Chapter Four
“Evelyn, wake up,” I heard a soft voice.
My eyes opened only to see Michael’s face above mine. I closed my eyes again; he was not the person I wanted to see this morning.
“Come now Evelyn, we have important business today,” Michael continued pulling off the duvets from my body.
With a heavy sigh I woke up and slipped my feet into the warm bedroom slippers that lay at the side of my bed. I looked around the room, it barely looked lived in; I suppose it was for the best. The drawers were an exquisite looking cream and pink while the walls were painted a light pink dotted with flowers on the edge of the panelling. There was a large window across from me that let in the brilliant sunlight to fall elegantly over my bed so that every morning as I awoke I was greeted by its rich warmth.
“Evelyn get dressed and meet me in the dining room, we have matters to discuss,” Michael told me walking down to prepare breakfast.
I made my way slowly towards the bathroom and started the water that filled the shower with steam which eventually filled the room. I got in and let the hot water wash away at my soft skin but somehow it only reminded me of last night when I had let the demon…
I opened my eyes and instantly scrubbed at my skin and then started with my hair. I will not allow my feelings for a demon to get the better of me, urgh what am I even saying? I don’t have any feelings for the demon at all, I am fine. With a heavy sigh I stepped out of the shower and stared at my reflection in the mirror.
I gasped. My cheeks were flaming red, and it was not from the shower. Muttering aimlessly to myself I dried my hair which curled beautifully against my shoulders and then I pulled on a white sundress that ended just above my knees making me look as innocent as a five year old.
I smiled to myself and walked down the stairs that combined the loft and the first floor of my apartment. Michael was already setting up plates on the kitchen table, three to be exact. I narrowed my eyes as I took my usual seat across from Michael and watched as he piled on food onto each of the plates.
“Why are there three plates brother?” I asked him curiously.
He smiled sheepishly, “Laura will be here in a few minutes”.
I nodded, “But what about business?”
“We have now to talk and after breakfast Laura needs to visit her parents and that is when we’ll be able to talk more openly,” he answered.
“Okay,” I replied.
There was a knock on the door and I watched as Michael ran over to open the door for Laura. She entered with a smile wearing a low cut shirt accompanied with tight black jeans. I tilted my head questioningly at her and she snuck me a sly smile before winking.
Michael and Laura began to talk easily about last night which only made me feel more and more uncomfortable. What would Michael say if he knew what I had done? Perhaps the lord already knew about what I have been doing and to think that I had warned the demon to get away before Michael had found him. I shuddered.
“Evelyn, are you okay?” Michael asked his voice full of concern.
“Yes I’m fine,” I replied taking away my half empty plate to the kitchen. Somewhere along in my thoughts I had lost my appetite; I needed fresh air, “Michael uh I’m going out do you want anything?”
Michael glanced at me with an inquisitive look, “No nothing”.
I looked over at Laura, “Laura would you like anything?”
She shook her head before staring back at Michael. I sighed, irritation suddenly making me walk out of the apartment with authority. I almost ran out of the building but forced myself to slow down to a gentle pace.
I glanced at my bag that I had taken hastily and dug around in it only to find the spare car keys to Michael’s car not there. Annoyed I made my way on foot towards the local park where a few families and a couple of teenagers loitered around.
Two stands, one selling food and another selling trinkets and gifts of all sorts, stood in the middle of the park managed by a woman. I looked around, why was I here? With a shrug I walked over to a far corner of the park and sat on a bench, just watching people walking past with the occasional glances from them staring mostly at my hair.
“Evelyn?”
I looked up only to be greeted by a familiar warm face, “Urial”.
I felt his warm arms go around me pulling me into a big bear-hug. When we pulled apart I noticed the love bites along his neck and the way his mischievous silver eyes lingered on my lips for a moment too long.
“Evelyn what are you doing here, by yourself?” he asked sitting down on the bench.
I smiled and sat next to him, “I am allowed out on my own you know”.
He grinned, “So where is Brother Michael?”
“At home, with Laura,” I replied with a sigh.
Urial noticed, “Laura, who’s that?”
“My human,” I answered looking away.
“Your human is with Michael?” Urial asked in amusement, “That’s unbelievable, since when did Michael dote over humans?”
“She has captured his interest,” I stated simply.
He nodded and then pulled me into another hug on the bench, “Evelyn has Michael told you about the meeting tonight?”
I looked up at him, taking in his blonde hair and silver eyes, “What meeting?”
“The angels are gathering tonight at Gabriel’s house, we need to discuss the daunting facts that the demons are on the brink of starting a war among the humans,” Urial whispered.
I swallowed, “What type of war?”
Urial looked at me, the seriousness in his eyes told me just how bad the war was going to be. He shook his head and changed the subject to something much lighter than wars; he began to talk about his night with a human.
“Last night was great Evelyn, but if only it was you,” Urial began.
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the smile that was tugging at my lips, “Urial, you and I both know well enough that love amongst us is not allowed”.
He scoffed, “That is not true, it isn’t allowed only if it gets in the way of our missions”.
I grinned, “It will get in the way of my mission”.
“Liar, liar pants on fire,” he sang sticking his tongue out.
I couldn’t help but laugh at Urial. He grinned and pulled me closer to him again which sent his warmth travelling down my spine. For a few moments we just sat there in silence watching as people walked past glancing every now and again towards us. And then I heard a beeping from Urial.
Looking at him I watched as he pulled out his phone and answered it in a seductive tone. I raised my eyebrows as he grinned at me. I didn’t need to ask to know that it was one of his ‘lovers’ that he probably spent the night with yesterday. Urial like Michael was an archangel but he had a good sense of humour that seemed to get the better of him sometimes as well as his long streak of ladies that seemed to always get his attention.
Gabriel sat at the foot of the table holding a glass of wine in his hand. I studied his auburn hair and his golden eyes that shimmered with warmth and kindness that sought out me amongst the other angels that were seated around the table. Next to me sat Michael who was fiddling with his own phone and to my other side sat Urial who kept sending an angel across from him seductive winks.
I noticed the angel in reply twirl her long golden hair and batting her eyelashes. Typical human behaviour but somehow angels did the same whenever they were interested in more than just friendship. Raphael was seated next to Michael, his brown hair and green eyes were filled with friendliness that radiated throughout the table.
“Angels, may I please have your attention,” Michael began, “we all have been summoned here today because of the looming battle between the demons and angels that will have to be fought”.
Angels around looked up at Michael with interested fixed gazes making me feel weirdly not part of the gathering since I was the only one who did not look at Michael like everyone else did. I shook away the thoughts and looked back up at Michael who shot me a warning glance before continuing.
“Our lord has blessed us each with the duty of being a guardian to the precious humans we love and care dearly for but a human, also known back in heaven as the Avenger Lucinda has in her human form sold her soul to a demon which has tipped the balance of good and bad,” Michael stated.
A series of whispers and gasps went around the table. I looked around worriedly and my eyes came into contact with Raphael’s, he smiled reassuringly at me before motioning me to pay attention to Michael who once again was sending me warning looks.
“The time has come for angels and demons to once again battle it out for the fate of humanity relies on this and this alone, one war, one victor and one goal,” Michael roared out.
Angels cheered including me except I couldn’t help but feel the emptiness of my emotions. Something happened to me last night when I had allowed the demon to kiss me and I was set out on not ever letting it happen again.
“Come forth Demon,” Satan called out at me.
I walked forward towards Satan, his horns and hideously red skin glowing with luminescent bright flames. My eyes scanned the different slaves that were loitering around Satan and I thought back about the angel.
“So tell me, how is your mission going?”
I shrugged, “The mortal is under heavy surveillance by her guardian and I’ve seen the archangels around her too”.
“That mortal is more trouble than she’s worth but she is the chosen one” Satan sighed, “it seems that my brother has declared it a war between us”.
“Why is that?” I asked.
Satan’s eyes narrowed before he glared sending a throbbing pain shooting through my spine, “The mortal is the one that will finally tip the scales of good and evil, and we shall rise to take over the humans sending my brother to turmoil”.
“Very well, what is it you want me to do father?”
“Start chaos amongst the humans,” Satan answered with rage.