premeditating a war against the angels. Aliah was cast into the Abyss, locked away into eternal darkness for his punishment.”

“
What do you mean by entering through a vessel?”

“
These spirits can only enter through souls, possessing human bodies. The non believers and weaker souls are easy targets.”

The movie “Exorcist” came to my mind and I played out the horror images from the movie clip in my head. It made me shiver remembering the nightmares I had after I saw the movie.

Michael continued. “Now that he’s out, they will obey his orders.”

“
They’re looking for me,” I muttered.

“
I’m here Claudia. I’ll protect you. I promise,” Michael said.

“
You can’t really keep a promise. It’s just a word. Can you promise me that I won’t die? Can you promise me that you’ll love me forever? Can you promise that we’ll be together after this all ends?”

Michael was quiet. He knew I was right. “Promise is saying I’ll do my best, but I can’t guarantee. Don’t promise me something that you can’t guarantee,” I said weakly. Then I changed the subject.

“
Where are we?” I looked down as far as I could see, turning my head to the left, to the right, and all I could see was a sea of white plump clouds; no cars, no street lights, no people, and no buildings. It felt as if we were part of the clouds, floating aimlessly across the sky.

“
We’re above the Grand View Hotel, but Katherine’s private corridor is high above. So the only thing you’ll see is clouds.”

“
It’s beautiful and peaceful here; reminds me of Crossroads. So does that mean she owns this place?”

“
Yes, many angels on Earth have normal human jobs. They need to blend in. Katherine is the owner of the Grand View Hotel.”

“
How do you know all this?”

“
Holly explained while we were being transported here.”

“
Oh, I see. So, did you have a thing with her too?” I asked sarcastically. I couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of my mouth. I knew the answer, but I was mad at myself for being insecure.

Michael gave half a smile. “Jealous, are we?”

“
Why didn’t you tell me about Trinity? If you told me, I would have been prepared.”

“
What Trinity and I had was a life time ago. You and I are present.”

“
Love doesn’t just go away that easily. When you love someone with all your heart and soul, it doesn’t matter how many life times ago. It clings to your heart. It goes with you wherever you go, even if you don’t want it to. Love is like…like…” I couldn’t think. The first thing that popped in my mind was the ocean, the beautiful ocean that surrounded Island of Eden. “Love is like the ocean. Sometimes it’s smooth and sometimes it’s rough, but it’s constant, it never dries out,” I stated, hoping this kind of love was not what he felt for her.

“
I love you, not her,” he said, inching his way toward me.
“I didn’t know what love was until I found you. I knew with all my heart and soul that it was love that I felt with you, even though we were trained not to want it. All I wanted was to be with you, but I couldn’t. I would wait for your visits. I kept you a secret. Miraculously, you found a way to cross over. Then you turned my world upside down. I knew that we could never be. But still, all I needed was your smile and just having you near me made me happy, and I felt complete. I couldn’t have known that the best was yet to come. You loving me back was the greatest gift I could ever imagine. I didn’t know I could be even happier, or love you even more, but I do.”

I wanted to run to him, to place my arms around him and kiss him madly, but pride, jealousy, and disbelief held me back. Michael continued. “You need not worry about her. Don’t you know how much I care for you? Haven’t I proven to you, time and time again? I will tell Trinity about us. I don’t even know if that will matter to her.”

I wanted to tell him that he was wrong. I saw the same sparkle in her eyes that I’d seen in others who were in love, but I didn’t say it. “Tell me about her.”

Michael sighed. “I loved her once upon a time when we were Aden’s followers. I convinced her to rebel against Aden. During our escape, I was badly wounded and I saw a sword pierce through her body. This is all I remember and the rest is a blank. I found myself at the Crossroads in Halo City.”

“
You didn’t bother to find out if she was alive or dead?”

“
Love is forbidden in Crossroads. If she was alive, Aden had her and there was no way I could find her.”

“
Do you love her?” I asked hesitantly. I needed to hear it again.

“
I already told you that I don’t. Not in the same way as I used to. Honestly, I don’t even know if it was love that I felt with her. Many things have changed. I have changed. You are all that matters to me. You are my constant, my ocean.”

“
Does she have to come with us?”

“
I don’t think we have a choice as to who watches over you. Trinity is one of the best. She will be able to protect you and she has a special power that none of us has.”

“
I guess I have no choice,” I sighed, wondering what power she had that was so special, but I didn’t want to talk about her anymore.

“
Claudia, don’t waste your energy arguing about something that isn’t there. Don’t waste time being angry. We don’t have enough time as it is. Spend that energy and time loving me.”

His words hit home. Katherine said to make it quick and I didn’t know when I would see him again. He was right. I was acting foolish, wasting precious time, rotting away with insecure emotions.

“
Michael, I’m sorry.” I ran to his arms.

He welcomed me with open arms and kissed me tenderly on my lips. “I missed you so much that it hurts. I never knew pain until I thought I had lost you. Not knowing where you were or if you were in danger or if you needed me…was the most heartbreaking feeling I had to endure my whole life. And you know I’ve lived what feels like forever. The only way I could try to reach you was to get into your dreams.”

“
It worked. You came into my dream, asking me to help you find me.”

Michael chuckled happily. “Wow! It really worked? Now I know I can appear in your dreams every night and do things I want to do.” He arched his brow slyly.

“
You don’t need to appear in my dreams. I always dream of you. You are my dream come true; just don’t become my nightmare,” I said softly and jokingly.

Michael chuckled and kissed me on my forehead. “I have to leave for a bit. I don’t like him looking after you, especially when I know he cares for you more than he should.”

“
Hmm…jealous are we?” I teased.

“
More than you know. Only my wings get to wrap you. Only I get to be the one to hold you in my arms and whisk you away.”

Michael’s wings opened. He pulled me in, and our bodies touching the way they did shot tingling sensations all over me. I looked up at him, placed my hand on his cheek, and then sensually touched his lips. He kissed my fingers softly, then I lost control. I drew him in, kissing him madly as I gripped his strong masculine shoulders, wanting more than a kiss. This wasn’t the right time or place to display our physical affection for each other, but we didn’t care. We were totally making out until there was a knock at the door. Michael stole a quick kiss before Austin walked in, making me giggle.

“
Claudia, we need to get going,” Austin said, raking his eyes down at Michael. Then Austin held out his hand with my cell phone. I snatched it and checked my messages. Mom, Patty and Kristina had texted me several times. It looked like Austin had replied for me.
Great,
I thought with a roll of my eyes.

“
Don’t worry, they don’t know a thing. As far as they are concerned, you are just fine,” Austin said lightly.

“
Keep your hands and your mind to yourself,” Michael warned.

“
My mind has a mind of its own,” Austin replied. “Someone actually told me it was toxic. I think she likes it lethal, don’t you think?”

Hot flashes burned through me and my face felt hot. I wondered if Michael knew Austin did his mind trick on me. At that moment, I wished I could place a gag in Austin’s mouth and make myself disappear.

“
Don’t make me regret what I’ll do to you if you don’t,” Michael shot back.

“
Whoa, tough guy. Just remember, I’m her guardian angel now,” Austin smirked.

“
Katherine may have appointed you, but in Claudia’s eyes, I am still her guardian. Just keep that in mind,” Michael huffed.

“
She might change her mind. These mind tricks can do wonders for the mind and the body,” Austin teased. Then he gave a short laugh. “We’re fighting over something that cannot be.”

“
When it comes to Claudia, I’ll make it happen.”

“
Is that what you said about Trinity?”

Michael gave Austin a look that could kill. With a fierce fire look in his eyes, he looked like he was about to punch him. “Don’t test me. Speaking of which, you have quite the reputation.”

“
I guess you’ve finally met your match then. No–you are only half of what I am.”

“
You and I are nothing alike.”

“
Thank God!”

Michael ignored Austin’s comment, turned to me and planted a kiss on my lips. Just then, Holly strode into the room like she owned the place. “Boys, lose the male ego. We have a job to do,” she stated. “Michael, Trinity is waiting for you. And Claudia, I’m at your service. If these two can’t handle themselves, I’ll clip their wings. See you at school.” Holly gave a quick smile and left the room.

See you at school?
Did she attend my school and I never knew? Maybe I had heard her wrong; I didn’t think much of it, but hearing Trinity’s name gave me cold chills. I felt the same uneasy feeling creeping up on me again. Austin opened his wings and waited for me. “Come, Claudia, let me take you away. Maybe somewhere he can’t find us.”

I gave Austin a disapproving look as I hesitantly walked toward him. “You need to watch what you say,” I scolded, and turn so my back was toward him. Michael was not pleased at all. I knew it irked him to see me leave with Austin, in his arms, just as much as it bothered me to see him go to Trinity.

Michael smiled warmly, letting me know everything would be fine. “I won’t be long.”