“I’m not sure, Milayna. But I think we need to be extra careful. The group needs to know what’s going on. It’s time to pair up. Milayna, you aren’t to be alone. Demi-angels are strongest when they are together.”
“Dad, I don’t want to go back to having bodyguards everywhere I go. I’m stronger now. I don’t need the group babysitting me like they did when Azazel was trying to get to me. Going to and from school, to and from classes, at school functions, at home while you’re at work—I don’t want them to put their lives on hold for me again. To change their routines, their plans, just to shadow my every movement.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and finger. “Milayna, until we get this figured out, we need to act like Azazel is indeed threatening your life and take precautions.”
“Azazel?” my mother whispered. She walked over and laid a hand on my dad’s shoulder. He reached up and took it in his, rubbing his thumb gently over the top. I could sense the fear in her, see it on her face.
I wondered if she would have married my dad if she’d known then what she’d have to deal with in life. Being married to an angel had to be difficult, and being the mother of demi-angel children had to be even more worrisome. She had to look over her shoulder day and night to make sure evil wasn’t touching her family—it must’ve been exhausting. Was it fair of my dad to have asked it of her? He’d been her guardian angel, after all. Was it fair that he stopped guarding her and put her in harm’s way instead?
Judging by the love on their faces every time they looked at each other, by the long, passionate kisses they snuck when they thought I wasn’t looking, and how they always held each other’s hands, I guessed she wouldn’t have changed her mind. They still acted like teenagers in love, not a couple who’d been together for twenty-five years.
But sometimes, I’d see what looked like a flash of guilt cross my father’s face, and I wondered if he asked himself the same questions. If he’d ignored his love for her and remained an angel, she wouldn’t be touched by Azazel’s evil.
“Have the group come over tomorrow for pizza and a movie. We can talk with them then and see if anyone else is having any visions. We’ll tell them the importance of no one being alone… not just you, Milayna. None of you should be alone right now. Not until we know what’s going on.” My dad rubbed a hand over his face.
“Jonathan Jackson, what’s the matter?” my mother asked. I cringed when she used my dad’s full name. She did the same thing to my brother and me when we were in trouble.
“Rachael, it’s nothing to worry—”
“Don’t tell me it’s nothing to worry about, John. If it involves Azazel and a member of my family, it is something to worry about.”
My dad told my mom what we’d discussed. I didn’t want to think about it anymore and wandered upstairs to my bedroom. When I walked in, I heard my cell phone vibrating in its charger. I picked it up and read the text.
Chay: What’s wrong?
I smiled.
Me: Nothing. What’s up with you?
Chay: Milayna, I know something is going on.
Me: Wanna come over for pizza tomorrow?
Chay: Yes.
Me: Good. The group is coming.
“That oughta get him going,” I whispered in the empty room.
Chay: I knew something was wrong.
5
Meeting
“Can you guys come over tonight for a movie and pizza?” I asked the group at lunch the next afternoon.
“If there’s pizza, I’m there,” Drew said.
“Sure, what’s up?” Muriel looked at me, brushing her black hair from her eyes.
“We just need to talk. No biggie.” I shrugged a shoulder.
We fell silent when Xavier approached our table and sat down.
***
That evening, we met at my house. My mom fluttered around the kitchen like a hummingbird making sure everyone had enough pop and pizza to keep them fed for a week. She hovered when she was nervous. And Azazel definitely made her nervous.
“Okay, why are we here? What gives?” Jen asked, a sassy, kick-ass tomboy who could beat down a demi-demon without breaking a sweat. She was never one to mince words.
“Yeah, I’d like to know that myself,” Chay said, looking pointedly at me. Glaring might be a better word. He’d known something was wrong and was irritated I hadn’t told him, and as the second-ranking demi in the group, he had a right to know.
“Okay… let’s see. I’m not sure how to start—”
“Just say it.” Jen pulled her shoulder-length blonde hair into a ponytail and turned to look at me.
“The hobgoblins have been hanging around again, telling me things aren’t over. Shayla said the same thing yesterday at school. I’ve also been having visions of someone trying to kill me. There. That’s it. Oh, and the hobgoblins said that, quote, ‘he is coming.’” I made little air quotes with my fingers before dropping my hands and shrugging a shoulder. “Whatever that means.”
They all stared at me for what seemed like hours. I squirmed under their gaze.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Chay rubbed his hand over the back of his head, mussing his hair, and all I could focus on was that I wanted to be the one running my fingers through it.