Chapter 1
Present Day
"Ava!" A familiar voice came from behind me, causing my startled, clumsy-to-start-with-hands, to drop a perfume bottle that cost just over half of my monthy wages.
Swivelling around I found my best friend marching through the crowded clothes shop with excited eyes and a silly grin on her face.
I scowled as my eyes fell down to the broken glass smashed all over the tiled floor, the sweet, nose tingling scent floating around me.
"Maya, how many times do I have to tell you not to sneak up on the accident prone shop girl when she's holding anything breakable?!" I hissed in adgitation as Maya squarked, "Did you see?!", at the same time as she bounced up and down in front of me.
Maya's bright green eyes fell to the floor and her jaw dropped as she studied the mess, her nostrils flaring.
"Is that-" She gasped, "Is that what I think it is?"
"No, not anymore it's not," I shot back at her, frustrated as I turned to grab a dustpan and brush.
"Ava!" My best friend rasped, following me like a lost puppy, "Please, please, please tell me you kept me one back!"
Naturally, my best friend was talking about the brand new perfume spin-off from Angel, a manufactured perfume a designer had created that was the latest must have perfume. It made my life hell for at least a year as the demand for more came flying in every day, sometimes fights breaking out in the shop between star-struck angel lovers, also nicknamed, angel-struck.
But of course, today was entirely focused on the spin-off named Archangel which featured a black box with golden wings emblazed on the front.
The whole of the world were going wild to grab the perfume with their favourite Archangel's name on. Personally, I didn't see the point. It smelled lovely, but why pay over $400 for the stuff when there was others that smelled perfectly fine for a whole lot cheaper?
"I did keep you one, Maya," I replied, biting my lip with agitation. "It's smashed into a million peices on the floor and I'll probably get fired for it."
Maya gasped behind me, "It is not! Ava, don't mess with me, I may have to get physical!"
"I'm not messing," I replied, a small smirk forming around my mouth. Of course, her specially asked for "Michael" perfume was currently sitting in my bag, bought and payed for the minute the delivery arrived and made its way through the army of people desperate for it.
"This is Archangel Michael we are talking about, Ava! The most strongest, bravest, handsome angel ever to walk the earth, and you think its funny to mess with my poor heart like this?" Maya's voice had slowly risen in hysterics. "I had wet dreams about his perfume on my pillow tonight!"
Some of the on-looking customers had overheard her last comment and threw furious looks at her as their children clung to their arm begging for a bottle.
"Well you're out of luck because that bottle you made me smash was the last one we had until the next delivery." I muttered, making my way around the counter.
"Seriously?!" Maya threw her hands down on the glass counter in frustration.
I leaned forward, "Seriously."
"You... you...," I watched as her ears turned pink with anger and her face went three shades redder, her blazing green eyes piercing my own. "Ava Miller, you are the worst best friend in the world! I am never talking to you again!"
"Until next delivery," I smiled this time, loving her reaction.
"Until next delivery." Maya repeated, then realising what she said. "I did not mean that! And I'm doubly not speaking to you now!"
"Fine," My grin grew wider as I tried my best to keep up the pretense.
Slowly, I watched as it dawned on my best friend that I was joking and burst into a giggle fit.
"Oh, man!" Maya moaned, "are you joking? Seriously! You are the worst but most amazing best friend ever!"
"Yeah, yeah." I laughed, going through to the bach end staff room to retrieve the perfume and receipt all at once.
I rolled my eyes as I returned and handed it to her. Green eyes fixated on the perfume, I watched in obvious confusion as my best friend purred, "Oh, Michael, tonight me and you are going to make a perfume all of our own,"
Awkward...
"Um," My brow's furrowed, "you do realise, Maya, that it is just a perfume bottle?"
"Don't ruin this for me, Ava!" Maya hissed, her eyes never leaving the bottle. "It's like a sex and a proposal from him all at once!"
Having enough, I swatted her on the arm. "Get out of here, creep!"
And with the chorus of "I love you Ava, but I love him moooore" sounding, my best friend departed from the shop leaving me to sweep this glass up.
On my lunch break, my boss Kristie made a point of telling me what I already knew - that I'd have to pay for the bottle out of my wages and if I were careless like that again I'd be looking for another job.
Kristie also made a point of telling me that I had to do overtime tonight and get rid of all of the empy boxes and rubbish leftover from today.
So while the shop slowly dimissed of weeping children begging their mothers, parents insisting that if they slipped me a little more I could find a bottle of Archangel with a wink and a smile, I made a point of offering them all the other perfumes that we had on sale.
Surely something smelled similar.
And yet every time I passed the spot where I dropped the bottle, my nostrils would flare up and my eyelids would become heavier as I inhaled the sweet aroma, so rich and bursting with all of these exciting scents that had you sniffing for more.
Feet aching, my body slumped against the glass door as the last customer shuffled out and I turned the lock.
If tomorrow was anything like today, I very much doubted I'd survive the full shift - not with a boss that sat in her office all day doing anything but work, and two other assistants whom were just as much angel-struck over the perfume as anyone else in the shop.
Wearily, I walked over to the back of the shop and pressed the buttons that would release the shutters down the front of the shop to protect the windows.
Picking up today's takings, I switched off the floor lights and made my way over to the safe, punching the code in and locking the cash away, signing my name as the last person of the day to have access to it.
Out in the back entrance I was greeted by piles and piles of boxes that needed breaking down to go outside in the recycle bins.
"Just what I need," I muttered to myself as I grabbed hold of the stanley knife and made a start.
By the time I got to the last box, I noticed the time being well after midnight. Oh, that's great, Ava! Back at work in less than eight hours and you're still here! I thought to myself. Well done!
My temper spiking, I grabbed ahold of the now flat boxes and made my way out the back entrance to be greeted by high pitched winds and sleet slapping me in the face.
"Just perfect!" I shouted, wrestling the card into the recycling bin. "Ouch!"
I yanked my finger back to see a perfect slash of oozing red. Cussing, I turned to go back inside and wash it when a shadow caught my eye.
Squinting to get a better look, my heart started pounding in my chest. A scream tore up and out of my throat as something landed on me, the stink of rotten flesh slamming my nostrils.
I collided down beside the bins, an uncomfortable heaviness gripping my arms as my legs crushed under the weight.
"Female," The raspy voice hissed with pleasure, and in a terrified glance, I found myself staring at something mankind never wished to see - a demon housed in a rotten body.
I screamed a high pitched cry, as the demon fisted both of my hands into one of his meaty claw tipped hands, the claws slicing my skin into ribbons of blood.
Wailing and crying in terror, the demon's eyes darkened with fascination as its free claw sliced up my buttoned top, shredding the fabric into two.
"Pretty," The raspy voice full of lust whispered as its yellow eyes feasted on the flesh it uncovered.
"Oh lord help me!" I sobbed, trying to buck the creature off me.
And then a fire sliced up my veins where the demon had slashed at my wrists, spreading all over my body.
Sweat beaded on my brow, mixing with the sleet that dropped from the night. My body became limp and my eyes rolled back, the demon shimmering in and out of focus.
Please help me, I whispered in the back of my mind as darkness began to consume my conciousness.
And then a burst of golden light fought back the inky blackness and in one last vain attempt, my eyes flashed open for the split of a second.
And there I saw him, poised and ready to strike.
The one they all talked about.
Michael.
The archangel.
And my eyes fell shut once more as my body gave way to the blackness that enfolded me, my mind protecting me from the scene unfolding before me.
At some point, I felt a calloused finger stroke the hair from my brow. Hands folded between the creases of my legs and under my neck, and I felt myself getting lifted from the ground.
My eyes fell open one more time and I found myself staring into rich brown eyes, fanned with long lashes. But the beauty of his eyes were shunned by the coldness behind them.
Facinated, I watched as a single drop of water ran down the length of him nose, dripping on to my throat.
He was beautiful.
"Thank you," I whispered barely, consumed once again by darkness. Only this time it wasn't through pain.
It was through unabashed peace.