Two Books in One - Ominous Love and Paradox - The Angels Are Here (11 page)

“Don’t look at me like that, Eloise. You’ll understand in a minute. You see, when you were dreaming and you came into the mist with me, your closeness distracted me and I didn’t see Devlin enter your bedroom. But the moment he took over Tom’s body, I felt his presence and I knew what he was going to do. So I shot down to your room and into Tom’s body.”

My mouth drops open. “
You
possessed Tom’s body?”

He strokes my hair. “Honey, I told you I’m not innocent, but I couldn’t let Devlin rape you. I had to stop him. So I entered Tom's body to force Devlin out. I struck him with a lightning bolt and burned his wings off.”

My eyes go wide. “Oh, Seal, you did nothing wrong. You saved me from Devlin.”

He looks at his fingers then gazes at me through long dark lashes. “Yes, but when Devlin left Tom’s body, I didn’t. I was left with you in my arms. I was
physically
holding you for the first time, and I couldn’t let go. Your skin felt so soft and smooth and your scent captivated me. It was hard because I’ve been in love with you for over a year now, and the temptation to kiss you was overwhelming, especially when you kissed me back. I knew it was wrong, but I just couldn’t stop. Then Matilda jumped between us.”

Oh my God! I press my hands to my heart. Seal really
does
love me? I tingle all over and blush with pleasure at his words. I giggle. “No wonder I was enjoying that dream so much.”

“Yes, but look what happened. I lost my wings just like Devlin, but I also lost my memory. Then as a man, I fell in love with you all over again, but when my memory came back and I saw Devlin was human, I realised I could no longer protect you from him. He was in your garden, spying on you, waiting for an opportunity to meet you in person. I realised the only way to help you was to beg for God’s forgiveness for what I did and get my wings back.”

I frown. “Was that when you ran off into the wood in the rain?”

“Yes, that was after God had spoken to me.”

I pout. “But why were you so meant to me when you came back? You teased me so badly and pretended you had a girlfriend? That really hurt me, Seal.”

He pulls me close. “Oh, Eloise. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just didn’t know how to handle things. You see, angels are not supposed to fall in love with humans. I lost my wings because I kissed you. I didn't push you away because I had a girlfriend, or because I didn't feel anything for you. It was because I love you so much and I wanted to save you from Devlin. I couldn’t do that as a human, so I begged God for my wings back. He only agreed to give me a second chance because I hadn't actually had sex with you. He said I had to prove I could resist you by staying with you until your parents came home, but if I kissed or touched you in a passionate way, I would have to stay on earth as a human forever. Honey, it was so hard to resist you when you were so near, especially with Tom and Devlin both trying to make out with you.”

I hug him close. “I don't want them, Seal. I only want you. And I only went to the party with Tom to make you jealous.”

He grips my arms and looks deep into my eyes. “But it doesn't matter that you don't want them, Eloise. Devlin is determined to have you, no matter what. I had no powers other than the strength of a man, and you know now what he's capable of. So you see, I
had
to sacrifice our relationship in order to get my wings back—so I could protect you.”

I look into his eyes, my heart pummelling, panic setting in. “You sacrificed our relationship? What does that mean, Seal?”

He wraps his arms around me. “Oh, Eloise, I so wanted to stay human and be with you, but if I had, you would still be with Devlin and a prisoner in his castle. There would've been no way for me to find you. You see Devlin tricked me. He knew if he possessed Tom's body and tried to make love to you that I would stop him and burn his wings off. That's what he wanted. He yearned to be sent to earth as a man, then he could experience the physical pleasures that humans have. He fell in love with you, too, but he's jealous and vain. He wants you to love him, not me. Plus he wanted his revenge on me, which he surely got.”

“But my parents are not back yet, so how come you’ve already got your wings back?”

“Because when Devlin kidnapped you, I begged God to give me them back early. Knowing it was an emergency, he agreed.”

“Well, how come Devlin’s got blood feathers on his back, but you didn’t have any?”

“Because when I burned Devlin’s wings off, he got away before I finished destroying them properly. So his feathers have started growing back. That was my other big mistake. I was too busy kissing you and he got away. But I doubt he’ll let his wings grow back again because he wants to look human. He wants to be human and have you as his wife. Plus if they ever did grow back, they’d be black and he could never get into Heaven with them.

“Okay, but Devlin's just a man and you're an angel, so how has he won?”

Seal looks at me with a tear in his eye. “He sold his soul to The Devil; joined Lucifer, the first and most evil fallen angel of all, the ruler of all the bad fallen angels and demons. Devlin offered himself to Lucifer, and in return he asked that Lucifer give him the power to get his revenge on me. Lucifer was happy with that because he would love Devlin to marry you because any children that Devlin had with you would join all the other dark angels and demons that roam the earth causing evil and destruction.”

I press my hands to my face. “What? But I won't marry Devlin. He can't make me. You'll stop him, Seal. You will, won't you?”

“Of course I will. Why do you think I came back to being an angel? Lucifer gave Devlin riches, a castle, money, power. As a man I wouldn't stand a chance against him.”

Clasping my hands together, I bite my knuckle. “Oh my god. Where is Lucifer? Does he roam around on earth? Is he visible?”

“Lucifer is The Devil himself and can manifest himself in human form; possess people. Do you know what exorcism means?”

I nod. “Of course, but I didn't believe it was real.” I wrap my arms around his waist. “It's all so scary. I'm so lucky you're here to protect me.”

“Eloise, you're stronger than you think. You've already stood up to Devlin, and to Lucifer. You'll be fine.”

Confused, I frown. “But I've never seen Lucifer.”

Seal raises his brows. “Yes, you have. He's disguised as a priest.”

My eyes grow wide and a chill runs up my spine. “Father Luke is
The
Devil?
Crap, I can see how he tricks people. He just looked like a sleazy old git. Not a demon or devil. But this is all too much to think about. I can't get my head around it all. Oh, why did I have to be a descendant of some lusty angel?”

Seal raises a brow. “What like me?”

He lusts for me?
Smiling, I lay my head on his chest. “Oh, Seal, I'm so sorry I caused you so much trouble. It was me that kept kissing you, not the other way around. I fell in love with you the moment I set eyes on you.” I smile and hug myself. “Do you lust after me, Seal? Say you do?”

He strokes my hair. “Angels aren’t allowed to lust after humans, Eloise. They're supposed to know better. It’s forbidden. And as you can see, I have my wings back.” He points over his shoulder to his beautiful silver feathers, then he hugs me tight. “Just relax for a while, honey. You've had such a bad ordeal. Why don't you lie down and sleep for a while?”

I look at him, but his eyes are sad. Then I start to panic with a horrible feeling of impending doom. My heart sinks with despair as I realise what he’s trying to tell me. No, it can’t be. Franticly, I press my hands on his bare chest. “Kiss me, Seal.”

Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath, but when he opens them, they’re glazed with tears. “No, Eloise. You know I can't kiss you.”

My lips quiver. “But, Seal, just a few moments ago, you said you love me.”

He grabs my arms and holds me away from him. “It doesn’t mean I don't love you. I do. I love you more than anything in the universe, but I’m committed to God. I told you, angels are not allowed to have passionate relationships with humans or they lose their wings. I can't do that and put your life in danger again. And I'm not Seal. I'm Nathaniel, Angel of Fire. I'm here to guide and protect you from danger, nothing more.”

Squeezing my eyes shut, I cover my ears with my hands. I don't want to hear what he's telling me.

He pulls my hands away. “Look at me, Eloise,” he demands.

I stare imploringly at him. Then I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss his cheek. “No! No! Please don't tell me you can't come back to me? No! I can't live without you. Please, Seal, say you'll come back with me.”

He holds me tight. “I'm so sorry, Eloise. I didn't mean to hurt you. You're my whole world. But if I'm to protect you from Devlin and Lucifer, I have to stay here. Please don't make it harder for me.” He looks into my eyes, into my soul. “You know how much I love you and want to be with you, but if I lose my wings again, I'll never get them back. I’ll never get another chance to redeem myself. Please, Eloise, say you understand?”

I stare at him, shocked, dumbfounded. “You're not coming back, are you?”

He shakes his head. “No, Eloise. I'm not. But I'll be with you always. I'll be watching over you, and whenever you're in trouble, I'll be there, just know that.”

I sob into my hands. I'm heartbroken, I can't breathe and I gasp for air.

“Please don't cry, Eloise.” He wraps his arm around my shoulders to comfort me.

I push him away. “You may be an angel, but you're no different than Tom and Devlin. You were just after one thing, and you didn't even think I was worth fighting for. You're just interested in your ego and winning some battle with Devlin. Well, you've conquered him now and got your trophy, so you don't need me anymore. Go back to your heavenly duties, but count me out. I don't want you watching over me, ever. Just leave me to live my life on my own. Go and find some other idiot to fall in love with you, then you can have another challenge. Now, take me home or I'll jump off this cloud.”

“Oh, Eloise, please, it's not like that at all. I do love you, but you have to understand how dangerous Devlin can be. I need my wings and my powers to protect you from him, not for my ego. Do you remember when I went outside to fetch wood for the fire?”

I sniff. “Uh-uh. That's when you got your darn memory back.”

“Well, it wasn't just the storm that triggered my memory, it was Devlin's scent. I knew he was around. I sensed him, smelt him, and the thought of him harming you terrified me. I may have burned his wings off, but now he's a physical man, a young, handsome, and virile man. If he can't make you love him enough to marry him, he'll try his hardest to make you pregnant. Then he’ll always be connected to you. You see, he can still get to you as a human; he kidnapped you once and he'll do it again if he can. I'll have to watch him constantly. He can't outwit an angel, but he can outsmart a human, especially a poor one.”

I hold my hands out. “Devlin is just a man even if he is rich. As long as you love me, and I love you, we can get through anything. We can find a safe way to be together. We can hide. He has no wings. If you don't come back to earth with me, I'll truly curl up and die.” I look up at him, hopefully. “Then I’ll come up to Heaven and be with you.”

“No, you won't, it's not your time to die. And if I'm not up here to protect you against Devlin and Lucifer, you’ll be in terrible danger.”

“What about God?” I scream. “Why can't he help us?”

“He does, Eloise. He gives us free will. He helps us in his way. There are lessons for humans to learn while living on earth, and for angels to learn while watching over them.”

My eyes cloud over. “But … but God's not helping us. He's like a parent forcing us apart.”

Seal holds my teary face between his hands and looks into my eyes. “Eloise, you're only sixteen. You've got your whole life ahead of you. You'll meet someone one day and have a family. You'll get over me. I'll make sure you do. When I take you home, you'll have no memory of me, but you'll know you have a guardian angel. Whenever you need help, all you have to do is call out and I’ll be there.”

I pound my fists on his bare muscly chest. “Don't you dare erase my memory of you! I'll never forgive you if you do that. And you obviously don't love me because you said you don't care if I meet someone else.”

“I didn't say that, Eloise. You're so infuriating sometimes.” He smirks. “I bet you gave Devlin a hard time.”

Twirling a curl around my finger, I grin. “Maybe I didn't. He's pretty hot you know. Maybe I liked it when he kissed me. I might even go out with him when I get back to earth, at least he wants me.”

Seal glares at me, his blue eyes flashing daggers beneath his straight dark brows. “That's not funny, Eloise.”

Smiling, I lean back on my elbows and waggle my foot at him. “So, you are jealous?”

He leans over and seizes my arms. “This is not a laughing matter. Devlin is doomed to burn in hell one day. He wants you because you're good and pure and because he knows how much I love you, which is all the more reason he'll try and tempt you. He’ll do anything to win you. He’ll tempt you with possessions, money, romance, and more. But if you fall into his trap, you’ll be in Lucifer’s hands, too, and you know where he will take you.”