Guardian (28 page)

I shivered as I looked over Rafael, trying to imagine him being anything but resplendent as he was now. It seemed impossible that he could be anything other than good, the guardian that I had always known him to be. “Do you ever think about going back?” I asked softly, scared of the answer but needing to ask the question.

Rafael closed his eyes and expelled a long breath. “Every single day since I left,” he said, so quietly I almost didn’t hear.

I pulled away in shock; I simply couldn’t control my reaction. It had never occurred to me that I would ever have to worry about Rafael giving up hope and going back. He had mentioned that it was hard, living here on earth and being good, but he was so conscious of right and wrong, so set on living according to God, that the idea had never once entered my mind. I tried to cover my jerking away, afraid of offending him, but of course he had noticed.

“It can be very hard to comprehend,” Rafael said, “never having experienced it before.” I didn’t even realize we had arrived at home until Rafael was suddenly opening my door. “But then I see all the miracles God put in this world,” he said gently. “The saints, the good, the beauty of it all, though it pales in comparison to heaven. And I see people like you, Lyla. Ones of such extraordinary faith, even though you haven’t seen God like I have, haven’t walked the paths of heaven and guarded the entire world. And when I see and realize all of that, think of how much I have to gain and to lose, it keeps me here, from ever returning to Lucifer.”

I always got a small chill in my spine when Rafael or any of the other Fallen said the name Lucifer. It wasn’t just the casual name of a legendary figure. No, they said the name with familiarity. Because they
knew
Lucifer, personally. Had served under him. Despite that, Rafael’s words eased my mind, and I was able to smile at him as we walked up to my house.

“I’m very glad to hear it,” I told him.

Once on the porch, Rafael gently took my arm and pulled so I was facing him. He was so much taller than me, I had to look up to see into his eyes and squint at the bright sun directly behind his head.

“I have something for you,” he said softly. “Sort of an ‘I’m sorry’ gift.”

“A guilt gift?” I teased, but any other jokes died as he drew a black velvet jewelry box out of his jacket pocket and held it out to me. I couldn’t help a small intake of breath, even as I said, “Rafael, I can’t accept that.”

He lifted my hand up and set the box in it, closing my fingers around it. “You can and you will. All of the Fallen agree that we want you to have something to remind you of us, even while you’re at school. Besides, you gave me a bracelet.”

“Made of
rubber
,” I pointed out, though every time I saw that he was still wearing the Seek Holiness band, it filled me with a warm contented glow. Reluctantly, I took the box and slowly let the lid creak open. I’d never gotten jewelry as a gift before, and the selfish, most girly part of me was trying to take it slow and make this moment last as long as possible.

I couldn’t hold back a small gasp when I saw the necklace. It was a single angel wing, nearly as tall as my thumb, made of silver but with the most amazing details edged in spider web-thin veins of gold. The smallest little chips and shards of diamond decorated the length of each feather, and the whole thing was suspended from a thin and delicate silver chain. I didn’t have to ask Rafael to know the whole thing was real silver and diamonds, and definitely very expensive.

“Rafael,” I sighed, desperately wanting to keep it but knowing deep down that I shouldn’t.

“It’s a gift,” he said with a small smile. He carefully took the box from my hands and withdrew the necklace, turning me around so he could fasten it for me. “Given with a pure heart. Just say ‘thank you, Rafael’ and move your hair.”

I laughed as I gathered all my hair to one side and obediently repeated, “Thank you, Rafael. Thank you very much.” I felt the slight weight of the necklace settle around my neck and dropped my hair, turning and pressing a hand to the wing, knowing I would never take it off. “It’s beautiful.”

“You’re the one who makes it so,” Rafael whispered, and then the whole moment was over as Rachel and Matthias pulled into the driveway, their neat, sensible silver Saab suiting them perfectly.

I raised an eyebrow at Rafael. “New ride?”

He shrugged, and then scoffed, “Daniel bought a Mercedes the other day. It’s been a while since we’ve remained in one place long enough to bother with cars. We could fly around, but landing discreetly in daylight is a little difficult. I think they’re all enjoying it, actually.”

Colton and Grace bounded up to me, chattering about their exciting adventures, and Naomi followed, just as eager to see me. Rachel and Matthias trailed behind them, though for the most part their attention was on Rafael.

“He told you everything?” Matthias asked in a low voice, and I knew he meant Damian’s story.

Rafael nodded, and Matthias’s brow creased in worry.

“Then you know we have a lot of work to do. We’d better go and start planning. Come on, Naomi.”

Rafael told me goodbye and headed to the Hummer, followed by Matthias, who went to his own car. Rachel scooped Naomi up in her arms and smiled at me.

“Thank you again for taking them along with you,” I told her, smiling back. There was something about Rachel that immediately put me to ease, and I could see how Matthias had been so immediately drawn to her after only a few days.

“It’s our pleasure. Perhaps you and I can get together for some coffee and just talk,” Rachel offered. “I know a lot of this is overwhelming, and, well, I have some experience with that.”

My smile grew broader as I caught hold of Colton and Grace’s hands. “I would
love
that,” I said with great feeling.

“Sometime next week, then,” Rachel confirmed. “When all this chaos with Damian has calmed just a little. Goodbye, Lyla.”

“Goodbye!” I called to all of them as the cars pulled out of the driveway and I was alone on the porch with my siblings.

I barely saw Rafael the rest of the week since he was so busy with the other Fallen. Once or twice he was there to drive us to or from school and give me updates on their search and the subsequent danger involved with having rogue Fallen nearby. He always warned me to be careful, and it made me worry about Rafael and the danger he could be facing. I began to feel like a girl whose boyfriend had gone off to war, even though I had no such claim on Rafael.

Saturday night I woke up suddenly, a glance at the clock showed it was just past three A.M and a tingle down the back of my spine made me feel as though I was not alone. I wasn’t scared though, and as I slowly rolled over, I realized why. Rafael, the least threatening and most comforting presence I could imagine, stood leaning in one corner of the room, though he straightened when he saw I was awake.

I slowly sat up, trying not to disturb Grace, who was sleeping soundly next to me. “What are you doing here?” I asked sleepily, though quietly.

Rafael shifted uncomfortably. “Watching you,” he whispered, almost sounding embarrassed at being caught. Then he beckoned to me. “I have something to tell you, let’s go to the kitchen.”

Trying to shake off my sleep-dazed stupor, I shoved my feet into slippers and tossed a sweater around me as I fought back a yawn and shuffled after Rafael to the kitchen. He took a seat at the kitchen table with the usual look of wariness he had upon entering my house, his eyes darting around quickly, as though constantly on guard against attack. Afraid I would fall asleep if I remained still, I pulled out milk and a box of instant hot chocolate and proceeded to make myself a cup.

“What’s going on?” I asked as I worked.

Rafael looked unusually grim as he watched me bustle around the kitchen. He took a deep breath before he spoke. “Daniel, Orpah, Matthias, and I are leaving. Tonight.”

I froze, my cup of milk halfway to the microwave, my eyes fastened on Rafael.

“Not
leaving
, leaving,” he quickly assured me. “We’re just taking a short trip. Orpah and I are going to Cincinnati, and Daniel and Matthias to Cleveland. We’ll only be gone about a week, I expect, doing the same as when we left to look for Damian. We’re double checking that the demons aren’t migrating there like they are in Columbus, and to see if there is any sign of Sadie and Abram.”

With only a slight sigh of relief, I started the microwave and turned to face Rafael, now feeling completely wide awake. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” I asked in a small voice. So this was what it would feel like, a very small taste of how it would feel to have Rafael leave me for good. I didn’t like it, not at all.

“We just decided on it tonight. We would already be on our way, but I insisted on coming and telling you in person, so I could tell you goodbye. I didn’t want it to be like last time.”

“Why are Sadie and Abram so important?” I asked impatiently, the one question I had been wondering the past week. “Why do you have to find them, out of any other Fallen who have left your side?”

Rafael hesitated, as though he didn’t want to give me any more information than what I already knew, but finally relented. “Abram and Sadie are powers. It’s a class within the hierarchy of angels,” he said, as though this explained everything.

“What does that
mean
though?” I frowned.

Rafael stood, moving quickly over to me. “I don’t have time to explain everything to you right now, the others are outside waiting to leave. The sooner I go, the sooner I’ll be back. I’ve asked Damian to keep an eye on you in the meantime. He’s one of my oldest friends, Lyla, even from back when we were in heaven together. He’ll take good care of you; you can trust him as you would trust me. He’ll keep you safe.”

“But Rafael, I-”

He brushed off my protests by walking up and squeezing me in a quick, rib-cracking hug. He let go and I blinked, and found myself standing alone in the kitchen. I went back to bed after that, but couldn’t sleep at all. Instead I lay there wide awake, my arms around Gracie, praying for Rafael’s safety and hoping he
would
come back, and that neither Abram nor Sadie would be able to get their hands on him, or any of the other Fallen.

I wasn’t surprised to see the Hummer parked across the street from my house the next day, the keys resting on the dresser, since I knew Rafael wouldn’t need it this week. He would have flown, it was so much faster than driving.

I stayed in all weekend, moping around, without much energy or ambition to do anything, constantly worried about Rafael. He called both days, not talking much but comforting me with the knowledge that he was doing all right.

Since he had left us the Hummer, I didn’t expect to see any of the Fallen until Rafael got back, so I was surprised on Monday morning to see a sleek red Infiniti G37 pull into our driveway. Damian stepped out and headed toward our front porch. Grace, Colton, and I watched from the window, them with keen interest and me with a slight frown.

“Who’s that?” Colton asked, slightly in awe.

“It’s Mr. Rafael’s friend, Mr. Damian. He’s going to watch out for us while Rafael is gone on his trip. Come on, get your backpacks.”

They scurried to get their jackets, backpacks, and lunch boxes while I opened the front door to Damian’s soft knock.

“Damian,” I said as the door swung slowly open. “I wasn’t expecting you.” I still wasn’t sure what to make of Damian. He seemed so different yet the same as the other Fallen. But he was Rafael’s best friend, and that was enough. I trusted Rafael’s judgment as I trusted no one else’s.

Damian gave a slightly mocking bow, but his smile was warm and friendly. “Just think of me as your own personal bodyguard,” he said. “Rafael is very concerned about your well-being, and since he can’t do his usual personal check-ups, I’ve been assigned to chauffeur you to and from school whenever possible.”

“Why me? Or us, I guess,” I asked, surprised at all the trouble everyone was going to.

Damian’s eyes bored into me. “Chances are, someone may have seen the two of you together. Demon or Fallen. They may take you in order to get to us, or Rafael, more specifically.”

A cold shiver went down my spine at his words. It was finally beginning to dawn on me what Rafael had meant when he said learning about the Fallen was dangerous for me. And yet here he was, looking after me as always, even from two hundred miles away.

I finally managed a small smile for Damian. “Well, thank you for taking the time to watch us.”

“My pleasure,” Damian replied, sounding genuine.

At school, I began to wonder if I would see danger around every corner and I jumped every time someone slammed their locker closed. It seemed strange now, to be concerned about my calculus test and learning my new list of Latin vocabulary words when Rafael was out fighting demons. My world had grown a lot bigger since meeting him. Colton and Grace were no longer the only people I worried about.

Damian was there after school as promised, one of the few cars left out in the lot. I had purposely lingered and let Natalie and Austin leave before me so they wouldn’t see Damian. I hadn’t a clue how to explain him to them – Rafael’s brother, recently come to town, maybe? I could just see the skepticism on their faces at that one, and I was tired of lying.

Damian greeted us with a smile and actually made lively chatter with Colton and Grace on the short ride home. I could see he was quickly winning them over. He was out of the car just as quickly as Rafael, opening the door and giving me a hand out of the car, which seemed ridiculously low to the ground after riding in the Hummer for so long. He walked us up to the front porch and waited while I unlocked the front door, and after a moment’s hesitation, I invited him inside, and he graciously accepted.