HIM (22 page)

My soul felt detached from my body - floating above as I watched what was going on below.  He
took my hand and before I knew it, led me through transparent shaped buildings and trees.  “After your meeting with lover boy,” he said, changing the subject, “I have to take you somewhere.”

I tried finding my voice but it seemed as though my soul hadn’t entered my body yet.  After a moment, I spoke, “To kill me, right?”

“Oh, I’m not going to kill you,” he smirked.  “The Angel Vaad might though.  And Jensen’s going to watch the show.”  A throaty laugh rang through the air - strong and full of power.  “But don’t worry.  Everything will be fine.  I’m a great audience member.”

And there’s the catch.  I guess I was hoping for something more creative.

“You can’t fight your destiny, Avalon,” spoke the Shadow Angel possessing Cole’s lifeless corpse.  Just holding his hand made my skin crawl.  “You were chosen for this.”

I wasn’t sure what made me even more nauseous - the fact that I was practically born just to become an evil creature or that I was connected to Aiken and would be involved with him once the transformation was complete after my death.

Large, see-through iron-like archways stood in front of us, with what looked to be like Shadow Angels on either side of the gate.  The men were holding large staffs - one glowed metallic silver, the other gold.  A sizzling, crackling noise came from one of them.  They eyed me as we headed toward the gate.  We paused to look at them - one stared me down, intensely.  He was tall, rugged looking.  The other was the same but extremely muscular.  They scared the life out of me.

“Upon request of The Angel Vaad we all had to possess one of the thousand human corpses held in our chambers.  We aren’t allowed to show you our true selves. 
Can’t scare the human.”
 He smirked.

So at least The Angel Vaad isn’t completely evil.

One man, irritated, grunted as the doors opened themselves up.  I took a deep breath as I held onto my captor’s hand, leading me into the unknown world that was The Middle Plane.

____________________

** Reference
Angelic Key

Through the darkness of the damp hallway I shivered.

I knew this was a ridiculous time to be thinking of this but I had no idea this type of place could acquire any type of precipitation.  It was a normal world - except everything you saw you could see right through.  If I had been afraid of heights I would’ve had a problem.  Underneath everything was something else, though the whole lot was separate.

It was utterly scary but honestly, remarkably stunning and unforgettable all at the same time.  But even in the midst of all this beauty never in my life had I ever been so afraid - so unaware of the danger in front of me.  I hoped - 
really
hoped - that he was taking me to see Jensen and that this wasn’t some sort of twisted trap.

His hand still held mine in his.  My palms were sweaty, as well as the rest of my body.  I chuckled on the inside, wanting my perspiration to gross him out.  If it was he didn’t seem to make a big deal out of it.

          The loud thumping of my unsteady heart muffled our footsteps.  I was scared what would happen if I didn’t calm down.  Either way, I hated the sick feeling that was spreading through my timid body like wildfire - between the fears of dying too young and never seeing Jensen again - was too overwhelming.  But I couldn’t break down now - not in front of
him
.

         
Stay strong, Avalon.

          “You seem nervous,” Aiken noticed.

          “What makes you say that?” my voice trembled.

          “I hear your heartbeat.  Calm yourself.” He snickered at my discomfort.

          “Working on it.”

          We rounded a tight, transparent corner, crossing a bridge - over a large body of rushing water - to get to another section of the building.  Once on the opposite side we strolled down a few more long hallways and then ended up in front of a wide door.  The top was higher than the Chrysler Building.  Although clear, you could see nothing on the other side of it.  The room appeared to be empty.

          But that was not the case when you entered.  There were crystal-like cages - about forty or so with bodies inside them - holding men and women captive.  Before walking in, Aiken had explained to me that everyone in here were Light Angels that had disobeyed The Angel Vaad in some way.  I wondered what they all had done to end up in this place; although it wasn’t my business to know.

          Before I could calm my nerves from realizing that, after all, this was not a trick, I took notice in how the Shadow Angel was honest with me.  Why?  I didn’t know.  Although
he
was no good I couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit better, knowing he hadn’t deceived me.

          My eyes, frantic, searched for Jensen.  After a few moments I spotted him.  If I hadn’t looked hard enough I wouldn’t have been able to tell it was him.  He looked like a different person.  He was in the corner, on the right side all the way in the back, hunched over.  Some sort of medallion or talisman was hanging around his neck, a symbol I’d never seen before.  Charms of many shapes and sizes hung around the large cage.  And everything was transparent.  Something else I’d never witnessed - Jensen appeared to be weak,
actually
physically weak.  I had to see him.  My feet began to move.

          “Ah, ah, ah,” said the disgusting creature holding my hand.  He pulled me back so I was next to him once more.  “Ask for permission.”

          “Wow, you really love being in control, don’t you?” I snapped, shaking.  Jensen was about a hundred yards away from me.  I wanted to run to him.

          “Why yes, I do.  Thank you for taking notice.” His sly smile made me want to spit in his face, even though he was wearing the mask of my old love.

          “May I please see Jensen?”  In a way I felt silly for asking.

          “Certainly.” He let my hand go.

          And with that my legs moved, sprinting across the room with speed and endurance - adrenaline pumping through my veins.  My lungs felt like they were going to burst.  I was crying on my way to see the man I loved.  I had been without him for too long and couldn’t bear to see him like this.  When I approached the cage he did not look up.  I came to a halt, catching my breath and touching the cage bars with much trepidation.  I hadn’t given much thought to how the bars would feel.  But they felt like real iron bars - I could touch them without a problem.

          “Jensen,” I breathed, trying to even out my panted breath.  He didn’t budge.  “Jensen,” I repeated.  No movement.  His skin was almost pale and was in desperate need of a shave and new clothes - they were ripped and tattered.

          Tears streaked my weary face.  Could he even
hear
me?  Could he
see
me?

          “He only answers to
us
,” came Aiken’s haunting voice.  He was standing behind me.

          “What do you mean?” I asked through gritted teeth, never taking my eyes off of Jensen.

          “He’s…what would you call him?  Oh!  A puppet.”  I could hear a smile in his voice.  “We control him.”

          I turned to face the Shadow Angel.  “Make him move.  Make him speak to me. 
Please
.”

          “Why do I care to please you so much?” he asked with an odd grin, running his pointer finger down the length of my arm.  “Jensen,” he spoke, turning his
attention to my boyfriend trapped in the cage . . . like an animal, “you may listen, speak, and respond in any way you please to your guest.  But keep in mind your time with her is limited.  Don’t let it go to waste.”  He
then turned to me.  “And as for you, I wouldn’t try anything slick with him.  He won’t be himself.  He might not even recognize who you are.  So just watch yourself.”  And then
he
left, the humongous door slamming behind him, echoing throughout the room.  Not one angel moved.

          Just then, Jensen’s eyes - his eyes a dull blood red, and underneath, dark shadows -flickered and looked up at me.  Seeing his face - bruised and bewildered - frightened me.  He was the strongest being I’d ever known, so sure of everything, so confident and brave.  Seeing him here was almost excruciating.  But I had to show him I was strong - that I would find a way to get him out of here, somehow, some way, I would.

I have to.

          “Jensen…” I trailed off.  He shared a confused look with me.

          “Yes?” he asked, his voice gruff.

          “How are you doing?”  I gripped the bars to keep myself from falling down.  I had had one hell of an experience and needed the stability.

          “I am okay.”  He looked away from me.  “I am living.”

          “Yeah, I can see that, thank G-d,” I replied.  “Jensen, I’m going to get you out of here.”

          “You cannot.”  He sounded robotic.

          “How come?”

        “Because I do not trust you.  You could be dangerous, a threat.”  If I didn’t know any better I’d say there was anger, pure
anger
in his eyes.  Towards
me
.

          “I’m not dangerous.  I’m your girlfriend,” I laughed with no emotion.

          “Who?” he asked, an absolute perplexing look on his delicate face.

My stomach sank and my breathing hitched.  “Do you know who I am?”

          “You are a visitor,” he responded.

          I didn’t say another word.  Jensen didn’t know who I was.

          “No one ever visits me.  I have been here for one, full year.  No one comes.  Until you.”

Every angel in here appeared just as brittle and robotic - no emotion, no movement - nothing.

          “Jensen what are you talking about?  You’ve only been here a few hours.”

          “One year,” he repeated.  “Angel time is different than human time.”

          “Look at me,” I commanded.  “Please, look at me.”  He shook his head.

          “Why not?”

          “You are too beautiful for me to look at.  Go to someone else so they can admire your beauty.”  I didn’t know whether to laugh hysterically or to cry.

          “Look.  At.  Me,” I told him, more control in my voice.  His head slowly rose.  “Can you let me in, Jensen?”

          “Why would you want to come in here?  You have power outside this cage.  Use it to your advantage.”

          “But I want to come in there with you.”  I didn’t know if what I was doing was smart enough but I had to do something.

          “I do not understand your words.”

          “I love you,” I said, placing a shaky hand over my heart.

          “Love?  I do not know what that is.”

          Anxiety was taking over and I didn’t know what to do - how to get through to him.  It was only a matter of time before the Shadow Angel would return and Jensen and I would be separated.

          But then I had an idea.

         “Place your hand over your heart,” I said.  “Is it beating?”  I prayed it was.

          With a steady hand, he did so.  His eyes widened.  “Yes,” he breathed.  “But…
how
?”

          “You love me.  Just as I love you.”

          “Angels do not tend to fall in love with your kind.  Angels do not fall in love at all.”

          “You know I’m human?”

          “I can see the difference within hues.  Light Angels are a golden-white whereas Shadow Angels are a blackened-red.  Humans have a pale blue-hue.  But you?  You’re blue and blackened-red.  How strange.  You are different from the others like yourself?”

          “You seem to think so,” I sighed, trying hard not to think about what
he
had said to me about having his power of premonition inside me.  “Now, will you let me in? 
Please?
”  His hands trembled at his sides.  His eyes darted to the side of the cage I was on - a door was there but it was shut.  “Please.”

          His eyes locked on mine, walking over to the entranceway.  He placed his hand over the doorknob; an electric current shot through his body in multiple jolts.  His body shook and he screamed in excruciating pain.  I nearly cried out but he opened the door, smoke rising from where his hand had been.

         
I walked in quickly, carefully prying his fingers from the doorknob.  He caught his breath, his hand burnt and sore.  I held it in mine carefully, kissing his knuckles.  I didn’t know what else to do so I sobbed.  It wasn’t doing Jensen any good but I needed to cry for many reasons.  I was now with Jensen, which was a good thing.  But more bad seemed to conquer - he didn’t know who I was and he was trapped in here.

          “Oh Jensen, I’m so sorry,” I blubbered.

          “Don’t be, Avalon,” he sighed.  His voice had a different tone to it; a tad bit happier.  I looked up at him.  His eyes were softer - blue again - and his skin was a little less pale.

          “You know my name?” I was shocked, praying it was really him and not the robotic Jensen who scared the crap out of me.

          “Of course I do,” he smiled wearily.  “You’re the reason I’m in here.”

          “Jensen.” I wish he hadn’t said that.  I felt guilty enough.

          “Oh, Avalon.  I didn’t mean it like that,” he bit his lip.  “I know who you are now.  I don’t know what they did to me, Ava, but it’s not working on me anymore.  The feeling of being completely powerless and controlled is no longer here.”

          “So you’re really…you?”

“I’m really me.”  I breathed a sigh of relief and buried my face in his chest.

          “I thought they had taken you away from me.”

          “Never.”  He kissed the top of my head.

          “Why did you let me in?” I wondered, still lightly holding his burnt hand in mine.

“I don’t know.  But subconsciously I guess I knew who you were.  And probably felt how
good
you are - how you wouldn’t harm me.”

I smiled slightly.  “Does that usually happen when people try to break someone out of here?”

“There’s never been a breakout in angel history, Ava.  No one’s tried freeing one of us before.”

“That’s because no human’s ever been in love with an angel before.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

His lips touched mine, soft but burning kisses followed.  We’d experienced passionate kisses before but nothing like this.  It wasn’t long but it would suffice.  It made my insides warm.  He wrapped his arms around me, kissing my temple.

 “Aiken will be back shortly.  He can’t see you in here with me,” he spoke, his hand on the small of my back, which sent shivers up and down my spine.

              I imagined Aiken shoving his body into Cole’s lifeless corpse, stretching him until he fit and having Cole’s body snap together the way it looked before.  It made sense why they could only possess the dead and not the living - a person’s soul doesn’t leave their body until death.  The Shadow Angel wouldn’t be able to fit inside unless it was an empty carcass.